Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Sermon.
olive-branch to the window of tho ark t . Ji notify to the survivors of the flood the subsidence of the water .-. Love struck the knife from the hand of the Father of the Faithful . Love kindled the flame of the sacrifice which blazed throughout the patriarchal ages . Love gleamed in the glory of the Tabernacle in the wilderness . Love tipped with fire the tongue of psalmist ancl prophet . Love rang- throughout the whole arch of heaven
as the angel-hosts proclaimed the glad tidings that in Bethlehem the city of David , was born a Saviour , who was Christ the Lord . The birth of Jesus , His life , His death , His resurrection , ascension , and continual intercession are all acts in a mighty drama of love , demanding for its display a theatre vaster than ever man or Mason has conceived , ancl embracing in its merciful provisions a wider range than ever Alasonry in its wildest mood had ever imagined , for it embraced woman as well as man—it
took in the whole human race . "Now , brethren , let us remember that , as baptized Christians , we have part iu the fellowship of love . As we are initiated into Alasonry by certain mysterious signs and ceremonies , and thereby made members of a common brotherhood , so by the mysterious sacrament of baptism we are initiated into tho covenant of grace , aud incorporated into the mystical body of Christ , through the members of which , love circulates as blood in the human body . As we are made Alaster Alasons hy a figurative death and resurrection , so by baptism do we in reality
•die unto sin and rise to a new life of holiness and love . And as we are day by clay fed as men with our 'daily bread , ' and as our annual gatherings as Alasons are followed by ' a feast of fat things , a feast of wines on the lees , of wines on the lees well refined , ' intended as a banquet of love to be partaken of by us brethren , with moderation and thankfulness of heart , so , be it reverently said , is tbe blessed sacrament of Christ's body and blood the true feast of love , the very pledge of brotherhood , the
very 'Bread which came down from heaven that a man may eat thereof and not die ; ' the especial means by which Christ dwells in us and we in him ; we are one with Him , ancl He one for ever with us . AVhether , then , wo are true members of Christ's Church or true brethren in Alasonry , love is our normal s ate . "But , besides this mutual love ancl good fellowship which grows up in the hearts of those who preserve their union with Christ ancl His Church , there is also a direct reflex influence of
love upon our hearts derived from gazing on God ' s love . Gaze and meditate much on the cross , ancl you must learn much of love . Cold and dead must be that heart which melts not and burns when the marvellous picture is displayed of Jesus on the cross for man ' s redemption . * Herein is love , ' says the Apostle in the lesson we have just read ; ' not that wc loved God , but that He loved us , and sent His Son to be a propitiation for our sins ; ' and this is the conclusion ho draws , ' Beloved , if God so loved us , we ought also to love one another . '
"Yes , brethren , whatever obligations to love one another nature imposes on us bj- virtue of our common wants and woes , it is the Incarnation of the Son of God which is the true ground of sympathy . Christ is God and man ; by His humanity all men are united with him , ancl therefore in loving Him wc should love all men . Nay , so personally does He identify Himself with human nature that His incarnation exceeds any ordinary bond of brotherhood . He constitutes us His living
representatives in the manifestation and reception of acts of love . " AVhatsoever , " He declares . " is done unto the least of His brethren , is done unto Himself . " What a stimulus , then , have we to the most unwearied love for the brethren in the blessed thought that any affection we bestow on them , He will acknowledge and repay as if done unto Himself . That should we take the little child in our arms ancl train it for the kingdom of heavenwe -. nay take to ourselves a share in the joy which Alary
, felt when in adoring love she caressed the holy child Jesus . That should we ever give a eup of cold water in the name of Christ Jesus to a thirsty soul , we do as did tbe kind man whose name , unrecorded on earth , is no doubt indelibly recorded in heaven , who put the sponge of vinegar to the lips of Jesus on the cross . That should we assist the outcast ancl wanderer , the poor and destitute , we minister unto Him who when on earth , had not
where to lay His head . That should we ever smooth the pillow and smooth the fevered brow of the sick , we do as did that holy woman who , as tradition tells us , wiped our Lord ' s face with her handkerchief as He bore His cross to Alount Calvary , and afterwards found the likeness of Jesus imprinted on it . Whatever , then , the outer world may say of Alasonry , it is , 1 am sure , ' -a commendable feature belonging to it , that whilst
Sermon.
it keeps up concord and harmony between man and man , and maintains excellent institutions for its own age 1 anl distressed members and the education of their children , it is also happy to lend a helping hand to any goo . l object , although it may be beyond its own peculiar sphere ; and I trust by your liberality to-day you will not only leave a pleasing reoolfji-tion of our annual gathering iu the lie arts of tbe people of thi-i town , but
lay up for yourselves thereby an abiding rec . impulse of reward at the hand of the Alost High . Anil , now brethren , before we part , thus to meet no more , it may be , before wo stand together before the Great Alaster of the Universe in the Grand L xlge above ( for as the fabrics whether of matter or mind , ihe . structures of earth or castles of air , which , whether as operative or speculative Alasons , we buildspeedily perish and come to au ends > al-o do the fleshl
, , y tabernacles decay , of which the Great Architect of the Universe has constituted the human frame ) let me with all respectful sincerity exhort yon to walk worthy of the vocation wherewith ye are called , whether as Christian men or Masons , with all lowliness ancl meekness , forbearing one another in love , endeavouring "to keep the faith in unity of spirit , in the bond of peace , and in righteousness of life ; " tint whereas they speak against you as evildoers ( for many are the repro iches cast upon
Masonry as well as upon Christianity in consequence of the inconsistent lives of some of its professors ) " they may by your good works which they shall behold , glorify God in the day of visitation . " "As free , and not using your liberty for a cloak of maliciousness , but as the servants of God . Honour all men , love the brotherhood , fear God , honour the King .
