Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Installation Of The Provincial Grand Master Of Essex.
Cavour when he was at the head of the Foreign Department in Italy , which was a verj stormy time . A friend visited him one morning early , and after talking five minutes , proposed to hurry away , apologising for having detained him so long from public business . Count Cavour said " Why , I have plenty of time ; there are twenty-four hours in the day , and they surely are enough for all
purposes . " And I believe my noble friend here is of the same opinion , when he could take himself away from the dispatches of the Foreign Office to devote himself body and mind to such an occasion as the present . I hardly know , when I see such an meeting as this , on what Masonic . text to preach . It has been my duty so often to inculcate Masonic principles or duties , that I feel almost afraid of
repeating what I have said . There are no doubt particular duties which are specially applicable to particular times and seasons . The duty of our Masonic Charity is one ; the world-wide brotherhood which unites us in so many climates and countries is another great feature ; the code of morals , so to speak , which lies enshrined in the old charges of the Order vvhich is concealed , veiled in the ritual
and symbolism , such as that , to which I alluded in the Grand Lodgeof to-day—these are all distinctive features of the Craft ; they may all be dwelt upon with advantage at different times and under different circumstances ; but the one word . that I would take the liberty of saying to-day is . perhaps of a somewhat different subject : it is to ask you to bear in mind , as it suggests itself to me to-day , that
our Masonic drganisation and the duties of loyal provincial obedience to those who are placed high in authority lie at the very root of all our Masonic system in England . Brethren , the administration of a great Masonic province like this depends first of all upon the tact , the management , and the administrative ability of the Provincial Grand Master . It depends in the next place upon the
zeal and the intelligence of those Grand Officers whom he appoints ; and lastly it depends upon the hearty zeal and the loyal obedience of the whole body of Masons scattered throughout the province , and by that I mean the loyal obedience , not merely of individual Masons , but of lodges acting collectively together as a pait of the Masonic organisation ; and let me say that just as this is true of the
Provincial Grand Lodge , so also . is it true of the organisation of each individual lodge . The Master there is elected to his high office ; he is bound to exercise the functions and duties of that office with the same qualities as the . Provincial Grand Master brings to bear ; he looks to his officers to give him their hearty support in the work of the lodge , and he looks again to the individual
members of the lodge to suppoit him in a way that no written rules and no precise laws can possibly give . But , brethren , this is not , perhaps , all . It might seem to some that the great powers which are lodged in the hands of the Prov . Grand Master , as they are lodged in the hands of the Grand Master of the Craft , would make our ancient and venerable body despotic and absolute in
its character and working . That is not at all the case . Our body seems to me to be happily blended together of the two great principles of rule , of obedience , of loyalty , and yet also of great freedom . Freedom of election lies at the very root of the whole matter , and confidence the offspring of that freedom of choice on the one hand , and of that considerate and temperate rule on the other . In
this it has often occurred to me that there is a strong resemblance between Freemasonry—English Freemasonryand the English Constitution . You have large powers , great authority , great responsibility , great freedom , and if the whole machine is to work together harmoniously and satisfactorily , great confidence on the part of tko .- > e who are governed in those who govern . ( Cheers . ) That is ,
in farct , what , I believe , the English Constitution gives you , roughly speaking ; that is what we look for , and what we have found , I believe , in our Masonic system . And , perhaps , this is , among other causes , one of the reasons , and one of the principal reasr > ns , why Freemasonryin England has united itself in such harmonious bonds with all the great institutions of the country . I know , indeed , nothing more
remarkable than the contrast which exists now . and which still more existed a few years ago , between English Fieemasonry and foreign . Here in England thc great institi'tions of the country are more or less connected with Freemasonry . There has never been any jealousy of Freemasonry here . Parliament , even in its most jealous moods , always made exceptions in favourof English lodges . There was no
