Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Colonial
gaily adurued \ vdtli Ilagi ^ and a banner beari ng the m ott o ,. Farewell Widdowy . " Between forty and fifty sat down to dinner , the chair being taken by Bro , Advocate Brand , Sen ., supported on the right by Bro . Widdows , and on the left by Bro , King . The vice chair was taken by Bro . Huckins . The chairman in rising to propose the toast of the evening , remarked that he did so with strong feeling . The toast was the health of their guest , Brother
Widdows , ' who intended on the morrow leaving these shores ; not , he was happy to say , to remain away , but shortly to return again to his friends and Brethren . They had met thus for the purpose of saying " Farewell Brother , " ¦ . but . ; did- . , they intend to say anything more , and if so , what had they to gay ? To the Brethren of the British Lodge this would more particularly apply , for Brother Widdows was a member of that Lodge , and a chief of the Royal Arch Chapter , and it would be for them to express their feelings and opinions upon that occasion—and he knew that they would do it . It was now nearly twenty years since Brother
Widdows had become a member of the British Lodge , and during that twenty years , he had proved himself a faithful Brother and a true Mason , true to the principles of Masonry , in Masonic love , Masonic forgiveness , and Masonic affection to all Masons . He had shown , as a member of the Britsh Lodge , a kindly feeling to all the Lodges , and during this time , the Lodge with which he was connected had become more exalted and extended by the numbers who had joined it . But , was he only to speak for the members of theBritish Lodge , at the moment when their Brother was going to leave their shores ? He ( the chairman ) was not a member of the British Lodge , but he w as a Freemason , and as such he felt they
were all brothers . Had he therefore no reason to join with the members of the British Lodge in expressing his feelings on the present occasion ? He felt that he must , and on the present public occasion he would do so in the presence of the Brethren . He ( the chairman ) was charged by the G-. M . of Holland with full power in this colony ; the duties to be performed were heavy and responsible , but it was satisfactory to his mind to find those who could and would assist him , in the discharge of those duties . He had at all times found Brother WiddoWs willing and ready to assist him , although a member of a different Lodge . In accordance with the principles of Masonry , no one carried out more fully the spirit of brotherhood than he . He would call to their recollection the memorable
evening , when m the Goede Trouw Lodge , at a meeting of their Chapter , the Royal Arch met with a misunderstanding . They would remember that Brother Widdows was amongst them , that lie ( the chairman ) spoke to him , and said it Was contrary to Masonry , when he at once pub down his own feelings and allowed Masonic principle to prevail . He gave up the excitement of the moment for Masonic rule . There were several other occasions upon which he ( the chairman ) had to consult with the members who took the lead in the British Lodge , and he always found Brother Widdows the first to render him every assistance . He cast
away all differences , overlooked petty peccadillos , and acted up to the true principle of Masonry . The British Lodge was not alone in respect for their guest , for the Dutch Lodges , the Good Hope and the Goede Trouw , bore testimony as to the manner in which he had acted with regard to them . On every occasion they had found him attend to the labour of the Lodges , joining in their festivals , and at all times showing marks of kind brotherly Masonic feeling . If the Brother
who was about to leave them returned not again , it would be a loss to Masonry , and he ( the chairman ) hoped and trusted whilst bidding him farewell , that he would soon return amongst them , and find them as prosperous as they then were . He therefore proposed the health of Bro . Widdows , and in bidding him farewell , hopedjthat he would find his relatives and friends in good health , and he himself speedily return to them in good health , under the blessing of the Architect of the universe .
