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Article PROVINCIAL. ← Page 3 of 3 Article PROVINCIAL. Page 3 of 3 Article ANCIENT AND ACCEPTED RITE. Page 1 of 1 Article MARK MASONRY. Page 1 of 1 Article Untitled Page 1 of 1
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Provincial.
in such humbug as Freemasonry , an institution all very Avell in by-gone times , but utterly unsuited to the temper of the present day . This , brethren , is a question much more difficult to reply to than what might be called the knife and fork argument . You all know the popular slander that Freemasonry is only an excuse for men to meet together to eat and drink . This , however , is very easily disposed of ; for even supposing it to be true the accusation would not Aveigh very heavily on our spirits , for
I think few of us would be ashamed to own that we do like a good dinner , and without being gluttonous men or wine bibbers Ave should be willing to acknowledge that there are few pleasanter hours in a man's life than those he spends round the social board , where good fare and good fellowship , good wit and good wine , are to be met with in profusion . Besides which , it would be always easy to refute this envious but harmless sneer , by pointing to our Masonic Institutions , which , though not so
completely useful as we could wish them to be , nevertheless incontestably prove that though in common with the rest of our countrymen we can play a very good knife and fork , and enjoy the social converse which a good English dinner affords , we are no strangers to that benevolence of heart which knows how to cheer the drooping spirits of those upon whom fortune has not smiled—which knows how to train up the boys and girls of our poorer brethren into useful members of societand
y ; when age and infirmity have crippled the energies , and rendered powerless the hands which have been wont to gain an honest livelihood , we know how to spare these aged ones the over-Avhelming dread of approaching but unavoidable poverty , by affording them a home where their declining years can he spent in peace and contentment . But it is not so easy to reply to the high-flown argument that Freemasonry is out of place in the present day—that in this enlihtened nineteenth
ceng tury we do not want secret societies to induce us to relieve the necessities of our fellow-creatures , or to compel us to love our fellow-men . But even this argument would he much more formidable than it is , if it did not pre-suppose a state of society Avhich does not exist , if society were perfect , if there were no superstitions and prejudices existing , no want or poverty to be relieved , no heart-burnings and jealousies amongst men—if , in short , we had reached that blissful period which prophets have
foretold will one day dawn upon our race , which poets have dreamt and sung of , and which all men hope for—then , indeed , we should have no need of Freemasonry , or of any other society whose object is the welfare of mankind in general . But , unfortunately , this is not the case . We have not yet arrived at this advanced stage of man's existence , and in many respects we have not much to boast of over those whom we are accustomed to regard as the benighted creatures of superstition
who , in former ages , believed in ghosts and witchcraft . There are many persons now , who , whilst they would laugh to scorn the idea that they could be made the credulous dupes of Avizards and magicians , will nevertheless witness the performances of some pretended spiritualists with superstitious awe and reverence , and have no hesitation in attributing their juggling tricks to spiritual agency . There are many persons who , whilst utterly ridiculing the idea of anything like belief in portents
and omens , will , nevertheless , feel an indescribable dread creep over them when , in the dark and silent hours of the night , they hear the death-tick in their chamber , and Avho , as they walk through the solitary churchyard , when the last gleam of day has fled from the sky , and the black clouds shut out the stars and throw gloom and mystery over the habitations of the dead , will hasten their steps , if they do not actually whistle to keep their fears away . No , brethren , we have not yet gone very far
a-head of these silly notions , society is still split up into sections and parties , men are still actuated by low motives , and divided by selfish and conflicting interests ; and so , being after all but poor weak human mortals , there is nothing left for us but , according to our several idiosyncrasies , to adopt those aids to a better and a nobler life which will enable us to become what Ave desire to be . And we , brethren , who arc Masons at heart , are credulous enough to believe , that , notwithstanding its
obsolete forms and its traditions , there is that mj-sfcerious something in our noble institution which does awaken and enlarge our sympathies Avith the sufferings and enjoyments of our fellowcreatures , which does tend to create and cement many great and lasting friendships , which , but for its instrumentality , would never have existed , which does bind the hearts of men together in a bond of fraternal union , which nothing can sever but death or dishonour ; and , therefore , brethren , I am not ashamed to call myself a Freemason . I feel no shame in
Provincial.
belonging to a society which inscribes as its motto the glorious principles of brotherly love , relief , and truth , and whose object , however it may be forgotten or overlooked by its members , and however it may be sneered at or ridiculed by those Avho know nothing whatever about it , is to promote the welfare of mankind in general , but , above all , the honour and glory of Almighty God . The usual toasts followed , and the brethren separated shortly after ten o ' clock .
