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Article PROVINCIAL. ← Page 3 of 4 →
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Provincial.
pleading in the cause of charity , he was now so destitute himself as to crave the assistance he had always so willingly given , and so powerfully advocated , and one hundred pounds will forthwith be placed at his disposal , but beyond that he will , no doubt , ere long , be placed on the list of the Royal Masonic Benevolent Annuity Fund , and have a permanent Masonic income . You will say how comes it that such a man shall reach so low a state ? Brethren , there is a plague spot in this country that ,
under the name of justice , too frequently destroys its victims , not by mercifully depriving them of life , hut by slow degrees bringing them to want , and in the misery of hope deferred , makefch the heart sick ; that plague spot is tbe Court of Chancery , and there our poor' brother is shipwrecked in mind , body , and estate . His miseries began in comparatively olden times ^ . and although Chancery is better than it was , it need to be better than it isfor I speak from my own knowled when I I
, ge say am just settling a suit which has onl y had the mere preliminaries in Chancery , and in three months we have spent £ 3000 ; I am a winner to a satisfastory extent , but I can sympathise with a poor brother literally reduced to poverty and despair , by what is called the justice of his country . A lucky decision may , it is hoped , place him once more in the possession of abundance ; but what shall ever restore the lost happiness and atone for the torture of many years' anxiety , the
deprivation of almost the very necessaries of life ? Brethren , there were last night many other sad , sad cases ; twenty-three in all , that had the benevolent attention of the Masonic body with whom he had the gratification of associating last evening , but the severe cold under which he laboured compelled him to leave ; he had , however , ponrtrayed to them a lesson of the deepest interest , [ full of food for reflection , and affording instances of Masonic charityworthy of an ancient and
honour-, able institution , and this alone , if there were not abundant other reasons , answered his reflections in the outset of his address , had he been associated in a glorious charity spreading its beneficent influence over the minds of the brethren , and conducing to the comfort and happiness of mankind ; but , continued Bro . Stebbing , I am not here to exhibit to you the excellence of Freemasonry , so ranch as to express my own thankfulness on this occasion ; but these events , so gratifying and yet so sad ,
so rich in benevolence and yet so full of interest to the thoughtful mind and the feeling heart , events occurring within twentyfour hours force from me some expressions of admiration when we meet together , old friends and brother Masons , in the performance of a different , but another act of kindness , so truly characteristic of Freemasonry—I mean that which your W . M . has so gracefully performed to-night ; he had this gratification in receiving their brief but expressive addressand the
beauti-, ful jewel and accompanying salver on which it was placed , that he had in no degree contributed to the compliment , that it was the spontaneous act of his too kind and most worthy brethren , little as ho deserved it ; the design was theirs , and the kindness also , it was as unexpected as it was liberal , and friendly , and Masonic , amply rewarding his poor services to Masonry , and giving him in his hereafter life a never-ceasing subject of
happiness and a lively feeling of gratitude . He hoped most sincerely that , like his father , and many of his family he might live to a good old age to be useful to Masonry and to his lodge , and be cheered onward in every anxiety by the kindness and sympathy of the Brethren in every anxiety , and the rich treasure of their friendship and ' affection in every ' circumstance of life . But whilst these personal feelings moved him and found such poor utterance as he could givelet him offer hearty prayers for
, their long and happy association in the Southampton Lodge ; that none of them at least should ever be the practical recipients of that charity which he had endeavoured to pourtray ; but many nay all—of similarjdistinguished compliments to which they had delighted to pay him ; tliat , | untouched by the vicissitudes of life , they might all with their good names and fame transmit wealth and independence to those nearest and dearest to them and in their children's happiness and prosperity , pass into the
calm and unruffled period of hale old age , dignified by a wellspent and useful life , and cheered by the recollections of benevolence and charity that had so mueh of divinity in their nature and no tarnish in its work , he was unable to say all ho had intended from physical suffering and poverty of words , but his heart was full of gratitude , and he could never , never , forget their kindness , and never cease to entertain the liveliest recollections of the great happiness he had experienced in Masonry , and the lasting friendships and brotherly love he had so long passed in its happy association , and which he truly hoped and
trusted would ever continue to be the greatest triumph of the Southampton Lodge , and the cement and cope-stone of all their masonic work . After many excellent speeches from various brethren , the lodge was called to labour and closed in form , the brethren separating with great gratification with all the proceedings .
