Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Royal Masonic Institution For Boys.
irict Grand Lodges interested in these elections , and most of them sent representatives ; and as their investments in the Institutions increased , those ovinces which did not now send representatives would delegate some brother to look after their interest . Taking one brother for each province , and the expenses of that brother at £ 5 , there vvas a sum of ^ 240 , which m jo * ht be more properly devoted to the benevolent purposes of the Institutions . I ' East Lancashire they looked round to see which of the
Institutions they should devote their money to , whenever they had balance to dispose of . Then , with regard to the voting papers , when the brethren attended in April at the Girls' and Boys ' Elections they frequently exchanged for Old People in May . If the three days of election were near together , the exchange could be effected then . Then there was considerable difficulty in the collection of
votes under the present system , but if his proposal was adopted he thought there would be more care in the appraisement of the value of the votes . In the provinces they thought a new system would be an advantage to the Institutions , because they knew how some generous donors had a pet Institution . Some liked the Girls or Boys , some liked the Old People ; there vvas no accounting for tastes ; but when a brother had once given to one
Institution it was most easy to persuade him to give to the others . A brother on Saturday said this was a question of provincial brethren against London brethren , but he wished to disabuse any one ' s mind of that idea if any one had it . Whatever the London brethren wished of the country brethren , the country brethren were most anxious to consider . They really admired the
London brethren for the position they had attained in these Institutions , and they wished to emulate them , but they did not wish to be handicapped . The proposition he laid before the brethren was a message of goodwill and peace . He begged to propose "That a Committee be appointed to consider the matter , and confer with Committees of the two other Institutions , and to report to the Quarterly Court in October . "
Bro . C . F . HOGARD said the motion did not require much seconding . He was sure the London brethren would be agreeable to the elections taking p lace together . Bro . RIDGEWAY opposed the motion , and put it to the meeting whether the change was for the benefit of the Institution , and whether it would lead to the impartial selection of candidates to have the election on three consecutive days . Bro . BIRCH said he did not propose three consecutive days .
Bro . Col . RADCLIFFE said Bro . R . Ridgeway was out of order . They were not discussing a scheme , but whether there should be a Committee to consider and report upon a matter . The CHAIRMAN said the motion was that a Committee be appointed to enquire into the subject , and to recommend to a Quarterly Court . The matter could be discussed then .
Bro . RIDGEWAY said he had an amendment , but if he was out of order he would withdraw it . He thought , however , the subject should not be allowed to pass without an opportunity given to consider the point . The motion vvas carried . On the motion of Bro . SMITHSON ( Leeds ) , Bros . W , Roebuck , J . L . Mather , and C . F . Hogard ( London ) , and Capt . Homfray ( South Wales ) ,
and Robert Wylie ( West Lancashire ) , were appointed the Committee . The following motions were proposed , seconded , and carried : — By Bro . J L . MATHER , Vice-Patron—To add to Law 53— " Provided that a candidate shall not be disqualified by reason of his age exceeding 11 years at the date of election in cases where such excess would not have arisen had the election been held on the Monday immediately succeeding the second
Saturday in April . " By Bro . WILLIAM ROEBUCK , Vice-Pa ! ron and Trustee , G . S . B .--That 27 boys be elected at the Quarterly Court on the iSth April instead of 25 boys . The brethren then proceeded to the election of 27 boys out of an approved list of 45 candidates , and at the declaration of the poll the following vvas found to be the result : — SUCCESSFUL .
Name . Votes . Webber , Frederic 2094 Marsden , John Horace 2009 Patience , Horatio Albert 1 S 6 3 Horder , Lewis George Mayers ... 1 S 53 Parker , Philip ... 1853 Aitken , G . Rowland Henshaw ... 1851 ool !
w , Lharles Herbert 1 S 50 Adkin , Robert Lewis 1 S 37 Johnston , Gordon Phillott 1 S 21 Steward , Thomas Dudley 1819 Harrison , Herbeit Morton 1 S 16 Jawcett , John 1 S 14 Mitchell , fames McCallum 176 " :- ; Wilson , Horace Septimus 1759
Name . Votes . Moss , William Helsby 1746 Atkinson , John William 1741 Johnson , Cecil Tysilio 1725 Collinson , William ... 1711 Matthews , Percy Haslem 1710 Grace , Arthur Edward 1700
S'ephe / ison , Albert 1700 Doughty , Richard Carlill 1625 Angier , Harry Norman 1579 Glenny , Frederick Naish 1562 Staden , Charles Graham 1519 Dixon , William Bertram 1513 Tombs , Robert James 1265
UNSUCCESSFUL .
