THE REV. CHARLES CLARK ON FREEMASONRY.

Manawatu Times, Volume II, Issue 64, 30 May 1877, Page 3

THE REV. CHARLES CLARK ON FREE MASONRY.

. The Canadian:" Craftsman " of February has the following : — " At the meeting of the Hamilton Lodges on St. John's night, the Rev. Charles Clark, of Melbourne, Australia, was present, and advantage was taken of the circumstance to congratulate him on the success of his lectures m the principal cities of the Dominion. V. W. Brother J. M. Gibson" expressed the pleasure of' the craft m introducing the distinguished lecturer, and proposed that he should be greeted with 'grand honors.' In submitting the proposition R.W. Brother R. Brierly, D.D.G.M., referred to an incident of gold fields life m Australia, m which a citizen of Hamilton was tended m sickness and death by Masons m a region where no church then existed. Brother Clark, m responding, said : — Eight Worshipful Sir and Brethren,— There could be no preconception m. my mind that my presence here to-night would be signalised by the 'grand honors ' of Masomy, a distinction to which my standing m the craft does not entitle; me, and I gratefully acknowledge those honors bestowed upon me as an humble unofficial representative of Australian Masonry. I can assure you, brethren, that m the prosperous colonies where I have lived for more than seven happy years, our fraternity includes large numbers ofm en entitled to the highest honor for their intelligence, moral virtue, social worth a'hdhonorable zeal for the .welfare of our order. The principles • of our venerable are diligently studied; sincerely valued, and faithfully applied. Many instances be mentioned confirmatory of that which warmed our hearts just now m its recitalj how, m a remote country, at a time of social disorganization,, where • amidstthe excitement of a burning thirst for gold, an , utter carelessness of humanity might be expected po prevail, the beneficent influence of Freemasonry still prevailed to succor the sick and ■lonely, to assuage the pangs of the dying, and to. bury with reverend hands the dead. In these more settled; days the triple "■■ sentiment of our " order, 'Brotherly Love, Relief, and Truth,' preserves its ancient charm,, and finds illustration m the daily lives • of- pur brethren. In their name I thank you for yoiir cordial welcome, and pray that the God whom we adore may command, his effectual blessing upon the Grand Lodge of Canada, upon all assembled brethren, and upon our_ ancient and accepted order throughout the world, so that when time shall be no longer, our confraternity may dwell before Him for ever m unbroken peace and joy."