SOUTHAMPTON . —Lodge of Peace and Sarmony ( "So . 462 . )—Avery numerous meeting of this lodge was held ou the 19 th ult ., Bro . Thomas V . Payne , W . M ., in the chair , and at which all the lodges in the town ( four in number ) , were fully represented . The usual business having been transacted Jand a subscription voted to the Boys' School , on application of Bros . Stebbing and Hayward , Stewards this year for Hampshire , the interesting ceremony took lace of presenting the immediate Past MasterBro
p , . J . R . Weston , ex-Sheriff of Southampton , with an elegant Past Master's jewel , supplied by Bro . Abraham . The W . M ., in a most kind and suitable manner referred to Bro . Weston's valuable services to the lodge as Master during the past year , and as Secretary to the Royal Gloucester Lodge , to which many of the members also belonged , and stated that a due estimation of those services and the strong personal regard entertained for him had induced
the brethren with perfect unanimity to subscribe together and purchase the beautiful jewel which he had the pleasure of placing on his breast . The W . M . appropriately expressing the gratification which the presentation afforded , and which was responded to by the hearty concurrence of the brethren . The jewel bore the following inscription : — "Presented to Bro . J . R . Weston , P . M . No . 462 , by the members of the lodge , in
testimony of his valuable services as W . M ., and of their personal regard , 1 S 62 . " Bro . Weston expressed himself highly gratified by the compliment paid him , he had already experienced the greatest pleasure by the manner in which his services had been acknowledged at the last meeting , but the most kind and valuable token of approbation and regard would be treasured up by himself and his family as referring to one of the happiest periods of his life .
KENT . CHATHAM . —Royal Kent Lodge of Antiquity ( No . 20 ) . —The , regular lodge meeting was held at the Sun Hotel , on Wednesday the 19 th inst . The lodge was opened at six o'clock , when Messrs . Dyas and Warman were ballotted for and accepted by the members present . Bro . George Arthur Everist , W . M ., initiated them into the mysteries of Freemasonry in a very able and impressive manner . The usual proclamation being iven
g , The W . M . proposed that £ 10 . 10 s . be voted from the lodge funds for the benefit of the Boys' School . Bro . Cooley , P . M ., seconded the resolution , and it was carried unanimously . It was also agreed that a further subscription be made from an individual collection , and the whole handed over to Bro . Dobson , D . Prov . G . M ., who has kindly undertaken to act as Steward for the Institution at the next Festival The lodge was then closed , and
the brethren adjourned to banquet . The usual masonic and loyal toasts were given and responded to . A very convivial evening was spent . The brethren separated with this , motto" Happy to meet , sorry to part , and happy to meet again . "
GEAVESEND . —Lodge of Freedom ( No . 91 ) . —The usual monthly meeting of this lodge was held at the Town-hall on the 17 th inst . The lodge was opened a seven o'clock precisely , when Messrs . Hollingum and Jacobs were ballotted for and accepted by the brethren . The W . M ., Bro . T . French Nettlingham , proceeded to initiate the candidates for tbe mysteries in a very excellent and impressive manner , after which he gave them the charge . The usual proclamation being made , it was proposed
by the W . M ., and seconded by the Secretary , Bro . Spencer , that £ 15 . 15 . ? . he voted from the funds of the lodge No . 91 ; also that £ 5 . 5 s . be voted from the funds of lodge 709 , which was unanmously carried by the brethren ; the above sums to be devoted to the benefit of the Royal Institution for Boys ; the same to be handed to Bro . Dobson , D . Prov . G . M . for Kent , who has kindly engaged to take the office of Steward at the forthcoming Festival .
