The Freemason - 31st July 1869

At a meeting of this lodge, on Wednesday at their Hall, Newby Place, Poplar, in consequence of the unavoidable absence of the W.M. Bro. Cannon, Bro. Finch, P.M., ably conferred the third Degree on two candidates, and Bro. Deveson, P.M., the second Degree of two candidates. The lodge was then resumed in the first Degree, when Bro. Finch, in presenting a handsome P.M. Jewel to Bro. Deveson, I.P.M., thus addressed him: -

Brethren, in the absence of the W.M. Bro. Cannon, a duty has devolved upon me of a very pleasing nature. My only regret is that I am unable to do that justice to it, which the nature of the case requires. Brethren, it is by your unanimous wish, that a Jewel should be presented to our worthy W.M. Bro. Deveson. Now you are so well acquainted with his abilities, his courtesy and uniform kindness as to make it almost unnecessary for me even to allude to them, but justice demands that I should say this much, that ever since he has belonged to the lodge, we have found a zealous persevering brother, always at his post of duty, and willing to make himself useful in any capacity where his services were required, and I am only proud, to see him in the position which he now occupies, and which he so justly deserves. Were I now pressed I could say something more in his favour, but you are so well acquainted with his merits as a Mason, as to make it quite unnecessary for me to do so. Bro. Deveson, in the name of the lodge, and on my own behalf, I now have much pleasure to adorn you with this Jewel; may you be spared many years to wear it, may health, peace, prosperity, and many other blessings attend you and yours.

Bro. DEVESON, P. M., in return said: -

W.M., Officers and Brethren, it is with mingled feelings of gratification and pleasure that I accept this Jewel, which you have been kind enough to present to me this evening, I am quite sure in awarding me this present, you do not mean me to accept it as the full measure of your kindness, neither shall I regard its intrinsic value so highly as the kindly feelings which prompted you to make it. I know that it is the custom in this Lodge to present the retiring Master with some substantial mark of respect. I also know that it is a voluntary offering. That you can, and doubtless would deviate from this custom if you were not satisfied with the way the Master for the time being had discharged the duties of his office. The fact, therefore, of having awarded me this present is evidence of your satisfaction that I have discharged the duties of Master to the best of my ability. Now, I take no credit to myself for so doing, I simply note it as a fact which yon by this token have recorded in my favour , and I must add that whatever office 1 may hold in the Lodge I hope to be equally successful. I promise you that no effort on my part shall be wanting to bring about such a result, lt is now some six years since I was first received into Freemasonry in this Lodge, and I can conscientiously say from that time to the present moment it has been a source of happiness to me to meet you hero to partake of the work of the evening, and after the Lodge is closed to spend a social hour together, and if unfortunately there has been any interruption to the even tenor of our way, I have been as anxious as any of you to smooth away the difficulty, bearing in mind that, we are creatures of impulses and circumstances . 'That which looks black today may not appear so dark tomorrow. That by giving and taking as it were will tide us over many difficulties, when an opposite would tend to make matters worse and drift us into confusion and disorder. Most of you know something of my love and zeal for Freemasonry. I seldom missed attending any of your meetings; I may say for the last two years-and-a-half I have not been absent a single night, and if I am spared I hope to be as punctual tor the future as I have been in the past, for I hold it to be an imperative duty of every one who accepts office to be prepared, if necessary, to make some sacrifice in order to discharge the duties of that office with credit to themselves and with satisfaction to the Lodge. And here allow me to tender my best thanks to the proposer and seconder, Bros. Smith and Marflett for this Jewel, as well as to the Brethren generally, who so readily responded to the proposition. In conclusion, brethren, I shall wear this Jewel as a memento of your kindness; may we be spared many years to meet together. May the Lodge increase in prosperity, and be handed to our successors as second to none in London.

The lodge was then closed in form and with solemn prayer, and adjourned.