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Article PROVINCIAL GRAND LODGE OF EAST LANCASHIRE. ← Page 2 of 3 Article PROVINCIAL GRAND LODGE OF EAST LANCASHIRE. Page 2 of 3 Article PROVINCIAL GRAND LODGE OF EAST LANCASHIRE. Page 2 of 3 →
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Provincial Grand Lodge Of East Lancashire.
with the following inscription : " This church was erected for the worship of God , the good of his fellow men , and in memory of his father and mother , by Albert Hudson Royds , of Falinge , 1873 . " The Bishop of Manchester , who was
accompanied by the Ven . Archdeacon Anson and Mr . Burder , was met by at the western entrance by Mr . Royds , who presented the petition to his lordship asking him to consecrate the church . His lordship replied that he had very great pleasure in complying with the request . He then
entered the church and the consecration service was proceeded with . Evening prayers were said by the Rev . E . W . Gilbert , vicar of Falinge ; the first lesson was read by the Rev . Canon Rains , ofMilnrow ; and the second by the Venerable Archdeacon Anson . The Bishop preached the
sermon , after which a collection was made in aid of the Rochdale Infirmary . At the conclusion of the ceremony the procession was reformed , and the brethren returned to the Townhall , where a grand banquet was held in the evening . About 400 gentlemen sat down to
dinner . The Right Worshipful Prov . Grand Master ( Colonel Le Gendre N . Starkie ) presided , and was supported by the Bishop of Manchester , the Very Worshipful Deputy Prov . Grand Master ( Bro . W . Romaine Callender ) , and thc principal officers ofthe Provincial Grand Lodge .
. Alter dinner the Right Worshipful the Prov . Grand [ Master proposed thc usual loyal toasts , which were received with great enthusiasm , He next proposed " The LIcalth of the Most Hon . the Marquess of Ripon , Most Worshipful Grand Master , " which , was received with the usual Alasonic honours .
The Deputy Prov . Grand Alaster ( Bro . Callender ) proposed " The Right Hon . the Earl of Carnarvon , Right AVorshipful Deputy Grand Master , " which was warmly responded to . Bro . R . H . Hutchinson proposed "Col . Le Gendre N . Starkie , Right Worshipful Prov . Grand Alaster , " which was received with great cheering .
The Prov . Grand AIaster , in responding , said he should always look upon that day with great pride , it was a day associated with man ) ' peculiar circumstance ; ,. They came to Rochdale that day to honour one who had honoured the . Masonic brethren on many occasions bv his words
and actions , his dnties and kindly feeling , and bv his Alasonic and manly bearing—( cheers)—one who had done a great net ; and he ( the Grand Alaster ) was happy to say that in that act , while hc first of all enumerated the great principle of benevolence to mankind , he also introduced the
principles of Freemasonry , true charity and brotherly love —( cheers)—and having come to pay him that respect , he was certain they all sympathised with Bro . Royds , and he felt deeply the affliction which had marked the day and which deprived them of his presence amongst them ,
( hear , hear ) . In conclusion he begged to propose the health of one whom they all loved , a man whose like it would be difficult to find , for the kindliness of his feeling , the nobleness of his heart , and the generosity of his disposition—( cheers)— "the Worshipful Provincial Deputy
Grand Alaster of tins province , William Romaine Callender , " ( loud cheers ') . I'he Deputy Prov . Grand Alaster ( Iiro . Romaine Callender ) in rising to respond was received with great cheering . After thanking the brethren for the cordial manner in which they
had drunk his health , he said they stood in a most unfortunate position—a position not held hy any other body of peisous . From the time the Passover was fir = t instituted , divine wisdom anticipated the inquiry of tiie wandering healhen , and furnished . 1 simple and satisfactory solution
of the nature of the great Jewish festival , and from lhat time forth there never hail been a body ol men associated together for public or private purposes , men honourable , loyal , and true , who hatl not the means , if they chose , of explaining lheir sentiments in public , fo appeal to that
public for sympathy , and for confidence . But with them il was not so They were forbidden to solicit adhesions 1 hear , hear ) . Tl-.---were not allowed to explain their my ' .. ries . The ) - - . "ere compelled to lie n . biecl to the . ' "i ipion , or f . hr contempt , or th- ' - scepticism of th ..
Provincial Grand Lodge Of East Lancashire.
outside world , although everyone amongst them knew that there was no part of their ritual , ceremony , or dress which was not based upon principles the most valuable , and contained lessons the most instructive . ( Cheers . ) He should not presume to occupy their time that
evening , if he were allowed , to lift the veil of secresy which shrouded their secret ceremonies ; but , perhaps , he mi ght be allowed to take the opportunity , in which strangers came amongst them , to indicate two or three of those principles by which Masons ought to be recognised .
