Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Address Of Sir Knight George Gardner At The Dedication Of The Masonic Temple, Chicago.
invoke the Supreme Architect and Lawgiver , by that name which no believing Jew over dared to utter , by that sacred name which most fully expresses his power and his attributes , and solemnly , not lightly and thoughtlessly , do we set apart this spacious structure to the uses of Masonry . Henceforth these walls will be the guardians of the secrets of our order , witnesses of those rites which are essential as embodying and symbolising the most solemn and instructive teaching and illustration of the
great truths and principles which guide and govern true brethren , and listeners to those vows and charges which bind men together in heart and soul , more truly and more completely than is possible to any other human organization . Doubtless there will arise in the minds of some who hear me , both of the initiated and the uninstructed , the natural , and perhaps pertinent , inquiry , why are those secrets so carefully guardedthose rites so scruprdonsly iusisted uponthose vows so
, , solemnly made ? Time would not permit , nor does the occasion warrant , an attempt even at an elucidation of these questions ; the Mason who diligently studies our institution will soon understand and appreciate the reasons for all these things , and by that study bo made the better mason and the better man , while the uninitiated must be content to know , that countless thousands of good and Aiise men , in all ages of the world have shared those secrets ,
participated in those rites and taken upon themselves those vows , and never yet have deemed it for the good of mankind in genera ] , nor to the advantage of the brethren to make them common to all men . But not to Masonry alone have we erected and dedicated this beautiful hall . Iu the name of our patron saints and great exemplars , to one of whom it was given to proclaim the coming , and to the other to be the bosom friend and beloved discileof
p , him , who , whatever may be claimed for his Divinity , was the embodiment of all that is good and beautiful and true in 'humanity , we have solemnly devoted this hall to Virtue ; thai ; attribute , the possession of which ennobles the humblest of God ' s creatures , and the want of which can never be supplied by wealth , or genius , or fame , or any of those other accidents or qualities which give men prominence among their fellows .
Thus invoking those holy beings , thus pledging to them our offering at virtue ' s shrine , it should be , it will be , our duty as men and Masons , to see that these walls are never desecrated by any presence , nor disgraced by any deed which we should not be willing the whole % vorld should know ; that here shall be uplifted and maintained , that standard of personal and social puiity and truth , without which we are but a mockery and a shame , and that we and our beloved order may stand before our
fellow men with heads erect , and hearts conscious of no wrong to any being on earth , however insignificant or unworthy . Thus , and only thus , may we command the respect and admiration of all mankind , clad in impregnable armour we may surely ward off the assaults of the envious , tho malicious and the cowardly , and stand forth a burning and a shining light iu the moral darkness with which they would enshroud this beautiful world .
Again , in this our solemn ceremony , we invoke all who are bound to us by the mystic tie , the whole brotherhood of the craft , the grand universal Fraternity , and in that august name we devote this hall , not to kindness aud love and charity towards the brethren , or to those brought near to us by other ties or accidents , but to the great family of man , to Universal Benevolence . Guided and inspired by this spirit we recognise iu every manweak and erring and unfortunate though he may bea
, , brother ; In affliction we administer comfort and consolation , in distress we afford relief and support , in doubt we counsel and guide him , and thus bearing him onward and upward , we perhaps teach him the path which shuns temptation , and wickedness , aud misfortune , and restores him to perfect manhood . The whole world thus becomes tho field of our labours , each aud every creature wearing tbe human form may claim onr attention , our aid , and our sympathy , tbe light and love which dwell
in our hearts may spread abroad their heavenly warmth and radiance , till they illumine and irradiate the hearts of the whole family of man , life , aud beauty , and strength may be renewed and diffused , while , at tbe same time , we ourselves are growing wiser and stronger , and better , from the exercise of those very energies , which we would infuse into those who need our sympathy and our aid . AVe stand then , here in this temple , which we have hallowed
Address Of Sir Knight George Gardner At The Dedication Of The Masonic Temple, Chicago.
