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Article PBOVIUCIAL, ← Page 7 of 9 →
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Pboviucial,
^ The Prov . G . M . 4 then proceeded to address the assembled brethren in a peculiarly affecting manner , and several times the gallant gentleman seemed , from the intensity of his emotion , almost overcome . He . said , —" -Brethren , and more particularly gentlemen of the . ' town of Taunton , —it Is now thirty-seven years since I had the honour of laying the foundation stone . of your market-place . I have from that time-watched with , great pleasure the progress , increase , and benefits which that market has brought to your town and neighbourhood , blessing those who
give and those who receive ; for it has been a blessing to those who supply the market , as ; well as to those who have consumed—and it is altogether one of the best markets in the kingdom . There could not be a better market supply to the population of your important town ; and it has given bodily comfort—the comforts of life—and the necessaries of jlife to thousands and thousands . We are assembled here to-day upon a totally different subject . We are assembled for the purpose of dedicating— -I may say , a temple to the Lord—because , although it is only part ,
Ave may take a part for the Avhole , because it is the most important part . We are assembled here for a truly religious and Christian purpose . We are assembled to restore a building in a Christian country , and for the purpose of Christian worship . We are assembled here to rebuild that beautiful structure , which was the admiration of all who saAV it , and I trust that when our efforts are crowned with success , whoever is blessed with sight to admire the structure , may also be struck Avith the purpose for which it is intended ; and that they may Avith devout reflections find spiritual comfort—comfort to their souls .
" This church is uoav dedicated , and has been for many years , to the worship of the Almighty , and for the service of prayer , praise , sacrifice and thanksgivings- — thanksgivings to the Giver of all good things , but more especially for the redemption of mankind through Jesus Christ . Brethren , upon a former occasion there was some disappointment expressed at my not having said anything in regard to Freemasonry , or Avhy Freemasons should be called upon to fulfil these duties . I
will touch upon that presently , though it is a delicate subject ; but I can speak m truth . I will first of all hope that the toAver may be completed , and that when it is completed that that fine set of bells may be restored to us , which possessed such beauty and interest for the Avhole country around us , and I will also hope that the minor chimes may be combined too , for light as those airs Avere , they Avere melodious , and gave great delight to the surrounding country .
" But do not fancy , my brethren , that I am upholding the mere gingling bells ; though bells have their particular use , and may I say , service . I remember a Latin verse , very quaint , very eloquent , and very comprehensive , which I believe Avas inscribed upon some famous bell . It made the bell speak in the first person . It was very quaint and very eloquent , and it would be very difficult to translate it properly , but I think it may be construed somewhat in this way' When marriage , birth , or mirth , their pleasures bring , I ring—To call the folks to prayer in time , I chime—When from the body parts the soul , I toll/—You
see , therefore , brethren , that there are religious uses in church bells , Well , brethren , I will return to tlie purpose for which the church is re-built . Our blessed Jjord has told us , 'I and my Father are One . ' He has said , ' Where two or three are gathered together in my name , there will I he in the midst of them . * Let us hope—let us humbly hope , that the all-seeing eye of the Great Architect of the Universe is now looking upon us on this occasion ; that He and His Son are looking upon this work with approbation and favour , and may He send down His Holy Spirit in the perfection of it . Brethren , some people have imagined that Freemasonry is repugnant to Christianity . It is quite the contrary . I may say that
there is a great analogy between them . We all know that when our blessed Lord came upon earth to take the nature of man upon Him , that His miraculous birth Avas hailed by miracles of a glorious kind ; that the anno tin cement was made to mankind by a miraculous appearance in the heavens , and angels appeared and announced * glad tidings of great joy . ' ' The glory of the Lord shone round about , ' and certainly there Avas a multitude of the heavenly host singing so significantly , so comprehensively , so sublimely , that it could not originate otherwise than by Divine inspiration . That hymn , we all know , Avas ' Glory to Cod in the highest , on earth peace , and goodwill towards men . ' Now divines cannot explain
