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Article METROPOLITAN, ← Page 8 of 11 →
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Metropolitan,
unworthy gain to expose its mysteries to the vulgar eye ; menaced by tyranny , persecuted b ^ bigotry , its Lodges scattered but not dismayed , itself proscribed but not dishonoured , it still maintained its object ; relying on it's . "truth s it wins its way , folding in its embrace men of all climes and ail tongues , and possessing within itself a tie nowhere to be found out of the pale of Masonry . ( Grfeat applause . ) It is not in the busy hum of cities , or by our own domestic firesides , that this tie is felt in its full strength . All the histories we have read go to show
that in far distant lands and on mid-ocean it is— -in times of danger ^ distress , and misery—that Masonry possesses a chord of sympathy which finds a responsive echo in the heart of every Brother . ( Loud and continued cheering . ) Its history in this country has been adorned by the names of those who have been the highest in talent and the most exalted in rank . Its Lodges were gathered together soon after the death of $ i r Christopher Wren , when , for the first time , speculative Masons w ere admitted to its ranks ; and we have , again in our day , witnessed kings and princes joining in the good work , taking part in our assemblies , giving to us their labours and to the world their names and reputations as hostages for
the good faith of their Brethren : and we now have the satisfaction of seeing Grand Lodge holding the highest position in pageantry and in power . Our Lodges are more numerous than ever , our wealth greater , and our means of promoting charity greatly extended . There has , however , in our days , occurred a dark cloud of discord between us and our western Brethren ; we deplore it , and they too , I am sure , deplore it : there are , however , on both sides of the Atlantic , men of keen heads and sound hearts , who will yet , I hope , be able to smooth down the differences which have arisen between us . With that exception , we live in peace and brotherly love with all the world . We have , I say the satisfaction
or seeing our Grand Bodge hold the highest position in Masonry , because here we have most exactly and most persistently carried out the principles of the Craft within the limits of the ancient landmarks of the Order . In this country , accepting from our ancestors the ancient Degrees , we know no change in the form of Masonry . ( Hear , hear . ) And here I would observe that the whole history of the Order shows that it has been in times of discord that the greatest changes and innovations have occurred , and that innovation has been most frequent under Masonic jurisdictions of the most recent origin . Here we have been content to abide by the ancient charges and landmarks , and therefore it is that we find
the Grand Lodge of this country the arbiter and judge in all cases of doubt and difficulty . To whom is the glory of that high position to be ascribed ? ( Hear , hear . ) It is not alone to the patronage and the labours of the great and mighty . It is to the patient teaching of zealous and good Masons who have made it the work of their lives , and who , scattered throughout the country , have , in such Lodges as the present , spread a knowledge of the true principles of the Craft among the Brethren generally . They , I say , have been the means of raising Masonry in England to its present high position . Aschiefest
among the Lodges of the world is the Grand Lodge of England , so , chiefest among the Lodges of Instruction , which have contributed to place her there , has been the labour of the Emulation Lodge of Improvement ; and need I say that among the labourers of that Lodge stands out in boldest relief the worthy Brother whom we are delighted to honour this evening . ( Great cheering . ) As the master builder selects with patient care the stones which are to form the intended structure , animating , instructing , and guiding the workmen employed under him , so with equal diligence and zeal does our Master builder arrange , adapt , and preserve our
ancient fabric , animating , guiding , and instructing the Brethren ; he , in fact , carries out in speculative Masonry all those duties of the master builder of old , and possesses , in an eminent degree , those qualifications we require in a Master . Of him I may truly say that he is " of good report , true , and trusty , and held in high estimation amongst the Brethren and fellows . " ( Loud cheerB . ) Thus have I endeavoured to trace the advantage which may arise to the whole of the society from the labours of even a single individual . Bro . Wilson—in the name of this assembly of eminent and influential Masons—I beg your acceptance of these gifts , possessing in themselves a certain degree of intrinsic value , but still more valuable and honourable as carrying with them the expression of the kind will