suspicion , no jealousy , no ill-will , and , as my noble Iriend , I think , also pointed out in one of his speeches to-day , it has been our special characteiistic and pleasure , that in this country we have had a succession of Royal Princes at the head of our Masonic system . ^ Loud cheers . ) Formerly , indeed , abroad Freemasonry was bound up with many of those secret bodies which could certainly not be said to
be allied to the State—which were at enmity with the State I—and it brought on foreign Freemasonry often much doubt , Sometimes discredit . We , I am thankful to say , have ever been spared from this , and I trust that through the Iongcourse of English Freemasonry which is yet in store , we shall always maintain the same even , temperate way which we have maintained in times past—that wc shall still feel
that with the laws , the institutions , the authorities o [ this country we are closely allied ; that whilst we are Masons we are equally Englishmen—Englishmen in all the spirit of the laws , in all the spirit of the constitution—and then we shall catry on , I doubt not , Freemasonry , if possible , even one step t . igher , and one step further than it has already achieved ; we shall be able to hand down to thos-:
who come after us quite as great and fine a heritage as we have received from our forefathers . ( Cheers . ) Brethren , in every province it is necessary to have a high standard before us . In this province you have had goi d traditions , and you now have at your head one who is fully competent to give thots traditions praclical life and iffcpU Lee mc congratulate him upon being placed ia thil bhaif ( let raa congratulate ] you upon having oo good a
Installation Of The Provincial Grand Master Of Essex.
Provincial Grand Master ruling over you . 1 beg to propose his health . Let me wish to him long life and success in tlie devotion of the same qualities to this province that he has already given to his couniry , and let me wish for you all the happiness and all the good fortune , and all the success that can flow from thc wise , and temperate , and kindly , and conciliatory rule of your present
Provincial Grand Master . The Provincial Grand Master , in reply , said : Brethren , I have to thank our Pro Grand Master for the too flattering and complimentary terms in which he has been good enough to propose my health to your notice , and I have to thank you , brethren of the Province of Essex , for the welcome you have been good enough to accord to me on this
occasion . Our Pro-Grand Master has spoken of the organisation of Freemasonry . I am pretty confident that I am not wrong in supposing that in this town of Chelmsford , at this very moment , there are numbers of people who are asking the question— " What is it that all these gentlemen , wearing white ties and evening coats in the day-time , have invaded our quiet neighbourhood for , with
their little black bags and their tin boxes ? " ( Laughter . ) And , brethren , I do not doubt that to many the question has been put which has on this , arid on other occasions , been very frequently addressed to myself— " What is it that all you people are about ? If you want to subscribe to schools and to asylums , why don't you send your Post Office orders and your cheques without all this fuss and
paraphernalia ? " ( Laughter . ) Now , a lady told me the other day that she had discovered the secret . ( Loud laughter . ) She said , " The fact is , you men are so vain . You love to dress yourselves up ; that is why the soldiers all wear red coats , and now the Volunteers are going to wear red coats ; and as for you people with the blue aprons , why , you are no better . " ( Laughter . ) Other
people say we are mere knife-and-fork philanthropists . ( Loud laughter ) . Others , again , say , " The real fact is , there is nothing in it at all . " Now , that reminds me of the story with regard to the Druses on Mount Lebanon . His lordship then proceeded to relate the story of one of a number of peeping busybodies ivho went into the Temple of the Druses , and finding it empty
returned and reported that there was " nothing in it , " whereupon he was told that his story was disbelieved , and was ignominiously kicked out of the village . ( Laughter . ) His 1 mlship proceeded : Now , brethren , it cannot be said that there is nothing in our lodges , for theie is something is our lodges , something which constitutes the very basis of our Masonic structure , and that is the volurhe of the
Sacred Law . Although wilh universal toleration we admit men of all creeds to the Craft , provided they are good men—I have myself initiated Persians , Parsees , Musselmans , ami Hindoos—yet all our work is begun , continued , and completed in the name of him whom we address in the spiiit of that universal prayer written by our great poet Pope , a Roman
