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Article TESTIMONIAL TO BRO. HENRY MUGGERIDGE. ← Page 2 of 3 Article TESTIMONIAL TO BRO. HENRY MUGGERIDGE. Page 2 of 3 Article TESTIMONIAL TO BRO. HENRY MUGGERIDGE. Page 2 of 3 →
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Testimonial To Bro. Henry Muggeridge.
- I am sure you will agree , and say with me that Bro . Muggeridge is a man , take him for all and all , we ne ' er shall look upon his like again . I now call upon you , brethren , to be upstanding , and sincerely and heartily drink to the health , long life , and prosperity of our dear Bro . Muggeridge , Mrs . Muggeridge , and family . Bro . Henry Muggeridge , who , on rising to reply , was
greeted with several rounds of cheering , said : —Bro . Chairman and brethren , —Ah ' . now comes the difficulty . Yes , it is all very pleasant for me to listen to the excellent speech our Worshipful Chairman made , and , Worshipful Chairman , if I possessed the power of speech that you do , and of which you have given such a proof in the address you have just delivered , I should be able to get out of my
difficulty in acknowledging the kind manner in which my health has been proposed and received very easily indeed , but as I know I do not possess that power ( and I am not fool enough to rush in where an angel would fear to tread ) I shall not attempt to make a speech at all , but shill merely talk to you in my usual style . That is all I shall attempt to do , and 1 think you will all agree with me that
I act with some degree of wisdom in pursuing thatcourse . Let me say , Brother Chairman and brethren , that I am delighted with the very kind things that you have said , and also at seeing such an excellent meeting as this is . I know the only motives that have prompted the brethren to come are wishes and desires to do honour to me , and I assure you I highly appreciate their kindness . There are
some very old friends here , and I particularly allude to our Bros . Head and Hyde Pullen . There are some more recent , but equally staunch friends of mine , I know , and I assure you , that in the first place I do thank the promoters of this testimonial , and the committee they have formed , and also the officers that committee have appointed to carry out their views ; and , as I know , the whole
of those officers and the committee have done their selfimposed duty in an admirable manner . I shall not mention a single individual ' s name ; as all have done well it would be wrong to mention one name unless I mentioned the rest . I do say , however , and I say it most emphatically , that from what I have heard ( and I could not help hearing of it , because the proceedings of that cimmittee have been
published in the Freemason , which has kept me pretty well posted up in everything the committee has been doing ) all the brethren have done well what they have done and have to the utmost of their power contributed to the success of this testimonial . They have made it a success and I heartily thank them for what they have done . I also not only thank those brethren who are present
who have responded to the appeal of the Committee , but I thank those who are absent who have likewise responded . I wish the brethren also to know that I most sincerely an I emphatically own as much pleasure with the smaller amounts given by some of the brethren as with the larger amounts so kindly and generously given by others . I trust that those who have given the large
amounts will not think that I do not fully appreciate their kindness , I do , fully and to the greatest extent , but we all know , I am sure , that the widow ' s mite was highly appreciated in a certain quarter . Therefore , I hope and trust that those . who have given the large amounts will not feel displcasre , ' . vith me for making an allusion to those who have given smaller amounts . There is one thing that
Bro . Hubbork who sits next to me , reminds me of , which is , that we are deeply indebted to one brother present , and that is our brother whose initials are the same as my own , Bro . Henry Massey , who has kindly attended here for the purpose of reporting our proceedings . I am sure I am very pleased to sec him here , and I am also very pleased with and grateful to the proprietor of the
Freemason paper for what he has done in the columns of that journal , which is sent all over the world . And here , perhaps , I may make a little digression , and inform you that the beautiful testimonial on vellum , with its handsome frame , as well as the elegant purse in which your subscriptions are contained , are the gift of and hive been presented by the proprietor of the Freemason . ( Cheers . )
Brethren , I scarcely know , as I mentioned before , what to say . I told you I do not possess the eloquence of Bro . Myers , but at the . same time I think I have told you that I fully appreciate what you have done . Without indulging in any fulsome language I say I am pleased with the promoters of the testimonial . I am grateful to the committer , the officers , to all who are here present , and to those
who are absent , who had responded to the appeal of the Committee . Well now , brethren , I want to tell you something else . This is a very beautiful purse . 1 have not seen it before to-day ; but what do you think I am going to do with it ? I am going to give Mrs . Muggeridge the purse , and I am going to keep the money myself ( Laughter . ) I know it is the practice of the profession of
which our Worshipful Chairman is so distinguished an ornament to pursue that course ; they keep the oyster themselves and give the shells to their clients . And a very proper way too , isn ' t it . To prove to you that I am quite right , I may tell you that by keeping the money myself and giving Mrs . Muggeridge the purse , the testimonial will be more lasting , as 1 have no doubt , the
purse will be existence when the contents have vanished into thin air . Now , this splendid testimonial took its origin in the Stability Lodge of Instruction , at which many of you know I have been a constant attendant for 39 years . We recently had our anniversary festival at the Cannon Street Hotel , and a very great success it was . I was delighted wi ' . h it . Our Brother Philbrick , Q . C ., Recorder of
Colchester , was our chairman , and everything went ofl nicely , and I was very much pleased with my staff who worked on that rccasion . They worked well ; and J think all the brethren who were then present must have been pleased with the whole affair , with the working , with the banquet , with the music—there was not a single hitch ; and I was very much pleased indeed . I was rather disappointed with the numbers who attended—not for my
Testimonial To Bro. Henry Muggeridge.