r . , Name . Votes , cable , David William Ewart ... 1262 Le Gros , Francis 1046 fr ^ T S « " j **" , Charles 747
"it , Kdward John 700 ^ ay . Harold 505 v-ouch , Cyril Courtenay 25 S lurner , Francis Pater 243 McCoy , Ewart Gilbert 20 S
Name . Votes . Green , Charles William 150 Scott , Frederick William John , „ 11 3 Fursey , Samuel Henry Reginald ... 104 Cannon . Georp * e .. _ « - »
Burgess , Edgar Holmes 52 Scholes , Arthur Henry 32 Siggers , Clement 20 Bostock , Martin Roddivell S Grossman , Iohn
—Votes of thanks to the Scrutineers and Chairman closed the proceedings .
Consecration Of The Cotehele Lodge, No. 2166, At Calstock.
CONSECRATION OF THE COTEHELE LODGE , No . 2166 , AT CALSTOCK .
on Mr ? ? ° f Mount Edgcumbe , Provincial Grand Master of Cornwall , new f' ? if ' P erformed the ceremony of constituting and consecrating the Pn . A * ehele Lodge , No . 2166 , which has iust been established at Calstock .
able t years the brethren ^ siding at Calstock , who have always been deprivpH y Ster a & ood | y company , have felt the inconvenience of being lcX . . ° A Practical and active membershi p in consequence of having no tothert 1 easy reach cf their homes * The nearest lodge they have tio n or r » . able t 0 altend was eilher that at Tavistock , in the one direcdistant- ( ., r . llln & > in ^ e other , and both these towns being some six miles bf . <* . e '" convenience which the brethren at Calstock snffrrprl - mi-Id nnlv
„ * ere tl- y and sufficiently removed by the institution of a lodge at , as it •tneir own doors . t , e s h ad t k hovvcver - ' is not a lar & P ° P * ° us town , and certain difficul-But thes % K sur . mounted before the brethren were able to see the light . e difficulties were not insuperable , and hard and persistent work on
Consecration Of The Cotehele Lodge, No. 2166, At Calstock.
the part of a few led to the gratifying result of Monday . Considerable interest was manifested in the proceedings , and for the accommodation of a large number of brethren from the Three Towns who desired to be present the owners of the steamship Aerial ran their vessel on a special excursion from Plymouth and Devonport to Calstock . A large party availed themselves of this opportunity of attending the interesting ceremony of
consecration , which , thanks to the kindness of the Provincial Grand Master , took place at Cotehele House , the new lodge room being utterly inadequate to accommodate anything like the number who had signified their intention of being present . The large hall of Cotehele House vvas admirably arranged as a lodge , and it was crowded with brethren , who came from all parts of Cornwall , as well as from Plymouth , Devonport , Stonehouse , and Tavistock .
