-
Articles/Ads
Article PROVINCIAL ← Page 7 of 20 →
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Provincial
Tilley " the power of initiating Masons in this Degree , and of constituting Lodges , Chapters , Councils , and Constitutions of the ancient Rite , " sur les deux hemispheres . " In 18-15 , Oct . 26 th , tbe London Council was established by the Charlestown Council . After the reign of James II . the sovereign ceased to be Grand Master : a succession of Grand Mastei-s , with Sir C . Wren at their head , earned on Ereemasonry , but not with that zeal which had formerly been bestowed on it . The Degrees beyond that of Master seem to have been quite disused , except in some few Lodges where they had been retained . For the history of this jjeriod
, indeed up to the Union in 1 S 13 , I must refer you to two standard Masonic works , Norkouch ' s " Book of Constitutions , " published by authority in 1784 ; and Preston ' s " Illustrations of Freemasonry , " which is a book that no Mason should be without . During the whole of this period , as you see , Ereemasonry was flourishing in all its branches on the continent and in America , and , as I have also told you , was re-established in this country in October , 1845 . AVe , the Supreme Grand Council of Sovs . Ins . Generals of the 33 rd Degree , work silently and slowly , but surely . AVe uphold in every way the Grand Master and Grand
Lodge of England ; we uphold , every institution of the Order ; we solemnly renounce the slightest interference with any of the Degrees under the Grand Lodge , Chapter , or Knight Templar Conclave ; we merely take up Masonry where it has been let drop in England ; ancl endeavour , as far as in us lies , to grant those Degrees without which no Mason can be called perfect , or can he be received with those honours , which he would wish to have given him on the Continent . Perhaps some of you have lately been in London , and have had an opportunity of visiting the Aztec Lilliputians . These childrenof the ages of about fourteen
, and seventeen , illustrate much of the dark Egyptian Hieroglyphic . They are found in a city hitherto unknown , used as idols , by another race . Their countenances are the same as those found engraved on the Egyptian marbles , and in the worship of these by the tribe among whom they were found , certain signs , tokens , and words are made use of which are familiar to the ear of every Mason .
I have the little book which I bought when admitted to see them ; I only wish I had a sufficient number of copies to distribute one to every Brother in this Lodgeroom now present . The whole of the system practised at Ixamaya seems to be a thorough and vast carrying out of the Masonic institutions , from the strict guard kept up outside the gates of the city , to the vigilance and secrecy preserved in the worship in their temples . All this will forcibly strike every Mason on reading this small book now in my hand . I believe it is eleven years since a P . G . meeting has been held here ; I had intended to have held a meeting some years
ago , but I found few members then in the Lodge , ancl I thought it best to allow the Lodge itself to revive , before I came officially . I now have reason to congratulate both your Lodge and myself on the rapid strides you have made . I think I may say , generally , with one exception only , that Masonry is now in a most healthy state in the province of Dorset . As Masons , we are every day becoming a more-and more important body . To be a Mason is no longer a reproach , applied to us by the " Profanum vulgus ; " those who do not belong to usor who would not join usat all events treat us with respectthe ladiesas
, , ; , a body , are not opposed to us , but rather , in most instances , give us their encouragement and support . Thus upheld , what institution can fail to flourish ? Look at the late ball given in the University of Oxford , which must be considered as the nursery of our future Prov . Grand Masters and Grand Officers , —see how that was attended , and how it went off ; see also the remarks of that great organ of public opinion—the Times newspaper—and then who will say that Masonry is not taking the stand it should take , and ranking with our noblest civil institutions ?—Magna est Veritas et pravalet—I fear BrothersI have tired but
, my , you ; Masonry is a subject , when I once take it up , that I scarce know when , how , or where to stop ; its resources are inexhaustible , —but tbe time tells me I must bring this subject to a close ; and after thanking you all for your attendance here this day , and expressing a hope that we shall again meet round the festive board at a later hour , I will again beg you , by acting up to the sublime precepts of our Order , to prove to the world at large , that we are a truly noble and privileged Fraternity .
