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Mr. Thomas Greenhow was the vice-chairman; and the seats at the head of the side tables were occupied by Mr. Lamb and Mr. Scott. The Vicar said grace before and after dinner.

The MAYOR, whose health was given with four times four, rose and said, the strong and marked manner in which they had just testified their respect, deprived him of the power of expressing his gratitude in suitable terms. He felt a particular pleasure in being present on that occasion, for the company differed in one respect from that in which he generally found himself:-there they were of no party-they met on neutral ground-and the applause with which his name had been received was therefore doubly grateful to his ears. He begged to say that that was not the first time in which he had come in contact with Odd Fellows; for he had then in his possession a testimonial of the respect of a part of their body—an address on silk, signed by 83 members, presented to him for some little supposed service, which he (in conjunction with the late Mr. Isaac Whitwell) had been so fortunate as to render,-a testimonial that he would hand down to his son, who might preserve it as an evidence of the respect in which his father had been at one time held by a portion of his fellow townsmen (applause). He had been frequently accused, he understood, of courting popularity : if the kindness exhibited towards him that day were to be considered as the fruits of such courting, he saw little reason to be dissatisfied with the result (cheers). He was deeply sensible of the honours which he had obtained at the hands of his townsmen. Twelve years ago he came amongst them a stranger; and although he hoped his conduct since that time had been such as to give him some little claim upon their good opinion, yet it did not, he was sure, entitle him to all the distinctions that had been placed upon him, more especially with regard to the office of their Chief Magistrate, which he had been called upon to fill. Since, however, they had elevated him to that office, he hoped he should never be found to fail in his duty when called upon to punish those who did wrong, or to encourage others whose designs were laudable and good (applause). Before resuming his seat, he desired to make another observation-and that was, to express the pleasure which he experienced at seeing their worthy Vicar amongst them that day (applause). He hailed his presence as an augury of better things, and as an earnest that asperities arising out of party and circumstances were about to be put an end to (applause). He was confident that were the Rev. John Hudson better known to his townsmen-were he oftner to mingle amongst them-no man would be found to stand higher in their esteem, (applause). His Worship begged to add, that the tribute of respect shown him that day he should long hold in grateful remembrance, and though they were called odd Fellows, he hoped there would soon be many more "odd " like them in the country. In conclusion he proposed "Prosperity to the Nelson Lodge," and sat down amidst reiterated cheers.

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Mr. RICHARD WILSON next rose, and proposed the health of the Vicar, which was drank with very great applause.

The VICAR, on rising, was greeted with rapturous cheering. He said the kind manner in which his health had been proposed, and the enthusiasm with which it had been received, unfitted him to render a suitable return. Approving as he did of every institution which had for its object the welfare and happiness of his fellow-men, it was impossible that he should not be struck by the large, orderly, and respectable assembly then before him-assembled for one of the best purposes that could animate mankindto give advice, assistance, and support to each other under circumstances when those were most wanted. The means adopted, too, by this Society for carrying its object into effect, appeared to him highly praiseworthy. Civilized society itself was founded on the same principles as this institution, for it was to give aid, advice, and support to each other that had led mankind to associate, and without which we should be naked and helpless indeed. With respect to those differences which had been alluded to by the Mayor and the respected friend who had proposed his health, he begged to assure them, that all that he had done in the high situation which he filled, had been matter of deep concern to him, that he had acted upon the fullest consideration, and taken no steps which did not seem to him demanded by justice, and by his duty; and also that the future efforts of his life should be directed to enable him to live in peace, to cultivate the good opinion, and contribute to the concord and comfort of his parishioners and of all mankind (loud applause). He hoped nothing had escaped his lips that day which was not in unison with the feelings he had just expressed, and as

public speaking at meetings of that sort was not quite his forte, he should sit down with assuring the company of his sincerest regard for them all, and with drinking to the health and happiness of every individual member of the Odd Fellows' institution (very loud cheering).

The VICE-CHAIRMAN rose, and begged to propose the health of W. J. Voules, Esq., an Assistant Poor-Law Commissioner for England and Wales.

