-
Articles/Ads
Article COHKESPONBENCE. ← Page 2 of 13 →
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Cohkesponbence.
Although ,. Mr . Editor , I write thus strongly on the subject of the neglect of our Grand Lodge to redress our grievances , I am not one of those who have withdrawn from the Grand Lodge of England . I have always , and still do advocate adherence to the Grand Lodge of England , and will not give up until we shall have exhausted every method for enlightening our Brethren in England as to our position ; hut although many stanch friends to the Mother Grand Lodge are
m this province battling in her favour , it is discouraging and fatal to our success , to see the M . W . Grand Master taking the course he has thought proper to do : he would apparently care little if every Lodge in the province were driven from its allegiance . Men are asking themselves what good does a continuance of our connection promise , and what good has it done in the past ? Is not the whole of our Masonic history one continued story of neglect by our Mother Grand Lodge ? The Grand Master also displays his ignorance of the dealings of the Grand
Lodge of England with the Canadian Brethren when he taunts them with having pursued a hasty course . A number , and a large number , of influential Brethren have seen cause to set up an independent Grand Lodge , and those who have not seen meet to join them in this course do not , on that account , the less believe that complaints are well-founded , or their cause just , —they are still willing to hope that at the eleventh hour our wants will be attended to and our petitions heard .
I will give you , Mr . Editor , a true sketch of Masonry in this province , every word of which I can support by documentary evidence ; you will then see that our whole course has been neglect on the one side , and a patient hope on the other ; in fact , a hoping against hope that the Grand Lodge of England would extend her fostering care over us . After reading it , how will then appear the assertion of my Lord Zetland , that the actions of our Brethren are hasty , " our desires most preposterous , " and that he will take no notice of them .
In 1792 , the B / . W . William Jarvis was appointed Prov . Grand Master for Canada under the Grand Lodge of England , of which his Grace the Duke of Athole was Grand Master . Soon after his appointment he granted dispensations to form Lodges in various places in the province , and subsequently confirmed those dispensations by warrants , After some time difficulties arose ; the Prov . Grand Master appears to have paid but little attention to his business , made no returns to England , transcended his duty in granting warrants instead of merely
giving dispensations to be afterwards confirmed by warrant from England ; in fact , it would seem that he acted in such a way that the Craft was allowed to get almost completely disorganized . After his death several of the Lodges , on consultation , decided on calling a Convention of Masons , to consider what was best to be done : they met in Kingston , in August , 1817 , and petitioned his Hoyal Highness the Duke of Sussex , then Grand Master , to take their cause into consideration , and to appoint an efficient Prov . Grand Master for Canada ,
recommending at the same time Bro . Roderick McKay as eminently fitted , both from station and character , to fill that office . The Convention met again , in 1819 , and no notice having been taken of the petition of 1817 , they entered into an association , and made an exposition of their views , adopted and sent another petition to the Grand Master or Grand Lodge , all which so fully explain their position and are at the same time so temperate , that I inclose copies . And so anxious were the Brethren to succeed in the object of their desire , that , as you will
perceive , they sent a draft for £ 30 sterling to cover any expenses or charges by the Grand Lodge in granting them a Charter . And—would you believe it , Mr . Editor ?—from that day to this nothing has ever been heard of the £ 30 , further than that the draft was duly presented by and paid to the Grand Secretary . The Convention met again in 1820 , 1821 , and 1822 , per force performing the duties of a Grand Lodge , as all their communications , remonstrances , and petitions ,
addressed to the Grand Master and Grand Secretary remained unanswered . I cannot refrain from sending you a copy of a long letter addressed to the Grand Secretary on the part of the Convention , by its Secretary , Bro . John Dean , and commend it to your careful perusal . In 1822 , Bro . S . McGillivray was appointed Prov . Grand Master , who procured new warrants to be granted to the Canadian Lodges by the Grand Lodge of England : they were thus for the first time
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Cohkesponbence.
Although ,. Mr . Editor , I write thus strongly on the subject of the neglect of our Grand Lodge to redress our grievances , I am not one of those who have withdrawn from the Grand Lodge of England . I have always , and still do advocate adherence to the Grand Lodge of England , and will not give up until we shall have exhausted every method for enlightening our Brethren in England as to our position ; hut although many stanch friends to the Mother Grand Lodge are
m this province battling in her favour , it is discouraging and fatal to our success , to see the M . W . Grand Master taking the course he has thought proper to do : he would apparently care little if every Lodge in the province were driven from its allegiance . Men are asking themselves what good does a continuance of our connection promise , and what good has it done in the past ? Is not the whole of our Masonic history one continued story of neglect by our Mother Grand Lodge ? The Grand Master also displays his ignorance of the dealings of the Grand
Lodge of England with the Canadian Brethren when he taunts them with having pursued a hasty course . A number , and a large number , of influential Brethren have seen cause to set up an independent Grand Lodge , and those who have not seen meet to join them in this course do not , on that account , the less believe that complaints are well-founded , or their cause just , —they are still willing to hope that at the eleventh hour our wants will be attended to and our petitions heard .
I will give you , Mr . Editor , a true sketch of Masonry in this province , every word of which I can support by documentary evidence ; you will then see that our whole course has been neglect on the one side , and a patient hope on the other ; in fact , a hoping against hope that the Grand Lodge of England would extend her fostering care over us . After reading it , how will then appear the assertion of my Lord Zetland , that the actions of our Brethren are hasty , " our desires most preposterous , " and that he will take no notice of them .
In 1792 , the B / . W . William Jarvis was appointed Prov . Grand Master for Canada under the Grand Lodge of England , of which his Grace the Duke of Athole was Grand Master . Soon after his appointment he granted dispensations to form Lodges in various places in the province , and subsequently confirmed those dispensations by warrants , After some time difficulties arose ; the Prov . Grand Master appears to have paid but little attention to his business , made no returns to England , transcended his duty in granting warrants instead of merely
giving dispensations to be afterwards confirmed by warrant from England ; in fact , it would seem that he acted in such a way that the Craft was allowed to get almost completely disorganized . After his death several of the Lodges , on consultation , decided on calling a Convention of Masons , to consider what was best to be done : they met in Kingston , in August , 1817 , and petitioned his Hoyal Highness the Duke of Sussex , then Grand Master , to take their cause into consideration , and to appoint an efficient Prov . Grand Master for Canada ,
recommending at the same time Bro . Roderick McKay as eminently fitted , both from station and character , to fill that office . The Convention met again , in 1819 , and no notice having been taken of the petition of 1817 , they entered into an association , and made an exposition of their views , adopted and sent another petition to the Grand Master or Grand Lodge , all which so fully explain their position and are at the same time so temperate , that I inclose copies . And so anxious were the Brethren to succeed in the object of their desire , that , as you will
perceive , they sent a draft for £ 30 sterling to cover any expenses or charges by the Grand Lodge in granting them a Charter . And—would you believe it , Mr . Editor ?—from that day to this nothing has ever been heard of the £ 30 , further than that the draft was duly presented by and paid to the Grand Secretary . The Convention met again in 1820 , 1821 , and 1822 , per force performing the duties of a Grand Lodge , as all their communications , remonstrances , and petitions ,
addressed to the Grand Master and Grand Secretary remained unanswered . I cannot refrain from sending you a copy of a long letter addressed to the Grand Secretary on the part of the Convention , by its Secretary , Bro . John Dean , and commend it to your careful perusal . In 1822 , Bro . S . McGillivray was appointed Prov . Grand Master , who procured new warrants to be granted to the Canadian Lodges by the Grand Lodge of England : they were thus for the first time