-
Articles/Ads
Article PROVINCIAL. ← Page 4 of 7 →
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Provincial.
the word than ere he died . ( Great applause . ) My emotions then are not altogether sad , although the elorjuent tongue which charmed us is mute , and the generous anel expansive heart which warmed us is mouldering in the grave . If , as I believe , the perfection of happiness is the perfection of life , my dear friend Archdeacon Freer died to live . It was moreover needful that he should die , in order that his character might produce its full effect ; a liht beams from his virtues and throws a
g radiance over the grave in Bishopstone churchyard . He had fulfilled his mission of philanthropy among mortals , anel his grave was hut the gate of that higher life where he has begun a career of excellence which will never end . ( Continued applause . ) He is now charged with a hi gher mission , endued with new power of enjoying the beauty and grandeur of the universe , allied to the noblest works of benevolence , continually discovering new
mysteries of the Creator's power anel goodness , and seeing the universal Father with a now light in all his works . ( Applause . ) He has left the brethren of this loelge to associate with the elder brethren of the creation—the Sons of the Morning—the great and good of all ages and climes—with all who have walked before God in the beauty of self-sacrificing virtue—and with them he will ( ill up the succession of ages in the glorious and immortal work of doing good . ( Great lause ) The death
app . of such a man diminishes the sensible remoteness of that happier world to which we hope hereafter to ascend , and blends the remembrance anel the emulation of his virtues with the animating consciousness that , if we obey God ' s commandments , our departed friend shall , in a very little time , come forth to greet us on our entrance into tlie heavenly lodge , and renew that friendship which , having virtue anel religion for its basis , will survive all human
ties , outlive the habitable globe , anel form , in all probability , the principal happiness of the blessed . ( Applause . ) Brethren , I beg in conclusion to give yon the health of my honourable friend , your new D . Prov . G . M . ( Cheers . ) He has a mind of great penetration , amplitude , and energy , and I am sure you will unite with me in au earnest prayer that he may be spared many years to emulate the example of his predecessor , to build you up in the principles of Masonry , and to strengthen anel emulate that sacred and blessed bond of brotherhood which joins Masons to one another . ( Protracted
objects of this appointment , if possible , so far as I am able , and which have been so powerfully set before us by the eloquence with which his character has been to-day and this evening pourtrayed by the Right AVorshipful the Provincial Grand Master . ( Great applause . ) I may , perhaps , upon my own part , express a hope that he may still live amongst us by the benefit he conferred upon all , anel by the benefit which all good Masons who have gone before , by their example , confer upon
those who come after them . ( Applause . ) I am not using the mere language of promise or hope in saying this . I have indeed at heart the good of the community of the province of Herefordshire , anel I should be delighted to see it stand high amongst the provinces of England . I do trust that a little circumstance that lately occurred in a neighbouring province , anel of which the AVorshipful Master is cognizant , is calculated to give a fillip to our pride anel feeling , anel induce
the brethren of Herefordshire to strive more fully to realise and carry out the objects of Masonry . ( Cheers . ) Brethren , Masonry is one of those human pursuits anel studies which [ are closely allied to something higher than human ; but it is true of all those— -I may go farther and say so even of Christianity itself—that it may be made something or it may be made nothing of , according to the mode in which it is developed and carried out . ( Hear and cheers . ) If Masonry in
the provinces ends in nothing but gathering us together in the mere form of a loelge , in rushing to banquets , anel making it a source of conviviality—if , I say , it is sought as a means of temporary amusement and temporary gratification , let me assure you that its objects have been overlooked , and that wherever such has been or is the case the character of Masonry and of Masons stands comparatively low . ( Hear , hear . ) Let me assure you that any self-denial wo may be called upon to make
will tell with wonclrous e / l ' ect out of doors . It is with Masonry as with life—the banquet is a part of its ceremonies . Social qualities are a part of our Masonic formula ;; the capacity not only to enjoy one's-self , hut to promote the enjoyment of others , is a specific part of Masonry ; and therefore a loelge is not really closeel when the banquet is begun—although the duties of lodge are primary—but continues as long as the banquet continues . If , then , there is one thing more than another that shows an
