Untitled Article

I believe also from other equally authentic sources ,- That same Brother possessed a written ritual , * which he was well up in , having a tenacious memory , and which he wished to promulgate through a Lodge of Instruction he was mainly instrumental in founding . Certain variations excited the doubts of some of the members of the Lodge of Instruction , and when questioned , he refused to give an authority for the working he sought to introduce ; whereupon discussion arose , with the

result of which I am not acquainted . But in point of fact every Lodge seems to have a formula of its own . Now , again , Sir , this same Brother attempted to introduce , contrary to the ruling of Grand Chapter , certain obsolete matter into a Royal Arch Chapter , which at the time called forth correction from a Past Grand Superintendent and Past Grand Senior Warden of England . But to return to the question of merit . Is there no merit beyond a capability of performing ceremonies \

Is there no merit in a pure Masonic zeal evidenced by activity , sedulous and strict attention to Masonic business ? Is there no merit in being in and out of Lodge a good Mason ? I may be wrong , but still conceive there is merit in such ^ things , and that they deserve reward . Mere seniority , without any of these recommendations , I admit does not deserve reward ; but zeal , integrity , and a love for Masonry , associated with rank , form , in my opinion , a good claim for even exalted Masonic rank .

The case quoted by " Justitia " is transparent in the west . The case of the refusal of a dispensation by the P . G . S . is true . It was applied for through an influential friend of that officer , and unsuccessfully . If " Justitia" were to name the members of the supposed clique , he must , I believe , name this Brother as one of it . Still , to gain his object , " JustitiaV friend did not hesitate to use what he would call clique influence . It was very creditable and right that the Brother , knowing himself not to be qualified , refused the alleged offer of the P . G . J . W . But the appointments which were made on the same day were all unsolicited , and those that were made were not made by the Prov . G . M ., but by the D . Prov . G . M . The

D . Prov . G . M . had made out a list of P . G . officers to the best of his ability , distributing the offices , I believe , impartially ; but at the eleventh hour obstacles arose among them , —the ' refusal alluded to by " Justitia , ' * —which prevented the possibility of the appointments which had been intended . It was necessary to make out a new list , and without solicitation on the part of any Brother appointed , the selections were at once made from , as certainly believed at the time , qualified Brethren of the Lodge of which the Prov . G . M . happened to be a member , as mentioned by " Justitia . " I deny it was any act of favouritism . I deny that any

clique directed or in any way guided the selection of the several Brethren to fill those offices . I also deny that any remonstrance made by the Brother alluded to , " raised against him a clique . " If any clique has been raised against him , he has to thank his own unconciliatory spirit for it , and nothing else ; inasmuch as his protests are not remarkable , I understand , for mildness or Masonic merit ; and his unqualified condemnations in open Lodge of the Prov . G . M ., are discreditable to him in every point of view .

"Justitia , " if true to his assumed name , should have said that the Brother whose case he details was offered an office at a subsequent Prov . Grand Lodge , and in an unbecoming manner , not in unbecoming words , refused it , the general impression was , because he did not think it an office equal to his merits . That unconstitutional things may have been done in the Province " Justitia" alludes to , I neither deny nor assert ; if all Lodges were visited by a competent and authorized visitor , such proceedings I imagine would not be found to be rare ; but there may he palliating circumstances , cases of necessity , which compel , I might almost

say , tne infringement ot strict rules , otherwise the saying—summu-m jus , summa injuria , must be realized . There is an old adage , "that those who live in glass houses should not throw stones . " The Brother whose case " Justitia" so feelingly describes , himself formed one of a number who solicited , vivd voce and by letter , votes to prevent the election of a Brother to the office of P . G . Treasurer , which Brother , from a sense of duty and in the face of difficulties , brought about an investigation into the confused accounts of the Province , and succeeded in having them reduced to form . The Brother , however , was elected , notwithstanding the organized opposition with which he was met on the part of what "Justitia" would