Mr. VOULES returned thanks in an eloquent speech. If those gentlemen who had lived nearly all their lives amongst them were overcome by the manner in which their names had been received, how much more reason had he, a stranger, to feel grateful for their kindness. He had considered the invitation sent to him to attend that day a great favour, but that favour had been vastly increased by the way in which the toast just proposed had been by them received. He could not, however, lay the "flattering unction to his soul" that the compliment was merely personal, but considered it as an expression of their regard and approval of that Board which he had the honour to represent in this district. In that sense, indeed, it was more gratifying to him to receive the compliment than in any other, and it was also more honourable to them, for it bespoke on their parts an intelligence and a feeling to see and to appreciate that the efforts of the Board were calculated to benefit mankind, and to cherish the highest qualities of the heart. Although he was bound by the limits of an Act of Parliament, while they exercised brotherly assistance and used the words of kindness, yet he believed their object was the same, and that their efforts would be found mutually conducive to improving the condition of the labouring and all other classes of the community. In the discharge of his public duties the sentiments of that Society should ever have a powerful influence over his conduct. The measure which he had come to put in execution amongst them was little understood by many-was viewed with prejudice by some, and assailed with abuse by others—yet his conduct hitherto, he trusted, had not made him an enemy, whilst he hoped he had made some friends (applause)— but of all the friendships he had formed, he saw reason, from the sentiments which he had heard in that room, to be more proud of their connexion and good opinion than of any other; for that was a legitimate and celestial object which they were assembled to promote. He trusted the present was not the last time he should have the honour of meeting them; and, collectively and individually, he should at all times endeavour to evince his regard and esteem for men who acted upon the noble principles of their institution (loud applause).

The MAYOR said from what he had heard, it appeared to him that the Society was much indebted to the exertions of their Chairman. To him they owed the Widow and Orphans' Fund, and the man who had earned the blessing of the widow and the orphan had a strong claim upon human affections (applause). He begged to propose the health of their worthy Chairman. (four times four).

The CHAIRMAN expressed his acknowledgments.

Mr. R. WILSON begged to propose the health of the Rev. Gentleman who had that day officiated in the performance of divine service with their worthy Vicar—Mr. R. C. Fell (four times four).

The Rev. Mr. FELL expressed his thanks to the company, both for the cordial manner in which his health had been received, and for the politeness of their invitation to dine on that occasion. What had occurred that morning, perhaps they would allow him to say, was not the work of accident. Having heard that a sermon was to be preached to the members of their institution, and having a great respect for such societies, he requested his respected and dear friend the Vicar, to permit him to join in the performance of the service, which was granted, and had afforded him the highest pleasure (applause). Something in the course of the speaking that afternoon had been said with respect to the "condescension" of gentlemen attending the meeting; but from the excellent manner in which every thing had been conducted, he could see no "condescension" in the case; indeed from all that he had witnessed, he did not hesitate to say, that were he a resident in the town he should become a member of their institution (tremendous applause). He hoped they might long be able to maintain their association in health and prosperity.

Soon after Mr. Fell had resumed his seat, the leading guests rose to take leave,

the May or assuring the company that the afternoon had been one of unalloyed pleasure to himself and friends.

In conclusion, we beg to refer our brethren, (those of Mitcham in particular) to the forthcoming ALMANACK, which will contain the names of the numerous clergyman who have honoured the Independent Order with their support and assistance, as well as the time and place where the sermons were preached, &c. &c.

BUD OF HOPE LODGE, BONSALL.

MONDAY, July 25th being the anniversary of this Lodge of the Manchester Independent Order of Odd Fellows, host Mather's house was at an early hour the scene of some bustle, as proceeded the pleasing duty of decorating with garlands, &c. the lodge-room for the day's festivities. That being finished in a very chaste style, the Brothers of the Order (of which at this time there was a strong muster) preceded by the Matlock Bath brass band, dressed in their military costume, walked in procession, decorated in their regalia, carrying banners, &c. to the Baptist Chapel, which was crowded to excess, where a most learned and impressive discourse was delivered by Mr. Adam, of Matlock Bath, from Job 5th and 7th. From thence the procession moved back to the lodge-room, and partook of a most excellent dinner, which did credit to the worthy host. After dinner, the Sunday scholars (for whom there had been a collection at the chapel door) came in procession to the front of the lodge, and sang a hymn. They then formed in line with the Brothers of the Order, and paraded with them, preceded by the band, as before, through the village, accompanied by a very numerous and highly respectable concourse of spectators. The children at parting, sang another hymn; and the whole procession being formed in a line, in one of the most enchanting parts of Bonsall Dale, gave to the whole a most beautiful and imposing effect. The procession again halted at Brother Tomisson's, mine host of the Rising Son, and partook of a glass of his sparkling beverage. They then proceeded to the Lodge; and the chairs being taken by Brothers Bird and Tomisson, the greatest hilarity prevailed, ever and anon enlivened by the "vocal voice" and the brass band. Indeed the whole of the evening was spent in that harmonious mingling of souls that maketh brethren so delighted to congregate.