Catholic" Father of all in every age , In every clime adored , By saint , by savage , and by sage , Jehovah , Jove , and Lord . To him whose temple is all space , Whose altar—eaith , sea , skies , One chorus let all beings raise ,
All nature ' s incense rise . " ( Applause . ) lt is , brethren , this spirit of toleration , this feeling of universal brotherhood under one great heavenly Father , which constitutes , as I deem i * -, the true object , the true principle of Fieemasonry . ( Cheers . ) It was for ( his object that Freemasonry was founded , and it is for tliis that it now claims to be maintained . Without
going too far into the uncertainties of traditioti , we are , at all events , sure of this—that the original object of Freemasonry was to provide a home amongst their fellow brethren and Masons , where those skilled Craflsmen who wandered in the pursuit of their craft might find in their travels a rtaly welcome . It was thus , brethren , that Freemasonry in former ages was the first to break down
Jhat barrier of distrust and excliisiyeness which severed countries and provinces , and even towns . ( Hear , hear . ) It is now of equal use , for Freemasonry , excluding as it does subjects of political and religious controversy , forriis a neutral ground on which men of all classes , countries , and creeds may meet on the level and part upon the souare . ( Cheers . ) Brethren , that exclusiveness of which I have
spoken has to some extent penetrated even to the present day . Most of you , I dare say , recollect the drawing of poor John Leech ' s , of two navvies , one of whom says to the other , " Who be that , Bill ? " and upon the other replying , '" A stranger , " he says , "' Eave ' alf a brick at him . " ( Laughter . ) Well , brethren , that spirit was at one time very common amongst us . The other day I was
reading the biography of one of our great naval heroes at the commencement of the present century . His creed wa « , " Fear God , honour the King , and hate the French . " ( Laughter . ) No brethren , we do , I hope , the two former , but the days for hatred of the French are happily passed away , and I trust may never come again . ( Cheers . ) How little we now hate the French is shown in
the chord of sympathy which has been touched in every English heart , in every English home , for that unhappy lady who is now mourning for her gallant son , slain in the English cause in South Africa . ( Cheers . ) This spirit of universal brotherhood may , perhaps , by some be considered no longer of any moment in this country , but this is not so . Although political and religious rancour is happily no
longer rife amongst us , there are many subjects upon which all men must differ , and by excluding those questions , upon which men too frequently do differ , we are doing that which , I am sure , is of great good to this country , and I have seen myself a very remarkable instance of that in the United States of America , where civil war had done its worst to scathe thc . land , Yet , the brethren from tho North could meet tho btethrtn from tho Srntiti after tin
Installation Of The Provincial Grand Master Of Essex.
war , and clasp the hands of Freemasonry in brotherhood which had so recently been raised to shed each other ' s ' blood . ( Cheers . ) I feel with our Pro Grand Master th at Freemasonry has a great future before it—a great future I venture to say , in this feeling of universal toleration and brotherhood—a great future , not only in this country but in all countries in pacifying hostilities , in creating
friendship , in linking together men of all countries , of ali classes of all religions , all races , and all creeds . ( Cheers . ) And brethren , we cannot do better than take the advice of our Pro Grand Master as to how we should bist extend and promote this , which I venture to say is a noble object , of which Freemasons in this province and all over the world may be justly proud . The way tn promote it , brethren , is
to use an expression familiar to all of us , that we should , show ourselves to be good Masons and good men , not only in our words and in our emblems , but in our actsthat we should , in truth , show ourselves to be men to whom the afflicted may pour forth their sorrows , and find consolation ; to whom the distressed may pour forth their suit and find relief ; whose hand * are guided by justice
and whose hearts are expanded by benevolence . ( Cheers . 1 I once more thank you most cordially forthe kind welcome which has been given to me in this province . I always felt that although I was not known to many amongst you , it would be so that one whose heart was in Freemasonry would never fail a warm welcome at the hands of Freemasons . ( Loud cheers . )