The Prov . Grand Master , Bro . the Earl of Mount Edgcumbe , presided , and an attendance of nearly a hundred brethren included Bros . W . E . Michell , P . P . S . G . W ., who acted as D . P . G . M . in the unavoidable absence of Sir Charles B . Graves Savvle , Bart . ; R . Adams , P . S . G . W . j Gilbeit P . Pearce , P . J . G . W . ; W . K . Baker , P . S . G . D . ; A . Luke , P . S . G . D ( who acted as P . J . G . D . ); E . D . Anderton , P . G . Sec ; Rev . F . T . W . Winile , P . P . G . Chap . ; C . Truscott
, P . P . J . G . W . ; E . Milford Cock , P . P . J . G . D . ; E . Browning , P . P . S . G . VV . ; J . J . Daw , P . P . S . G . D . ; T . H . Lukes , P . P . G . D . C ; F . B . Williams , P . P . G . S . B . ; J . Turner , P . P . A . D . C . ; W . W . Dymond , P . P . G . O . ; VV . Gi ! es , P . G . A . D . C ; M . Sampson , P . G . O . ; J . Bassett , P . G . S . Wks . ; J . Brewer , P . A . G . Sec ; J . de C . Treffry , P . G . S . ; G . Morgan , P . G . Std . Br . ; J . T . Williams , P . P . G . P . ; W . F . Creber , P . G . Std . Br . ; C . Bryant , P . G . Stwd . ; J . Pearse , P . G . P . ; G . Darke ,
P . G . Std . Br . ; J . R . Lord , P . P . G . S . B . ; G . R . Barrett , P . P . S . G . D . ; C . Parsons , P . I . G . D . ; Dr . W . Andrew , P . G . Stwd . ; S . Jew , P . P . G . T . ; C . H . Cooper , P . P . J . G . D . ; T . Goodall , P . P . G . O . ; E . Aitken-Davies , P . P . G . S . of Wks . ; C . TreviuYck , P . P . G . D . C ; J . Hele , P . P . G . O . ; T . Gibbons , P . P . G . O . ; F . Hooper , P . P . G . D . C . ; W . Jenkin , P . M . 1212 ; G . Firks , P . M . 1247 ; P . G . L . Pearce , P . M . 1247 ; J . Gidley , P . M . 2025 ; E . Hening , P . M . 1071 ; T . D . Deeble , P . M . inC : E . C .
Vosper , P . M . 1071 ; H . Down , P . M . 2 S 2 ; N . Bray , P . M . 2 S 2 ; G . Rowe , P . M . 2 S 2 ; J . H . Cousins , P . M . 557 ; T . W . Perry , W . M . S 5 6 ; VV . H . Huddy , W . M . 510 ; H . Bowden , W . M . 1071 ; S . Tresidder , W . M . 75 ; R . C . Revell , S . W . 1071 ; T . S . Eyre , S . D . 1247 ; F . R . Thomas , S . D . 1 S 9 ; F . N . Thomas , J . D . 450 ; G . T . Lakeman , 557 ; W . E . Marchant , S 93 ; C . Mutten , 1550 ; C . Martin , 202 ; W . J . Hicks , 179 ; Rev . A . N . Campbell , S 59 ; H . Smale , 1247 ; H . James , 1212 ; and VV . J . Hicks , 179 .
The lodge having been opened in due form , and the usual formalities observed , The PROV . GRAND MASTER delivered an earnest address to the brethren , in the course of which he said : The brethren here to-day are about to form this lodge as a . new centre for the development and the work of Masonry in this neighbourhood , and you will bear vvith me if I try to impress upon
them the importance of the responsibilities which they are taking upon themselves . I wish to ask them to join . with us to day in putting on record their determination , so far as in them lies , to make Masonry , in their hands , a reality and not a counterfeit . ( Hear , hear . ) Masonry is not an unmeaning collection of allegories and symbols . True , it is a system of morality veiled in allegory , and illustrated by symbols , but if we lose sight of the
reality which underlies them , those allegories [ become , at best , childish nonsense , utterly trivial , and unworthy of grown and reasonable men . ( Hear , hear , and applause . ) And those symbols , and the language in which we speak of them , become something worse than childish . I am sure you will not think I use too strong an expression when I say that they become blasphemous hypocrisy and degrading to those who use them —( hear , hear)—for
the morality of Masonry is not a mere secular morality of man ' s devising like the system of some schools of philosophy . It is not a religion •it does not take the name of religion ; but it is this . From his initiation , through all the Degrees to the highest , it appeals to every man by the religion which he professes to do his duty in that state of life to vvhich God has called him in obedience to the will of the Eternal Archiiect , in whom we live and move ,
and have our being , whose name we invoke , and whose blessing we ask for on all our proceedings . ( Applause . ) Let me say , also , that Masonry is not a system of morality ; it is a brotherhood . It is not a benevolent society vvhich a man joins with the avowed object of insuring against what is popularly known as a rainy day . Benevolent societies are , as we all know , excellent institutions , but Masonry stands upon a totally different footing .
