Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Scotland.
tune ( No . 410 ); Dumbarton ( No . 22 ); Athole ( 3 S-1-) ; Kirkintilloch ( No . 28 ); Paisley , Renfrew County , Kilwinning No . 370 . ) After a service of tea , coffee , & c , the PEOV . G . MASTER addressed the meeting . After a few introductory sentences , he said he would endeavour to explain the principles of Freemasonry and show how the order hacl remained unshaken ,
through all the floods of time , and what were the present benefits which ifc conferred on society . The principles might be stated in one word as realising a spirit of universal benevolence . The Freemasons , as he would show , began their existence at the earliest period of society . At a time , it was now known 4 rom authentic evidence , when the waters of the Flood hacl hardly yet retired from the earth , the Freemasons formed their fraternity on the . principles of universal benevolence , universal
charity , ancl universal brotherhood . ( Applause ) . It was to include all peoples , and the principle was that Freemasons should act as brothers one to another . The Order was independent of the distinction of nations , of race , of religion , of political institutions , or of climate ; ib was fco unite together in one brotherood tbe Tartar ancl fche Chinese , the Hindostance and the Persian , the Greek ancl the Roman , the Russian ancl the Englishmanthe Frenchmanthe Spanairdand the American
, , , . All nations , from whatever part of the earth , if they were the creatures of God ' s creation , were to be admitted into the fraternity , ancl every Freemason was bound to see in every other human being a brother , ancl to relieve him in his necessities . ( Cheers ) . These were the principles of Freemasonry , and it
was in the fact of their association being formed on such principles that they recognised the cause of ifcs long , its extraordinary , its unparalleled duration , as well as ofthe great benefits which in former times it had conferred , and at this moment was conferring , upon society . ( Loud Cheers ) . Doubts hacl been expressed in regard to the reality of the antiquity of Freemasonry . The scoffers in the outer world—as there was scoffers of everything that was great and noble in human affairs—had
held that ifc was a mere imposition—that they hacl no title to tho antiquity which they claimed , and that a few centuries was the utmost that they could show as the span of their corporate existence . The Freemasons , however , needed not to go back to the temples of Rome , or the Temple of Jerusalem , nor did they need merely to bear date with the Pyramids . It was now known , upon authentic evidence , that they were more ancient than than the Pyramids , or Rome , or Athens , or Moses , or
Abraham . The first city raised when the waters of the flood were only beginning to dry up upon the earth was Ninevah , which bad been covered with the sands of succeeding ages . But through the researches of Mr . Layard , on the sides of many of the bricks in the earliest building of Ninevah were found the Freemason's marks ; ancl if any one doubted this he might visit the British Museum , in which the brick was deposited , and compare the marks with those on every Freemason ' s edifice . ( Cheers ) . An equally decisive evidence of the antiquity of the fraternity was contained in its ceremonies ancl forms . The
secret marks of 1 reemasoury , which were never divulged , bore reference to the building of the Temple of Jerusalem by Solomon ; the pouring out of oil and of wine upon foundation stones all bore reference to the sacrifices of the Romans ; and to come clown to later years ivhufc did we see in this immediate neighbourhood of the works of the Freemasons ? He hacl no hesitation in saying that the works of the Freemasons in the middle ages were the most astonishing that the whole history of mankind
exhibited . ( Applause ) . Lefc them go to the cathedral ot Glasgow to look at the crypt which was commenced in 1175 , nearly 700 years ago , ancl they would there see a degree of perfection , of beauty , of solemnity , and magnificence of thought ancl decoration which the world , with all ifcs subsequent improvements , and all fche march of intellect , would seek in vain afc this moment to parallel . Almost all of the stones of the magnificent building showafc the present daythe marks of
, , those who hewed aud carved the stone . If any one would see the difference between the conceptions of taste , and genius of Freemasons and masons of the outer world , let him go to the Cathedral of Glasgow , where ho would see one of the noblest specimens of ecclesiastical architecture . In the neighbourhood of it , nearer the Barony Church , stood-a cottage with a thatched roof , such as few carriers would like to put up afc . Ancl what
was that Cottage ? It was the hostelry at which Queen Mary and Darnley put up when they were on their marriage toiir from Edinburgh to the Castle in the neighbourhood , where they were to pass the honeymoon . That was the place afc which
Kings and Queens put up 400 years after the Freemasons had built the Cathedral . The Cathedral was the work of Freemasons—the cottage in the neighbourhood was the work of the masons of the outer world . ( Applause . ) He had said that Freemasonry hacl done great things , as exhibited in the noble architectural monuments and cathedrals , which ha trusted would be as durable as the Pyramids of Egypt ; but the work which ifc had accomplished , and was calculated to work out in the
human heart was yet more important , as relating nofc only to tho concerns of time , but to the interests ancl hopes of immortality . On both sides the Atlantic just now we saw the most extraordinary example of tbe effects of opposite principles which tho history of modern Europe had ever afibrclcd—iu the absence of the principles of Freemasonry on the one side , and in their adoption on the other . America was a country gifted beyond all others that ever existed with all the richest and
choicest gifts of nature—with a territory of boundless extent , wifch rivers and canals made by the hand of the Almighty , with every possible advantage , with coal , wood , harbours , with British knowledge , British spirit , and British freedom , yet they were just now cutting each other's throats , desolating their country , and attacking each other with a ferocity unexampled in the history of war since the siege of Troy —( cheers)—and all this because they hacl not adopted the principles of Freemasonry .
