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Article THE REPORTER. ← Page 2 of 6 →
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The Reporter.
consecutively elected him to the distinguished honour of the Vice-Presidency , the very apex of the masonic pedestal ; for although the Grand Master was formally elected annually , according to the constitutions , ancl himself appointed the President of the Board ; the Grand Lodge sent Bro . Savage to that Board , who , estimating his mental powers , themselves elected him as Vice President . The fact was important , and the more so when reflecting on the present momentous crisis in English
Freemasonry , to which he ( Dr . C . ) woulcl not further allude than to express his conviction that Bro . Savage would prove equal to any exigency that might demand the declaration and fulfilment of free and fair masonic independence . He had now to request Bro . Savage to accept at his hands the Testimonial then on view , which was at once the record of the regard and estimation in which he was held , and of his own merit . The service of plate was a pleasing mode , too , of testifying to his excellent
wife that her husband was thus loved and respected , ancl would serve to remove from the minds of many the prejudice that happy domesticity was a matter of indifference to Masons . He ( Dr . C . ) had before been the fortunate instrument of similar presentations , but on no previous one were his feelings in more perfect accordance . On the part of the company he proposed the health of Bro . Savage , and most cordially wished him a long and a happy life . The toast ivas received with the most affectionate acclamation .
Bro . SAVAGB rose , and , as soon as the applause would permit , replied to the chairman ' s address with considerable animation and feeling . He commented with much spirit on the several points that had been brought up in the meeting , more especially in reference to the " momentous crisis , " which he looked on as the directing influence of a powerful necessity , that compelled Masons either to sit down contented to bear the yoke of a moral serfdom , or to determine that the mental should direct gallantly the physical power to become emancipated . There was
no longer any hope from the Dais as a body ; expectation therefore pointed to the floor of the Grand Lodge , and he gave the chairman only due credit for the amount of sincerity which he set clown to his ( Bro . S . ' s ) account , when he characterized him as one actuated by a sense of principle , and a resolution to maintain and uphold the pure spirit and independence of Freemasonry—which were most unequivocally endangered by the refusal to grant annuities to widows , and by the shameful
surrender of one of the great bulwarks of the Order . It was at such moments as these that he regretted the want of oratorical power to give utterance to the thoughts by which he was impressed ; but as the brethren knew his deficiency , their over-kindness must supply the means ; by their aid , by a unity in effort , the result must be success ; to will in a good cause would he so to dispirit the cowan , that if we could not regain a loss , we might at least secure the future from danger . There must be a
revival of the Masters ' , Past Masters ' , and Wardens' Club ; it had only been discontinued because it had effected its object : circumstances imperatively called for its reorganization , and without delay ! The costly presentation offered to him by the company , through the chairman , would ever he contemplated by himself and Mrs . Savage with more gratification than pride , inasmuch as no satisfaction was so pure as the consciousness of the mutual regard that bound his brethren and himself in one common bond of mutual obligation ; although the very pride of ambition in its better sense was a point not undeserving of consideration . Bro . Savage concluded a very clear and lucid address , amid general applause .
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
The Reporter.
consecutively elected him to the distinguished honour of the Vice-Presidency , the very apex of the masonic pedestal ; for although the Grand Master was formally elected annually , according to the constitutions , ancl himself appointed the President of the Board ; the Grand Lodge sent Bro . Savage to that Board , who , estimating his mental powers , themselves elected him as Vice President . The fact was important , and the more so when reflecting on the present momentous crisis in English
Freemasonry , to which he ( Dr . C . ) woulcl not further allude than to express his conviction that Bro . Savage would prove equal to any exigency that might demand the declaration and fulfilment of free and fair masonic independence . He had now to request Bro . Savage to accept at his hands the Testimonial then on view , which was at once the record of the regard and estimation in which he was held , and of his own merit . The service of plate was a pleasing mode , too , of testifying to his excellent
wife that her husband was thus loved and respected , ancl would serve to remove from the minds of many the prejudice that happy domesticity was a matter of indifference to Masons . He ( Dr . C . ) had before been the fortunate instrument of similar presentations , but on no previous one were his feelings in more perfect accordance . On the part of the company he proposed the health of Bro . Savage , and most cordially wished him a long and a happy life . The toast ivas received with the most affectionate acclamation .
Bro . SAVAGB rose , and , as soon as the applause would permit , replied to the chairman ' s address with considerable animation and feeling . He commented with much spirit on the several points that had been brought up in the meeting , more especially in reference to the " momentous crisis , " which he looked on as the directing influence of a powerful necessity , that compelled Masons either to sit down contented to bear the yoke of a moral serfdom , or to determine that the mental should direct gallantly the physical power to become emancipated . There was
no longer any hope from the Dais as a body ; expectation therefore pointed to the floor of the Grand Lodge , and he gave the chairman only due credit for the amount of sincerity which he set clown to his ( Bro . S . ' s ) account , when he characterized him as one actuated by a sense of principle , and a resolution to maintain and uphold the pure spirit and independence of Freemasonry—which were most unequivocally endangered by the refusal to grant annuities to widows , and by the shameful
surrender of one of the great bulwarks of the Order . It was at such moments as these that he regretted the want of oratorical power to give utterance to the thoughts by which he was impressed ; but as the brethren knew his deficiency , their over-kindness must supply the means ; by their aid , by a unity in effort , the result must be success ; to will in a good cause would he so to dispirit the cowan , that if we could not regain a loss , we might at least secure the future from danger . There must be a
revival of the Masters ' , Past Masters ' , and Wardens' Club ; it had only been discontinued because it had effected its object : circumstances imperatively called for its reorganization , and without delay ! The costly presentation offered to him by the company , through the chairman , would ever he contemplated by himself and Mrs . Savage with more gratification than pride , inasmuch as no satisfaction was so pure as the consciousness of the mutual regard that bound his brethren and himself in one common bond of mutual obligation ; although the very pride of ambition in its better sense was a point not undeserving of consideration . Bro . Savage concluded a very clear and lucid address , amid general applause .