Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Address By Bro. J. P. Schtutz, W.M. Of The St. John's Lodge (No. 919), Of Alexandria.
ADDRESS BY BRO . J . P . SCHTUTZ , W . M . OF THE ST . JOHN'S LODGE ( No . 919 ) , OF ALEXANDRIA .
LONDON , SATURDAY , MABCS 24 , 1866 .
Bro . Schutz , having been elected W . M . of the St . John's Lodge , on the 27 th December last , delivered an address in French , of which the folloAving- is a translation : — Permit me , beloved brethren , to once more
thank you most heartily for haAang chosen me to preside over your proceedings . You are well aware how very dear the honour and reputation of this lodge are to my heart ; and I need not assure you that all my efforts will be devoted to
the promotion of its welfare during my term of office . The responsibility devolving upon the latter is doubtless very great , the more so as the power of the W . M . is absolute , and does not admit of any appeal in all questions of order . I shall endeavour
to discharge my duty to your entire satisfaction , both by impartiality in conducting the labours and by strictly adhering to the special regulations of the lodge , the constitutions , and mainly that
sacred book of the law , which is the guide of our faith , so that good order , peace , and harmony may never cease to prevail throughout our transactions . Notwithstanding my earnest intention of doing the best , it may happen that I err , and for that
event I will at once bespeak your forbearance and indulgence . Though strictly adhering to the conventional forms and usages , I shall give all due consideration to what observations you may choose to make to me personally on involuntary mistakes
I may have committed , Avith a view to amendment . I need not tell you that straightforAvardness and fail-play should aiivays prevail in our proceedings , but I may add that , in the interest of our lodge , I fully rely on the co-operation ,
zeal , and assiduity of every one of you , and chiefly ' of the officers , so that Ave may realise , morally ancl physically , the ' object of our Institution .
It has pained and chagrined me to notice , at the last meetings of our lodge , that there exists a tendency to uphold certain national peculiarities ( esprit de nationalite ) . If you are good and true Masons and have the welfare of our lodge at heart ,
keep aloof from propensities of this nature , Avhich can lead only to trouble and disorder , contrary to all precepts of Freemasonry . Remember , that ag
Masons we are all equal , to whatever nationality we may belong . Let us offer to each other the hand of a brother , Avithout pride , without deceit ; let us not forget those solemn obligations Ave have assumed in this enclosure , in presence of the Great Architect of the Universe . It is true that most
of you , beloved brethren , have received but superficial instruction as to your Masonic duties , and thence it seems to follow that the idea you had formed of our Institution previously to being initiated , has become changed . On the other
hand , many of you may think that you had nothing more to learn than what you had been taught ; but in this you are " greatly mistaken , for it is not sufficient that you should attend the meetings , with a A ieiv to join in the discussion of one motion
or another , and contribute your alms towards the support of the poor . To become acquainted with the true principles of Freemasonry , you should try in your leisure hours to improve yourselves by the reading of Masonic works , which you may
easily procure , and as far as I am concerned , I shall always be happy to respond to the desires of brethren Avithin the limit of my knowledge , besides the instruction Avhich I purpose giving you at our special meetings . I exhort you not to lose sight of my suggestions .
and I hope brethren who have but a superficial knoAvledge of Freemasonry will try in future to imbue themselves Avith its real object , AA'hich , though having virtue and charity for its aim , does not stop there , for Freemasonry , to all intents and
purposes , is a public benefit , by Avhich the people of all countries and all religious persuasions are held together . Its language is understood in all parts of the world , and nations Avho Avere ignorant of our Masonic principles for centuries , do honour
now-a-days to the praiseworthy object of our Institution ; and ive see our ranks increased daily by fresh recruits drafted from all classes of the community . Freemasonry , identical Avith Virtue , seems to have been established to dry the tears
of the unfortunate—to console him and minister to his Avants according to our means . This has always been the practice of Masons , ancl I shall add , besides , that our Institution Avas created in remote times to improve and moderate men ; to give them a standard for their conduct , and check their passions and vices by its moral poAver .
