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Metropolitan.
has been _ for you , there have been great difficulties surrounding it ; inasmuch as there has been no large space of ground to spare , though there has been a large amount of ground to cover , in the centre of which is your present great Hall , in wliich is your present Tavern , in which is your office . 1 ou have told us " Build us a great house , but do not for a moment interfere with the carrying on of the business of this building . " We have succeededThe lod the offices
. ge rooms , , everything is ready and will be occupied by the lodges ou Monday next . Then it occurred to us that it ought to havo siiine solemn inauguration on that occasion . I think you will agree ^ with me that your Committee in judging differently havo judged rightly . We have thought it unwise to come asking the Craft to dedicate a part only of the building , and that it would be desirable to recommend that the inauguration should bo
^ deferred until the time when it is completed and the Craft can be admitted to the whole of their new building . That will take place in ten months . But at the same time we thought ive might open a portion of it ; and therefore wo shall throw open the portion of the new building wliich is completed to the Craft i : i general on Monday next , and I confess to you that I had a strong , almost overweening desire that I should in some
way participate in the working of the first lodge that should ever be held in it . Turning it over in my mind to see how it could be done , it suddenly struck mo thatlhe Emulation Lodge of Improvement would meet on this night . It also struck me that no move suitable opening of the building could be desired than the holding of a Lodge of Instruction there ; and no first lodcould be move appropriatelheld there than tho
Emulage y tion Lodge of Improvement , and above all that no Freemason could be more popular among the rank of Masonry than Bro . Stephen Barton Wilson . ( Great cheering . ) Therefore , I took upon myself , in the name of the Committee , to write to Bro . Wilson yesterday , to say that I found that arrangements could be made by which the Lodgo of Instruction could be onened there to-night . I have the pleasure to tell yon that I ivas
present there before I came here . I have the honour also to tell you that Bro . S . JB . AAllson proposed , and it was unanimously decided that I should occupy their chair , and open their lodge for the first time . ( Hear , hear . ) I could not refuse to
accept the honour thus pressed upon mo ; and I have the pleasure to tell you that the first lodge over held in the new Freemasons' Hall was held to-night , that it was a lodge of instruction that was opened there , and that I had tho honour to preside over that lodge . ( Hear , hear . ) Now , you will say hoiv can I tell you all this about the new Hall in proposing the hc-alih of Bro . Muggeridge ? I will tell you . We have here Bro . Wilson , whom I havo mentioned , and Bro . Muggeridge ,
the two men engaged on the same work , who take an equal interest in it , so that mentioning ono naturally leads mo to mention the other . Mentioning Bro . AA'ilson , in connection with tho Emulation Lodge of Improvement , loads me to mention Bro . Muggeridge . I know that no one will rejoice more than Bro . Muggeridge to hear that a Lodgo of Instruction was the first lodge held in Freemasons' Hall . I need hardly tell you that we are indebted to Lodges of Instruction more deeply than to
anything else for success in the good work of Masonry . I havo pointed that out to you before , but at the risk of being tedious , I will point out again that though a great many men feel it a great bore to attend these lodges , the lessons learnt here sink deeply into their hearts , and they practice afterwards the principles taught within these walls , and they aro then disseminated throughout tho length and breadth of the land . Bro . Muggeridgeour Preceptorto you weare indebted for your accurate
, , work , your patient sobriety , your constant exertions on behalf of this lodge , to you our thanks are . justly due . I am sure I do no more than express the feelings of this meeting when I say we should thank him for his constant , zealous , and stedfast assistance to this lodge . I give you then , brethren , with all the best wishes of my heart , which I am sure will all join in , " Success to the Stability Lodgo of Instruction , and the Health
of Bro . Muggeridge . " ( Cheers . ) The toast ivas drunk with great warmth , after which Bro . R . Vernon sang " Tom Bowling . " Bro . MrCGEltlDGK , —AVorshipful President and brethren , in rising to acknowledge tho very kind things that our worshipful Chairman has said about me , and the very warm manner in which you havo responded to what he said , I assure you I feel highly gratified . Some brethren have made remarks about the
very dirty apron that I wear on this occasion —( laughter)—but et me tell you I wear this apron , this badge , with a great
