-
Articles/Ads
Article PROVINCIAL. ← Page 12 of 21 →
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Provincial.
must be delightful to every true-hearted Mason that such is the case ; and that some of those precious , intellectual plants , which were once only known and nursed as exotics in the Lodge , have since grown up to sturdy indiginous trees , able to take careof themselves , and offering on the open highway of life , their shadow , their protection , and their manifold usefulness to every passer by . But , Brethren , Masonry contains some other featureswhich are as yet peculiar to herselfand which are far
, , from having yet received common acceptance . I will , on this occasion , only allude to its social views and tendencies ; to its simple , testless , primitive , all-embracing princip le of universal fraternity ! This is a source , Brethren , from which , if rightly conducted , will yet flow a plentiful river of increased happiness into human society ; a source from which , I trust , will eventually emanate influences of which modern society with its boasted inventionswith its moral victories and
multi-, plied comforts ; but also with its casts , with its rivalries , and its consequent fears and heartburnings , stands yet much in need of . When society at large will at length have learned from Masonry—not to ask the candidate for Brotherhood after his rank , his fortune , his country , his manner of faith , his politics , his connexions , or after any of his outer circumstances ; but simply and plainly after his character , and ' in whom he puts his trust in all difficulties and dangers' and when
, satisfied on these points , will receive him as Brother , and look upon him as such , and treat him as such , and meet him as such : —then , and only then , will Masonry have accomplished her important mission ; then , and not till then , may the last Masonic Pilgrim throw aside his staff and joyfully exclaim , ' I have found it ! ' and search no longer !
Brethren , I humbly apologize for having thus ventured—with more zeal than discretion—to follow Brother Oliver on his own ground . I have done so principally because I trusted that you would extend to me a portion of that Charity , which he so eloquently described to us to-night , in all its own divine qualities . And now . Brethren , I have the pleasant task to perform of proposing to you a toast , which I know you will receive with as much pleasure as
I give it . The Royal Sussex Lodge , Brethren , occupies in this province a peculiar and interesting position . By numbering amongst its members some of the elite of this county , it opens the way for intercourse between individuals of different spheres of life , who would otherwise have remained estranged from each other ; the occasions of those meetings are also of such a sort that they leave but pleasant recollections behind ; and ,
Brethren , the human heart is of that happy construction , that it naturally leads to beat kindly towards those , with whom it has shared one sensation . ( Cheers . ) Our sister Lodge thus holds out the bond of union between those whom society has separated , and so accomplishes to a certain degree , what I shall always consider the happiest tendency of Masonry—Fraternal intercourse between all , and a consciousness of mutual dependence amongst all ! Brethren , I will not detain you any
longer from drinking the health of the Master , Officers , and Brethren of the Royal Sussex Lodge . " The toast was drunk with great enthusiasm . The following toasts were then drunk , and responded to by Brethren present who were connected with each . " The W . M ., Officers , and Brethren of the Commercial Lodge . " " The Rig ht Honourable C . T . D'Eyncourt , and the P . G . Lodge of Lincolnshire . " " Brother Strong ,
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Provincial.
must be delightful to every true-hearted Mason that such is the case ; and that some of those precious , intellectual plants , which were once only known and nursed as exotics in the Lodge , have since grown up to sturdy indiginous trees , able to take careof themselves , and offering on the open highway of life , their shadow , their protection , and their manifold usefulness to every passer by . But , Brethren , Masonry contains some other featureswhich are as yet peculiar to herselfand which are far
, , from having yet received common acceptance . I will , on this occasion , only allude to its social views and tendencies ; to its simple , testless , primitive , all-embracing princip le of universal fraternity ! This is a source , Brethren , from which , if rightly conducted , will yet flow a plentiful river of increased happiness into human society ; a source from which , I trust , will eventually emanate influences of which modern society with its boasted inventionswith its moral victories and
multi-, plied comforts ; but also with its casts , with its rivalries , and its consequent fears and heartburnings , stands yet much in need of . When society at large will at length have learned from Masonry—not to ask the candidate for Brotherhood after his rank , his fortune , his country , his manner of faith , his politics , his connexions , or after any of his outer circumstances ; but simply and plainly after his character , and ' in whom he puts his trust in all difficulties and dangers' and when
, satisfied on these points , will receive him as Brother , and look upon him as such , and treat him as such , and meet him as such : —then , and only then , will Masonry have accomplished her important mission ; then , and not till then , may the last Masonic Pilgrim throw aside his staff and joyfully exclaim , ' I have found it ! ' and search no longer !
Brethren , I humbly apologize for having thus ventured—with more zeal than discretion—to follow Brother Oliver on his own ground . I have done so principally because I trusted that you would extend to me a portion of that Charity , which he so eloquently described to us to-night , in all its own divine qualities . And now . Brethren , I have the pleasant task to perform of proposing to you a toast , which I know you will receive with as much pleasure as
I give it . The Royal Sussex Lodge , Brethren , occupies in this province a peculiar and interesting position . By numbering amongst its members some of the elite of this county , it opens the way for intercourse between individuals of different spheres of life , who would otherwise have remained estranged from each other ; the occasions of those meetings are also of such a sort that they leave but pleasant recollections behind ; and ,
Brethren , the human heart is of that happy construction , that it naturally leads to beat kindly towards those , with whom it has shared one sensation . ( Cheers . ) Our sister Lodge thus holds out the bond of union between those whom society has separated , and so accomplishes to a certain degree , what I shall always consider the happiest tendency of Masonry—Fraternal intercourse between all , and a consciousness of mutual dependence amongst all ! Brethren , I will not detain you any
longer from drinking the health of the Master , Officers , and Brethren of the Royal Sussex Lodge . " The toast was drunk with great enthusiasm . The following toasts were then drunk , and responded to by Brethren present who were connected with each . " The W . M ., Officers , and Brethren of the Commercial Lodge . " " The Rig ht Honourable C . T . D'Eyncourt , and the P . G . Lodge of Lincolnshire . " " Brother Strong ,