He did not say that it was because they were nofc Freemasons , but because they hacl abandoned the principle of Freemasonry , who declared all mankind to be brothers , and enjoined that its members should bear ancl forbear with each other . ( Loud Cheers . ) Looking on this side of the Atlantic , what a different spectacle was exhibited . Great Britain was involved in great and extraordinary suffering in consequence of the cessation of the cotton supply—suffering which had this peculiar feature
, that by it hundreds of thousands had been reduced to absolute starvation , while all others around them were comparatively flourishing—suffering ancl poverty which pressed on them in the most painful of all manners , that of standing forth in grim and gaunt contrast to the affluence wifch ivhich they are surrounded . This suffering existed in our country without any fault on the part of the people , but solely in cause of the furious war on the other side of the Atlantic . Ancl with that spirit had it
been borne ? With the spirit , he rejoiced to say of Freemasonry . ( Applause . ) The press of that day contained an example which he would venture to say was unprecedented in the history of mankind , when it was stated at one single meeting held at Manchester , where all the nobility and tbe landed ancl roomed aristocracy of the County of Lancashire were assembled , and when the astonishing sum of £ 30 , 000 was subscribed in one day , and that in addition to £ 400000 which the counthad
previ-, y ously subscribed for the relief of that distress . That was the true spirit of Freemasonry ; and he rejoiced to see that the Freemasons of England hacl subscribed no less than £ 1000 out of their common fund . They had no common fand in Scotland , but ; they all had ifc in their power to show tlu > spirit of Freemasonry in . their conduct , and to relieve the distress which surrounded them . The late chaplain of the Provincial Grand
Lodge embodied in his own person the best ancl the noblest principles of Freemasonry . No one who hacl heard him advocating in that hall the cause ; of 300 , 000 Highlanders at a time when fchey were starving , could doubt that he was deeply impressed with the principles of Freemasonry—he referred to their late lamented Chaplain , Dr . M'Leod . His whole energies were devoted to assuage the sufferings of his fellow-creatures ,
and to give to all mankind those advantages ivhich he possessed in so high a degree . He ( Sir Archibald ) trusted that the example might not be lost , but that fche actions of all Freemasons in in cases of Christian charity would correspond to the spirit of their Order . £ 40 , 000 had beeu subscribed in Glasgow for the Patriotic Fund , afc a time when the city was neither so populous nor so rich as now , ancl he trusted that no less a sum would in the end he raised to assuage the sufferings of our
brethren in distress . ( Applause ) . At the conclusion a hearty vote of thanks was awarded to the learned chairman , which elicited rapturous applause . A Concert then took place , supported by Bro . Ashford , and AV . G . Ross , Misses Simpson , Smith , & e . 6 ro . Robert Adams presided at the piano . The fine band , from the Social Reform Concerts , performed choice selections of music during the Soiree —Bro . Richard Adams , conductor . A full dress assembly took place immediately after the Soiree ancl Concert , at which there were present between five and six hundred , members of the Craft and friends . Dancing was kept
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Scotland.
