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Article ROYAL MASONIC INSTITUTION FOR BOYS. ← Page 2 of 3 →
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Royal Masonic Institution For Boys.
sitory of our own hearts . But here the outward world may perceive some substantial token , some proof , some fruit , which may well be said to be the distinguishing characteristic and ornament of a Freemason—namely , charity . Charity is indeed that virtue which is the keystone of that arch which supports and upholds the Masonic fabric throughout tho world . It not only does that , but encompasses and irradiates it with the beauty
ancl harmony of brotherly love . In the name , then , ofthe Great Architect ofthe Universe , we dedicate this building to His honour and glory . AVe have reared it not far from the great and busy city , where the sons of our brethren may enjoy a quiet and yet a noble retreat . AA e dedicate it to the cultivation of useful sciences , and to the cause of pure morality and virtue . From
tin ' s house may the words of human teaching , the offering of prayer and ascription of gratitude , ancl the note of praise ascend as grateful incense to heaven . May our children ' s children celebrate , with joy and rejoicing , the transactions of this auspicious clay . May the blessing of tho Most High rest upon us , and prosper the work of our hands , endue us with strength , stability , and wisdom in this and in all our undertakings , and establish our Order from generation to generation , till time shall be no more . So mote it be . "
The Rev . Bro . J . E . Cox , P . G . Chap ., the vicar of St . Helen's , Bishopsgate , spoke on the progress of the Institution since its commencement , in 176 S , till the present timo , and he trusted that he might live to see the day arrive when , in addition to education and clothing , they might have exhibitions for the universities . Another anthem was then sung , and the presiding Grand
Master dedicated in form the building to Masonry , virtue , and benevolence . The G . CHAPIAIM having offered up a prayer , the Grand Master returned in solemn procession to the Grand Lodgeroom , where the Grand Lodge was closed , and lie was afterwards conducted through the building to make an inspection of the several rooms .
The presentation of purses , collected by ladies and "lewises " towards defraying the £ 10 , 000 of balance remaining of a total outlay , estimated at £ 30 , 000 , then followed . At three o'clock , a banquet took place upon the ground adjoining the building . Every seat was occupied , and there were many ladies present . The viands , provided by Mr . Day , of
Southampton-row , were excellent in quality and cookery , and in ample quantity . The wines , which were furnished by Messrs . Charnley and Abraham , of Harp-lane , were capital , and supplied at reasonable prices . The praiseworthy care of providing for the banquet was sadly marred by want of due arrangement of the Stewards , for a
more inefficient collection it has never been our fortune to meet . There wore many brethren from the provinces whose presence was entirely ignored , the whole of the seats in the principal tent having been pre-occupied by some half dozen of the London Stewards . Before the banquet had proceeded far the Grand Master
announced that as trains would wait for no man , and he had important business to transact , he must begin to propose the toasts . The loyal toasts were soon finished , and after " The Earl of Zetland" had been honoured , Bro . BLAIE . proposed " Tbe Chairman , " which was drunk enthusiastically . The noble EAEL , in responding , said—I beg to return you my
warm thanks for the manner in which you have been kind enough to receive the toast that has just been proposed to you . I can assure you that it has been very agreeable to me to have been able to be present here upon this occasion . It was a duty incumbent upon mp to come here to-day to take the place of my
most worshipful friend , unavoidably absent . But it has also been a pleasure to me to be among you upon an occasion of so deep and stirring an interest ( hear ) , because , ladies and gentlemen , it does appear to me to be a highly interesting occasion when we are called together to dedicate a new building to the great ancl sacred cause of education ( hear , hear ); and it is , of course ,
an occasion of special interest in Freemasonry when the object of that building is the education of the children of Freemasons . I may not dilate to you upon the benefits of this institution , whose outward walls we have this clay sanctified . Your presence here is a proof how highly you value and appreciate that Institution—and what Institution can have greater claims upon
tho admiration ancl support of every good Mason than one of which the object is to bring within the reach of the children of the poorer brethren the means of developing , extending , and improving those faculties which God has given them ? I say tint such objects are well worthy of the spirit of our Craft , and I may say to those who do not belong to us that they may be
