Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Coeees^
In the meantime we may observe that when documents are once in print we feel ourselveS at liberty to republish them if we think desirable . !
TO THE EDITOB OF THE FREEMASONS * MAGAZINE AND MASONIC MIBBOR . Sir and Beotheti , —The editorial article in your April number , together with the reply of the R . W . D . Prov . Grand Master of West Yorkshire , published in your May number , and your subsequent article , have brought into somewhat prominent notice the project of the Provincial Board of General Purposes for West Yorkshire . It seems but right , however , that , your readers should be made aware that a
considerable proportion of the Masons of West Yorkshire concur in your own views on the subject , and that on the occasion of the Prov . Grand Lodge affirming by resolution the expediency of establishing this provincial board , its jurisdiction over matters of masonic discipline was not then brought forward by its promoters . It is open to much question whether , had this range of jurisdiction been then brought before the Prov . Grand Lodge , it would have affirmed the establishment of this board . Although dignified by"the high sounding title referred to , this board was in its origin
intended , by at all events some of its promoters , merely as a general committee to relieve the Prov . Grand Lodge from many details of business
respecting its expenditure , the management and letting and repairs of its freehold property , and other matters of a similar nature , or which might be referred to it by the Prov . Grand Lodge . In this respect it would have coincided exactly with what , in your view , is the proper office and function of such a board . But in the hands of the committee appointed to draw
up the regulations for this board , its functions expanded to their now proposed dimensions . And not even it-he whole of the committee are committed to the regulations in their present state , for it is well known that only two or three were the active compilers of the regulations , the draft of which was not submitted to all the committee before being presented to the Prov . Grand Lodge .
Moreover , such was the haste in which these regulations were sought to be passed , that they were presented to the Prov . Grand Lodge at Bradford last January and attempted to be put as a substantive alteration in our by-laws , notwithstanding that no notice of their contents or effect had been previously communicated to the Province as required by existing by-laws . On this objection being raised , the regulations were at once withdrawn ; and after having been duly published , were re-submitted to
the Prov . Grand Lodge held at Uuddersiield last April , when , with certain alterations they were ' affirmed . But , on that occasion , so much time was occupied in the discussion of the earlier clauses , that the later ones could not and did not receive that ample consideration which they otherwise would have done . To this is to be attributed , in a great measure , the passing of the clauses of which you disapprove . Your comments are objected to on the part of the R . W . T ) . Prov . G . M . of West Yorkshire on the
ground that the regulations are still sub judice , being not yet confirmed by a succeeding Lodge , as required by existing provincial bj ' -laws . This objection rests on the argument that the regulations may not be confirmed , but on the contrary , may , perhaps , he disaffirmed altogether at the next Lodge ; and that in the meantime , therefore , all strictures thereon are premature ; the regulations being as yet inchoate and immature . But the objection and argument are tmhappy ones for the D . Prov . G . M .,
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Coeees^
In the meantime we may observe that when documents are once in print we feel ourselveS at liberty to republish them if we think desirable . !
TO THE EDITOB OF THE FREEMASONS * MAGAZINE AND MASONIC MIBBOR . Sir and Beotheti , —The editorial article in your April number , together with the reply of the R . W . D . Prov . Grand Master of West Yorkshire , published in your May number , and your subsequent article , have brought into somewhat prominent notice the project of the Provincial Board of General Purposes for West Yorkshire . It seems but right , however , that , your readers should be made aware that a
considerable proportion of the Masons of West Yorkshire concur in your own views on the subject , and that on the occasion of the Prov . Grand Lodge affirming by resolution the expediency of establishing this provincial board , its jurisdiction over matters of masonic discipline was not then brought forward by its promoters . It is open to much question whether , had this range of jurisdiction been then brought before the Prov . Grand Lodge , it would have affirmed the establishment of this board . Although dignified by"the high sounding title referred to , this board was in its origin
intended , by at all events some of its promoters , merely as a general committee to relieve the Prov . Grand Lodge from many details of business
respecting its expenditure , the management and letting and repairs of its freehold property , and other matters of a similar nature , or which might be referred to it by the Prov . Grand Lodge . In this respect it would have coincided exactly with what , in your view , is the proper office and function of such a board . But in the hands of the committee appointed to draw
up the regulations for this board , its functions expanded to their now proposed dimensions . And not even it-he whole of the committee are committed to the regulations in their present state , for it is well known that only two or three were the active compilers of the regulations , the draft of which was not submitted to all the committee before being presented to the Prov . Grand Lodge .
Moreover , such was the haste in which these regulations were sought to be passed , that they were presented to the Prov . Grand Lodge at Bradford last January and attempted to be put as a substantive alteration in our by-laws , notwithstanding that no notice of their contents or effect had been previously communicated to the Province as required by existing by-laws . On this objection being raised , the regulations were at once withdrawn ; and after having been duly published , were re-submitted to
the Prov . Grand Lodge held at Uuddersiield last April , when , with certain alterations they were ' affirmed . But , on that occasion , so much time was occupied in the discussion of the earlier clauses , that the later ones could not and did not receive that ample consideration which they otherwise would have done . To this is to be attributed , in a great measure , the passing of the clauses of which you disapprove . Your comments are objected to on the part of the R . W . T ) . Prov . G . M . of West Yorkshire on the
ground that the regulations are still sub judice , being not yet confirmed by a succeeding Lodge , as required by existing provincial bj ' -laws . This objection rests on the argument that the regulations may not be confirmed , but on the contrary , may , perhaps , he disaffirmed altogether at the next Lodge ; and that in the meantime , therefore , all strictures thereon are premature ; the regulations being as yet inchoate and immature . But the objection and argument are tmhappy ones for the D . Prov . G . M .,