Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
China.
activity ancl energy , and under his fostering hand the Celestial Encampment of Knights Templar has been instituted , ancl our Most Eminent Comp . Rawson is appointecl Provincial Grand Commander . Thus , year after year , have we seen him with untiring hand and energy , fostering and building up our noble Order ; and now having received the highest honour which lies in the power of the Craft to give within this province . Having ably fulfilled the duties of head of Freemasonry in China , we
now give him the crowning honour , the undying laurel to carry with him from the scene of his labour—the testimony of his brethren to a faithful ancl conscientious discharge of his duties . I give you " Health and happiness , ancl God speed to Bro . S . Rawson ; " and after a safe ancl pleasant passage to his home in Old England may he long live to enjoy the comfort and repose he has so well and so nobly earned . Air , — " Auld Lang Syne . "
Tho toast having been drunk with great enthusiasm , Bro , RAWSON , who upon rising was the subject for vociferous cheering , replied , —Brethren , believe me I am deeply , sensible of the honour you have done me to-night in the assembly of so many of my brethren , ancl the cordial manner in which my name lias been received . Five years ago I landed in this place , literally , in a Freemason ' s language , poor and penniless , but by the kindness which I have met with on all sides , and from brother Masons , I am now in a position to look forward to a speedy return to my native land . In saying this , however , I should
not wish to have it thought that it was to Masonic influence that I am indebted for this , I am glad to say that I never have been obliged to solicit aid from Masons , but I merely mention it to thank those of my friends who are here for the kindness they have ever manifested towards me . It is true , as the AA orshipful Master has just said , that I was one of the first members of the Royal Sussex Loclge in Hong Kong , and , although I I cannot claim it as mother locl it was the first loclin
my ge , ge which I served the office of AA orshipful Master , which has enabled me to succeed to those higher honours which , as the AVorshipful Master so justly observes , are the highest which can be bestowed within the province , and which are to be a source of great pride . In this way I feel towards the Royal Sussex Loclge , and its success , far too deep an interest for mo to represent . I assure you that I shall always bear in remembrance the
many happy hours I have spent in it working , and always look to hear good accounts of it . I thank you very sincerely for the kind manner in which yon have received my name ancl the many kind attentions which you have manifested for me , ancl also for the good wishes which you have been so kind as to express towards my better-half , and those little ones I hope soon to sec . From my home in Old England I shall turn with pleasure to the remembronce of you and yours , and I wish you all success and happiness , and the various lodges a continuance of that prosperity which the records of the past four years affords .
Bro . RAWSON , having assumed the gavel , then gave "The Health ofthe AVorship /' ul Master , " characterising his mastership of the Royal Sussex Loclge as a most successful period of office , and stated that with considerable experience in Masonry he had never yet met any brother more capable of efficiently performing the varied duties of loclge , chapter , or encampment , than Bro . C . E . Parker .
Air , — " He's a right good fellow . " AVhen the plaudits of the brethren had subsided , The AV . MASTER in returning thanks said , —Right AVorshipful Sir and Brethren ,, ! beg to return you my thanks for the kind manner in which you have drunk my health , and for tfie very flattering mention which has been made of the little that has been in my power to do to advance the interests of our
institution . Whatever I have done has been with the wish to serve an institution of which I am proud to be a member , and which I feel to he one well deserving of the attention ancl thought of every man . I must again thank you for your kindness , and assure you that it is with a feeling of great pride that I can hope that my conduct has mot with your approbation , ancl at the same time look forward to see our glorious Order continue the successful course it has held for the past four years .
