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Wakefield Masonic Literary Society.
WAKEFIELD MASONIC LITERARY SOCIETY .
ADDRESS BY THE DEAN OF YORK .
A large and influential gathering' of the members of thc Wakefield Masonic Literary Society , together with numerous brethren from thc neighbouring towns , met at the Masonic Hall , Zetland-street , Wakefield , on Thursday , the 5 th instant . The occasion was an interesting one . The Very Rev . A . P . Purey-Cust , D . D ., Dean of York , hacl kindl y consented , at the invitation of the President of the Society , the Prov . Grand Master of West
Yorkshire , to g ive an address to the members . A special lodge of emergency was called under the united banners of the three lodges of the city at seven p . m ., and upwards of 60 brethren responded tothe call . Bro . Walter Fennell , W . M . 154 , as Master of the premier Wakefield lodge , occupied the chair of K . S . He was supported by the W . M . ' s of 495 and 1019 , thc minor posts being filled b y Wardens or Past Masters of position and standing .
At 7 . 30 prompt thc Deputy Prov . Grand Master , Bro . Henry Smith , was announced . With him came the guest of the evening-, Bro . the Very Rev . A . P . Purey-Cust , D . D ., Dean of York , P . M . 2328 , and Past Grand Chaplain of England . They were preceded by a considerable number of Present and Past Provincial Grand Officers , and when all had taken their places the lodge room presented a most animated and brilliant appearance .
The D . P . G . M ., on rising , said : Brethren , in the unfortunate absence of our P . G . M ., I , as a Vice-President of this Society , am called upon to take the chair this evening , and we will , with your permission , at once proceed to business . I , therefore , call upon the Secretaries to read the minutes of our last meeting .
This was done b y Bro . H . S . CHILDE , W . M . elect 154 , and the minutes being put and passed , The Prov . Grand Master , Bro . T . W . Tew , J . P ., wrote as follows :
The Grange , Carleton , Pontefract , 5 th November , 1891 . Dear Bro . Matthewman , It is a privilege of which the members of the Wakefield Masonic Literary Society may justly be proud , to have it in their power to welcome , under the united banners of their three lodges , the eminent archaeologist and learned author of that admirable work— " The Heraldry of York Minster . "
To-night , I believe , it is the purpose of the Very Rev . Dean to take up Freemasonry philosophically , and to give you his views and matured opinions upon the Craft—past , present , and future . It is needless to say that I commend the address to which you are about to listen to the earnest attention of all , feeling sure that the author of the work on that grand old edifice which every Yorkshireman reveres as a mighty effort of mediaeval art , will enrich your minds and rouse your enthusiasm for the noble principles of the Craft of which we are all devoted members .
Addresses of this character your Prov . Grand Master has always been most anxious to promote in the 42 towns of the riding over which his jurisdiction extends . It delights me to see that the Wakefield Masons have taken the initiative this winter in promulgating Masonic literature , and that they are so fortunate as to be able to introduce so learned a lecturer to encourage them in the pursuit of Masonic knowledge .
To Dr . Purey-Cust I beg to express my gratitude for his readiness in accepting my invitation as President of this Society , and I trust he will return to York satisfied that there is a great desire on the part of his brethren in this portion of the county diligently to pursue the search after truth . It is a great grief to me , dear Bro . Matthewman , that the G . A . O . T . U . has so afflicted me that I am unable to join in rendering personal homage to the Dean , or to take any part in your proceedings , beyond the expression of this sympathetic and fervent desire for their success .
Please tender my sincere obligation to the lecturer for the compliment he has paid the Society in coming to Wakefield to-night , and assure him that we shall look back upon this meeting as one of the most brilliant and fortunate of our Literary Society gatherings . —With my regards and esteem for your co-Secretary , Bro . Childe , and yourself , I am , fraternall y yours , ( Signed ) THOS . WM . TEW , President .