own sake ( that did not matter at all ) , but as an act of justice to the management to the Cannon Street Hotel . 1 must express my regret that there were not more present . I do assure you , and I do it most truthfully , that I am deeply indebted to the Cannon Street Hotel , on many occasions . They have always behaved to me in the most liberal manner . On that occasion I had 260 names
on my list . I orderered supper for 120 . I did not have more than 100 ; and although I had ordered for 120 they only charged me 103 . I merely mention that as an act of justice . No [ doubt the thinness in numbers there occurred from different causes . In the first place , it was Easter week . Easter is a moveable feast ; ours is a settled feast always ; it takes place on the last Friday in April .
It might not only be Easter week , but it might be other causes which prevented a larger number being present . Perhaps it was my falling off—my prestige might be somewhat on the wane ; and perhaps some of the brethren might have told me so , only they had the example of Gil Bias and the Archbishop of Toledo before their eyes ; and therefore they were afraid to mention it to me . But at
the same time I must tell you , getting up that meeting certainly does give me a great deal of trouble ; and as the responsibility is somewhat considerable , and brethren live out of town so much now , I do not think in the future I shall get up another . I am not going to desert the Stability Lodge of Instruction . I intend to carry that on ( God willing ) in the future as I have done in the past ; and
probably at the close of the session some of my good friends , Bro . Henry Birdseye among the rest , may exert themselves to get up a small meeting . I say " small" in comparison ; but I may say I do not think I shall attempt another in future . You know , brethren , all things must come to a close . Everything which is grand in nature and beautiful in art must
perish—The cloud-capp d towers , the gorgeous palaces , The solemn temples , the great globe itself , Yea , all which it inherit , shall dissolve ; And , like the baseless fabric of a vision , Leave not a rack behind . Brethren , I do not mean to tell you that this mortal frame is getting " small by degrees and beautifully less ; " I do
not mean to tell ycu that I am particularly feeble—especially at the banquet table ( laughter ); but I do say this , that I am getting dreadfully lazy , and I have unmistakeable signs of a desire to enjoy the otium cum dignitate , and do nothing at all . That is really my feeling ; and although I shall endeavour to promote the prosperity and good working of the Stability Lodge of Instruction at its
ordinary meetings I do not think I shall attempt to get up another of those big meetings at the Cannon Street Hotel again . There is one thing I should like to say before I sit down . I know I am trespassing on your time ( No , no ); but 1 do want to say what I think on this occasion . I told you , I do not want to mention any individual's name in praise , because all of them have done well ; but
I do want to mention the name of one lodge , and that is my mother lodge , the Lion and Lamb Lodge , 192 . I am the father of that lodge , only , owing to circumstances , I have not had the pleasure of being at that lodge for the last three or four years , but yet during myabsence they have had the goodness and the kindness to vote unanimously ten guineas towards this fund . You will excuse me making an
exception to the rule I have laid down in mentioning that lodge . I do so because I think it is a very kind action , and I do feel that their having done that , it becomes a duty of mine to endeavour by all possible means to attend at their next regular meeting , which I believe is in October , to return them my thanks for what they haze done , although from
circumstances I cannot go there regularly . I am afraid I have tired you very much indeed . I have told you what I am going to do—to give Mrs . Muggeridge the purse , and keep the money myself . That is an equal distribution , and I am sure our Bro . Mclntyre , Grand Registrar , if he had been here , would have said I was quite right . Excuse me for having trespassed so long on your time , and
accept my sincere thanks for what you have done . As I said before , I not only thank you who are present , but I wish it to go forth that I also thank those who are absent . ( Great cheering . ) Bro Hubbuck ( Treasurer of the Testimonial Fund ) proposed "The Health of the Chairman . " The brethren , he said , had spent a very pleasant evening , and the Chairman
had done his duty most efficiently . He had explained to the brethren the beauties of Bro . Muggeridge ' s character in a way which they must all endorse . Although the brethren could not all explain their ideas with the same fluency as the Chairman , they were able to express their thanks to him for the trouble he had taken in coming to preside over them , and for the constancy with which he
