Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
The American Knights Templar At " Alton Towers."
Alton ToAvers . We are noAV come to express our gratitude for the very cordial and prompt response to our Avishes—and also to congratulate tho Lodges in the province of Staffordshire on the nomination of your lordship to the office of their Provincial Grand Grand Master—feeling sure that the Craft ivill prosper under your lordship ' s fostering care ; and we recognise in that appointment another instance of the wisdom and interest displayed by the Grand Master of England toivards our ancient Order .
BrO . Wilham Naylor , Provincial Grand Secretary of Derbyshire , then read the following address to the American Kni ghts Templar : — To the party of American Knights Templar noiv visiting this country . We , the representatives of the Provincial Grand Lodge , ancl the various Lodges of Derbyshiredesire to offer
, you our most cordial and fraternal greeting on your arrival in England . We Avelcome you , not only as brethren of the Craffc , but ive are especially glad to welcome you as citizens of that great nation between which ancl this country there are so many close ties . We much regret that circumstances have compelled us
to abandon the idea ive at first entertained of giving you a public reception in Derby , but ive rejoice that Bro . the Earl ef Shrewsbury and Talbot has given us this opportunity of meeting you and giving you this fraternal greeting . In conclusion , we sincerely wish you a prosperous and happy tour , and trust that you ivill carry back with you such
sentiments as will not only tend to draw the members of the Craft on each side of the Atlantic more closely together , but cement those feelings of peaee and goodwill which noiv so happily exist betAveen the two countries Signed on behalf of the Deputation . W . ISTATLOB , P . G . S . Derbyshire , July 4 th , 1 S 71 .
'Lhe address , which was from the establishment of Messrs . Bemrose and Sons , Derby , was beautifully illuminated . It Avas surmounted by several Masonic emblems , and the American and English arms . The Rev . Dr . Tudor ( Wesleyan ) of Baltimore
, , then replied on behalf of the Americans as follows : It gives me great pleasure , my Lord Shrewsbury , to appear upon the part o £ my companions to respond to the very kind and cordial welcome ivhich your Lordship and Lady Shrewsbury have been pleased to extend to us this clay . But how to respond in sufficiently appropriate and grateful terms is the difficulty , ancl is a task for the performance of which I crave your
lordship ' s indulgence for a few moments . AVe gratefully recognise the distinguished honour of being received by your lordship as the citizens and humble representatives of a nation between which and your own nation , my lord , there have long existed relations not only of friendliness , but also of ivarin affection—relations sustained and ratified by the recent arrangements of State to which your lordship has alluded , and the
terms of which have settled points of honour , which existed , I am persuaded , more in sentiment than in reality . Let us beliei'e it to be impossible that those strong bonds of civilisation and Christianity , AA'hich hold fast together the two States , shall ever be severed so as to precipitate us into other than relations the most friendly and loving . We were touched in observing , immediately upon setting foot on your lordship's domains , the mark of the distinguished honour you ivould do
us , in our national colours floating the highest over the towers of Alton . We recognise ourselves received also as the represensentative of that brotherhood of humanity concerning which the poet sings : —
" Between us all let oceans roll , . Vet still from either beach The voice of blood shall reach , More elequent than speech , We are one . "
Oh , it does our hearts good , my lord , to receive the attentions ivhich met us at our very landing upon these foreign shores , and which have culminated in your lordship ' s reception this day . We have felt deeply the inconvenience of exile from home , deprived as Ave are , for the time , of the sacred , refining influences of domestic life , the sweet society of wife , daughter , sister . We are cheered and comforted by the kind offices of friends . It is the quaint conceit of a wild modern poet , that the precious
stones of our earth are the remains of a temple built by the angels in Eden to the worship of God . The foundations of the temple were bright and beaten gold , tower and roof of pinnacle without were solid diamond , the dome was eye-blue sapphire , studded with golden stars ; the floor ivas emerald , veined with gold and silver ; marble and mineral of every hue Avere iu its wails ; the altar Avas one ruby , heartlike ; the columns were of alabaster , and where all things AA'ere magnificent , the
meanest thing Avas gold , the plainest . Man fell , ancl joined the hosts of hell , black-bannered on the very day when he should haA'e met God and his angels there , and immediately also fell that bright fane , —no death-doomed ' eye gazed on its glory , — earthquakes gulped it down , —the temple of tbe angels lay in its grave , till at the flood , it burst , like a shell , and scattered ,, east and Avest , and far and Avide , its fragments , ivhich are the diamonds and rubies and emeralds and sapphires of thisworld ' s costly merchandize . Morally , human nature is just such a wretched temple ; hut we recognize in the affections and virtues and amenities and hospitalities of common life scattered
and fragmentary jeivels of the wreck . These jewels havethickly stre-vn our way through the United Kingdom , but the Koh-i-noor , the crown jewel , my lord , we have found this day at Alton Towers . Furthermore , we recognize ourselves as having the honour to be received as the humble representatives of a fraternity , of which ive are happy to congratulate your lordship as a chiefofficer , by recent nomination as Provincial Grand Master of Staffordshire—a fraternity whose laws , teachings ,
and works are designed to assist in rebuilding the wrecked temple of humanity to which I have alluded , until the perfect structure shall again stand forth , love ever beating in the heart , truth ever speaking from the tongue , justice ever reigning in the mind , benevolence ever giving frnm the hand ,. righteousness ever the path of the feet , kindness ever beaming from the eye , gentleness curving every limb , honour crowning the bead , and goodness unqualified , the description of the whole
life . Begging your lordship aud Lady Shrewsbury to accept the assurance that the reception extended to us this day is infinitely more beautiful in our eyes and more grateful in our hearts than are the blossoms of exquisite loveliness that lie in such rich bouquets over your lordship ' s estate , ive remain , my lord , your humble servants . By your lordship ' s permission , I would also , on behalf of my companions , express our lively sense of pleasure in meeting so many of our brother Masons onthis beautiful spot to-day , our great happiness in reeeivirg their kindly greetings , and the assurance of the sincere reciprocation from our hearts , on their behalf , of all their good wishes .