tune ( No . 410 ); Dumbarton ( No . 22 ); Athole ( 3 S-1-) ; Kirkintilloch ( No . 28 ); Paisley , Renfrew County , Kilwinning No . 370 . ) After a service of tea , coffee , & c , the PEOV . G . MASTER addressed the meeting . After a few introductory sentences , he said he would endeavour to explain the principles of Freemasonry and show how the order hacl remained unshaken ,
through all the floods of time , and what were the present benefits which ifc conferred on society . The principles might be stated in one word as realising a spirit of universal benevolence . The Freemasons , as he would show , began their existence at the earliest period of society . At a time , it was now known 4 rom authentic evidence , when the waters of the Flood hacl hardly yet retired from the earth , the Freemasons formed their fraternity on the . principles of universal benevolence , universal
charity , ancl universal brotherhood . ( Applause ) . It was to include all peoples , and the principle was that Freemasons should act as brothers one to another . The Order was independent of the distinction of nations , of race , of religion , of political institutions , or of climate ; ib was fco unite together in one brotherood tbe Tartar ancl fche Chinese , the Hindostance and the Persian , the Greek ancl the Roman , the Russian ancl the Englishmanthe Frenchmanthe Spanairdand the American
, , , . All nations , from whatever part of the earth , if they were the creatures of God ' s creation , were to be admitted into the fraternity , ancl every Freemason was bound to see in every other human being a brother , ancl to relieve him in his necessities . ( Cheers ) . These were the principles of Freemasonry , and it
was in the fact of their association being formed on such principles that they recognised the cause of ifcs long , its extraordinary , its unparalleled duration , as well as ofthe great benefits which in former times it had conferred , and at this moment was conferring , upon society . ( Loud Cheers ) . Doubts hacl been expressed in regard to the reality of the antiquity of Freemasonry . The scoffers in the outer world—as there was scoffers of everything that was great and noble in human affairs—had
held that ifc was a mere imposition—that they hacl no title to tho antiquity which they claimed , and that a few centuries was the utmost that they could show as the span of their corporate existence . The Freemasons , however , needed not to go back to the temples of Rome , or the Temple of Jerusalem , nor did they need merely to bear date with the Pyramids . It was now known , upon authentic evidence , that they were more ancient than than the Pyramids , or Rome , or Athens , or Moses , or
Abraham . The first city raised when the waters of the flood were only beginning to dry up upon the earth was Ninevah , which bad been covered with the sands of succeeding ages . But through the researches of Mr . Layard , on the sides of many of the bricks in the earliest building of Ninevah were found the Freemason's marks ; ancl if any one doubted this he might visit the British Museum , in which the brick was deposited , and compare the marks with those on every Freemason ' s edifice . ( Cheers ) . An equally decisive evidence of the antiquity of the fraternity was contained in its ceremonies ancl forms . The
secret marks of 1 reemasoury , which were never divulged , bore reference to the building of the Temple of Jerusalem by Solomon ; the pouring out of oil and of wine upon foundation stones all bore reference to the sacrifices of the Romans ; and to come clown to later years ivhufc did we see in this immediate neighbourhood of the works of the Freemasons ? He hacl no hesitation in saying that the works of the Freemasons in the middle ages were the most astonishing that the whole history of mankind
exhibited . ( Applause ) . Lefc them go to the cathedral ot Glasgow to look at the crypt which was commenced in 1175 , nearly 700 years ago , ancl they would there see a degree of perfection , of beauty , of solemnity , and magnificence of thought ancl decoration which the world , with all ifcs subsequent improvements , and all fche march of intellect , would seek in vain afc this moment to parallel . Almost all of the stones of the magnificent building showafc the present daythe marks of
, , those who hewed aud carved the stone . If any one would see the difference between the conceptions of taste , and genius of Freemasons and masons of the outer world , let him go to the Cathedral of Glasgow , where ho would see one of the noblest specimens of ecclesiastical architecture . In the neighbourhood of it , nearer the Barony Church , stood-a cottage with a thatched roof , such as few carriers would like to put up afc . Ancl what
was that Cottage ? It was the hostelry at which Queen Mary and Darnley put up when they were on their marriage toiir from Edinburgh to the Castle in the neighbourhood , where they were to pass the honeymoon . That was the place afc which
Kings and Queens put up 400 years after the Freemasons had built the Cathedral . The Cathedral was the work of Freemasons—the cottage in the neighbourhood was the work of the masons of the outer world . ( Applause . ) He had said that Freemasonry hacl done great things , as exhibited in the noble architectural monuments and cathedrals , which ha trusted would be as durable as the Pyramids of Egypt ; but the work which ifc had accomplished , and was calculated to work out in the
human heart was yet more important , as relating nofc only to tho concerns of time , but to the interests ancl hopes of immortality . On both sides the Atlantic just now we saw the most extraordinary example of tbe effects of opposite principles which tho history of modern Europe had ever afibrclcd—iu the absence of the principles of Freemasonry on the one side , and in their adoption on the other . America was a country gifted beyond all others that ever existed with all the richest and
choicest gifts of nature—with a territory of boundless extent , wifch rivers and canals made by the hand of the Almighty , with every possible advantage , with coal , wood , harbours , with British knowledge , British spirit , and British freedom , yet they were just now cutting each other's throats , desolating their country , and attacking each other with a ferocity unexampled in the history of war since the siege of Troy —( cheers)—and all this because they hacl not adopted the principles of Freemasonry .