taken as a fair specimen and earnest of that spirit and its fruits . The Institution of Freemasonry has spread from the earliest times its ramifications in every part of the globe , and I am happy to see to-day sitting on my right a distinguished Indian gentleman holding high offices in the Craft , and his presence here is a proof that Freemasonry embraces men of every race
and creed and profession . Acting in that spirit , we are constantly labouring to promote those valuable Charities , to extend and to improve them . I trust that from this day we may date a new era of the future existence of the Boys' School ( hear , hear ) , and that we may not be long before we realise in the future some such development of that Institution as those which were eloquently sketched out to us in the room in which the opening ceremony was performed , and which , if they
might have seemed Utopian some years ago , cannot seem so now . AA'hatever may be their scope , when we see that which has been done now , we look to the growing power of the Craft ; ancl when we are , as I am , confident , we all are animated by one feeling , that it is our duty especially to labour for the promotion of the well being of this noble Charity . ( Cheers . )
The noble Earl then left the chair , which was thereupon taken by Colonel BowrEB . He proposed "The Provincial Grand Masters and the vest of the Grand Officers , " to which Bro . Capt . ADAIR responded . " The Guests and the Ladies" was the next toast , when the following truly Masonic reply was given by Bro . MAJWOCKJEE CUBSETJEE , Hon . D . Prov . G . M . of
AVestern India—Most AVorshipful Acting Grand Master , Ladies , and Gentlemen , the toast with which you have been pleased to couple my name is very gratifying to my feelings , but much more so on account of the branch of Craft in Bombay of which I am but an humble member . It is a fact well known to you all that Masonry is an Institution which requires not only to be
known but studied , and not only studied but practised ; it is an Institution wherein there are no distinction of caste , no diitinction of right , no distinction of colour or creed ( cheers ); it is an Institution where you see the Christian , the Jew—in yonder corner I see a Mussulman—Mahomedan and Parsee , all united in bonds of brotherhood . But , as I have said
already , Masonry in an Institution that needs not only to be known , but studied and practised . And where could you have a better illustration of that than in the "display of one of its virtues—charity , so practically displayed here by the ladies as well as the gentlemen I see around me ? Those who consider that Masonry is a mystery need to be told ; you who are Masons
know what it is . It is a mystery hi itself ; but it is a mystery only to the outsiders ; to those who are initiated it is no more a mystery . But mystery there is none when you know its prac-
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Royal Masonic Institution For Boys.
sitory of our own hearts . But here the outward world may perceive some substantial token , some proof , some fruit , which may well be said to be the distinguishing characteristic and ornament of a Freemason—namely , charity . Charity is indeed that virtue which is the keystone of that arch which supports and upholds the Masonic fabric throughout tho world . It not only does that , but encompasses and irradiates it with the beauty
ancl harmony of brotherly love . In the name , then , ofthe Great Architect ofthe Universe , we dedicate this building to His honour and glory . AVe have reared it not far from the great and busy city , where the sons of our brethren may enjoy a quiet and yet a noble retreat . AA e dedicate it to the cultivation of useful sciences , and to the cause of pure morality and virtue . From
tin ' s house may the words of human teaching , the offering of prayer and ascription of gratitude , ancl the note of praise ascend as grateful incense to heaven . May our children ' s children celebrate , with joy and rejoicing , the transactions of this auspicious clay . May the blessing of tho Most High rest upon us , and prosper the work of our hands , endue us with strength , stability , and wisdom in this and in all our undertakings , and establish our Order from generation to generation , till time shall be no more . So mote it be . "
The Rev . Bro . J . E . Cox , P . G . Chap ., the vicar of St . Helen's , Bishopsgate , spoke on the progress of the Institution since its commencement , in 176 S , till the present timo , and he trusted that he might live to see the day arrive when , in addition to education and clothing , they might have exhibitions for the universities . Another anthem was then sung , and the presiding Grand
Master dedicated in form the building to Masonry , virtue , and benevolence . The G . CHAPIAIM having offered up a prayer , the Grand Master returned in solemn procession to the Grand Lodgeroom , where the Grand Lodge was closed , and lie was afterwards conducted through the building to make an inspection of the several rooms .