lhe above speech was listened to Avith marked attention by all present . It ivas delivered with great earnestness , and made a strong impression upon all Avho had the pleasure of listening to it > The Earl of Shrewsbury remarked that the Rev . Dr . Fraser would say a few words .
The Rev . Dr . Fraser said , that although not a member of the Craft , he could unite Avith the nohlo Earl in giving a cordial Avelcome to tbe American brethren . He ( Dr . Fraser ) had tbe pleasure of being present at a conference of Anglican clergymen , Avhich AV : is also attended by several distinguished American prelates , and he well remembered the cordiality and truly affectionate greeting they gave to the English clergy . The Bishop of Illinois and others also delivered eloquent addresses , Avhich he
should never forget . Dr . Fraser concluded by saying that hehad Lady ShreAvsbury ' s permission to escort them though thshouse , and describe some of its beauties . The Countes of Shrewsbury then took wine with Dr . Tudor and the Americans , with the W . Mj of the Stafford Lodge , and the acting D . Prov-G . M . of Derbyshire .
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
The American Knights Templar At " Alton Towers."
Alton ToAvers . We are noAV come to express our gratitude for the very cordial and prompt response to our Avishes—and also to congratulate tho Lodges in the province of Staffordshire on the nomination of your lordship to the office of their Provincial Grand Grand Master—feeling sure that the Craft ivill prosper under your lordship ' s fostering care ; and we recognise in that appointment another instance of the wisdom and interest displayed by the Grand Master of England toivards our ancient Order .
BrO . Wilham Naylor , Provincial Grand Secretary of Derbyshire , then read the following address to the American Kni ghts Templar : — To the party of American Knights Templar noiv visiting this country . We , the representatives of the Provincial Grand Lodge , ancl the various Lodges of Derbyshiredesire to offer
, you our most cordial and fraternal greeting on your arrival in England . We Avelcome you , not only as brethren of the Craffc , but ive are especially glad to welcome you as citizens of that great nation between which ancl this country there are so many close ties . We much regret that circumstances have compelled us
to abandon the idea ive at first entertained of giving you a public reception in Derby , but ive rejoice that Bro . the Earl ef Shrewsbury and Talbot has given us this opportunity of meeting you and giving you this fraternal greeting . In conclusion , we sincerely wish you a prosperous and happy tour , and trust that you ivill carry back with you such
sentiments as will not only tend to draw the members of the Craft on each side of the Atlantic more closely together , but cement those feelings of peaee and goodwill which noiv so happily exist betAveen the two countries Signed on behalf of the Deputation . W . ISTATLOB , P . G . S . Derbyshire , July 4 th , 1 S 71 .
