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Provincial.
the Pharisee in religion it is as wormwood and gall , because it re-echoes in unmistakeablo terms the words of St . James , that " faith without works is dead , " and " pure religion and undefiled before God and the Father is this : to visit the fatherless and widows iu their affliction , and to keep himself unspotted from the world . " It is because Freemasonry is the only institution in the world of the members of which it can be said " see how they love one another , " that it meets with such opposition of so
many in the so-called religious world . They feel that our holy religion was intended to make us loving-, kind , and charitable towards each other , and they see no such fruits in the lives of the bulk of those who " profess and call themselves Christians . " Despite the machinations of the Pharisee and the Sadducee of early times , Christianity has diffused its blessings over the globe ; and spite of the opposition of their modern representatives . Freemasonrythe hand-maiden and ioneer of Christianity
, p , is progressing rapidly in nil ranks of society , and smoothing away many asperities from life's path , drying many a widow ' s and orphan ' s teai-, and uniting mankind in the golden links of charity and brotherhood . The words of Freemasonry are now throughout the world ; her literature is extensively circulated and admired ; her ethics , her ceremonies , her polity , her antiquities have beou descanted on with great ability and research , by
our reverend and venerable brother , Dr . Oliver , and other worthies , whose names will be held in reverence to the end of time . The wisest , and the noblest , and the best , ever have belonged to our Order . I assert it without fear of contradiction , that nearly all who have played important parts on the world's stage were brethren of the " mystic tie . " Kings have not thought it derogatory to their dignity to exchange the sceptre for the trowel , or to leave their diadems outside the lodge ' s door .
Prelates , philosophers , philanthropists , warriors , historians , antiquarians , and statesmen , delight to do our order homage , and to hear that testimony on its behalf which their exalted status render so valuable .. The Rev . Prov . G . Chap , then proceeded to answer several objections which had been urged by the uninitiated in the outside world against the institution of Masonry , and in reply to the cruel insinuation that Masonry is a mere deisticalsystem , he remarked as follows : —I would merely say that Christian Masons understand by the Great Architect of the
universe , to whom ouv prayers are addressed , Him " by whom all things were made , " even the lord Jesus Christ , who was in the beginning with God , and who was God . Our Hebrew brothermay persist in misunderstanding the plain reference of ouv whole system to Christianity , that " religion which is applicable to all times , and adapted to every people that have at any time existed in the world . " To quote the words of our Rev . Bro . Dr . Oliver , "I cannot throw odium or even doubt on the Cross of Christ ;
nor can I allow any contempt to be cast on that sacred atonement by which I trust to inherit the kingdom of heaven , either by my silence or connivance . I will admit my Hebrew ( or deistical ) brother into a Mason's lodge ; I will exchange with him freely all the courtesies of civil and social life ; but as he will not abandon his faith at my command—neither will I . " The Rev . Prov . G . Chaplain then replied to several other objectionsbut as we understand the sermon will be published in
, extenso , in accordance with the resolution of the Prov . G . Lodge , any further notice in our columns is unnecessary . The brethren , on their return from church , fell into the same order as was pursued in going , and , as the weather was delightfully fine , a vast number of spectators lined the road along which the procession passed , whilst at every window , and on every balconythere were indications of the great and lively
in-, terest which the event occasioned . On resuming the lodge , the minutes of the last Prov . Grand lodge were read by the Prov . G . Sec , Bro . Coombs , after which communications were read from Bro . lord Richard Grosvenor , Bro . Ker Sevmer . and other hrethren reerettiinr their inabilitv
to be present . The R . AA . PROV . G . M . then addressed the brethren at considerable length , and in the course of his observations remarked that the returns from the various lodges for the year 1861 , showed a favourable addition to the ranks of Masonry ; the initiations during the 3-ear ^ Jad been considerably more than in the year which precedeiKit ,-and it was to be hoped that in tho current year there would be still further and more satisfactory additions .
