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Article NEW SOUTH WALES. ← Page 2 of 3 →
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
New South Wales.
even faith and hope—yea , that this is the very foundation on which faith ancl hope are to be built , for by it the Christian " belicveth all things and hopetb all things , " and now abideth these three ( abidetli as distinguished from miraculous powers which were soon to pass away)—Faith , Hope , Charity , but the greatest of these is Charity . Since then , this special gift of Heaven lias been chosen as the principle by which yonr society is to be governed—a principle ivhich constitutes here below * the first stage of that manifested glory whose
full development shall open upon us in the courts above—ever bear in mind how circumspect should be the walk of him who here professes to bear within his breast this gift divine . Let no unworthy act towards a brother or to any son or daughter of man ever mar the brightness of that escutcheon with which you ivere entrusted , when first your name was registered amongst the sacred brotherhood . Ancl if I inquire after the first type of your society among menmy research can can find no resting-place until I have arrived
, back 3300 years—to that period when first a chosen generation was separated from the prevailing idolatory of the day , liberated from Egyptian bondage , and constituted a distinct community , with spiritual and intellectual enliglitment from on high . AVhen I recollect the one single mind which pervaded the whole civil polity and spiritual worship of that people , the solemnity ot their sacred anniversaries , the feeling of brotherly kindness which characterised
them as a peculiar people among the nations of earth , I cannot but regard them , in their social standing , as a type and model ivhich you do ivell to imitate . And when I contemplate the Heavenly Shepherd leading Israel as a flock , the divine Shekinah beaming the light of His countenance upon them in love , tbe universal Father shadowing forth in their history on earth , a faint emblem of the new Jerusalem , above ; I would affectionately say to every member of your fraternity—brotherwalk worthy of your hih parentage .
, g To my mind there is no idea more grand , no scene more imposing , than that of the Divine ordinance under the Mosaic dispensation , which appointed one place and one temple for the united worship of the ivhole Jewish people . The one house of God—the centre round which the scattered families of Palestine circled in one
combined , solemn act of worship—cemented together while it sanctified the ivhole mass of the Israelitish people . Religion here flung lie . hallowed arms around the thousands and tens of thousands of the twelve tribes , and chawing them periodically close to her bosom , united them together in the bond of peace , whilst she whispered to their soul the story of redemption , and symbolized to their senses the great sacrifice which should afterwards embrace the whole world . There , upwards of a million souls worshipped at one altar ,
bound together by the ties of common brotherhood , and indeiitified under one acknowledged high patronage . The grandeur of such a scene , even in the weak conception of our present imagination , assimilates more to our anticipated contemplations of the general assembly and Church of the firstborn above , than any other scene which this world has over presented to our view ; and if in your periodical assemblings the same hallowed spirit breathes from heart to heartand the same Divine Shepherd be recognised
, as your common Head ; if individually , as well as collectively , you feel that every drop which fills the cup of blessing in your earthly lot lias been ministered by the hand of your Heavenly Father , and every afflictive dispensation with which you have been visited has come in love and wisdom from the same merciful Guardian , whose omnipresence everywhere surrounds you , then will your participation in the
anniversaries of your society become sanctified means for preparing your souls for that great and final assembly of the families of earth , where the Sovereign Judge will pronounce to every one of us , with reference to the deeds clone in tlio body , our final award . These few observations are tbe result of my reflections on the subject ivhich occupies your attention to-day ; and for the consideration of which I have had but a few brief hours of preparation since I ivas
honoured with the invitation to address you . My visitations to certain sick friends occupied tho great portion of those few hours ; but the thoughts ivhich I have thus hurriedly embodied before you , if not studied , possess at least this quality , they are the impulsive utterings of my heart , and I trust they will meet with a sincere response from the heart of every Brother whom I have the honour to address .
