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Article PROVINCIAL. ← Page 2 of 2 Article ROYAL ARCH. Page 1 of 2 →
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Provincial.
held at the Golden Lion Inn . Bros . Cooke , W . M . ; George Markham Tweddell , F . S . A . Neivc , as S . AA . ; AVilliam AA eatherill , J . AV . ; Duck , S . D . ; Henry Fawcett , B . A ., J . D . ; A . A . Boyle , M . P . C . S . TS ; I . G . ; and AVilliam Harrison , Tyler . The lodge having heen opened iu the first degree , and the minutes of the former meeting having been confirmed , Mr . George Tweddell , jun ., was ballotted for ancl unanimously approved of as a fit and proper person to be made a Mason , and was then initiated as an
E . A . The ceremony was very correctly and impressively performed , considering that the AV . M . and J . D . were taking their important parts for the first time . The charge was given by Bro . Stephen Hunter , P . M . ; in his usual able manner . " Two candidates were proposed for initiation , and some other business gone through , after which the lodge was duly closed , aud the meeting declared adjourned to the meeting nearest the full moon in April , emergences excepted , of which due notice will be given .
Royal Arch.
ROYAL ARCH .
PROVINCIAL . PLYMOUTH . —CHAPTER OE HARMONY . The following is the very excellent oration delivered on the 22 nd ult . by the E . Comp ., L . P . Meitran , on the occasion of the consecration of this chapter , and referred to in our last : — " Most Excellent Sir and Companions , — It is an easy task to address a gathering of the brethren on the principles of Freemasonry , for he who speaks is always assured that they who
listen will , from kindly ancl fraternal regard , overlook all errors , while , by their own intelligence , they can supply all omissions ancl shortcomings . Neither would any true brother of the Order shrink from defending his principles when unjustly assailed by those who show their incapacity to sit in judgment upon us by an utter want of that charity which thinketh no evil and speaketli no evil . He would go further , and easily show to the outer world that a full recognition of onr princiles
p would promote peace and goodwill among men , and that if they could be made to persuade the whole world from north to south and from east to west , ascending to the proudest monarch on his throne , and descending to the lowest peasant in his cot , and would arrest those infuriate passions by which
" ' Man s inhumanity to man makes countless myriads mourn , ' anil which , through successive ages , since Abel fell by the fratricidal blow of Cain , have down to our own time , arrayed father against son and brother against brother in deadly strife . " It is an easy task to fellow the teaching of the three first degrees to show the just and upright Mason , directed hy prudence , chastened by temperance , supported by fortitude , ancl
guided by justice , practising charity which is the greatest of all the cardinal virtues , not the charity of relief only and almsgiving , important as they are , hut that charity which suffereth long ancl is kind , which carries comfort and consolation to the door of every one who is afflicted ancl distressed , in body , in mind , and in circumstances . To show him in the second degree cultivating the intellectual powers with which God has blessed him , as well to his glory as to the welfare of his fellow-creatures ; to show him leaving his
"' Footprints on the sands of time , Footprints which perhaps another , Sailing o ' er life's stormy main , Some forlorn and shipwrecked brother Seeing , may revive again . ' "In tho third degree we see the good and upright Mason standing on the brink of the grave which must so soon receive
him into its cold bosom , through whose dark portals he must pass ere he can leach a happier and a brighter world . . Calm ancl collected , he raises his eye to that bright morning star whose rising shall bring peace and salvation to tiie faithful and obedient of the human race . Ancl then , when death has thrown his sable mantle round him , when the last arrow of our mortal enemy has been , despatched—when the how of the mihty
cong queror has been broken by the iron arm of Time—when the angel of the Lord has proclaimed that time itself shall be no more , ancl when Gocl by that victory has subdued all tilings to himself , then , with the eye of faith , we may see our brother receiving the reward of his virtue , by acquiring possession of an immortal inheritance in those immortal mansions now veiled from human eyes , where the true secrets of Masonry shall be
