Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Colonial.
country . To him must cordially be awarded the h ^ distingushed jewel of our Order , charity , in its most resplendent lustre . la my official position here , I have known numerous instances in which our R . W . Brother has soothed afflictions , assuaged grief ) and relieved necessities , even though but temporarily felt in this favoured country . And these acts have been alike performed to political friends or foes , or their connections , and
With that unostentation which characterizes the truly benevolent heart . With the greatest cordiality I give you , Brethren , the premier Victorian Freemason , Bro . John Thomas Smith , M . L . A ., and mr the fourth time the Worshipful Mayor of Melbourne , and the R . W . Prov . G . M . for Victoria , under the Grand Lodge of Ireland . " ( Drunk with enthusiasm and with the grand honours and Combermere fire . ) Bro . J . T . Smith responded to the toast bv saving : ¦— (< Worshipful Master , vour ¦
• -1 .. V % t <_ J .... 4 • w eloquent eulogium I am unable to follow , though I thank you all warmly for your acts of fraternal friendship , and for the manner in which you have proposed my health , and the Brethren have received it . For your fraternal encomiums upon acts of mihe- —I lay no claim to distinction ; I have endeavoured , and shall continue , to do only my duty , by dispensing a portion of the means with which a kind Providence has blessed me in aid of my fellow-creatures . I rejoice exceedingly a ^ perity of the English branch of F ' reemasonry , and sincerely hope it wilL
There is ample room and scope for both branches of the great Masonic family in Victoria , and I trust ever to maintain the kindest fraternal feelings with both : and the Brethren under my jurisdiction I know cordially share those sentiments ^ I congratulate ; the Brethren of the Combermere Lodge on the installation of Brother Moody into the chair of the Lodge to-day . We all know his attainnients in Freemasonry , and how zealously and devotedly he promulgates its principlea and assists inquiring Brethren . Brethren , again I thank you for the cordial reception of my name , and consider this a marked day for Freemasonry in Victoria . I have
the W . M's permission to propose the next toast ) and I do it with sincere pleasure . I have long known and officially acted in my corporate capacity with the Brother who is the subject of it , and I have reason to believe as a Mason , and occupying the high position he does in the English Prov . Grand Lodge , that he will display his abilities to advantage , and his zeal for the Order ; in fact , as the R . W . Prov . G . M . lias been so closely engaged with his ministerial and parliamentary duties , I am inclined to attribute much of the success of English Freemasonry in Victoria to the zeal and Masonic talent of the D . Prov . G . M ., I therefore cordially propose 'Bro . Francis Thomas Gell , the R . W . D . Prov . G . M ., and the other Prov . G .
Officers for Victoria . '" ( Drunk with grand honours . ) Bro . Gell rose and replied as follows : — " Right Worshipful Sir , Worshipful Master , and Brethren , whilst I do not affect surprise at my health being proposed to you on this occasion , I was little prepared for the eulogistic language used by the R . W . Prov . G . M ., Bro . J . T . Smith , in introducing it to you . I sincerely thank that R . W . Brother and yourselves for this mark of your fraternal regard . It is
especially gratifying to me to take part m the proceedings of this day , indicating as they do , the progress that Masonry is making in this colony ; but I have also a more particular and personal interest in the ceremonies of to-day as they afford me an opportunity of publicly doing homage to the high Masonic reputation of your newly-installed W . M . I have felt that it would be a want of good feeling in me to allow the occasion to pass away without expressing the gratitude which I , in common with the rest of the Prov . G . Officers , feel towards him for the valuable
aid afforded us in establishing the Prov . G . Lodge , and the true Masonic spirit in which he has entered into ail matters affecting its proper influence over the Craft . His attainments and zeal entitle him to all honour from us ; and we congratulate the Brethren of this Lodge on the bright future which his presidency augurs for it . For myself , I may say in but a few words that , in the exercise of the high functions of the office I have the honour to hold , it is my endeavour to act according to the Book of Constitutions , and the ancient landmarks of the Order , and I trust that so long as I retain that position the Brethren will accord to me their fraternal support and confidence . The R . ^ y \ D . Prov . G . M . said lie had the permission of the W , M , to propose
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Colonial.