The Provincial Grand Master then said : The Pro Grand Ma-. ter has desired me to express his extreme regret that he has been obliged to leave before the end of our festivities . I have now devolving on me the very agreeable task of proposing " The Health of the Deputy Grand Master , Rev . S . R . Wigram , P . G . C ., and the rest of the Prov . Grand Officers , Present and Past . " I have for
a long time had the pleasure of knowing our Bro . Wigram as distinguished in the Craft , distinguished as one of the Grand Chaplains , and distinguished , as I also know he has been , by his working at the Priory Lodge , Southend ; and it is with extreme gratification to ine that lie has accepted the position to which he has this day been appointed . You must all know that very much cf the
success of a province depends upon the Deputy of the Province . As the Prov . G . Master has told you in the most flattering terms , I am engaged the bulk of my time , and must therefore leave the great part of my duties to the brother who has this day been appointed as my Deputy . We have among us in oar lodge the Past D . Prov . G . M ., Bro . Matthew Clark , and I am especially pleased to see him . I
feel sure that you also appreciate his services from the satisfaction with which you all agreed to the vote of thanks which has been passed on him in lodge . He is with me a P . M . of the Lodge of Harmony , at Richmond , and has for many years past shared with me the duties of Secretary of that lodge . I know from my personal experience that he is a good man , and vou all know that he is a good Mason .
We have to-day also invested several others who are worthy of the position to which they have been appointed . It was at the Lodge of Hope and Unity , at Romford , that I first received my early Masonic instruction . A friend of mine used to belong to that lodge , and I was frequently present there as a visitor , and have on several occasions acted as one of its officers ; it is , therefore , with extreme pleasure
that I havc this day placed the W . M . of that lorlge in the chair of Senior Warden of the province . The other Prov . Grand Ofiicers are , I believe , equally well known to the Craft of Essex . 1 have done my best that the honours should be distributed to every point of our provincial compass , and I hope that the various appointments will give satisfaction . I have pleasure in coupling with the toast
the names of Bros . S . R . Wigram , D . P . G . M ., and Matthew Clark , P . P . D . G . M . Bro . Wigram , in reply , said : I have to thank you both on my own behalf and on behalf of the oihcr Provincial Grand Officers . The honour I have received this day has come to me most acceptably . I am an Essex man , sou of an Essex man , received the Mnsonic light in an Essex
lodge , and am a Past Master of two Essex lodges . If we are spared to meet again at the end of twelve months , I hope you will receive this toast with as great cordiality as it has met to night . We ask you to be to our virtues very kind , and to our follies ever blind . I feel that every Grand Officer of the province will do his duty , and feel assured
that I shall he obliged to do so myself in consequence of the splendid example set by my predecessor . I trust that when our terms of office may expire , we shall be greeted with the sentence of your approval as heartily as we have to-day received that of your congratulation . Bro . Clarke followed . He desired to add to the remarks of
the last speaker but a lew words . Bro . Wigram has , be said , succeeded to an organisation that is in every way perfect , and that he will do all that is required of him is the firm conviction of all present . I thank you for the kin 1 way in which I was always received while in occupation of the my office . The Deputy Prov . G . M . stated that the Prov . Grand
Master had entrusted to him the proposal of the next toast . He said : I could at this moment express two wishes , one that the toast had fallen into better hands , and another that it had been placed earlier on the list , so that it mig '" have been given before those numerous visitors who have honoured us with their presence had been obliged to leave us . We have to-day been honoured with Masons conversant with the Craft , I may say in every part of tl | e
world . We are always proud to see our brethren anion ; .. us , and tend them a hearty welcome . AU we can do is 'o hononr those brethren who have to-day visited us by drinking heaitily to the toast . Bro . Rev . C . J . Martyn , in his reply , tendered his than " for the hearty reception accorded the toast . He hope 1 ' . '''' ' he should have the pleasuM of seeing several of the '"" j * brethren at tin meeting of tho Prov . Grrtnd Lodgo "' ,,, ! foils on Monday itcXti He txpruaed ttid regret ol '
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Installation Of The Provincial Grand Master Of Essex.
