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Article THE REVELATIONS OF A SQUARE. ← Page 9 of 17 →
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The Revelations Of A Square.
nature and origin , but they produced very serious effects . The facts were these . It had been determined unanimously by the Brethren of the Lodge of Antiquity , at a full meeting , holden on the 17 th of December , 1777 , that at the annual festival , on St . John ' s day , a procession should be formed to St . Dunstan ' s churcha few steps onlfrom the Mitre Tavernwhere
, y , the Lodge was held , to hear a sermon from Bro . Eccles . " When the day arrived , and preparations were made for the ceremony , a protest against the procession was entered by Bro . Noorthouck , the Treasurer , and Bro . Bottomley , Past Treasurer of the Lodge ; in consequence of which the Brethren abandoned the design , and did not proceed to the church in
Masonic costume , as was originally intended , but clothed themselves in the vestry-room ; and , being only ten in number , they all sat in the same pew . Bro . Eccles gave them an appropriate discourse ; and , divine service being ended , the Brethren crossed the street in white aprons and gloves . This was construed into a grave offence against the standing rules of the Order .
" Bro . Noorthouck did not attend the ensuing Lodge , but he sent a strong remonstrance against the proceeding , and threatened to bring the matter before the Grand Lodge , if the Lodge of Antiquity did not , then and there , pass a resolution affirming that , as a Lodge , they not only totally disapproved of and repudiated the transaction , but also absolutely censured
and condemned the ten individuals engaged in the ( so called ) procession for such an unwarrantable breach of Masonic law . " Bro . Bottomley was intrusted with the resolution , and proposed it in form . The Brethren were taken by surprise ; but the motion being duly seconded , it was of course submitted by the Master to the deliberation of the Lodge , and a debate ensued .
" On this evening a distinguished visitor was present , in the person of Capt . George Smith , an active and zealous Mason , wdio was on terms of intimacy with the Grand Master , and the personal friend of Bro . Preston . He had studied Masonry both at home and abroad , and was presumed to be well acquainted with the Laws and Constitutions of the Order .
Eminent in Masonic attainments himself , he was ever ready to estimate and proclaim the same excellence in others . Belonging to an honourable profession , he was too chivalric to allow passion or prejudice to interfere with justice and equity , nor would he suffer the weak to be oppressed without lending a helping hand , even though his exertions in their behalf VOL . III . 3 K
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
The Revelations Of A Square.
nature and origin , but they produced very serious effects . The facts were these . It had been determined unanimously by the Brethren of the Lodge of Antiquity , at a full meeting , holden on the 17 th of December , 1777 , that at the annual festival , on St . John ' s day , a procession should be formed to St . Dunstan ' s churcha few steps onlfrom the Mitre Tavernwhere
, y , the Lodge was held , to hear a sermon from Bro . Eccles . " When the day arrived , and preparations were made for the ceremony , a protest against the procession was entered by Bro . Noorthouck , the Treasurer , and Bro . Bottomley , Past Treasurer of the Lodge ; in consequence of which the Brethren abandoned the design , and did not proceed to the church in
Masonic costume , as was originally intended , but clothed themselves in the vestry-room ; and , being only ten in number , they all sat in the same pew . Bro . Eccles gave them an appropriate discourse ; and , divine service being ended , the Brethren crossed the street in white aprons and gloves . This was construed into a grave offence against the standing rules of the Order .
" Bro . Noorthouck did not attend the ensuing Lodge , but he sent a strong remonstrance against the proceeding , and threatened to bring the matter before the Grand Lodge , if the Lodge of Antiquity did not , then and there , pass a resolution affirming that , as a Lodge , they not only totally disapproved of and repudiated the transaction , but also absolutely censured
and condemned the ten individuals engaged in the ( so called ) procession for such an unwarrantable breach of Masonic law . " Bro . Bottomley was intrusted with the resolution , and proposed it in form . The Brethren were taken by surprise ; but the motion being duly seconded , it was of course submitted by the Master to the deliberation of the Lodge , and a debate ensued .
" On this evening a distinguished visitor was present , in the person of Capt . George Smith , an active and zealous Mason , wdio was on terms of intimacy with the Grand Master , and the personal friend of Bro . Preston . He had studied Masonry both at home and abroad , and was presumed to be well acquainted with the Laws and Constitutions of the Order .
Eminent in Masonic attainments himself , he was ever ready to estimate and proclaim the same excellence in others . Belonging to an honourable profession , he was too chivalric to allow passion or prejudice to interfere with justice and equity , nor would he suffer the weak to be oppressed without lending a helping hand , even though his exertions in their behalf VOL . III . 3 K