Bro . HENRY SMITH then in graceful terms introduced thc lecturer , and commended him to the brethren present as an archicologist , a scholar , a divine , and a Freemason , a brother whose reputation had extended far beyond the diocese from which he derived his antient title , and one who he felt sure would interest , instruct , and enlighten them . He prayed their silence and attention for Dr . Purey-Cust .
After paying a ver ) ' high compliment to Bro . Tew , and expressing his great regret that hc was unable to have the pleasure of meeting him on this most interesting occasion , ancl venturing to hope that many years of usefulness were yet in the future- for the Prov . Grand Master of West Yorkshire , thc learned Dean commenced his address . He said :
I believe I may venture to assert that I am one of the oldest Freemasons in this assembly . Initiated in 18 47 , I have been a member of the Craft for nearl y half a century . I do not , however , profess to be so well versed in Masonic ceremonial as many whom I see around me . I have , some will say , as it were , halted on the threshold , for I have never risen to a Degree higher than that of a M . M ., yet it satisfies me , and I have no ambition to go beyond it , for in the M . M . ' s Degree
you attain to that which is the peculiar province of Freemasonry—viz ., full participation in that wonderful fellowship with " all sorts and conditions of men " which , as far as I know , has never been achieved , or even attempted , by any other body corporate . The title of my address— "Freemasonry ; Past , Present , and Future " —is a somewhat ambitious one , and perhaps even alarming , but I am not going to carry you back to the distant past , I leave that to the Masonic arcb . eologist of the
day ; I shall travel backwards onl y for a period of 50 years . And it may interest the brethren to know in what aspect Freemasonry presented itself to me at that time , and what were the inducemenls which led me to join it . At that period of my life I was an Undergraduate at Oxford . Oxford was then a little known city ; people knew scarcel y anything , and cared perhaps less , as to what took place there . It was difficult of access . The authorities , in their vvisdom , thought railways
detrimental to the moral or social health of the youths who frequented its timehonoured colleges . Those young men were left pretty much to their own guidance , and throughout the whole three years of my Undergraduate life I do not remember to have received one serious word of counsel or advice from any of those under whose authority vve were placed . The examples set bv the Dons were not encouraging , the orgies of the Common room vvere notorious , and my own tutor vvas at once brilliant , learned , and intemperate . At that time there
were two Masonic lodges in Oxford—the Apollo , confined to University men , and the Alfred , for the people of the town and neighbourhood . In the society of Masons 1 found what elsewhere Oxford did not afford . I found good fellowship and social intercourse , based n . t upon mere jovial and often excessive eating and drinking , but upon refined and intelligent society , scrupulously combined with the strictest temperance . In my lodge I found conversation of a highly rational character , the opportunity of meeting men more or less distinguished in various walks in life , musicians like Stephen Elvey , for instance , and with all this charming
Wakefield Masonic Literary Society.
talk and jest there was nothing to offend . One felt at once it was a beneficent movement , and I was drawn towards it , for within it I found not only pleasant intercourse but also safety . And this , brethren , is no fanciful retrospect , as I will show you . In those days , at 9 . 15 p . m ., " Great Tom " of Christ Church pealed forth its tones in token that the peace and good order of the city were handed over to the University authorities . The police were practically deposed , and the
Proctors , with theirmyrmidons—nicknamed bull-dogs—reigned in theirstead . Their duties were to protect the streets , maintain order , arrest offenders , and to stop any Undergraduates whom they might meet , ask their name and college , and require an explanation as from whence they were coming and whither they were going . To declare yourself a Mason , and to say that you were returning from the Apollo was a passport at once ; •no further question was asked , the excellent
character of the lodge was so well known and acknowledged . This gave people a high opinion of Freemasonry , and I should like that view of it to stand . But what wonderful development since ! At that time it was no doubt substantial in strength and under distinguished patronage , for it vvas presided over by a Royal Prince , the late Duke of Sussex . But what is it now ? I do not profess to know what its numbers may be , and we have been told that " there is nothing more