In one or two lodges , owing to exceptional causes , there had not been the amount of progress they could have wished ; but , on the whole , the results were very satisfactory . It was gratifying to him to be enabled to state that all returns from the various lodges had been sent in ; and the additional information asked
Provincial.
for by the Secretary , to enable him to commence a new registrar had been furnished with a readiness and disregard of trouble , which had materially assisted him in his labour . The new byelaws were now printed , and had been issued to the lodges and provincial Grand Officers , and appended to them was a calendar of the Grand Officers during the twenty years ending 1860 , which would prove very useful for reference . The affliction which had befallen their beloved Queenand the nation at largein
, , the death of the Prince Consort , since their last annual meeting , was fully recognised by the Masonic body . He ( the Prov . G . M . ) met many of them in a special Grand lodge , which he caused to be summoned at Dorchester , at which an address to her Majesty was agreed upon and duly signed and forwarded , and they had heard the official acknowledgment of its receipt by the Home Secretary . In adopting this step he ( tho Prov . G . M . )
believed he was acting in strict accordance with those principles of loyalty which had ever distinguished the Masonic body , and which they had heard so ably expounded and illustrated in the admirable sermon of their worthy Prov . G . Chap . Adverting to the financial position of the society , he was happy to say that , notwithstanding a grant of £ 25 to the benevolent fund and an extra expense attendant on printing the- bye-laws and
other expenses incidental to the new register , there was still a balance of £ 60 and upwards . The province was represented at the annual festival for the boys' school , by a brother from the province , a member of the Provincial Grand lodge , who had the satisfaction of adding a handsome sum to the funds of tho charity . During the past year , owing to his absence from the country iu the previous year when visiting America , he had
not been able , as he should have wished , to visit the lodges in the province , but he trusted in the coming year to repair the omission and to make himself more generally acquainted with the hrethren of the Order . In considering the appointments to offices now to be made , he had endeavoured to dispense them with impartiality , and with strict reference to the advantage of their Order . Certain offices from their very nature could be best disbharged by remaining in the hands of the same individual for several years , and , unfortunately , this did not leave a sufficient number to make as liberal a distribution as he could
wish among the general body of members . It was his object , however , and his earnest desire , to recognise the services of all in their turn , and he must ask the forbearance of those whom he had been unavoidably obliged for a time to pass over . The R . W . Pvov . G . M . concluded by remarking that the Provincial Grand lodge would next year be held at the ancient and important town of AVimborne ; the members of the local lodge having signified their readiness to receive them . Tho R . AV .
Prov . G . M . then resumed his seat amid considerable applause . The Prov . G . Treas . ( Bro . Hannen ) , whose financial statement was read by thc Secretary , was then unanimously re-elected to the office , the proposer and seconder taking the opportunity to remark how much the province was indebted to him for the clear and satisfactory manner in which the accounts of the province were kept and presented .
Bro . HANNEN , Prov . G . Treas ., returned thanks for the compliment now conferred on him for so many years , aud expressed his anxiety to continue to discharge the duties of tho office to the satisfaction of the province . Petitions for relief from Lydia , widow of Bro . J . A . L ., deceased , late of Lodge 199 , and Bro . AA . F ., of Lodge 199 , which had been favourably reported on by tho committee , were acceded to , and grants of £ 5 each were made .
i . Bro . 'THOMAS COOMRS , Prov . G . Sec , then moved that the rov . G . Treas . be empowered to pay the sum of ten guineas as a donation to either of the Masonic charities , for which any 'brother , being a subscribing member to a lodge in this province shall serve as steward , but so that not more than one such donation shah bo made in any one year . If more than one hrothev shall serve as steward in one year , priority to be given to him who shall first announce his intention of so dointo the Prov .
g G . Sec . He justified the step he had taken in proposing the resolution , by . some remarks which were echoed by the Prov . G . M ., and the resolution having been duly seconded by D . Prov . G . M . Pearce , was carried unanimously . In again nominating Bro . Coombs as Prov . G . Sec , the R . AA Prov . G . M . remarked how much the satisfactory working of a province depended on the mode in which the secretarial duties
were performed . In Bro . Coombs they had an officer who discharged his duties in a most satisfactory manner , and who presented the business in such a lucid and systematic way as to call forth the admiration of every one acquainted with the
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Provincial.