The toast was drunk with three times three . Bro . Widdows , in returning thanks , expressed himself at a loss for words to convey his feelings ; his tongue was full , but his heart beat heavy . After hearing what he had heard from the Prov , G . M ., who had expressed himself in so kind a manner , he could only say that it would leave a lasting impression on his mind , which would not bo forgotten as long as he lived , He was proud of the honour ' 3 p 2 '
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Colonial
gaily adurued \ vdtli Ilagi ^ and a banner beari ng the m ott o ,. Farewell Widdowy . " Between forty and fifty sat down to dinner , the chair being taken by Bro , Advocate Brand , Sen ., supported on the right by Bro . Widdows , and on the left by Bro , King . The vice chair was taken by Bro . Huckins . The chairman in rising to propose the toast of the evening , remarked that he did so with strong feeling . The toast was the health of their guest , Brother
Widdows , ' who intended on the morrow leaving these shores ; not , he was happy to say , to remain away , but shortly to return again to his friends and Brethren . They had met thus for the purpose of saying " Farewell Brother , " ¦ . but . ; did- . , they intend to say anything more , and if so , what had they to gay ? To the Brethren of the British Lodge this would more particularly apply , for Brother Widdows was a member of that Lodge , and a chief of the Royal Arch Chapter , and it would be for them to express their feelings and opinions upon that occasion—and he knew that they would do it . It was now nearly twenty years since Brother
Widdows had become a member of the British Lodge , and during that twenty years , he had proved himself a faithful Brother and a true Mason , true to the principles of Masonry , in Masonic love , Masonic forgiveness , and Masonic affection to all Masons . He had shown , as a member of the Britsh Lodge , a kindly feeling to all the Lodges , and during this time , the Lodge with which he was connected had become more exalted and extended by the numbers who had joined it . But , was he only to speak for the members of theBritish Lodge , at the moment when their Brother was going to leave their shores ? He ( the chairman ) was not a member of the British Lodge , but he w as a Freemason , and as such he felt they
were all brothers . Had he therefore no reason to join with the members of the British Lodge in expressing his feelings on the present occasion ? He felt that he must , and on the present public occasion he would do so in the presence of the Brethren . He ( the chairman ) was charged by the G-. M . of Holland with full power in this colony ; the duties to be performed were heavy and responsible , but it was satisfactory to his mind to find those who could and would assist him , in the discharge of those duties . He had at all times found Brother WiddoWs willing and ready to assist him , although a member of a different Lodge . In accordance with the principles of Masonry , no one carried out more fully the spirit of brotherhood than he . He would call to their recollection the memorable
evening , when m the Goede Trouw Lodge , at a meeting of their Chapter , the Royal Arch met with a misunderstanding . They would remember that Brother Widdows was amongst them , that lie ( the chairman ) spoke to him , and said it Was contrary to Masonry , when he at once pub down his own feelings and allowed Masonic principle to prevail . He gave up the excitement of the moment for Masonic rule . There were several other occasions upon which he ( the chairman ) had to consult with the members who took the lead in the British Lodge , and he always found Brother Widdows the first to render him every assistance . He cast
away all differences , overlooked petty peccadillos , and acted up to the true principle of Masonry . The British Lodge was not alone in respect for their guest , for the Dutch Lodges , the Good Hope and the Goede Trouw , bore testimony as to the manner in which he had acted with regard to them . On every occasion they had found him attend to the labour of the Lodges , joining in their festivals , and at all times showing marks of kind brotherly Masonic feeling . If the Brother
who was about to leave them returned not again , it would be a loss to Masonry , and he ( the chairman ) hoped and trusted whilst bidding him farewell , that he would soon return amongst them , and find them as prosperous as they then were . He therefore proposed the health of Bro . Widdows , and in bidding him farewell , hopedjthat he would find his relatives and friends in good health , and he himself speedily return to them in good health , under the blessing of the Architect of the universe .
The toast was drunk with three times three . Bro . Widdows , in returning thanks , expressed himself at a loss for words to convey his feelings ; his tongue was full , but his heart beat heavy . After hearing what he had heard from the Prov , G . M ., who had expressed himself in so kind a manner , he could only say that it would leave a lasting impression on his mind , which would not bo forgotten as long as he lived , He was proud of the honour ' 3 p 2 '