Of course it is a brotherhood j it cannot fail to relieve its members who are in distress . Relief is the natural outcome of brotherly love , and , as a matter of fact , we know of no society in the world that contributes to the assistance of its distressed members with greater generosity and liberality than Freemasonry . ( Hear , hear . ) And whenever they are wanted , we always find brethren willing to give both time
and trouble in collecting funds for the charitable purposes of the Craft . In this respect we have always been fortunate in the Province of Cornwall , for Cornwall never has been , and is not now , behind hand . ( Applause . ) But il any man joins the Craft with the view of obtaining pecuniary benefit from it , either at once or prospectively , he takes a very low view of Masonry , and one vvhich ought to be discouraged and discredited . ( Hear , hear , and
applause . ) When I speak of Masonry as a brotherhood I have in view the mutual relationship existing between its members , utterly irrespective of any pecuniary consideration . By keeping always in mind in cur work the higher thoughts of religion in connection wilh every day life , it brings out the better part of man . I believe that innumerable friendships have been made by Freemasonry , which may , without exaggeration , be spoken of as a
brotherhood , and vvhich never could have existed but for the fact of the individuals between whom those friendships were formed being members of the Craft . ( Hear , hear . ) As I have said , it brings out the belter part of man ; and it does so by its recognition of religion in every day life . By its social gatherings—and the merrier the better—it cements genial friendship , and by its universality it sweeps away barriers vvhich must otherwise keep
men separate and apart . In this respect there is no Society which can compare with Freemasonry . ( Applause . ) VVe have national associations and local associations ; we have unions among men of particular trades ; we have clubs and organisations connected wilh particular parties in politics ; we have religious connections more or less narrow ; we have class cliques , and we have also other secret societies which are founded upon a very
dffferent footing to those of Masonry . But where will you find anywhere a Fraternity which extends the hand of fellowship to all who are worthy to grasp it—whatever nationality , or class , or politics , or religion they may belong to—as does the Society of Freemasons ? ( Hear , hear , and applause . ) I ask you to make up your minds that Freemasonry shall be wilh you a reality wilhin the more limited spheres that come under your immediate
knowledge , that shall extend outside the lodge , that shall influence you in your business transactions vvith your friends and your brethren , that shall soften your religious prejudices—mind you , I do not say your religious principles , but your religious prejudices—and shall take the sting out of your political differences . ( Loud applause . ) If it does this it will do something towards creating happiness and good feeling in the neig hbourhood in
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Royal Masonic Institution For Boys.
irict Grand Lodges interested in these elections , and most of them sent representatives ; and as their investments in the Institutions increased , those ovinces which did not now send representatives would delegate some brother to look after their interest . Taking one brother for each province , and the expenses of that brother at £ 5 , there vvas a sum of ^ 240 , which m jo * ht be more properly devoted to the benevolent purposes of the Institutions . I ' East Lancashire they looked round to see which of the
Institutions they should devote their money to , whenever they had balance to dispose of . Then , with regard to the voting papers , when the brethren attended in April at the Girls' and Boys ' Elections they frequently exchanged for Old People in May . If the three days of election were near together , the exchange could be effected then . Then there was considerable difficulty in the collection of
votes under the present system , but if his proposal was adopted he thought there would be more care in the appraisement of the value of the votes . In the provinces they thought a new system would be an advantage to the Institutions , because they knew how some generous donors had a pet Institution . Some liked the Girls or Boys , some liked the Old People ; there vvas no accounting for tastes ; but when a brother had once given to one
Institution it was most easy to persuade him to give to the others . A brother on Saturday said this was a question of provincial brethren against London brethren , but he wished to disabuse any one ' s mind of that idea if any one had it . Whatever the London brethren wished of the country brethren , the country brethren were most anxious to consider . They really admired the
London brethren for the position they had attained in these Institutions , and they wished to emulate them , but they did not wish to be handicapped . The proposition he laid before the brethren was a message of goodwill and peace . He begged to propose "That a Committee be appointed to consider the matter , and confer with Committees of the two other Institutions , and to report to the Quarterly Court in October . "
Bro . C . F . HOGARD said the motion did not require much seconding . He was sure the London brethren would be agreeable to the elections taking p lace together . Bro . RIDGEWAY opposed the motion , and put it to the meeting whether the change was for the benefit of the Institution , and whether it would lead to the impartial selection of candidates to have the election on three consecutive days . Bro . BIRCH said he did not propose three consecutive days .
