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Article GLASGOW MASONICS. ← Page 9 of 12 →
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Glasgow Masonics.
paration of the very valuable testimonial which has now , iu terms so fluttering-, been presented to me , I have had time to recover from the surprise with wliich , on the first proposal , I was affected , and to become , in some degree , familiar with the intention . I do not , however , feel that tbis familiarity has diminished the difficulty of conveying to you the sense I entertain of the very great honour done to
me , enhanced as it is by the presence of so many personal friends and intimate acquaintances , and under the presidency of one for whose valuable friendshi p I am indebted to our Masonic connexion , and who only requires lo be known to be loved and respected . The many happy evenings spent by me in St . Mark ' s Lodge , during a period of nearly twenty years , the agreeable intimacies , affectionate friendshipsand permanent relationships there formed ; the honour of
, unanimous election to the hig-h p lace which I now for the fifth successive year hold in connection with it ; and the numberless proofs of confidence and respect I have received , were ample compensation for the cares , which usually accompany the honours of office ; ancl this additional , most substantial , and abiding expression of regard was alike unlocked for and unnecessary . It is not , however , on that account the less gratifying . On the contraryit is more soboth in fact
, , and form ; and many years hence , when I shall have long passed from this probationary scene of mingled enjoyment and toil , those that are nearest aud dearest to my affections will recal with grateful pride , the honour which has this evening- been conferred , on their partner , parent ^ or relative . The solemn maimer in which I was introduced to the
Ancient Order of Freemasonary , made a deep and permanent impression on my mind ; and when , many years afterwards , I was reluctantly prevailed upon to undertake the duties of Master of a Lodge enjoying such prestige of former celebrity as did the Lodg-e St . Mark , it was with a full conviction of their onerous and important character . Like many others , I felt disappointed by the disproportionate results of an institution so ancient , so universal , and founded on princip les so genuine , as to find
a responsive chord iu the bosom of every honourable and well-intentioned man . I felt convinced there must be something wrong in the ordinary working ; and looking to tbe practices of the olden time , I was satisfied that the only way to uphold the influence and usefulness of the association , was to fall back on those practices , and to give to our Communications a more general and varied interest than heretofore ; and , however , imperfectly these intentions have as yet been carried out
in the Lodge St . Mark , the success ivhich has already attended the effort affords sufficient indication that the step has been taken in the right direction . Deeply implanted in our nature , is a reverence and respect for whatever enlarges tlie sphere of our affections , recals the memory of interesting events , aud brings together remote periods of time . The Masonic Association eminently accomplishes these objects ; and the influence exercised by it in very ancient times , when knowledge was
of slow and difficult attainment anil its general diffusion regarded as impolitic and dangerous , is frequently alluded to by the Father of Historic Narrative . But while the train of Masonic association brings within our retrospective scope , the antediluvian labours of the Sons of Setb , perpetuating their scientific discoveries by their p illar of brick and their pillar of stone—the one to resist the destructive ag-ency of fire , the other of flood—places us before the magnificent structures , the sculptured obelisks , and fanes of Fgypt - carries us down the faint ,
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Glasgow Masonics.
paration of the very valuable testimonial which has now , iu terms so fluttering-, been presented to me , I have had time to recover from the surprise with wliich , on the first proposal , I was affected , and to become , in some degree , familiar with the intention . I do not , however , feel that tbis familiarity has diminished the difficulty of conveying to you the sense I entertain of the very great honour done to
me , enhanced as it is by the presence of so many personal friends and intimate acquaintances , and under the presidency of one for whose valuable friendshi p I am indebted to our Masonic connexion , and who only requires lo be known to be loved and respected . The many happy evenings spent by me in St . Mark ' s Lodge , during a period of nearly twenty years , the agreeable intimacies , affectionate friendshipsand permanent relationships there formed ; the honour of
, unanimous election to the hig-h p lace which I now for the fifth successive year hold in connection with it ; and the numberless proofs of confidence and respect I have received , were ample compensation for the cares , which usually accompany the honours of office ; ancl this additional , most substantial , and abiding expression of regard was alike unlocked for and unnecessary . It is not , however , on that account the less gratifying . On the contraryit is more soboth in fact
, , and form ; and many years hence , when I shall have long passed from this probationary scene of mingled enjoyment and toil , those that are nearest aud dearest to my affections will recal with grateful pride , the honour which has this evening- been conferred , on their partner , parent ^ or relative . The solemn maimer in which I was introduced to the
Ancient Order of Freemasonary , made a deep and permanent impression on my mind ; and when , many years afterwards , I was reluctantly prevailed upon to undertake the duties of Master of a Lodge enjoying such prestige of former celebrity as did the Lodg-e St . Mark , it was with a full conviction of their onerous and important character . Like many others , I felt disappointed by the disproportionate results of an institution so ancient , so universal , and founded on princip les so genuine , as to find
a responsive chord iu the bosom of every honourable and well-intentioned man . I felt convinced there must be something wrong in the ordinary working ; and looking to tbe practices of the olden time , I was satisfied that the only way to uphold the influence and usefulness of the association , was to fall back on those practices , and to give to our Communications a more general and varied interest than heretofore ; and , however , imperfectly these intentions have as yet been carried out
in the Lodge St . Mark , the success ivhich has already attended the effort affords sufficient indication that the step has been taken in the right direction . Deeply implanted in our nature , is a reverence and respect for whatever enlarges tlie sphere of our affections , recals the memory of interesting events , aud brings together remote periods of time . The Masonic Association eminently accomplishes these objects ; and the influence exercised by it in very ancient times , when knowledge was
of slow and difficult attainment anil its general diffusion regarded as impolitic and dangerous , is frequently alluded to by the Father of Historic Narrative . But while the train of Masonic association brings within our retrospective scope , the antediluvian labours of the Sons of Setb , perpetuating their scientific discoveries by their p illar of brick and their pillar of stone—the one to resist the destructive ag-ency of fire , the other of flood—places us before the magnificent structures , the sculptured obelisks , and fanes of Fgypt - carries us down the faint ,