The Masonic Mirror.

whereby every member has an opportunity of objecting to any one about to be introduced amongst them * The undersigned accidentally hearing that another of these Lodges of Emergency was called for Monday the 23 rd inst . ( to advance candidates who had not been previously proposed or balloted for in open Lodge ) , attended the said meeting as members , as they had an undoubted right to do , and determined to express their objection to such illegal proceedings by every means in their power . On presenting themselves , their presence was objected to ;

and on their not . leaving the Lodge , the P . M . and Officers retired to another room , and at their return , to the astonishment of the undersigned , immediately proceeded to advance six or more candidates , without even balloting for them in open Lodge , nor is it believed that they were balloted for , even by the P . M . and Officers whilst in another room . These proceedings the undersigned conceived to be so grossly illegal , and contrary to all Masonic usage , that they appealed to your lordship , who had then taken the chair and opened the Lodge , And mark this , my Lord ! it was after the proceedings we have enumerated had

taken place , that you opened the Lodge . Your lordship having opened it , we appealed to you , on behalf of ourselves and the absent Members , to interpose your authority against such illegal proceedings , when we- —members of the London Bon Accord Lodge , in which we were advanced , and entitled to all the rights and privileges of membership—were told by P . M . Jones that our , presence was an intrusion ! Upon this we requested to have the byedaws read . They were accordingly read to your lordship , acting asW . M ., when it was shown that they distinctly provide that all members for advancement must be proposed

and balloted for in open Lodge , and that one black ball shall exclude the candidate from advancement ; yet , in defiance of this objection , the said six or more candidates were advanced , the only justification offered being another byedaw , which states that a Committee shall be appointed , consisting of the W . M . and his Officers , who shall meet between the months of May and October to audit the accounts , and for other business . Now , my Lord , every one conversant with the government of a Masonic Lodge perfectly understands what meaning to attach

to the term " other business , " and could not by any chance suppose that the provision could overrule the clause specially providing for a ballot in open Lodge . But , my Lord , what was our further astonishment , when on appealing to you , and having these particular byedaws read , you proposed to put it to the vote whether they had acted legally or not . Put it to the vote ! Who were to vote ? Why the very men , and those only , who had to justify their own illegal conduct . Could it be doubted that those who could act so contrary to all Masonic and other

proper usage would hesitate to vote themselves right ? They did so , eight votes being recorded against four ; the eight voters for themselves , consisting of Bros . Jones , P . M . ; Norton , P . M . ; J . Hervey , a P . G-. Officer ; Cole , J . W . ; Spencer , the I . O ., and another member , —one officer , and one only , Bro . Johnson , to his honour , did not vote at all . Thus they voted themselves right against the four independent members , who , after again protesting against the illegality of the proceedings , left the Lodge .

Such , my Lord and W . M ., is a plain and simple statement of what we conceive to be the grossest piece of illegality ever perpetrated under the name of Masonry . We have the honour and prosperity of the noble Oraft too much at heart to allow such proceedings to pass without seeking redress ; and as they Jiave taken place under the sanction of your lordship ' s name as W . M ., whilst you were in the chair , we appeal , to your sense of justice to have the legality of such proceedings more thoroughly investigated , and not to allow the London Bon ¦ A ccord Lodge to lay under the stigma that must otherwise for ever attach to it .

1 w i c . y ° b l ^ y Lord , as a Prov . G . M .,. whether such a proceeding was ever WM <> f * - ? P ° vince or any other ? and if such were possible , whether the VV and Ofricers would not shortly find the subject brought before the Board <> 1 General Purposes and Grand Lodge ? Unfortunately the Bon Accord Lodge ias no such authority to appeal to . Originally founded , though no doubt uiiknow-, n g y , under an illegal charter , and having been repudiated by the Grand Chapter