LANCASHIRE ( WEST ) . WAEEINGTON . —Lodge of Light ( No . 173 ) . —Sir and Brother , — As this is probably the first report you have received of the proceedings of this old established lodge , I take the liberty of putting my communication in the form of a letter , as the doing so will give me an opportunity of touching upon other business
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Provincial.
pleading in the cause of charity , he was now so destitute himself as to crave the assistance he had always so willingly given , and so powerfully advocated , and one hundred pounds will forthwith be placed at his disposal , but beyond that he will , no doubt , ere long , be placed on the list of the Royal Masonic Benevolent Annuity Fund , and have a permanent Masonic income . You will say how comes it that such a man shall reach so low a state ? Brethren , there is a plague spot in this country that ,
under the name of justice , too frequently destroys its victims , not by mercifully depriving them of life , hut by slow degrees bringing them to want , and in the misery of hope deferred , makefch the heart sick ; that plague spot is tbe Court of Chancery , and there our poor' brother is shipwrecked in mind , body , and estate . His miseries began in comparatively olden times ^ . and although Chancery is better than it was , it need to be better than it isfor I speak from my own knowled when I I
, ge say am just settling a suit which has onl y had the mere preliminaries in Chancery , and in three months we have spent £ 3000 ; I am a winner to a satisfastory extent , but I can sympathise with a poor brother literally reduced to poverty and despair , by what is called the justice of his country . A lucky decision may , it is hoped , place him once more in the possession of abundance ; but what shall ever restore the lost happiness and atone for the torture of many years' anxiety , the
deprivation of almost the very necessaries of life ? Brethren , there were last night many other sad , sad cases ; twenty-three in all , that had the benevolent attention of the Masonic body with whom he had the gratification of associating last evening , but the severe cold under which he laboured compelled him to leave ; he had , however , ponrtrayed to them a lesson of the deepest interest , [ full of food for reflection , and affording instances of Masonic charityworthy of an ancient and
honour-, able institution , and this alone , if there were not abundant other reasons , answered his reflections in the outset of his address , had he been associated in a glorious charity spreading its beneficent influence over the minds of the brethren , and conducing to the comfort and happiness of mankind ; but , continued Bro . Stebbing , I am not here to exhibit to you the excellence of Freemasonry , so ranch as to express my own thankfulness on this occasion ; but these events , so gratifying and yet so sad ,
so rich in benevolence and yet so full of interest to the thoughtful mind and the feeling heart , events occurring within twentyfour hours force from me some expressions of admiration when we meet together , old friends and brother Masons , in the performance of a different , but another act of kindness , so truly characteristic of Freemasonry—I mean that which your W . M . has so gracefully performed to-night ; he had this gratification in receiving their brief but expressive addressand the
beauti-, ful jewel and accompanying salver on which it was placed , that he had in no degree contributed to the compliment , that it was the spontaneous act of his too kind and most worthy brethren , little as ho deserved it ; the design was theirs , and the kindness also , it was as unexpected as it was liberal , and friendly , and Masonic , amply rewarding his poor services to Masonry , and giving him in his hereafter life a never-ceasing subject of
happiness and a lively feeling of gratitude . He hoped most sincerely that , like his father , and many of his family he might live to a good old age to be useful to Masonry and to his lodge , and be cheered onward in every anxiety by the kindness and sympathy of the Brethren in every anxiety , and the rich treasure of their friendship and ' affection in every ' circumstance of life . But whilst these personal feelings moved him and found such poor utterance as he could givelet him offer hearty prayers for
, their long and happy association in the Southampton Lodge ; that none of them at least should ever be the practical recipients of that charity which he had endeavoured to pourtray ; but many nay all—of similarjdistinguished compliments to which they had delighted to pay him ; tliat , | untouched by the vicissitudes of life , they might all with their good names and fame transmit wealth and independence to those nearest and dearest to them and in their children's happiness and prosperity , pass into the
calm and unruffled period of hale old age , dignified by a wellspent and useful life , and cheered by the recollections of benevolence and charity that had so mueh of divinity in their nature and no tarnish in its work , he was unable to say all ho had intended from physical suffering and poverty of words , but his heart was full of gratitude , and he could never , never , forget their kindness , and never cease to entertain the liveliest recollections of the great happiness he had experienced in Masonry , and the lasting friendships and brotherly love he had so long passed in its happy association , and which he truly hoped and
trusted would ever continue to be the greatest triumph of the Southampton Lodge , and the cement and cope-stone of all their masonic work . After many excellent speeches from various brethren , the lodge was called to labour and closed in form , the brethren separating with great gratification with all the proceedings .