The W . MASTER next said , —Brethren , I wish now to propose to you the health of our sister lodges . The old Northern Lodge of China , so long established , ancl which has given to the world so many bright patterns of Freemasons , is one which affords a
China.
good example for imitation : and during the past twelve months wc recognise a lodge under the American Constitution , ably py . sided over by our Bro . Hill , one under our own Constitution which bids fair to give a generous rivalry to its elder sisters Under the hand of our AA . Bro . Lidford , ancl one under the Scotch rule , whose future course is vouched for by the mention of the able and experienced W . Bro . Donaldson , who occupies its chair . AVith our best wishes for the success and prosperitof
y these bodies , let us cultivate that generous rivalry which shall act as au incentive to a faithful devotion to tho interests of our Order , and I now give you "Success and Prosperity to Sister Lodges of Shanghai , coupled with the name of the able Officer who now presides over the oldest resident Loclge , Bro . Nutt . " Air , — " Merry Masons . " Bro . NUTT , in responding to the toast , said , —AVorshipful Master and BrethrenI feel deeply sensible of the great honour
, which you have done me in coupling my name with the toast of the sister lodges , and on behalf of the Northern Loclge of China ancl other lodges , beg to return you my heartfelt thanks . It is most gratifying to see the harmony prevailing among the several lodges ; ancl so long as we have such noble examples as the late Masters before us , I havo no doubt that Masonry will continue to flourish . I beg heartily to endorse everything that has been said in testimony to the good services which R . AV . Bro . Rawson
has conferred upon us , and I will only add Godspeed , ancl wish him a happy meeting with his family circle . The W . MASTER then continued , —Following the toast just given , I beg you will now join me in wishing success to the two other bodies in Shanghai who have joined with us to-night in paying a tribute to our brother who is about leaving us—the Zion Chapter and the Celestial Encampment . AA'ith this toast I shall couple the names of two whom we have long known in
our lodge-room , and who have carried to their other positions the same energy and industry which Blue Masonry has ever received from them . "With the first I would mention the name of tho able Bro . Dunlop , and with the second that of our Bro . Markbam . Success ancl prosperity to their respective bodies—I give you " The Zion and Celestial . " Air , — " Fanfrer . " Bro . DUNLOP rose and said , —AVorshipful Master and
brethren , —On behalf of the companions of the Zion Chapter and myself , I have to thank you most sincerely for the cordial manner in which you have received the toast just proposed , evincing , as it does , that spirit of harmony and brotherly love which should always exist among Freemasons , and which , it is pleasant to think , is so apparent in Shanghai . I have , however , a peculiar satisfaction in rising as principal of the chapter to return thanks on this occasion ; itnd I am sure that every
companion here present must consider himself fortunate in being able to bear a part in this tribute to our esteemed Bro . Samuel Rawson . If Royal Arch Masonry is in a prosperous and flourishing condition in Shanghai ; if the working of the chapter is , as we hope it is , satisfactory and decorous , we owe it all to Comp . Rawson . He founded the chapter ; ho worked it ; he has attended , I believe , its long meetings ; and to him we are indebted for all we know regarding the tenets ,
principles , and working of the Order ; ancl , therefore , the toast you have so kindly received is really an additional honour done to the distinguished guest of the evening , ancl as such I heartily thank you for it . I cannot conclude without again wishing Bro . Rawson God-speed , a pleasant voyage home , and a happy reunion with all his friends . Bro . MAEKIIAJI , E . G ., Celestial Encampment , spoke to this effect—Worshiful Master and Brethrenin frising to
re-, p , spond to the last toast , that of the celestial encampment , coupled with my name as E . G ., I feel mingled feelings of pride and pleasure in responding ; pride in my position , and pleasure in the opportunity it gives me to enlarge on the virtues of sturdy knights , to whom in so great a measure we owe the origin of our encampment here . I feel it is true that I have not words sufficient to adequately express his merits , and as these merits have already been so eloquently enlarged upon ,
some may think that it is unnecessary for me to say more upon the subject ; but I cannot leave him without hoping- that every knight in my encampment will emulate the zeal that has raised P . G . CT Rawson to his present proud position , and the enjoyment of his well-deserved laurels . The highest degree at present working in China , I trust that we shall be the pioneers of still higher advances in the art- ancl mysteries of Freemasonry , and I hope that our present little band will go on steadily increasing a band of brothers in arms for the furtherance of
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
China.