( Hear , hear . ) They had been told in the able discourse to which they had listened that afternoon that the worship of Christianity was distinguished from that of the Chinese and Alexican by certain distinguished and well-known forms , which he would not say were found in every
place of worshi p , but which were found if that place of worship was well cared for ; and so there were distinctive marks by which the Alason , if he understood the principles of his order , could not fail to be recognised among men . ( Hear , hear . ) By common consent they
considered that the most important of their duties were those of religios—religion whicli recognised the power of divine mercy and love , which believed in a future state , which inculcated humility and holiness , whicli sought to subjugate evil passions , and prompted them , by
divine aid , to seek for eternal life . ( Cheers . ) But they knew that reli gion was often characterised by dissension and animosity . The history of thc Christian Church itself was only too well signalised in bygone times b y bigotry and
intolerance , while tlieir system was widespread and comprehensive , and embraced men of every sect , nnd was founded on the dual principle of love to God nnd love to men —( cheers)—which the great author of tlie Christian faith declared
to be the sum and substance of the decalogue . ( Cheers . ) Next to reli gion he apprehended that most men woultl say that politic : duties were most important . AVith politics in tlieir baser sense—the strife of party , the contention of faction , the intrigues of cliques—they had
nothing whatever to do . ( Cheers . ) Although as freemen , exercising tlieir opinions in a free state , they had the right to form their opinions , and to act upon them , political discussion was not only prohibited , but , he ventured to say , unknown in their lodges . ( Cheers . ) And
however high political animosity mi ght be , he ventured to > p . y that il had never disturbed a Alasonic friendshi p or injured their Alasonic ritual . ( Cheers . ) Hut m thc higher sense , their Alasonry was intensely political . I-ivcry one who came amongst them was taught to be a
peaceable subject in the country in which he might reside , to pay due attention to the laws of the statein which he mi ght live , to remember the allegiance tine to the Sovereign of his native land , and , if the inspired writings be true , to serve God and honour the Wing were the whole duty of man ,
then they said that Alasonry was very synonymous with the apostolic injunction . ( Cheers . ) This was a commercial country . Nearly everyone there lived by trade . All of them were affected by its progress , and there was no one who was not proud of that good feeling and that
reputation which accompanied the name of the British merchant in every part of the world , tCheers . J But he would ask , what better principles could there he to act upon than those which told ever ) - Alason that he should so act that he could always meet on the level and part
on the square . ( Cheers . ) Their private duties were not forgotten . The ) - were reminded , in the most solemn way it was possible to imagine , of that natural equality and mutual dependence which ushered them into this mortal life ; they were tatighl to walk humbly before God , not
turning to the right hand or to the left , and that all their movements ought to be guided by prudence , chastened by temperance , supported by fortitude , and guided by justice . ( Cheers . ) So completely were ils precepts interwoven with
ev . - ' -y leehng ot the human heart , that those who k : ; ew it best strove to persuade by its beauty and religion . Hundreds of years ago the Christian chivahy of Europe went forth to conquer a small spot cf Eastern land , ' -enerated alike by Jew , Alahomi'dan . and Christian us the abode of ( hid s
Provincial Grand Lodge Of East Lancashire.
