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Address Of Brother Alexander Grant
ADDRESS OF BROTHER ALEXANDER GRANT
To Lodge 93 , Londonderry . St . John ' s Day , 1844 . * DEAR BRETHREN—Without arrogating to myself any superiority or wish to insinuate that I have done more than my duty , yet your kindness and marked attention to me on all occasions of our meetings did , I admit , lead me to expect that the present social assembly ivould not be allowed to separate without some mark towards me of your approbation
, and , I will add , of your regard . AA'hen I look around and see so many of the Brethren brought together through my instrumentality , a pleasurable and indescribable emotion of thankfulness fills my breast , ancl any labour or exertion in our good cause is amply repaid when I see , ancl am in fellowship with , those who have nobly , and with fortitude , sustained the stern trial of their faith—those who , under my humble guidance , have been taught , masonically and reverentially , " to look through nature up
to nature ' s Gocl "—those who have , with me , typically traversed the valley of darkness , " ancl been raised from a figurative death to a reunion with the former companions of their toils—were led to contemplate their inevitable destiny , but at the same time to feel that in this perishable frame resides a vital ancl immortal principle which inspires a holy confidence that the Lord of light and life will enable us to trample the king of terrors beneath our feet , and lift our eyes to the bright morning star , ivhose rising brings peace and salvation to the faithful and obedient of the human race . " The time is not far distant , I trust , when I may embrace you all in that ineffable degree
which inspires its members with the most exalted ideas of Godwhich in every point , part , and letter ot its mysteries relates to the soul of man in a future state , leads to the exercise of the most pure ancl sublime piety , a reverence for the Great Jehovah , the Eternal Ruler of the Universe , the elemental life , the primordial source of all its principles , the very spring and foundation of all its virtues . You who have passed these trials and probations under my guidance—all of you , as Brother MasonsI feel I possess your Masonic regardsand , may I addyour love .
, , , —( cheers . ) That hearty response assures me I do ; and as it is not probable we will all meet round this board again , indeed , it may be that ere one short revolving year will have completed its course in the great cycle of time , many may have been called to their dread account ; perhaps the eye that glistens on you with delight may be dim in death , ancl the heart of him who addresses you may be mouldering in the oblivion of the grave . Taking into account these probabilities , I cannot allow the opportunity
to pass without expressing to you my sentiments on the most essential points of our profession as Masons . In the first place , he who would separate Masonry and religion ivould be guilty of the removal of the most fundamental and vital landmark of the Order . We can then afford to let pass unnoticed the idiot laugh of ridicule , or the cynical sneer of contempt , and challenge the most painstaking gainsayer to characterise a Mason Lodge as any other than a place where the "ignorant are taught wisdom—the dissolute piety . " That there is much scepticism and much speculation abroad as to Masonry I will not deny ; and 1 will now recapitulate an opinion I have expressed before , in an assembly of the
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Address Of Brother Alexander Grant
ADDRESS OF BROTHER ALEXANDER GRANT
To Lodge 93 , Londonderry . St . John ' s Day , 1844 . * DEAR BRETHREN—Without arrogating to myself any superiority or wish to insinuate that I have done more than my duty , yet your kindness and marked attention to me on all occasions of our meetings did , I admit , lead me to expect that the present social assembly ivould not be allowed to separate without some mark towards me of your approbation
, and , I will add , of your regard . AA'hen I look around and see so many of the Brethren brought together through my instrumentality , a pleasurable and indescribable emotion of thankfulness fills my breast , ancl any labour or exertion in our good cause is amply repaid when I see , ancl am in fellowship with , those who have nobly , and with fortitude , sustained the stern trial of their faith—those who , under my humble guidance , have been taught , masonically and reverentially , " to look through nature up
to nature ' s Gocl "—those who have , with me , typically traversed the valley of darkness , " ancl been raised from a figurative death to a reunion with the former companions of their toils—were led to contemplate their inevitable destiny , but at the same time to feel that in this perishable frame resides a vital ancl immortal principle which inspires a holy confidence that the Lord of light and life will enable us to trample the king of terrors beneath our feet , and lift our eyes to the bright morning star , ivhose rising brings peace and salvation to the faithful and obedient of the human race . " The time is not far distant , I trust , when I may embrace you all in that ineffable degree
which inspires its members with the most exalted ideas of Godwhich in every point , part , and letter ot its mysteries relates to the soul of man in a future state , leads to the exercise of the most pure ancl sublime piety , a reverence for the Great Jehovah , the Eternal Ruler of the Universe , the elemental life , the primordial source of all its principles , the very spring and foundation of all its virtues . You who have passed these trials and probations under my guidance—all of you , as Brother MasonsI feel I possess your Masonic regardsand , may I addyour love .
, , , —( cheers . ) That hearty response assures me I do ; and as it is not probable we will all meet round this board again , indeed , it may be that ere one short revolving year will have completed its course in the great cycle of time , many may have been called to their dread account ; perhaps the eye that glistens on you with delight may be dim in death , ancl the heart of him who addresses you may be mouldering in the oblivion of the grave . Taking into account these probabilities , I cannot allow the opportunity
to pass without expressing to you my sentiments on the most essential points of our profession as Masons . In the first place , he who would separate Masonry and religion ivould be guilty of the removal of the most fundamental and vital landmark of the Order . We can then afford to let pass unnoticed the idiot laugh of ridicule , or the cynical sneer of contempt , and challenge the most painstaking gainsayer to characterise a Mason Lodge as any other than a place where the "ignorant are taught wisdom—the dissolute piety . " That there is much scepticism and much speculation abroad as to Masonry I will not deny ; and 1 will now recapitulate an opinion I have expressed before , in an assembly of the