revealed to him , never again to be concealed . But as I approach the fourth degree—the Royal Arch—all my ease disappears , like the ladder in Jacob ' s dream , the base rests on the most solid foundation , the intermediate steps are clear and defined , but the summit is buried iu the clouds , ancl I pause in the presence of that awful name around which centres all the solemn , mysteries of this sublime degree . Of the earth , - earthy , of the world , worldly , how can I dilate on this mighty theme , which ,,
in successive ages , poets , priests , prophets , psalmist and evangelist , have essayed in vain ! How can I expatiate on that grand , awful , tremendous , and incomprehensible name of the Most High , signifying I AM , the beginning and the ending , which was and is to come , the past , actual , future , and allsufficient God , who alone has his being of ancl in himself , and gives to all others their being ; that he was and that he shall be both what he is and what he shall beall creatures
depend-, ing on his almighty will . In the presence of language such as this , it almost seems as if a voice whispered in my ear , ' Draw not nigh hither ; take off thy shoes from off thy feet for the place on which thou standest is holy ground . ' The penitential sign in this degree teaches that wo should not approach the throne of grace save with bended knee and uplifted arms , in token of our humility and dependence . Let us rather follow the safe and reverential guidance of that ancient people the
Jews , who never repeat or write the name of Jehovah , aud which the high priest alone was permitted to pronounce but once a year when he entered the sanctum sanctorum to make atonement for the sins of the people . Let us take care that we do not incur , here or elsewhere , by undue familiarity with or too frequent repetition of that sacred name , the dread penalty of the awful commandment , ' Thou shalt not tako the name of the Lord thy God in vain . ' The Essenesa sect of the Jewish
, people , and from whom I have no doubt that tho Royal degree was derived , were especially careful on this point . They formed themselves into a strict association , bound together by the most solemn obligations , spending their substance on their poorer brethren , and avoiding all topics of religious discussion . Theyadvanced by successive degrees given to the candidates at the intervals of a year and after repeated examinations . On admission , the candidate was adjured to lead a pure ancl holy life , to
guard carefully and transmit faithfully tbe secrets of the Order , which consisted of various names of the Deity , commencing , with one of twelve letters and another of forty-two , until they reached that of the Tetragrammaton , which none were permitted to pronounce aloud . Like ourselves , the candidates were clothed in white robes and aprons , ancl wero presented with the shovel . Let us then , without following to the full extent the example thus set us , imitate the reverence by which they were
actuated . May it , Companions , lead us to a proper reverence , for the incomprehensible Jehovah , the Eternal ruler of the Universe , the elemental life , the pure ideal source of all principles , the very spring and fountain may speak of all itsvirtues and all its hlessings . But , Companions , passing from this part of the Royal Arch degree , there is one portion of its teaching which we openly , ancl which wo must , follow , if we would be Masons in anything but name . Tho same silver
chord which runs through the other degrees runs through this as we'l . A golden circle unites them all from the first to this which is the climax of Freemasonry . Bear with me while I press upon you to remember that around this sacred altar you have solemnly vowed to befriend a brother in his need , to judge him with candour , and to reprehend him with mercy . Youhave vowed also to look beyond particular institutions , whether civil or religiousand to behold in every child of Adam a
, brother of the dust , and to extend comfort ancl consolation to every one of your fellow-creatures in tho hour of their need .. You have vowed to be discreet , prudent , and temperate , faithful in your various callings , liberal and diffusive in your charity , steadfast in your friendships , just , kind , amiable , ancl virtuous in your deportment , so that the world may see what happy and . beneficient effects flow from our ancient ancl honourable Institution . Ancl then when the dread hour of your own trial
approaches , you will feel that to the just ancl upright Mason death hath no terrors . If -ne liave used tha vjovking tools of a . Royal Arch Mason aright ; if with tho pickaxe we have cleared away-the ruins of the temple of a fallen nature—if with the trowel we have built up a fairer temple for the reception of truth and virtue—if with the sword hy our side we have fought for the weak against the strong , the true against the false , and the good against the evil ; if with the spade we have buried the rubbish of the body of tho old Adam , then to us , as
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Provincial.