ancient people . They as Alasons had the same duty to perform , though their mission had a wider and nobler and more important scope . They sought to rescue from heathen domination , from the laws of tyranny and sin , a small part of the heritage which God gave to men . It was their
ditty , not by force of arms and wordy strife , but by the more persuasive eloquence of precept and example , to win back that world of love and happiness which their first parents forfeited , and by obedience to the divine law , to recall that glorious time foretold by the Hebrew seer and
sung by the Latin poet , that day of universal happiness when the songs of the angels of Bethlehem should be echoed from every heart , and when the Gospel might be not only believed but practically and implicityobeyed . ( Loud cheers . ) The Prov . Grand Alaster next proposed "The Bishop and Clergy of the Diocese . "
1 he Bishop of Alanchester , in rising to respond , was greeted with loud and prolonged cheering . He was afraid he would not be allowed to call them " brethren " — ( laughter ) — and he must therefore address them as "gentlemen . " ( Laughter . ) He rose with very great satisfaction
to return thanks to them for the very kind and flattering way in which they had received thc health of himself and the clergy in general . Indeed , he was more , than flattered ; he was profoundly affected by the kind and cordial reception they had been pleased to give him . He could
only attribute that reception to the fact which Air . Callender mentioned in his speech—that attachment to religious principle was among their first and fundamental principles of doctrine , and that perhaps thev recognised respect to a minister of religion as in a certain sense an expression of
those religious principles . ( Cheers . ) For himself he could unfeignedly say that he wished he could feel himself to be worthy of the only too flattering praise which the Provincial Grand Alaster , in the fulness of his heart , had been pleased to bestow upon him . He had listened
with great pleasure to the eloquent and luminous exposition of the principles of Alasonry , so far as they might be indicated to the outer world , which fell from Air . Callender . He mi ght say that his respect for Alasonry had increased in consequence of what he had heard . ( Loud cheers . )
He said his respect for Alasonry , because it seemed to him that every Alason ought , if he was true to the principles of his Craft , be a good Christian , a good citizen , and a good man . ( Cheers . ) He did not know whether these were entirely convertible terms , and whether every
good Christian , every good citizen , antl every good man was a Alason ; but it was at any rate a satisfaction to know that every Alason ought to unite those three qualities in themselves . ( Cheers . ) He was now and then favoured hy some rather troublesome correspondents , who asked
him a great number of petty ecclesiastical questions , whicli they would find better answered in some Church dictionary . For instance he had been asked why the clergy at certain times during the service turned to the east . He could not do better than refer the correspondent to their
Master of Ceremonies , who had been asking them all night to turn their " attention to the east . " ( Laughter and cheers . ) Further he noticed from the titles of the various officers that they must have been at one time an ecclesiastical guild , if not a guild consisting of clergymen .
Ihey used the well-known and familiar ecclesiastical titles quite in an ecclesiastical sense , for while in the Church we had the Most Rev . the Archbishop of York , the Right Rev . the Bishop of Manchester —( cheers)—and the Very Rev . the Dean of Manchester , he saw that they had the
Most Worshipful Grand AIaster , the Ri ght Worshipful the Provincial Grind AIaster , and the Very Worshipful the Deputy Provincial Grantl Alaster . ( Cheers and laughter . ) These matters were very interesting to him as an outside spectator of the mysteries of Alasonry . But putting all playfulness apart , he really
tnought that Alasonry had a number of charities in this country , which were admirably organised and well administered . ( Cheers . ) They had a real answer to give to the outside world—that any distressed Alason could always go to his fraternity . and get relief and be helped from his difficulty . ( Cheers . ) All he could say was ,
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Provincial Grand Lodge Of East Lancashire.
with the following inscription : " This church was erected for the worship of God , the good of his fellow men , and in memory of his father and mother , by Albert Hudson Royds , of Falinge , 1873 . " The Bishop of Manchester , who was
accompanied by the Ven . Archdeacon Anson and Mr . Burder , was met by at the western entrance by Mr . Royds , who presented the petition to his lordship asking him to consecrate the church . His lordship replied that he had very great pleasure in complying with the request . He then
entered the church and the consecration service was proceeded with . Evening prayers were said by the Rev . E . W . Gilbert , vicar of Falinge ; the first lesson was read by the Rev . Canon Rains , ofMilnrow ; and the second by the Venerable Archdeacon Anson . The Bishop preached the
sermon , after which a collection was made in aid of the Rochdale Infirmary . At the conclusion of the ceremony the procession was reformed , and the brethren returned to the Townhall , where a grand banquet was held in the evening . About 400 gentlemen sat down to
dinner . The Right Worshipful Prov . Grand Master ( Colonel Le Gendre N . Starkie ) presided , and was supported by the Bishop of Manchester , the Very Worshipful Deputy Prov . Grand Master ( Bro . W . Romaine Callender ) , and thc principal officers ofthe Provincial Grand Lodge .
. Alter dinner the Right Worshipful the Prov . Grand [ Master proposed thc usual loyal toasts , which were received with great enthusiasm , He next proposed " The LIcalth of the Most Hon . the Marquess of Ripon , Most Worshipful Grand Master , " which , was received with the usual Alasonic honours .
The Deputy Prov . Grand Alaster ( Bro . Callender ) proposed " The Right Hon . the Earl of Carnarvon , Right AVorshipful Deputy Grand Master , " which was warmly responded to . Bro . R . H . Hutchinson proposed "Col . Le Gendre N . Starkie , Right Worshipful Prov . Grand Alaster , " which was received with great cheering .
