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Article PROVINCIAL. ← Page 6 of 24 →
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Provincial.
of trees and shrubs which grew under an eastern sky , deposited thousands of feet beneath the surface in our own country ; shells of unknown fish , and bones of unknown animals , penetrating the coral measures and stony strata of different regions , ancl sometimes appearing imbedded in the highest summits of the hardest mountains ; all tending to show that at some period of dissolving nature the mountains were precipitated ancl sunk into the earthand the bottom of the sea protruded above the
sur-, face , and becoming dry land , and forming itself into hills and valleys , rocks and mountains . But our view of the subject will not be exhausted by the very superficial investigations which have taken place within what may be called the crust of this our earth , and the phenomena wliich it produces at the depth of a few thousand feet . Freemasonry directs us to the wonders of the centre ; and to explore them we must descend to the point where attraction and gravitation cease—clown four thousand
miles below the surface , and contemplate the central fire diffusing its energies through every part of this vast and solid globe , producing magnetic properties which preserve the equilibrium true in its daily rotation and annual revolution , and maintaining that steady equipoise wliich whirls it with such perfect precision ancl truth through the vast expanse of universal space . AVhat an insight do such speculations afford towards explaining the nature of universal Masonry ! Alrtue and
science combine their aid to ennoble the Order , anil show its tendency to impart universal knowledge and universal happiness . But the view of a Mason ' s Lodge is not displayed in its most glorious light by a simple reference to the surface or the centre : the contemplation of our Lodge will carry us from the floor to the canopy—from earth to heaven—from
the globe which we inhabit to that celestial firmament of which it forms a constituent part ; there to read the productions of wisdom , strength , ancl beauty ; there to read that pure Masonic lesson , that the universe is the temple of the Deity whom we serve ; wisdom , strength , and beauty , are about his throne as pillars of his work ; for his wisdom is infinite , his strength is omnipotent , and his beauty shines forth in all his works in symmetry and order . He hath crowned the heavens with stars as with a diadem ; the earth he hath planted as his footstool ; the sun ancl
moon are messengers of his will , ancl all his law is concord . These speculations might be carried out to an indefinite extent , for the purpose of showing the benign operation of Freemasonry amongst the works of nature . And shall not a science thus sublime be ranked amongst the first ancl greatest of all human institutions ? Undoubtedly . No one can justly deny it this merit . As for myself , I hold the character of a goocl ancl worthMason to be one of the best and noblestand most
y , exalted titles that can be conferred on men by king , prince , or potentate . Once more I thank you . You have this day conferred on me a mark of kindness and respect , the recollection of which will never be effaced from my mind . In my retirement , I shall frequently reflect with much pleasure and gratification on the fraternity of Staffordshire ; I shall men tion them amongst the brethren of my own Lodges as good men and trueand les of the efficacy of that and holscience to
-, examp pure y pro duce universal peace , harmony , and brotherly love . " In proposing the health of Brother the Rev . H . R . Slade , the Chairman stated that suggestions hacl been made by several Brethren in the room that it would be exceedingly gratifying to them if he would consent to print the sermon by which they had been enlightened and edified on this occasion . ( Cheers . )
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Provincial.
of trees and shrubs which grew under an eastern sky , deposited thousands of feet beneath the surface in our own country ; shells of unknown fish , and bones of unknown animals , penetrating the coral measures and stony strata of different regions , ancl sometimes appearing imbedded in the highest summits of the hardest mountains ; all tending to show that at some period of dissolving nature the mountains were precipitated ancl sunk into the earthand the bottom of the sea protruded above the
sur-, face , and becoming dry land , and forming itself into hills and valleys , rocks and mountains . But our view of the subject will not be exhausted by the very superficial investigations which have taken place within what may be called the crust of this our earth , and the phenomena wliich it produces at the depth of a few thousand feet . Freemasonry directs us to the wonders of the centre ; and to explore them we must descend to the point where attraction and gravitation cease—clown four thousand
miles below the surface , and contemplate the central fire diffusing its energies through every part of this vast and solid globe , producing magnetic properties which preserve the equilibrium true in its daily rotation and annual revolution , and maintaining that steady equipoise wliich whirls it with such perfect precision ancl truth through the vast expanse of universal space . AVhat an insight do such speculations afford towards explaining the nature of universal Masonry ! Alrtue and
science combine their aid to ennoble the Order , anil show its tendency to impart universal knowledge and universal happiness . But the view of a Mason ' s Lodge is not displayed in its most glorious light by a simple reference to the surface or the centre : the contemplation of our Lodge will carry us from the floor to the canopy—from earth to heaven—from
the globe which we inhabit to that celestial firmament of which it forms a constituent part ; there to read the productions of wisdom , strength , ancl beauty ; there to read that pure Masonic lesson , that the universe is the temple of the Deity whom we serve ; wisdom , strength , and beauty , are about his throne as pillars of his work ; for his wisdom is infinite , his strength is omnipotent , and his beauty shines forth in all his works in symmetry and order . He hath crowned the heavens with stars as with a diadem ; the earth he hath planted as his footstool ; the sun ancl
moon are messengers of his will , ancl all his law is concord . These speculations might be carried out to an indefinite extent , for the purpose of showing the benign operation of Freemasonry amongst the works of nature . And shall not a science thus sublime be ranked amongst the first ancl greatest of all human institutions ? Undoubtedly . No one can justly deny it this merit . As for myself , I hold the character of a goocl ancl worthMason to be one of the best and noblestand most
y , exalted titles that can be conferred on men by king , prince , or potentate . Once more I thank you . You have this day conferred on me a mark of kindness and respect , the recollection of which will never be effaced from my mind . In my retirement , I shall frequently reflect with much pleasure and gratification on the fraternity of Staffordshire ; I shall men tion them amongst the brethren of my own Lodges as good men and trueand les of the efficacy of that and holscience to
-, examp pure y pro duce universal peace , harmony , and brotherly love . " In proposing the health of Brother the Rev . H . R . Slade , the Chairman stated that suggestions hacl been made by several Brethren in the room that it would be exceedingly gratifying to them if he would consent to print the sermon by which they had been enlightened and edified on this occasion . ( Cheers . )