plaudits of your people, your Majesty is crowned to-day. Distant though we are from that impressive scene, we who live in this far-off portion of your Empire, the Masons of Hong Kong, reverently desire to join in the solemn yet happy wishes of the hour, and to add to those of others our own profound congratulations.
Back in the cycle of time, a thousand years and more before the Christ was born, there in the Holy City, was built the temple of Solomon the King. In Nature's earth deep were its foundations laid, and slowly rose its majestic walls, its stately columns, the gate they called the Beautiful, the exquisite semblances of flowers and fruits and palms, the wondrous roof of gold and spikes of precious metal, wrought and fashioned all by the craftsmen of the time, and tested in their places with the level, the plumb, and the square. Upwards, ever upwards, under the guiding care of our Grand Master Hiram the Architect did the sacred pile progress, until the work was done and beneath the wings of the sculptured Cherubim rested the Ark of the Covenant in the mansion of the Triune God. Thereafter, from man to man, from the monarchy to the serf, from the strong to the weak, from the old to the young, down the path of time, Masonry passed through the Ages, bearing on its banners the profession of the faith, the Fatherhood of God and the Brotherhood of Man, until jewelled with charity, a priceless gem, it reached the Masons of to-day.
So, as the Temple emerged from disorder to order, from shapeless materials to symmetry, and perfect art, as the Brotherhood grew from its infancy of the past to its manhood of the present, the Monarchy of Britain has advanced through hundreds of years from the tumults and unrest of the darker ages to the system of right and law which is now Great Britain's heritage. From the Monarchs before the Conquest to the dynasty of the Normans, from the Plantagenets to the Standards of the Roses, from the Tudors and the Stuarts to the Hanoverians, it has been built stone by stone and arch by arch, until to-day, on foundations which have borne it through the stress of the centuries and the burden of everlasting time, with walls which are cemented by freedom and columns which rest on the rock of truth, England's Monarchy sits on England's throne, the symbol of justice to all who shelter beneath its flag, and the haven where, secure from storms, ride the argosies of humanity laden with all that man considers his dearest and his best.
To members of the Craft Your Majesty's Coronation is of especial interest, for we are privileged to call you one of our Brethren. In 1869 You were installed Grand Master of the Templars of the United Kingdom, and in 1873, Grand Master of the United Grand Lodge of England. Nor did the sympathy in Masonry of England's Royal Blood stop at your assumption of this high office, for His Royal Highness the Duke of Connaught, following your footsteps, has embraced the precepts of the Order and succeeded you as Grand Master.
Although enrolled in our Masonic ranks are many who, not being subjects of the British Crown, owe their loyalty to other Powers, we all are fettered by fraternity's bond, and in brotherly affection and deep respect we venture to hold out to your Majesty the hand of fellowship across the seas and send you greetings from the East, joining in prayer to the Great Architect of all that He will have your welfare in His keeping until the hour, predestined by the King of Kings, when through mortality's portals you will pass to the Eternal Elohim, and hear for evermore the Voice that said “Let there be light.”
Here followed signatures.
HIS EXCELLENCY formally accepted the Address.
This Address, which was about the same size as that from the general community, was bound in Royal purple and heavily mounted in gold. The centre piece was the Royal Arms; in the corner-pieces the design consisted of the shamrock, thistle, and rose, intertwined with compasses and set-square and with the Chinese emblem which carries with it wishes for long life. The inside lining of the cover was electric blue. The Address was printed in blue and gold. At the top of the first page—the Address ran to four—was the Masonic emblem for the square and compasses. The border contained the four national emblems already mentioned, with the Masonic between them. The Address, which was encased in a suitable box, was also the work of Messrs. Kelly & Walsh.
Hon. Dr. H. KAI next approached the Governor's table to present the Chinese Address. He said—May it please your Excellency, I have the honour to present on behalf of the Chinese Community an humble address to His Most Gracious Majesty King Edward VII, our Sovereign Lord. The address has been prepared in joyous anticipation of His Majesty's Coronation. It is composed in Chinese and carved on wood. An English translation of it is contained in this silver casket, and we would respectfully request your Excellency to forward both to His Majesty for his gracious acceptance. The Chinese Inhabitants of this Colony are over sensible of the many and immense benefits they have received from the British Crown; they acknowledge with gratitude their heavy indebtedness to the British Government for much of their happiness, prosperity, and advancement; they cherish with profound reverence and lasting affection the memory of our late beloved Queen Victoria the Great and Good; and they look forward to the Coronation of Their Majesties the King and Queen with great and exceeding joy. All His Majesty's loyal Chinese subjects in this Far Eastern Colony have learnt with sorrow and deep sympathy the recent illness of their King, and they earnestly pray that His Majesty may, under the blessing of heaven, be speedily restored to health. They desire most respectfully to assure His Majesty of their devotion and loyalty to his person and throne, and they humbly pray that His Majesty may have a long, happy, peaceful, and glorious reign. I crave your Excellency's permission to read the English translation of the Address.