to the uses of Masonry , which we have pledged to Virtue and devoted to Universal Benevolence , solemnly , and we trust sincerely , have we invoked the Divine blessing , and ascribed to Him to whom it is most justly due all honour and glory . Henceforth this place must be to us the abode of truth , of love , and charity ; here we must learn to subdue our passions , to be brave , prudent , temperate and just ; entering this place we leave behind us envyings , and strifes , and jealousies , and departing from it wo take
with us into the world , honour , integrity , and that demeanour of life which will secure the respect , if not the applause of our fellow-men . Sacred to the mysteries of our order , this place shall also be sacred to its principles , here , secure from the intrusion of the world and its weaknesses and wickedness , we may perform our holy rites , perfect ourselves in virtue , and practice charity . Around us here is drawn a magic circle , whose centre is fixed and immovablebut the circumference of which is as wide
, as the world itself . Hallowed by a solemn ceremonial , this place will soon be doubly holy to us by tbe associations and the memories which will cluster around it , and to it we shall turn with a feeling kindred to that with which one visits the home and the friends of his early years . Perchance , within these walls , our children and our children ' s children may take upon themselves the vows which we have taken , their eyes behold
the symbol upon which we now gaze , their hearts be moved with the same feelings which now animate our breasts . Here the wayfaring brother , though a stranger , may enter , ever sure of a heartfelt welcome , here the needy and the afflicted may always find an open hand and the sympathetic heart , here the weary and wayworn brother , far down the hill of life , may always claim and secure , for his trembling and uncertain footsteps , fraternal support and filial aid , and from this place will
go forth those who will kindly smoothe the pillow of the departing , and when the soul shall have deserted its tenement of clay , will see to it that the last sad rites due to humanity are not neglected . See to it then , brethren , that this place be made and kept a worthy temple of our order , that each and every one of you , through evil report and good report , bo true and faithful to those great universal princiles here inculcatedthat in all
p , things here within and in the world without , you houour tiie craft . This done , you will walk uprightly before God aud man while here below , and , when this weak and frail body shall moulder in tbe dust , your spirit departing , from earth , will ( And a haven of rest and joy in the Grand Lodge above , which we must believe is ever open to receive and welcome the true and worthy brother .
Public Amusements.
PUBLIC AMUSEMENTS .
THE ALHAMBRA . Bro . Strange has secured the the services of the " complete Reed band of the Garde de Paris . " These splendid performers divided with the Prussian Guards the first prize in the contest between European bands in the Paris Exhibition of 1867 . The Band play nightly " God Save the Queen" in a manner which
must insure their popularity with the audience , and well-earned applause greets every one of the pieces performed—which con > sist of selections from Gretry ' s " Cceur dc Lion , " Meverbeer ' s " Marchc aux Flambeau , " the overture to " AVilliam Tell , " & c . which were followed by tho " Marseillaise , " grandly performed aud wonderfully effective in moving the audience .
The vocalists include Madame Guymar , Mr . Rowland Lascelles , Signor Bordogni , T . Maclagan , assisted by tho now celebrated Alhambra Chorus . The remainder of the programme is equally attractive * Indeed , Mr . Straugo is fairly to be congratulated upon having made good music tho leading feature , a course which has had t he effect of greatly improving the general character of his audiences .
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Address Of Sir Knight George Gardner At The Dedication Of The Masonic Temple, Chicago.
invoke the Supreme Architect and Lawgiver , by that name which no believing Jew over dared to utter , by that sacred name which most fully expresses his power and his attributes , and solemnly , not lightly and thoughtlessly , do we set apart this spacious structure to the uses of Masonry . Henceforth these walls will be the guardians of the secrets of our order , witnesses of those rites which are essential as embodying and symbolising the most solemn and instructive teaching and illustration of the
great truths and principles which guide and govern true brethren , and listeners to those vows and charges which bind men together in heart and soul , more truly and more completely than is possible to any other human organization . Doubtless there will arise in the minds of some who hear me , both of the initiated and the uninstructed , the natural , and perhaps pertinent , inquiry , why are those secrets so carefully guardedthose rites so scruprdonsly iusisted uponthose vows so
, , solemnly made ? Time would not permit , nor does the occasion warrant , an attempt even at an elucidation of these questions ; the Mason who diligently studies our institution will soon understand and appreciate the reasons for all these things , and by that study bo made the better mason and the better man , while the uninitiated must be content to know , that countless thousands of good and Aiise men , in all ages of the world have shared those secrets ,
participated in those rites and taken upon themselves those vows , and never yet have deemed it for the good of mankind in genera ] , nor to the advantage of the brethren to make them common to all men . But not to Masonry alone have we erected and dedicated this beautiful hall . Iu the name of our patron saints and great exemplars , to one of whom it was given to proclaim the coming , and to the other to be the bosom friend and beloved discileof
p , him , who , whatever may be claimed for his Divinity , was the embodiment of all that is good and beautiful and true in 'humanity , we have solemnly devoted this hall to Virtue ; thai ; attribute , the possession of which ennobles the humblest of God ' s creatures , and the want of which can never be supplied by wealth , or genius , or fame , or any of those other accidents or qualities which give men prominence among their fellows .
Thus invoking those holy beings , thus pledging to them our offering at virtue ' s shrine , it should be , it will be , our duty as men and Masons , to see that these walls are never desecrated by any presence , nor disgraced by any deed which we should not be willing the whole % vorld should know ; that here shall be uplifted and maintained , that standard of personal and social puiity and truth , without which we are but a mockery and a shame , and that we and our beloved order may stand before our
fellow men with heads erect , and hearts conscious of no wrong to any being on earth , however insignificant or unworthy . Thus , and only thus , may we command the respect and admiration of all mankind , clad in impregnable armour we may surely ward off the assaults of the envious , tho malicious and the cowardly , and stand forth a burning and a shining light iu the moral darkness with which they would enshroud this beautiful world .