activity ancl energy , and under his fostering hand the Celestial Encampment of Knights Templar has been instituted , ancl our Most Eminent Comp . Rawson is appointecl Provincial Grand Commander . Thus , year after year , have we seen him with untiring hand and energy , fostering and building up our noble Order ; and now having received the highest honour which lies in the power of the Craft to give within this province . Having ably fulfilled the duties of head of Freemasonry in China , we
now give him the crowning honour , the undying laurel to carry with him from the scene of his labour—the testimony of his brethren to a faithful ancl conscientious discharge of his duties . I give you " Health and happiness , ancl God speed to Bro . S . Rawson ; " and after a safe ancl pleasant passage to his home in Old England may he long live to enjoy the comfort and repose he has so well and so nobly earned . Air , — " Auld Lang Syne . "
Tho toast having been drunk with great enthusiasm , Bro , RAWSON , who upon rising was the subject for vociferous cheering , replied , —Brethren , believe me I am deeply , sensible of the honour you have done me to-night in the assembly of so many of my brethren , ancl the cordial manner in which my name lias been received . Five years ago I landed in this place , literally , in a Freemason ' s language , poor and penniless , but by the kindness which I have met with on all sides , and from brother Masons , I am now in a position to look forward to a speedy return to my native land . In saying this , however , I should
not wish to have it thought that it was to Masonic influence that I am indebted for this , I am glad to say that I never have been obliged to solicit aid from Masons , but I merely mention it to thank those of my friends who are here for the kindness they have ever manifested towards me . It is true , as the AA orshipful Master has just said , that I was one of the first members of the Royal Sussex Loclge in Hong Kong , and , although I I cannot claim it as mother locl it was the first loclin
my ge , ge which I served the office of AA orshipful Master , which has enabled me to succeed to those higher honours which , as the AVorshipful Master so justly observes , are the highest which can be bestowed within the province , and which are to be a source of great pride . In this way I feel towards the Royal Sussex Loclge , and its success , far too deep an interest for mo to represent . I assure you that I shall always bear in remembrance the
many happy hours I have spent in it working , and always look to hear good accounts of it . I thank you very sincerely for the kind manner in which yon have received my name ancl the many kind attentions which you have manifested for me , ancl also for the good wishes which you have been so kind as to express towards my better-half , and those little ones I hope soon to sec . From my home in Old England I shall turn with pleasure to the remembronce of you and yours , and I wish you all success and happiness , and the various lodges a continuance of that prosperity which the records of the past four years affords .
Bro . RAWSON , having assumed the gavel , then gave "The Health ofthe AVorship /' ul Master , " characterising his mastership of the Royal Sussex Loclge as a most successful period of office , and stated that with considerable experience in Masonry he had never yet met any brother more capable of efficiently performing the varied duties of loclge , chapter , or encampment , than Bro . C . E . Parker .
Air , — " He's a right good fellow . " AVhen the plaudits of the brethren had subsided , The AV . MASTER in returning thanks said , —Right AVorshipful Sir and Brethren ,, ! beg to return you my thanks for the kind manner in which you have drunk my health , and for tfie very flattering mention which has been made of the little that has been in my power to do to advance the interests of our
institution . Whatever I have done has been with the wish to serve an institution of which I am proud to be a member , and which I feel to he one well deserving of the attention ancl thought of every man . I must again thank you for your kindness , and assure you that it is with a feeling of great pride that I can hope that my conduct has mot with your approbation , ancl at the same time look forward to see our glorious Order continue the successful course it has held for the past four years .