Hon. Dr. Ho KAI went on to read the Address as follows:-
A Humble and Reverend Address presented to HIS MAJESTY KING EDWARD THE SEVENTH of the United Kingdom, of Great Britain and Ireland, by the Chinese Community of Hongkong.
On the twenty-sixth day of the month of June, in the year 1902, the ceremony of Your Majesty's Coronation will be celebrated. Throughout the circuit of the wide world, on whatever place the sun and moon shine, wherever, by land or by sea, the British Flag floats, there will not be one household that will not be filled with worship, there will be no one who will not join in singing songs of joy and praise. From far and near all will unite in wishing Your Majesty a long life in which to make your people happy and prosperous.
The pen of the readiest writer would fail to give full expression to the feelings of affection and loyalty which stir the hearts of Your Majesty's Chinese subjects in Hongkong. But, with a humble obeisance, we venture in this hymn of praise to touch upon what we feel.
Divine was the wisdom of Her Majesty the Late Queen. She drew men of all nations to her by her kindness; she treated those from afar with benevolence. Her fame reached to the East and to the West. The innermost hearts of all were moved by it. Not even by the sages of antiquity were her virtues equalled.
Your Majesty has inherited her justice and Her wisdom, Eternal good will spring from this succession of virtues.
Majestic was Her late Majesty's renown; her dominions were enlarged, and from far and near willing homage was paid to her. Under her rule the sea slept smooth as glass, the land rested undisturbed, Her armies maintained peace and kept inviolate the circle of her kingdom.
Standing at her side Your Majesty has learnt the truth of the maxim that firmness and kindness are equally necessary to ensure success. Her late Majesty had closely at heart the development of commerce. She well knew that food is all-important to the people, and that riches make a nation strong, that unless the granaries and storehouses were well filled her subjects could not be protected nor civilisation and righteousness promoted and maintained.
Your Majesty has learnt the secret of...
plaudits of your people, your Majesty is crowned to-day. Distant though we are from that, impressive scene, we who live in this far-off portion of your Empire, the Masons of Hong. kong, reverently desire to join in the solemn yet happy wishes of the hour, and to add to those of others our own profound congratulations.
Back in the cycle of time, a thousand years and more before the Christ was born, there in? the Holy City, was built the temple of Solomon the King. In Nature's earth deep were its foundations laid, and slowly rose its majestic; walls, its stately columus, the gate they called the Beautiful, the exquisite semblances of flowers and fruits and pains, the wondrous roof of gold) and spikes of precious metal, wrought and fashioned all by the craftsmen of the time, and, tested in their places with the lovel, the plumb, and the square. Upwards, ever upwards, under the guiding care of our Grand Master Hiram the Architect did the sacred pile progress, until the work was done and beneath the wings of the sculptured Cherubim rested the Ark of the Covenant in the mausion of the Triune God. Thereafter, from man to man, from the monarchy to the serf, from the strong to the weak, from the old to the young, down the path of time, Masonry passed through the Fons of the Ages, bearing on its banners the profession of the faith, the Fatherhood of God and the Brother- hood of Man, until jewelled with charity, a priceless gem, it reached the Masous of to-day.
So, as the Temple emerged from disorder to order, from shapeless materials to symmetry, and perfect art, as the Brotherhood grow from Its infancy of the past to its manhood of the present. the Monarchy of Britain has advanced through hundreds of years from the tamults and unrest of the darker ages to the! system of right and law which is now Great Britain's heritage. From the Monarchs before! the Conquest to the dynasty of the Normans,! from the Plantagenets to the Standards of the Roses, from the Tudors and the Stuarts to the Hanoverians, it has been built stone by stonei and arch by arch, until to-day, on foundations which have borne it through the stress of the coutaries and the burden of everlasting time,, with walls which are cemented by freedom and columns which rest on the rock of truth, Eng- Jand's Monaroly sits on England's throne, the symbol of justice to all who shelter beneath its ilg, and the haven where, secure from storms. ride the argosies of humanity Jaden with all that man considers his dearest and his best.
To members of the Craft Your Majesty's Coronation is of especial interest, for we are privileged to call you one of our Brethren. In 1869 You were installed Grand Master of the Templars of the United Kingdom, and in 1873, Grand Master of the United Grand Lodge of? England. Nor did the sympathy in Masonry" of England's Royal Blood stop at your assump- tion of this high office, for His Royal Highness the Duke of Connaught, following your foot- steps, has embraced the precepts of the Order and succeeded you as Grand Master.