Bro . Col . RADCLIFFE said Bro . R . Ridgeway was out of order . They were not discussing a scheme , but whether there should be a Committee to consider and report upon a matter . The CHAIRMAN said the motion was that a Committee be appointed to enquire into the subject , and to recommend to a Quarterly Court . The matter could be discussed then .
Bro . RIDGEWAY said he had an amendment , but if he was out of order he would withdraw it . He thought , however , the subject should not be allowed to pass without an opportunity given to consider the point . The motion vvas carried . On the motion of Bro . SMITHSON ( Leeds ) , Bros . W , Roebuck , J . L . Mather , and C . F . Hogard ( London ) , and Capt . Homfray ( South Wales ) ,
and Robert Wylie ( West Lancashire ) , were appointed the Committee . The following motions were proposed , seconded , and carried : — By Bro . J L . MATHER , Vice-Patron—To add to Law 53— " Provided that a candidate shall not be disqualified by reason of his age exceeding 11 years at the date of election in cases where such excess would not have arisen had the election been held on the Monday immediately succeeding the second
Saturday in April . " By Bro . WILLIAM ROEBUCK , Vice-Pa ! ron and Trustee , G . S . B .--That 27 boys be elected at the Quarterly Court on the iSth April instead of 25 boys . The brethren then proceeded to the election of 27 boys out of an approved list of 45 candidates , and at the declaration of the poll the following vvas found to be the result : — SUCCESSFUL .
Name . Votes . Webber , Frederic 2094 Marsden , John Horace 2009 Patience , Horatio Albert 1 S 6 3 Horder , Lewis George Mayers ... 1 S 53 Parker , Philip ... 1853 Aitken , G . Rowland Henshaw ... 1851 ool !
w , Lharles Herbert 1 S 50 Adkin , Robert Lewis 1 S 37 Johnston , Gordon Phillott 1 S 21 Steward , Thomas Dudley 1819 Harrison , Herbeit Morton 1 S 16 Jawcett , John 1 S 14 Mitchell , fames McCallum 176 " :- ; Wilson , Horace Septimus 1759
Name . Votes . Moss , William Helsby 1746 Atkinson , John William 1741 Johnson , Cecil Tysilio 1725 Collinson , William ... 1711 Matthews , Percy Haslem 1710 Grace , Arthur Edward 1700
S'ephe / ison , Albert 1700 Doughty , Richard Carlill 1625 Angier , Harry Norman 1579 Glenny , Frederick Naish 1562 Staden , Charles Graham 1519 Dixon , William Bertram 1513 Tombs , Robert James 1265
UNSUCCESSFUL .
r . , Name . Votes , cable , David William Ewart ... 1262 Le Gros , Francis 1046 fr ^ T S « " j **" , Charles 747
"it , Kdward John 700 ^ ay . Harold 505 v-ouch , Cyril Courtenay 25 S lurner , Francis Pater 243 McCoy , Ewart Gilbert 20 S
Name . Votes . Green , Charles William 150 Scott , Frederick William John , „ 11 3 Fursey , Samuel Henry Reginald ... 104 Cannon . Georp * e .. _ « - »
Burgess , Edgar Holmes 52 Scholes , Arthur Henry 32 Siggers , Clement 20 Bostock , Martin Roddivell S Grossman , Iohn
—Votes of thanks to the Scrutineers and Chairman closed the proceedings .
Consecration Of The Cotehele Lodge, No. 2166, At Calstock.
CONSECRATION OF THE COTEHELE LODGE , No . 2166 , AT CALSTOCK .
on Mr ? ? ° f Mount Edgcumbe , Provincial Grand Master of Cornwall , new f' ? if ' P erformed the ceremony of constituting and consecrating the Pn . A * ehele Lodge , No . 2166 , which has iust been established at Calstock .
able t years the brethren ^ siding at Calstock , who have always been deprivpH y Ster a & ood | y company , have felt the inconvenience of being lcX . . ° A Practical and active membershi p in consequence of having no tothert 1 easy reach cf their homes * The nearest lodge they have tio n or r » . able t 0 altend was eilher that at Tavistock , in the one direcdistant- ( ., r . llln & > in ^ e other , and both these towns being some six miles bf . <* . e '" convenience which the brethren at Calstock snffrrprl - mi-Id nnlv
„ * ere tl- y and sufficiently removed by the institution of a lodge at , as it •tneir own doors . t , e s h ad t k hovvcver - ' is not a lar & P ° P * ° us town , and certain difficul-But thes % K sur . mounted before the brethren were able to see the light . e difficulties were not insuperable , and hard and persistent work on
Consecration Of The Cotehele Lodge, No. 2166, At Calstock.
