Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Scotland,
enough when I say , that at nineteen years of age I found myself my own master , and five shillings in my pocket . With that mighty sum , a handful of old books , and no friends either to encourage or to embarrass me , I launched into business on my own account , determined to get on . Adopting Franklin as a model , and keeping in mind your own burghal motto , ' Contra Nando Incrementum , ' I toiled early and late ; learned to set types withrny own hand , printed small volumes
and tracts , almost leaf by leaf , and finally bound and disposed of them . No species of labour did I deem too hard or degrading , provided it was honest ; I persevered through all sorts of difficulties , and trusting to a kind Providence , never despaired . But I pass over twelve years of Prdinary pursuits , partly relieved by literary occupation , and come at once to the period when my brother and I commenced the business of preparing and editing a cheap and popular kind of literature * The idea of attempting something of that nature occurred to me in the early part of the year 1832 , At that time there was a growing taste for reading ,
and I resolved to take advantage of it , and lead it into new and improving channels . With that end in view , and assisted by my brother , who , in the mean time , had had his own difficulties to contend with , and whose pursuits had been more of a literary character than my own , * Chambers ' s Edinburgh Journal ¦ was started in February , 1832 . The success of this cheap periodical was altogether aniizing . Of the first number , 30 , 000 copies were sold in a few days . The circulation rose rapidly from that point , and has been for some years about f 0 , OQQ copies weekly . "
We may , we think , venture to trace the munificent gift now in preparation for the town of Peebles to the gratifying recollections of the proceedings on that occasion . When the prophet found himself honoured in his own country , gratitude no doubt prompted him to do something in return , and Mr . Chambers has adopted the characteristic plan of adding to the natural or scenic attractions of the burgh a reading-room , picture-gallery , museum , and reference library , —an act which we believe is entirely spontaneous on the part of Mr . Chambers , and done purely
from a wish to improve the place of his nativity . The Prov . Grand Lodge was opened in due form in Tontine Hotel by the R . W . Prov . Grand Master , Bro . Forbes McKenzie , assisted by Bros . J . Wolfe Murray , Sub . Prov . G . M . ; Samuel Hay , D . Prov . G . M . ; Francis D . McCowan , R . W . M . No . 1 , Prov . G . SW . ; Thomas Drybrough , R . W . M . No . 2 , Prov . G . J . W . ; John Willing , Prov . G . Treas . ;
John Donaldson , Prov . G . Sec . ; the Rev . A . J . Murray , G . Chap . ; Robert Laurie , G . Bible-bearer ; and the other Prov . Grand Office-bearers and numerous Brethren . In the mean time the members of the Peebles Kilwinning Lodge had assembled at the house of their R . W . M ., Bro . Donaldson , and escorted him to the Lodge , which was then opened , and the various deputations received , Thereafter the procession was formed in the following order : —
Lodge St . Clair , Edinburgh , No . 349 , headed by R . W . M . Bro . Crichton , Lodge Edinburgh and Leith Celtic , No . 291 , headed by R . W . M . Bro . Hay Lodge Portobello , No . 226 , headed by R . W . M . Bro . Scott . Lodge Stow , No . 216 , headed by R . W . M . Bro . Gray . Lodge Roman Eagle , No . 160 , headed by R . W . M . Bro . fcnox . Lodge Edinburgh Defensive Band , No . 151 , headed by Bro . Gregory .
Lodge St . James Operative , No . 97 , headed by R . W . M . Bro . Bryce . Lodge St . David , No . 36 , headed by R . W . M . Bro . Downie . Lodge Cannongate and Leith , No . 5 , headed by R . W . M . Bro . Pearson . Lodge Cannongate Kilwinning , No . 2 , headed by Bro . Dr . Macritie , D . M . Lodge Edinburgh ( Mary ' s Chapel ) , No . 1 , headed by Br . Dr . Drysdale , followed by the Peebles Kilwinning Lodge , No . 24 , headed by a band of music .
