Funeral Oration.

FUNERAL ORATION .

LONDON , SATURDAY , DECEMBER 15 , 1866 .

Delivered by the EEV . BRO . JACOBS iu honour of the Memory of the late Bro . WILLIAM : J . HILL , late of the All Soul ' s Lodge , No . 169 , Weymouth . THE solemnities Ave have lately been engaged iiiy in following to the e * rave the remains of a brother

highly esteemed amongst us , naturally lay claim to onr deepest thoughts , and thence to our improvement in Divine ivisdom and knowledge . Freemasonry , Avhether Ave consider it in its Divine principles or its historical reminiscences of

the early ages , 'Avhen the Divine Being * vouchsafed to communicate personally and hy his prophets and holy men , called for the purpose Avith his favoured people if any benefit to society can arise from the extension and practical exercise of

those principles Avhich tend to purify the mind and regulate its affections and the desires of the heart , which tend to unite man with his brother man in every part of the world in the closest ties of brotherly love and in the charities of life , it Avill always continue , as it ever has been , a subject worthy of our best and earnest attention .

( Here followed some Masonic illustrations of a moral and intellectual nature , introductory to the principal subject of the evening ) . He then proceeded : Such are some of the subjects Freemasonry lays before us for our instruction . There is

scarcely any condition or circumstances in which we may be placed , but those principles will be found beneficial for out * guidance and best interests . Times and seasons , and the daily occurrences of life roll on in a ceaseless course ; Ave scarcely stop

to inquire or to contemplate the final issue prosperity and happiness engage the affections of the heart affliction and trials IDOAV down the mind in sorrow and disquietude ; yet Ave accept it as from the common storehouse of nature , or the general dealings of Divine Providence towards his

creatures , and all appear to be right but when that awful decree pronounced at the fall of man , " Dust thou art , and unto dust shall thou return / ' finds its Avay amongst those we love and esteem , and a vacancy appears in our ranks . We are startled

for a moment at the call ; it is a voice to the living , severe and imperative , yet full of mercy and loving kindness , " " Prepare to meet thy God . " It may be infant innocence , which stayed "but a brief period only sufficient to behold the light of

day and enjoy the strengthening influence of sleep , yet umvilling to taste either the pleasures or the trials of life , withdreAV into oblivion again . Or the aged Avho having outlived the term allotted to man has been waiting like the visitor about to

return into a far country , for the conveyance to conduct him to his native home . Bufc that Avhich . sometimes calls forth from us a more poignant sorrow and sympathising regard , may he of one in early youth , whose friends had looked forward

AA'ith anxious solicitude to see him become an ornament to society , just like a plant Ave have tenderly reared , delicate and transparent , Avithout spot or stain from the chilling blasts of the winter frost or the tempest's trail , or the foul tramp of some venomous insect alighting thereon , its flower with a concentration of colour more beautiful than

afc any advanced period opening into bloom ; some insect has brooded Avithin , and just as its petals are expanding and it becomes an object of admiration , and Ave look forward to the gratification of its continuance amongst us , which a Avise

Providence , in its ordering of nature had designed for our enjoyment and pleasure , it droops and withers , and Ave are humbled and brought low by its untimely death . Or again , of another who had safely passeel the days of his youth , and just

entered the prime of life , with , all the vivacity and strength of manhood , surrounded by the offspring of his affections , looking forward to a long series

of years of earthly pleasures and success , length of days appear on the one hand , riches and honour on the other , Avith a faithful companion in his joys , and a sharer as well as consolation in his hours of trial and affliction ; for him also the aAvful fiat has

been decreed , and by an untimely fate he sinks into the tomb ; but to cheer him at his departure a kind and gentle voice whispers in his ear , " Leave thy fatherless children and I will preserve them , and let thy Avidow trust in me . " To us

also this message has been sent , and we are now assembled together in this sacred Temple , to mourn the loss of a brother highly esteemed and beloved anion a * st us .

In Ins boyhood and youth his countenance Avas ever radiant AA'ith goodness , with joy and delight in his manhood the same cheerfulness and happiness of disposition Avere manifested wherever he Avent ; displeasure or gloom found no place on

his brow , except Avhen excited upon a subject Avhere the rules of justice or honour Avere in danger of being infringed upon . He was faithful