Poetry.
Poetry .
THE FREEMASONS' CORNBR-STONE . By Bro . ROB . AlORMS . What is the Alasons' corner-stone ? Does tho mysterious tomplo rest On earthly ground from East to AA ' ost ? From North to South , and this alone ? AYhat is tho Masons' cornor-slono ?
Is it to toil for fame and pelf ? To magnify one's potty self , And lovo our friends—and this alone ? No , No ; tho Alason ' s corner-stone , A deeper , stronger , nobler base , AA hich time and foos cannot displace , Is FAITH IN GOD—and this alone ?
'Tis this which makes tho mystic tio Loving aud true , divinely good , Ono grand , united brotherhood , Cemented ' noath the All-seeing Eye .
'Tis this which gives tho sweetest tono To Alasons' melodies—tho gleam To loving eyes ; the highest gem That glitters in the Alason ' s crown . 'Tis this which makes tho Alason's grip A chain indissolubly strong ; That banishes all fraud and wrong ,
And coldness from our fellowship . Oh , noble cornor-stono divine ! Ob , Faith in God ! that buoys us up Ancl gives in darkest hours a hopo ; That makes our lodge a holy shrine . Brothers , be this our cornor-stono . ' Build every hopo wo have on this , Of present joy , of future bliss On earth , in heaven—and this alone !
Masonic Lifeboat Fund.
MASONIC LIFEBOAT FUND .
The following subscriptions have been received b y Bro . "VV . Brignall , jun , of Durham , towards this fund : — Marquis of Granby Lodge , No . 124 , £ 1 Is . ; Royal Kent Encampment , Newcastle-upon-Tyne , £ 1 Is . ; Bro . "VV . Stoker , P . M , 5 s . ; Bro . AV . Brignall , 10 s . Several subscriptions have been promised which will be duly acknowledged when the same are paid .
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Sermon.
olive-branch to the window of tho ark t . Ji notify to the survivors of the flood the subsidence of the water .-. Love struck the knife from the hand of the Father of the Faithful . Love kindled the flame of the sacrifice which blazed throughout the patriarchal ages . Love gleamed in the glory of the Tabernacle in the wilderness . Love tipped with fire the tongue of psalmist ancl prophet . Love rang- throughout the whole arch of heaven
as the angel-hosts proclaimed the glad tidings that in Bethlehem the city of David , was born a Saviour , who was Christ the Lord . The birth of Jesus , His life , His death , His resurrection , ascension , and continual intercession are all acts in a mighty drama of love , demanding for its display a theatre vaster than ever man or Mason has conceived , ancl embracing in its merciful provisions a wider range than ever Alasonry in its wildest mood had ever imagined , for it embraced woman as well as man—it
took in the whole human race . "Now , brethren , let us remember that , as baptized Christians , we have part iu the fellowship of love . As we are initiated into Alasonry by certain mysterious signs and ceremonies , and thereby made members of a common brotherhood , so by the mysterious sacrament of baptism we are initiated into tho covenant of grace , aud incorporated into the mystical body of Christ , through the members of which , love circulates as blood in the human body . As we are made Alaster Alasons hy a figurative death and resurrection , so by baptism do we in reality
•die unto sin and rise to a new life of holiness and love . And as we are day by clay fed as men with our 'daily bread , ' and as our annual gatherings as Alasons are followed by ' a feast of fat things , a feast of wines on the lees , of wines on the lees well refined , ' intended as a banquet of love to be partaken of by us brethren , with moderation and thankfulness of heart , so , be it reverently said , is tbe blessed sacrament of Christ's body and blood the true feast of love , the very pledge of brotherhood , the
very 'Bread which came down from heaven that a man may eat thereof and not die ; ' the especial means by which Christ dwells in us and we in him ; we are one with Him , ancl He one for ever with us . AVhether , then , wo are true members of Christ's Church or true brethren in Alasonry , love is our normal s ate . "But , besides this mutual love ancl good fellowship which grows up in the hearts of those who preserve their union with Christ ancl His Church , there is also a direct reflex influence of
love upon our hearts derived from gazing on God ' s love . Gaze and meditate much on the cross , ancl you must learn much of love . Cold and dead must be that heart which melts not and burns when the marvellous picture is displayed of Jesus on the cross for man ' s redemption . * Herein is love , ' says the Apostle in the lesson we have just read ; ' not that wc loved God , but that He loved us , and sent His Son to be a propitiation for our sins ; ' and this is the conclusion ho draws , ' Beloved , if God so loved us , we ought also to love one another . '
"Yes , brethren , whatever obligations to love one another nature imposes on us bj- virtue of our common wants and woes , it is the Incarnation of the Son of God which is the true ground of sympathy . Christ is God and man ; by His humanity all men are united with him , ancl therefore in loving Him wc should love all men . Nay , so personally does He identify Himself with human nature that His incarnation exceeds any ordinary bond of brotherhood . He constitutes us His living