attended the meetings of the Committee . The success of the testimonial was very much , owing to the Chairman ' s exertions , and for that , and for his presidency over the present meeting , the brethren would express their thanks by drinking his health most heartily . The Chairman , in reply , said : 1 kept you too long in the speech I delivered to you just now to trouble you much
again , but still I may be allowed to say that I am very highly flattered at the manner in which Bro . Hubbuck has thought proper to speak of me . I may tell you what you probably all know that Bro . Hubbuck is not the man to say that which he does not mean , and although he seemed to deplore his want of eloquence , as he called it , I think he was very eloquent ; certainly he spoke in a very flowery
kind of way about me . I assure you that what I have done upon this occasion , which has been enlarged upon by Bro . Hubbuck , has been simply my duty in so worthy a cause . 1 have done no more than , and certainly not so much as , other members of the Committee . However , I have done that which every brother would have done at various times to further the interests of Bro . Muggeridge . I can only say again that I am pleased and grateful for
Testimonial To Bro. Henry Muggeridge.
the flattering way in which I have been spoken of , and I hope all of you have been satisfied to-night . The Chairman next said the toast which 1 have now the honour of bringing before you is one which I know you will be glad to honour , " The Treasurer" of this Fund . It is only necessary to know Bro . Hubbuck to respect him ; but as regards the business of this Fund . I
may tell all those who know htm , ( he said something about its success being due to me ) let me tell you most emphatically the success of this matter has been very largely owing to himself , because of the respectability which his name threw around it . It is due to Bro . Hubbuck that I should ask you to drink his very good health . I was saying that he had a highly
respectable name . That 1 can assure you had a great influence upon the success of the undertaking and upon the subscriptions which came in . Bro . Hubbuck is a good Mason , and he is one of the best friends among the very numerous friends which Bro . Muggeridge possesses . Bro . Muggeridge or any other man is fortunate in possessing a friend of such sterling qualities and such downright honesty
of feeling as Bro . Hubbuck . Without his highly respectable name on the list , his having been Treasurer , his having contributed in the way he did to this fund , we certainly should not have met with the success we have . Bro . Hubbuck in reply said : You have taken me quite by surprise . I , as you very well remarked , take a great interest in having Bro . Muggeridge as one of my friends .
I may say that the success of this fund was very much due to our indefatigable Secretary , Bro . Fellows , and Bro . Birdseye , and two or three more who regularly attended the meetings of the Committee . I unfortunately had a family bereavement , which prevented me continuing my attendance on the alternate Thursday . From time to time I heard of the success of the undertaking ,
with which I was very much pleaded . " We must all appreciate the kindness that our Bro . George Kenning showed to the members of the Committee in allowing us to meet at his premises whenever we chose . He attended the meetings almost invariably , and it was only other pressing engagements which prevented his being on the Committee . He has , however , afforded us most valuable
assistance by a large amount of Masonic information as to the brethren of the Craft , and we ought to thank him for the services he has rendered to us . We were rather damped at first in our energy by a want of response to our appeal for assistance , but we kept on pcrseveiing , and we arrived at the happy results which our worthy chairman has announced to you to-day . I have to thank
you heartily for the very flattering terms in which you , Mr . Chairman , have proposed my health , and I hope I sh ill always act so as to continue to receive the same good feeling that you have expressed towards me this evening . The Chairman , in proposing " The Health of Bro . Francis Fellows , Secretary , " said , the next toast is that of " The Health of our most excellent brother , and
kindhearted Secretary to this Testimonial , Bro . Fnncis Fellows . " It is all very well for us to talk about what we have done , and what the Secretary has done , and what this man has done and that man has done ; but let me tell you that all the work of this Committee has been done by Bro . Fellows . And how , although we flatter each other in our speeches about the success being due to this or to
that , I believe the real and actual success of this undertaking is due to the indefatigable exertions of our good brother , the Secretary to this Testimonial . Bro . Fellows is a man largely engaged in business , and I know that his time is nearly all occupied , and that he has scarcely any time for his own personal matters . Notwithstanding that he used every exertion , and he managed so as to leave nil