held at the Golden Lion Inn . Bros . Cooke , W . M . ; George Markham Tweddell , F . S . A . Neivc , as S . AA . ; AVilliam AA eatherill , J . AV . ; Duck , S . D . ; Henry Fawcett , B . A ., J . D . ; A . A . Boyle , M . P . C . S . TS ; I . G . ; and AVilliam Harrison , Tyler . The lodge having heen opened iu the first degree , and the minutes of the former meeting having been confirmed , Mr . George Tweddell , jun ., was ballotted for ancl unanimously approved of as a fit and proper person to be made a Mason , and was then initiated as an
E . A . The ceremony was very correctly and impressively performed , considering that the AV . M . and J . D . were taking their important parts for the first time . The charge was given by Bro . Stephen Hunter , P . M . ; in his usual able manner . " Two candidates were proposed for initiation , and some other business gone through , after which the lodge was duly closed , aud the meeting declared adjourned to the meeting nearest the full moon in April , emergences excepted , of which due notice will be given .
Royal Arch.
ROYAL ARCH .
PROVINCIAL . PLYMOUTH . —CHAPTER OE HARMONY . The following is the very excellent oration delivered on the 22 nd ult . by the E . Comp ., L . P . Meitran , on the occasion of the consecration of this chapter , and referred to in our last : — " Most Excellent Sir and Companions , — It is an easy task to address a gathering of the brethren on the principles of Freemasonry , for he who speaks is always assured that they who
listen will , from kindly ancl fraternal regard , overlook all errors , while , by their own intelligence , they can supply all omissions ancl shortcomings . Neither would any true brother of the Order shrink from defending his principles when unjustly assailed by those who show their incapacity to sit in judgment upon us by an utter want of that charity which thinketh no evil and speaketli no evil . He would go further , and easily show to the outer world that a full recognition of onr princiles
p would promote peace and goodwill among men , and that if they could be made to persuade the whole world from north to south and from east to west , ascending to the proudest monarch on his throne , and descending to the lowest peasant in his cot , and would arrest those infuriate passions by which
" ' Man s inhumanity to man makes countless myriads mourn , ' anil which , through successive ages , since Abel fell by the fratricidal blow of Cain , have down to our own time , arrayed father against son and brother against brother in deadly strife . " It is an easy task to fellow the teaching of the three first degrees to show the just and upright Mason , directed hy prudence , chastened by temperance , supported by fortitude , ancl
guided by justice , practising charity which is the greatest of all the cardinal virtues , not the charity of relief only and almsgiving , important as they are , hut that charity which suffereth long ancl is kind , which carries comfort and consolation to the door of every one who is afflicted ancl distressed , in body , in mind , and in circumstances . To show him in the second degree cultivating the intellectual powers with which God has blessed him , as well to his glory as to the welfare of his fellow-creatures ; to show him leaving his
"' Footprints on the sands of time , Footprints which perhaps another , Sailing o ' er life's stormy main , Some forlorn and shipwrecked brother Seeing , may revive again . ' "In tho third degree we see the good and upright Mason standing on the brink of the grave which must so soon receive
him into its cold bosom , through whose dark portals he must pass ere he can leach a happier and a brighter world . . Calm ancl collected , he raises his eye to that bright morning star whose rising shall bring peace and salvation to tiie faithful and obedient of the human race . Ancl then , when death has thrown his sable mantle round him , when the last arrow of our mortal enemy has been , despatched—when the how of the mihty
cong queror has been broken by the iron arm of Time—when the angel of the Lord has proclaimed that time itself shall be no more , ancl when Gocl by that victory has subdued all tilings to himself , then , with the eye of faith , we may see our brother receiving the reward of his virtue , by acquiring possession of an immortal inheritance in those immortal mansions now veiled from human eyes , where the true secrets of Masonry shall be
revealed to him , never again to be concealed . But as I approach the fourth degree—the Royal Arch—all my ease disappears , like the ladder in Jacob ' s dream , the base rests on the most solid foundation , the intermediate steps are clear and defined , but the summit is buried iu the clouds , ancl I pause in the presence of that awful name around which centres all the solemn , mysteries of this sublime degree . Of the earth , - earthy , of the world , worldly , how can I dilate on this mighty theme , which ,,