The Prov . Grand AIaster , in responding , said he should always look upon that day with great pride , it was a day associated with man ) ' peculiar circumstance ; ,. They came to Rochdale that day to honour one who had honoured the . Masonic brethren on many occasions bv his words
and actions , his dnties and kindly feeling , and bv his Alasonic and manly bearing—( cheers)—one who had done a great net ; and he ( the Grand Alaster ) was happy to say that in that act , while hc first of all enumerated the great principle of benevolence to mankind , he also introduced the
principles of Freemasonry , true charity and brotherly love —( cheers)—and having come to pay him that respect , he was certain they all sympathised with Bro . Royds , and he felt deeply the affliction which had marked the day and which deprived them of his presence amongst them ,
( hear , hear ) . In conclusion he begged to propose the health of one whom they all loved , a man whose like it would be difficult to find , for the kindliness of his feeling , the nobleness of his heart , and the generosity of his disposition—( cheers)— "the Worshipful Provincial Deputy
Grand Alaster of tins province , William Romaine Callender , " ( loud cheers ') . I'he Deputy Prov . Grand Alaster ( Iiro . Romaine Callender ) in rising to respond was received with great cheering . After thanking the brethren for the cordial manner in which they
had drunk his health , he said they stood in a most unfortunate position—a position not held hy any other body of peisous . From the time the Passover was fir = t instituted , divine wisdom anticipated the inquiry of tiie wandering healhen , and furnished . 1 simple and satisfactory solution
of the nature of the great Jewish festival , and from lhat time forth there never hail been a body ol men associated together for public or private purposes , men honourable , loyal , and true , who hatl not the means , if they chose , of explaining lheir sentiments in public , fo appeal to that
public for sympathy , and for confidence . But with them il was not so They were forbidden to solicit adhesions 1 hear , hear ) . Tl-.---were not allowed to explain their my ' .. ries . The ) - - . "ere compelled to lie n . biecl to the . ' "i ipion , or f . hr contempt , or th- ' - scepticism of th ..
Provincial Grand Lodge Of East Lancashire.
outside world , although everyone amongst them knew that there was no part of their ritual , ceremony , or dress which was not based upon principles the most valuable , and contained lessons the most instructive . ( Cheers . ) He should not presume to occupy their time that
evening , if he were allowed , to lift the veil of secresy which shrouded their secret ceremonies ; but , perhaps , he mi ght be allowed to take the opportunity , in which strangers came amongst them , to indicate two or three of those principles by which Masons ought to be recognised .
( Hear , hear . ) They had been told in the able discourse to which they had listened that afternoon that the worship of Christianity was distinguished from that of the Chinese and Alexican by certain distinguished and well-known forms , which he would not say were found in every
place of worshi p , but which were found if that place of worship was well cared for ; and so there were distinctive marks by which the Alason , if he understood the principles of his order , could not fail to be recognised among men . ( Hear , hear . ) By common consent they
considered that the most important of their duties were those of religios—religion whicli recognised the power of divine mercy and love , which believed in a future state , which inculcated humility and holiness , whicli sought to subjugate evil passions , and prompted them , by
divine aid , to seek for eternal life . ( Cheers . ) But they knew that reli gion was often characterised by dissension and animosity . The history of thc Christian Church itself was only too well signalised in bygone times b y bigotry and
intolerance , while tlieir system was widespread and comprehensive , and embraced men of every sect , nnd was founded on the dual principle of love to God nnd love to men —( cheers)—which the great author of tlie Christian faith declared
to be the sum and substance of the decalogue . ( Cheers . ) Next to reli gion he apprehended that most men woultl say that politic : duties were most important . AVith politics in tlieir baser sense—the strife of party , the contention of faction , the intrigues of cliques—they had
nothing whatever to do . ( Cheers . ) Although as freemen , exercising tlieir opinions in a free state , they had the right to form their opinions , and to act upon them , political discussion was not only prohibited , but , he ventured to say , unknown in their lodges . ( Cheers . ) And
however high political animosity mi ght be , he ventured to > p . y that il had never disturbed a Alasonic friendshi p or injured their Alasonic ritual . ( Cheers . ) Hut m thc higher sense , their Alasonry was intensely political . I-ivcry one who came amongst them was taught to be a
peaceable subject in the country in which he might reside , to pay due attention to the laws of the statein which he mi ght live , to remember the allegiance tine to the Sovereign of his native land , and , if the inspired writings be true , to serve God and honour the Wing were the whole duty of man ,
then they said that Alasonry was very synonymous with the apostolic injunction . ( Cheers . ) This was a commercial country . Nearly everyone there lived by trade . All of them were affected by its progress , and there was no one who was not proud of that good feeling and that
reputation which accompanied the name of the British merchant in every part of the world , tCheers . J But he would ask , what better principles could there he to act upon than those which told ever ) - Alason that he should so act that he could always meet on the level and part
on the square . ( Cheers . ) Their private duties were not forgotten . The ) - were reminded , in the most solemn way it was possible to imagine , of that natural equality and mutual dependence which ushered them into this mortal life ; they were tatighl to walk humbly before God , not
turning to the right hand or to the left , and that all their movements ought to be guided by prudence , chastened by temperance , supported by fortitude , and guided by justice . ( Cheers . ) So completely were ils precepts interwoven with
ev . - ' -y leehng ot the human heart , that those who k : ; ew it best strove to persuade by its beauty and religion . Hundreds of years ago the Christian chivahy of Europe went forth to conquer a small spot cf Eastern land , ' -enerated alike by Jew , Alahomi'dan . and Christian us the abode of ( hid s
Provincial Grand Lodge Of East Lancashire.
