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Article PROVINCIAL, ← Page 15 of 21 →
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Provincial,
The prayers were read by the Rev . W . N . St . Leger , the incumbent ; the lessons by Bro . the Rev . W . D . Poore . Bro . Foster presided at the organ , assisted by Mr . Matt , Mr . Hayward , and a competent choir . The anthem selected for the occasion was from Matthew xxv ., beginning at the 31 st verse ,
"When the Son of Man shall come in His glory . " The sermon , by Bro . the Rev . Erskine Neele , was most eloquent and practical , from Acts xxvii . v . 25 , " Seeing He giveth to all life and breath and all things . " After some well-timed observations upon the value of life , with reference to our preparation for eternity , as well as with reference to our power of doing' good to our fellow-creatures in this world , the reverend gentleman proceeded as follows :-
—" A few words on his last hours before we glance at some leading features in his character . We who mourn him as our chief—we who , as Masons , had special opportunities for judging of the beauty , kindliness , and benevolence of his private life , are comforted by the thought that , though suddenly assailed by the last enemy , he was . not surprised . It may be interesting to you to know that severe as were his sufferings , he was , throughout , cool , firm , and collected ; gave minute
directions respecting his funeral ; indicated where he should be interred in a retired spot in Benacre churchyard ; expressed in his usual frank and cordial manner his acknowledgments to those who waited around his sick bed ; and avowed no unwillingness to die , or dread of the great change . Why should he ? The believer never dies—he only sleeps in Jesus . " Next , as to the salient features in his character . He was thoroughly English ! In his tastes—in his pursuits—in his frank and manly address—in his love of
the country and country sports—in his attachment to agriculture—in his cordial sympathy with the humble tillers of the soil—he was national to the heart ' s core . No foreign frippery—no affectation of foreign tastes and foreign manners ! " He was high-minded in the best acceptation of the term I Anything petty and equivocal he scorned ! Some will well remember how , on a certain occasion , in the adjustment of a somewhat intricate matter , when the suggestion was thrown out by a watchful observer , '* To repudiate this document is quite allowable , and unquestionably it would be both expedient and advantageous , ' he quickly
interposed , and somewhat sternly said : — " Do so , and from that moment I am no longer a party to your proceedings . I came here this morning not to debate about what is either expedient or advantageous—I came here to do what is just . ' " The preacher , in conclusion , exhorted his hearers to solemnize the service by charity . The collection , made for the benefit of the funds of the East Suffolk Hospital , amounted to £ 15 . Is . 5 d . The organ again played the Dead March in Saul , and the crowded , and , we may add , edified congregation , took their departure with a solemnity of feeling which evidenced how deep was the impression made upon the hearts of all whose high privilege it had been to be present .
SURREY . Reigate . —Surrey Lodge ( No . 603 ) . —A Lodge of Emergency was held on Saturday , the 6 th of December , at the Swan Inn , Reigate , for the purpose of taking steps to revive the regular meetings of this the oldest of all the Lodges in the province of Surrey , of which , it will be remembered , the late lamented Prov . G . M . for Surrey , Lord Monson , was the life and soul and most munificent benefactor . There were present on this occasion , Bros . Thomas Hart , as W . M .
Peter Martin , P . M . ; George Lyall , llolman , & c . 1 be visitors were Bros . John L . Evans , W . M ., No . 318 ; Rev . William It . Lyall , P . M ., No . 10 . Several residents in the neighbourhood were proposed for initiation , or election , as joining members , at the next meeting . Some alterations in the bye-laws were agreed to , including one which provided for the removal of tho Lodge from the
White Hart to the Swan Inn . At the conclusion of the business the Brethren sat down to an excellent banquet , and under tho presidency of the W . M . pro temp . passed a most agreeable evening . There is every prospect of this Lodge not onl y regaining , but even surpassing its pristine lustre , and the very successful resuscitatory meeting may well be taken as significant of increased prosperity and usefulness .