Cavour when he was at the head of the Foreign Department in Italy , which was a verj stormy time . A friend visited him one morning early , and after talking five minutes , proposed to hurry away , apologising for having detained him so long from public business . Count Cavour said " Why , I have plenty of time ; there are twenty-four hours in the day , and they surely are enough for all
purposes . " And I believe my noble friend here is of the same opinion , when he could take himself away from the dispatches of the Foreign Office to devote himself body and mind to such an occasion as the present . I hardly know , when I see such an meeting as this , on what Masonic . text to preach . It has been my duty so often to inculcate Masonic principles or duties , that I feel almost afraid of
repeating what I have said . There are no doubt particular duties which are specially applicable to particular times and seasons . The duty of our Masonic Charity is one ; the world-wide brotherhood which unites us in so many climates and countries is another great feature ; the code of morals , so to speak , which lies enshrined in the old charges of the Order vvhich is concealed , veiled in the ritual
and symbolism , such as that , to which I alluded in the Grand Lodgeof to-day—these are all distinctive features of the Craft ; they may all be dwelt upon with advantage at different times and under different circumstances ; but the one word . that I would take the liberty of saying to-day is . perhaps of a somewhat different subject : it is to ask you to bear in mind , as it suggests itself to me to-day , that
our Masonic drganisation and the duties of loyal provincial obedience to those who are placed high in authority lie at the very root of all our Masonic system in England . Brethren , the administration of a great Masonic province like this depends first of all upon the tact , the management , and the administrative ability of the Provincial Grand Master . It depends in the next place upon the
zeal and the intelligence of those Grand Officers whom he appoints ; and lastly it depends upon the hearty zeal and the loyal obedience of the whole body of Masons scattered throughout the province , and by that I mean the loyal obedience , not merely of individual Masons , but of lodges acting collectively together as a pait of the Masonic organisation ; and let me say that just as this is true of the
Provincial Grand Lodge , so also . is it true of the organisation of each individual lodge . The Master there is elected to his high office ; he is bound to exercise the functions and duties of that office with the same qualities as the . Provincial Grand Master brings to bear ; he looks to his officers to give him their hearty support in the work of the lodge , and he looks again to the individual
members of the lodge to suppoit him in a way that no written rules and no precise laws can possibly give . But , brethren , this is not , perhaps , all . It might seem to some that the great powers which are lodged in the hands of the Prov . Grand Master , as they are lodged in the hands of the Grand Master of the Craft , would make our ancient and venerable body despotic and absolute in
its character and working . That is not at all the case . Our body seems to me to be happily blended together of the two great principles of rule , of obedience , of loyalty , and yet also of great freedom . Freedom of election lies at the very root of the whole matter , and confidence the offspring of that freedom of choice on the one hand , and of that considerate and temperate rule on the other . In
this it has often occurred to me that there is a strong resemblance between Freemasonry—English Freemasonryand the English Constitution . You have large powers , great authority , great responsibility , great freedom , and if the whole machine is to work together harmoniously and satisfactorily , great confidence on the part of tko .- > e who are governed in those who govern . ( Cheers . ) That is ,
in farct , what , I believe , the English Constitution gives you , roughly speaking ; that is what we look for , and what we have found , I believe , in our Masonic system . And , perhaps , this is , among other causes , one of the reasons , and one of the principal reasr > ns , why Freemasonryin England has united itself in such harmonious bonds with all the great institutions of the country . I know , indeed , nothing more
remarkable than the contrast which exists now . and which still more existed a few years ago , between English Fieemasonry and foreign . Here in England thc great institi'tions of the country are more or less connected with Freemasonry . There has never been any jealousy of Freemasonry here . Parliament , even in its most jealous moods , always made exceptions in favourof English lodges . There was no