extreme capacity for promoting our own enjoyment and the enjoyment of others it is Masonry in its peremptory and severe prevention of anything approaching to excess . In this respect our deceased brother was indeed a great exemplary to the Masons of the province of Herefordshire . ( Loud applause . ) It is not that I wish to attempt hy the exercise of mere power , but by a loving exercise of Masonic rule , to endeavour to promote , as far as I can , this principle , which I believe to be almost the crux ,
as it may be called , in Masonry . We know how far the promotion of mutual enjoyment should go , without transgressing over the line which leads from enjoyment to excess . 1 feel there is not one brother present who will not gladly aid me in the pursuit of those objects we should seek to obtain , anil who will support and assist me in the discharge of those duties which will devolve upon me in the position to which I have been chosen this day . ( Hearhear . ) This lod I am delihted
, ge , g to hear , has carefully progressed with that object , and I believe that all the loelges in the province of Herefordshire will follow in that path , and endeavour to accomplish the high anel noble objects of Masonry . ( Hear , hear . ) It is not , as many outsiders believe , a thing to be despised , but one that may bo saiel to combine all the most valuable part of the philosophy of the Pagan as of the Jewish and Gentile world in olden time . It would be difficult to explain the arrival at the great
truths of geometry ; but far more difficult would it be to explain the great truths which connect the great Geometrician of the universe with the great moral principles which have prevailed in all times , not only amongst the highest order of His creatures , but amongst every nation of the world . In Egypt , Greece , Rome , in Juelali—nay , in a nation older than Judah—amongst the shepherd kings of the East ( who
were a terror to the Egyptians , who were the great conquerors of the great primeval kingdom ) , iu every nation of the world of which we have report—there was a " secret . " Now at this very day it is a sort of reproach to Masons that they have a secret . The outer world say , " We do not like you , because you have a secret . " I say , however , that it is not true . Some will be surprised to hear me say so , but I repeat , that in the sense in which they mean it , it is not true . They mean that we have something we will not tell ; but that is not the case . AVe will tell it to any one who will accomplish
himcheering . ) The I ) . PROV . G . AI . in reply said—I feel that the occasion on which I have now to address you is one surrounded by the greatest difficulty that I ever experienced . Iu venturing to respond to the toast which includes as part of it my own health , I feel as if an absent silence woulel be the best respect that I could pay to the memory that is included in the toast that comes before you now . I feci as if the tribute I have to pay to one
who is gone from amongst us superseded so entirely any words I can address to yon on my own part , that it is not ensy to take even the encouragement which one generation is allowed to take from another that is gone by , and to hope that the future may hud forth from the sowing of the best seed iu the character of him , of whom every word that has been spoken by the R . W . Prov . Grancl Master , upon the merits of our most valued brother who has been taken from us . ( Alause . ) I think that if ever
pp there was a character which from many peculiar emalities , especially , his own calculated to illustrate what Masonry is in the human character , it was that of our venerable brother so recently - removed from us , and whom I am elected unworthily to succeed . ( No , no , and applause . ) I shall speak in these terms because there was mixed up with his humanity a bonhom . nie—a kindness of heart that extended to every one around him , that made every
one sitting in his immediate neighbourhood happy—that made every one who gazed upon his features feel that he was tlie particularly favoured individual who had the honour and gratification of his special friendship . ( Hear , hear . ) I hare known that feeling to pervade an assembly at which he was present . I knew it very recently on renewing that acquaintance with him in Herefordshire which had begun
in Warwickshire . ( Applause . ) The thought that our inestimable brother should have been so suddenly removed , and that I should come here and so immediately—before a few months hael passed—find myself painfully occupied in trying to fill the position that so lately absorbed so much of his attention , almost overwhelms me . Indeed , you must allow me to hope that this expression of painful regret at his removal , and the elesire that
surges in my own heart , will lead me to elo justice to his memory , by imitating the noble example he has set us . You m ust allow me to express on my own part the determination I have formed , to do all that in my power lies to carry out the
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Provincial.