EXTRACT FROM THE SERMON.

Job 5th and 7th verse-" Man is born unto trouble as the sparks fly upwards.' He commenced by observing

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"It may be necessary to enquire into the character of this book, as it is confessedly one of the most difficult portions of sacred writ, and in consequence of this some have been led to doubt its divine authority. First, then, let us consider its antiquity. The concurrent testimony of the church, both ancient and modern, is, that it was written soon after the giving of the law,-the law being the first written document given to man in the compressed sign: thus God himself graciously condescended to commnnicate to man the knowledge of this brief mode (by a few simple and compendous characters) of communicating our ideas in a written language to each other; when he wrote the law on the two tables of stone,*a all the previous methods being the hieroglyphic or picture writing, clearly expressed in Job 19th and 24th-" Graven

* The size of the two tables, which Moses was able to carry, would imply this; besides it must, I think, be admitted, that God would write his own law in the most PERFECT manner, as being most accordant with all his proceedings. So struck was Gilbert Wakefield with the surprising fact, that the stupendous edifice of human knowledge, should be reared by the simple use and transposition of 22, as in the Hebrew, or 26 characters, as in our own language; that he could ascribe its origin only to divine inspiration. "Philosophical Transactions,"-" Paper on the Alphabet."

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with an iron pen, and lead in the rock for ever," decidedly indicating the mode of chiseling out the figures or symbols, as adopted in Egypt. The best authorities admit, that Moses was the author of this book, who wrote it for the benefit of the Israelites during their painful sojourn in the wilderness. As Job lived prior to the Exodus, Moses must have acquired the knowledge of the history of this eminent patriarch, while dwelling in the land of Midian in the house of Jethro, his father-in-law, which was contiguous to Idumea, where the scene of these transactions is laid; as there can be no doubt that the report, respecting the life and sufferings of Job, would be handed down by oral tradition through the patriarchal times; and sung or recited at their religious feasts, perhaps, in the manner of the ancient bards in our own land.* of the simplicity of those times, and the certainty that God preserved the knowledge of himself amongst a select few in that age of gross ignorance, Moses had a fine specimen in the person of Jethro, who was both priest and chief of the tribe over which he ruled, and who worshipped with his people the one true God a. The character of this ancient and beautiful book was next shown, as containing the purest morality—the sublimest philosophy-the simplest ritual, and the most magnificent creed in existence.

Its morality is seen from the statement it gives of the wretched and debased state of sinful man, "who drinketh iniquity like water," contrasted by the exalted holiness and transcendently pure character of God, who chargeth his angels with folly," and in whose sight "the heavens are not clean" b, therefore the necessity imposed upon man to obey the laws promulgated by so holy a God, as therein strongly enforced, and which Job did obey, c and the results of obedience in the encreased happiness of the creature. d The moral and intellectual improvemeut of our kind is distinctly stated to arise from the "fear of God," which is the greatest preservative against sin, and the first initiatary step to, and REAL groundwork of all RIGHT knowledge, e "the fear of the Lord is clean enduring for ever." The utter destitution of this blessed principle being the cause of so much wretchedness and crime in our world.

Its philosophy, or the knowledge contained in it of material things, so far exceeding the light of that and many subsequent ages. The most recondite principles of science are here touched upon with ease and sublimity,—the cause of rain from electrical phenomena, precipitating the cloudy vapour pointed out. g The balancing of those cloudy masses in the firmament of heaven, stated to be incomprehensible to man, and it is still so found, notwithstanding the advancement of science, and the splendid light of the nineteenth century ht. The form of our earth is implied in ch. 26 and 7‡, and the ease with which God called it into being stated; when "the morning stars sang together, and the sons of God shouted for joy," at the display of God's creative power and infinite wisdom h, and who can read from the 38th to the end of the 41st chapters

*The "Iliad" and " Odyssey" of Homer were thus handed down for a considerable period, till after the invention of Greek letters, not being written till the days of Solon. Our own Celtic histories were also thus preserved. But to prevent errors Moses wrote this, as all the books of the Pentateuch, under divine direction.

†The general opinion is, that clouds are formed of minute hollow spheres, filled with hydrogen gas. But how this gas is generated, whether from the decomposition of an ultimate atom, affected within the integral particle of water of which it forms a part, or other causes, or how those spheres are formed and preserve their vascularity, subject as they are to violence and every possible change of temperature, are matters only resolveable into the will of the Creator.

"And hangeth the earth upon nothing." That is in the vast expanse of ether, finely expressed by Milton in the following line :—

"And earth self-balanced on her centre hung."

