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Article provincial. ← Page 4 of 10 →
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Provincial.
we might expect a return , but in seeking out objects of charity , and by so doing we had God's promise that Ave should be blessed ; blessed in a variety of ways . Even the poor who had reduced themselves to wretchedness by their own evil conduct , were not to be altogether excluded from our consideration . There Avas a common bond between them and us , and if in the meekness of the spirit of Christ Ave sought to restore them to the love of God , we could not tell but that he , in his abundant mercy , would give them a right understanding in all things . Though
the poor could not recompense us , they could pray for their benefactors , and the effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much . Job was a benefactor to the poor , and God blessed him . There Avas certainly a connection between liberality to the poor , from true love to God , and the enjoyment of spiritual and temporal mercies . In the day when the Son of Man shall come in his glory , then shall he sit upon the throne of his glory , and he shall say to those on his right hand , ¦ " Come ye blessed of my Father , inherit the kingdom prepared for you ; for I was an hungered and ye gave me meat ; thirsty , and ye gave me drink ; a
stranger , and ye took me in ; naked , and ye clothed me , & c . Verily I say unto you , inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren , ye have done it unto me , & c . " Their pecuniary aid on that occasion was asked for two public charities in that town , which were most excellent means for relieving and comforting the sick , the disabled , and the aged . These two charitable institutions were the Yarmouth Hospital and the District Visiting Society ; in pleading entirely for which that day , he felt he should have the concurrence of the Brethren of the fraternity . Undoubtedly these institutions
were the means , in many instances , under the blessing of God , in restoring health and strength to the enfeebled body , and of imparting sound religious instruction to the uninformed mind . The hospital in Yarmouth was built in June , 1838 , and , therefore , the twentieth anniversary had just passed over . During the past year , 130 in-patients had been admitted , and about 700 out-patients relieved . The expenditure during the last year exceeded the income by £ 130 . The District Visiting Society expended yearly about £ 180 . District visiting societies , under the direction of men of judgment and godliness , were most useful auxiliaries to the ministers of true religion , and of great temporal and spiritual benefit to the poor generally . Addressing himself more particularly to the members of their fraternity , he said they knew the principles of their society were in strict accordance with religious duties . They knew that the great virtue of charity was frequently inculcated , upon them . Indeed , were they wanting in this feeling , they ought not to bear the name by Avhich they were called . Some of the fraternity
might indulge in evil conduct , and might cause the fraternity to he evil spoken of : so might men who called themselves Christians , act contrary to the precepts of the gospel of salvation . Honourable conduct in the fraternity was , however , of the utmost importance . Honourable conduct in a Brother was an introduction to their fraternity , and of very great service to mankind . They , on all occasions , should show proper respect and love to every man Avho bowed Avith reverential fear to Almighty God , and should conduct themselves as loyal subjects , in paying all civil respect and obedience to her whom God in His providence had invested
with regal authority over them , and whose father was one of the fraternity . Let them love all men , and let brotherly love , relief , and truth , instruct them on that as or all occasions . They had their own charitable institutions for the benefit of the aged Brothers , their widows and children , and these institutions were supported by their voluntary contributions ; and societiesfor clothing female children of Masons in reduced circumstances . They had also an institution for educating , and clothing , and apprenticing the sons of indigent or distressed Brethren . They had ; at the present time , sixty pensioners receiving relief from what is called the Fund
of Benevolence , and upwards of £ 1 , 500 is annually distributed amongst distressed Brethren . Their charitable institutions expended last year more than £ 6 , 000 . Notwithstanding this liberality , he hoped the Brethren of the Order would not be backward , according to their several abilities , and in compliance with the wish of the minister of the parish , to afford an increase of funds to two of the most excellent charities that can possibly be in operation . If they wished comfort to the poor- in this country , let them pray for the poor , and then they would not be ] ess N 2
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Provincial.
we might expect a return , but in seeking out objects of charity , and by so doing we had God's promise that Ave should be blessed ; blessed in a variety of ways . Even the poor who had reduced themselves to wretchedness by their own evil conduct , were not to be altogether excluded from our consideration . There Avas a common bond between them and us , and if in the meekness of the spirit of Christ Ave sought to restore them to the love of God , we could not tell but that he , in his abundant mercy , would give them a right understanding in all things . Though
the poor could not recompense us , they could pray for their benefactors , and the effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much . Job was a benefactor to the poor , and God blessed him . There Avas certainly a connection between liberality to the poor , from true love to God , and the enjoyment of spiritual and temporal mercies . In the day when the Son of Man shall come in his glory , then shall he sit upon the throne of his glory , and he shall say to those on his right hand , ¦ " Come ye blessed of my Father , inherit the kingdom prepared for you ; for I was an hungered and ye gave me meat ; thirsty , and ye gave me drink ; a
stranger , and ye took me in ; naked , and ye clothed me , & c . Verily I say unto you , inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren , ye have done it unto me , & c . " Their pecuniary aid on that occasion was asked for two public charities in that town , which were most excellent means for relieving and comforting the sick , the disabled , and the aged . These two charitable institutions were the Yarmouth Hospital and the District Visiting Society ; in pleading entirely for which that day , he felt he should have the concurrence of the Brethren of the fraternity . Undoubtedly these institutions
were the means , in many instances , under the blessing of God , in restoring health and strength to the enfeebled body , and of imparting sound religious instruction to the uninformed mind . The hospital in Yarmouth was built in June , 1838 , and , therefore , the twentieth anniversary had just passed over . During the past year , 130 in-patients had been admitted , and about 700 out-patients relieved . The expenditure during the last year exceeded the income by £ 130 . The District Visiting Society expended yearly about £ 180 . District visiting societies , under the direction of men of judgment and godliness , were most useful auxiliaries to the ministers of true religion , and of great temporal and spiritual benefit to the poor generally . Addressing himself more particularly to the members of their fraternity , he said they knew the principles of their society were in strict accordance with religious duties . They knew that the great virtue of charity was frequently inculcated , upon them . Indeed , were they wanting in this feeling , they ought not to bear the name by Avhich they were called . Some of the fraternity
might indulge in evil conduct , and might cause the fraternity to he evil spoken of : so might men who called themselves Christians , act contrary to the precepts of the gospel of salvation . Honourable conduct in the fraternity was , however , of the utmost importance . Honourable conduct in a Brother was an introduction to their fraternity , and of very great service to mankind . They , on all occasions , should show proper respect and love to every man Avho bowed Avith reverential fear to Almighty God , and should conduct themselves as loyal subjects , in paying all civil respect and obedience to her whom God in His providence had invested
with regal authority over them , and whose father was one of the fraternity . Let them love all men , and let brotherly love , relief , and truth , instruct them on that as or all occasions . They had their own charitable institutions for the benefit of the aged Brothers , their widows and children , and these institutions were supported by their voluntary contributions ; and societiesfor clothing female children of Masons in reduced circumstances . They had also an institution for educating , and clothing , and apprenticing the sons of indigent or distressed Brethren . They had ; at the present time , sixty pensioners receiving relief from what is called the Fund
of Benevolence , and upwards of £ 1 , 500 is annually distributed amongst distressed Brethren . Their charitable institutions expended last year more than £ 6 , 000 . Notwithstanding this liberality , he hoped the Brethren of the Order would not be backward , according to their several abilities , and in compliance with the wish of the minister of the parish , to afford an increase of funds to two of the most excellent charities that can possibly be in operation . If they wished comfort to the poor- in this country , let them pray for the poor , and then they would not be ] ess N 2