THE REV. CHARLES CLARK ON FREEMASONRY.

Auckland Star, Volume VIII, Issue 2241, 12 May 1877, Page 2

THE REV. CHARLES CLARK ON FREEMASONRY.

The " Canadian Craftsman" has the following : —" At the meefing of the Hamilton Lodges on St. John's night, the Rev. Chas. Clark, of Melbourne, Australia, waf present, and advantage was taken of the circumstance to congratulate him on the success of his lectures in the principal cities of the Dominion. V. W. Broth#r J. M. Gibson expressed the pleasure of the craft in introducing the distinguished lecturer, and proposed that he should be greeted with «.- grand honors.' In submitting the proposition, R. W. Brother R. Brierly, D.TLG.M., referred to an incident of goidfield* life in Australia, in whicli a citizen of Hamilton was tended in sickness and death by Masons, in a region where no church then existed. Brother Clark, in responding, said : —Right Worshipful Sir and Brethren, —There could be no preconception in my mind that my presence here to-night would be signalised by the ' grand honors ' of Masonry, a distinction to which my standing in the craft does not entitle me, and I gratefully accept and acknowledge those honors, bestowed upon me as a humble unofficial representative of Australian Masonry. I can assure you, brethren, that in the prosperous colonies where I have lived for more than seven happy years, our fraternity includes large numbers of men entitled to the highest honor for their intelligence, moral virtue, social worth, and honourable zeal for the welfare of our order. The principles of our venerable mysteries are. diligently studied, sincerely valued, and faithfully applied. Many instances could be mentioned confirmatory of that which warmed our hearts just now in its recital, how, in a remote country, at a time of social disorganisation, where amidst the excitement of a burning thirst for gold, an utter carelessness of humanity might be expected to 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 in the daily lives of our brethren. In their name I thank you for your cordial welcome, and pray that the God whom Aye adore may command his effectual blessing upon the Grand Lodge of Canada, upon all assembled brethren, and upon our ancient J and accepted Order throughout the world, j so that when time shall be no longer, our confraternity may dwell before him for ever ! in unbroken pence and joy.".