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Article THE BOYS' SCHOOL. ← Page 4 of 6 →
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The Boys' School.
absolute necessity of finding a home , as well as an education fitted for the demands of the present advancing age , for the orphan sons of such of the Masonic fraternity as have been called from this life to another before they could accomplish this necessary and most important undertaking ; and for the sons of those who , from uncontrollable circumstances , have been plunged into poverty , and therefore have been prevented from securing the advantages for their offspring
which are in these days of such immense consequence . The purpose which has called so many of the Masonic fraternity to this place to-day , is an assurance that they have been influenced by the great principle of brotherly love , which binds them together , —an evidence of that charity which is the brightest jewel of the system by which they are conjoined in the bonds of one common brotherhood , and a proof that its rule and directions have applied to the contributions already offered , and to those which will be presented to day . And rarely , Brethren , can you be
solicited m a ease more important than the present . With all our doings , we have hitherto not done enough in this direction . - Whilst we have employed our means extensively upon the care of the female children of our Brethren , we have hitherto comparatively forgotten the boys . This can no longer be ; for although we cannot do all at present that we would , to prove that the great principle of charity is the motive by which we are guided , the work of this day is an assurance that we have the goodwill ; and with that goodwill must follow the working which shall
establish our institution on the broadest basis of usefulness . Towards this object , therefore , I ask for further demonstration of charity , and intreat a disinterested and enlarged liberality '¦;—and although it cannot be expected that all can be this day done that is requisite / of this I am confident , that the proof will not be wan ting that the pr ofessipn of brotherly love , relief , and tru th is sincere , and that those who are privileged to understand the meaning attached to these terms will . rejoice to be the instruments for the performance of a solemnly imperative
duty * It is not for me to tell you , Brethren , what you should pour into the treasury of the institution which we this day dedicate to the purpose of charity . If your desire be that ' all glory should be given to the Most High , ' that will direct you as to the proportion and amount of the donation , and not let it be doled out with a niggard hand or stinted parsimony . Never yet , in my experience , have I witnessed an appeal made for the purpose of demonstrating the force of the bond that unites us , fall unheeded . I do not believe that
the appeal of to-day will fail ; I believe it will be again shown to those who wonder what can be the object of our hidden acts and secret mysteries , that it is a holy object , a heaven-taught rule , a solid purpose that we follow ; to dispense the blessings of charity largely , and religiously to manifest this virtue in the fullest extent to which it lays claim . Thus will it be our pride , as it is oui privilege , to make known that there is nothing incompatible with Christianity in our Order ; for if there had been , I should not have been here to-day imperfectly
to define the nature and the claims of charity ; and that Freemasonry , not less than a profession of Christianity , is all valueless , unless it gives an honest , pure , and faithful manifestation of that glorious elucidation of Christ ' s character , as set forth in the inspired words of the servant of the Most High : ' Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels , and have not charity , I am become as sounding brass or a tinkling cymbal . And though I have the gift of prophecy and understand all mysteries and all knowledge , and though I have all faith , so that I could remove mountains , and have not charity , I am nothing . '"
At the conclusion of the service the procession returned to the school-house , where Grand Lodge was closed in due form . At three o ' clock the Brethren and their friends re-assembled in an elegant marquee , where a banquet had been provided under the direction of Bros . Shrewsbury and Elkington , which reflected the greatest credit on them for its profusion and excellence . The chair was occupied by the R . W . Bro . Cooper , supported by all the Grand Officers who were present at the ceremony of the morning , with the exception of Bros . Gray Clarke , G . Sec , and Smith , G . Purst ., who retire ^ early .
At the conclusion of the repast the R . W . Q . M . ( Bro . Cooper ) rose and proposed the health of the Queen—a Mason ' s daughter—and the Patroness of the Royal VOL . III . 5 B
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
The Boys' School.
absolute necessity of finding a home , as well as an education fitted for the demands of the present advancing age , for the orphan sons of such of the Masonic fraternity as have been called from this life to another before they could accomplish this necessary and most important undertaking ; and for the sons of those who , from uncontrollable circumstances , have been plunged into poverty , and therefore have been prevented from securing the advantages for their offspring
which are in these days of such immense consequence . The purpose which has called so many of the Masonic fraternity to this place to-day , is an assurance that they have been influenced by the great principle of brotherly love , which binds them together , —an evidence of that charity which is the brightest jewel of the system by which they are conjoined in the bonds of one common brotherhood , and a proof that its rule and directions have applied to the contributions already offered , and to those which will be presented to day . And rarely , Brethren , can you be
solicited m a ease more important than the present . With all our doings , we have hitherto not done enough in this direction . - Whilst we have employed our means extensively upon the care of the female children of our Brethren , we have hitherto comparatively forgotten the boys . This can no longer be ; for although we cannot do all at present that we would , to prove that the great principle of charity is the motive by which we are guided , the work of this day is an assurance that we have the goodwill ; and with that goodwill must follow the working which shall
establish our institution on the broadest basis of usefulness . Towards this object , therefore , I ask for further demonstration of charity , and intreat a disinterested and enlarged liberality '¦;—and although it cannot be expected that all can be this day done that is requisite / of this I am confident , that the proof will not be wan ting that the pr ofessipn of brotherly love , relief , and tru th is sincere , and that those who are privileged to understand the meaning attached to these terms will . rejoice to be the instruments for the performance of a solemnly imperative
duty * It is not for me to tell you , Brethren , what you should pour into the treasury of the institution which we this day dedicate to the purpose of charity . If your desire be that ' all glory should be given to the Most High , ' that will direct you as to the proportion and amount of the donation , and not let it be doled out with a niggard hand or stinted parsimony . Never yet , in my experience , have I witnessed an appeal made for the purpose of demonstrating the force of the bond that unites us , fall unheeded . I do not believe that
the appeal of to-day will fail ; I believe it will be again shown to those who wonder what can be the object of our hidden acts and secret mysteries , that it is a holy object , a heaven-taught rule , a solid purpose that we follow ; to dispense the blessings of charity largely , and religiously to manifest this virtue in the fullest extent to which it lays claim . Thus will it be our pride , as it is oui privilege , to make known that there is nothing incompatible with Christianity in our Order ; for if there had been , I should not have been here to-day imperfectly
to define the nature and the claims of charity ; and that Freemasonry , not less than a profession of Christianity , is all valueless , unless it gives an honest , pure , and faithful manifestation of that glorious elucidation of Christ ' s character , as set forth in the inspired words of the servant of the Most High : ' Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels , and have not charity , I am become as sounding brass or a tinkling cymbal . And though I have the gift of prophecy and understand all mysteries and all knowledge , and though I have all faith , so that I could remove mountains , and have not charity , I am nothing . '"
At the conclusion of the service the procession returned to the school-house , where Grand Lodge was closed in due form . At three o ' clock the Brethren and their friends re-assembled in an elegant marquee , where a banquet had been provided under the direction of Bros . Shrewsbury and Elkington , which reflected the greatest credit on them for its profusion and excellence . The chair was occupied by the R . W . Bro . Cooper , supported by all the Grand Officers who were present at the ceremony of the morning , with the exception of Bros . Gray Clarke , G . Sec , and Smith , G . Purst ., who retire ^ early .
At the conclusion of the repast the R . W . Q . M . ( Bro . Cooper ) rose and proposed the health of the Queen—a Mason ' s daughter—and the Patroness of the Royal VOL . III . 5 B