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Article METEOPOIITAH. ← Page 3 of 16 →
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Meteopoiitah.
the glare of jewels which dim into insignificance those symbolical stars overhead , but which recall to us that there are dignitaries and rulers in the Craft whose services entitle them to our eulogy . But there is at the head of those Grand Officers one whose name I will join with this toast , my noble friend and Brother who sits on my left . ( Cheers . ) My noble friend has been lately appointed to the second office in the Craft , and therefore let us , the members of the Westminster
and Keystone Lodge , assure him that it gives us the sincerest gratification that one so distinguished for his administrative talents elsewhere should consent to take part in the Government of our Order . I hope , however , that as War Minister he will not drill us too severely . ( Laughter . ) At all events , when he is speaking , I will be always at attention . ( Great laughter . ) As my noble friend comes from the Land of Cakes , we hail his presence here this evening , not only as D . G . M . of England , hut because he symbolizes to us that union , concord , and
friendly relations which should always exist between the Grand Lodges of the two countries . In former times it was customary in Scotland that the G . M . should succeed to that honour by hereditary right , but the nobleman who had that right- — -and I know of no higher honour which a subject oL _ this realm can enjoy—of his own accord resigned it , as he thought that those only were fit to hold high places who were able to discharge the duties which belonged to them . I must make one allusion more to Scotland . A Scotch king , once , when entertaining foreigners from more sunny climes in his drear and cold dominions ( I say this
without the least disrespect to Scotland ) , was for want of hot-water plates in some embarrassment , but got out of it in this manner . When the guests arrived , they each one found a handful of Scotch gold coins beneath his plate . JSTow , when my noble friend comes to dine with us , he must be content with a less ambitious entertainment than that , but he shall have the best cheer we can afford him , and better than that , he shall have the heartiest possible welcome . Brethren , I call on you to drink ' The health of Lord Panmure , D . G . M . of England , and that of the other Grand Officers . ' "
Lord Panmure ( the applause which accompanied the mention of his name having subsided ) said : ' " W . M . and Brethren , for myself and in the name of my colleagues in office , I return you my sincere thanks for the manner in which , you have received and honoured the last toast . The Grand Officers of England have , I think , done honour to themselves in accepting the invitation of this Lodge to witness so gratifying a scene as that presented to us this evening . ( Hear , hear . ) We have seen a Lodge not only numerous from its members , but most highly
respectable from their talents and position in society , install as its master one of the young and rising statesmen of the day ( hear , hear ); and we have partaken of a hospitality , not the less royal because we have not , as at the banquet given by the king of Scotland to which the W . M . has alluded , found the gold coins beneath our napkins . We have , I say , enjoyed one of the most hospitable receptions . ( Cheers . ) I see at the Board many of the Grand Officers of England , and I am not saying more than the truth , when I say I see them filling places to which
every Mason in the Craft mny legitimately aspire , just as there is in this Lodge no office to which the Brethren , by diligence in the Craft and by those accomplishments of which they may feel justly proud , may not in proper time aspire . ( Hear , hear . ) I thought when my noble Brother the W . M . gave the toast of the ( Grand Officers , ' he would have spared all allusion to any office I may hold elsewhere ; but he has shown himself not only a great master in the Craft , but also a crafty Mason . ( Cheers and laughter . ) He said that he hoped I would not be too severe in my drill , but promised for himself that he should he always at
attention . I can only say that no drill can he effective in which the troops do not sometimes stand at ease . ( Laughter . ) He shall find mine a very mild rule indeed . Except when the dignity of the Craft requires the contrary , my word of command shall be March at ease . ' ( Cheers . ) I may now close these observations , and once more thank you for the honour you have done us . ; but as my noble friend has alluded to the Grand Lodge of Scotland , and the friendly relations which bind that institution to the Grand Lodge of England , I may be permitted , because by the favour of my noble friend the Grand Master I have the honour of holding the deputation of the Grand Lodge of England to that of Scotland , to say that I
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Meteopoiitah.