At the conclusion of the above address tbe reverend gentleman pronounced the benediction , and the usual Masonic honours were then given . Three cheers were also given for the prosperity of the new- building , and followed by one cheer more for the worshi pful the Mayor , who returned thanks to the Brethren . The very handsome trowel and mallet with which the ceremony was performed was afterwards presented by the directors to the D . Prov . G . M . Bro . J . AVilliams , and is to have tbe folloiving inscription— " Presented to the V . AV . Bro . J . AVilliams , D . Prov . G . M ., E . C , New South AA ' ales , on the occasion of laying the foundation stone of the New Masonic Hall , on the 23 nt of May , A . D . 18 G 0 A . ! . 5860 . "
The procession then returned to York-street in the same order as before , where the English Provincial Grand Loclge was closed in due form , and the Irish ancl Scotch Brethren who had so kindly assisted in the ceremony , proceeded to their Lodge rooms . At three o'clock , a large number of tlio Brethren sat down to a very handsome and well furnished banquet , provided by Brother A . Cohen . The chair was taken by the A ' . AA ' . D . Prov . G . M . " Brother AAllliams , supported on his right by the Rev . Mr . King , and on his left by
the-AVorshipful the Mayor , Bro . James Murphy ; also , by Bro . T .. Turner , Bro . AV . H . Aldis , & e . The vice-chair was filled by Bro . R .-AA' " . Moore , Prov . G . 'Treasurer . The cloth having been removed , and the usual loyal toasts drunk : with the greatest enthusiasm , "The three Grand Lodges , in connection with the Provincial Grand Loclge of New South Wales , " wasdrunk with Masonic honours . The Prov . G . M . then rose and saidthe next toast he had
, to propose ho was satisfied would be welcome . He need not elucidate thc origin of Freemasonry , as has friend , the Rev . Mr . King , hacl already to some extent endeavoured to clo so . Ho hacl spoken of the existence of Freemasonry for a period of 3300 years as an institution which had distinguished its professors as a peculiar class among men . He , hoivever , would go further back than that , even to the Garden of Eden , where the Author of all Good had endowed man with reasoning powers , and enabled him to
protect himself by the exercise of his faculties . The signs ancl mysteries of Freemasonry passed into tho hands of the Egyptians , and subsisted even to the time of Moses . That religion and worship , which belonged to earth , was the precursor of that superior
light winch brought the children of Israel out of slavery into liberty . The lore of ancient Freemasonry was acquired by the Phoenicians , by whom all science was learned . They were the pioneers of Freemasonry , and its rules and instruction were transmitted totho time of King Solomon , and so on to us progressively even to the present time in Australia , where they were now endeavouring to translate its symbols to all . He would give them this toast— - " in Australia" ( Loud lause )
Freemasonry . app . His AA ors ! iip the M . iroK said , he was about to propose the health , of one who , he was sorry to say , was not a Mason , but who had ,, notwithstanding , exerted himself energetically in endeavouring to > raise tho social and moral tone of society in the colony— " His Excellency the Governor-General . " ( Cheers . ) The Pitov . G . M ., in proposing the next toast , said he was sure he should enlist their cordial respect and esteem for the gentleman ,
whose health he ivas about to propose , from the fact that it was . bathe purpose of doing honour to their guest , the Rev . Mr . King ,, who had so kindly responded to the application of the directors to officiate in tho interesting ceremony they had that day witnessed , and who , when tho illness of their Bro . the Rev . G . F . M'Arthur was mado known to him , had responded in such a way that he trusted the Masonic Brotherhood would always be grateful for .. AVhen the directors wore laced in the difficulthe alluded to
p y , they in conjunction with his worthy friend and Brother , the Mayor ,, went to tlio Rev . Mr . King , when ho unhesitatingly said : — " Any service I can do , I am most happy to perforin . " lie thanked him most heartily for his truly Masonic and fraternal feeling , and hewould say be never experienced more pleasant feelings than at that time . He would call on the Brethren to drink "Tho Health nf
thnh-Guest , the Rev . Mr . King , wishingprosperity tohimself ancl family . ( Cheers . ) The Rev . Mr . KIXG , in reply , begged to thank the Brethren for the honour they had clone himself and . family in the toast just proposed and received so warmly . It was not , however , only in the pleasurable remembrance of the duty he hacl performed that day , that ho felt satisfied , but it was more so because they took for their g-roundwoi-k and guiding-star the work of Gocl ; and he felt that ,
in acceding to their request , he w-as only the more completel y fulfilling his own mission , and doing that which was appertaining to his own peculiar calling . If he were asked what were the principles of Freemasonry , he would answer—the cause of philanthropy and of God . The Rev . gentleman sat down amidst loud applause . Bro . M . ISUAEL , Prov . G . D . C , said they had that day met and participated in a most gratifying and interesting .
ceremony They had laid the foundation-stone of a new Masonic hall , and he would say , in Masonic terms— "From the foundation laid that day , might they raise a superstructure honourable to the builders . " There were many older Masons than himself present who knew the difficulties the Craft had to contend with in not having suitable places to meet in , and obliging them to meet in taverns . They had been rescued from that degradation by certain Brethren stepping forward
to purchase a building . This building , which they were now in , was now found too small for the Craft , ivhich had increased in respectability as in number , and they hr-1 determined to build a , new hall . He would say , " Honour to whom honour is due , " but where all had exerted themselves so beneficially , he felt it was but
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
New South Wales.