country . To him must cordially be awarded the h ^ distingushed jewel of our Order , charity , in its most resplendent lustre . la my official position here , I have known numerous instances in which our R . W . Brother has soothed afflictions , assuaged grief ) and relieved necessities , even though but temporarily felt in this favoured country . And these acts have been alike performed to political friends or foes , or their connections , and
With that unostentation which characterizes the truly benevolent heart . With the greatest cordiality I give you , Brethren , the premier Victorian Freemason , Bro . John Thomas Smith , M . L . A ., and mr the fourth time the Worshipful Mayor of Melbourne , and the R . W . Prov . G . M . for Victoria , under the Grand Lodge of Ireland . " ( Drunk with enthusiasm and with the grand honours and Combermere fire . ) Bro . J . T . Smith responded to the toast bv saving : ¦— (< Worshipful Master , vour ¦
• -1 .. V % t <_ J .... 4 • w eloquent eulogium I am unable to follow , though I thank you all warmly for your acts of fraternal friendship , and for the manner in which you have proposed my health , and the Brethren have received it . For your fraternal encomiums upon acts of mihe- —I lay no claim to distinction ; I have endeavoured , and shall continue , to do only my duty , by dispensing a portion of the means with which a kind Providence has blessed me in aid of my fellow-creatures . I rejoice exceedingly a ^ perity of the English branch of F ' reemasonry , and sincerely hope it wilL
There is ample room and scope for both branches of the great Masonic family in Victoria , and I trust ever to maintain the kindest fraternal feelings with both : and the Brethren under my jurisdiction I know cordially share those sentiments ^ I congratulate ; the Brethren of the Combermere Lodge on the installation of Brother Moody into the chair of the Lodge to-day . We all know his attainnients in Freemasonry , and how zealously and devotedly he promulgates its principlea and assists inquiring Brethren . Brethren , again I thank you for the cordial reception of my name , and consider this a marked day for Freemasonry in Victoria . I have
the W . M's permission to propose the next toast ) and I do it with sincere pleasure . I have long known and officially acted in my corporate capacity with the Brother who is the subject of it , and I have reason to believe as a Mason , and occupying the high position he does in the English Prov . Grand Lodge , that he will display his abilities to advantage , and his zeal for the Order ; in fact , as the R . W . Prov . G . M . lias been so closely engaged with his ministerial and parliamentary duties , I am inclined to attribute much of the success of English Freemasonry in Victoria to the zeal and Masonic talent of the D . Prov . G . M ., I therefore cordially propose 'Bro . Francis Thomas Gell , the R . W . D . Prov . G . M ., and the other Prov . G .
Officers for Victoria . '" ( Drunk with grand honours . ) Bro . Gell rose and replied as follows : — " Right Worshipful Sir , Worshipful Master , and Brethren , whilst I do not affect surprise at my health being proposed to you on this occasion , I was little prepared for the eulogistic language used by the R . W . Prov . G . M ., Bro . J . T . Smith , in introducing it to you . I sincerely thank that R . W . Brother and yourselves for this mark of your fraternal regard . It is
especially gratifying to me to take part m the proceedings of this day , indicating as they do , the progress that Masonry is making in this colony ; but I have also a more particular and personal interest in the ceremonies of to-day as they afford me an opportunity of publicly doing homage to the high Masonic reputation of your newly-installed W . M . I have felt that it would be a want of good feeling in me to allow the occasion to pass away without expressing the gratitude which I , in common with the rest of the Prov . G . Officers , feel towards him for the valuable
aid afforded us in establishing the Prov . G . Lodge , and the true Masonic spirit in which he has entered into ail matters affecting its proper influence over the Craft . His attainments and zeal entitle him to all honour from us ; and we congratulate the Brethren of this Lodge on the bright future which his presidency augurs for it . For myself , I may say in but a few words that , in the exercise of the high functions of the office I have the honour to hold , it is my endeavour to act according to the Book of Constitutions , and the ancient landmarks of the Order , and I trust that so long as I retain that position the Brethren will accord to me their fraternal support and confidence . The R . ^ y \ D . Prov . G . M . said lie had the permission of the W , M , to propose