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Pboviucial,
^ The Prov . G . M . 4 then proceeded to address the assembled brethren in a peculiarly affecting manner , and several times the gallant gentleman seemed , from the intensity of his emotion , almost overcome . He . said , —" -Brethren , and more particularly gentlemen of the . ' town of Taunton , —it Is now thirty-seven years since I had the honour of laying the foundation stone . of your market-place . I have from that time-watched with , great pleasure the progress , increase , and benefits which that market has brought to your town and neighbourhood , blessing those who
give and those who receive ; for it has been a blessing to those who supply the market , as ; well as to those who have consumed—and it is altogether one of the best markets in the kingdom . There could not be a better market supply to the population of your important town ; and it has given bodily comfort—the comforts of life—and the necessaries of jlife to thousands and thousands . We are assembled here to-day upon a totally different subject . We are assembled for the purpose of dedicating— -I may say , a temple to the Lord—because , although it is only part ,
Ave may take a part for the Avhole , because it is the most important part . We are assembled here for a truly religious and Christian purpose . We are assembled to restore a building in a Christian country , and for the purpose of Christian worship . We are assembled here to rebuild that beautiful structure , which was the admiration of all who saAV it , and I trust that when our efforts are crowned with success , whoever is blessed with sight to admire the structure , may also be struck Avith the purpose for which it is intended ; and that they may Avith devout reflections find spiritual comfort—comfort to their souls .
" This church is uoav dedicated , and has been for many years , to the worship of the Almighty , and for the service of prayer , praise , sacrifice and thanksgivings- — thanksgivings to the Giver of all good things , but more especially for the redemption of mankind through Jesus Christ . Brethren , upon a former occasion there was some disappointment expressed at my not having said anything in regard to Freemasonry , or Avhy Freemasons should be called upon to fulfil these duties . I
will touch upon that presently , though it is a delicate subject ; but I can speak m truth . I will first of all hope that the toAver may be completed , and that when it is completed that that fine set of bells may be restored to us , which possessed such beauty and interest for the Avhole country around us , and I will also hope that the minor chimes may be combined too , for light as those airs Avere , they Avere melodious , and gave great delight to the surrounding country .
" But do not fancy , my brethren , that I am upholding the mere gingling bells ; though bells have their particular use , and may I say , service . I remember a Latin verse , very quaint , very eloquent , and very comprehensive , which I believe Avas inscribed upon some famous bell . It made the bell speak in the first person . It was very quaint and very eloquent , and it would be very difficult to translate it properly , but I think it may be construed somewhat in this way' When marriage , birth , or mirth , their pleasures bring , I ring—To call the folks to prayer in time , I chime—When from the body parts the soul , I toll/—You
see , therefore , brethren , that there are religious uses in church bells , Well , brethren , I will return to tlie purpose for which the church is re-built . Our blessed Jjord has told us , 'I and my Father are One . ' He has said , ' Where two or three are gathered together in my name , there will I he in the midst of them . * Let us hope—let us humbly hope , that the all-seeing eye of the Great Architect of the Universe is now looking upon us on this occasion ; that He and His Son are looking upon this work with approbation and favour , and may He send down His Holy Spirit in the perfection of it . Brethren , some people have imagined that Freemasonry is repugnant to Christianity . It is quite the contrary . I may say that
there is a great analogy between them . We all know that when our blessed Lord came upon earth to take the nature of man upon Him , that His miraculous birth Avas hailed by miracles of a glorious kind ; that the anno tin cement was made to mankind by a miraculous appearance in the heavens , and angels appeared and announced * glad tidings of great joy . ' ' The glory of the Lord shone round about , ' and certainly there Avas a multitude of the heavenly host singing so significantly , so comprehensively , so sublimely , that it could not originate otherwise than by Divine inspiration . That hymn , we all know , Avas ' Glory to Cod in the highest , on earth peace , and goodwill towards men . ' Now divines cannot explain