The Late Bro. Dr. Oliver, D.D.

THE LATE BRO . DR . OLIVER , D . D .

LONDON , SATURDAY , MAY 4 , 1867 .

By the death of Bro . Dr . Oliver , the venerable and talented Masonic historian , a blank in our Craft has been caused , which it will be very difficult to close up , as he was one of those bright exemplars and clear expositors of the true

principles of Freemasonry , who lias had but few parallels . His loss is therefore the greater , for in his day and generation he laboured to master that science to which he had devoted his early life , and although he died in the fullness of years , after a

life prolonged to more than the allotted period to man , yet we can ill spare him to be taken from us . He died full of honours , and amidst the affectionate regard not only of those by whom he was surrounded in his quiet and happy home , but of all

the members of our fraternal community , wherever dispersed over earth or water , or scattered over the entire of the civilised world . The name of Dr . Oliver , wherever spoken , was loved and

revered , it was indeed a " household word " amongst us , and who can tell the numbers who have been stimulated by his example , and rendered sensible of their obligations by his teachings , reminding them in the most peaceable terms of

not only the duty they owe to their fellow man , but above all to that G-. A . O . T . U ., in whom we all live , and move , and have , our being . May his precepts ever remain deeply impressed upon our hearts , and may they lead those who have hitherto

been strangers to his works to read and ponder well over the treasures they contain . Happily for us and our generation , his " Golden Remains " are left us , and he has bequeathed to us a rich and enduring legacy which , well applied , shall not only

fit us for our stay upon this sublunary abode , but qualify and prepare us as humble candidates for admission into the Grand Lodge above , where the world ' s Great Architect lives and reigns for ever .

We cannot do better than subjoin a history of the career of our respected brother , extracted from the Stamford Mercury , which shows how he was estimated by those who are outside of Freemasonry , and the tribute they pay to his worth .

The deceased's connection with the Order of Freemasonry -was of long and honourable standing . He was not only a prominent member of the brotherhood ; he was in his time its most learned exponent and champion . His Masonic

histoiy commenced with the beginning of the present century , he being initiated into the mystical art in the Lodge of St . Peter ' s , at Peterboro ' , in 1801 ( then residing with his father at Whaplode ) , when only eighteen years of age—a

special dispensation being obtained from the Grand Lodge for the purpose of rendering his admission lesral while a minor . He soon mas" -J tered the " mechanism of the Order , " and became an enthusiastic Mason , and during the whole of

his after life he not only held to the Order , but , as he himself said on the occasion of his delivering his last lecture on the ancient rituals of Masonry in the Withain Lodge , in 1 SG 3 ( then in his eightyfirst year ) , his " enthusiasm remained unabated , "

notwithstanding he did not altogether escape the " spurns that patient merit of the uuworthy takes , " and though he must have experienced numerous disappointments connected with the Institution calculated to estrange him . A considerable portion of his life was devoted to the history , antiquity , morality , philosophy , and

religion of the Fraternity , and many able and lucid works resulted from his labours , his writings being marked by a varied diction and richness of illustration , which not only render them interesting ' but conspicuous . His was the pen , not only of a

ready writer , but of one who was capable of illustrating abstruse and recondite matters , and presenting them in a perspicuous and pleasing manner . His aim was to elevate the Order , which he took so closely to his heart , by informing its

members , by explaining its observances , ceremonials , and rituals , and by placing it on a firmer and more philanthropical , rational , and reli gious basis , and he consequently for many , years past has been an authority to the Masonic student . He

also firmly but kindly inculcated the precepts of temperance , fortitude , justice , and brotherly love , which are indissolubly bound up with the tenets of the Institution , but which wero and still are too frequently overlooked . He sought to explain the

moral and practical tendency of Masonic symbols and teaching . It is somewhat remarkable that the Masonic works of tho learned doctor are all

parts of a system , he having conceived , when a comparatively young man , a plan or scheme "intended to demonstrate the capabilities of Freemasonry as a literary institution . " In carrying- out this coinpi'ehensive intention , Dr . Oliver's voluminous works were prepared and published from time to time , embracing " History and