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Provincial
Tilley " the power of initiating Masons in this Degree , and of constituting Lodges , Chapters , Councils , and Constitutions of the ancient Rite , " sur les deux hemispheres . " In 18-15 , Oct . 26 th , tbe London Council was established by the Charlestown Council . After the reign of James II . the sovereign ceased to be Grand Master : a succession of Grand Mastei-s , with Sir C . Wren at their head , earned on Ereemasonry , but not with that zeal which had formerly been bestowed on it . The Degrees beyond that of Master seem to have been quite disused , except in some few Lodges where they had been retained . For the history of this jjeriod
, indeed up to the Union in 1 S 13 , I must refer you to two standard Masonic works , Norkouch ' s " Book of Constitutions , " published by authority in 1784 ; and Preston ' s " Illustrations of Freemasonry , " which is a book that no Mason should be without . During the whole of this period , as you see , Ereemasonry was flourishing in all its branches on the continent and in America , and , as I have also told you , was re-established in this country in October , 1845 . AVe , the Supreme Grand Council of Sovs . Ins . Generals of the 33 rd Degree , work silently and slowly , but surely . AVe uphold in every way the Grand Master and Grand
Lodge of England ; we uphold , every institution of the Order ; we solemnly renounce the slightest interference with any of the Degrees under the Grand Lodge , Chapter , or Knight Templar Conclave ; we merely take up Masonry where it has been let drop in England ; ancl endeavour , as far as in us lies , to grant those Degrees without which no Mason can be called perfect , or can he be received with those honours , which he would wish to have given him on the Continent . Perhaps some of you have lately been in London , and have had an opportunity of visiting the Aztec Lilliputians . These childrenof the ages of about fourteen
, and seventeen , illustrate much of the dark Egyptian Hieroglyphic . They are found in a city hitherto unknown , used as idols , by another race . Their countenances are the same as those found engraved on the Egyptian marbles , and in the worship of these by the tribe among whom they were found , certain signs , tokens , and words are made use of which are familiar to the ear of every Mason .
I have the little book which I bought when admitted to see them ; I only wish I had a sufficient number of copies to distribute one to every Brother in this Lodgeroom now present . The whole of the system practised at Ixamaya seems to be a thorough and vast carrying out of the Masonic institutions , from the strict guard kept up outside the gates of the city , to the vigilance and secrecy preserved in the worship in their temples . All this will forcibly strike every Mason on reading this small book now in my hand . I believe it is eleven years since a P . G . meeting has been held here ; I had intended to have held a meeting some years
ago , but I found few members then in the Lodge , ancl I thought it best to allow the Lodge itself to revive , before I came officially . I now have reason to congratulate both your Lodge and myself on the rapid strides you have made . I think I may say , generally , with one exception only , that Masonry is now in a most healthy state in the province of Dorset . As Masons , we are every day becoming a more-and more important body . To be a Mason is no longer a reproach , applied to us by the " Profanum vulgus ; " those who do not belong to usor who would not join usat all events treat us with respectthe ladiesas
, , ; , a body , are not opposed to us , but rather , in most instances , give us their encouragement and support . Thus upheld , what institution can fail to flourish ? Look at the late ball given in the University of Oxford , which must be considered as the nursery of our future Prov . Grand Masters and Grand Officers , —see how that was attended , and how it went off ; see also the remarks of that great organ of public opinion—the Times newspaper—and then who will say that Masonry is not taking the stand it should take , and ranking with our noblest civil institutions ?—Magna est Veritas et pravalet—I fear BrothersI have tired but
, my , you ; Masonry is a subject , when I once take it up , that I scarce know when , how , or where to stop ; its resources are inexhaustible , —but tbe time tells me I must bring this subject to a close ; and after thanking you all for your attendance here this day , and expressing a hope that we shall again meet round the festive board at a later hour , I will again beg you , by acting up to the sublime precepts of our Order , to prove to the world at large , that we are a truly noble and privileged Fraternity .