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Article PROVINCIAL. ← Page 5 of 7 →
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Provincial.
determined as Freemasons to leave some memento of their visit by appropriating the collection to the Honiton Dispensary—a most useful institution , whose funds greatly required replenishing , and which must be in a great degree dependent upon voluntary contributions for its support . The rev . gentleman then proceeded to say—" But apart from your general duties as Christian men and true and faithful Masons , there is yet another reason peculiar to this day , which leads me to enjoin
upon you the heaven-descended duty of true charity with all the urgency in my power . To day a new lodge will be consecrated in Honiton ; another building will be dedicated to the performance ' of the Masonic rites . The lodge so to be set apart has been thought worthy of a remarkable distinction in the pro ' vince . It is from henceforth to bear the honoured name of the much revered Grand Master of this Province , who has so recently been called from presiding over a Grand Lodge below to
take his place among the celestial occupants of the Grand Lodge above . There they shall go no more out ; the Supreme Grand Master himself shall guide him and them beside the living fountains of waters , and none shall say—I am sick , for the tears shall be wiped away from all eyes and faces . To the brethren of the Order who knew the departed Grand Master and his manner of conversation , his acknowledged worth , and his many and discriminating charities , I trust I need say but little to
induce them on the present occasion to follow his bright example . Already in this Province , and particularly in the south of it , from which I come , I know that example has been appreciated and most worthily commemorated . There may have been some who might have preferred the erection of a monolith or monumental fame to our departed brother . I can imagine no more magnificent or abiding memorial than that which has already been raised in his honour . ' The Fortescue Annuity Fund' is one which , to my mind , is all the more striking , because it does not seek , like most memorials , to perpetuate the image of the
departed brother ' s body , but rather is intended to hand down to distant generations the faithful reflection of his spirit . Already , owing to the enthusiastic liberality of the brethren , three poor decayed Masons have become annuitants on the fund at £ 26 a year each , or 10 s . a week . Beholding a commemoration of the departed such as this , we may well say of the late Prov . G . M ., ' He being dead yet speaketh , and though he rests from his labours in the Grand Lodge above , his works yet do follow
bim . ' But there is still another motive whichwith most Masons —for very many are by faith Christians—must come home with even greater force than any which I can draw from the example of the mere sons of men . He who hath Himself declared ' it is more bhjssed to give than to receive' has , as we believe , given Himself for us . He hath given Himself , even as the Fathe ; - bath given Him up , to the death for us all , and in that great gift we have the blessed assurance of all lesser ifts
necessary g . And , Christian , what hast thou to offer ? Thyself , is thy reply . But what is there implied in that sacrifice ? Is it not at least the surrender of all which thou canst SDare which cau benefit thy poor or sickly neighbour ? If thy life be His who saved thee , shall not thy superfluities at least be shared with those for whom , as well as for thee , He has died ? But I know that I speak both to good Masons and faithful Christian men . The cause for which I plead is one which on every
ground is well deserving of your attention as Christians and Freemasons . This Grand Lodge here to-day assembled from every quarter of the province of Devon will give us one proof more , if such be needed , that our Order is no mere benefit club , as some have falsely asserted , but one of the most successful of institutions for carrying out in practice our great watchwords—Brotherly love , relief , and truth . I cannot better close my present appeal than by calling the attention of the brethren present to the following beautiful lines of a distinguished prelate of the Ancient Eastern Church : ¦—
"Those eternal bowers Man hath never trod , Those unfading flowers Round the throne of God . Who may hope to gain them After weary fight ? Who at length attain them
, Clad in robes of white ? He who gladly barters All on earthly ground , He , who like the martyrs . Says , " I will be crowned ;"
He whose one oblation Is a life of lore ; Clinging to the nation Of the blest above . While I do my duty Struggling thro' the tide Whisper thou of beauty
On the other side ! Tell who will tbe story Of our new distress : Oh ! the future glory ! Oh ! the loveliness !"