Ancient And Accepted Rite.
ANCIENT AND ACCEPTED RITE .
WOOLWICH . INA'ICTA CITAPTEE op S . P . R . > J ( . —The annual festival meeting of this chapter was held at the Masonic Hall , William-street , Woolwich , on Friday , the 16 th inst . There were present Lieut .-Col . Clerk and Capt . Philips , both S . G . I . G . of the 33 ° ; J . R , Thomson , 18 ° , W . M . S . ; Colonel Clerk , 33 ° , acting as Prelate ; E . J . Fraser , 1 S ° , First General ; W . H . Carter , acting as Second General ; J . W . Figg , 30 ° , Sec ; Peter Laird , 18 ° , Trras . ; G .
Lambert , 30 ° , Grand Marshal ; Horsley , 30 ° , Raphael ; Matthew Cooke , 30 ° , Org . and Master of the Ceremonial ; with Bros . Gumbleton , 30 ° ; Lieut . Nicholls , 18 ° ; Lieut . Price , 18 ° ; Read , 18 ° ; and Dr . Hughes , 18 ° . Bro . Joseph Taylor , P . M . of the Old Dundee Lodge , was installed a ICnt . S . P . R . > J < . After the ceremony , the brethren adjourned to Bro . De Grey's , the Freemason ' s Tavern , where a most elegant dinner was provided and capitally served . The table was most effectiveldecorated with
y the choicest flowers , whose fragrance pervaded the room . After dinner and some routine toasts , the M . Ay . S . gave that of the newly-installed S . P . R . >{< Bro . Joseph Taylor Avho , in reply , expressed himself as being highly honoured by his admission to the Order , and hoped , by zealous conduct , to do his duty and be accepted as a worthy member who might arrive at its highest honours . The rest of the evening Avas spent in much the usual manner of the meetings of the Invicta Chapter . Pleasant gossip
, Masonic knowledge , good cheer , fraternal intercourse , and the entire absence of set formalities , affording a charm little known in Masonic gatherings , but highly prized by the members of the Ancient and Accepted Rite in Woolwich . Whether the brethren had generally gone to the races or not it is impossible to say , but there were no visitors present on the occasion , a fact almost unprecedented in the annals of the Invicta Chapter .
Mark Masonry.
MARK MASONRY .
CUMBERLAND . CARLISLE . —Cu . moerland Lodge ( No . 60 ) . —A meeting of the above lodge was held at the Masonic Rooms , on Tuesday , 13 th inst ., when Bro . Wm . Murray was installed as Right Worshipful Master by the retiring R . W . M ., Bro . Fred . W . Hay ward ; after which Bros . Thos . Dean and Arthur Woodhouse were balloted for , accepted , and advanced to the degree of Mark Master Masons . The following officers were appointed : —
Bros . Wm . Murray , R . W . M . ; Fred . W . Hay ward , P . M . ; John Howe , S . W . ; Geo . J . Hayward , J . W . ; J . T . Milbourne , M . O . ; Walter Irwin , S . O . ; Win . Carrick , J . O . ; Thos . Dean , S . D . ; J . A . Wheatley , J . D . ; Matthew Fisher , Reg . ; Arthur Woodhouse , Sec ; John Howe , Treas . ; Rev . Wm . Cockett , Chap . ; Thos . Story , Tyler . Bro . M . Fisher Avas then empowered to obtain all the marks of the city of Carlisle and its vicinity he possibly couldand favour Bro . Castellof Londonwith the
, , , same . The lodge was duly closed by F . W . Hayward , Immediate Past Master , and the brethren retired to the refreshment room , and spent an hour in harmony , during which the R . W . M ., Bro . Wm . Murray , proposed the health of Bro . James Morrison , who is about to leave this city , which was drunk with musical honours . Bro . Morrison returned thanks very appropriately in rather a lengthy speech , after which the Tyler , Thos . Story , drank the toast to Freemasons' wives , and bairns .