SOUTHAMPTON . —Lodge of Peace and Sarmony ( "So . 462 . )—Avery numerous meeting of this lodge was held ou the 19 th ult ., Bro . Thomas V . Payne , W . M ., in the chair , and at which all the lodges in the town ( four in number ) , were fully represented . The usual business having been transacted Jand a subscription voted to the Boys' School , on application of Bros . Stebbing and Hayward , Stewards this year for Hampshire , the interesting ceremony took lace of presenting the immediate Past MasterBro
p , . J . R . Weston , ex-Sheriff of Southampton , with an elegant Past Master's jewel , supplied by Bro . Abraham . The W . M ., in a most kind and suitable manner referred to Bro . Weston's valuable services to the lodge as Master during the past year , and as Secretary to the Royal Gloucester Lodge , to which many of the members also belonged , and stated that a due estimation of those services and the strong personal regard entertained for him had induced
the brethren with perfect unanimity to subscribe together and purchase the beautiful jewel which he had the pleasure of placing on his breast . The W . M . appropriately expressing the gratification which the presentation afforded , and which was responded to by the hearty concurrence of the brethren . The jewel bore the following inscription : — "Presented to Bro . J . R . Weston , P . M . No . 462 , by the members of the lodge , in
testimony of his valuable services as W . M ., and of their personal regard , 1 S 62 . " Bro . Weston expressed himself highly gratified by the compliment paid him , he had already experienced the greatest pleasure by the manner in which his services had been acknowledged at the last meeting , but the most kind and valuable token of approbation and regard would be treasured up by himself and his family as referring to one of the happiest periods of his life .
KENT . CHATHAM . —Royal Kent Lodge of Antiquity ( No . 20 ) . —The , regular lodge meeting was held at the Sun Hotel , on Wednesday the 19 th inst . The lodge was opened at six o'clock , when Messrs . Dyas and Warman were ballotted for and accepted by the members present . Bro . George Arthur Everist , W . M ., initiated them into the mysteries of Freemasonry in a very able and impressive manner . The usual proclamation being iven
g , The W . M . proposed that £ 10 . 10 s . be voted from the lodge funds for the benefit of the Boys' School . Bro . Cooley , P . M ., seconded the resolution , and it was carried unanimously . It was also agreed that a further subscription be made from an individual collection , and the whole handed over to Bro . Dobson , D . Prov . G . M ., who has kindly undertaken to act as Steward for the Institution at the next Festival The lodge was then closed , and
the brethren adjourned to banquet . The usual masonic and loyal toasts were given and responded to . A very convivial evening was spent . The brethren separated with this , motto" Happy to meet , sorry to part , and happy to meet again . "
GEAVESEND . —Lodge of Freedom ( No . 91 ) . —The usual monthly meeting of this lodge was held at the Town-hall on the 17 th inst . The lodge was opened a seven o'clock precisely , when Messrs . Hollingum and Jacobs were ballotted for and accepted by the brethren . The W . M ., Bro . T . French Nettlingham , proceeded to initiate the candidates for tbe mysteries in a very excellent and impressive manner , after which he gave them the charge . The usual proclamation being made , it was proposed
by the W . M ., and seconded by the Secretary , Bro . Spencer , that £ 15 . 15 . ? . he voted from the funds of the lodge No . 91 ; also that £ 5 . 5 s . be voted from the funds of lodge 709 , which was unanmously carried by the brethren ; the above sums to be devoted to the benefit of the Royal Institution for Boys ; the same to be handed to Bro . Dobson , D . Prov . G . M . for Kent , who has kindly engaged to take the office of Steward at the forthcoming Festival .
LANCASHIRE ( WEST ) . WAEEINGTON . —Lodge of Light ( No . 173 ) . —Sir and Brother , — As this is probably the first report you have received of the proceedings of this old established lodge , I take the liberty of putting my communication in the form of a letter , as the doing so will give me an opportunity of touching upon other business