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Article PROVINCIAL. ← Page 13 of 19 →
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Provincial.
which have entitled you to our highest esteem and warmest gratitude , as well as to this acknowledgment of the extent to which you have won those feelings ; but as we have many young and zealous , and , I am happy to add , talented Masons amongst us , who must be anxious to emulate the career of one thus honoured , I feel it my duty for their sakes to state a few facts , of which all who know you will admit the truth , and therefore none accuse me of flattery . To sum up your
character in one brief sentence , Bro . Haseler , you are a true Mason ; you exemplify the truth , that in Masonry there is something more than mere ceremony . There may be men of more brilliant talents , more fervid zeal , and of more shining accomplishments ; but there is not , there cannot he , a man of greater worth or more sterling integrity . You have ever a cruise of oil for the waters of strife ; a heart full of charity for the vanities of life ; and love and honour for all who are worthy of them : you are one of the first to discern merit in others , one
of the last to see it in yourself . Who ever heard Bro . Haseler say an unkind word of any one ? Who ever could say an unkind word of him ? Your position here this evening is truly an enviable one ; but who envies you ? Who does not rather wish that we had higher honours and greater rewards to bestow ? There is one , and I am happy to say but one , member of the Lodge , that does not wish this gift , for your sake , was more valuable , and that one is yourself . Others have sought and won ordinary honours : you have not sought , but you have
won , that rarest and best of all honours —the hearts and affections of your Brethren . This you have accomplished like a true Mason , by the help of God and the tongue of good report , which always has proclaimed , and which still loudly proclaims you , a model of honesty , modesty , truth , honour , and justice . Henceforth , Bro . Haseler , your name will be enrolled amongst the most
distinguished worthies of our Lodge—a Lodge ivhich , for one hundred and thirtyfour years , has been , still is , and , I hope , ever will be , second to none in the province , and I am quite sure that every Brother of that Lodge will unite with me in praying that the G . A . O . T . TJ . may bless you with health , happiness , and long life to enjoy in their fullest extent your well-merited honours . So mote it be . "
At th 6 conclusion of this speech , which was frequently interrupted with applause , Bro . Haseler rose to reply , and addressing the presiding officer and Brethren , said : " W . Sir and Brethren , the position in which I find myself placed is of so novel and peculiar a character that I scarcely know how to reply to the remarks which have fallen from Bro . White . I am sorry that on this occasion I am not gifted with the power of eloquence to express to you every feeling of my heart . The kindness I have ever experienced at your hands , and the thanks you have invariably accorded me for any trifling service which I may have rendered
you , have always proved more than an ample reward . It has , however , pleased you to say , that your thanks have not sufficiently recompensed me , and therefore you desire to give me some more substantial mark of your approbation by presenting me with this elegant gift . It is one which I shall ever prize , it will always he about my person , and near my heart ; and believe me , that the recollection of your kindness will never fade from my memory , but will , if possible , stimulate me to still further exertions . Allow me to add , that I trust that every blessing may rest upon you and yours now and ever /'
At the conclusion of Bro . Haseler ' s reply , in the delivery of which he seemed much affected , the Brethren could not resist the impulse of loudly and repeatedly cheering him . The secretary and treasurer to the testimonial ( Bro . Percy Wells ) then presented to Bro . Haseler a list of all the subscribers , which he had himself engrossed , and for wdiich Bro . Haseler briefly returned thanks . Bro . White begged permission to speak a few words in reference to the proposer ,
and he might say , without disparaging the services of either his colleagues or himself , the principal promoter of this testimonial . Bro . Percy Wells was a Brother to whom he frequently exercised the duty and privilege of an elder brother and a most sincere friend , and with whom he frequently felt it his duty or misfortune to differ in opinion , but he was never so happy as when he could bestow upon that Brother unqualified prai . se ; he ( Bro . P . Wells ) had anticipated all their wishes , fulfilled all their expectations , and he richly merited , as he w « is quite sure he
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Provincial.
