Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
The Grand Lodge Of Scotland And Grand Orient Of France.
THE GRAND LODGE OF SCOTLAND AND GRAND ORIENT OF FRANCE .
WE five very far from being surprised at the course pursued by the Grand Lodge of Scotland with regard to its relations with the Grand Orient of France . The Grand Lodge of Ireland were more instant in the step they took , but we do not think the delay on the part of
Scotland or England in arriving at any resolution as to the course they should severally pursue has been otherwise than judicious . Neither of them can be charged with precipitancy ; on the contrary , both have acted with a dignity worthy of the occasion , and it is probable the very
deliberation with , which they have met the circumstances will have all the greater weight with the other Masonic powers of the world . It is deeply to be regretted there should be anything like a schism in Freemasonry , but this is not the fault of our English , Irish and Scotch Grand
Lodges , and when so violent an injury is inflicted on the pure principles of our beloved Craft , it is the duty of all loyal brethren to vindicate those principles even though it may be at the risk of a complete severance of friendl y relations with the offending body .
Nor are we surprised that tlie French Grand Orient and its apologists should have failed to offer a satisfactory explanation of the step which was adopted at the Annual General Assembly in September last . As we pointed out in an article some time since , there is no doubt whatever
that the inclusion in the objectionable paragraph of the Clause , "Elle n ' exclut personneyour ses croyances" in one sense exculpates the Grand Orient from the very terrible charge of sanctioning atheism as the guiding principle of Freemasonry ; Indirectly , indeed , the insertion of this
clause , which we rejoice to say was made at the special instance of Bro . de Saint Jean , the President of the Council of the Grand Orient , shows that the Grand Orient recognises theism , and will admit those who so profess it as they have done heretofore . Great stress is laid on this
fact , and it is only right our French brethren should have full credit for having , even at the last moment , inserted this clause . But having admitted this , and having so far therefore rendered justice to the meritorious part of the case , we have still staring us in the face the lamentable
fact that the Grand Orient of France recognises atheism as well as theism . In other words , it proclaims in its new article of the Constitutions , that the people who are commonly described as freethinkers , are , if they succeed in satisfying all other requirements , eligible
for admission into the bosom of Freemasonry . We in England—we should say rather in the United Kingdom of Great ^ Britain and Ireland—shut out no applicant for reception into our Lodges on the score of religious belief . We hold firmly to this landmark , and , as
we have again and again said , it would never occur to us to question a candidate as to the nature of his religious faith . He may be a Jew or a Christian , or a member of any other faith . The question of religion is one which we leave it to him to settle with his conscience , and so long as
he believes in God , we are satisfied without troubling ourselves as to the particular nature of that belief . But with ns there is no place for those who are without belief in a God . We can hardly picture to ourselves an atheist or a
freethinker , or whatever else he may be called , perjuring himself , for the simple reason that we do not believe he has a proper sense of the nature of an oath or solemn obligation / but it is very certain that no one who was known to
The Grand Lodge Of Scotland And Grand Orient Of France.
be of this character would stand a chance of being admitted into any English Lodge . And if , by one of those unfortunate chances which now and again occur , a porson of this character managed to escape detection and was elected , it is very certain that if ho should have what with other
people is known as a conscience , he could not remain in a Lodge five minutes without having his atheistic predilections most violently assaulted ; in which case , doubtless , he would retire as speedily as possible from the Lodge without further detriment to himself or to Freemasonry .