stone unturned , and to make this Testimonial a successful one . The number of letters he must have written , the trouble he must have ' taken to correspond with people about their subscriptions , entitle him to our respect and gratitude , i may tell you , above all , that what Bro . Fellows did he did for love , and the expenses which he was compelled to be out of his own pocket were
so large in comparision with those taken out of the subscriptions that the amount contributed to the testimonial was scarcely lessened . If it had not been for Bro . Fellows what has been done would not have been done half so well , and it would have entailed an expense on the funds which would very much have deteriorated it and rendered it much less in the amount our dear Bro . Muggeridge
would have had to receive . I , therefore , say that the substantial part of this work is due to Bro . Fellows , and I do hope the Committee will all agree with me . T hey must do so ; but I think although I have feebly explained it , I have done so sufficiently to show the great services and the great value of the services of Bro . Fellows in the interest of Bro . Muggeridge . Bro . Fellows , I personally thank
you , for the great services you have rendered to the Committee by taking this in hand , and I hope all the brethren will cordially agree with me . Bro . Francis Fellows , ( Secretary ) in replying said : Most worthy chairman and brethren , to you , Bro . Myers , I have a few words to say . First of all I am exceeelingly obliged to you for the very kind way in which you have put my
name forward to the brethren , the subscribers present tothe Henry Muggeridge Testimonial ; but I certainly myself consider you have flattered me too much . I certainly undertook this as one of the promoters of the Testimonial . I was the honorary Secretary , antl 1 have looked upon the work of the office as a laboHrof love from its commencement to the end . It certainly was a long time in hanri ;
but Heel that if it had lasted 6 months longer we could have doubled the amount . I must say that in the winter season , I was somewhat troubled with it because my health failed me , and I felt when I had to be absent from Committee meetings I should have been there . However , it has been no neglect of mine that the amount has not been so much as I should have liked . I beg to thank you for the way in which you have proposed my
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Testimonial To Bro. Henry Muggeridge.
- I am sure you will agree , and say with me that Bro . Muggeridge is a man , take him for all and all , we ne ' er shall look upon his like again . I now call upon you , brethren , to be upstanding , and sincerely and heartily drink to the health , long life , and prosperity of our dear Bro . Muggeridge , Mrs . Muggeridge , and family . Bro . Henry Muggeridge , who , on rising to reply , was
greeted with several rounds of cheering , said : —Bro . Chairman and brethren , —Ah ' . now comes the difficulty . Yes , it is all very pleasant for me to listen to the excellent speech our Worshipful Chairman made , and , Worshipful Chairman , if I possessed the power of speech that you do , and of which you have given such a proof in the address you have just delivered , I should be able to get out of my
difficulty in acknowledging the kind manner in which my health has been proposed and received very easily indeed , but as I know I do not possess that power ( and I am not fool enough to rush in where an angel would fear to tread ) I shall not attempt to make a speech at all , but shill merely talk to you in my usual style . That is all I shall attempt to do , and 1 think you will all agree with me that
I act with some degree of wisdom in pursuing thatcourse . Let me say , Brother Chairman and brethren , that I am delighted with the very kind things that you have said , and also at seeing such an excellent meeting as this is . I know the only motives that have prompted the brethren to come are wishes and desires to do honour to me , and I assure you I highly appreciate their kindness . There are
some very old friends here , and I particularly allude to our Bros . Head and Hyde Pullen . There are some more recent , but equally staunch friends of mine , I know , and I assure you , that in the first place I do thank the promoters of this testimonial , and the committee they have formed , and also the officers that committee have appointed to carry out their views ; and , as I know , the whole
of those officers and the committee have done their selfimposed duty in an admirable manner . I shall not mention a single individual ' s name ; as all have done well it would be wrong to mention one name unless I mentioned the rest . I do say , however , and I say it most emphatically , that from what I have heard ( and I could not help hearing of it , because the proceedings of that cimmittee have been