A subscription was then made , and the Benediction brought tbe service to a close . On leaving the church , they again formed in procession , and proceeded to the large room of the Lodge , which ,, it was arranged , should be consecrated on this occasion . The ceremonial , which was a very impressive and interesting one , was conducted by the Prov . G . M ., who was assisted by the officers of tbe lodge , and the brethren present . This
ceremonial having been interpreted , the brethren re-formed and returned to tbe Town Hall , where the business of the Grand Lodge was gone through . After the Grand Lodge had been formally opened , the Prov . G . Secretary , Bro . W . Denis Moore , read tbe minutes of the last meeting , and those were duly confirmed . The Prov . G . Treasurer , Bro . JameB Rowe , brought up an account of the finances , which showed disposable balance of more tban £ 70 , being the largest balance that the Grand
Lodge bad had for many a year , and that notwithstanding the enlarged liberality to the various Masonic Charities during the past year . The Prov . G . Secretary read several reports , detailing the business of the province during the past year , and it was agreed to vote £ 20 to the Orphan Fund , and £ 20 to the General Annuitant Fund . A letter from the Earl Fortescue to the Grand Master was readin which his lordship acknowledged in terms expressive of
, his warmest feelings of satisfaction the successful efforts made by the Freemasons of the province to perpetuate the memory of his late revered father , by erecting a living memento so consonant with his late father's views , and so expressive of the native goodness of his heart . Every member of his family looked upon the establishment of the institution as a mark of distinguished resp'ect to themselves , as well as to the late lamented head of tbeir bouse , and the Fortescue Memorial Annuity Fund would
ever receive their kindest wishes and warm support . The R . W .. D . Prov . G . M . was frequently interrupted in the reading of the letter by the loud and enthusiastic applause of the brethren . On announcing the balance-sheet for the year , a well-merited eulogium was passed' on the V . W . Bro . James Rowe , Prov . G . Treas ., for the ' zeal and ability with which he had discharged the duties of his office . The following gentlemen were appointed officers for the
ensuing year' Bro . Alex . Ei ' agwav . _ ..... Prov . G . S . Warden . „ 1 . P . Mefchani Prov . G . J . Warden . „ Rev . J . Bowden " ) „ n rn t „ William Foord Crocker j - G " Chaplains . „ T . Harfoot Prov . G . Treasurer . „ R . Rodda , Prov . G . Registrar . W . D . Moore Prov . G . Secretary .
„ „ J . S . Guudry Prov . G . S . Deacon . „ W . Derry Prov . G . J . Deacon . „ Robinson Ridley Prov . G . Supt . of Works . „ H . L . Brewster Prov . G . Dir . of Cers . „ R . Mortimore Prov . G . Assist . Ditto . „ Edward Murcb Prov . G . Organist . „ Capt . Bewes Prov . G . Sword-bearer . „ John Merrifield Prov . G . Pursuivant .
„ J . C . Radford " | „ J . Hodge [ ¦ ;; j : Snl ::::::::::::::::::::: i -Prov - G - ^ - „ AV . J . H . Johns „ J . M . Mackay J „ James Gregory Prov . G . Tyler . „ John Rogers Prov . G . Assist . Tyler .
The D . PROV . G . M ., in awarding the respective collars to the new officials , made some complimentary remarks . In giving the collar to Bro . Harfoot , he Baid he was glad the Grand Lodgehad elected him to the office , because he had been very energetic
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Provincial.
determined as Freemasons to leave some memento of their visit by appropriating the collection to the Honiton Dispensary—a most useful institution , whose funds greatly required replenishing , and which must be in a great degree dependent upon voluntary contributions for its support . The rev . gentleman then proceeded to say—" But apart from your general duties as Christian men and true and faithful Masons , there is yet another reason peculiar to this day , which leads me to enjoin
upon you the heaven-descended duty of true charity with all the urgency in my power . To day a new lodge will be consecrated in Honiton ; another building will be dedicated to the performance ' of the Masonic rites . The lodge so to be set apart has been thought worthy of a remarkable distinction in the pro ' vince . It is from henceforth to bear the honoured name of the much revered Grand Master of this Province , who has so recently been called from presiding over a Grand Lodge below to
take his place among the celestial occupants of the Grand Lodge above . There they shall go no more out ; the Supreme Grand Master himself shall guide him and them beside the living fountains of waters , and none shall say—I am sick , for the tears shall be wiped away from all eyes and faces . To the brethren of the Order who knew the departed Grand Master and his manner of conversation , his acknowledged worth , and his many and discriminating charities , I trust I need say but little to
induce them on the present occasion to follow his bright example . Already in this Province , and particularly in the south of it , from which I come , I know that example has been appreciated and most worthily commemorated . There may have been some who might have preferred the erection of a monolith or monumental fame to our departed brother . I can imagine no more magnificent or abiding memorial than that which has already been raised in his honour . ' The Fortescue Annuity Fund' is one which , to my mind , is all the more striking , because it does not seek , like most memorials , to perpetuate the image of the
departed brother ' s body , but rather is intended to hand down to distant generations the faithful reflection of his spirit . Already , owing to the enthusiastic liberality of the brethren , three poor decayed Masons have become annuitants on the fund at £ 26 a year each , or 10 s . a week . Beholding a commemoration of the departed such as this , we may well say of the late Prov . G . M ., ' He being dead yet speaketh , and though he rests from his labours in the Grand Lodge above , his works yet do follow
