8 THE NORTH ATLANTIC TELEGRAPH. One year ago the Atlantic Telegraph Company laid the cable con- necting Ireland and Newfoundland. I will say nothing with regard to its success as a Telegraph, or the probability of its ever being successfully operated. It has demonstrated to the world •—what was denied by some—that an ocean cable can be laid. You, sir, have projected the plan of a North Atlantic Telegraph. I can see no reason why we may not look with confidence for a successful termination of your project, in laying a cable through the waters contemplated in your plan, nor why we may not with equal confidence hope for its success as a Telegraph. But, sir, I need not remind you of the importance nor the magnitude of your undertaking. I am not here for that purpose. I am here in behalf of your friends and in my own behalf, to extend to you our best wishes on your departure, and to say “ God- speed ” to you and your enterprise. And, sir, recognising in you a brother of our ancient and honourable institution of Free and Accepted Masons, and in token of a brother’s friendship and best wishes, I present to you this flag. On it you behold some of the emblems of our order. Their meaning you understand, and I trust you are familiar with the practice of those virtues they inculcate. Wherever you shall go, this flag will make you welcome. You will find it respected, because its emblems are understood. “There is no speech nor language where their voice is not heard. Their line is gone out through all the earth, and their words to the end of the world.” Should your voyage be altogether prosperous, which may God grant, let this banner float at your mast-head; to you it will be a friendly companion; and should it chance to meet the eye of some Brother sailing upon the wide ocean, to him it will be like sounds from home wafted to him in a far country. Should the angry sea toss your frail bark, and a lowering tempest shut out from your gaze the azure vault of heaven, let this blue symbolic flag remind you that beyond the cloud the sky is still blue and serene, and let it direct your mind, by the eye of faith, to Him in whom we trust, who maketh the clouds His pavilion, and who holdeth the sea as in the hollow of His hand— to whose protection, with our best wishes, we commend you, your family, and all connected with your enterprise. In response Colonel Shaffner said :— Fraternal Sir: I receive the flag which you have so kindly presented, and beg to express to you my thanks for the beautiful present, and for the kind words you have spoken for my welfare, and those who accompany me on this expedition. For near twenty years I have been a devoted Mason. From

(1) Front Board
(2) Front Board
(3) Front Flyleaf
(4) Front Flyleaf
(5) Page 1
(6) Page 2
(7) Page 3
(8) Page 4
(9) Page 5
(10) Page 6
(11) Page 7
(12) Page 8
(13) Page 9
(14) Page 10
(15) Page 11
(16) Page 12
(17) Page 13
(18) Page 14
(19) Page 15
(20) Page 16
(21) Page 17
(22) Page 18
(23) Page 19
(24) Page 20
(25) Page 21
(26) Page 22
(27) Page 23
(28) Page 24
(29) Page 25
(30) Page 26
(31) Page 27
(32) Page 28
(33) Page 29
(34) Page 30
(35) Page 31
(36) Page 32
(37) Page 33
(38) Page 34
(39) Page 35
(40) Page 36
(41) Page 37
(42) Page 38
(43) Page 39
(44) Page 40
(45) Page 41
(46) Page 42
(47) Page 43
(48) Page 44
(49) Page 45
(50) Page 46
(51) Page 47
(52) Page 48
(53) Page 49
(54) Page 50
(55) Page 51
(56) Page 52
(57) Page 53
(58) Page 54
(59) Page 55
(60) Page 56
(61) Page 57
(62) Page 58
(63) Page 59
(64) Page 60
(65) Page 61
(66) Page 62
(67) Page 63
(68) Page 64
(69) Page 65
(70) Page 66
(71) Page 67
(72) Page 68
(73) Page 69
(74) Page 70
(75) Page 71
(76) Page 72
(77) Page 73
(78) Page 74
(79) Page 75
(80) Page 76
(81) Illustration
(82) Illustration
(83) Rear Flyleaf
(84) Rear Flyleaf
(85) Rear Board
(86) Rear Board
(87) Spine
(88) Fore Edge
(89) Scale
(90) Color Palette