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Article PROVINCIAL. ← Page 4 of 19 →
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Provincial.
Prptv . G v Chap . ; Pittat ^ P . Prov . G . Chap . ; Wyndham Portal , Prov . J . G . W . ; Duryant , P ^ Proy . G . D . ; Sherry , Prov . G . D . C . ; Crombie , Warren , & c . The Prov . G . M ., haying opened the proceedings , called Upon Bro . Stebbing Prov . G . Sec , W . M . of the Southampton Lodge , No . 555 , to assist him in the ceremony of consecration , which was most impressively performed . The reading of the Charter , and other usual formalities haying been gone through ,
Bro . Stebbing most eloquently and at great length addressed the Lodge . He said , that in such an assembly it would be unnecessary for him to dilate on the excellences of Freemasonry , which tended to soothe the sorrows of life , to dry the tear of misfortune , and add to the happiness of its members . It had been originated at a time when social ties amongst men were almost entirely wanting , and it had developed itself through many difficulties , assailed by the ignorance of the dark ages , withstanding alike the fury of the tempest and the raging of
war , only to come out with a brighter lustre , and surrounded by a halo of glory . He was delighted at having the opportunity of being present to take part in the opening of the Lodge at Basingstoke , as it would be another link to bind the Masons of Hampshire together in one bond of fraternal affection . This institution was not like the IJpas-tree , which brought death to all within its influence ; on the contrary , it conferred blessings to millions of their fellow-creaturesV by teaching the great principle that every man should regard his fellow-man as a
Brother , and endeavour to aid him in the hour of affliction . He could but reflect with gratification on the fact that it was but a few . , years since that he had taken part in the consecration of No . 717 , and that now there were nearly 300 more Lodges which had received the sanction of the M . W . G . M . Thus , to paraphrase the words of Pope , " By just degrees we rise ,
And lift the hearts of Masons to the skies . It was the province of the Brethren to showed the world that there was something more in Freemasonry than merely a name ; that they met not alone for theiv own gratification , but for the assistance of each other- —the relief of suffering and distress . The basis of Freemasonry was founded in religion , the carrying of man through the toils and troubles of life , and the acknowledgment of a Supreme Being , to whom all men must bow—Jehovah , Jove , or Lord . On this basis they were
especially taught to practise charity , that virtue which would gild the path of life , and render its down-hill happy ; and in the close of life , when the weary head was laid on the pillow to rest , how sweet would be the contemplation of well-spent days in acts of charity , leading one to look with confidence to the Grand Lodge above as the haven of those who had zealously and faithfully discharged their duty to God and their fellow-man . No man was a stranger amongst Masons ; poor and naked they all came into life , but they could never be so poor as not to find a sympathizing chord in a Mason ' s heart . How delightful was it for them to be
enabled to meet in social life , and show by their acts that they practised what they taught , and that their great object was not only to be happy themselves , but confer happiness on others . Freemasonry was spread throughout the habitable globe , and how great were its advantages he had seen ample proof . Indeed * he had an example in a member of his own family , who being shipwrecked on . the coast of South America—when surrounded in a great measure by savages—a friendly Spaniard , who knew not one word of his language , on receiving the Masonic sign , readily came forward to assist and relieve him .
The acting Grand Chaplain , the Rev . Bro . Bradshaw , having offered up an appropriate prayer , the Lodge was duly strewed with corn , wine , and oil ,, as emblems of peace and plenty . The Rev . Brother then addressed the Lodge , and expressed the pleasure he felt in taking part in a ceremony by which they were bound to pursue the study of art and science , in conjunction with the practice of Brotherly love , relief , and truth , and whose crowning glory was charity . He felt that the establishment of a new Lodge in Basingstoke was an event of the greatest importance , not only to Masonry , but to the neighbourhood , the more especially as that Lodge was to be presided over as its first Master by one who bore the honoured name of Beach . That name was justly revered in . the neigh-
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Provincial.
Prptv . G v Chap . ; Pittat ^ P . Prov . G . Chap . ; Wyndham Portal , Prov . J . G . W . ; Duryant , P ^ Proy . G . D . ; Sherry , Prov . G . D . C . ; Crombie , Warren , & c . The Prov . G . M ., haying opened the proceedings , called Upon Bro . Stebbing Prov . G . Sec , W . M . of the Southampton Lodge , No . 555 , to assist him in the ceremony of consecration , which was most impressively performed . The reading of the Charter , and other usual formalities haying been gone through ,
Bro . Stebbing most eloquently and at great length addressed the Lodge . He said , that in such an assembly it would be unnecessary for him to dilate on the excellences of Freemasonry , which tended to soothe the sorrows of life , to dry the tear of misfortune , and add to the happiness of its members . It had been originated at a time when social ties amongst men were almost entirely wanting , and it had developed itself through many difficulties , assailed by the ignorance of the dark ages , withstanding alike the fury of the tempest and the raging of
war , only to come out with a brighter lustre , and surrounded by a halo of glory . He was delighted at having the opportunity of being present to take part in the opening of the Lodge at Basingstoke , as it would be another link to bind the Masons of Hampshire together in one bond of fraternal affection . This institution was not like the IJpas-tree , which brought death to all within its influence ; on the contrary , it conferred blessings to millions of their fellow-creaturesV by teaching the great principle that every man should regard his fellow-man as a
Brother , and endeavour to aid him in the hour of affliction . He could but reflect with gratification on the fact that it was but a few . , years since that he had taken part in the consecration of No . 717 , and that now there were nearly 300 more Lodges which had received the sanction of the M . W . G . M . Thus , to paraphrase the words of Pope , " By just degrees we rise ,
And lift the hearts of Masons to the skies . It was the province of the Brethren to showed the world that there was something more in Freemasonry than merely a name ; that they met not alone for theiv own gratification , but for the assistance of each other- —the relief of suffering and distress . The basis of Freemasonry was founded in religion , the carrying of man through the toils and troubles of life , and the acknowledgment of a Supreme Being , to whom all men must bow—Jehovah , Jove , or Lord . On this basis they were
especially taught to practise charity , that virtue which would gild the path of life , and render its down-hill happy ; and in the close of life , when the weary head was laid on the pillow to rest , how sweet would be the contemplation of well-spent days in acts of charity , leading one to look with confidence to the Grand Lodge above as the haven of those who had zealously and faithfully discharged their duty to God and their fellow-man . No man was a stranger amongst Masons ; poor and naked they all came into life , but they could never be so poor as not to find a sympathizing chord in a Mason ' s heart . How delightful was it for them to be
enabled to meet in social life , and show by their acts that they practised what they taught , and that their great object was not only to be happy themselves , but confer happiness on others . Freemasonry was spread throughout the habitable globe , and how great were its advantages he had seen ample proof . Indeed * he had an example in a member of his own family , who being shipwrecked on . the coast of South America—when surrounded in a great measure by savages—a friendly Spaniard , who knew not one word of his language , on receiving the Masonic sign , readily came forward to assist and relieve him .
The acting Grand Chaplain , the Rev . Bro . Bradshaw , having offered up an appropriate prayer , the Lodge was duly strewed with corn , wine , and oil ,, as emblems of peace and plenty . The Rev . Brother then addressed the Lodge , and expressed the pleasure he felt in taking part in a ceremony by which they were bound to pursue the study of art and science , in conjunction with the practice of Brotherly love , relief , and truth , and whose crowning glory was charity . He felt that the establishment of a new Lodge in Basingstoke was an event of the greatest importance , not only to Masonry , but to the neighbourhood , the more especially as that Lodge was to be presided over as its first Master by one who bore the honoured name of Beach . That name was justly revered in . the neigh-