the Pharisee in religion it is as wormwood and gall , because it re-echoes in unmistakeablo terms the words of St . James , that " faith without works is dead , " and " pure religion and undefiled before God and the Father is this : to visit the fatherless and widows iu their affliction , and to keep himself unspotted from the world . " It is because Freemasonry is the only institution in the world of the members of which it can be said " see how they love one another , " that it meets with such opposition of so
many in the so-called religious world . They feel that our holy religion was intended to make us loving-, kind , and charitable towards each other , and they see no such fruits in the lives of the bulk of those who " profess and call themselves Christians . " Despite the machinations of the Pharisee and the Sadducee of early times , Christianity has diffused its blessings over the globe ; and spite of the opposition of their modern representatives . Freemasonrythe hand-maiden and ioneer of Christianity
, p , is progressing rapidly in nil ranks of society , and smoothing away many asperities from life's path , drying many a widow ' s and orphan ' s teai-, and uniting mankind in the golden links of charity and brotherhood . The words of Freemasonry are now throughout the world ; her literature is extensively circulated and admired ; her ethics , her ceremonies , her polity , her antiquities have beou descanted on with great ability and research , by
our reverend and venerable brother , Dr . Oliver , and other worthies , whose names will be held in reverence to the end of time . The wisest , and the noblest , and the best , ever have belonged to our Order . I assert it without fear of contradiction , that nearly all who have played important parts on the world's stage were brethren of the " mystic tie . " Kings have not thought it derogatory to their dignity to exchange the sceptre for the trowel , or to leave their diadems outside the lodge ' s door .
Prelates , philosophers , philanthropists , warriors , historians , antiquarians , and statesmen , delight to do our order homage , and to hear that testimony on its behalf which their exalted status render so valuable .. The Rev . Prov . G . Chap , then proceeded to answer several objections which had been urged by the uninitiated in the outside world against the institution of Masonry , and in reply to the cruel insinuation that Masonry is a mere deisticalsystem , he remarked as follows : —I would merely say that Christian Masons understand by the Great Architect of the
universe , to whom ouv prayers are addressed , Him " by whom all things were made , " even the lord Jesus Christ , who was in the beginning with God , and who was God . Our Hebrew brothermay persist in misunderstanding the plain reference of ouv whole system to Christianity , that " religion which is applicable to all times , and adapted to every people that have at any time existed in the world . " To quote the words of our Rev . Bro . Dr . Oliver , "I cannot throw odium or even doubt on the Cross of Christ ;
nor can I allow any contempt to be cast on that sacred atonement by which I trust to inherit the kingdom of heaven , either by my silence or connivance . I will admit my Hebrew ( or deistical ) brother into a Mason's lodge ; I will exchange with him freely all the courtesies of civil and social life ; but as he will not abandon his faith at my command—neither will I . " The Rev . Prov . G . Chaplain then replied to several other objectionsbut as we understand the sermon will be published in
, extenso , in accordance with the resolution of the Prov . G . Lodge , any further notice in our columns is unnecessary . The brethren , on their return from church , fell into the same order as was pursued in going , and , as the weather was delightfully fine , a vast number of spectators lined the road along which the procession passed , whilst at every window , and on every balconythere were indications of the great and lively
in-, terest which the event occasioned . On resuming the lodge , the minutes of the last Prov . Grand lodge were read by the Prov . G . Sec , Bro . Coombs , after which communications were read from Bro . lord Richard Grosvenor , Bro . Ker Sevmer . and other hrethren reerettiinr their inabilitv
to be present . The R . AA . PROV . G . M . then addressed the brethren at considerable length , and in the course of his observations remarked that the returns from the various lodges for the year 1861 , showed a favourable addition to the ranks of Masonry ; the initiations during the 3-ear ^ Jad been considerably more than in the year which precedeiKit ,-and it was to be hoped that in tho current year there would be still further and more satisfactory additions .