published in the Freemason , which has kept me pretty well posted up in everything the committee has been doing ) all the brethren have done well what they have done and have to the utmost of their power contributed to the success of this testimonial . They have made it a success and I heartily thank them for what they have done . I also not only thank those brethren who are present
who have responded to the appeal of the Committee , but I thank those who are absent who have likewise responded . I wish the brethren also to know that I most sincerely an I emphatically own as much pleasure with the smaller amounts given by some of the brethren as with the larger amounts so kindly and generously given by others . I trust that those who have given the large
amounts will not think that I do not fully appreciate their kindness , I do , fully and to the greatest extent , but we all know , I am sure , that the widow ' s mite was highly appreciated in a certain quarter . Therefore , I hope and trust that those . who have given the large amounts will not feel displcasre , ' . vith me for making an allusion to those who have given smaller amounts . There is one thing that
Bro . Hubbork who sits next to me , reminds me of , which is , that we are deeply indebted to one brother present , and that is our brother whose initials are the same as my own , Bro . Henry Massey , who has kindly attended here for the purpose of reporting our proceedings . I am sure I am very pleased to sec him here , and I am also very pleased with and grateful to the proprietor of the
Freemason paper for what he has done in the columns of that journal , which is sent all over the world . And here , perhaps , I may make a little digression , and inform you that the beautiful testimonial on vellum , with its handsome frame , as well as the elegant purse in which your subscriptions are contained , are the gift of and hive been presented by the proprietor of the Freemason . ( Cheers . )
Brethren , I scarcely know , as I mentioned before , what to say . I told you I do not possess the eloquence of Bro . Myers , but at the . same time I think I have told you that I fully appreciate what you have done . Without indulging in any fulsome language I say I am pleased with the promoters of the testimonial . I am grateful to the committer , the officers , to all who are here present , and to those
who are absent , who had responded to the appeal of the Committee . Well now , brethren , I want to tell you something else . This is a very beautiful purse . 1 have not seen it before to-day ; but what do you think I am going to do with it ? I am going to give Mrs . Muggeridge the purse , and I am going to keep the money myself ( Laughter . ) I know it is the practice of the profession of
which our Worshipful Chairman is so distinguished an ornament to pursue that course ; they keep the oyster themselves and give the shells to their clients . And a very proper way too , isn ' t it . To prove to you that I am quite right , I may tell you that by keeping the money myself and giving Mrs . Muggeridge the purse , the testimonial will be more lasting , as 1 have no doubt , the
purse will be existence when the contents have vanished into thin air . Now , this splendid testimonial took its origin in the Stability Lodge of Instruction , at which many of you know I have been a constant attendant for 39 years . We recently had our anniversary festival at the Cannon Street Hotel , and a very great success it was . I was delighted wi ' . h it . Our Brother Philbrick , Q . C ., Recorder of
Colchester , was our chairman , and everything went ofl nicely , and I was very much pleased with my staff who worked on that rccasion . They worked well ; and J think all the brethren who were then present must have been pleased with the whole affair , with the working , with the banquet , with the music—there was not a single hitch ; and I was very much pleased indeed . I was rather disappointed with the numbers who attended—not for my
Testimonial To Bro. Henry Muggeridge.
own sake ( that did not matter at all ) , but as an act of justice to the management to the Cannon Street Hotel . 1 must express my regret that there were not more present . I do assure you , and I do it most truthfully , that I am deeply indebted to the Cannon Street Hotel , on many occasions . They have always behaved to me in the most liberal manner . On that occasion I had 260 names
on my list . I orderered supper for 120 . I did not have more than 100 ; and although I had ordered for 120 they only charged me 103 . I merely mention that as an act of justice . No [ doubt the thinness in numbers there occurred from different causes . In the first place , it was Easter week . Easter is a moveable feast ; ours is a settled feast always ; it takes place on the last Friday in April .