Again , in this our solemn ceremony , we invoke all who are bound to us by the mystic tie , the whole brotherhood of the craft , the grand universal Fraternity , and in that august name we devote this hall , not to kindness aud love and charity towards the brethren , or to those brought near to us by other ties or accidents , but to the great family of man , to Universal Benevolence . Guided and inspired by this spirit we recognise iu every manweak and erring and unfortunate though he may bea
, , brother ; In affliction we administer comfort and consolation , in distress we afford relief and support , in doubt we counsel and guide him , and thus bearing him onward and upward , we perhaps teach him the path which shuns temptation , and wickedness , aud misfortune , and restores him to perfect manhood . The whole world thus becomes tho field of our labours , each aud every creature wearing tbe human form may claim onr attention , our aid , and our sympathy , tbe light and love which dwell
in our hearts may spread abroad their heavenly warmth and radiance , till they illumine and irradiate the hearts of the whole family of man , life , aud beauty , and strength may be renewed and diffused , while , at tbe same time , we ourselves are growing wiser and stronger , and better , from the exercise of those very energies , which we would infuse into those who need our sympathy and our aid . AVe stand then , here in this temple , which we have hallowed
Address Of Sir Knight George Gardner At The Dedication Of The Masonic Temple, Chicago.
to the uses of Masonry , which we have pledged to Virtue and devoted to Universal Benevolence , solemnly , and we trust sincerely , have we invoked the Divine blessing , and ascribed to Him to whom it is most justly due all honour and glory . Henceforth this place must be to us the abode of truth , of love , and charity ; here we must learn to subdue our passions , to be brave , prudent , temperate and just ; entering this place we leave behind us envyings , and strifes , and jealousies , and departing from it wo take
with us into the world , honour , integrity , and that demeanour of life which will secure the respect , if not the applause of our fellow-men . Sacred to the mysteries of our order , this place shall also be sacred to its principles , here , secure from the intrusion of the world and its weaknesses and wickedness , we may perform our holy rites , perfect ourselves in virtue , and practice charity . Around us here is drawn a magic circle , whose centre is fixed and immovablebut the circumference of which is as wide
, as the world itself . Hallowed by a solemn ceremonial , this place will soon be doubly holy to us by tbe associations and the memories which will cluster around it , and to it we shall turn with a feeling kindred to that with which one visits the home and the friends of his early years . Perchance , within these walls , our children and our children ' s children may take upon themselves the vows which we have taken , their eyes behold
the symbol upon which we now gaze , their hearts be moved with the same feelings which now animate our breasts . Here the wayfaring brother , though a stranger , may enter , ever sure of a heartfelt welcome , here the needy and the afflicted may always find an open hand and the sympathetic heart , here the weary and wayworn brother , far down the hill of life , may always claim and secure , for his trembling and uncertain footsteps , fraternal support and filial aid , and from this place will
go forth those who will kindly smoothe the pillow of the departing , and when the soul shall have deserted its tenement of clay , will see to it that the last sad rites due to humanity are not neglected . See to it then , brethren , that this place be made and kept a worthy temple of our order , that each and every one of you , through evil report and good report , bo true and faithful to those great universal princiles here inculcatedthat in all
p , things here within and in the world without , you houour tiie craft . This done , you will walk uprightly before God aud man while here below , and , when this weak and frail body shall moulder in tbe dust , your spirit departing , from earth , will ( And a haven of rest and joy in the Grand Lodge above , which we must believe is ever open to receive and welcome the true and worthy brother .
Public Amusements.
PUBLIC AMUSEMENTS .
THE ALHAMBRA . Bro . Strange has secured the the services of the " complete Reed band of the Garde de Paris . " These splendid performers divided with the Prussian Guards the first prize in the contest between European bands in the Paris Exhibition of 1867 . The Band play nightly " God Save the Queen" in a manner which
must insure their popularity with the audience , and well-earned applause greets every one of the pieces performed—which con > sist of selections from Gretry ' s " Cceur dc Lion , " Meverbeer ' s " Marchc aux Flambeau , " the overture to " AVilliam Tell , " & c . which were followed by tho " Marseillaise , " grandly performed aud wonderfully effective in moving the audience .
The vocalists include Madame Guymar , Mr . Rowland Lascelles , Signor Bordogni , T . Maclagan , assisted by tho now celebrated Alhambra Chorus . The remainder of the programme is equally attractive * Indeed , Mr . Straugo is fairly to be congratulated upon having made good music tho leading feature , a course which has had t he effect of greatly improving the general character of his audiences .