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Article PROVINCIAL. ← Page 12 of 26 →
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Provincial.
Brother Thomas on rising , spoke as follows : — " AA ' orshipful Sir ancl Brethren , if I were to adopt the language so frequently made use of in instances like the present , and say , ' this is an honour that I dreamt not of , ' I should be telling a falsehood , for I was too well aware of your attention on all occasions to fancy for a moment , that while you were thus drinking the healths of others , you would ' coldly pass me by . ' Neither should I be more strictladhering to the direct line of truth
y , were I to say that I had not , in some measure , prepared myself to acknowledge the anticipated honour . But really , Brethren , the kind and cordial manner in which the toast has been received , and the handsome and flattering way in which it was proposed , have so completely frustrated all my previous arrangements , that I am left solely to the dictates of a grateful heart spontaneously to acknowledge this additional mark of your kindness . I shall havehoweverthe less difficulty in doing
soinas-, , , much as I have ever been taught to believe that the language of truth is simple ; ancl , at all events , in that garb—I mean the simplicity of truth —I can clothe my ideas , ancl say how truly grateful I am for this as well as all other marks of your approbation . I think , however , my worthy Brother , the AA ^ . M ., has , in his zeal , overrated my Masonic abilities —( no , no . ) I think so , notwithstanding those kind negatives . Tis trueI haveever since my initiationdone all in to
-, , , my power pro mote the welfare of the society , and it affords me infinite satisfaction this day , to witness the fruits of my labours . Allien I look around me and behold , not only Masons of my own making , but , as Brother Parry has kindly drawn your attention to , the union on this our anniversary of two Lodges , in the establishment of each of which I was mainl y instrumental , I cannot but feel proud of the hi gh Masonic eminence on which I am this day placed .
" A good Mason cannot be a bad man . It therefore behoves each of us to use every exertion in the cause of Masonry . As I before observed , I have ever endeavoured to do so , and trust I shall continue to walk in the same path while the pulse of life throbs within my heaving bosom . Indeed , believing as I do , that the knowledge of Freemasonry tends to benefit mankind in general , my sincere prayer is , that like the ripple caused by the descent of a faffing body into the bosom ofthe silent lake , its benign influence may extend wider and wider until it shall encircle the whole world .
" I know of no other reli gious society that has half the influence Freemasonry possesses of binding men together in one indissoluble bond of affection . Its Catholic powers in this respect , are alike unrivalled and unlimited . Around its unfurled banner we see arranged the Jew , the Christian , the Churchman , the Dissenter , aye , all but the Infidel ; ancl not only there uniting , but embracing and calling each other Brother I said no other religious society , for that Masonry is a peculiar system of morality no one , at all conversant with its tenets , can for an instant doubt . If I were called upon to describe Freemasonry , I should , in the language of the poet , say ,
" If all the social virtues of the mind , If an unbounded love to all mankind , If hospitable welcome to a guest , Ancl speed y charity to the distressed—If these are principles deserving fame , Let Masons then enjoy the praise they claim ; "
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Provincial.
Brother Thomas on rising , spoke as follows : — " AA ' orshipful Sir ancl Brethren , if I were to adopt the language so frequently made use of in instances like the present , and say , ' this is an honour that I dreamt not of , ' I should be telling a falsehood , for I was too well aware of your attention on all occasions to fancy for a moment , that while you were thus drinking the healths of others , you would ' coldly pass me by . ' Neither should I be more strictladhering to the direct line of truth
y , were I to say that I had not , in some measure , prepared myself to acknowledge the anticipated honour . But really , Brethren , the kind and cordial manner in which the toast has been received , and the handsome and flattering way in which it was proposed , have so completely frustrated all my previous arrangements , that I am left solely to the dictates of a grateful heart spontaneously to acknowledge this additional mark of your kindness . I shall havehoweverthe less difficulty in doing
soinas-, , , much as I have ever been taught to believe that the language of truth is simple ; ancl , at all events , in that garb—I mean the simplicity of truth —I can clothe my ideas , ancl say how truly grateful I am for this as well as all other marks of your approbation . I think , however , my worthy Brother , the AA ^ . M ., has , in his zeal , overrated my Masonic abilities —( no , no . ) I think so , notwithstanding those kind negatives . Tis trueI haveever since my initiationdone all in to
-, , , my power pro mote the welfare of the society , and it affords me infinite satisfaction this day , to witness the fruits of my labours . Allien I look around me and behold , not only Masons of my own making , but , as Brother Parry has kindly drawn your attention to , the union on this our anniversary of two Lodges , in the establishment of each of which I was mainl y instrumental , I cannot but feel proud of the hi gh Masonic eminence on which I am this day placed .
" A good Mason cannot be a bad man . It therefore behoves each of us to use every exertion in the cause of Masonry . As I before observed , I have ever endeavoured to do so , and trust I shall continue to walk in the same path while the pulse of life throbs within my heaving bosom . Indeed , believing as I do , that the knowledge of Freemasonry tends to benefit mankind in general , my sincere prayer is , that like the ripple caused by the descent of a faffing body into the bosom ofthe silent lake , its benign influence may extend wider and wider until it shall encircle the whole world .
" I know of no other reli gious society that has half the influence Freemasonry possesses of binding men together in one indissoluble bond of affection . Its Catholic powers in this respect , are alike unrivalled and unlimited . Around its unfurled banner we see arranged the Jew , the Christian , the Churchman , the Dissenter , aye , all but the Infidel ; ancl not only there uniting , but embracing and calling each other Brother I said no other religious society , for that Masonry is a peculiar system of morality no one , at all conversant with its tenets , can for an instant doubt . If I were called upon to describe Freemasonry , I should , in the language of the poet , say ,
" If all the social virtues of the mind , If an unbounded love to all mankind , If hospitable welcome to a guest , Ancl speed y charity to the distressed—If these are principles deserving fame , Let Masons then enjoy the praise they claim ; "