Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Colonial.
honoured as we all are , by the presence of our R . W . Prov . G . M . and the R . W . Prov . G . M . under the Irish Grand Lodge , it is to me a source of just pride to recollect that I had the honour to install each of those Brethren into the high offices they now fill with such credit to themselves and advantage to those divisions of our Craft over which they respectively preside . It will ever be my aim , and that of my fellow members , to merit the favourable opinion and confidence of our leader , and to support him- in all his efforts for the -advancement of
Freemasonry in Victoria . With these imperfect expressions of my sentiments , and with the deepest [ fraternal esteem , I propose , with the grand honours and the Combermere fire— -The Honourable Captain Clarke ) R . E ., M . L . A ., the R . W . Prov . G . M . for Victoria . " ( Drunk with the utmost enthusiasm , and with the Combermere fire , peculiar to , and for the first time in Victoria introduced at this meeting . ) — The R . W . Prov . G . M ., who was received with the warmest demonstrations of
esteem , said : —" ¦ ' Worshipful Master and Brethren ; I deeply thank you for the manner in which my health has been proposed by your W . M ., and the cordiality with which it has been received by you . It is , I assure you , a source of great pleasure to me to be present upon this interesting occasion , and to have taken part in the proceedings of the day , by which a distinguished and experienced brother has been appointed to preside over you , and thus enabled officially , to promote the dearest object of his heart- —Freemasonry . When I received the high appointment , which , I believe , I in a great measure owe to the zeal and
assiduity of your worthy W . M ., I determined to do all in my power to render myself worthy of the distinction conferred , and useful to the Craft over whom I was appointed to preside . I relied , and still rely , on the experienced brethren around me , who have gained honours in the mother country , and have ever been ready to aid me with their counsel and advice ; and whilst I fear I may fall short of the standard I have prescribed to myself , I hope by zeal to compensate for involuntary shortcomings . I trust , however , Masonry in Victoria will not suffer in my hands . Twelve months ago , when your W . M . formally installed me
into office , there were few Lodges under English jurisdiction . There are now twenty-five Lodges thereunder , subject to my authority , and dispensations continue still to be applied for . This great increase , however , falls far short of the number already existing in a country in some respects similar to Victoria . I refer to California , where , by the last returns , I find upwards of one hundred Masonic Lodges have been established . I am not , however , desirous of merely a large number
of Lodges . What I earnestly wish is , that we shall sedulously endeavour to maintain the high character of Freemasonry , and exclude those who will not adorn it . The happiness of those affiliated must be our first care , the scrupulous observance of our principles our constant aim , and the increase of our number only by those who will adorn and add lustre to our institution . I again cordially thank you for this proof of your fraternal regard , which it is my desire ever to merit . "
The W . M . said , — " Brethren it is again my privilege to propose to you a toast most congenial to my feelings , and I believe to those of your own hearts , —I speak of the premier Victorian Freemason—of one , who in the infancy of Freemasonry in this colony after he had become one of the ' sons of light / has ever since that long period ( nearly seventeen years ) , uniformly upheld it . In the minutes of the Australia Felix Lodge frequent mention is made of our distinguished Brother , and the records referred to furnish abundant proofs of his Masonic zeal and devotion in connection with some of our most distinguished
citizens who were affiliated to that Lodge , which I also joined when I first arrived iu Melbourne , and of which Lodge I am still a member . Then , as now , our Brethren agreed to differ , and differed and agreed . But at the early period to which I allude it was often difficult even to gather together a sufficient number to form a Lodge , but I have been told that never was out * Bro . Smith applied to in vain on such occasions ; he ever cheerfully responded to the call and performed his duty . It is not , however , in the various positions of honour in which his fellowcitizens have respectively placed our Bro . Smith that , on this occasion , I wish to dwell s but simply on his character as a Freemason , in which it has been my privilege to maintain intimate intercourse with him during my residence in this
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Colonial.
