-
Articles/Ads
Article PROVINCIAL. ← Page 3 of 5 →
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Provincial.
of a great and good man , who died on this spot in defence of those principles which lie at the root of all the liberty we enjoy—social , religious , ancl political ; then , sir , we felt we had a double claim upon you . You did not disappoint us ; you responded to the claim , and we thank you for it . Sir , it is not my purpose to detain this assembly long by entering upon the history of the times of Bishop Hooper . But when imagination pictures this day the scene enacted on this spot more than 300 years agowhen we see the
, good ancl holy man Hooper dying the most agonizing death ; when we fill those windows with monks , ancl friars , and priests , gloating over their victim , our hearts , Sir , ought to be raised up with thanksgiving to God , who , of his mercy and through the faithfulness of such men , delivered us from a svstem as detrimental to
mere social and moral , as well as spiritual interests ; a system that has contrived to turn the religion of a merciful Saviour into an engine of oppression . If , Sir , your predecessor that day in the office of mayor attended officially at the burning of Hooper , it becomes something like an act of retributive justice thafc you should this day attend to do honour to his memory . Sir , we are about to erect this memorial to do honour to the of a great and
memory ^ good man , a faithful martyr of Jesus Christ : we erect this memorial to show that even in this utilitarian age there are those who can value principles faithfully ancl uncompromisingly carried out : we erect it as a reminder to Protestant Christians of fche price paid for their reli gious liberties , and as a warning too ; lest , tampering with the unholy thing , they may tempt God to allow them to fall again under a yoke their fathers were unable to bear . I now , Sir , invite
you to lay the first stone of the memorial to John Hooper , some time Bishop of Gloucester and Worcester . Bro . NEWMAECII , D . Prov . G . M ., next delivered a Masonic charge . He said they had met that day to perpetuate the memory of one who in times of violence and persecution suffered on that spot an agonising death for his unshaken fidelity to the doctrines of his church , and the sacred trust reposed in him . Might the
example which he had set us be deeply impressed on our minds , and lead us to stand firm in the faith which had been sanctified by his blood , and , if need be , to suffer as he did for the truth ' s sake with fortitude ancl fidelity , in the full but humble confidence that when the earthly tabernacle of this body shall be destroyed , the immortal spirit will ascend to the Grand Lodge above , where the world's great Architect lives and reigns for ever . The customary Masonic ceremony in such cases then took placa . Oil , wine , and corn were then poured on the stone , tho B . Prov . G . M . giving the following illustrations : —
" iLItUSTBATKMTS OE COM , WlNE , AOT > Oil ,. " May the seeds of corn scattered on this stone remind us of the seeds of God ' s Word sown plenteously in tho Lord , ancl for which the blood of martyrs has been shed to nourish , thafc they may bring forth fruit a hundred fold in our hearts , and yield a plenteous harvest on that clay when the Lord shall come to gather up the wheat into his garner . " We wine on this stone . We anoint it with oil as emblems
pour of bliss and consolation ; may they be regarded as types of the good things which the Most ' High has reserved for those his true and faithful servants who , after the clay of trial ancl affliction here on earth , shall hereafter receive the cup of blessing , ancl be anointed with the oil of gladness above their fellows . " Bro . TEIKDEE , the secretary , next read the following inscription , which was written on parchment and enclosed with current silver
coins of the realm in a bottle , and deposited under the stone , being separated from it by a brass plate on which the date was engraved . The inscription ran thus : — "In the reign of her most gracious Majesty Queen Victoria , this monument was erected to the honoured memory of John Hooper , D . D ., Bishop of the Diocese of Gloucester , whose martyrdom took place on this spot , the 9 th day of February , 1555 , for his steady adherence to our Protestant
Christianity ; and the first stone was laid with Masonic rites by the Worshipful the Mayor of Gloucester , Bro . Edmund Boughton , jun ., of the Royal Gloucester Lodge of Free and Accepted Masons , No . 1141 , acting under the dispensation of the Ri ght Worshipful the Hon . James Henry Legge Dutton , Provincial Grand Master of Gloucestershire , at the grand assembly of Masonic lodges and brethren , the mayor and corporation of the city , the clergy of the
cathedral and diocese , the committee for the erection of the monument , and a vast concourse of people , on the 18 th day of Sept ., in the year of our Lord 1861 , and of the era of Masonry 5861 . The Rev . H . C . Minchin , M . A ., chairman of the memorial committee ; J- H . Brown , hon . secretary ; J . Medland ancl A . W . Maberley , architects ; Oliver Estcourt , builder ; John Hulls ancl AVilliam Underwood , churchwardens of the parish of St . Mary cle Lode . All glory to the Most High . " Ihe
' Treasurer produced the phial containing coins ofthe present reign , ancl the inscription , which he deposited in a hollow of the lower stone . The D . Prov . G . M . then presented the silver trowel to the mayor . It bore the following inscription : — " Presented to
Edmund Boughton , jun ., Esq ., Mayor of the City of Gloucester , by Oliver Estcourt , the contractor , on the occasion of laying the foundation stone ofthe monument of Bishop Hooper . Gloucester , September , 1861 . " His worship then duly spread the mortar , and the stone was slowly lowered . The senior and junior wardens then applied the square , level , and plumb rule to the stone , and havingbeen questioned by the D . Prov . G . M . in Masonic form as to the resultancl having given satisfactory replies .