the glare of jewels which dim into insignificance those symbolical stars overhead , but which recall to us that there are dignitaries and rulers in the Craft whose services entitle them to our eulogy . But there is at the head of those Grand Officers one whose name I will join with this toast , my noble friend and Brother who sits on my left . ( Cheers . ) My noble friend has been lately appointed to the second office in the Craft , and therefore let us , the members of the Westminster
and Keystone Lodge , assure him that it gives us the sincerest gratification that one so distinguished for his administrative talents elsewhere should consent to take part in the Government of our Order . I hope , however , that as War Minister he will not drill us too severely . ( Laughter . ) At all events , when he is speaking , I will be always at attention . ( Great laughter . ) As my noble friend comes from the Land of Cakes , we hail his presence here this evening , not only as D . G . M . of England , hut because he symbolizes to us that union , concord , and
friendly relations which should always exist between the Grand Lodges of the two countries . In former times it was customary in Scotland that the G . M . should succeed to that honour by hereditary right , but the nobleman who had that right- — -and I know of no higher honour which a subject oL _ this realm can enjoy—of his own accord resigned it , as he thought that those only were fit to hold high places who were able to discharge the duties which belonged to them . I must make one allusion more to Scotland . A Scotch king , once , when entertaining foreigners from more sunny climes in his drear and cold dominions ( I say this
without the least disrespect to Scotland ) , was for want of hot-water plates in some embarrassment , but got out of it in this manner . When the guests arrived , they each one found a handful of Scotch gold coins beneath his plate . JSTow , when my noble friend comes to dine with us , he must be content with a less ambitious entertainment than that , but he shall have the best cheer we can afford him , and better than that , he shall have the heartiest possible welcome . Brethren , I call on you to drink ' The health of Lord Panmure , D . G . M . of England , and that of the other Grand Officers . ' "
Lord Panmure ( the applause which accompanied the mention of his name having subsided ) said : ' " W . M . and Brethren , for myself and in the name of my colleagues in office , I return you my sincere thanks for the manner in which , you have received and honoured the last toast . The Grand Officers of England have , I think , done honour to themselves in accepting the invitation of this Lodge to witness so gratifying a scene as that presented to us this evening . ( Hear , hear . ) We have seen a Lodge not only numerous from its members , but most highly
respectable from their talents and position in society , install as its master one of the young and rising statesmen of the day ( hear , hear ); and we have partaken of a hospitality , not the less royal because we have not , as at the banquet given by the king of Scotland to which the W . M . has alluded , found the gold coins beneath our napkins . We have , I say , enjoyed one of the most hospitable receptions . ( Cheers . ) I see at the Board many of the Grand Officers of England , and I am not saying more than the truth , when I say I see them filling places to which
every Mason in the Craft mny legitimately aspire , just as there is in this Lodge no office to which the Brethren , by diligence in the Craft and by those accomplishments of which they may feel justly proud , may not in proper time aspire . ( Hear , hear . ) I thought when my noble Brother the W . M . gave the toast of the ( Grand Officers , ' he would have spared all allusion to any office I may hold elsewhere ; but he has shown himself not only a great master in the Craft , but also a crafty Mason . ( Cheers and laughter . ) He said that he hoped I would not be too severe in my drill , but promised for himself that he should he always at
attention . I can only say that no drill can he effective in which the troops do not sometimes stand at ease . ( Laughter . ) He shall find mine a very mild rule indeed . Except when the dignity of the Craft requires the contrary , my word of command shall be March at ease . ' ( Cheers . ) I may now close these observations , and once more thank you for the honour you have done us . ; but as my noble friend has alluded to the Grand Lodge of Scotland , and the friendly relations which bind that institution to the Grand Lodge of England , I may be permitted , because by the favour of my noble friend the Grand Master I have the honour of holding the deputation of the Grand Lodge of England to that of Scotland , to say that I