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Provincial,
The prayers were read by the Rev . W . N . St . Leger , the incumbent ; the lessons by Bro . the Rev . W . D . Poore . Bro . Foster presided at the organ , assisted by Mr . Matt , Mr . Hayward , and a competent choir . The anthem selected for the occasion was from Matthew xxv ., beginning at the 31 st verse ,
"When the Son of Man shall come in His glory . " The sermon , by Bro . the Rev . Erskine Neele , was most eloquent and practical , from Acts xxvii . v . 25 , " Seeing He giveth to all life and breath and all things . " After some well-timed observations upon the value of life , with reference to our preparation for eternity , as well as with reference to our power of doing' good to our fellow-creatures in this world , the reverend gentleman proceeded as follows :-
—" A few words on his last hours before we glance at some leading features in his character . We who mourn him as our chief—we who , as Masons , had special opportunities for judging of the beauty , kindliness , and benevolence of his private life , are comforted by the thought that , though suddenly assailed by the last enemy , he was . not surprised . It may be interesting to you to know that severe as were his sufferings , he was , throughout , cool , firm , and collected ; gave minute
directions respecting his funeral ; indicated where he should be interred in a retired spot in Benacre churchyard ; expressed in his usual frank and cordial manner his acknowledgments to those who waited around his sick bed ; and avowed no unwillingness to die , or dread of the great change . Why should he ? The believer never dies—he only sleeps in Jesus . " Next , as to the salient features in his character . He was thoroughly English ! In his tastes—in his pursuits—in his frank and manly address—in his love of
the country and country sports—in his attachment to agriculture—in his cordial sympathy with the humble tillers of the soil—he was national to the heart ' s core . No foreign frippery—no affectation of foreign tastes and foreign manners ! " He was high-minded in the best acceptation of the term I Anything petty and equivocal he scorned ! Some will well remember how , on a certain occasion , in the adjustment of a somewhat intricate matter , when the suggestion was thrown out by a watchful observer , '* To repudiate this document is quite allowable , and unquestionably it would be both expedient and advantageous , ' he quickly
interposed , and somewhat sternly said : — " Do so , and from that moment I am no longer a party to your proceedings . I came here this morning not to debate about what is either expedient or advantageous—I came here to do what is just . ' " The preacher , in conclusion , exhorted his hearers to solemnize the service by charity . The collection , made for the benefit of the funds of the East Suffolk Hospital , amounted to £ 15 . Is . 5 d . The organ again played the Dead March in Saul , and the crowded , and , we may add , edified congregation , took their departure with a solemnity of feeling which evidenced how deep was the impression made upon the hearts of all whose high privilege it had been to be present .
SURREY . Reigate . —Surrey Lodge ( No . 603 ) . —A Lodge of Emergency was held on Saturday , the 6 th of December , at the Swan Inn , Reigate , for the purpose of taking steps to revive the regular meetings of this the oldest of all the Lodges in the province of Surrey , of which , it will be remembered , the late lamented Prov . G . M . for Surrey , Lord Monson , was the life and soul and most munificent benefactor . There were present on this occasion , Bros . Thomas Hart , as W . M .
Peter Martin , P . M . ; George Lyall , llolman , & c . 1 be visitors were Bros . John L . Evans , W . M ., No . 318 ; Rev . William It . Lyall , P . M ., No . 10 . Several residents in the neighbourhood were proposed for initiation , or election , as joining members , at the next meeting . Some alterations in the bye-laws were agreed to , including one which provided for the removal of tho Lodge from the
White Hart to the Swan Inn . At the conclusion of the business the Brethren sat down to an excellent banquet , and under tho presidency of the W . M . pro temp . passed a most agreeable evening . There is every prospect of this Lodge not onl y regaining , but even surpassing its pristine lustre , and the very successful resuscitatory meeting may well be taken as significant of increased prosperity and usefulness .