the word than ere he died . ( Great applause . ) My emotions then are not altogether sad , although the elorjuent tongue which charmed us is mute , and the generous anel expansive heart which warmed us is mouldering in the grave . If , as I believe , the perfection of happiness is the perfection of life , my dear friend Archdeacon Freer died to live . It was moreover needful that he should die , in order that his character might produce its full effect ; a liht beams from his virtues and throws a
g radiance over the grave in Bishopstone churchyard . He had fulfilled his mission of philanthropy among mortals , anel his grave was hut the gate of that higher life where he has begun a career of excellence which will never end . ( Continued applause . ) He is now charged with a hi gher mission , endued with new power of enjoying the beauty and grandeur of the universe , allied to the noblest works of benevolence , continually discovering new
mysteries of the Creator's power anel goodness , and seeing the universal Father with a now light in all his works . ( Applause . ) He has left the brethren of this loelge to associate with the elder brethren of the creation—the Sons of the Morning—the great and good of all ages and climes—with all who have walked before God in the beauty of self-sacrificing virtue—and with them he will ( ill up the succession of ages in the glorious and immortal work of doing good . ( Great lause ) The death
app . of such a man diminishes the sensible remoteness of that happier world to which we hope hereafter to ascend , and blends the remembrance anel the emulation of his virtues with the animating consciousness that , if we obey God ' s commandments , our departed friend shall , in a very little time , come forth to greet us on our entrance into tlie heavenly lodge , and renew that friendship which , having virtue anel religion for its basis , will survive all human
ties , outlive the habitable globe , anel form , in all probability , the principal happiness of the blessed . ( Applause . ) Brethren , I beg in conclusion to give yon the health of my honourable friend , your new D . Prov . G . M . ( Cheers . ) He has a mind of great penetration , amplitude , and energy , and I am sure you will unite with me in au earnest prayer that he may be spared many years to emulate the example of his predecessor , to build you up in the principles of Masonry , and to strengthen anel emulate that sacred and blessed bond of brotherhood which joins Masons to one another . ( Protracted
objects of this appointment , if possible , so far as I am able , and which have been so powerfully set before us by the eloquence with which his character has been to-day and this evening pourtrayed by the Right AVorshipful the Provincial Grand Master . ( Great applause . ) I may , perhaps , upon my own part , express a hope that he may still live amongst us by the benefit he conferred upon all , anel by the benefit which all good Masons who have gone before , by their example , confer upon
those who come after them . ( Applause . ) I am not using the mere language of promise or hope in saying this . I have indeed at heart the good of the community of the province of Herefordshire , anel I should be delighted to see it stand high amongst the provinces of England . I do trust that a little circumstance that lately occurred in a neighbouring province , anel of which the AVorshipful Master is cognizant , is calculated to give a fillip to our pride anel feeling , anel induce
the brethren of Herefordshire to strive more fully to realise and carry out the objects of Masonry . ( Cheers . ) Brethren , Masonry is one of those human pursuits anel studies which [ are closely allied to something higher than human ; but it is true of all those— -I may go farther and say so even of Christianity itself—that it may be made something or it may be made nothing of , according to the mode in which it is developed and carried out . ( Hear and cheers . ) If Masonry in
the provinces ends in nothing but gathering us together in the mere form of a loelge , in rushing to banquets , anel making it a source of conviviality—if , I say , it is sought as a means of temporary amusement and temporary gratification , let me assure you that its objects have been overlooked , and that wherever such has been or is the case the character of Masonry and of Masons stands comparatively low . ( Hear , hear . ) Let me assure you that any self-denial wo may be called upon to make
will tell with wonclrous e / l ' ect out of doors . It is with Masonry as with life—the banquet is a part of its ceremonies . Social qualities are a part of our Masonic formula ;; the capacity not only to enjoy one's-self , hut to promote the enjoyment of others , is a specific part of Masonry ; and therefore a loelge is not really closeel when the banquet is begun—although the duties of lodge are primary—but continues as long as the banquet continues . If , then , there is one thing more than another that shows an
