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Article PROVINCIAL. ← Page 16 of 18 →
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Provincial.
the charge of disloyalty they had but to look at the list of princes and statesmen who at different times had belonged to the fraternity . The three sovereigns who had preceded her present Majesty on the throne were Masons . AVould this have been the case if Masonry was tainted with disloyalty ? At all times , and not less so at present , the Order counted amongst its members statesmen and men of all classes , who were distinguished in the annals of their country for their devoted attachment
to the throne , the laws , and the liberties of England . Then in regard to the graver charge of irreligion—the late Right Rev . and pious Dr . Howley , Archbishop of Canterbury , was a Mason ; so also was the late Archbishop of York , and so also , at the present time , were many prelates and ministers of the church . These facts alone were a sufficient answer to the charge . If , however , accusations were brought against the institutionthis was owing not to any vices in that institution itselfhut to
, , the deviation by some of its members from the laws which as Masons they were bound to observe . This was an evil to which all human institutions were exposed . Even reli gion itself was frequently brought into disrepute by the misconduct of its nominal professors . To prevent Masonry being exposed to this evil , the brethren should be cautious whom they received amongst them . They should examine the character
of candidates , and admit none of whom they had doubts . They should be careless as to whom they might offend in performing this duty , and the result of such precautions would be that the lodges everywhere would rise in character and utility . These were based on the laws of God , and they rested on a foundation which could not be shaken . He would fain hope that by their proceedings that day there had been sown seeds of union which in due season would yield a glorious harvest . It would be
superfluous to point out what were the principles that guide Masonry . Those principles were known to all true and loyal Masons , therefore let those principles ever actuate them , so that whenever in future they might meet , whether in the market-place , the counting-house , or in that sacred retreat dedicated to friendship and virtue—a Mason ' s lodge—they might ever meet as friends , only to part as brothers . The P . G . M . then rose to propose " The health of the Rev . Bro . Wood ,
D . P . G . M . of Guernsey . " He was sure every brother would cordiall y join in this toast . From knowing this brother as a private friend and a Mason he knew how worth y he was of esteem . It was highly satisfactory to him to see the office of Deputy Grand Master so efficientl y filled . Indeed but for the confidence he derived from Bro . Wood ' s zeal and ability in conducting the business of the province in his absence , he should have hesitated in accepting the office , into which hehad that day been installed .
The Rev . Brother having returned thanks , Bro . W . BROUARD proposed , " The Deputy Provincial Grand Master of Jersey , and the Lodge of Jersey . " Bro . HARDING , D . P . G . M ., was proud to have been present on the occasion of establishing a Provincial Grand Lodge in Guernsey , as this event would , he trusted , be alike advantageous to the island , and to the cause of Masonry . He was glad to see that Masonry was not looked on
with suspicion or disfavour in Guernsey . He was delighted to witness the cordiality and good feeling that day displayed by the immense concourse of persons who had been spectators of , and accompanied their procession . Hi gh and low—rich and poor—all , by orderly conduct and good humour , showed their kindness . He could say for himself and
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Provincial.
the charge of disloyalty they had but to look at the list of princes and statesmen who at different times had belonged to the fraternity . The three sovereigns who had preceded her present Majesty on the throne were Masons . AVould this have been the case if Masonry was tainted with disloyalty ? At all times , and not less so at present , the Order counted amongst its members statesmen and men of all classes , who were distinguished in the annals of their country for their devoted attachment
to the throne , the laws , and the liberties of England . Then in regard to the graver charge of irreligion—the late Right Rev . and pious Dr . Howley , Archbishop of Canterbury , was a Mason ; so also was the late Archbishop of York , and so also , at the present time , were many prelates and ministers of the church . These facts alone were a sufficient answer to the charge . If , however , accusations were brought against the institutionthis was owing not to any vices in that institution itselfhut to
, , the deviation by some of its members from the laws which as Masons they were bound to observe . This was an evil to which all human institutions were exposed . Even reli gion itself was frequently brought into disrepute by the misconduct of its nominal professors . To prevent Masonry being exposed to this evil , the brethren should be cautious whom they received amongst them . They should examine the character
of candidates , and admit none of whom they had doubts . They should be careless as to whom they might offend in performing this duty , and the result of such precautions would be that the lodges everywhere would rise in character and utility . These were based on the laws of God , and they rested on a foundation which could not be shaken . He would fain hope that by their proceedings that day there had been sown seeds of union which in due season would yield a glorious harvest . It would be
superfluous to point out what were the principles that guide Masonry . Those principles were known to all true and loyal Masons , therefore let those principles ever actuate them , so that whenever in future they might meet , whether in the market-place , the counting-house , or in that sacred retreat dedicated to friendship and virtue—a Mason ' s lodge—they might ever meet as friends , only to part as brothers . The P . G . M . then rose to propose " The health of the Rev . Bro . Wood ,
D . P . G . M . of Guernsey . " He was sure every brother would cordiall y join in this toast . From knowing this brother as a private friend and a Mason he knew how worth y he was of esteem . It was highly satisfactory to him to see the office of Deputy Grand Master so efficientl y filled . Indeed but for the confidence he derived from Bro . Wood ' s zeal and ability in conducting the business of the province in his absence , he should have hesitated in accepting the office , into which hehad that day been installed .
The Rev . Brother having returned thanks , Bro . W . BROUARD proposed , " The Deputy Provincial Grand Master of Jersey , and the Lodge of Jersey . " Bro . HARDING , D . P . G . M ., was proud to have been present on the occasion of establishing a Provincial Grand Lodge in Guernsey , as this event would , he trusted , be alike advantageous to the island , and to the cause of Masonry . He was glad to see that Masonry was not looked on
with suspicion or disfavour in Guernsey . He was delighted to witness the cordiality and good feeling that day displayed by the immense concourse of persons who had been spectators of , and accompanied their procession . Hi gh and low—rich and poor—all , by orderly conduct and good humour , showed their kindness . He could say for himself and