Ar00604
As before swift ships there swims a hill of ivater , and a . corresponding one glides along behind , so always before us is a . mountain , which we hope to climb , and , behind us , still a deep valley out of which we have ascended .
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Provincial.
in such humbug as Freemasonry , an institution all very Avell in by-gone times , but utterly unsuited to the temper of the present day . This , brethren , is a question much more difficult to reply to than what might be called the knife and fork argument . You all know the popular slander that Freemasonry is only an excuse for men to meet together to eat and drink . This , however , is very easily disposed of ; for even supposing it to be true the accusation would not Aveigh very heavily on our spirits , for
I think few of us would be ashamed to own that we do like a good dinner , and without being gluttonous men or wine bibbers Ave should be willing to acknowledge that there are few pleasanter hours in a man's life than those he spends round the social board , where good fare and good fellowship , good wit and good wine , are to be met with in profusion . Besides which , it would be always easy to refute this envious but harmless sneer , by pointing to our Masonic Institutions , which , though not so
completely useful as we could wish them to be , nevertheless incontestably prove that though in common with the rest of our countrymen we can play a very good knife and fork , and enjoy the social converse which a good English dinner affords , we are no strangers to that benevolence of heart which knows how to cheer the drooping spirits of those upon whom fortune has not smiled—which knows how to train up the boys and girls of our poorer brethren into useful members of societand
y ; when age and infirmity have crippled the energies , and rendered powerless the hands which have been wont to gain an honest livelihood , we know how to spare these aged ones the over-Avhelming dread of approaching but unavoidable poverty , by affording them a home where their declining years can he spent in peace and contentment . But it is not so easy to reply to the high-flown argument that Freemasonry is out of place in the present day—that in this enlihtened nineteenth
ceng tury we do not want secret societies to induce us to relieve the necessities of our fellow-creatures , or to compel us to love our fellow-men . But even this argument would he much more formidable than it is , if it did not pre-suppose a state of society Avhich does not exist , if society were perfect , if there were no superstitions and prejudices existing , no want or poverty to be relieved , no heart-burnings and jealousies amongst men—if , in short , we had reached that blissful period which prophets have
foretold will one day dawn upon our race , which poets have dreamt and sung of , and which all men hope for—then , indeed , we should have no need of Freemasonry , or of any other society whose object is the welfare of mankind in general . But , unfortunately , this is not the case . We have not yet arrived at this advanced stage of man's existence , and in many respects we have not much to boast of over those whom we are accustomed to regard as the benighted creatures of superstition
who , in former ages , believed in ghosts and witchcraft . There are many persons now , who , whilst they would laugh to scorn the idea that they could be made the credulous dupes of Avizards and magicians , will nevertheless witness the performances of some pretended spiritualists with superstitious awe and reverence , and have no hesitation in attributing their juggling tricks to spiritual agency . There are many persons who , whilst utterly ridiculing the idea of anything like belief in portents
and omens , will , nevertheless , feel an indescribable dread creep over them when , in the dark and silent hours of the night , they hear the death-tick in their chamber , and Avho , as they walk through the solitary churchyard , when the last gleam of day has fled from the sky , and the black clouds shut out the stars and throw gloom and mystery over the habitations of the dead , will hasten their steps , if they do not actually whistle to keep their fears away . No , brethren , we have not yet gone very far
a-head of these silly notions , society is still split up into sections and parties , men are still actuated by low motives , and divided by selfish and conflicting interests ; and so , being after all but poor weak human mortals , there is nothing left for us but , according to our several idiosyncrasies , to adopt those aids to a better and a nobler life which will enable us to become what Ave desire to be . And we , brethren , who arc Masons at heart , are credulous enough to believe , that , notwithstanding its
obsolete forms and its traditions , there is that mj-sfcerious something in our noble institution which does awaken and enlarge our sympathies Avith the sufferings and enjoyments of our fellowcreatures , which does tend to create and cement many great and lasting friendships , which , but for its instrumentality , would never have existed , which does bind the hearts of men together in a bond of fraternal union , which nothing can sever but death or dishonour ; and , therefore , brethren , I am not ashamed to call myself a Freemason . I feel no shame in
Provincial.
belonging to a society which inscribes as its motto the glorious principles of brotherly love , relief , and truth , and whose object , however it may be forgotten or overlooked by its members , and however it may be sneered at or ridiculed by those Avho know nothing whatever about it , is to promote the welfare of mankind in general , but , above all , the honour and glory of Almighty God . The usual toasts followed , and the brethren separated shortly after ten o ' clock .