which have entitled you to our highest esteem and warmest gratitude , as well as to this acknowledgment of the extent to which you have won those feelings ; but as we have many young and zealous , and , I am happy to add , talented Masons amongst us , who must be anxious to emulate the career of one thus honoured , I feel it my duty for their sakes to state a few facts , of which all who know you will admit the truth , and therefore none accuse me of flattery . To sum up your
character in one brief sentence , Bro . Haseler , you are a true Mason ; you exemplify the truth , that in Masonry there is something more than mere ceremony . There may be men of more brilliant talents , more fervid zeal , and of more shining accomplishments ; but there is not , there cannot he , a man of greater worth or more sterling integrity . You have ever a cruise of oil for the waters of strife ; a heart full of charity for the vanities of life ; and love and honour for all who are worthy of them : you are one of the first to discern merit in others , one
of the last to see it in yourself . Who ever heard Bro . Haseler say an unkind word of any one ? Who ever could say an unkind word of him ? Your position here this evening is truly an enviable one ; but who envies you ? Who does not rather wish that we had higher honours and greater rewards to bestow ? There is one , and I am happy to say but one , member of the Lodge , that does not wish this gift , for your sake , was more valuable , and that one is yourself . Others have sought and won ordinary honours : you have not sought , but you have
won , that rarest and best of all honours —the hearts and affections of your Brethren . This you have accomplished like a true Mason , by the help of God and the tongue of good report , which always has proclaimed , and which still loudly proclaims you , a model of honesty , modesty , truth , honour , and justice . Henceforth , Bro . Haseler , your name will be enrolled amongst the most
distinguished worthies of our Lodge—a Lodge ivhich , for one hundred and thirtyfour years , has been , still is , and , I hope , ever will be , second to none in the province , and I am quite sure that every Brother of that Lodge will unite with me in praying that the G . A . O . T . TJ . may bless you with health , happiness , and long life to enjoy in their fullest extent your well-merited honours . So mote it be . "
At th 6 conclusion of this speech , which was frequently interrupted with applause , Bro . Haseler rose to reply , and addressing the presiding officer and Brethren , said : " W . Sir and Brethren , the position in which I find myself placed is of so novel and peculiar a character that I scarcely know how to reply to the remarks which have fallen from Bro . White . I am sorry that on this occasion I am not gifted with the power of eloquence to express to you every feeling of my heart . The kindness I have ever experienced at your hands , and the thanks you have invariably accorded me for any trifling service which I may have rendered
you , have always proved more than an ample reward . It has , however , pleased you to say , that your thanks have not sufficiently recompensed me , and therefore you desire to give me some more substantial mark of your approbation by presenting me with this elegant gift . It is one which I shall ever prize , it will always he about my person , and near my heart ; and believe me , that the recollection of your kindness will never fade from my memory , but will , if possible , stimulate me to still further exertions . Allow me to add , that I trust that every blessing may rest upon you and yours now and ever /'
At the conclusion of Bro . Haseler ' s reply , in the delivery of which he seemed much affected , the Brethren could not resist the impulse of loudly and repeatedly cheering him . The secretary and treasurer to the testimonial ( Bro . Percy Wells ) then presented to Bro . Haseler a list of all the subscribers , which he had himself engrossed , and for wdiich Bro . Haseler briefly returned thanks . Bro . White begged permission to speak a few words in reference to the proposer ,
and he might say , without disparaging the services of either his colleagues or himself , the principal promoter of this testimonial . Bro . Percy Wells was a Brother to whom he frequently exercised the duty and privilege of an elder brother and a most sincere friend , and with whom he frequently felt it his duty or misfortune to differ in opinion , but he was never so happy as when he could bestow upon that Brother unqualified prai . se ; he ( Bro . P . Wells ) had anticipated all their wishes , fulfilled all their expectations , and he richly merited , as he w « is quite sure he