, The D . Prov . G . M . saicl : Brother Wardens , I have full confidence in your skill in the Masonic art . It now remains for me to finish the work . —The D . Prov . G . M . then took the mallet , gave the stone three knocks , and said : May the monument , the foundation-stone of which we have laid to-day , be completed by the craftsmen in peace , harmony , and "brotherly love . Ancl all the brethren responded : So mote it be .
The band then played the National Anthem , ancl the Rev . Gt . Roberts offered np a prayer . The Mayor , Bro . Boughton , next said : Now that the foundationstone of the monument about to be erected to the memory of our revered bishop and martyr has been thus formally laid , it becomes my duty , as Mayor of the ancient city of Glocester , to address my fellow citizens and the large concourse of persons whom this
interesting ceremonial has attracted to the spot where the martyrdom was completed . It is impossible for me to stand where I now clo and not to recal to my imagination how different was 1555 . The writ which doomed a heretic to be burned , was , it seems , directed to the mayor and sheriffs of this city , where the execution was to take place . "Upon my predecessor , one Thomas Lovedayand H . and Thomas Machensheriffsdevolved the
, , , painful duty of the execution of an eloquent and pious bishop , whose preaching perhaps he had heard , and whose message of the scene here presented upon the memorable 9 th of February , the Gospel might perhaps have touched his heart ; for it is quite evident from tlie records of the transaction which have reached us that the ministerial labours ofthe good bishop had made a profound impression ill the diocese , where he devoted himself day by day to
spread abroad the knowledge of the Gospel truth ; and that he was hurried down from London by a long journey on horseback in the winter season , to be burnt in his cathedral city , in order that the example of his condign punishment might send terror into the hearts of those who had been won over by the affectionate pleadings of his eloquence , and by the bright evidence of his Christian and blameless life , to embrace the truths of the Protestant religion . The tears and the sympathy of the vast crowd which was gathered
together to witness upon this spot the awful effects of a bigoted aud misdirected zeal attest both the success and the triumph of the martyred Bishop ' s exertions in his Divine Master ' s cause . Bufc whatever may have been the private sentiments of my predecessorupon that harrowing occasion , he was bound to conceal them . As a minister and servant of the law , in obedience to his oath of allegiance to her Majesty the Queen , he had no power to do
otherwise than to give due course to the law , cruel and unjust though it might be . But I , standing in his place , and living in happier times , am freed from obligations thus odious . It was his duty to see the sentence of the law properly enforced : it is my privilege ,, in the name of my fellow-citizens , to repudiate the foul stain which that sad act fixed upon the legislature of the country , and upon the authorities of this ancient and renowned city , whose ancient reputation is intertwined with all the glories and struggles for liberty , both civil and religious , which are
handed clown to us as heirlooms in the histqry of our noble country , freest among the free , the most enlightened among the enlightened nations of the earth . But these triumphs were not achieved without an expenditure of blood , without a large amount of individual suffering , and eminent amongst these was the martyrdom of Bishop Hooper . To his memory this day we have laid the foundation stone of a monument , which shall record to our children ' s children fche constancy unto death of one was
persecuted for conscience sake , ancl one who adorned by his life , blameless and devoted , the pure doctrine he taught—of one who was a bulwark of the Protestant faith—of one who gave his life in exchange for the free ancl unfettered word of God—of one who cemented by his blood the foundation of the purest and most tolerant church in the world—the Church of England . How different from the reign of terror is the mild aud pleasant dominion under which it is our happiness to live . Queen Mary , the
persecutor of her subjects who differed from her in religion—Queen Victoria , the mother of her people , rejoicing in their hearts by affection , as well as over their persons by right . Under her mild rule every individual may entertain , avow , and defend his own conscientious opinions , without fear of torture , imprisonment , or death . All parties , all sects , unite in upholding her throne , ancl in maintaining her authority , because under wise and prudent dominion the liberty of private judgment is established , the Protestant faith is defended , equal justice is dispensed , without respect
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Provincial.