suspicion , no jealousy , no ill-will , and , as my noble Iriend , I think , also pointed out in one of his speeches to-day , it has been our special characteiistic and pleasure , that in this country we have had a succession of Royal Princes at the head of our Masonic system . ^ Loud cheers . ) Formerly , indeed , abroad Freemasonry was bound up with many of those secret bodies which could certainly not be said to
be allied to the State—which were at enmity with the State I—and it brought on foreign Freemasonry often much doubt , Sometimes discredit . We , I am thankful to say , have ever been spared from this , and I trust that through the Iongcourse of English Freemasonry which is yet in store , we shall always maintain the same even , temperate way which we have maintained in times past—that wc shall still feel
that with the laws , the institutions , the authorities o [ this country we are closely allied ; that whilst we are Masons we are equally Englishmen—Englishmen in all the spirit of the laws , in all the spirit of the constitution—and then we shall catry on , I doubt not , Freemasonry , if possible , even one step t . igher , and one step further than it has already achieved ; we shall be able to hand down to thos-:
who come after us quite as great and fine a heritage as we have received from our forefathers . ( Cheers . ) Brethren , in every province it is necessary to have a high standard before us . In this province you have had goi d traditions , and you now have at your head one who is fully competent to give thots traditions praclical life and iffcpU Lee mc congratulate him upon being placed ia thil bhaif ( let raa congratulate ] you upon having oo good a
Installation Of The Provincial Grand Master Of Essex.
Provincial Grand Master ruling over you . 1 beg to propose his health . Let me wish to him long life and success in tlie devotion of the same qualities to this province that he has already given to his couniry , and let me wish for you all the happiness and all the good fortune , and all the success that can flow from thc wise , and temperate , and kindly , and conciliatory rule of your present
Provincial Grand Master . The Provincial Grand Master , in reply , said : Brethren , I have to thank our Pro Grand Master for the too flattering and complimentary terms in which he has been good enough to propose my health to your notice , and I have to thank you , brethren of the Province of Essex , for the welcome you have been good enough to accord to me on this
occasion . Our Pro-Grand Master has spoken of the organisation of Freemasonry . I am pretty confident that I am not wrong in supposing that in this town of Chelmsford , at this very moment , there are numbers of people who are asking the question— " What is it that all these gentlemen , wearing white ties and evening coats in the day-time , have invaded our quiet neighbourhood for , with
their little black bags and their tin boxes ? " ( Laughter . ) And , brethren , I do not doubt that to many the question has been put which has on this , arid on other occasions , been very frequently addressed to myself— " What is it that all you people are about ? If you want to subscribe to schools and to asylums , why don't you send your Post Office orders and your cheques without all this fuss and
paraphernalia ? " ( Laughter . ) Now , a lady told me the other day that she had discovered the secret . ( Loud laughter . ) She said , " The fact is , you men are so vain . You love to dress yourselves up ; that is why the soldiers all wear red coats , and now the Volunteers are going to wear red coats ; and as for you people with the blue aprons , why , you are no better . " ( Laughter . ) Other
people say we are mere knife-and-fork philanthropists . ( Loud laughter ) . Others , again , say , " The real fact is , there is nothing in it at all . " Now , that reminds me of the story with regard to the Druses on Mount Lebanon . His lordship then proceeded to relate the story of one of a number of peeping busybodies ivho went into the Temple of the Druses , and finding it empty
returned and reported that there was " nothing in it , " whereupon he was told that his story was disbelieved , and was ignominiously kicked out of the village . ( Laughter . ) His 1 mlship proceeded : Now , brethren , it cannot be said that there is nothing in our lodges , for theie is something is our lodges , something which constitutes the very basis of our Masonic structure , and that is the volurhe of the
Sacred Law . Although wilh universal toleration we admit men of all creeds to the Craft , provided they are good men—I have myself initiated Persians , Parsees , Musselmans , ami Hindoos—yet all our work is begun , continued , and completed in the name of him whom we address in the spiiit of that universal prayer written by our great poet Pope , a Roman