'Lhe address , which was from the establishment of Messrs . Bemrose and Sons , Derby , was beautifully illuminated . It Avas surmounted by several Masonic emblems , and the American and English arms . The Rev . Dr . Tudor ( Wesleyan ) of Baltimore
, , then replied on behalf of the Americans as follows : It gives me great pleasure , my Lord Shrewsbury , to appear upon the part o £ my companions to respond to the very kind and cordial welcome ivhich your Lordship and Lady Shrewsbury have been pleased to extend to us this clay . But how to respond in sufficiently appropriate and grateful terms is the difficulty , ancl is a task for the performance of which I crave your
lordship ' s indulgence for a few moments . AVe gratefully recognise the distinguished honour of being received by your lordship as the citizens and humble representatives of a nation between which and your own nation , my lord , there have long existed relations not only of friendliness , but also of ivarin affection—relations sustained and ratified by the recent arrangements of State to which your lordship has alluded , and the
terms of which have settled points of honour , which existed , I am persuaded , more in sentiment than in reality . Let us beliei'e it to be impossible that those strong bonds of civilisation and Christianity , AA'hich hold fast together the two States , shall ever be severed so as to precipitate us into other than relations the most friendly and loving . We were touched in observing , immediately upon setting foot on your lordship's domains , the mark of the distinguished honour you ivould do
us , in our national colours floating the highest over the towers of Alton . We recognise ourselves received also as the represensentative of that brotherhood of humanity concerning which the poet sings : —
" Between us all let oceans roll , . Vet still from either beach The voice of blood shall reach , More elequent than speech , We are one . "
Oh , it does our hearts good , my lord , to receive the attentions ivhich met us at our very landing upon these foreign shores , and which have culminated in your lordship ' s reception this day . We have felt deeply the inconvenience of exile from home , deprived as Ave are , for the time , of the sacred , refining influences of domestic life , the sweet society of wife , daughter , sister . We are cheered and comforted by the kind offices of friends . It is the quaint conceit of a wild modern poet , that the precious
stones of our earth are the remains of a temple built by the angels in Eden to the worship of God . The foundations of the temple were bright and beaten gold , tower and roof of pinnacle without were solid diamond , the dome was eye-blue sapphire , studded with golden stars ; the floor ivas emerald , veined with gold and silver ; marble and mineral of every hue Avere iu its wails ; the altar Avas one ruby , heartlike ; the columns were of alabaster , and where all things AA'ere magnificent , the
meanest thing Avas gold , the plainest . Man fell , ancl joined the hosts of hell , black-bannered on the very day when he should haA'e met God and his angels there , and immediately also fell that bright fane , —no death-doomed ' eye gazed on its glory , — earthquakes gulped it down , —the temple of tbe angels lay in its grave , till at the flood , it burst , like a shell , and scattered ,, east and Avest , and far and Avide , its fragments , ivhich are the diamonds and rubies and emeralds and sapphires of thisworld ' s costly merchandize . Morally , human nature is just such a wretched temple ; hut we recognize in the affections and virtues and amenities and hospitalities of common life scattered
and fragmentary jeivels of the wreck . These jewels havethickly stre-vn our way through the United Kingdom , but the Koh-i-noor , the crown jewel , my lord , we have found this day at Alton Towers . Furthermore , we recognize ourselves as having the honour to be received as the humble representatives of a fraternity , of which ive are happy to congratulate your lordship as a chiefofficer , by recent nomination as Provincial Grand Master of Staffordshire—a fraternity whose laws , teachings ,
and works are designed to assist in rebuilding the wrecked temple of humanity to which I have alluded , until the perfect structure shall again stand forth , love ever beating in the heart , truth ever speaking from the tongue , justice ever reigning in the mind , benevolence ever giving frnm the hand ,. righteousness ever the path of the feet , kindness ever beaming from the eye , gentleness curving every limb , honour crowning the bead , and goodness unqualified , the description of the whole
life . Begging your lordship aud Lady Shrewsbury to accept the assurance that the reception extended to us this day is infinitely more beautiful in our eyes and more grateful in our hearts than are the blossoms of exquisite loveliness that lie in such rich bouquets over your lordship ' s estate , ive remain , my lord , your humble servants . By your lordship ' s permission , I would also , on behalf of my companions , express our lively sense of pleasure in meeting so many of our brother Masons onthis beautiful spot to-day , our great happiness in reeeivirg their kindly greetings , and the assurance of the sincere reciprocation from our hearts , on their behalf , of all their good wishes .
lhe above speech was listened to Avith marked attention by all present . It ivas delivered with great earnestness , and made a strong impression upon all Avho had the pleasure of listening to it > The Earl of Shrewsbury remarked that the Rev . Dr . Fraser would say a few words .
The Rev . Dr . Fraser said , that although not a member of the Craft , he could unite Avith the nohlo Earl in giving a cordial Avelcome to tbe American brethren . He ( Dr . Fraser ) had tbe pleasure of being present at a conference of Anglican clergymen , Avhich AV : is also attended by several distinguished American prelates , and he well remembered the cordiality and truly affectionate greeting they gave to the English clergy . The Bishop of Illinois and others also delivered eloquent addresses , Avhich he
should never forget . Dr . Fraser concluded by saying that hehad Lady ShreAvsbury ' s permission to escort them though thshouse , and describe some of its beauties . The Countes of Shrewsbury then took wine with Dr . Tudor and the Americans , with the W . Mj of the Stafford Lodge , and the acting D . Prov-G . M . of Derbyshire .