extreme capacity for promoting our own enjoyment and the enjoyment of others it is Masonry in its peremptory and severe prevention of anything approaching to excess . In this respect our deceased brother was indeed a great exemplary to the Masons of the province of Herefordshire . ( Loud applause . ) It is not that I wish to attempt hy the exercise of mere power , but by a loving exercise of Masonic rule , to endeavour to promote , as far as I can , this principle , which I believe to be almost the crux ,
as it may be called , in Masonry . We know how far the promotion of mutual enjoyment should go , without transgressing over the line which leads from enjoyment to excess . 1 feel there is not one brother present who will not gladly aid me in the pursuit of those objects we should seek to obtain , anil who will support and assist me in the discharge of those duties which will devolve upon me in the position to which I have been chosen this day . ( Hearhear . ) This lod I am delihted
, ge , g to hear , has carefully progressed with that object , and I believe that all the loelges in the province of Herefordshire will follow in that path , and endeavour to accomplish the high anel noble objects of Masonry . ( Hear , hear . ) It is not , as many outsiders believe , a thing to be despised , but one that may bo saiel to combine all the most valuable part of the philosophy of the Pagan as of the Jewish and Gentile world in olden time . It would be difficult to explain the arrival at the great
truths of geometry ; but far more difficult would it be to explain the great truths which connect the great Geometrician of the universe with the great moral principles which have prevailed in all times , not only amongst the highest order of His creatures , but amongst every nation of the world . In Egypt , Greece , Rome , in Juelali—nay , in a nation older than Judah—amongst the shepherd kings of the East ( who
were a terror to the Egyptians , who were the great conquerors of the great primeval kingdom ) , iu every nation of the world of which we have report—there was a " secret . " Now at this very day it is a sort of reproach to Masons that they have a secret . The outer world say , " We do not like you , because you have a secret . " I say , however , that it is not true . Some will be surprised to hear me say so , but I repeat , that in the sense in which they mean it , it is not true . They mean that we have something we will not tell ; but that is not the case . AVe will tell it to any one who will accomplish
himcheering . ) The I ) . PROV . G . AI . in reply said—I feel that the occasion on which I have now to address you is one surrounded by the greatest difficulty that I ever experienced . Iu venturing to respond to the toast which includes as part of it my own health , I feel as if an absent silence woulel be the best respect that I could pay to the memory that is included in the toast that comes before you now . I feci as if the tribute I have to pay to one
who is gone from amongst us superseded so entirely any words I can address to yon on my own part , that it is not ensy to take even the encouragement which one generation is allowed to take from another that is gone by , and to hope that the future may hud forth from the sowing of the best seed iu the character of him , of whom every word that has been spoken by the R . W . Prov . Grancl Master , upon the merits of our most valued brother who has been taken from us . ( Alause . ) I think that if ever
pp there was a character which from many peculiar emalities , especially , his own calculated to illustrate what Masonry is in the human character , it was that of our venerable brother so recently - removed from us , and whom I am elected unworthily to succeed . ( No , no , and applause . ) I shall speak in these terms because there was mixed up with his humanity a bonhom . nie—a kindness of heart that extended to every one around him , that made every
one sitting in his immediate neighbourhood happy—that made every one who gazed upon his features feel that he was tlie particularly favoured individual who had the honour and gratification of his special friendship . ( Hear , hear . ) I hare known that feeling to pervade an assembly at which he was present . I knew it very recently on renewing that acquaintance with him in Herefordshire which had begun
in Warwickshire . ( Applause . ) The thought that our inestimable brother should have been so suddenly removed , and that I should come here and so immediately—before a few months hael passed—find myself painfully occupied in trying to fill the position that so lately absorbed so much of his attention , almost overwhelms me . Indeed , you must allow me to hope that this expression of painful regret at his removal , and the elesire that
surges in my own heart , will lead me to elo justice to his memory , by imitating the noble example he has set us . You m ust allow me to express on my own part the determination I have formed , to do all that in my power lies to carry out the