even faith and hope—yea , that this is the very foundation on which faith ancl hope are to be built , for by it the Christian " belicveth all things and hopetb all things , " and now abideth these three ( abidetli as distinguished from miraculous powers which were soon to pass away)—Faith , Hope , Charity , but the greatest of these is Charity . Since then , this special gift of Heaven lias been chosen as the principle by which yonr society is to be governed—a principle ivhich constitutes here below * the first stage of that manifested glory whose
full development shall open upon us in the courts above—ever bear in mind how circumspect should be the walk of him who here professes to bear within his breast this gift divine . Let no unworthy act towards a brother or to any son or daughter of man ever mar the brightness of that escutcheon with which you ivere entrusted , when first your name was registered amongst the sacred brotherhood . Ancl if I inquire after the first type of your society among menmy research can can find no resting-place until I have arrived
, back 3300 years—to that period when first a chosen generation was separated from the prevailing idolatory of the day , liberated from Egyptian bondage , and constituted a distinct community , with spiritual and intellectual enliglitment from on high . AVhen I recollect the one single mind which pervaded the whole civil polity and spiritual worship of that people , the solemnity ot their sacred anniversaries , the feeling of brotherly kindness which characterised
them as a peculiar people among the nations of earth , I cannot but regard them , in their social standing , as a type and model ivhich you do ivell to imitate . And when I contemplate the Heavenly Shepherd leading Israel as a flock , the divine Shekinah beaming the light of His countenance upon them in love , tbe universal Father shadowing forth in their history on earth , a faint emblem of the new Jerusalem , above ; I would affectionately say to every member of your fraternity—brotherwalk worthy of your hih parentage .
, g To my mind there is no idea more grand , no scene more imposing , than that of the Divine ordinance under the Mosaic dispensation , which appointed one place and one temple for the united worship of the ivhole Jewish people . The one house of God—the centre round which the scattered families of Palestine circled in one
combined , solemn act of worship—cemented together while it sanctified the ivhole mass of the Israelitish people . Religion here flung lie . hallowed arms around the thousands and tens of thousands of the twelve tribes , and chawing them periodically close to her bosom , united them together in the bond of peace , whilst she whispered to their soul the story of redemption , and symbolized to their senses the great sacrifice which should afterwards embrace the whole world . There , upwards of a million souls worshipped at one altar ,
bound together by the ties of common brotherhood , and indeiitified under one acknowledged high patronage . The grandeur of such a scene , even in the weak conception of our present imagination , assimilates more to our anticipated contemplations of the general assembly and Church of the firstborn above , than any other scene which this world has over presented to our view ; and if in your periodical assemblings the same hallowed spirit breathes from heart to heartand the same Divine Shepherd be recognised
, as your common Head ; if individually , as well as collectively , you feel that every drop which fills the cup of blessing in your earthly lot lias been ministered by the hand of your Heavenly Father , and every afflictive dispensation with which you have been visited has come in love and wisdom from the same merciful Guardian , whose omnipresence everywhere surrounds you , then will your participation in the
anniversaries of your society become sanctified means for preparing your souls for that great and final assembly of the families of earth , where the Sovereign Judge will pronounce to every one of us , with reference to the deeds clone in tlio body , our final award . These few observations are tbe result of my reflections on the subject ivhich occupies your attention to-day ; and for the consideration of which I have had but a few brief hours of preparation since I ivas
honoured with the invitation to address you . My visitations to certain sick friends occupied tho great portion of those few hours ; but the thoughts ivhich I have thus hurriedly embodied before you , if not studied , possess at least this quality , they are the impulsive utterings of my heart , and I trust they will meet with a sincere response from the heart of every Brother whom I have the honour to address .