fallacious than facts , except figures , " but its membership is rapidly increasing ; we are adding lodge after lodge to our roll ; it embraces all classes of society , except perhaps the labouring class , and as old faces disappear , new men it is gratifying to see come forward to supply their places . As an instance , take my own county , Lincolnshire . Its affairs have been admirably administered , and now I am glad to say that one of the latest recruits to our ranks is the young Lord Yarborough , a popular
man , with large landed interest and influence both here and in the West Riding of Yorkshire , one who will make an excellent Mason and will , at no distant date , I have no doubt , take high Masonic rank . He will shortly be " raised '' at Lincoln . In addition to this wonderful numerical increase , our Society , I believe , has improved its position in the public regard . In many places , some years ago , a Mason was looked upon as an objectionable , self-indulgent creature , if he were not something
worse , whilst in certain classes of society on the continent he is regarded , even now , as little short of a monster . My friend , the Dean of Lincoln , who is a great traveller but is not a Freemason , was telling me only the other day of a conversation he had held with a French Abbe on this point . Bewailing the unsettled condition of society the French Priest laid all the blame on the Freemasons . It was they , he declared , who caused and carried out the horrors of the French Revolution ,
they who upset thrones and destroyed dynasties , they who formed secret associations for all kinds of iniquity , they , in fact , who would overthrow all law and order and substititute no one knew what . They were Republicans , Socialists , and unbelievers , and every thing should be done to destroy their pernicious influence and to root them out from society . When assured by my friend that in England they were the very opposite of all this , that , they were loyal , patriotic , and
charitable , and that every movement for the public good was invariably supported by the Freemasons , the surprise of the FYenchman vvas extreme . The Dean of Lincoln , though no Mason , could yet testify that we vvere a steady , respectable body of men , who certainly did no harm and very likely much good . I am strong in the belief that so far from our Brotherhood exercising a disturbing influence , it has on the contrary done more to bring men together , promote good feeling , and
enlist human sympathy than any other institution that could be named . As to the future , I believe that as it is no effete survival of the past , so will it make its influence continue to be felt , and that as time goes on , by means of its three great and eternal principles , it will help to keep alive the idea that we are all one brotherhood , that we need sympathy and support , and do much to promote a genuine feeling of confidence amongst all classes and all nations . In former
days its great work was to make men known to each other vvho did not know and could not know much of each other . Its special . work seems now to be to mitigate and dissipate , by mutual intercourse and fellowship , those fallacious and mischievous misrepresentations which are tending to set class against class , and to promote " envy , hatred , malice , and all uncharitableness" broadcast through the world in the columns of the so-called " society papers , " the great curse of the
present day . Those papers live on gossip , speculation , and untruth , often I fear intentional untruth . Take an instance : ex into disce omnes . It has been lately reported by one of them that my predecessor , during the 20 years that he held the Deanery , had amassed and did actually leave behind him half a million of money . Now all those who knew the late Dean of York also knew that whatever he left at his death he had inherited from his father , and that so far from
obtaining personal wealth from his position in the Church , he spent every penny that Church supplied to him and more , on religious and charitable objects . Thus an attempt is made to set the masses against the classes , thus a good and kind-hearted man is grossly maligned . Now , I think that Freemasonry is invaluable as a countercheck for this sort of thing . Men learn to know each other , not as these papers would have us , but by mutual
intercourse , and thus a kindly feeling is generated and spread through society . The tone of a well conducted lodge , if lived up to , raises a man above this petty spite , and teaches him to look upon his fellow man with consideration and charity . Brethren , we have a great responsibility , we inherit a high prestige , we have a grand opportunity for the future , what shall vve make of it ? Onl y let us keep steadfastly to uur principles , and I have no fear of the result . Let us bring our
