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and most orthodox aversion which ^ in common with my rev . friend opposite , I have to New-Port , I have travelled nearly seventy miles to-day on purpose to enjoy the honour and gratification of becoming personally known to you—( loud and long-continued cheers)—being most unfeignedly anxious that the Masons of the Province of Hereford should unite with the Masons of the Province of Monmouth in extending their C . T ., until they are all firmly joined together in the strong and enduring bonds of Masonic friendship and brotherhood ( great

cheering , with Masonic honours ) . I do believe , that such a union would be productive of the most beneficial effects in both Provinces ; for whilst it would enable us to realize the beautiful Masonic precept , that 'it is good for brethren to dwell together in unity / it would also prove to our neighbours , that to submit to the powers that be , to obey the laws which yield protection , to conform to the government under which we live , to be attached to our native soil and sovereign , to encourage industry , to reward merit , to practise universal benevolence , and to strive to become patterns worthy of imitation and regard , are the fundamental

tenets of Freemasonry ( enthusiastic cheers ) . The union between the Brethren of the two Provinces is the more essential , inasmuch , that as the principles of architectural masonry became mature , they also became symbolic ; and we cannot conceal from ourselves that too many of our Brethren rest satisfied with being merely symbolic Masons ; and instead of endeavouring to comprehend , to illustrate , and to work out the great truths of Masonry , content themselves with the surface and the shell ( hear , hear ) . If you will not consider me tedious , Brethren , I will endeavour to illustrate what I mean , by an example drawn from your own

beautiful county . I mean the far-famed Cistercian Abbey of Tintern ( hear , hear ) , which I visited about five weeks ago . You are all aware that our ancient Brethren were practical Masons , who covered Europe with monuments of their science , and o f that plastic genius which from an infinity of elaborate , incongruous , and often worthless details , knew so well how to evoke one sublime and harmonious whole ( cheers ) . Tintern Abbey was one of the almost countless edifices reared by our Masonic predecessors ; and the majestic ruins of the cruciform plan , the lofty arch , the oriel windows , the lateral chapels , and the central elevation ,

are full o f mystic significance . Not a groining , a mullion , or a tracery remains there , in which the initiated eye cannot read some Masonic enigma , some ghostly counsel , or some inarticulate summons to penitence and prayer ( cheers ) . As I gazed upon this crumbling monument to the glory of Masonry—so august even in its decay , the voices of our ancient Brethren seemed to sigh through the ruined arches , and bade me , instead of standing idly there , vainly regretting that we were

not practical Masons as they had been—and consequently were unable either to extract beautiful forms from lifeless stone , or to rear those lofty piles which were the wonder of the age in which they were built , and are the glory of our ownto be content , my friends , with that station in life in which God had placed me ( loud cheers ) , and to be cheered by the recollection that to us symbolic Masons , the G . A . O . T . U . had intrusted the far nobler task of aiding , however humbly and

imperfectly , in building up the character of a nation , of rising to great truths , of rearing the more magnificent and enduring structures of civil and religious liberty and mental progress , and thereby adding strength to the foundations , and fulness and splendour to the development , of moral and religious truth ( great cheering ) . These , Sir , are edifices far nobler than any which the Masons of old ever reared , for they are imperishable—they will benefit us in time , go with us into eternity , and confer upon us the best and noblest of all distinctions—that of being fellowlabourers with the Great Master Builder , God ! It now only remains for me to

discharge a very pleasing duty , in proposing the health of your Bro v . G . M . Col . Tynte ( cheering ) . Many years have passed since I had the honour of frequently meeting the gallant Colonel at the table of his late Royal Highness the Duke of Sussex , and I should have been delighted to have shaken him by the hand to-day ; for , in common with yourselves , I fully appreciate the great kindness of his heart , the urbanity of his manners , and his active and judicious exertions to promote the interests of Masonry in the Province , which he governs , with so much benefit to the Craft , and so much honour to himself . " When the Prov . G . M . of the Province of Hereford resumed his seat , the