deal of pleasure , because it is the apron that was worn by my instructor in Masonry , Bro . Peter Thomson —( hear , hear)—and I always make a practice of wearing it . It is rather shattered , it is rather battered , but it is like " the flag that has braved a thousand years . " You know tho rest . That is tho apron that my kind instructor , and the brother that introduced mo into Masonry , wore at this Lodge of Instruction . And I can tell you a little more about it—that this particular apron was presented to Bro . Peter Thomson by our worshipful President , Bro . Havers . ( Hear , hear . )
Tho CuAimiAS , —Yes ; but not in the state in which it is now . Bro . MUGGEEIDGE , —True . Brethren , our worshipful President requests mo to say that ho did not present it to Bro , Peter Thomson in this state . I remember the particular occasion , for Bro . Peter Thomson said , "Bro . Havers has requested mc to lend him my apron , and I did so , and he sent me
back this . " Ho also made a point of wearing this at tho Lodge of Instruction , and I have done the same since ho departed this life , and I feel groat pleasure and happiness in doing so . I might tell you something about the size of Bro . Peter Thompson , but I will not do that . ( Laughter . ) But , brethren , I feel very much gratified at the many kind things our worshipful President has said of mo , and also at the very kind manner in which you havo responded to his toast . I
assure you that I have very little to say on tho present occasion , but I cannot help stating to you that I havo been connected with this Lodge of Instruction for nearly twenty-six years . ( Hear , hear . ) Indeed , I joined it the day after I was initiated into Masonry . ( Hear , hear . ) I need not tell many of the brethren present the great feeling of attachment that I have to this Lodgo of Instruction , tho great desire I have to see it prosper . As I said just now , I have been a constant attendant
at it for nearly twenty-six years , and I hope and trust that I shall live many years —( hear , hear)—to continue to do so . ( Cheers . ) But I am happy to say that , should any circumstances occur to prevent the accomplishment of this wish , there are many young Masons , and many members not only younger in the Craft than I , but much younger men , who , I have tho great satisfaction of stating , are quite qualified to take tho position I occupy , to a very considerable extent . 1 can
assure the brethren that the feeling of satisfaction that I express now is not at all lessened by knowing that I have done all that has lain in my power to make tho meeting of this evening a success , dlear . hear . ') I have a sreafc many brethren
who have assisted mo in carrying on the work of this Lodge of Instruction , and I am sure they will continue to do so . ( Hear , hear . ) Nov . - , brethren , I havo one thing to call to your attention . Since wo last met we have had a most successful session of Stability Lodge of Instruction . We have had excellent meetings , as far as numbers are concerned , and also as far as good brethren have met there ; and during that time we havo not onlbad excellent meetingsbut we have also
y , increased or ,- .- numbers very considerably . Ono other thing I must not forgot ; you know our subscriptions arc of a very small amount each ; but since wo last assembled in this room , we have had the pleasure of contributing to Masonic Charities —twenty guineas to the Freemasons' Girls' School , and wo have also given £ 5 to the Annuity Fund ; making together ; E 2 G , which I think you will agree with me , considering the
small amounts that are paid as subscriptions into this Lodge of Instruction , is accomplishing an object that ive may be proud of . ( Cheers . ) Now , brethren , I have no doubt we shall go on prospering and to prosper . I am very much obliged to you all for tho kindness you havo manifested to mo in acknowledging the last toast , and I can confidently say that if any circuuii stances should interfere with my attendance on instruction nihtsthere aro so many members of this lodge fit and ready
g , to take my phice that it will be very well filled—that is , if I should be prevented from attending ; but I trust that may not be the case . ( Hear , hear . ) I trust I may have the opportunity , should God spare my life , of attending this Lodge of Instruction for many years no come ; and I promise you I will do in the future what I have done in the past . I need not tell you that I take a very great interest in it . I have done so
, and I shall continue to do so . AVorshipful President , I again repeat that I feel gratified by the kind manner in which my health has been proposed and drunk , and that feeling of gratitude is not lessened by the knowledge that I have done all I could do to promote the prosperity of this lodge , ( Henf . hear . )
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Metropolitan.