It might not only be Easter week , but it might be other causes which prevented a larger number being present . Perhaps it was my falling off—my prestige might be somewhat on the wane ; and perhaps some of the brethren might have told me so , only they had the example of Gil Bias and the Archbishop of Toledo before their eyes ; and therefore they were afraid to mention it to me . But at
the same time I must tell you , getting up that meeting certainly does give me a great deal of trouble ; and as the responsibility is somewhat considerable , and brethren live out of town so much now , I do not think in the future I shall get up another . I am not going to desert the Stability Lodge of Instruction . I intend to carry that on ( God willing ) in the future as I have done in the past ; and
probably at the close of the session some of my good friends , Bro . Henry Birdseye among the rest , may exert themselves to get up a small meeting . I say " small" in comparison ; but I may say I do not think I shall attempt another in future . You know , brethren , all things must come to a close . Everything which is grand in nature and beautiful in art must
perish—The cloud-capp d towers , the gorgeous palaces , The solemn temples , the great globe itself , Yea , all which it inherit , shall dissolve ; And , like the baseless fabric of a vision , Leave not a rack behind . Brethren , I do not mean to tell you that this mortal frame is getting " small by degrees and beautifully less ; " I do
not mean to tell ycu that I am particularly feeble—especially at the banquet table ( laughter ); but I do say this , that I am getting dreadfully lazy , and I have unmistakeable signs of a desire to enjoy the otium cum dignitate , and do nothing at all . That is really my feeling ; and although I shall endeavour to promote the prosperity and good working of the Stability Lodge of Instruction at its
ordinary meetings I do not think I shall attempt to get up another of those big meetings at the Cannon Street Hotel again . There is one thing I should like to say before I sit down . I know I am trespassing on your time ( No , no ); but 1 do want to say what I think on this occasion . I told you , I do not want to mention any individual's name in praise , because all of them have done well ; but
I do want to mention the name of one lodge , and that is my mother lodge , the Lion and Lamb Lodge , 192 . I am the father of that lodge , only , owing to circumstances , I have not had the pleasure of being at that lodge for the last three or four years , but yet during myabsence they have had the goodness and the kindness to vote unanimously ten guineas towards this fund . You will excuse me making an
exception to the rule I have laid down in mentioning that lodge . I do so because I think it is a very kind action , and I do feel that their having done that , it becomes a duty of mine to endeavour by all possible means to attend at their next regular meeting , which I believe is in October , to return them my thanks for what they haze done , although from
circumstances I cannot go there regularly . I am afraid I have tired you very much indeed . I have told you what I am going to do—to give Mrs . Muggeridge the purse , and keep the money myself . That is an equal distribution , and I am sure our Bro . Mclntyre , Grand Registrar , if he had been here , would have said I was quite right . Excuse me for having trespassed so long on your time , and
accept my sincere thanks for what you have done . As I said before , I not only thank you who are present , but I wish it to go forth that I also thank those who are absent . ( Great cheering . ) Bro Hubbuck ( Treasurer of the Testimonial Fund ) proposed "The Health of the Chairman . " The brethren , he said , had spent a very pleasant evening , and the Chairman
had done his duty most efficiently . He had explained to the brethren the beauties of Bro . Muggeridge ' s character in a way which they must all endorse . Although the brethren could not all explain their ideas with the same fluency as the Chairman , they were able to express their thanks to him for the trouble he had taken in coming to preside over them , and for the constancy with which he
attended the meetings of the Committee . The success of the testimonial was very much , owing to the Chairman ' s exertions , and for that , and for his presidency over the present meeting , the brethren would express their thanks by drinking his health most heartily . The Chairman , in reply , said : 1 kept you too long in the speech I delivered to you just now to trouble you much
again , but still I may be allowed to say that I am very highly flattered at the manner in which Bro . Hubbuck has thought proper to speak of me . I may tell you what you probably all know that Bro . Hubbuck is not the man to say that which he does not mean , and although he seemed to deplore his want of eloquence , as he called it , I think he was very eloquent ; certainly he spoke in a very flowery
kind of way about me . I assure you that what I have done upon this occasion , which has been enlarged upon by Bro . Hubbuck , has been simply my duty in so worthy a cause . 1 have done no more than , and certainly not so much as , other members of the Committee . However , I have done that which every brother would have done at various times to further the interests of Bro . Muggeridge . I can only say again that I am pleased and grateful for
Testimonial To Bro. Henry Muggeridge.