Freemasonry as it were up to date , let us make it a great beneficial power amongst us , let us remember that its key-note is unselfishness , tnat it is embodied philanthropy , and that the benefit of humanity and the general good of society are comprehended within its tenets . Again , let us watch well our conduct . We live as it vvere " in a city set on a hill , " the eyes of a watchful world are upon us , both as individuals and in bodies . We must , to some extent , satisfy the world at large , we must disabuse
their minds . We know that our frugal repasts are by no means what the world understands by " banquets " though otten so styled •> wecling to that archaic expression , but it will be well for us to make it , and let the world know that it is , a frugal meal . We must remove any cause ' of misrepresentation , and prevent any blemish falling on our Craft . In conclusion , very much depends upon us as individuals ; it is no use making professions unless we carry them out . Moreover , in adding
to our number , vve must try to get the right men , not men of any special grade ; men vvith right motives , wno will understand and appreciate our oojects . Freemasonry has great power for good : 1 have myself repeatedly experienced it . The right hand of fellowship has avec been extended t _ i me , and at no time more than when I first c _ une into Yorkshire a ; id tnus the practical principles of the Craft
have been put into operation on my behalt . In carrying out tne wishes of your esteemed Prov . Grand Master in addressing you this evening I have given you my personal experiences of the past , the actual condition of the present , and my own ideas as to wnat the future ought to be . I trust , brethren , you will throw yourselves heartily and thoroughly with me into this great matter , and will strive to the utmost to further the views which I have endeavoured to put before you .
At the close of the address , which was most cordiall y received , Bro . VV . I ' ESSELL proposed a hearty vote of thanks to the Dean . This was seconded b y Bro . IT . FRANCE , and supported by Bros . M . B . Hick , Major Bolton , and the Rev . H . L . Clarke , and carried with acclamation . The Very Rev . LECTURER / rising to reply , was very warmly greeted .
He said it was a great pleasure to him to come at the request ot his good friend , Bro . Tew , and address a few words to the Masons of Wakefield . That he hig hly valued and appreciated the privilege of belonging to the Craft , and that so long as Freemasonry continued to be as he had found s , ever striving to do good , aiming at a high and noble ideal , he should rejoice to be numbered amongst its members . He thanked the Deputy and every brother present for the exceeding kindness they had shown to him , ana
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Wakefield Masonic Literary Society.
WAKEFIELD MASONIC LITERARY SOCIETY .
ADDRESS BY THE DEAN OF YORK .
A large and influential gathering' of the members of thc Wakefield Masonic Literary Society , together with numerous brethren from thc neighbouring towns , met at the Masonic Hall , Zetland-street , Wakefield , on Thursday , the 5 th instant . The occasion was an interesting one . The Very Rev . A . P . Purey-Cust , D . D ., Dean of York , hacl kindl y consented , at the invitation of the President of the Society , the Prov . Grand Master of West
Yorkshire , to g ive an address to the members . A special lodge of emergency was called under the united banners of the three lodges of the city at seven p . m ., and upwards of 60 brethren responded tothe call . Bro . Walter Fennell , W . M . 154 , as Master of the premier Wakefield lodge , occupied the chair of K . S . He was supported by the W . M . ' s of 495 and 1019 , thc minor posts being filled b y Wardens or Past Masters of position and standing .
At 7 . 30 prompt thc Deputy Prov . Grand Master , Bro . Henry Smith , was announced . With him came the guest of the evening-, Bro . the Very Rev . A . P . Purey-Cust , D . D ., Dean of York , P . M . 2328 , and Past Grand Chaplain of England . They were preceded by a considerable number of Present and Past Provincial Grand Officers , and when all had taken their places the lodge room presented a most animated and brilliant appearance .
The D . P . G . M ., on rising , said : Brethren , in the unfortunate absence of our P . G . M ., I , as a Vice-President of this Society , am called upon to take the chair this evening , and we will , with your permission , at once proceed to business . I , therefore , call upon the Secretaries to read the minutes of our last meeting .