Catholic" Father of all in every age , In every clime adored , By saint , by savage , and by sage , Jehovah , Jove , and Lord . To him whose temple is all space , Whose altar—eaith , sea , skies , One chorus let all beings raise ,
All nature ' s incense rise . " ( Applause . ) lt is , brethren , this spirit of toleration , this feeling of universal brotherhood under one great heavenly Father , which constitutes , as I deem i * -, the true object , the true principle of Fieemasonry . ( Cheers . ) It was for ( his object that Freemasonry was founded , and it is for tliis that it now claims to be maintained . Without
going too far into the uncertainties of traditioti , we are , at all events , sure of this—that the original object of Freemasonry was to provide a home amongst their fellow brethren and Masons , where those skilled Craflsmen who wandered in the pursuit of their craft might find in their travels a rtaly welcome . It was thus , brethren , that Freemasonry in former ages was the first to break down
Jhat barrier of distrust and excliisiyeness which severed countries and provinces , and even towns . ( Hear , hear . ) It is now of equal use , for Freemasonry , excluding as it does subjects of political and religious controversy , forriis a neutral ground on which men of all classes , countries , and creeds may meet on the level and part upon the souare . ( Cheers . ) Brethren , that exclusiveness of which I have
spoken has to some extent penetrated even to the present day . Most of you , I dare say , recollect the drawing of poor John Leech ' s , of two navvies , one of whom says to the other , " Who be that , Bill ? " and upon the other replying , '" A stranger , " he says , "' Eave ' alf a brick at him . " ( Laughter . ) Well , brethren , that spirit was at one time very common amongst us . The other day I was
reading the biography of one of our great naval heroes at the commencement of the present century . His creed wa « , " Fear God , honour the King , and hate the French . " ( Laughter . ) No brethren , we do , I hope , the two former , but the days for hatred of the French are happily passed away , and I trust may never come again . ( Cheers . ) How little we now hate the French is shown in
the chord of sympathy which has been touched in every English heart , in every English home , for that unhappy lady who is now mourning for her gallant son , slain in the English cause in South Africa . ( Cheers . ) This spirit of universal brotherhood may , perhaps , by some be considered no longer of any moment in this country , but this is not so . Although political and religious rancour is happily no
longer rife amongst us , there are many subjects upon which all men must differ , and by excluding those questions , upon which men too frequently do differ , we are doing that which , I am sure , is of great good to this country , and I have seen myself a very remarkable instance of that in the United States of America , where civil war had done its worst to scathe thc . land , Yet , the brethren from tho North could meet tho btethrtn from tho Srntiti after tin
Installation Of The Provincial Grand Master Of Essex.
war , and clasp the hands of Freemasonry in brotherhood which had so recently been raised to shed each other ' s ' blood . ( Cheers . ) I feel with our Pro Grand Master th at Freemasonry has a great future before it—a great future I venture to say , in this feeling of universal toleration and brotherhood—a great future , not only in this country but in all countries in pacifying hostilities , in creating
friendship , in linking together men of all countries , of ali classes of all religions , all races , and all creeds . ( Cheers . ) And brethren , we cannot do better than take the advice of our Pro Grand Master as to how we should bist extend and promote this , which I venture to say is a noble object , of which Freemasons in this province and all over the world may be justly proud . The way tn promote it , brethren , is
to use an expression familiar to all of us , that we should , show ourselves to be good Masons and good men , not only in our words and in our emblems , but in our actsthat we should , in truth , show ourselves to be men to whom the afflicted may pour forth their sorrows , and find consolation ; to whom the distressed may pour forth their suit and find relief ; whose hand * are guided by justice
and whose hearts are expanded by benevolence . ( Cheers . 1 I once more thank you most cordially forthe kind welcome which has been given to me in this province . I always felt that although I was not known to many amongst you , it would be so that one whose heart was in Freemasonry would never fail a warm welcome at the hands of Freemasons . ( Loud cheers . )