honoured as we all are , by the presence of our R . W . Prov . G . M . and the R . W . Prov . G . M . under the Irish Grand Lodge , it is to me a source of just pride to recollect that I had the honour to install each of those Brethren into the high offices they now fill with such credit to themselves and advantage to those divisions of our Craft over which they respectively preside . It will ever be my aim , and that of my fellow members , to merit the favourable opinion and confidence of our leader , and to support him- in all his efforts for the -advancement of
Freemasonry in Victoria . With these imperfect expressions of my sentiments , and with the deepest [ fraternal esteem , I propose , with the grand honours and the Combermere fire— -The Honourable Captain Clarke ) R . E ., M . L . A ., the R . W . Prov . G . M . for Victoria . " ( Drunk with the utmost enthusiasm , and with the Combermere fire , peculiar to , and for the first time in Victoria introduced at this meeting . ) — The R . W . Prov . G . M ., who was received with the warmest demonstrations of
esteem , said : —" ¦ ' Worshipful Master and Brethren ; I deeply thank you for the manner in which my health has been proposed by your W . M ., and the cordiality with which it has been received by you . It is , I assure you , a source of great pleasure to me to be present upon this interesting occasion , and to have taken part in the proceedings of the day , by which a distinguished and experienced brother has been appointed to preside over you , and thus enabled officially , to promote the dearest object of his heart- —Freemasonry . When I received the high appointment , which , I believe , I in a great measure owe to the zeal and
assiduity of your worthy W . M ., I determined to do all in my power to render myself worthy of the distinction conferred , and useful to the Craft over whom I was appointed to preside . I relied , and still rely , on the experienced brethren around me , who have gained honours in the mother country , and have ever been ready to aid me with their counsel and advice ; and whilst I fear I may fall short of the standard I have prescribed to myself , I hope by zeal to compensate for involuntary shortcomings . I trust , however , Masonry in Victoria will not suffer in my hands . Twelve months ago , when your W . M . formally installed me
into office , there were few Lodges under English jurisdiction . There are now twenty-five Lodges thereunder , subject to my authority , and dispensations continue still to be applied for . This great increase , however , falls far short of the number already existing in a country in some respects similar to Victoria . I refer to California , where , by the last returns , I find upwards of one hundred Masonic Lodges have been established . I am not , however , desirous of merely a large number
of Lodges . What I earnestly wish is , that we shall sedulously endeavour to maintain the high character of Freemasonry , and exclude those who will not adorn it . The happiness of those affiliated must be our first care , the scrupulous observance of our principles our constant aim , and the increase of our number only by those who will adorn and add lustre to our institution . I again cordially thank you for this proof of your fraternal regard , which it is my desire ever to merit . "
The W . M . said , — " Brethren it is again my privilege to propose to you a toast most congenial to my feelings , and I believe to those of your own hearts , —I speak of the premier Victorian Freemason—of one , who in the infancy of Freemasonry in this colony after he had become one of the ' sons of light / has ever since that long period ( nearly seventeen years ) , uniformly upheld it . In the minutes of the Australia Felix Lodge frequent mention is made of our distinguished Brother , and the records referred to furnish abundant proofs of his Masonic zeal and devotion in connection with some of our most distinguished
citizens who were affiliated to that Lodge , which I also joined when I first arrived iu Melbourne , and of which Lodge I am still a member . Then , as now , our Brethren agreed to differ , and differed and agreed . But at the early period to which I allude it was often difficult even to gather together a sufficient number to form a Lodge , but I have been told that never was out * Bro . Smith applied to in vain on such occasions ; he ever cheerfully responded to the call and performed his duty . It is not , however , in the various positions of honour in which his fellowcitizens have respectively placed our Bro . Smith that , on this occasion , I wish to dwell s but simply on his character as a Freemason , in which it has been my privilege to maintain intimate intercourse with him during my residence in this