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Instruction.
minister to the necessities of those who are hot immediately of us , and who hava no claimupon us , other than in the discharge of our claim to be practitioners of a universal benevolence . ( Applause ) . I see it support and nobly support its vast and varied charities , I see it generally "united and brotherly in its internal union . I behold in it a means of bringing together and uniting in one happy commiinion men of all kindreds and tongues ^ of every diversity of religious and political
feelings-linking generations each to each in the bonds of the purest and most disinterested friendship . Seeing allthese things , and proud as ev ery man must be of such ail institution , I should like to see it do more , and identify itself now , as it did of old , in some degree with the prosecution of scientific and intellectual research . ( Applause ) . Masons of old were not less charitable , as far as their means permitted , nor were they less united than ourselves , and they did much for science . They identified themselves with it , indeed
they were the leaders of one particular branch , and that the earliest and the most useful . Masonry , first a religious mystery , afterwards became a scientific and social union . Neglected and almost forgotten , it at length appeared again as a charitable and social institution . May it be reserved for us to regain for it its former high position ! ( Loud aM continued applause ) . I trust the day is not far distant when Masonry shall take an immense stride—when private Lodges shall devote a portion of their time to the study of the arts and sciences— -when
men shall once more seek our temples as a means of advancement m knowledgewhen the parent body , with a local habitation . worthy of its name , shall encourage the study of those liberal arts which lie within its peculiar province , ( Hear , hear . ) As the first step in this direction , I hail with peculiar pleasure and delight the prospect which appears to be opening before us . I long to see a library established within these walls . ( Applause . ) I trust that one of the obj ects to be carried out in that library will be the delivery of lectures on scientific subjects connected especially
with our institution . I should like to see its walls adorned not only with the interesting relics of antiquity , its shelves enriched with the works of the learned of all ages , but I should like to see it adorned also with the busts and statues , the portraits and reminiscences of the great , the good , the noble—fitting testimonials to those who have distinguished themselves by their acquirements in science , or by
their devotion to our Order . ( Applause . ) Why should not our children and our childrens' children see perpetuated in lasting marble , or in faithful portraiture , the lineaments of those who have laboured worthily and well hi our cause ? By the side of Wren and Jones should stand the noble and the great , a Sussex or a Moira , and by them again , the humbler , but not leas useful , labourers in the Craft . Why should not our children Graze on their features and see what manner of men were
they who taught and led in days gone by ? Why should not a Gilkes or a Wilson ( applause ) occupy with the great , side by side , a fitting place ? As in life , so in memory , side by side , in Masonic equality , the noble and the learned , the great and the good—just tribute to their labour , just memorial to their worth , ( Hear , hear . ) It is worthy of remark that almost all the Grand Lodges of the present day have taken their origin from the Grand Lodge of England—the greatest , the oldest , the purest , and consequently tho most influential of all Grand Lodges . ( Hear . ) It
may be compared in fact to a city set upon a hill . We are the great centre and authority in Freemasonry . Let not this be merely a proud boast , but let it rather awaken us to a sense of our responsibilities . It is no proof of our weakness , as some would teach to our disparagement , that some of our Brethren have cast off their allegiance and have found themselves strong enough to stand alone . It is rather a proof of the extension of the influence and power of Freemasonry . If
h reemasonry be carried out in Canada in all its integrity , as it doubtless will be , English Masons will never complain of the progress , or envy the prosperity of their Canadian Brethren , but rather hasten to bury all past differences in oblivion , and offering them cordially the right hand of fellowship , heartily wish them God-speed . ( Loud applause . ) Brethren , the Grand Lodge of England has arrived at a period of unexampled prosperity . We are rising into gigantic power and influence . Yet is this position not without its dangers . Apathy and indifference on the one hand ,
envy and jealousy on the other , may yet make us experience the bitter truth of those lines of tho poet , that—
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Instruction.
minister to the necessities of those who are hot immediately of us , and who hava no claimupon us , other than in the discharge of our claim to be practitioners of a universal benevolence . ( Applause ) . I see it support and nobly support its vast and varied charities , I see it generally "united and brotherly in its internal union . I behold in it a means of bringing together and uniting in one happy commiinion men of all kindreds and tongues ^ of every diversity of religious and political
feelings-linking generations each to each in the bonds of the purest and most disinterested friendship . Seeing allthese things , and proud as ev ery man must be of such ail institution , I should like to see it do more , and identify itself now , as it did of old , in some degree with the prosecution of scientific and intellectual research . ( Applause ) . Masons of old were not less charitable , as far as their means permitted , nor were they less united than ourselves , and they did much for science . They identified themselves with it , indeed
they were the leaders of one particular branch , and that the earliest and the most useful . Masonry , first a religious mystery , afterwards became a scientific and social union . Neglected and almost forgotten , it at length appeared again as a charitable and social institution . May it be reserved for us to regain for it its former high position ! ( Loud aM continued applause ) . I trust the day is not far distant when Masonry shall take an immense stride—when private Lodges shall devote a portion of their time to the study of the arts and sciences— -when
men shall once more seek our temples as a means of advancement m knowledgewhen the parent body , with a local habitation . worthy of its name , shall encourage the study of those liberal arts which lie within its peculiar province , ( Hear , hear . ) As the first step in this direction , I hail with peculiar pleasure and delight the prospect which appears to be opening before us . I long to see a library established within these walls . ( Applause . ) I trust that one of the obj ects to be carried out in that library will be the delivery of lectures on scientific subjects connected especially
with our institution . I should like to see its walls adorned not only with the interesting relics of antiquity , its shelves enriched with the works of the learned of all ages , but I should like to see it adorned also with the busts and statues , the portraits and reminiscences of the great , the good , the noble—fitting testimonials to those who have distinguished themselves by their acquirements in science , or by
their devotion to our Order . ( Applause . ) Why should not our children and our childrens' children see perpetuated in lasting marble , or in faithful portraiture , the lineaments of those who have laboured worthily and well hi our cause ? By the side of Wren and Jones should stand the noble and the great , a Sussex or a Moira , and by them again , the humbler , but not leas useful , labourers in the Craft . Why should not our children Graze on their features and see what manner of men were
they who taught and led in days gone by ? Why should not a Gilkes or a Wilson ( applause ) occupy with the great , side by side , a fitting place ? As in life , so in memory , side by side , in Masonic equality , the noble and the learned , the great and the good—just tribute to their labour , just memorial to their worth , ( Hear , hear . ) It is worthy of remark that almost all the Grand Lodges of the present day have taken their origin from the Grand Lodge of England—the greatest , the oldest , the purest , and consequently tho most influential of all Grand Lodges . ( Hear . ) It
may be compared in fact to a city set upon a hill . We are the great centre and authority in Freemasonry . Let not this be merely a proud boast , but let it rather awaken us to a sense of our responsibilities . It is no proof of our weakness , as some would teach to our disparagement , that some of our Brethren have cast off their allegiance and have found themselves strong enough to stand alone . It is rather a proof of the extension of the influence and power of Freemasonry . If
h reemasonry be carried out in Canada in all its integrity , as it doubtless will be , English Masons will never complain of the progress , or envy the prosperity of their Canadian Brethren , but rather hasten to bury all past differences in oblivion , and offering them cordially the right hand of fellowship , heartily wish them God-speed . ( Loud applause . ) Brethren , the Grand Lodge of England has arrived at a period of unexampled prosperity . We are rising into gigantic power and influence . Yet is this position not without its dangers . Apathy and indifference on the one hand ,
envy and jealousy on the other , may yet make us experience the bitter truth of those lines of tho poet , that—