the part of a few led to the gratifying result of Monday . Considerable interest was manifested in the proceedings , and for the accommodation of a large number of brethren from the Three Towns who desired to be present the owners of the steamship Aerial ran their vessel on a special excursion from Plymouth and Devonport to Calstock . A large party availed themselves of this opportunity of attending the interesting ceremony of
consecration , which , thanks to the kindness of the Provincial Grand Master , took place at Cotehele House , the new lodge room being utterly inadequate to accommodate anything like the number who had signified their intention of being present . The large hall of Cotehele House vvas admirably arranged as a lodge , and it was crowded with brethren , who came from all parts of Cornwall , as well as from Plymouth , Devonport , Stonehouse , and Tavistock .
The Prov . Grand Master , Bro . the Earl of Mount Edgcumbe , presided , and an attendance of nearly a hundred brethren included Bros . W . E . Michell , P . P . S . G . W ., who acted as D . P . G . M . in the unavoidable absence of Sir Charles B . Graves Savvle , Bart . ; R . Adams , P . S . G . W . j Gilbeit P . Pearce , P . J . G . W . ; W . K . Baker , P . S . G . D . ; A . Luke , P . S . G . D ( who acted as P . J . G . D . ); E . D . Anderton , P . G . Sec ; Rev . F . T . W . Winile , P . P . G . Chap . ; C . Truscott
, P . P . J . G . W . ; E . Milford Cock , P . P . J . G . D . ; E . Browning , P . P . S . G . VV . ; J . J . Daw , P . P . S . G . D . ; T . H . Lukes , P . P . G . D . C ; F . B . Williams , P . P . G . S . B . ; J . Turner , P . P . A . D . C . ; W . W . Dymond , P . P . G . O . ; VV . Gi ! es , P . G . A . D . C ; M . Sampson , P . G . O . ; J . Bassett , P . G . S . Wks . ; J . Brewer , P . A . G . Sec ; J . de C . Treffry , P . G . S . ; G . Morgan , P . G . Std . Br . ; J . T . Williams , P . P . G . P . ; W . F . Creber , P . G . Std . Br . ; C . Bryant , P . G . Stwd . ; J . Pearse , P . G . P . ; G . Darke ,
P . G . Std . Br . ; J . R . Lord , P . P . G . S . B . ; G . R . Barrett , P . P . S . G . D . ; C . Parsons , P . I . G . D . ; Dr . W . Andrew , P . G . Stwd . ; S . Jew , P . P . G . T . ; C . H . Cooper , P . P . J . G . D . ; T . Goodall , P . P . G . O . ; E . Aitken-Davies , P . P . G . S . of Wks . ; C . TreviuYck , P . P . G . D . C ; J . Hele , P . P . G . O . ; T . Gibbons , P . P . G . O . ; F . Hooper , P . P . G . D . C . ; W . Jenkin , P . M . 1212 ; G . Firks , P . M . 1247 ; P . G . L . Pearce , P . M . 1247 ; J . Gidley , P . M . 2025 ; E . Hening , P . M . 1071 ; T . D . Deeble , P . M . inC : E . C .
Vosper , P . M . 1071 ; H . Down , P . M . 2 S 2 ; N . Bray , P . M . 2 S 2 ; G . Rowe , P . M . 2 S 2 ; J . H . Cousins , P . M . 557 ; T . W . Perry , W . M . S 5 6 ; VV . H . Huddy , W . M . 510 ; H . Bowden , W . M . 1071 ; S . Tresidder , W . M . 75 ; R . C . Revell , S . W . 1071 ; T . S . Eyre , S . D . 1247 ; F . R . Thomas , S . D . 1 S 9 ; F . N . Thomas , J . D . 450 ; G . T . Lakeman , 557 ; W . E . Marchant , S 93 ; C . Mutten , 1550 ; C . Martin , 202 ; W . J . Hicks , 179 ; Rev . A . N . Campbell , S 59 ; H . Smale , 1247 ; H . James , 1212 ; and VV . J . Hicks , 179 .
