Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Colonial.
Masonry should be propagated in the province . ' They agreed to petition for authority to hold a Lodge at Halifax , aud that his Excellency might he master ol it , his Royal Highness the Prince of AVales , father of his late Majesty George III ., then presiding over the Craft in Kngland . The warrant was speedily issued , mid , being received on the 19 th of July , the Lodge was opened without delay , and the same evening Lord Colville and several other gentlemen of the navy were entered as apprentices . The same Lodge subsequently made many of the principal inhabitants and most
of the persons who held considerable offices under Government ; and the number of the initiated so rapidly increased that on the 18 th of March , 1751 , it was found expedient to form a second Lodge at Halifax . Governor Cornwallis was succeeded in bis Government , and in the chair of the Lodge by Governor Lawrence , who held both until his death . To him followed Lieutenant Governor Belcher . His successor was Governor Parr , who was installed and proclaimed Grand Master in the year 1785 . After Governor Parr , bis Royal Highness the Duke of Kent , father of her
Majesty our Most Gracious Majesty the Queen , honoured the Fraternity in this province by presiding over them . Under such illustrious auspices Masonry greatly flourished in Nova Scotia . The site was obtained and the corner stone of our venerable hall laid by his Royal Highness amid a numerous concourse of Brethren in the year 1800 , being fifty years from the first introduction of Masonry . Afcer the lapse of another half a century , it is found necessary to enlarge this building , and what day so appropriate to the formal commencement of this work as that whereon the sound of the
gavel was first heard amid the surrounding wilds , the sacred emblems were first displayed , and the solemn obligation first assumed , which pledges devotion to God , fidelity to tbe Brotherhood , and relief to the distressed ? Great are the changes which have passed upon the scene , as it then
presented itself , to render it what it noio is . The great change to which we are all tending has passed on every individual who shared in those transactions , who bore any part in those solemnities . But the land-marks of our Order continue from age to age unchanged ; they are the same to-day that they were when , under the Bed Cross Banner , the chivalry of Europe rushed to the rescue of the Holy Sepulchre ; tbe same that they were when Solomon , with the aid of the King of Tyre , and under the direction of the Ingenious Artist , caused the first material temple to be erected to the Great
Jehovah . Ave we , then , steadily pursuing the course which those who have gone before us marked out ? If they who first established Masonry in our land could avise from the graves , which , almost within our view , hold their lifeless remains , they would recognize the great object they had in view as having been carried out . If Masons are known in the several walks of life which they occupy , for the reverence which they show to God and sacred things—for the uprightness and integrity of their lives—for the steady consistency of their conduct—for active kindness and
benevolencethen indeed has our institution proved what those who first propagated Masonry among us declared their conviction that it would prove—a benefit to the community—the pledge of loyalty , harmony , good order , and brotherly love . Consider , then , brethren , the obligations which rest upon you . Act up to your profession—adorn it by your conduct—recommend it by your example . But to turn to the matter more immediatel y before us . I congratulate you , Right "Worshipful Sir , on presiding over the Craft at this icious seasonhaving delegated authority and Masonic jurisdiction over
ausp , the Brethren in this and the neighbouring provinces . 1 congratulate the Halifax Lodges on the commencement of this building , long required to accommodate their numerous meetings , and enable them to carry on their work with comfort and advantage . 1 congratulate the Craft in general on the progress Freemasonry has made and its present standing in Nova Scotia . The blessing of heas'en has , I trust , rested on the past . Thc future is all
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Colonial.
Masonry should be propagated in the province . ' They agreed to petition for authority to hold a Lodge at Halifax , aud that his Excellency might he master ol it , his Royal Highness the Prince of AVales , father of his late Majesty George III ., then presiding over the Craft in Kngland . The warrant was speedily issued , mid , being received on the 19 th of July , the Lodge was opened without delay , and the same evening Lord Colville and several other gentlemen of the navy were entered as apprentices . The same Lodge subsequently made many of the principal inhabitants and most
of the persons who held considerable offices under Government ; and the number of the initiated so rapidly increased that on the 18 th of March , 1751 , it was found expedient to form a second Lodge at Halifax . Governor Cornwallis was succeeded in bis Government , and in the chair of the Lodge by Governor Lawrence , who held both until his death . To him followed Lieutenant Governor Belcher . His successor was Governor Parr , who was installed and proclaimed Grand Master in the year 1785 . After Governor Parr , bis Royal Highness the Duke of Kent , father of her
Majesty our Most Gracious Majesty the Queen , honoured the Fraternity in this province by presiding over them . Under such illustrious auspices Masonry greatly flourished in Nova Scotia . The site was obtained and the corner stone of our venerable hall laid by his Royal Highness amid a numerous concourse of Brethren in the year 1800 , being fifty years from the first introduction of Masonry . Afcer the lapse of another half a century , it is found necessary to enlarge this building , and what day so appropriate to the formal commencement of this work as that whereon the sound of the
gavel was first heard amid the surrounding wilds , the sacred emblems were first displayed , and the solemn obligation first assumed , which pledges devotion to God , fidelity to tbe Brotherhood , and relief to the distressed ? Great are the changes which have passed upon the scene , as it then
presented itself , to render it what it noio is . The great change to which we are all tending has passed on every individual who shared in those transactions , who bore any part in those solemnities . But the land-marks of our Order continue from age to age unchanged ; they are the same to-day that they were when , under the Bed Cross Banner , the chivalry of Europe rushed to the rescue of the Holy Sepulchre ; tbe same that they were when Solomon , with the aid of the King of Tyre , and under the direction of the Ingenious Artist , caused the first material temple to be erected to the Great
Jehovah . Ave we , then , steadily pursuing the course which those who have gone before us marked out ? If they who first established Masonry in our land could avise from the graves , which , almost within our view , hold their lifeless remains , they would recognize the great object they had in view as having been carried out . If Masons are known in the several walks of life which they occupy , for the reverence which they show to God and sacred things—for the uprightness and integrity of their lives—for the steady consistency of their conduct—for active kindness and
benevolencethen indeed has our institution proved what those who first propagated Masonry among us declared their conviction that it would prove—a benefit to the community—the pledge of loyalty , harmony , good order , and brotherly love . Consider , then , brethren , the obligations which rest upon you . Act up to your profession—adorn it by your conduct—recommend it by your example . But to turn to the matter more immediatel y before us . I congratulate you , Right "Worshipful Sir , on presiding over the Craft at this icious seasonhaving delegated authority and Masonic jurisdiction over
ausp , the Brethren in this and the neighbouring provinces . 1 congratulate the Halifax Lodges on the commencement of this building , long required to accommodate their numerous meetings , and enable them to carry on their work with comfort and advantage . 1 congratulate the Craft in general on the progress Freemasonry has made and its present standing in Nova Scotia . The blessing of heas'en has , I trust , rested on the past . Thc future is all