The W . MASTER next said , —Brethren , I wish now to propose to you the health of our sister lodges . The old Northern Lodge of China , so long established , ancl which has given to the world so many bright patterns of Freemasons , is one which affords a
China.
good example for imitation : and during the past twelve months wc recognise a lodge under the American Constitution , ably py . sided over by our Bro . Hill , one under our own Constitution which bids fair to give a generous rivalry to its elder sisters Under the hand of our AA . Bro . Lidford , ancl one under the Scotch rule , whose future course is vouched for by the mention of the able and experienced W . Bro . Donaldson , who occupies its chair . AVith our best wishes for the success and prosperitof
y these bodies , let us cultivate that generous rivalry which shall act as au incentive to a faithful devotion to tho interests of our Order , and I now give you "Success and Prosperity to Sister Lodges of Shanghai , coupled with the name of the able Officer who now presides over the oldest resident Loclge , Bro . Nutt . " Air , — " Merry Masons . " Bro . NUTT , in responding to the toast , said , —AVorshipful Master and BrethrenI feel deeply sensible of the great honour
, which you have done me in coupling my name with the toast of the sister lodges , and on behalf of the Northern Loclge of China ancl other lodges , beg to return you my heartfelt thanks . It is most gratifying to see the harmony prevailing among the several lodges ; ancl so long as we have such noble examples as the late Masters before us , I havo no doubt that Masonry will continue to flourish . I beg heartily to endorse everything that has been said in testimony to the good services which R . AV . Bro . Rawson
has conferred upon us , and I will only add Godspeed , ancl wish him a happy meeting with his family circle . The W . MASTER then continued , —Following the toast just given , I beg you will now join me in wishing success to the two other bodies in Shanghai who have joined with us to-night in paying a tribute to our brother who is about leaving us—the Zion Chapter and the Celestial Encampment . AA'ith this toast I shall couple the names of two whom we have long known in
our lodge-room , and who have carried to their other positions the same energy and industry which Blue Masonry has ever received from them . "With the first I would mention the name of tho able Bro . Dunlop , and with the second that of our Bro . Markbam . Success ancl prosperity to their respective bodies—I give you " The Zion and Celestial . " Air , — " Fanfrer . " Bro . DUNLOP rose and said , —AVorshipful Master and
brethren , —On behalf of the companions of the Zion Chapter and myself , I have to thank you most sincerely for the cordial manner in which you have received the toast just proposed , evincing , as it does , that spirit of harmony and brotherly love which should always exist among Freemasons , and which , it is pleasant to think , is so apparent in Shanghai . I have , however , a peculiar satisfaction in rising as principal of the chapter to return thanks on this occasion ; itnd I am sure that every
companion here present must consider himself fortunate in being able to bear a part in this tribute to our esteemed Bro . Samuel Rawson . If Royal Arch Masonry is in a prosperous and flourishing condition in Shanghai ; if the working of the chapter is , as we hope it is , satisfactory and decorous , we owe it all to Comp . Rawson . He founded the chapter ; ho worked it ; he has attended , I believe , its long meetings ; and to him we are indebted for all we know regarding the tenets ,
principles , and working of the Order ; ancl , therefore , the toast you have so kindly received is really an additional honour done to the distinguished guest of the evening , ancl as such I heartily thank you for it . I cannot conclude without again wishing Bro . Rawson God-speed , a pleasant voyage home , and a happy reunion with all his friends . Bro . MAEKIIAJI , E . G ., Celestial Encampment , spoke to this effect—Worshiful Master and Brethrenin frising to
re-, p , spond to the last toast , that of the celestial encampment , coupled with my name as E . G ., I feel mingled feelings of pride and pleasure in responding ; pride in my position , and pleasure in the opportunity it gives me to enlarge on the virtues of sturdy knights , to whom in so great a measure we owe the origin of our encampment here . I feel it is true that I have not words sufficient to adequately express his merits , and as these merits have already been so eloquently enlarged upon ,
some may think that it is unnecessary for me to say more upon the subject ; but I cannot leave him without hoping- that every knight in my encampment will emulate the zeal that has raised P . G . CT Rawson to his present proud position , and the enjoyment of his well-deserved laurels . The highest degree at present working in China , I trust that we shall be the pioneers of still higher advances in the art- ancl mysteries of Freemasonry , and I hope that our present little band will go on steadily increasing a band of brothers in arms for the furtherance of