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Article THE MASONIC MIRROR. ← Page 4 of 4 Article GRAND LODGE. Page 1 of 5 →
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The Masonic Mirror.
of Scotland , unfter whose constitution the Lodge professes to work , we cannot but think that the uttermost circumspection should be observed to do equal justice to all the members . One more -objection , my Lord , and we have done . The W . M . , P . Ms ., and Officers should be the guardians of the funds in trust for the general body of the Lodge ; but can it be admitted for a moment they are faithfully performing that
duty , when since our last regular meeting they have had two illegal Emergencies , such as we have described , and banqueted amongst themselves at the heavy expense of the Lodge funds ? Can such things be allowed ? If so , you will probably have several more such Lodges between this and October , our next regular period of meeting , should you be enabled to find candidates for an excuse to call them ; unless , indeed , your lordship , as W . M ., control the proceedings more in accordance with the letter and spirit of the byedaws of our Lodge .
( Signed ) A . H . Hewlett , P . M ., No . 23 W . Kennady , P . M ., No . 201 . W . Paas , W . M ., No . 30 .
Grand Lodge.
GEAND LODGE .
The quarterly communication was held in Freemasons' Hall , on the 4 th June , the M . W . G . M . presiding ; Bros . Stewart , P . G . W ., as G . S . W . ; Tooke , G . J . W . ; Jones , G . S . D . ; Norris , G . J . D . ; Walmisley , G . S . B . ; Bev . J . E . Cox , G . Chap . ; White , G . Sec . ; Earnfield , G . Assist . Sec . ; Chapman , G . D . C . ; Smith , G . Pursuivant , and a more than usually full attendance of P . G . Officers , Masters , and Wardens of the different Lodges . The Minutes of the last meeting having been read ,
Bro . John Henderson , P . G . Registrar , rose to move the non-confirmathm of that part of them which referred to the Mark Degree . He called upon Grand Lodge not to consent to any innovation on their present ceremonies , as , should they do so , the most disastrous consequences might result . If Grand Lodge were to consent to the proposed innovation , they would be laying the axe to their prosperity , and violating not only the letter but the spirit of their Masonic union . He trusted the day would never arrive when Grand Lodge would give its sanction to so important an alteration in their laws and discipline as was
then proposed . Indeed , he denied that they had the power to make so great a constitutional change as that of adding a new Degree to the Order . They were pledged against all false doctrines , all innovations on their landmarks , and he contended that no man , nor body of men , could make such innovations as that now proposed without endangering the stability of the whole Institution . What was the proposition ? To add a new Degree to their Order , of which thousands of
their Brethren knew nothing , nor could know anything . Indeed he doubted if many present knew what the Mark Degree really was , and many even of the Committee appointed to consider the matter , were themselves not Mark Masons . He held , therefore , that to bring the proposition forward was clearly wrong , or at all events inopportune . All history showed them , that in every country where attempts had been made to introduce changes into their discipline , they had been productive of dissension and disunion . In France and other countries such innovations had
been made , until Degree multiplied upon Degree , until at last they had hemale Masonry ; and the utmost disgrace was brought upon tho Order : and it was only within the last few years that a few zealous Brethren had been enabled to re-establish it in these countries . They must recollect that even with themselves there had been opposing interests , which had only been settled through the intervention of their royal and distinguished Brethren , ami which led to the
union of the two antagonistic Grand Lodges , lie trusted they would not now attempt to disturb the arrangement arrived at upon that occasion , lest it might lead to dissension , and the upsetting of that harmony and good-feeling which had existed amongst Masons ever since that act of union was ratified . By the Act ot Union it was declared , that Freemasonry consisted of three Degrees , and no more ,
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
The Masonic Mirror.
of Scotland , unfter whose constitution the Lodge professes to work , we cannot but think that the uttermost circumspection should be observed to do equal justice to all the members . One more -objection , my Lord , and we have done . The W . M . , P . Ms ., and Officers should be the guardians of the funds in trust for the general body of the Lodge ; but can it be admitted for a moment they are faithfully performing that
duty , when since our last regular meeting they have had two illegal Emergencies , such as we have described , and banqueted amongst themselves at the heavy expense of the Lodge funds ? Can such things be allowed ? If so , you will probably have several more such Lodges between this and October , our next regular period of meeting , should you be enabled to find candidates for an excuse to call them ; unless , indeed , your lordship , as W . M ., control the proceedings more in accordance with the letter and spirit of the byedaws of our Lodge .
( Signed ) A . H . Hewlett , P . M ., No . 23 W . Kennady , P . M ., No . 201 . W . Paas , W . M ., No . 30 .
Grand Lodge.
GEAND LODGE .
The quarterly communication was held in Freemasons' Hall , on the 4 th June , the M . W . G . M . presiding ; Bros . Stewart , P . G . W ., as G . S . W . ; Tooke , G . J . W . ; Jones , G . S . D . ; Norris , G . J . D . ; Walmisley , G . S . B . ; Bev . J . E . Cox , G . Chap . ; White , G . Sec . ; Earnfield , G . Assist . Sec . ; Chapman , G . D . C . ; Smith , G . Pursuivant , and a more than usually full attendance of P . G . Officers , Masters , and Wardens of the different Lodges . The Minutes of the last meeting having been read ,
Bro . John Henderson , P . G . Registrar , rose to move the non-confirmathm of that part of them which referred to the Mark Degree . He called upon Grand Lodge not to consent to any innovation on their present ceremonies , as , should they do so , the most disastrous consequences might result . If Grand Lodge were to consent to the proposed innovation , they would be laying the axe to their prosperity , and violating not only the letter but the spirit of their Masonic union . He trusted the day would never arrive when Grand Lodge would give its sanction to so important an alteration in their laws and discipline as was
then proposed . Indeed , he denied that they had the power to make so great a constitutional change as that of adding a new Degree to the Order . They were pledged against all false doctrines , all innovations on their landmarks , and he contended that no man , nor body of men , could make such innovations as that now proposed without endangering the stability of the whole Institution . What was the proposition ? To add a new Degree to their Order , of which thousands of
their Brethren knew nothing , nor could know anything . Indeed he doubted if many present knew what the Mark Degree really was , and many even of the Committee appointed to consider the matter , were themselves not Mark Masons . He held , therefore , that to bring the proposition forward was clearly wrong , or at all events inopportune . All history showed them , that in every country where attempts had been made to introduce changes into their discipline , they had been productive of dissension and disunion . In France and other countries such innovations had
been made , until Degree multiplied upon Degree , until at last they had hemale Masonry ; and the utmost disgrace was brought upon tho Order : and it was only within the last few years that a few zealous Brethren had been enabled to re-establish it in these countries . They must recollect that even with themselves there had been opposing interests , which had only been settled through the intervention of their royal and distinguished Brethren , ami which led to the
union of the two antagonistic Grand Lodges , lie trusted they would not now attempt to disturb the arrangement arrived at upon that occasion , lest it might lead to dissension , and the upsetting of that harmony and good-feeling which had existed amongst Masons ever since that act of union was ratified . By the Act ot Union it was declared , that Freemasonry consisted of three Degrees , and no more ,