A very different idea this to the uninspired notions entertained by the ancients, who supposed the earth an extended plain, supported in different ways as their fancy suggested.

Texts:-a Exod. 2, 15 and 16-b Job 15 and 16-c ch. 23 and 12-d ch. 36, 10, 11-e ch. 28 and 28-ƒPs. 19 and 9-g ch. 37 and 11 and 16 verses-h ch. 36, 27 to the 33.-i 38, 5, 6, and 7.

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without being convinced of the presence of a speaking power, far superior to the utmost stretch of mere human conception. The profundity of the knowledge-the surpassing beauty of the poetry, and the sublimity of the descriptions there given of heavenly and terrestrial phenomena, and of those gigantic and fierce beings that peopled the earth and sea, can never be exceeded; and the effect of the whole on the mind of Job to abate the natural pride and rebellion of the creature, and to exalt the Creator, who is over all blessed for ever. Amen. a

The simplicity of its ritual b. How different to the corrupt and ignorant modes which prevailed in that and succeeding times. Here are no splendid or gorgeous dis plays to impose upon the mind; no complex, cruel, or unmeaning rites, but the most natural and unaffected simplicity. A father at the head of his family and tribe, anxious for their future and eternal welfare, leading them to the pure and elevated worship of one supreme God, and that God known to be a God of unsullied holiness, inflexible justice, and spotless purity. Behold it in the anxiety of a father's heart, when his sons kept in succession their natal day. Oh! it is a lovely sight to behold a family thus united, and recording the happy event of the introduction of one of their number into existence, a boon we cannot rightly estimate until we reach the glories of the upper world d. Job, who knew the treachery of the human heart, feared, lest his sons, in the midst of their mirth and hilarity, should have forgotton God their maker, and transgressed against him (" for the thought of foolishness is sin" c), therefore did he offer continually the appointed sacrifice for each, with unhewn stones, raised for his altar d, the elevated rock for his pavement, and the blue vault of heaven for his canopy e; and as he lifted up his heart in prayer, and beheld ascending the smoke of the ACCEPTEDƒ victim, his mind was led on from the type to the antitype, and his eye piercing through the vista of ages to come, beheld in prophetic vision "the lamb slain from the foundation of the world. g" In the depth of his misery he remembered this, and then broke from his lips that elevated strain of strong immortal faith, “I know that my Redeemer liveth." h.

The magnificence of its creed. The majesty, unity, omnipotence and unsearchable. character of God is clearly stated,—the question is asked " Canst thou by searching find out God? Canst thou find out the Almighty unto perfection? It is as high as heaven, what canst thou do? Deeper than hell, what canst thou know? The measure thereof is longer than the earth and broader than the sea." The clear inference from this passage is, that not a part of illimitable space is exempt from his presence and control, not an instant of eternity past, or to come, but what is filled and identified with his existence.* His being one "eternal now." What lofty conceptions are these of the ever blessed God. How different from the earthliness and corrupt views entertained by the most enlightened of the ancient heathen. Hence we have the most incontrovertable evidence from the book itself of its divine authority, corroborated by other parts of sacred writ, and a beautiful instance given of the boundless love and infinite compassion of our God, that though he afflicts man for his transgressions, it is not to destroy but to save. It is as a father pities and corrects his child whom he loves. i "Ye have heard," says St. James," of the patience of Job, and have seen the end, or purpose of the Lord, that the Lord is very pitiful and of tender mercy. "j God crowned the last days of Job with glory and honour, and by him furnished an instance of suffering, patience, and piety to every age of the church. His history connects the three great dispensations of God, forming one complete whole, in His moral economy and government of the church. In the divine records we have the patriarchal with its beautiful simplicity. The Mosaic with its splendid and typical ritual, and prophetic announcements. The christian with its full developements of the infinite purposes and love of God in the gift of his Son to redeem our race; all sealed

* In addition to this, Job believed in the atonement of Christ,-the following passages," He shall stand," and " upon the earth," and "in my flesh (or nature) shall I see God," clearly imply this. This shows the faith of believers in all ages to have been but one. See ch. 19th, 25, 26.

Texts:-a, ch. 42, 1st to 6th verse inclusive-b, ch. 1st, 4 and 5-c, Prov. 24, 9d, Exod. 20, 24, 25-e Judges 6, 26-f. 1st Kings 18, 38-g Rev. 13, 8-h Job 19. 25,26, 27-i Ps. 103, 10, 13, &c.-j James 5, 11-k Job 42, 12.

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