He did not say that it was because they were nofc Freemasons , but because they hacl abandoned the principle of Freemasonry , who declared all mankind to be brothers , and enjoined that its members should bear ancl forbear with each other . ( Loud Cheers . ) Looking on this side of the Atlantic , what a different spectacle was exhibited . Great Britain was involved in great and extraordinary suffering in consequence of the cessation of the cotton supply—suffering which had this peculiar feature
, that by it hundreds of thousands had been reduced to absolute starvation , while all others around them were comparatively flourishing—suffering ancl poverty which pressed on them in the most painful of all manners , that of standing forth in grim and gaunt contrast to the affluence wifch ivhich they are surrounded . This suffering existed in our country without any fault on the part of the people , but solely in cause of the furious war on the other side of the Atlantic . Ancl with that spirit had it
been borne ? With the spirit , he rejoiced to say of Freemasonry . ( Applause . ) The press of that day contained an example which he would venture to say was unprecedented in the history of mankind , when it was stated at one single meeting held at Manchester , where all the nobility and tbe landed ancl roomed aristocracy of the County of Lancashire were assembled , and when the astonishing sum of £ 30 , 000 was subscribed in one day , and that in addition to £ 400000 which the counthad
previ-, y ously subscribed for the relief of that distress . That was the true spirit of Freemasonry ; and he rejoiced to see that the Freemasons of England hacl subscribed no less than £ 1000 out of their common fund . They had no common fand in Scotland , but ; they all had ifc in their power to show tlu > spirit of Freemasonry in . their conduct , and to relieve the distress which surrounded them . The late chaplain of the Provincial Grand
Lodge embodied in his own person the best ancl the noblest principles of Freemasonry . No one who hacl heard him advocating in that hall the cause ; of 300 , 000 Highlanders at a time when fchey were starving , could doubt that he was deeply impressed with the principles of Freemasonry—he referred to their late lamented Chaplain , Dr . M'Leod . His whole energies were devoted to assuage the sufferings of his fellow-creatures ,
and to give to all mankind those advantages ivhich he possessed in so high a degree . He ( Sir Archibald ) trusted that the example might not be lost , but that fche actions of all Freemasons in in cases of Christian charity would correspond to the spirit of their Order . £ 40 , 000 had beeu subscribed in Glasgow for the Patriotic Fund , afc a time when the city was neither so populous nor so rich as now , ancl he trusted that no less a sum would in the end he raised to assuage the sufferings of our
brethren in distress . ( Applause ) . At the conclusion a hearty vote of thanks was awarded to the learned chairman , which elicited rapturous applause . A Concert then took place , supported by Bro . Ashford , and AV . G . Ross , Misses Simpson , Smith , & e . 6 ro . Robert Adams presided at the piano . The fine band , from the Social Reform Concerts , performed choice selections of music during the Soiree —Bro . Richard Adams , conductor . A full dress assembly took place immediately after the Soiree ancl Concert , at which there were present between five and six hundred , members of the Craft and friends . Dancing was kept