FOUNDATION OF ZETLAND HALL (continuation)
brethren felt themselves, they begged to present him with a piece of plate, as some mark of their cordial esteem for him as a Mason and as a man.
Brother Hawson made a feeling reply.
In the evening the Brethren gave a Ball in the Club House which was more numerously attended, and which went off better, than any previous one in Hongkong. After a very elegant supper the W. M. rose and proposed the Ladies, somewhat in the following manner, offering a graceful apology for the exclusion of the fair sex from the privileges of the order:
"Gentlemen and Brethren, Our meeting, as I need hardly tell you, would lose its chief charm, were it not graced by the presence of the ladies. I will therefore call upon you to join me in pledging them in a bumper and ask you to do so in their presence, because I have an explanation to make to them. I believe that the ladies generally look upon our order with suspicion, if not with displeasure, because our rules exclude them from participation in our mysteries; and they commonly attribute that exclusion to our ungallant want of confidence in their ability to keep a secret. But, let them believe me, such is not the case.
"Their exclusion is to be traced to two causes, both of which are highly complimentary to them. In the first place, Masons in their Lodge are expected to be wholly intent on the work they have in hand; and how could such attention be given if their eyes and hearts were subjected to the distracting influence of female beauty? Their proper labour would be neglected; nay more, jealousies might arise - strife and bickering (for Love is mighty and a Mason is but a man) might ensue, and those Masonic ornaments, brotherly love, peace, and harmony, might be endangered?
"But the principal cause of their exclusion is to be traced to those rude and barbarous ages, for be it remembered, Free Masonry and Civilization have ever gone hand in hand - those rude ages when Free Masons were persecuted by the Powers that were. It was felt to be not only imprudent, but inhuman to expose the gentle sex to those hardships and cruelties which often proved too much for the fortitude of men; and the brethren resolved to prevent their sharing our miseries and misfortunes by forbidding their participation in our mysteries and privileges.
"I trust that this explanation will be considered satisfactory by the ladies to whom we are indebted for the grace of their presence this evening; and I call on you, gentlemen, to drink the health of these ladies who have honoured us on this occasion, and on you, brethren, to join me in wishing that each one of them who cannot now, may sooner or later boast, one or other of the distinguished titles of wife, sister, or mother of Masons."
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FOUNDATION OF ZETLAND HALL ( continuation )
brethren felt themselves, they begged to present him with a piece of plate, as some mark of their cordial esteem for him as a Mason and as a man.
Brother Hawson made a feeling reply.
In the evening the Brethren gave a Ball in the Club House which was more numerously attended, and which went off better, than any previous one in Hongkong. After a very elegant supper the W. M. rose and proposed the Ladies, somewhat in the following anner, offering a graceful apology for the exclusion of the fair sex from the privileges of the order:
" Gentlemen and Brethren Our meeting, as I need hardly hall you would lose its chief charm, were it not graced by the presence of the ladies. I will therefore call upon you to join. me in pledging them in a bumper and ask you to do so in their presence, because I have an explanation to make to them. I believe that the ladies generally look upon our order with sus- picion, if not with displeasure, because our rules exclude them from participation in our mysteries; and they commonly attribute that exclusion to our ungallant want of confidence in their ability to keep a secret. But, let them believe me, such is not the case.
"Their exclusion is to be traced to two causes both of which are highly complimentary to them. In the first place, Masons in their Lodge are expected to be wholly intent on the work they have in hand; and how could such attention be given if their eyes and hearts were subjected to the distracting influ- ence of female beauty 2 Their proper labour would be neglected nay more, jealousies might arise -strife and bickering (for Love is mighty and a Mason is but a man ) might ensue and those Masonic ornamenta, brotherly love, peace, and harmony
" might be endangered
?
322
"But the principal cause of their exclusion is to be traced to those rude and barbarous ages for be it it remembe- red Free Masonry and Civilization have ever gone hand in hand those rude ages when Free Masons were persecuted by the Powers that were, It was felt to be not only imprudent, but inhuman to expose the gentle sex to those harships and cruelties which often proved too much for the fortitude of men; and the brethren resolved to prevent their sharing our miseries and misfortunes by forbidding their praticipation in our mysteries and privileges.
"I trust that this explanation will be considered satis- factory by the ladies to whom we are indebted for the grace of their presence this evening; and I call on you gentlemen, to drink the health of these ladies who have honoured us on this occasión and on you brethren,to join me in wishing that each one of them who cannot now, may sooner or later boast, one or other of the distinguished titles of wife, sister, or mother of Masons. "
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