of a great and good man , who died on this spot in defence of those principles which lie at the root of all the liberty we enjoy—social , religious , ancl political ; then , sir , we felt we had a double claim upon you . You did not disappoint us ; you responded to the claim , and we thank you for it . Sir , it is not my purpose to detain this assembly long by entering upon the history of the times of Bishop Hooper . But when imagination pictures this day the scene enacted on this spot more than 300 years agowhen we see the
, good ancl holy man Hooper dying the most agonizing death ; when we fill those windows with monks , ancl friars , and priests , gloating over their victim , our hearts , Sir , ought to be raised up with thanksgiving to God , who , of his mercy and through the faithfulness of such men , delivered us from a svstem as detrimental to
mere social and moral , as well as spiritual interests ; a system that has contrived to turn the religion of a merciful Saviour into an engine of oppression . If , Sir , your predecessor that day in the office of mayor attended officially at the burning of Hooper , it becomes something like an act of retributive justice thafc you should this day attend to do honour to his memory . Sir , we are about to erect this memorial to do honour to the of a great and
memory ^ good man , a faithful martyr of Jesus Christ : we erect this memorial to show that even in this utilitarian age there are those who can value principles faithfully ancl uncompromisingly carried out : we erect it as a reminder to Protestant Christians of fche price paid for their reli gious liberties , and as a warning too ; lest , tampering with the unholy thing , they may tempt God to allow them to fall again under a yoke their fathers were unable to bear . I now , Sir , invite
you to lay the first stone of the memorial to John Hooper , some time Bishop of Gloucester and Worcester . Bro . NEWMAECII , D . Prov . G . M ., next delivered a Masonic charge . He said they had met that day to perpetuate the memory of one who in times of violence and persecution suffered on that spot an agonising death for his unshaken fidelity to the doctrines of his church , and the sacred trust reposed in him . Might the
example which he had set us be deeply impressed on our minds , and lead us to stand firm in the faith which had been sanctified by his blood , and , if need be , to suffer as he did for the truth ' s sake with fortitude ancl fidelity , in the full but humble confidence that when the earthly tabernacle of this body shall be destroyed , the immortal spirit will ascend to the Grand Lodge above , where the world's great Architect lives and reigns for ever . The customary Masonic ceremony in such cases then took placa . Oil , wine , and corn were then poured on the stone , tho B . Prov . G . M . giving the following illustrations : —
" iLItUSTBATKMTS OE COM , WlNE , AOT > Oil ,. " May the seeds of corn scattered on this stone remind us of the seeds of God ' s Word sown plenteously in tho Lord , ancl for which the blood of martyrs has been shed to nourish , thafc they may bring forth fruit a hundred fold in our hearts , and yield a plenteous harvest on that clay when the Lord shall come to gather up the wheat into his garner . " We wine on this stone . We anoint it with oil as emblems
pour of bliss and consolation ; may they be regarded as types of the good things which the Most ' High has reserved for those his true and faithful servants who , after the clay of trial ancl affliction here on earth , shall hereafter receive the cup of blessing , ancl be anointed with the oil of gladness above their fellows . " Bro . TEIKDEE , the secretary , next read the following inscription , which was written on parchment and enclosed with current silver
coins of the realm in a bottle , and deposited under the stone , being separated from it by a brass plate on which the date was engraved . The inscription ran thus : — "In the reign of her most gracious Majesty Queen Victoria , this monument was erected to the honoured memory of John Hooper , D . D ., Bishop of the Diocese of Gloucester , whose martyrdom took place on this spot , the 9 th day of February , 1555 , for his steady adherence to our Protestant
Christianity ; and the first stone was laid with Masonic rites by the Worshipful the Mayor of Gloucester , Bro . Edmund Boughton , jun ., of the Royal Gloucester Lodge of Free and Accepted Masons , No . 1141 , acting under the dispensation of the Ri ght Worshipful the Hon . James Henry Legge Dutton , Provincial Grand Master of Gloucestershire , at the grand assembly of Masonic lodges and brethren , the mayor and corporation of the city , the clergy of the
cathedral and diocese , the committee for the erection of the monument , and a vast concourse of people , on the 18 th day of Sept ., in the year of our Lord 1861 , and of the era of Masonry 5861 . The Rev . H . C . Minchin , M . A ., chairman of the memorial committee ; J- H . Brown , hon . secretary ; J . Medland ancl A . W . Maberley , architects ; Oliver Estcourt , builder ; John Hulls ancl AVilliam Underwood , churchwardens of the parish of St . Mary cle Lode . All glory to the Most High . " Ihe
' Treasurer produced the phial containing coins ofthe present reign , ancl the inscription , which he deposited in a hollow of the lower stone . The D . Prov . G . M . then presented the silver trowel to the mayor . It bore the following inscription : — " Presented to
Edmund Boughton , jun ., Esq ., Mayor of the City of Gloucester , by Oliver Estcourt , the contractor , on the occasion of laying the foundation stone ofthe monument of Bishop Hooper . Gloucester , September , 1861 . " His worship then duly spread the mortar , and the stone was slowly lowered . The senior and junior wardens then applied the square , level , and plumb rule to the stone , and havingbeen questioned by the D . Prov . G . M . in Masonic form as to the resultancl having given satisfactory replies .