In one or two lodges , owing to exceptional causes , there had not been the amount of progress they could have wished ; but , on the whole , the results were very satisfactory . It was gratifying to him to be enabled to state that all returns from the various lodges had been sent in ; and the additional information asked
Provincial.
for by the Secretary , to enable him to commence a new registrar had been furnished with a readiness and disregard of trouble , which had materially assisted him in his labour . The new byelaws were now printed , and had been issued to the lodges and provincial Grand Officers , and appended to them was a calendar of the Grand Officers during the twenty years ending 1860 , which would prove very useful for reference . The affliction which had befallen their beloved Queenand the nation at largein
, , the death of the Prince Consort , since their last annual meeting , was fully recognised by the Masonic body . He ( the Prov . G . M . ) met many of them in a special Grand lodge , which he caused to be summoned at Dorchester , at which an address to her Majesty was agreed upon and duly signed and forwarded , and they had heard the official acknowledgment of its receipt by the Home Secretary . In adopting this step he ( tho Prov . G . M . )
believed he was acting in strict accordance with those principles of loyalty which had ever distinguished the Masonic body , and which they had heard so ably expounded and illustrated in the admirable sermon of their worthy Prov . G . Chap . Adverting to the financial position of the society , he was happy to say that , notwithstanding a grant of £ 25 to the benevolent fund and an extra expense attendant on printing the- bye-laws and
other expenses incidental to the new register , there was still a balance of £ 60 and upwards . The province was represented at the annual festival for the boys' school , by a brother from the province , a member of the Provincial Grand lodge , who had the satisfaction of adding a handsome sum to the funds of tho charity . During the past year , owing to his absence from the country iu the previous year when visiting America , he had
not been able , as he should have wished , to visit the lodges in the province , but he trusted in the coming year to repair the omission and to make himself more generally acquainted with the hrethren of the Order . In considering the appointments to offices now to be made , he had endeavoured to dispense them with impartiality , and with strict reference to the advantage of their Order . Certain offices from their very nature could be best disbharged by remaining in the hands of the same individual for several years , and , unfortunately , this did not leave a sufficient number to make as liberal a distribution as he could
wish among the general body of members . It was his object , however , and his earnest desire , to recognise the services of all in their turn , and he must ask the forbearance of those whom he had been unavoidably obliged for a time to pass over . The R . W . Pvov . G . M . concluded by remarking that the Provincial Grand lodge would next year be held at the ancient and important town of AVimborne ; the members of the local lodge having signified their readiness to receive them . Tho R . AV .
Prov . G . M . then resumed his seat amid considerable applause . The Prov . G . Treas . ( Bro . Hannen ) , whose financial statement was read by thc Secretary , was then unanimously re-elected to the office , the proposer and seconder taking the opportunity to remark how much the province was indebted to him for the clear and satisfactory manner in which the accounts of the province were kept and presented .
Bro . HANNEN , Prov . G . Treas ., returned thanks for the compliment now conferred on him for so many years , aud expressed his anxiety to continue to discharge the duties of tho office to the satisfaction of the province . Petitions for relief from Lydia , widow of Bro . J . A . L ., deceased , late of Lodge 199 , and Bro . AA . F ., of Lodge 199 , which had been favourably reported on by tho committee , were acceded to , and grants of £ 5 each were made .
i . Bro . 'THOMAS COOMRS , Prov . G . Sec , then moved that the rov . G . Treas . be empowered to pay the sum of ten guineas as a donation to either of the Masonic charities , for which any 'brother , being a subscribing member to a lodge in this province shall serve as steward , but so that not more than one such donation shah bo made in any one year . If more than one hrothev shall serve as steward in one year , priority to be given to him who shall first announce his intention of so dointo the Prov .
g G . Sec . He justified the step he had taken in proposing the resolution , by . some remarks which were echoed by the Prov . G . M ., and the resolution having been duly seconded by D . Prov . G . M . Pearce , was carried unanimously . In again nominating Bro . Coombs as Prov . G . Sec , the R . AA Prov . G . M . remarked how much the satisfactory working of a province depended on the mode in which the secretarial duties
were performed . In Bro . Coombs they had an officer who discharged his duties in a most satisfactory manner , and who presented the business in such a lucid and systematic way as to call forth the admiration of every one acquainted with the