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Article ASYLUM FOR AGED FREEMASONS. ← Page 3 of 11 →
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Asylum For Aged Freemasons.
ceremony of laying the first stone is witnessed . We all concur in the desirableness of having such an institution , but in this country there is always a diversity of opinion—to every government there is always an opposition ; ami I am very glad of it , because sure I am that everywhere where there is freedom there must be diversity of opinion , and there must be opposition ; and it is only where the mind is compressed , and despotism exists , that that is not the case —( cheers ) . I therefore am on all occasions ready to give to any man who differs from mecredit for
, conscientiousness of opinion , and I claim the same credit for myself ; and when I hear that all are not in unison upon the site which has been selected , I doubt not that the difference arises from sincere and conscientious motives —( cheers ) . I do not profess to be thoroughly conversant with this matter , but I am given to understand that one objection to the site is that the locality is not a healthy one ; but I am sure that the unhealthiness of it , if it does exist , arises from the want of proper drainage
in the town of Croydon ; and as under the Health of Towns' Act , and from our improved sanitary system of drainage , there would be carried out a different system in that locality , I do not see how any objection can long exist against the site which has been chosen —( cheers ) . I trust that this subject , which I am sure will be properly looked into and considered , will be decided in a manner which will give satisfaction to the general body , and that an Asylum will be established which will be as
healthy as any that can be found , and which will diffuse benefits on a great number of the poor brethren of the Craft —( great cheering ) . But we must recollect that this Asylum cannot be raised or be brought to perfection , and cannot receive its inmates , unless we raise a sufficient
amount of funds . We therefore must look to those who are kindly and generously inclined to get the means which are required , and I therefore come to you ; having been requested to fill the chair to-day , I come to you to make an appeal to your best feelings to aid this noble object , not in a niggardly manner , but largely , liberally , and generously , to aid this sacred cause —( cheers ) . I must impress upon you the necessity of being up and doing in favour of our suffering brethren , even if I am considered importunate —( cheers ) . I rejoice to see such a meeting as the present
, so crowded and so respectable , and I am sure you will not refuse to answer my appeal—I wish it were more eloquent , but it could not be more earnest —( cheers ) . Gentlemen and brethren , I have been a great beggar in my time—I . am not a little used to it—I know the trade pretty well —( laughter)—and I know that it is not always either an easy or a grateful one . I know what it is to go about for charity ; I know its irksomeness and disagreeableness . I have observed before the averted
eye , the cold look , the supercilious smile , and the good-natured air , which seemed to say— " your intentions are good , but you are not very wise " —( loud cheers ) . I know well all the flimsy pretences that are madethat they cannot give that charity you seek because they have so many other claims upon them ; I know the feelings of despondency which come over a man when he hears these things said—sometimes they may be sincereand sometimes I know they are not . But when you are
, anxious to meet with success , as I know you all are on the present occasion , and when instead of meeting kindness and sympathy you are met with a repulse , there must be some degree of disappointment : but I have not been deterred by that , and 1 have always been glad if out of one hundred applications I could at least obtain a certain per centage for the good cause —( cheers ) . And I must say that in some of these attempts I
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Asylum For Aged Freemasons.
ceremony of laying the first stone is witnessed . We all concur in the desirableness of having such an institution , but in this country there is always a diversity of opinion—to every government there is always an opposition ; ami I am very glad of it , because sure I am that everywhere where there is freedom there must be diversity of opinion , and there must be opposition ; and it is only where the mind is compressed , and despotism exists , that that is not the case —( cheers ) . I therefore am on all occasions ready to give to any man who differs from mecredit for
, conscientiousness of opinion , and I claim the same credit for myself ; and when I hear that all are not in unison upon the site which has been selected , I doubt not that the difference arises from sincere and conscientious motives —( cheers ) . I do not profess to be thoroughly conversant with this matter , but I am given to understand that one objection to the site is that the locality is not a healthy one ; but I am sure that the unhealthiness of it , if it does exist , arises from the want of proper drainage
in the town of Croydon ; and as under the Health of Towns' Act , and from our improved sanitary system of drainage , there would be carried out a different system in that locality , I do not see how any objection can long exist against the site which has been chosen —( cheers ) . I trust that this subject , which I am sure will be properly looked into and considered , will be decided in a manner which will give satisfaction to the general body , and that an Asylum will be established which will be as
healthy as any that can be found , and which will diffuse benefits on a great number of the poor brethren of the Craft —( great cheering ) . But we must recollect that this Asylum cannot be raised or be brought to perfection , and cannot receive its inmates , unless we raise a sufficient
amount of funds . We therefore must look to those who are kindly and generously inclined to get the means which are required , and I therefore come to you ; having been requested to fill the chair to-day , I come to you to make an appeal to your best feelings to aid this noble object , not in a niggardly manner , but largely , liberally , and generously , to aid this sacred cause —( cheers ) . I must impress upon you the necessity of being up and doing in favour of our suffering brethren , even if I am considered importunate —( cheers ) . I rejoice to see such a meeting as the present
, so crowded and so respectable , and I am sure you will not refuse to answer my appeal—I wish it were more eloquent , but it could not be more earnest —( cheers ) . Gentlemen and brethren , I have been a great beggar in my time—I . am not a little used to it—I know the trade pretty well —( laughter)—and I know that it is not always either an easy or a grateful one . I know what it is to go about for charity ; I know its irksomeness and disagreeableness . I have observed before the averted
eye , the cold look , the supercilious smile , and the good-natured air , which seemed to say— " your intentions are good , but you are not very wise " —( loud cheers ) . I know well all the flimsy pretences that are madethat they cannot give that charity you seek because they have so many other claims upon them ; I know the feelings of despondency which come over a man when he hears these things said—sometimes they may be sincereand sometimes I know they are not . But when you are
, anxious to meet with success , as I know you all are on the present occasion , and when instead of meeting kindness and sympathy you are met with a repulse , there must be some degree of disappointment : but I have not been deterred by that , and 1 have always been glad if out of one hundred applications I could at least obtain a certain per centage for the good cause —( cheers ) . And I must say that in some of these attempts I