At the conclusion of the above address tbe reverend gentleman pronounced the benediction , and the usual Masonic honours were then given . Three cheers were also given for the prosperity of the new- building , and followed by one cheer more for the worshi pful the Mayor , who returned thanks to the Brethren . The very handsome trowel and mallet with which the ceremony was performed was afterwards presented by the directors to the D . Prov . G . M . Bro . J . AVilliams , and is to have tbe folloiving inscription— " Presented to the V . AV . Bro . J . AVilliams , D . Prov . G . M ., E . C , New South AA ' ales , on the occasion of laying the foundation stone of the New Masonic Hall , on the 23 nt of May , A . D . 18 G 0 A . ! . 5860 . "
The procession then returned to York-street in the same order as before , where the English Provincial Grand Loclge was closed in due form , and the Irish ancl Scotch Brethren who had so kindly assisted in the ceremony , proceeded to their Lodge rooms . At three o'clock , a large number of tlio Brethren sat down to a very handsome and well furnished banquet , provided by Brother A . Cohen . The chair was taken by the A ' . AA ' . D . Prov . G . M . " Brother AAllliams , supported on his right by the Rev . Mr . King , and on his left by
the-AVorshipful the Mayor , Bro . James Murphy ; also , by Bro . T .. Turner , Bro . AV . H . Aldis , & e . The vice-chair was filled by Bro . R .-AA' " . Moore , Prov . G . 'Treasurer . The cloth having been removed , and the usual loyal toasts drunk : with the greatest enthusiasm , "The three Grand Lodges , in connection with the Provincial Grand Loclge of New South Wales , " wasdrunk with Masonic honours . The Prov . G . M . then rose and saidthe next toast he had
, to propose ho was satisfied would be welcome . He need not elucidate thc origin of Freemasonry , as has friend , the Rev . Mr . King , hacl already to some extent endeavoured to clo so . Ho hacl spoken of the existence of Freemasonry for a period of 3300 years as an institution which had distinguished its professors as a peculiar class among men . He , hoivever , would go further back than that , even to the Garden of Eden , where the Author of all Good had endowed man with reasoning powers , and enabled him to
protect himself by the exercise of his faculties . The signs ancl mysteries of Freemasonry passed into tho hands of the Egyptians , and subsisted even to the time of Moses . That religion and worship , which belonged to earth , was the precursor of that superior
light winch brought the children of Israel out of slavery into liberty . The lore of ancient Freemasonry was acquired by the Phoenicians , by whom all science was learned . They were the pioneers of Freemasonry , and its rules and instruction were transmitted totho time of King Solomon , and so on to us progressively even to the present time in Australia , where they were now endeavouring to translate its symbols to all . He would give them this toast— - " in Australia" ( Loud lause )
Freemasonry . app . His AA ors ! iip the M . iroK said , he was about to propose the health , of one who , he was sorry to say , was not a Mason , but who had ,, notwithstanding , exerted himself energetically in endeavouring to > raise tho social and moral tone of society in the colony— " His Excellency the Governor-General . " ( Cheers . ) The Pitov . G . M ., in proposing the next toast , said he was sure he should enlist their cordial respect and esteem for the gentleman ,
whose health he ivas about to propose , from the fact that it was . bathe purpose of doing honour to their guest , the Rev . Mr . King ,, who had so kindly responded to the application of the directors to officiate in tho interesting ceremony they had that day witnessed , and who , when tho illness of their Bro . the Rev . G . F . M'Arthur was mado known to him , had responded in such a way that he trusted the Masonic Brotherhood would always be grateful for .. AVhen the directors wore laced in the difficulthe alluded to
p y , they in conjunction with his worthy friend and Brother , the Mayor ,, went to tlio Rev . Mr . King , when ho unhesitatingly said : — " Any service I can do , I am most happy to perforin . " lie thanked him most heartily for his truly Masonic and fraternal feeling , and hewould say be never experienced more pleasant feelings than at that time . He would call on the Brethren to drink "Tho Health nf
thnh-Guest , the Rev . Mr . King , wishingprosperity tohimself ancl family . ( Cheers . ) The Rev . Mr . KIXG , in reply , begged to thank the Brethren for the honour they had clone himself and . family in the toast just proposed and received so warmly . It was not , however , only in the pleasurable remembrance of the duty he hacl performed that day , that ho felt satisfied , but it was more so because they took for their g-roundwoi-k and guiding-star the work of Gocl ; and he felt that ,
in acceding to their request , he w-as only the more completel y fulfilling his own mission , and doing that which was appertaining to his own peculiar calling . If he were asked what were the principles of Freemasonry , he would answer—the cause of philanthropy and of God . The Rev . gentleman sat down amidst loud applause . Bro . M . ISUAEL , Prov . G . D . C , said they had that day met and participated in a most gratifying and interesting .
ceremony They had laid the foundation-stone of a new Masonic hall , and he would say , in Masonic terms— "From the foundation laid that day , might they raise a superstructure honourable to the builders . " There were many older Masons than himself present who knew the difficulties the Craft had to contend with in not having suitable places to meet in , and obliging them to meet in taverns . They had been rescued from that degradation by certain Brethren stepping forward
to purchase a building . This building , which they were now in , was now found too small for the Craft , ivhich had increased in respectability as in number , and they hr-1 determined to build a , new hall . He would say , " Honour to whom honour is due , " but where all had exerted themselves so beneficially , he felt it was but