in successive ages , poets , priests , prophets , psalmist and evangelist , have essayed in vain ! How can I expatiate on that grand , awful , tremendous , and incomprehensible name of the Most High , signifying I AM , the beginning and the ending , which was and is to come , the past , actual , future , and allsufficient God , who alone has his being of ancl in himself , and gives to all others their being ; that he was and that he shall be both what he is and what he shall beall creatures
depend-, ing on his almighty will . In the presence of language such as this , it almost seems as if a voice whispered in my ear , ' Draw not nigh hither ; take off thy shoes from off thy feet for the place on which thou standest is holy ground . ' The penitential sign in this degree teaches that wo should not approach the throne of grace save with bended knee and uplifted arms , in token of our humility and dependence . Let us rather follow the safe and reverential guidance of that ancient people the
Jews , who never repeat or write the name of Jehovah , aud which the high priest alone was permitted to pronounce but once a year when he entered the sanctum sanctorum to make atonement for the sins of the people . Let us take care that we do not incur , here or elsewhere , by undue familiarity with or too frequent repetition of that sacred name , the dread penalty of the awful commandment , ' Thou shalt not tako the name of the Lord thy God in vain . ' The Essenesa sect of the Jewish
, people , and from whom I have no doubt that tho Royal degree was derived , were especially careful on this point . They formed themselves into a strict association , bound together by the most solemn obligations , spending their substance on their poorer brethren , and avoiding all topics of religious discussion . Theyadvanced by successive degrees given to the candidates at the intervals of a year and after repeated examinations . On admission , the candidate was adjured to lead a pure ancl holy life , to
guard carefully and transmit faithfully tbe secrets of the Order , which consisted of various names of the Deity , commencing , with one of twelve letters and another of forty-two , until they reached that of the Tetragrammaton , which none were permitted to pronounce aloud . Like ourselves , the candidates were clothed in white robes and aprons , ancl wero presented with the shovel . Let us then , without following to the full extent the example thus set us , imitate the reverence by which they were
actuated . May it , Companions , lead us to a proper reverence , for the incomprehensible Jehovah , the Eternal ruler of the Universe , the elemental life , the pure ideal source of all principles , the very spring and fountain may speak of all itsvirtues and all its hlessings . But , Companions , passing from this part of the Royal Arch degree , there is one portion of its teaching which we openly , ancl which wo must , follow , if we would be Masons in anything but name . Tho same silver
chord which runs through the other degrees runs through this as we'l . A golden circle unites them all from the first to this which is the climax of Freemasonry . Bear with me while I press upon you to remember that around this sacred altar you have solemnly vowed to befriend a brother in his need , to judge him with candour , and to reprehend him with mercy . Youhave vowed also to look beyond particular institutions , whether civil or religiousand to behold in every child of Adam a
, brother of the dust , and to extend comfort ancl consolation to every one of your fellow-creatures in tho hour of their need .. You have vowed to be discreet , prudent , and temperate , faithful in your various callings , liberal and diffusive in your charity , steadfast in your friendships , just , kind , amiable , ancl virtuous in your deportment , so that the world may see what happy and . beneficient effects flow from our ancient ancl honourable Institution . Ancl then when the dread hour of your own trial
approaches , you will feel that to the just ancl upright Mason death hath no terrors . If -ne liave used tha vjovking tools of a . Royal Arch Mason aright ; if with tho pickaxe we have cleared away-the ruins of the temple of a fallen nature—if with the trowel we have built up a fairer temple for the reception of truth and virtue—if with the sword hy our side we have fought for the weak against the strong , the true against the false , and the good against the evil ; if with the spade we have buried the rubbish of the body of tho old Adam , then to us , as