Ancient And Accepted Rite.
ANCIENT AND ACCEPTED RITE .
WOOLWICH . INA'ICTA CITAPTEE op S . P . R . > J ( . —The annual festival meeting of this chapter was held at the Masonic Hall , William-street , Woolwich , on Friday , the 16 th inst . There were present Lieut .-Col . Clerk and Capt . Philips , both S . G . I . G . of the 33 ° ; J . R , Thomson , 18 ° , W . M . S . ; Colonel Clerk , 33 ° , acting as Prelate ; E . J . Fraser , 1 S ° , First General ; W . H . Carter , acting as Second General ; J . W . Figg , 30 ° , Sec ; Peter Laird , 18 ° , Trras . ; G .
Lambert , 30 ° , Grand Marshal ; Horsley , 30 ° , Raphael ; Matthew Cooke , 30 ° , Org . and Master of the Ceremonial ; with Bros . Gumbleton , 30 ° ; Lieut . Nicholls , 18 ° ; Lieut . Price , 18 ° ; Read , 18 ° ; and Dr . Hughes , 18 ° . Bro . Joseph Taylor , P . M . of the Old Dundee Lodge , was installed a ICnt . S . P . R . > J < . After the ceremony , the brethren adjourned to Bro . De Grey's , the Freemason ' s Tavern , where a most elegant dinner was provided and capitally served . The table was most effectiveldecorated with
y the choicest flowers , whose fragrance pervaded the room . After dinner and some routine toasts , the M . Ay . S . gave that of the newly-installed S . P . R . >{< Bro . Joseph Taylor Avho , in reply , expressed himself as being highly honoured by his admission to the Order , and hoped , by zealous conduct , to do his duty and be accepted as a worthy member who might arrive at its highest honours . The rest of the evening Avas spent in much the usual manner of the meetings of the Invicta Chapter . Pleasant gossip
, Masonic knowledge , good cheer , fraternal intercourse , and the entire absence of set formalities , affording a charm little known in Masonic gatherings , but highly prized by the members of the Ancient and Accepted Rite in Woolwich . Whether the brethren had generally gone to the races or not it is impossible to say , but there were no visitors present on the occasion , a fact almost unprecedented in the annals of the Invicta Chapter .
Mark Masonry.
MARK MASONRY .
CUMBERLAND . CARLISLE . —Cu . moerland Lodge ( No . 60 ) . —A meeting of the above lodge was held at the Masonic Rooms , on Tuesday , 13 th inst ., when Bro . Wm . Murray was installed as Right Worshipful Master by the retiring R . W . M ., Bro . Fred . W . Hay ward ; after which Bros . Thos . Dean and Arthur Woodhouse were balloted for , accepted , and advanced to the degree of Mark Master Masons . The following officers were appointed : —
Bros . Wm . Murray , R . W . M . ; Fred . W . Hay ward , P . M . ; John Howe , S . W . ; Geo . J . Hayward , J . W . ; J . T . Milbourne , M . O . ; Walter Irwin , S . O . ; Win . Carrick , J . O . ; Thos . Dean , S . D . ; J . A . Wheatley , J . D . ; Matthew Fisher , Reg . ; Arthur Woodhouse , Sec ; John Howe , Treas . ; Rev . Wm . Cockett , Chap . ; Thos . Story , Tyler . Bro . M . Fisher Avas then empowered to obtain all the marks of the city of Carlisle and its vicinity he possibly couldand favour Bro . Castellof Londonwith the
, , , same . The lodge was duly closed by F . W . Hayward , Immediate Past Master , and the brethren retired to the refreshment room , and spent an hour in harmony , during which the R . W . M ., Bro . Wm . Murray , proposed the health of Bro . James Morrison , who is about to leave this city , which was drunk with musical honours . Bro . Morrison returned thanks very appropriately in rather a lengthy speech , after which the Tyler , Thos . Story , drank the toast to Freemasons' wives , and bairns .
Ar00604
As before swift ships there swims a hill of ivater , and a . corresponding one glides along behind , so always before us is a . mountain , which we hope to climb , and , behind us , still a deep valley out of which we have ascended .