the flattering way in which I have been spoken of , and I hope all of you have been satisfied to-night . The Chairman next said the toast which 1 have now the honour of bringing before you is one which I know you will be glad to honour , " The Treasurer" of this Fund . It is only necessary to know Bro . Hubbuck to respect him ; but as regards the business of this Fund . I
may tell all those who know htm , ( he said something about its success being due to me ) let me tell you most emphatically the success of this matter has been very largely owing to himself , because of the respectability which his name threw around it . It is due to Bro . Hubbuck that I should ask you to drink his very good health . I was saying that he had a highly
respectable name . That 1 can assure you had a great influence upon the success of the undertaking and upon the subscriptions which came in . Bro . Hubbuck is a good Mason , and he is one of the best friends among the very numerous friends which Bro . Muggeridge possesses . Bro . Muggeridge or any other man is fortunate in possessing a friend of such sterling qualities and such downright honesty
of feeling as Bro . Hubbuck . Without his highly respectable name on the list , his having been Treasurer , his having contributed in the way he did to this fund , we certainly should not have met with the success we have . Bro . Hubbuck in reply said : You have taken me quite by surprise . I , as you very well remarked , take a great interest in having Bro . Muggeridge as one of my friends .
I may say that the success of this fund was very much due to our indefatigable Secretary , Bro . Fellows , and Bro . Birdseye , and two or three more who regularly attended the meetings of the Committee . I unfortunately had a family bereavement , which prevented me continuing my attendance on the alternate Thursday . From time to time I heard of the success of the undertaking ,
with which I was very much pleaded . " We must all appreciate the kindness that our Bro . George Kenning showed to the members of the Committee in allowing us to meet at his premises whenever we chose . He attended the meetings almost invariably , and it was only other pressing engagements which prevented his being on the Committee . He has , however , afforded us most valuable
assistance by a large amount of Masonic information as to the brethren of the Craft , and we ought to thank him for the services he has rendered to us . We were rather damped at first in our energy by a want of response to our appeal for assistance , but we kept on pcrseveiing , and we arrived at the happy results which our worthy chairman has announced to you to-day . I have to thank
you heartily for the very flattering terms in which you , Mr . Chairman , have proposed my health , and I hope I sh ill always act so as to continue to receive the same good feeling that you have expressed towards me this evening . The Chairman , in proposing " The Health of Bro . Francis Fellows , Secretary , " said , the next toast is that of " The Health of our most excellent brother , and
kindhearted Secretary to this Testimonial , Bro . Fnncis Fellows . " It is all very well for us to talk about what we have done , and what the Secretary has done , and what this man has done and that man has done ; but let me tell you that all the work of this Committee has been done by Bro . Fellows . And how , although we flatter each other in our speeches about the success being due to this or to
that , I believe the real and actual success of this undertaking is due to the indefatigable exertions of our good brother , the Secretary to this Testimonial . Bro . Fellows is a man largely engaged in business , and I know that his time is nearly all occupied , and that he has scarcely any time for his own personal matters . Notwithstanding that he used every exertion , and he managed so as to leave nil
stone unturned , and to make this Testimonial a successful one . The number of letters he must have written , the trouble he must have ' taken to correspond with people about their subscriptions , entitle him to our respect and gratitude , i may tell you , above all , that what Bro . Fellows did he did for love , and the expenses which he was compelled to be out of his own pocket were
so large in comparision with those taken out of the subscriptions that the amount contributed to the testimonial was scarcely lessened . If it had not been for Bro . Fellows what has been done would not have been done half so well , and it would have entailed an expense on the funds which would very much have deteriorated it and rendered it much less in the amount our dear Bro . Muggeridge
would have had to receive . I , therefore , say that the substantial part of this work is due to Bro . Fellows , and I do hope the Committee will all agree with me . T hey must do so ; but I think although I have feebly explained it , I have done so sufficiently to show the great services and the great value of the services of Bro . Fellows in the interest of Bro . Muggeridge . Bro . Fellows , I personally thank
you , for the great services you have rendered to the Committee by taking this in hand , and I hope all the brethren will cordially agree with me . Bro . Francis Fellows , ( Secretary ) in replying said : Most worthy chairman and brethren , to you , Bro . Myers , I have a few words to say . First of all I am exceeelingly obliged to you for the very kind way in which you have put my
name forward to the brethren , the subscribers present tothe Henry Muggeridge Testimonial ; but I certainly myself consider you have flattered me too much . I certainly undertook this as one of the promoters of the Testimonial . I was the honorary Secretary , antl 1 have looked upon the work of the office as a laboHrof love from its commencement to the end . It certainly was a long time in hanri ;
but Heel that if it had lasted 6 months longer we could have doubled the amount . I must say that in the winter season , I was somewhat troubled with it because my health failed me , and I felt when I had to be absent from Committee meetings I should have been there . However , it has been no neglect of mine that the amount has not been so much as I should have liked . I beg to thank you for the way in which you have proposed my