This was done b y Bro . H . S . CHILDE , W . M . elect 154 , and the minutes being put and passed , The Prov . Grand Master , Bro . T . W . Tew , J . P ., wrote as follows :
The Grange , Carleton , Pontefract , 5 th November , 1891 . Dear Bro . Matthewman , It is a privilege of which the members of the Wakefield Masonic Literary Society may justly be proud , to have it in their power to welcome , under the united banners of their three lodges , the eminent archaeologist and learned author of that admirable work— " The Heraldry of York Minster . "
To-night , I believe , it is the purpose of the Very Rev . Dean to take up Freemasonry philosophically , and to give you his views and matured opinions upon the Craft—past , present , and future . It is needless to say that I commend the address to which you are about to listen to the earnest attention of all , feeling sure that the author of the work on that grand old edifice which every Yorkshireman reveres as a mighty effort of mediaeval art , will enrich your minds and rouse your enthusiasm for the noble principles of the Craft of which we are all devoted members .
Addresses of this character your Prov . Grand Master has always been most anxious to promote in the 42 towns of the riding over which his jurisdiction extends . It delights me to see that the Wakefield Masons have taken the initiative this winter in promulgating Masonic literature , and that they are so fortunate as to be able to introduce so learned a lecturer to encourage them in the pursuit of Masonic knowledge .
To Dr . Purey-Cust I beg to express my gratitude for his readiness in accepting my invitation as President of this Society , and I trust he will return to York satisfied that there is a great desire on the part of his brethren in this portion of the county diligently to pursue the search after truth . It is a great grief to me , dear Bro . Matthewman , that the G . A . O . T . U . has so afflicted me that I am unable to join in rendering personal homage to the Dean , or to take any part in your proceedings , beyond the expression of this sympathetic and fervent desire for their success .
Please tender my sincere obligation to the lecturer for the compliment he has paid the Society in coming to Wakefield to-night , and assure him that we shall look back upon this meeting as one of the most brilliant and fortunate of our Literary Society gatherings . —With my regards and esteem for your co-Secretary , Bro . Childe , and yourself , I am , fraternall y yours , ( Signed ) THOS . WM . TEW , President .
Bro . HENRY SMITH then in graceful terms introduced thc lecturer , and commended him to the brethren present as an archicologist , a scholar , a divine , and a Freemason , a brother whose reputation had extended far beyond the diocese from which he derived his antient title , and one who he felt sure would interest , instruct , and enlighten them . He prayed their silence and attention for Dr . Purey-Cust .
After paying a ver ) ' high compliment to Bro . Tew , and expressing his great regret that hc was unable to have the pleasure of meeting him on this most interesting occasion , ancl venturing to hope that many years of usefulness were yet in the future- for the Prov . Grand Master of West Yorkshire , thc learned Dean commenced his address . He said :
I believe I may venture to assert that I am one of the oldest Freemasons in this assembly . Initiated in 18 47 , I have been a member of the Craft for nearl y half a century . I do not , however , profess to be so well versed in Masonic ceremonial as many whom I see around me . I have , some will say , as it were , halted on the threshold , for I have never risen to a Degree higher than that of a M . M ., yet it satisfies me , and I have no ambition to go beyond it , for in the M . M . ' s Degree
you attain to that which is the peculiar province of Freemasonry—viz ., full participation in that wonderful fellowship with " all sorts and conditions of men " which , as far as I know , has never been achieved , or even attempted , by any other body corporate . The title of my address— "Freemasonry ; Past , Present , and Future " —is a somewhat ambitious one , and perhaps even alarming , but I am not going to carry you back to the distant past , I leave that to the Masonic arcb . eologist of the
day ; I shall travel backwards onl y for a period of 50 years . And it may interest the brethren to know in what aspect Freemasonry presented itself to me at that time , and what were the inducemenls which led me to join it . At that period of my life I was an Undergraduate at Oxford . Oxford was then a little known city ; people knew scarcel y anything , and cared perhaps less , as to what took place there . It was difficult of access . The authorities , in their vvisdom , thought railways
detrimental to the moral or social health of the youths who frequented its timehonoured colleges . Those young men were left pretty much to their own guidance , and throughout the whole three years of my Undergraduate life I do not remember to have received one serious word of counsel or advice from any of those under whose authority vve were placed . The examples set bv the Dons were not encouraging , the orgies of the Common room vvere notorious , and my own tutor vvas at once brilliant , learned , and intemperate . At that time there
were two Masonic lodges in Oxford—the Apollo , confined to University men , and the Alfred , for the people of the town and neighbourhood . In the society of Masons 1 found what elsewhere Oxford did not afford . I found good fellowship and social intercourse , based n . t upon mere jovial and often excessive eating and drinking , but upon refined and intelligent society , scrupulously combined with the strictest temperance . In my lodge I found conversation of a highly rational character , the opportunity of meeting men more or less distinguished in various walks in life , musicians like Stephen Elvey , for instance , and with all this charming
Wakefield Masonic Literary Society.