The procession proceeded to the Tontine Hotel , where they were joined by the Prov . Grand Lodge , the provost , magistrates , and town council of Peebles , with the borough officers with their halberds ; Mr . Chambers carrying the plans of the institution , supported by gentlemen of the town and neighbourhood , including members of the Bridge Committee ; also an instrumental band , which , as they walked on , played the Masonic Anthem . On arriving at the Eddies ton Bridge , or the Old Cuddie Bridge as it was formerly called , the Brethren halted and
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Scotland,
enough when I say , that at nineteen years of age I found myself my own master , and five shillings in my pocket . With that mighty sum , a handful of old books , and no friends either to encourage or to embarrass me , I launched into business on my own account , determined to get on . Adopting Franklin as a model , and keeping in mind your own burghal motto , ' Contra Nando Incrementum , ' I toiled early and late ; learned to set types withrny own hand , printed small volumes
and tracts , almost leaf by leaf , and finally bound and disposed of them . No species of labour did I deem too hard or degrading , provided it was honest ; I persevered through all sorts of difficulties , and trusting to a kind Providence , never despaired . But I pass over twelve years of Prdinary pursuits , partly relieved by literary occupation , and come at once to the period when my brother and I commenced the business of preparing and editing a cheap and popular kind of literature * The idea of attempting something of that nature occurred to me in the early part of the year 1832 , At that time there was a growing taste for reading ,
and I resolved to take advantage of it , and lead it into new and improving channels . With that end in view , and assisted by my brother , who , in the mean time , had had his own difficulties to contend with , and whose pursuits had been more of a literary character than my own , * Chambers ' s Edinburgh Journal ¦ was started in February , 1832 . The success of this cheap periodical was altogether aniizing . Of the first number , 30 , 000 copies were sold in a few days . The circulation rose rapidly from that point , and has been for some years about f 0 , OQQ copies weekly . "
We may , we think , venture to trace the munificent gift now in preparation for the town of Peebles to the gratifying recollections of the proceedings on that occasion . When the prophet found himself honoured in his own country , gratitude no doubt prompted him to do something in return , and Mr . Chambers has adopted the characteristic plan of adding to the natural or scenic attractions of the burgh a reading-room , picture-gallery , museum , and reference library , —an act which we believe is entirely spontaneous on the part of Mr . Chambers , and done purely
from a wish to improve the place of his nativity . The Prov . Grand Lodge was opened in due form in Tontine Hotel by the R . W . Prov . Grand Master , Bro . Forbes McKenzie , assisted by Bros . J . Wolfe Murray , Sub . Prov . G . M . ; Samuel Hay , D . Prov . G . M . ; Francis D . McCowan , R . W . M . No . 1 , Prov . G . SW . ; Thomas Drybrough , R . W . M . No . 2 , Prov . G . J . W . ; John Willing , Prov . G . Treas . ;
John Donaldson , Prov . G . Sec . ; the Rev . A . J . Murray , G . Chap . ; Robert Laurie , G . Bible-bearer ; and the other Prov . Grand Office-bearers and numerous Brethren . In the mean time the members of the Peebles Kilwinning Lodge had assembled at the house of their R . W . M ., Bro . Donaldson , and escorted him to the Lodge , which was then opened , and the various deputations received , Thereafter the procession was formed in the following order : —
Lodge St . Clair , Edinburgh , No . 349 , headed by R . W . M . Bro . Crichton , Lodge Edinburgh and Leith Celtic , No . 291 , headed by R . W . M . Bro . Hay Lodge Portobello , No . 226 , headed by R . W . M . Bro . Scott . Lodge Stow , No . 216 , headed by R . W . M . Bro . Gray . Lodge Roman Eagle , No . 160 , headed by R . W . M . Bro . fcnox . Lodge Edinburgh Defensive Band , No . 151 , headed by Bro . Gregory .
Lodge St . James Operative , No . 97 , headed by R . W . M . Bro . Bryce . Lodge St . David , No . 36 , headed by R . W . M . Bro . Downie . Lodge Cannongate and Leith , No . 5 , headed by R . W . M . Bro . Pearson . Lodge Cannongate Kilwinning , No . 2 , headed by Bro . Dr . Macritie , D . M . Lodge Edinburgh ( Mary ' s Chapel ) , No . 1 , headed by Br . Dr . Drysdale , followed by the Peebles Kilwinning Lodge , No . 24 , headed by a band of music .
The procession proceeded to the Tontine Hotel , where they were joined by the Prov . Grand Lodge , the provost , magistrates , and town council of Peebles , with the borough officers with their halberds ; Mr . Chambers carrying the plans of the institution , supported by gentlemen of the town and neighbourhood , including members of the Bridge Committee ; also an instrumental band , which , as they walked on , played the Masonic Anthem . On arriving at the Eddies ton Bridge , or the Old Cuddie Bridge as it was formerly called , the Brethren halted and