has been _ for you , there have been great difficulties surrounding it ; inasmuch as there has been no large space of ground to spare , though there has been a large amount of ground to cover , in the centre of which is your present great Hall , in wliich is your present Tavern , in which is your office . 1 ou have told us " Build us a great house , but do not for a moment interfere with the carrying on of the business of this building . " We have succeededThe lod the offices
. ge rooms , , everything is ready and will be occupied by the lodges ou Monday next . Then it occurred to us that it ought to havo siiine solemn inauguration on that occasion . I think you will agree ^ with me that your Committee in judging differently havo judged rightly . We have thought it unwise to come asking the Craft to dedicate a part only of the building , and that it would be desirable to recommend that the inauguration should bo
^ deferred until the time when it is completed and the Craft can be admitted to the whole of their new building . That will take place in ten months . But at the same time we thought ive might open a portion of it ; and therefore wo shall throw open the portion of the new building wliich is completed to the Craft i : i general on Monday next , and I confess to you that I had a strong , almost overweening desire that I should in some
way participate in the working of the first lodge that should ever be held in it . Turning it over in my mind to see how it could be done , it suddenly struck mo thatlhe Emulation Lodge of Improvement would meet on this night . It also struck me that no move suitable opening of the building could be desired than the holding of a Lodge of Instruction there ; and no first lodcould be move appropriatelheld there than tho
Emulage y tion Lodge of Improvement , and above all that no Freemason could be more popular among the rank of Masonry than Bro . Stephen Barton Wilson . ( Great cheering . ) Therefore , I took upon myself , in the name of the Committee , to write to Bro . Wilson yesterday , to say that I found that arrangements could be made by which the Lodgo of Instruction could be onened there to-night . I have the pleasure to tell yon that I ivas
present there before I came here . I have the honour also to tell you that Bro . S . JB . AAllson proposed , and it was unanimously decided that I should occupy their chair , and open their lodge for the first time . ( Hear , hear . ) I could not refuse to
accept the honour thus pressed upon mo ; and I have the pleasure to tell you that the first lodge over held in the new Freemasons' Hall was held to-night , that it was a lodge of instruction that was opened there , and that I had tho honour to preside over that lodge . ( Hear , hear . ) Now , you will say hoiv can I tell you all this about the new Hall in proposing the hc-alih of Bro . Muggeridge ? I will tell you . We have here Bro . Wilson , whom I havo mentioned , and Bro . Muggeridge ,
the two men engaged on the same work , who take an equal interest in it , so that mentioning ono naturally leads mo to mention the other . Mentioning Bro . AA'ilson , in connection with tho Emulation Lodge of Improvement , loads me to mention Bro . Muggeridge . I know that no one will rejoice more than Bro . Muggeridge to hear that a Lodgo of Instruction was the first lodge held in Freemasons' Hall . I need hardly tell you that we are indebted to Lodges of Instruction more deeply than to
anything else for success in the good work of Masonry . I havo pointed that out to you before , but at the risk of being tedious , I will point out again that though a great many men feel it a great bore to attend these lodges , the lessons learnt here sink deeply into their hearts , and they practice afterwards the principles taught within these walls , and they aro then disseminated throughout tho length and breadth of the land . Bro . Muggeridgeour Preceptorto you weare indebted for your accurate
, , work , your patient sobriety , your constant exertions on behalf of this lodge , to you our thanks are . justly due . I am sure I do no more than express the feelings of this meeting when I say we should thank him for his constant , zealous , and stedfast assistance to this lodge . I give you then , brethren , with all the best wishes of my heart , which I am sure will all join in , " Success to the Stability Lodgo of Instruction , and the Health
of Bro . Muggeridge . " ( Cheers . ) The toast ivas drunk with great warmth , after which Bro . R . Vernon sang " Tom Bowling . " Bro . MrCGEltlDGK , —AVorshipful President and brethren , in rising to acknowledge tho very kind things that our worshipful Chairman has said about me , and the very warm manner in which you havo responded to what he said , I assure you I feel highly gratified . Some brethren have made remarks about the
very dirty apron that I wear on this occasion —( laughter)—but et me tell you I wear this apron , this badge , with a great