Although enrolled in our masonio ranks are Imany who, not being subjects of the British: Crown, owe their lealty to other Powers, we all are fettered by fraternity's bond, and in brotherly affection and deep respect we venture : to hold out to your Majesty the band of fellow-. ship across the seas and send you greetings. froin the Bast, joining in prayer to the Great Architect of all that He will have your welfare in His keeping until the hour, predestined by the King of Kings, when through mortality's portals you will pass to the Eternal Elohim, and hear for evermore the Voice that said “Let there be light."
Here followed signatures.]
HIS EXCELLENCY formally accepted the Address.
This Address, which was about the same size as that from the general community, was bound in Royal purple and heavily mounted in gold. The cautre plece was the Royal Arms; in the corner-pisces th design consisted of the shamrock, thistle, and rose, intertwined with compasses and sot-square and with the Chinese emblem which carries with it wishes for long life. The inside lining of the cover was electric blas. The Address was printed in blue and gold. At the top of the first page---the Address ran to four-was the Masonic emblem
!
For the square and compasses. The border contained the four national emblems already mentioned, with the Musonic between oneh.! The Address which was en cased in a suitable box! was also the work of Meairs. Kelly & Walsh.
Hou. Dr. H. KA next approached the Governor's table to present
the Chiness Address. He said-May it please your
Excelloucy, I have the honour to present on behalf of the Chinese Community an humble address to His Moss Gracious Majesty King Edward VII, our Sovereign Lord. The address. has been prepared in joyous anticipation of His Majesty & Coronation. It is composed in Chi- nese and carved on wood. An English translation of it is contained in this silver casket, and we would respectfully request your Excellency to forward both to His Majesty for his gracious acceptancH, The Chinese Inhabitants of this Colony are over sensible of the many and immense benefits they have! recived froin the British Crow u; they acknow- ledge with gratitude their heavy indebtedness to the British Government for much of their happiness, prosperity, and advancement; they cherish with profouued reverence and lasting affection the memory of our late beloved Queen Victoria the Great and Good; and they look forward to the Coronation of Their Majesties the King and Queen with great and exceeding joy. All His Majesty's loyal Chinese subjects in this Far Eastern Colony have learnt with sorrow and deep sympathy the recent iliness of their King. and they earnestly pray that His! Majesty may, under the blessing of deaven, be! speedily restored to health. They desire most respectfully to assure His Majesty of their devotion and loyalty to his person and throne. and they humbly pray that His Majesty may have a long, happy, peaceful, and glorious reigu. I crave your Excellency's permission to read the English translation of the Address.
Hon. Dr. Ho KAI went on to read the Address as follows:-
A Humble and Reverend Address presented to HIS MAJESTY KING EDWARD THE SEVENTH of the United Kingdom, of Great Britain and Ireland, by the Chinese Community of Hongkong.
On the twenty-sixth day of the month of June, in the year 1902, the ceremony of Your Majesty's Coronation will be celebrated. Throughout the circuit of the wide world, on whatever place the sun and moon shino, wherever, by land or by sea, the British Flag Hoats, there will not be oue household that will not be filled with worship, there will be no one who will not join in singing songs of joy and praise. From far and near all will unite in wishing Your Majesty a long life in which to make your people happy and pros- perous.
The pen of the readiest writer would fail to give full expression to the feelings of affection and loyalty which stir the hearts of Your Majesty's Chinese subjects in Hongkong, But, j with a humble obeisance, we venture in this hymn of praise to touch upon what we feel,
Divine was the wisdom of Her Majesty the Late Queen. She drew mon of all nations to her by her kindness; she treated those from afar with benevolence. Her fame reached to the East and to the West. The innermost hearts of all were moved by it. Not even by the sages of antiquity were her virtues equalled,
Your Majesty has inherited her justice and Her wisdom, Eternal good will spring from this succession of virtues.
Majestic was Her late Majesty's renown. her dominions were enlarged, and from far and near willing homage was paid to her. Under her rule the sea slept smooth as glass, the land rested undisturbed, Her armies maintained peace and kept inviolate the circle of her kingdom.
Standing at her sido Your Majesty has learnt the truth of the maxim that firmness and kindness are equally necessary to ensure success. Her Jute Majesty had closely at heart the development of commerce. She well know that. food is all important to the people, and that riches make a nation strong, that unless the granaries and storehouses wore well filled her subjeo's could not be protected nor civilisation. and righteousness promoted and maintained.
Your Majesty has learnt the secret of
27
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