The lodge having been opened in due form , and the usual formalities observed , The PROV . GRAND MASTER delivered an earnest address to the brethren , in the course of which he said : The brethren here to-day are about to form this lodge as a . new centre for the development and the work of Masonry in this neighbourhood , and you will bear vvith me if I try to impress upon
them the importance of the responsibilities which they are taking upon themselves . I wish to ask them to join . with us to day in putting on record their determination , so far as in them lies , to make Masonry , in their hands , a reality and not a counterfeit . ( Hear , hear . ) Masonry is not an unmeaning collection of allegories and symbols . True , it is a system of morality veiled in allegory , and illustrated by symbols , but if we lose sight of the
reality which underlies them , those allegories [ become , at best , childish nonsense , utterly trivial , and unworthy of grown and reasonable men . ( Hear , hear , and applause . ) And those symbols , and the language in which we speak of them , become something worse than childish . I am sure you will not think I use too strong an expression when I say that they become blasphemous hypocrisy and degrading to those who use them —( hear , hear)—for
the morality of Masonry is not a mere secular morality of man ' s devising like the system of some schools of philosophy . It is not a religion •it does not take the name of religion ; but it is this . From his initiation , through all the Degrees to the highest , it appeals to every man by the religion which he professes to do his duty in that state of life to vvhich God has called him in obedience to the will of the Eternal Archiiect , in whom we live and move ,
and have our being , whose name we invoke , and whose blessing we ask for on all our proceedings . ( Applause . ) Let me say , also , that Masonry is not a system of morality ; it is a brotherhood . It is not a benevolent society vvhich a man joins with the avowed object of insuring against what is popularly known as a rainy day . Benevolent societies are , as we all know , excellent institutions , but Masonry stands upon a totally different footing .
Of course it is a brotherhood j it cannot fail to relieve its members who are in distress . Relief is the natural outcome of brotherly love , and , as a matter of fact , we know of no society in the world that contributes to the assistance of its distressed members with greater generosity and liberality than Freemasonry . ( Hear , hear . ) And whenever they are wanted , we always find brethren willing to give both time
and trouble in collecting funds for the charitable purposes of the Craft . In this respect we have always been fortunate in the Province of Cornwall , for Cornwall never has been , and is not now , behind hand . ( Applause . ) But il any man joins the Craft with the view of obtaining pecuniary benefit from it , either at once or prospectively , he takes a very low view of Masonry , and one vvhich ought to be discouraged and discredited . ( Hear , hear , and
applause . ) When I speak of Masonry as a brotherhood I have in view the mutual relationship existing between its members , utterly irrespective of any pecuniary consideration . By keeping always in mind in cur work the higher thoughts of religion in connection wilh every day life , it brings out the better part of man . I believe that innumerable friendships have been made by Freemasonry , which may , without exaggeration , be spoken of as a
brotherhood , and vvhich never could have existed but for the fact of the individuals between whom those friendships were formed being members of the Craft . ( Hear , hear . ) As I have said , it brings out the belter part of man ; and it does so by its recognition of religion in every day life . By its social gatherings—and the merrier the better—it cements genial friendship , and by its universality it sweeps away barriers vvhich must otherwise keep
men separate and apart . In this respect there is no Society which can compare with Freemasonry . ( Applause . ) VVe have national associations and local associations ; we have unions among men of particular trades ; we have clubs and organisations connected wilh particular parties in politics ; we have religious connections more or less narrow ; we have class cliques , and we have also other secret societies which are founded upon a very
dffferent footing to those of Masonry . But where will you find anywhere a Fraternity which extends the hand of fellowship to all who are worthy to grasp it—whatever nationality , or class , or politics , or religion they may belong to—as does the Society of Freemasons ? ( Hear , hear , and applause . ) I ask you to make up your minds that Freemasonry shall be wilh you a reality wilhin the more limited spheres that come under your immediate
knowledge , that shall extend outside the lodge , that shall influence you in your business transactions vvith your friends and your brethren , that shall soften your religious prejudices—mind you , I do not say your religious principles , but your religious prejudices—and shall take the sting out of your political differences . ( Loud applause . ) If it does this it will do something towards creating happiness and good feeling in the neig hbourhood in