Farewell Masonic Banquet to the Rev. James Kill.

Thames Star, Volume VII, Issue 2618, 30 May 1877, Page 2

Farewell Masonic Banquet to the Rev. James Kill.

The brethren of the various Masonic Lodges on the Thames entertained the Rev. James^Hill,. P.M. of the Lodge Sir Walter Scott, No-533, S.C.,at a banquet in the Lodge-room, Freemasons' Hall, Owen Street, Grahamstown, last evening, for the ostensible purpose of bidding the Eev. Bro. farewell. The opportunity was embraced by the officers and brethren of the Lodge, who presented the brother with a Past-Master's jewel as a mark of their esteem for ihe zeal and energy displayed by him whilst among them. 3 vhe R.W.M., Bro. T. L. Murray, occupied the chair, and was supported on the right by the the rev. guest of the evening, Bros. Past Masters L. J. Bagnall andJS. Bawden, Lodge of Light, 1.C., and on theleft by Bros. Past Masters Brodie and Aitken, Sir Walter Scott Lodge, S.C; Bro. Past Master Black of the Lodge Coromandel, and Bro. Past Master G. N. Brassey, Lodge Prince of Wales, E.G. The Chairman having called upon the Croupiers to do their duty, business was commenced in right down good earnest. After discussing the 'eatables provided the Chairman entered upon the programme of toasts, and in a few appropriate remarks proposed " The Holy Lodge of St. John." Drank in solomn silence. .'• The Queen and the Craft." The National Anthem was sung under the leadership of Bros. McVay and Fotheringham. "Bro. H.R.H. Prince of Wales, Prince Steward of Scotland, and the rest of the Royal Family " was proposed by Bro. Wm. Wilkinson, W.S.W., who said that their Royal Brother had but very recently joined the Craft, and it was a pleasure to see one of the Royal Family taking such a deep interest in Freema&onry as His Royal Highness was. The toast was enthusiastically received by the brethren. " His Excellency the Governor" was proposed by Bro. Ehrenfried, and responded to with cheers. "The R.W.G.M. Mason of Scotland, Bro. Sir Michael Shaw Stewart, Bart.," was proposed by Bro. P.M. Bagnall, and rereceived with Macduff honors. " The Grand Lodges of England and Ireland" was proposed by Bro. Lhrenfried. Received with honors. " The Sight Worshipful Provincial Grand Master Elect, S.C, North Island New Zealand, Bro. Hon. F. Whitaker," was proposed by Bro. P.M. G. N. Brassey, and received with

Macduff honors. " The Army, Navy and Colonial Forces" proposed by Bro. P.M. Aitken, and responded to by Bro. P.M. Brodie.

Bro. the E. W.M., T. L.Hurray, rose to propose " Our Guest," which he stated was the toast of the evening. Before doing so, however, he read several apologies from absent brethren. He deeply regretted proposing the toast, on account of the loss the craft would sustain in parting with so faithful a Mason as the Rev. Brother. Bro. Hill had always taken a deep interest in Freemasonry on the Thames, and had not confined his attentions to the Sir Walter Scott Lodge in particular, but to the craft in general. He hack known Bro. Hill as long, if not longer, than most of them, and he now had the honor to propose his health at his last banquet on the Thames. He referred to the length of time that Bro. Hill had been connected with the Lodge, and the zeal and energy he had displayed in the working of it. On behalf of the officers and brethren of the Lodge he had much pleasure in presenting Bro; P.M. Hill with a Past Master's jewel as a token of their appreciation of his services to the Lodge, and having pinned the jewel on the recipient, concluded by saying that he hoped the brother would be long spared to wear it and do honor to the craft. The jewel, which is a handsome piece of workmanship, bears the following inscription :—" Presented to the Rev. James Hill, P.M., by the officers and brethren of the Sir Walter Scotfc Lodge, No. 533, 5.0., as a token of their appreciation of his services to the Lodge aa its Eight Worshipful Master during the years 1875 and 1876. Thames, New Zealand, Dec. 27th," 1876."

Bro. Hill, in responding to the toast, referred to the term of his office as Master of the Sir Walter Scott Lodge, and the deep interest he had always taken in the welfare of the Lodge, in which he had met with a hearty co-operation from tae officers of the Lodge. He referred to the illuminated address presented to him some time f ince, and said he highly appreciated the repeated manifestations of kindness he had met with at the hands of the brethren ; the esteem manifested for him was worth more than, the jewel he had been presented with, which, bright as. it might be, he should regard doubly valuable seeing from whence it came. He expressed great sorrow at leaving the Thames where he had many and strong ties, stronger than could be imagined,' but cherished the hope that he should again re-visit the Sir Walter Scott Lodge. He hoped that distance and separation would not break his tie with the brethren of his Lodge, and he should often recall the time and the place. All connected with the Lodge would linger in his heart. He should see his friends in his mind, and speak and sympathise with them in his heart, that, although he should be away from them, he would still be with them, in spirit, and one of the strongest feelings he had was that* the Lodge should still, continue to prosper. The Lodge had great influence in Masonry which cannot do anyone injury, but on the contrary does great good. It builds up a platform that all can meet upon for sympathy in poverty and.sorrow, and for thoso principles the Sir Walter Scott Lodge will always occupy a prominent position. He had formed friends among them which would ever be with him. He felt deeply moved, and alluded to his office of Chaplain of the Lodge, and exhorted the brethren to guide their principles from the. volume ot' the Sacred Law, and it was his hope and prayer that though he should part from them now, if he did not meet them again on earth, he, hoped to meet them in that grand Lodge above, when the world's great Architect rules and reigns for ever. He concluded by asking them to accept his most sincere thanks, aDd tendered his best wishes for their future welfare and prosperity. " Sister Lodges," proposed by Bro. P.M. Brodie, and responded to by Bros. P.M.'s Bawden and. Brassey, and Bros. Ehrenfried and Wayte. " Prosperity to' the Thames Goldfield," proposed by Bco. R. McD. Scott, and responded to bj, Bros.* Black, P.M,, W.-S. W. Wilkinson, 1 and Ehrenfried. "Free and Accepted Masons all orer the world," proposed by Bro. the Rev. V. Lush. "Masons' Wives and Masons' Bairns," was humorously proposed by Bro. George Wilson, and responded to by Bro. Fitzhern. " Bro. E.W.M. T. L. Murray," -was proposed by the Rev. James Hill, P.M., in suitable terms, and acknowledged by Bro. Murray^ "To all poor and distressed Mastms all over the Globe." This toast was proposed by the Tyler, Bro. Eawdon, and brought the proceedings to a close.