representatives in the manifestation and reception of acts of love . " AVhatsoever , " He declares . " is done unto the least of His brethren , is done unto Himself . " What a stimulus , then , have we to the most unwearied love for the brethren in the blessed thought that any affection we bestow on them , He will acknowledge and repay as if done unto Himself . That should we take the little child in our arms ancl train it for the kingdom of heavenwe -. nay take to ourselves a share in the joy which Alary
, felt when in adoring love she caressed the holy child Jesus . That should we ever give a eup of cold water in the name of Christ Jesus to a thirsty soul , we do as did tbe kind man whose name , unrecorded on earth , is no doubt indelibly recorded in heaven , who put the sponge of vinegar to the lips of Jesus on the cross . That should we assist the outcast ancl wanderer , the poor and destitute , we minister unto Him who when on earth , had not
where to lay His head . That should we ever smooth the pillow and smooth the fevered brow of the sick , we do as did that holy woman who , as tradition tells us , wiped our Lord ' s face with her handkerchief as He bore His cross to Alount Calvary , and afterwards found the likeness of Jesus imprinted on it . Whatever , then , the outer world may say of Alasonry , it is , 1 am sure , ' -a commendable feature belonging to it , that whilst
Sermon.
it keeps up concord and harmony between man and man , and maintains excellent institutions for its own age 1 anl distressed members and the education of their children , it is also happy to lend a helping hand to any goo . l object , although it may be beyond its own peculiar sphere ; and I trust by your liberality to-day you will not only leave a pleasing reoolfji-tion of our annual gathering iu the lie arts of tbe people of thi-i town , but
lay up for yourselves thereby an abiding rec . impulse of reward at the hand of the Alost High . Anil , now brethren , before we part , thus to meet no more , it may be , before wo stand together before the Great Alaster of the Universe in the Grand L xlge above ( for as the fabrics whether of matter or mind , ihe . structures of earth or castles of air , which , whether as operative or speculative Alasons , we buildspeedily perish and come to au ends > al-o do the fleshl
, , y tabernacles decay , of which the Great Architect of the Universe has constituted the human frame ) let me with all respectful sincerity exhort yon to walk worthy of the vocation wherewith ye are called , whether as Christian men or Masons , with all lowliness ancl meekness , forbearing one another in love , endeavouring "to keep the faith in unity of spirit , in the bond of peace , and in righteousness of life ; " tint whereas they speak against you as evildoers ( for many are the repro iches cast upon
Masonry as well as upon Christianity in consequence of the inconsistent lives of some of its professors ) " they may by your good works which they shall behold , glorify God in the day of visitation . " "As free , and not using your liberty for a cloak of maliciousness , but as the servants of God . Honour all men , love the brotherhood , fear God , honour the King .
Poetry.
Poetry .
THE FREEMASONS' CORNBR-STONE . By Bro . ROB . AlORMS . What is the Alasons' corner-stone ? Does tho mysterious tomplo rest On earthly ground from East to AA ' ost ? From North to South , and this alone ? AYhat is tho Masons' cornor-slono ?
Is it to toil for fame and pelf ? To magnify one's potty self , And lovo our friends—and this alone ? No , No ; tho Alason ' s corner-stone , A deeper , stronger , nobler base , AA hich time and foos cannot displace , Is FAITH IN GOD—and this alone ?
'Tis this which makes tho mystic tio Loving aud true , divinely good , Ono grand , united brotherhood , Cemented ' noath the All-seeing Eye .
'Tis this which gives tho sweetest tono To Alasons' melodies—tho gleam To loving eyes ; the highest gem That glitters in the Alason ' s crown . 'Tis this which makes tho Alason's grip A chain indissolubly strong ; That banishes all fraud and wrong ,
And coldness from our fellowship . Oh , noble cornor-stono divine ! Ob , Faith in God ! that buoys us up Ancl gives in darkest hours a hopo ; That makes our lodge a holy shrine . Brothers , be this our cornor-stono . ' Build every hopo wo have on this , Of present joy , of future bliss On earth , in heaven—and this alone !
Masonic Lifeboat Fund.
MASONIC LIFEBOAT FUND .
The following subscriptions have been received b y Bro . "VV . Brignall , jun , of Durham , towards this fund : — Marquis of Granby Lodge , No . 124 , £ 1 Is . ; Royal Kent Encampment , Newcastle-upon-Tyne , £ 1 Is . ; Bro . "VV . Stoker , P . M , 5 s . ; Bro . AV . Brignall , 10 s . Several subscriptions have been promised which will be duly acknowledged when the same are paid .