The Provincial Grand Master then said : The Pro Grand Ma-. ter has desired me to express his extreme regret that he has been obliged to leave before the end of our festivities . I have now devolving on me the very agreeable task of proposing " The Health of the Deputy Grand Master , Rev . S . R . Wigram , P . G . C ., and the rest of the Prov . Grand Officers , Present and Past . " I have for
a long time had the pleasure of knowing our Bro . Wigram as distinguished in the Craft , distinguished as one of the Grand Chaplains , and distinguished , as I also know he has been , by his working at the Priory Lodge , Southend ; and it is with extreme gratification to ine that lie has accepted the position to which he has this day been appointed . You must all know that very much cf the
success of a province depends upon the Deputy of the Province . As the Prov . G . Master has told you in the most flattering terms , I am engaged the bulk of my time , and must therefore leave the great part of my duties to the brother who has this day been appointed as my Deputy . We have among us in oar lodge the Past D . Prov . G . M ., Bro . Matthew Clark , and I am especially pleased to see him . I
feel sure that you also appreciate his services from the satisfaction with which you all agreed to the vote of thanks which has been passed on him in lodge . He is with me a P . M . of the Lodge of Harmony , at Richmond , and has for many years past shared with me the duties of Secretary of that lodge . I know from my personal experience that he is a good man , and vou all know that he is a good Mason .
We have to-day also invested several others who are worthy of the position to which they have been appointed . It was at the Lodge of Hope and Unity , at Romford , that I first received my early Masonic instruction . A friend of mine used to belong to that lodge , and I was frequently present there as a visitor , and have on several occasions acted as one of its officers ; it is , therefore , with extreme pleasure
that I havc this day placed the W . M . of that lorlge in the chair of Senior Warden of the province . The other Prov . Grand Ofiicers are , I believe , equally well known to the Craft of Essex . 1 have done my best that the honours should be distributed to every point of our provincial compass , and I hope that the various appointments will give satisfaction . I have pleasure in coupling with the toast
the names of Bros . S . R . Wigram , D . P . G . M ., and Matthew Clark , P . P . D . G . M . Bro . Wigram , in reply , said : I have to thank you both on my own behalf and on behalf of the oihcr Provincial Grand Officers . The honour I have received this day has come to me most acceptably . I am an Essex man , sou of an Essex man , received the Mnsonic light in an Essex
lodge , and am a Past Master of two Essex lodges . If we are spared to meet again at the end of twelve months , I hope you will receive this toast with as great cordiality as it has met to night . We ask you to be to our virtues very kind , and to our follies ever blind . I feel that every Grand Officer of the province will do his duty , and feel assured
that I shall he obliged to do so myself in consequence of the splendid example set by my predecessor . I trust that when our terms of office may expire , we shall be greeted with the sentence of your approval as heartily as we have to-day received that of your congratulation . Bro . Clarke followed . He desired to add to the remarks of
the last speaker but a lew words . Bro . Wigram has , be said , succeeded to an organisation that is in every way perfect , and that he will do all that is required of him is the firm conviction of all present . I thank you for the kin 1 way in which I was always received while in occupation of the my office . The Deputy Prov . G . M . stated that the Prov . Grand
Master had entrusted to him the proposal of the next toast . He said : I could at this moment express two wishes , one that the toast had fallen into better hands , and another that it had been placed earlier on the list , so that it mig '" have been given before those numerous visitors who have honoured us with their presence had been obliged to leave us . We have to-day been honoured with Masons conversant with the Craft , I may say in every part of tl | e
world . We are always proud to see our brethren anion ; .. us , and tend them a hearty welcome . AU we can do is 'o hononr those brethren who have to-day visited us by drinking heaitily to the toast . Bro . Rev . C . J . Martyn , in his reply , tendered his than " for the hearty reception accorded the toast . He hope 1 ' . '''' ' he should have the pleasuM of seeing several of the '"" j * brethren at tin meeting of tho Prov . Grrtnd Lodgo "' ,,, ! foils on Monday itcXti He txpruaed ttid regret ol '