deal of pleasure , because it is the apron that was worn by my instructor in Masonry , Bro . Peter Thomson —( hear , hear)—and I always make a practice of wearing it . It is rather shattered , it is rather battered , but it is like " the flag that has braved a thousand years . " You know tho rest . That is tho apron that my kind instructor , and the brother that introduced mo into Masonry , wore at this Lodge of Instruction . And I can tell you a little more about it—that this particular apron was presented to Bro . Peter Thomson by our worshipful President , Bro . Havers . ( Hear , hear . )
Tho CuAimiAS , —Yes ; but not in the state in which it is now . Bro . MUGGEEIDGE , —True . Brethren , our worshipful President requests mo to say that ho did not present it to Bro , Peter Thomson in this state . I remember the particular occasion , for Bro . Peter Thomson said , "Bro . Havers has requested mc to lend him my apron , and I did so , and he sent me
back this . " Ho also made a point of wearing this at tho Lodge of Instruction , and I have done the same since ho departed this life , and I feel groat pleasure and happiness in doing so . I might tell you something about the size of Bro . Peter Thompson , but I will not do that . ( Laughter . ) But , brethren , I feel very much gratified at the many kind things our worshipful President has said of mo , and also at the very kind manner in which you havo responded to his toast . I
assure you that I have very little to say on tho present occasion , but I cannot help stating to you that I havo been connected with this Lodge of Instruction for nearly twenty-six years . ( Hear , hear . ) Indeed , I joined it the day after I was initiated into Masonry . ( Hear , hear . ) I need not tell many of the brethren present the great feeling of attachment that I have to this Lodgo of Instruction , tho great desire I have to see it prosper . As I said just now , I have been a constant attendant
at it for nearly twenty-six years , and I hope and trust that I shall live many years —( hear , hear)—to continue to do so . ( Cheers . ) But I am happy to say that , should any circumstances occur to prevent the accomplishment of this wish , there are many young Masons , and many members not only younger in the Craft than I , but much younger men , who , I have tho great satisfaction of stating , are quite qualified to take tho position I occupy , to a very considerable extent . 1 can
assure the brethren that the feeling of satisfaction that I express now is not at all lessened by knowing that I have done all that has lain in my power to make tho meeting of this evening a success , dlear . hear . ') I have a sreafc many brethren
who have assisted mo in carrying on the work of this Lodge of Instruction , and I am sure they will continue to do so . ( Hear , hear . ) Nov . - , brethren , I havo one thing to call to your attention . Since wo last met we have had a most successful session of Stability Lodge of Instruction . We have had excellent meetings , as far as numbers are concerned , and also as far as good brethren have met there ; and during that time we havo not onlbad excellent meetingsbut we have also
y , increased or ,- .- numbers very considerably . Ono other thing I must not forgot ; you know our subscriptions arc of a very small amount each ; but since wo last assembled in this room , we have had the pleasure of contributing to Masonic Charities —twenty guineas to the Freemasons' Girls' School , and wo have also given £ 5 to the Annuity Fund ; making together ; E 2 G , which I think you will agree with me , considering the
small amounts that are paid as subscriptions into this Lodge of Instruction , is accomplishing an object that ive may be proud of . ( Cheers . ) Now , brethren , I have no doubt we shall go on prospering and to prosper . I am very much obliged to you all for tho kindness you havo manifested to mo in acknowledging the last toast , and I can confidently say that if any circuuii stances should interfere with my attendance on instruction nihtsthere aro so many members of this lodge fit and ready
g , to take my phice that it will be very well filled—that is , if I should be prevented from attending ; but I trust that may not be the case . ( Hear , hear . ) I trust I may have the opportunity , should God spare my life , of attending this Lodge of Instruction for many years no come ; and I promise you I will do in the future what I have done in the past . I need not tell you that I take a very great interest in it . I have done so
, and I shall continue to do so . AVorshipful President , I again repeat that I feel gratified by the kind manner in which my health has been proposed and drunk , and that feeling of gratitude is not lessened by the knowledge that I have done all I could do to promote the prosperity of this lodge , ( Henf . hear . )