I need not tell you , for it is the first thing you have been taught , that as Masons Ave must believe in the existence of a Supreme Being and the
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Address By Bro. J. P. Schtutz, W.M. Of The St. John's Lodge (No. 919), Of Alexandria.
ADDRESS BY BRO . J . P . SCHTUTZ , W . M . OF THE ST . JOHN'S LODGE ( No . 919 ) , OF ALEXANDRIA .
LONDON , SATURDAY , MABCS 24 , 1866 .
Bro . Schutz , having been elected W . M . of the St . John's Lodge , on the 27 th December last , delivered an address in French , of which the folloAving- is a translation : — Permit me , beloved brethren , to once more
thank you most heartily for haAang chosen me to preside over your proceedings . You are well aware how very dear the honour and reputation of this lodge are to my heart ; and I need not assure you that all my efforts will be devoted to
the promotion of its welfare during my term of office . The responsibility devolving upon the latter is doubtless very great , the more so as the power of the W . M . is absolute , and does not admit of any appeal in all questions of order . I shall endeavour
to discharge my duty to your entire satisfaction , both by impartiality in conducting the labours and by strictly adhering to the special regulations of the lodge , the constitutions , and mainly that
sacred book of the law , which is the guide of our faith , so that good order , peace , and harmony may never cease to prevail throughout our transactions . Notwithstanding my earnest intention of doing the best , it may happen that I err , and for that
event I will at once bespeak your forbearance and indulgence . Though strictly adhering to the conventional forms and usages , I shall give all due consideration to what observations you may choose to make to me personally on involuntary mistakes
I may have committed , Avith a view to amendment . I need not tell you that straightforAvardness and fail-play should aiivays prevail in our proceedings , but I may add that , in the interest of our lodge , I fully rely on the co-operation ,
zeal , and assiduity of every one of you , and chiefly ' of the officers , so that Ave may realise , morally ancl physically , the ' object of our Institution .
It has pained and chagrined me to notice , at the last meetings of our lodge , that there exists a tendency to uphold certain national peculiarities ( esprit de nationalite ) . If you are good and true Masons and have the welfare of our lodge at heart ,
keep aloof from propensities of this nature , Avhich can lead only to trouble and disorder , contrary to all precepts of Freemasonry . Remember , that ag
Masons we are all equal , to whatever nationality we may belong . Let us offer to each other the hand of a brother , Avithout pride , without deceit ; let us not forget those solemn obligations Ave have assumed in this enclosure , in presence of the Great Architect of the Universe . It is true that most
of you , beloved brethren , have received but superficial instruction as to your Masonic duties , and thence it seems to follow that the idea you had formed of our Institution previously to being initiated , has become changed . On the other
hand , many of you may think that you had nothing more to learn than what you had been taught ; but in this you are " greatly mistaken , for it is not sufficient that you should attend the meetings , with a A ieiv to join in the discussion of one motion
or another , and contribute your alms towards the support of the poor . To become acquainted with the true principles of Freemasonry , you should try in your leisure hours to improve yourselves by the reading of Masonic works , which you may
easily procure , and as far as I am concerned , I shall always be happy to respond to the desires of brethren Avithin the limit of my knowledge , besides the instruction Avhich I purpose giving you at our special meetings . I exhort you not to lose sight of my suggestions .
and I hope brethren who have but a superficial knoAvledge of Freemasonry will try in future to imbue themselves Avith its real object , AA'hich , though having virtue and charity for its aim , does not stop there , for Freemasonry , to all intents and
purposes , is a public benefit , by Avhich the people of all countries and all religious persuasions are held together . Its language is understood in all parts of the world , and nations Avho Avere ignorant of our Masonic principles for centuries , do honour
now-a-days to the praiseworthy object of our Institution ; and ive see our ranks increased daily by fresh recruits drafted from all classes of the community . Freemasonry , identical Avith Virtue , seems to have been established to dry the tears
of the unfortunate—to console him and minister to his Avants according to our means . This has always been the practice of Masons , ancl I shall add , besides , that our Institution Avas created in remote times to improve and moderate men ; to give them a standard for their conduct , and check their passions and vices by its moral poAver .
I need not tell you , for it is the first thing you have been taught , that as Masons Ave must believe in the existence of a Supreme Being and the