Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Coeees^
therefore think we have good reason for continuing our present practice ; nevertheless , if ^ you would kindl y oblige me by saying who are " the most distinguished legal authorities in the Order "to whom you refer , and what are their particular reasons for condemning our practice as irregular ^ it might have the effect of causing an alteration in our proceedings upon that point .
I come now to that part where you " emphatically reiterate our opinion that the establishment of such ^ board is distinctly opposed to the Book of Constitutions / ' As I am in the habit of preferring a plain statement of facts to ipse dixit generalizations ( and I make this remark in the most fraternal spirit ) , you would confer a favour upon me , and through me on the Brethren of this province , by pointing out in detail what part or parts of the Book of Constitutions stand opposed to our proposed board , and to what portions of the code of regulations it is probable the Most Worshipful Grand Master would take exception .
In your leader of the 10 th , you print a letter signed "A West Yorkshire Masons" whom you call a highly respected Brother , and whose testimony as to the illegality of the proposed hoard you prominently quote / Permit me to say that I hold in light esteem statements made on such matters by parties who withhold their names , and as I had not the slightest hesitation in appending my name and address to the letter which vou did me the
favour to publish in the correspondence department of your journal of the 12 th , I should not have thought it worth my while to noticey our correspondent ' s letter , did it not contain statements at variance with truth , and the dissemination of which , if uncontradicted , would be greatly calculated to mislead ; but for that reason I would not have troubled myself to evoke his shade . First , he wishes you and the Brethren to understand that
the proposed code of regulations had been sent to you for publication . I leave that to be contradicted by you , knowing as you do that the Provincial Grand Lodge circular of West Yorkshire was forwarded to you in the usual fraternal and courteous manner , without the slightest knowledge or authority on my part that it should be published in your Magazine .
Secondly , he asserts that the proposed code of regulations had not " even been discussed in the Provincial Grand Lodge" before you did so publish them . It must be at all times painful for a Freemason to impugn the veracity of a Brother , and I charitably think that he must have been under the influence' of hasty feelings to have made such a statement , since he either must know , or if not it his duty to know as " A West Yorkshire Mason , " that at the Provincial Grand Lodge held at
Bradford on the 6 th of January , the code of regulations was twice read and largely discussed , and would have been decided upon on that occasion , but owing to the time being short , and a desire on my own part that the Brethren should have every opportunity of full and free discussion , at the suggestion of some distinguished Brethren it was deemed advisable to " receive the report of the committee thereon , " and in the interval ,
if thought desirable , print the said code in the circulars for the next Provincial Grand Lodge meeting , so that every member thereof might have the advantage of further considering its provisions . Upon the " unusual course" of obtaining the Provincial Grand Master ' s sanction before instead of after discussion , I would simply suggest to the " West Yorkshire Mason" a perusal of the twentieth by-law of the Provincial Grand Lodge . He further says , " The Provincial Grand Master is offended at some of the alterations which the Provincial Grand Lodge dared to make ,
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Coeees^
therefore think we have good reason for continuing our present practice ; nevertheless , if ^ you would kindl y oblige me by saying who are " the most distinguished legal authorities in the Order "to whom you refer , and what are their particular reasons for condemning our practice as irregular ^ it might have the effect of causing an alteration in our proceedings upon that point .
I come now to that part where you " emphatically reiterate our opinion that the establishment of such ^ board is distinctly opposed to the Book of Constitutions / ' As I am in the habit of preferring a plain statement of facts to ipse dixit generalizations ( and I make this remark in the most fraternal spirit ) , you would confer a favour upon me , and through me on the Brethren of this province , by pointing out in detail what part or parts of the Book of Constitutions stand opposed to our proposed board , and to what portions of the code of regulations it is probable the Most Worshipful Grand Master would take exception .
In your leader of the 10 th , you print a letter signed "A West Yorkshire Masons" whom you call a highly respected Brother , and whose testimony as to the illegality of the proposed hoard you prominently quote / Permit me to say that I hold in light esteem statements made on such matters by parties who withhold their names , and as I had not the slightest hesitation in appending my name and address to the letter which vou did me the
favour to publish in the correspondence department of your journal of the 12 th , I should not have thought it worth my while to noticey our correspondent ' s letter , did it not contain statements at variance with truth , and the dissemination of which , if uncontradicted , would be greatly calculated to mislead ; but for that reason I would not have troubled myself to evoke his shade . First , he wishes you and the Brethren to understand that
the proposed code of regulations had been sent to you for publication . I leave that to be contradicted by you , knowing as you do that the Provincial Grand Lodge circular of West Yorkshire was forwarded to you in the usual fraternal and courteous manner , without the slightest knowledge or authority on my part that it should be published in your Magazine .
Secondly , he asserts that the proposed code of regulations had not " even been discussed in the Provincial Grand Lodge" before you did so publish them . It must be at all times painful for a Freemason to impugn the veracity of a Brother , and I charitably think that he must have been under the influence' of hasty feelings to have made such a statement , since he either must know , or if not it his duty to know as " A West Yorkshire Mason , " that at the Provincial Grand Lodge held at
Bradford on the 6 th of January , the code of regulations was twice read and largely discussed , and would have been decided upon on that occasion , but owing to the time being short , and a desire on my own part that the Brethren should have every opportunity of full and free discussion , at the suggestion of some distinguished Brethren it was deemed advisable to " receive the report of the committee thereon , " and in the interval ,
if thought desirable , print the said code in the circulars for the next Provincial Grand Lodge meeting , so that every member thereof might have the advantage of further considering its provisions . Upon the " unusual course" of obtaining the Provincial Grand Master ' s sanction before instead of after discussion , I would simply suggest to the " West Yorkshire Mason" a perusal of the twentieth by-law of the Provincial Grand Lodge . He further says , " The Provincial Grand Master is offended at some of the alterations which the Provincial Grand Lodge dared to make ,