bim . ' But there is still another motive whichwith most Masons —for very many are by faith Christians—must come home with even greater force than any which I can draw from the example of the mere sons of men . He who hath Himself declared ' it is more bhjssed to give than to receive' has , as we believe , given Himself for us . He hath given Himself , even as the Fathe ; - bath given Him up , to the death for us all , and in that great gift we have the blessed assurance of all lesser ifts
necessary g . And , Christian , what hast thou to offer ? Thyself , is thy reply . But what is there implied in that sacrifice ? Is it not at least the surrender of all which thou canst SDare which cau benefit thy poor or sickly neighbour ? If thy life be His who saved thee , shall not thy superfluities at least be shared with those for whom , as well as for thee , He has died ? But I know that I speak both to good Masons and faithful Christian men . The cause for which I plead is one which on every
ground is well deserving of your attention as Christians and Freemasons . This Grand Lodge here to-day assembled from every quarter of the province of Devon will give us one proof more , if such be needed , that our Order is no mere benefit club , as some have falsely asserted , but one of the most successful of institutions for carrying out in practice our great watchwords—Brotherly love , relief , and truth . I cannot better close my present appeal than by calling the attention of the brethren present to the following beautiful lines of a distinguished prelate of the Ancient Eastern Church : ¦—
"Those eternal bowers Man hath never trod , Those unfading flowers Round the throne of God . Who may hope to gain them After weary fight ? Who at length attain them
, Clad in robes of white ? He who gladly barters All on earthly ground , He , who like the martyrs . Says , " I will be crowned ;"
He whose one oblation Is a life of lore ; Clinging to the nation Of the blest above . While I do my duty Struggling thro' the tide Whisper thou of beauty
On the other side ! Tell who will tbe story Of our new distress : Oh ! the future glory ! Oh ! the loveliness !"
A subscription was then made , and the Benediction brought tbe service to a close . On leaving the church , they again formed in procession , and proceeded to the large room of the Lodge , which ,, it was arranged , should be consecrated on this occasion . The ceremonial , which was a very impressive and interesting one , was conducted by the Prov . G . M ., who was assisted by the officers of tbe lodge , and the brethren present . This
ceremonial having been interpreted , the brethren re-formed and returned to tbe Town Hall , where the business of the Grand Lodge was gone through . After the Grand Lodge had been formally opened , the Prov . G . Secretary , Bro . W . Denis Moore , read tbe minutes of the last meeting , and those were duly confirmed . The Prov . G . Treasurer , Bro . JameB Rowe , brought up an account of the finances , which showed disposable balance of more tban £ 70 , being the largest balance that the Grand
Lodge bad had for many a year , and that notwithstanding the enlarged liberality to the various Masonic Charities during the past year . The Prov . G . Secretary read several reports , detailing the business of the province during the past year , and it was agreed to vote £ 20 to the Orphan Fund , and £ 20 to the General Annuitant Fund . A letter from the Earl Fortescue to the Grand Master was readin which his lordship acknowledged in terms expressive of
, his warmest feelings of satisfaction the successful efforts made by the Freemasons of the province to perpetuate the memory of his late revered father , by erecting a living memento so consonant with his late father's views , and so expressive of the native goodness of his heart . Every member of his family looked upon the establishment of the institution as a mark of distinguished resp'ect to themselves , as well as to the late lamented head of tbeir bouse , and the Fortescue Memorial Annuity Fund would
ever receive their kindest wishes and warm support . The R . W .. D . Prov . G . M . was frequently interrupted in the reading of the letter by the loud and enthusiastic applause of the brethren . On announcing the balance-sheet for the year , a well-merited eulogium was passed' on the V . W . Bro . James Rowe , Prov . G . Treas ., for the ' zeal and ability with which he had discharged the duties of his office . The following gentlemen were appointed officers for the
ensuing year' Bro . Alex . Ei ' agwav . _ ..... Prov . G . S . Warden . „ 1 . P . Mefchani Prov . G . J . Warden . „ Rev . J . Bowden " ) „ n rn t „ William Foord Crocker j - G " Chaplains . „ T . Harfoot Prov . G . Treasurer . „ R . Rodda , Prov . G . Registrar . W . D . Moore Prov . G . Secretary .
„ „ J . S . Guudry Prov . G . S . Deacon . „ W . Derry Prov . G . J . Deacon . „ Robinson Ridley Prov . G . Supt . of Works . „ H . L . Brewster Prov . G . Dir . of Cers . „ R . Mortimore Prov . G . Assist . Ditto . „ Edward Murcb Prov . G . Organist . „ Capt . Bewes Prov . G . Sword-bearer . „ John Merrifield Prov . G . Pursuivant .
„ J . C . Radford " | „ J . Hodge [ ¦ ;; j : Snl ::::::::::::::::::::: i -Prov - G - ^ - „ AV . J . H . Johns „ J . M . Mackay J „ James Gregory Prov . G . Tyler . „ John Rogers Prov . G . Assist . Tyler .
The D . PROV . G . M ., in awarding the respective collars to the new officials , made some complimentary remarks . In giving the collar to Bro . Harfoot , he Baid he was glad the Grand Lodgehad elected him to the office , because he had been very energetic