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Metropolitan,
unworthy gain to expose its mysteries to the vulgar eye ; menaced by tyranny , persecuted b ^ bigotry , its Lodges scattered but not dismayed , itself proscribed but not dishonoured , it still maintained its object ; relying on it's . "truth s it wins its way , folding in its embrace men of all climes and ail tongues , and possessing within itself a tie nowhere to be found out of the pale of Masonry . ( Grfeat applause . ) It is not in the busy hum of cities , or by our own domestic firesides , that this tie is felt in its full strength . All the histories we have read go to show
that in far distant lands and on mid-ocean it is— -in times of danger ^ distress , and misery—that Masonry possesses a chord of sympathy which finds a responsive echo in the heart of every Brother . ( Loud and continued cheering . ) Its history in this country has been adorned by the names of those who have been the highest in talent and the most exalted in rank . Its Lodges were gathered together soon after the death of $ i r Christopher Wren , when , for the first time , speculative Masons w ere admitted to its ranks ; and we have , again in our day , witnessed kings and princes joining in the good work , taking part in our assemblies , giving to us their labours and to the world their names and reputations as hostages for
the good faith of their Brethren : and we now have the satisfaction of seeing Grand Lodge holding the highest position in pageantry and in power . Our Lodges are more numerous than ever , our wealth greater , and our means of promoting charity greatly extended . There has , however , in our days , occurred a dark cloud of discord between us and our western Brethren ; we deplore it , and they too , I am sure , deplore it : there are , however , on both sides of the Atlantic , men of keen heads and sound hearts , who will yet , I hope , be able to smooth down the differences which have arisen between us . With that exception , we live in peace and brotherly love with all the world . We have , I say the satisfaction
or seeing our Grand Bodge hold the highest position in Masonry , because here we have most exactly and most persistently carried out the principles of the Craft within the limits of the ancient landmarks of the Order . In this country , accepting from our ancestors the ancient Degrees , we know no change in the form of Masonry . ( Hear , hear . ) And here I would observe that the whole history of the Order shows that it has been in times of discord that the greatest changes and innovations have occurred , and that innovation has been most frequent under Masonic jurisdictions of the most recent origin . Here we have been content to abide by the ancient charges and landmarks , and therefore it is that we find
the Grand Lodge of this country the arbiter and judge in all cases of doubt and difficulty . To whom is the glory of that high position to be ascribed ? ( Hear , hear . ) It is not alone to the patronage and the labours of the great and mighty . It is to the patient teaching of zealous and good Masons who have made it the work of their lives , and who , scattered throughout the country , have , in such Lodges as the present , spread a knowledge of the true principles of the Craft among the Brethren generally . They , I say , have been the means of raising Masonry in England to its present high position . Aschiefest
among the Lodges of the world is the Grand Lodge of England , so , chiefest among the Lodges of Instruction , which have contributed to place her there , has been the labour of the Emulation Lodge of Improvement ; and need I say that among the labourers of that Lodge stands out in boldest relief the worthy Brother whom we are delighted to honour this evening . ( Great cheering . ) As the master builder selects with patient care the stones which are to form the intended structure , animating , instructing , and guiding the workmen employed under him , so with equal diligence and zeal does our Master builder arrange , adapt , and preserve our
ancient fabric , animating , guiding , and instructing the Brethren ; he , in fact , carries out in speculative Masonry all those duties of the master builder of old , and possesses , in an eminent degree , those qualifications we require in a Master . Of him I may truly say that he is " of good report , true , and trusty , and held in high estimation amongst the Brethren and fellows . " ( Loud cheerB . ) Thus have I endeavoured to trace the advantage which may arise to the whole of the society from the labours of even a single individual . Bro . Wilson—in the name of this assembly of eminent and influential Masons—I beg your acceptance of these gifts , possessing in themselves a certain degree of intrinsic value , but still more valuable and honourable as carrying with them the expression of the kind will