This , then , is the point on which we British and Irish Freemasons join issue with the Grand Orient of France . We do not object to their interpretation of the phrase " Liberty of Conscience " so far as it relates to freedom to indulge in these or those religious convictions . What we
do object to is , that this freedom should be allowed to extend beyond the landmarks of our Order , and that it should be permitted to include not only those who have , but likewise those who have not , a religious faith . We cannot reconcile it with our conscience to have a stupid
atheist or irreligious libertine amongst us . We believe that the admission of such a person would be a flagrant violation of the first principles of the Craft . We think it not impossible that such a person may be a worthy member of society . He may , for instance , be a very amusing
person ; he may sing and dance well ; he may be a great linguist , or he may be deeply versed in abstruse scientific questions ; he may , in his peculiar fashion , be a man of honour ; but as he has no belief in a Supreme Being , we say , There is no place for such as you in our Lodges . You
may worship the God of the Hebrews , or the God of the Christians , or the God adored by any other religious sect . The nature of your belief is no concern of ours ; but it does most materially concern us Freemasons that you should have some kind of religious faith . This is all we require in
addition to the other pre-requisite conditions of full age , moral reputation , & c , & c , and it is as regards this particular point that we fear it will henceforth be impossible for British and French Freemasonry to stand together on terms of harmony . At all events , a severance of the relations
existing between the Grand Lodge of Ireland and the Grand Orient of France took place last November , and now the Grand Lodge of Scotland has taken a similar step . At the Quarterly Communication held on Monday , the 4 th instant , the minutes of the Grand Committee to which the recent
change in the principles of Freemasonry had been referred were submitted . In these it was stated the Grand Secretary had intimated to the Grand Orient that , if it should turn out to be the case that the radical change we have spoken of had been really and truly sanctioned by that
body , it would be the duty of the Grand Committee , Scotland , to recommend to its Grand Lodge a severance of the fraternal relations heretofore existing between it and the Grand Orient . In reply to this a communication had been received in which surprise was expressed on the part of
the Grand Orient at such a proposal , and in which it was pointed out that the modification of the article in question of its Constitutions had been erroneously interpreted , as nothing was further from its wish than to profess atheism and materialism . This reply was deemed unsatisfactory , and
an opinion to that effect having been submitted to Grand Lodge , was fully endorsed by that body . Thus Grand Lodge , Scotland , has formally and officially condemned the
change made in its Constitutions in September last by the Grand Orient of France , and this after a fair investigation of the circumstances , and after having invited a fair and full defence of such change . It only now remains for
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
The Grand Lodge Of Scotland And Grand Orient Of France.
THE GRAND LODGE OF SCOTLAND AND GRAND ORIENT OF FRANCE .
WE five very far from being surprised at the course pursued by the Grand Lodge of Scotland with regard to its relations with the Grand Orient of France . The Grand Lodge of Ireland were more instant in the step they took , but we do not think the delay on the part of
Scotland or England in arriving at any resolution as to the course they should severally pursue has been otherwise than judicious . Neither of them can be charged with precipitancy ; on the contrary , both have acted with a dignity worthy of the occasion , and it is probable the very
deliberation with , which they have met the circumstances will have all the greater weight with the other Masonic powers of the world . It is deeply to be regretted there should be anything like a schism in Freemasonry , but this is not the fault of our English , Irish and Scotch Grand
Lodges , and when so violent an injury is inflicted on the pure principles of our beloved Craft , it is the duty of all loyal brethren to vindicate those principles even though it may be at the risk of a complete severance of friendl y relations with the offending body .