The presentation of purses , collected by ladies and "lewises " towards defraying the £ 10 , 000 of balance remaining of a total outlay , estimated at £ 30 , 000 , then followed . At three o'clock , a banquet took place upon the ground adjoining the building . Every seat was occupied , and there were many ladies present . The viands , provided by Mr . Day , of
Southampton-row , were excellent in quality and cookery , and in ample quantity . The wines , which were furnished by Messrs . Charnley and Abraham , of Harp-lane , were capital , and supplied at reasonable prices . The praiseworthy care of providing for the banquet was sadly marred by want of due arrangement of the Stewards , for a
more inefficient collection it has never been our fortune to meet . There wore many brethren from the provinces whose presence was entirely ignored , the whole of the seats in the principal tent having been pre-occupied by some half dozen of the London Stewards . Before the banquet had proceeded far the Grand Master
announced that as trains would wait for no man , and he had important business to transact , he must begin to propose the toasts . The loyal toasts were soon finished , and after " The Earl of Zetland" had been honoured , Bro . BLAIE . proposed " Tbe Chairman , " which was drunk enthusiastically . The noble EAEL , in responding , said—I beg to return you my
warm thanks for the manner in which you have been kind enough to receive the toast that has just been proposed to you . I can assure you that it has been very agreeable to me to have been able to be present here upon this occasion . It was a duty incumbent upon mp to come here to-day to take the place of my
most worshipful friend , unavoidably absent . But it has also been a pleasure to me to be among you upon an occasion of so deep and stirring an interest ( hear ) , because , ladies and gentlemen , it does appear to me to be a highly interesting occasion when we are called together to dedicate a new building to the great ancl sacred cause of education ( hear , hear ); and it is , of course ,
an occasion of special interest in Freemasonry when the object of that building is the education of the children of Freemasons . I may not dilate to you upon the benefits of this institution , whose outward walls we have this clay sanctified . Your presence here is a proof how highly you value and appreciate that Institution—and what Institution can have greater claims upon
tho admiration ancl support of every good Mason than one of which the object is to bring within the reach of the children of the poorer brethren the means of developing , extending , and improving those faculties which God has given them ? I say tint such objects are well worthy of the spirit of our Craft , and I may say to those who do not belong to us that they may be
taken as a fair specimen and earnest of that spirit and its fruits . The Institution of Freemasonry has spread from the earliest times its ramifications in every part of the globe , and I am happy to see to-day sitting on my right a distinguished Indian gentleman holding high offices in the Craft , and his presence here is a proof that Freemasonry embraces men of every race
and creed and profession . Acting in that spirit , we are constantly labouring to promote those valuable Charities , to extend and to improve them . I trust that from this day we may date a new era of the future existence of the Boys' School ( hear , hear ) , and that we may not be long before we realise in the future some such development of that Institution as those which were eloquently sketched out to us in the room in which the opening ceremony was performed , and which , if they
might have seemed Utopian some years ago , cannot seem so now . AA'hatever may be their scope , when we see that which has been done now , we look to the growing power of the Craft ; ancl when we are , as I am , confident , we all are animated by one feeling , that it is our duty especially to labour for the promotion of the well being of this noble Charity . ( Cheers . )
The noble Earl then left the chair , which was thereupon taken by Colonel BowrEB . He proposed "The Provincial Grand Masters and the vest of the Grand Officers , " to which Bro . Capt . ADAIR responded . " The Guests and the Ladies" was the next toast , when the following truly Masonic reply was given by Bro . MAJWOCKJEE CUBSETJEE , Hon . D . Prov . G . M . of
AVestern India—Most AVorshipful Acting Grand Master , Ladies , and Gentlemen , the toast with which you have been pleased to couple my name is very gratifying to my feelings , but much more so on account of the branch of Craft in Bombay of which I am but an humble member . It is a fact well known to you all that Masonry is an Institution which requires not only to be
known but studied , and not only studied but practised ; it is an Institution wherein there are no distinction of caste , no diitinction of right , no distinction of colour or creed ( cheers ); it is an Institution where you see the Christian , the Jew—in yonder corner I see a Mussulman—Mahomedan and Parsee , all united in bonds of brotherhood . But , as I have said
already , Masonry in an Institution that needs not only to be known , but studied and practised . And where could you have a better illustration of that than in the "display of one of its virtues—charity , so practically displayed here by the ladies as well as the gentlemen I see around me ? Those who consider that Masonry is a mystery need to be told ; you who are Masons
know what it is . It is a mystery hi itself ; but it is a mystery only to the outsiders ; to those who are initiated it is no more a mystery . But mystery there is none when you know its prac-