talk and jest there was nothing to offend . One felt at once it was a beneficent movement , and I was drawn towards it , for within it I found not only pleasant intercourse but also safety . And this , brethren , is no fanciful retrospect , as I will show you . In those days , at 9 . 15 p . m ., " Great Tom " of Christ Church pealed forth its tones in token that the peace and good order of the city were handed over to the University authorities . The police were practically deposed , and the
Proctors , with theirmyrmidons—nicknamed bull-dogs—reigned in theirstead . Their duties were to protect the streets , maintain order , arrest offenders , and to stop any Undergraduates whom they might meet , ask their name and college , and require an explanation as from whence they were coming and whither they were going . To declare yourself a Mason , and to say that you were returning from the Apollo was a passport at once ; •no further question was asked , the excellent
character of the lodge was so well known and acknowledged . This gave people a high opinion of Freemasonry , and I should like that view of it to stand . But what wonderful development since ! At that time it was no doubt substantial in strength and under distinguished patronage , for it vvas presided over by a Royal Prince , the late Duke of Sussex . But what is it now ? I do not profess to know what its numbers may be , and we have been told that " there is nothing more
fallacious than facts , except figures , " but its membership is rapidly increasing ; we are adding lodge after lodge to our roll ; it embraces all classes of society , except perhaps the labouring class , and as old faces disappear , new men it is gratifying to see come forward to supply their places . As an instance , take my own county , Lincolnshire . Its affairs have been admirably administered , and now I am glad to say that one of the latest recruits to our ranks is the young Lord Yarborough , a popular
man , with large landed interest and influence both here and in the West Riding of Yorkshire , one who will make an excellent Mason and will , at no distant date , I have no doubt , take high Masonic rank . He will shortly be " raised '' at Lincoln . In addition to this wonderful numerical increase , our Society , I believe , has improved its position in the public regard . In many places , some years ago , a Mason was looked upon as an objectionable , self-indulgent creature , if he were not something
worse , whilst in certain classes of society on the continent he is regarded , even now , as little short of a monster . My friend , the Dean of Lincoln , who is a great traveller but is not a Freemason , was telling me only the other day of a conversation he had held with a French Abbe on this point . Bewailing the unsettled condition of society the French Priest laid all the blame on the Freemasons . It was they , he declared , who caused and carried out the horrors of the French Revolution ,
they who upset thrones and destroyed dynasties , they who formed secret associations for all kinds of iniquity , they , in fact , who would overthrow all law and order and substititute no one knew what . They were Republicans , Socialists , and unbelievers , and every thing should be done to destroy their pernicious influence and to root them out from society . When assured by my friend that in England they were the very opposite of all this , that , they were loyal , patriotic , and
charitable , and that every movement for the public good was invariably supported by the Freemasons , the surprise of the FYenchman vvas extreme . The Dean of Lincoln , though no Mason , could yet testify that we vvere a steady , respectable body of men , who certainly did no harm and very likely much good . I am strong in the belief that so far from our Brotherhood exercising a disturbing influence , it has on the contrary done more to bring men together , promote good feeling , and
enlist human sympathy than any other institution that could be named . As to the future , I believe that as it is no effete survival of the past , so will it make its influence continue to be felt , and that as time goes on , by means of its three great and eternal principles , it will help to keep alive the idea that we are all one brotherhood , that we need sympathy and support , and do much to promote a genuine feeling of confidence amongst all classes and all nations . In former