Nor are we surprised that tlie French Grand Orient and its apologists should have failed to offer a satisfactory explanation of the step which was adopted at the Annual General Assembly in September last . As we pointed out in an article some time since , there is no doubt whatever
that the inclusion in the objectionable paragraph of the Clause , "Elle n ' exclut personneyour ses croyances" in one sense exculpates the Grand Orient from the very terrible charge of sanctioning atheism as the guiding principle of Freemasonry ; Indirectly , indeed , the insertion of this
clause , which we rejoice to say was made at the special instance of Bro . de Saint Jean , the President of the Council of the Grand Orient , shows that the Grand Orient recognises theism , and will admit those who so profess it as they have done heretofore . Great stress is laid on this
fact , and it is only right our French brethren should have full credit for having , even at the last moment , inserted this clause . But having admitted this , and having so far therefore rendered justice to the meritorious part of the case , we have still staring us in the face the lamentable
fact that the Grand Orient of France recognises atheism as well as theism . In other words , it proclaims in its new article of the Constitutions , that the people who are commonly described as freethinkers , are , if they succeed in satisfying all other requirements , eligible
for admission into the bosom of Freemasonry . We in England—we should say rather in the United Kingdom of Great ^ Britain and Ireland—shut out no applicant for reception into our Lodges on the score of religious belief . We hold firmly to this landmark , and , as
we have again and again said , it would never occur to us to question a candidate as to the nature of his religious faith . He may be a Jew or a Christian , or a member of any other faith . The question of religion is one which we leave it to him to settle with his conscience , and so long as
he believes in God , we are satisfied without troubling ourselves as to the particular nature of that belief . But with ns there is no place for those who are without belief in a God . We can hardly picture to ourselves an atheist or a
freethinker , or whatever else he may be called , perjuring himself , for the simple reason that we do not believe he has a proper sense of the nature of an oath or solemn obligation / but it is very certain that no one who was known to
The Grand Lodge Of Scotland And Grand Orient Of France.
be of this character would stand a chance of being admitted into any English Lodge . And if , by one of those unfortunate chances which now and again occur , a porson of this character managed to escape detection and was elected , it is very certain that if ho should have what with other
people is known as a conscience , he could not remain in a Lodge five minutes without having his atheistic predilections most violently assaulted ; in which case , doubtless , he would retire as speedily as possible from the Lodge without further detriment to himself or to Freemasonry .
This , then , is the point on which we British and Irish Freemasons join issue with the Grand Orient of France . We do not object to their interpretation of the phrase " Liberty of Conscience " so far as it relates to freedom to indulge in these or those religious convictions . What we
do object to is , that this freedom should be allowed to extend beyond the landmarks of our Order , and that it should be permitted to include not only those who have , but likewise those who have not , a religious faith . We cannot reconcile it with our conscience to have a stupid
atheist or irreligious libertine amongst us . We believe that the admission of such a person would be a flagrant violation of the first principles of the Craft . We think it not impossible that such a person may be a worthy member of society . He may , for instance , be a very amusing
person ; he may sing and dance well ; he may be a great linguist , or he may be deeply versed in abstruse scientific questions ; he may , in his peculiar fashion , be a man of honour ; but as he has no belief in a Supreme Being , we say , There is no place for such as you in our Lodges . You
may worship the God of the Hebrews , or the God of the Christians , or the God adored by any other religious sect . The nature of your belief is no concern of ours ; but it does most materially concern us Freemasons that you should have some kind of religious faith . This is all we require in
addition to the other pre-requisite conditions of full age , moral reputation , & c , & c , and it is as regards this particular point that we fear it will henceforth be impossible for British and French Freemasonry to stand together on terms of harmony . At all events , a severance of the relations
existing between the Grand Lodge of Ireland and the Grand Orient of France took place last November , and now the Grand Lodge of Scotland has taken a similar step . At the Quarterly Communication held on Monday , the 4 th instant , the minutes of the Grand Committee to which the recent
change in the principles of Freemasonry had been referred were submitted . In these it was stated the Grand Secretary had intimated to the Grand Orient that , if it should turn out to be the case that the radical change we have spoken of had been really and truly sanctioned by that
body , it would be the duty of the Grand Committee , Scotland , to recommend to its Grand Lodge a severance of the fraternal relations heretofore existing between it and the Grand Orient . In reply to this a communication had been received in which surprise was expressed on the part of
the Grand Orient at such a proposal , and in which it was pointed out that the modification of the article in question of its Constitutions had been erroneously interpreted , as nothing was further from its wish than to profess atheism and materialism . This reply was deemed unsatisfactory , and
an opinion to that effect having been submitted to Grand Lodge , was fully endorsed by that body . Thus Grand Lodge , Scotland , has formally and officially condemned the
change made in its Constitutions in September last by the Grand Orient of France , and this after a fair investigation of the circumstances , and after having invited a fair and full defence of such change . It only now remains for