, The D . Prov . G . M . saicl : Brother Wardens , I have full confidence in your skill in the Masonic art . It now remains for me to finish the work . —The D . Prov . G . M . then took the mallet , gave the stone three knocks , and said : May the monument , the foundation-stone of which we have laid to-day , be completed by the craftsmen in peace , harmony , and "brotherly love . Ancl all the brethren responded : So mote it be .
The band then played the National Anthem , ancl the Rev . Gt . Roberts offered np a prayer . The Mayor , Bro . Boughton , next said : Now that the foundationstone of the monument about to be erected to the memory of our revered bishop and martyr has been thus formally laid , it becomes my duty , as Mayor of the ancient city of Glocester , to address my fellow citizens and the large concourse of persons whom this
interesting ceremonial has attracted to the spot where the martyrdom was completed . It is impossible for me to stand where I now clo and not to recal to my imagination how different was 1555 . The writ which doomed a heretic to be burned , was , it seems , directed to the mayor and sheriffs of this city , where the execution was to take place . "Upon my predecessor , one Thomas Lovedayand H . and Thomas Machensheriffsdevolved the
, , , painful duty of the execution of an eloquent and pious bishop , whose preaching perhaps he had heard , and whose message of the scene here presented upon the memorable 9 th of February , the Gospel might perhaps have touched his heart ; for it is quite evident from tlie records of the transaction which have reached us that the ministerial labours ofthe good bishop had made a profound impression ill the diocese , where he devoted himself day by day to
spread abroad the knowledge of the Gospel truth ; and that he was hurried down from London by a long journey on horseback in the winter season , to be burnt in his cathedral city , in order that the example of his condign punishment might send terror into the hearts of those who had been won over by the affectionate pleadings of his eloquence , and by the bright evidence of his Christian and blameless life , to embrace the truths of the Protestant religion . The tears and the sympathy of the vast crowd which was gathered
together to witness upon this spot the awful effects of a bigoted aud misdirected zeal attest both the success and the triumph of the martyred Bishop ' s exertions in his Divine Master ' s cause . Bufc whatever may have been the private sentiments of my predecessorupon that harrowing occasion , he was bound to conceal them . As a minister and servant of the law , in obedience to his oath of allegiance to her Majesty the Queen , he had no power to do
otherwise than to give due course to the law , cruel and unjust though it might be . But I , standing in his place , and living in happier times , am freed from obligations thus odious . It was his duty to see the sentence of the law properly enforced : it is my privilege ,, in the name of my fellow-citizens , to repudiate the foul stain which that sad act fixed upon the legislature of the country , and upon the authorities of this ancient and renowned city , whose ancient reputation is intertwined with all the glories and struggles for liberty , both civil and religious , which are
handed clown to us as heirlooms in the histqry of our noble country , freest among the free , the most enlightened among the enlightened nations of the earth . But these triumphs were not achieved without an expenditure of blood , without a large amount of individual suffering , and eminent amongst these was the martyrdom of Bishop Hooper . To his memory this day we have laid the foundation stone of a monument , which shall record to our children ' s children fche constancy unto death of one was
persecuted for conscience sake , ancl one who adorned by his life , blameless and devoted , the pure doctrine he taught—of one who was a bulwark of the Protestant faith—of one who gave his life in exchange for the free ancl unfettered word of God—of one who cemented by his blood the foundation of the purest and most tolerant church in the world—the Church of England . How different from the reign of terror is the mild aud pleasant dominion under which it is our happiness to live . Queen Mary , the
persecutor of her subjects who differed from her in religion—Queen Victoria , the mother of her people , rejoicing in their hearts by affection , as well as over their persons by right . Under her mild rule every individual may entertain , avow , and defend his own conscientious opinions , without fear of torture , imprisonment , or death . All parties , all sects , unite in upholding her throne , ancl in maintaining her authority , because under wise and prudent dominion the liberty of private judgment is established , the Protestant faith is defended , equal justice is dispensed , without respect