days its great work was to make men known to each other vvho did not know and could not know much of each other . Its special . work seems now to be to mitigate and dissipate , by mutual intercourse and fellowship , those fallacious and mischievous misrepresentations which are tending to set class against class , and to promote " envy , hatred , malice , and all uncharitableness" broadcast through the world in the columns of the so-called " society papers , " the great curse of the
present day . Those papers live on gossip , speculation , and untruth , often I fear intentional untruth . Take an instance : ex into disce omnes . It has been lately reported by one of them that my predecessor , during the 20 years that he held the Deanery , had amassed and did actually leave behind him half a million of money . Now all those who knew the late Dean of York also knew that whatever he left at his death he had inherited from his father , and that so far from
obtaining personal wealth from his position in the Church , he spent every penny that Church supplied to him and more , on religious and charitable objects . Thus an attempt is made to set the masses against the classes , thus a good and kind-hearted man is grossly maligned . Now , I think that Freemasonry is invaluable as a countercheck for this sort of thing . Men learn to know each other , not as these papers would have us , but by mutual
intercourse , and thus a kindly feeling is generated and spread through society . The tone of a well conducted lodge , if lived up to , raises a man above this petty spite , and teaches him to look upon his fellow man with consideration and charity . Brethren , we have a great responsibility , we inherit a high prestige , we have a grand opportunity for the future , what shall vve make of it ? Onl y let us keep steadfastly to uur principles , and I have no fear of the result . Let us bring our
Freemasonry as it were up to date , let us make it a great beneficial power amongst us , let us remember that its key-note is unselfishness , tnat it is embodied philanthropy , and that the benefit of humanity and the general good of society are comprehended within its tenets . Again , let us watch well our conduct . We live as it vvere " in a city set on a hill , " the eyes of a watchful world are upon us , both as individuals and in bodies . We must , to some extent , satisfy the world at large , we must disabuse
their minds . We know that our frugal repasts are by no means what the world understands by " banquets " though otten so styled •> wecling to that archaic expression , but it will be well for us to make it , and let the world know that it is , a frugal meal . We must remove any cause ' of misrepresentation , and prevent any blemish falling on our Craft . In conclusion , very much depends upon us as individuals ; it is no use making professions unless we carry them out . Moreover , in adding
to our number , vve must try to get the right men , not men of any special grade ; men vvith right motives , wno will understand and appreciate our oojects . Freemasonry has great power for good : 1 have myself repeatedly experienced it . The right hand of fellowship has avec been extended t _ i me , and at no time more than when I first c _ une into Yorkshire a ; id tnus the practical principles of the Craft
have been put into operation on my behalt . In carrying out tne wishes of your esteemed Prov . Grand Master in addressing you this evening I have given you my personal experiences of the past , the actual condition of the present , and my own ideas as to wnat the future ought to be . I trust , brethren , you will throw yourselves heartily and thoroughly with me into this great matter , and will strive to the utmost to further the views which I have endeavoured to put before you .
At the close of the address , which was most cordiall y received , Bro . VV . I ' ESSELL proposed a hearty vote of thanks to the Dean . This was seconded b y Bro . IT . FRANCE , and supported by Bros . M . B . Hick , Major Bolton , and the Rev . H . L . Clarke , and carried with acclamation . The Very Rev . LECTURER / rising to reply , was very warmly greeted .
He said it was a great pleasure to him to come at the request ot his good friend , Bro . Tew , and address a few words to the Masons of Wakefield . That he hig hly valued and appreciated the privilege of belonging to the Craft , and that so long as Freemasonry continued to be as he had found s , ever striving to do good , aiming at a high and noble ideal , he should rejoice to be numbered amongst its members . He thanked the Deputy and every brother present for the exceeding kindness they had shown to him , ana