ancient people . They as Alasons had the same duty to perform , though their mission had a wider and nobler and more important scope . They sought to rescue from heathen domination , from the laws of tyranny and sin , a small part of the heritage which God gave to men . It was their
ditty , not by force of arms and wordy strife , but by the more persuasive eloquence of precept and example , to win back that world of love and happiness which their first parents forfeited , and by obedience to the divine law , to recall that glorious time foretold by the Hebrew seer and
sung by the Latin poet , that day of universal happiness when the songs of the angels of Bethlehem should be echoed from every heart , and when the Gospel might be not only believed but practically and implicityobeyed . ( Loud cheers . ) The Prov . Grand Alaster next proposed "The Bishop and Clergy of the Diocese . "
1 he Bishop of Alanchester , in rising to respond , was greeted with loud and prolonged cheering . He was afraid he would not be allowed to call them " brethren " — ( laughter ) — and he must therefore address them as "gentlemen . " ( Laughter . ) He rose with very great satisfaction
to return thanks to them for the very kind and flattering way in which they had received thc health of himself and the clergy in general . Indeed , he was more , than flattered ; he was profoundly affected by the kind and cordial reception they had been pleased to give him . He could
only attribute that reception to the fact which Air . Callender mentioned in his speech—that attachment to religious principle was among their first and fundamental principles of doctrine , and that perhaps thev recognised respect to a minister of religion as in a certain sense an expression of
those religious principles . ( Cheers . ) For himself he could unfeignedly say that he wished he could feel himself to be worthy of the only too flattering praise which the Provincial Grand Alaster , in the fulness of his heart , had been pleased to bestow upon him . He had listened
with great pleasure to the eloquent and luminous exposition of the principles of Alasonry , so far as they might be indicated to the outer world , which fell from Air . Callender . He mi ght say that his respect for Alasonry had increased in consequence of what he had heard . ( Loud cheers . )
He said his respect for Alasonry , because it seemed to him that every Alason ought , if he was true to the principles of his Craft , be a good Christian , a good citizen , and a good man . ( Cheers . ) He did not know whether these were entirely convertible terms , and whether every
good Christian , every good citizen , antl every good man was a Alason ; but it was at any rate a satisfaction to know that every Alason ought to unite those three qualities in themselves . ( Cheers . ) He was now and then favoured hy some rather troublesome correspondents , who asked
him a great number of petty ecclesiastical questions , whicli they would find better answered in some Church dictionary . For instance he had been asked why the clergy at certain times during the service turned to the east . He could not do better than refer the correspondent to their
Master of Ceremonies , who had been asking them all night to turn their " attention to the east . " ( Laughter and cheers . ) Further he noticed from the titles of the various officers that they must have been at one time an ecclesiastical guild , if not a guild consisting of clergymen .
Ihey used the well-known and familiar ecclesiastical titles quite in an ecclesiastical sense , for while in the Church we had the Most Rev . the Archbishop of York , the Right Rev . the Bishop of Manchester —( cheers)—and the Very Rev . the Dean of Manchester , he saw that they had the
Most Worshipful Grand AIaster , the Ri ght Worshipful the Provincial Grind AIaster , and the Very Worshipful the Deputy Provincial Grantl Alaster . ( Cheers and laughter . ) These matters were very interesting to him as an outside spectator of the mysteries of Alasonry . But putting all playfulness apart , he really
tnought that Alasonry had a number of charities in this country , which were admirably organised and well administered . ( Cheers . ) They had a real answer to give to the outside world—that any distressed Alason could always go to his fraternity . and get relief and be helped from his difficulty . ( Cheers . ) All he could say was ,