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Article COHKESPONBENCE. ← Page 4 of 13 →
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Cohkesponbence.
This will hardly satisfy Canadians , who have learned in this country to think and act for thenlselves , and have little more regard for those who wear a coronet than for those who do not ; they want consolidation and a proper governing body who is responsible to themselves ; and , having decided that question in their own minds , will not be put off with anything less , although they may patiently wait a long time for it . Canadian .
Meeting of Masonic Convention , held at Kingston , Upper Canada , 8 th Feb ., 1819 . ( Extracts . ) We the undersigned , delegates from the several Lodges of Eree and Accepted Masons hereinafter mentioned , having met in General Grand Convention , for the purpose of taking into consideration the present state of the Craft in the Province , hereby make the following exposition of the motives which at this critical juncture actuate us .
Upon the death of our late Grand Master , the Prov . Grand Lodge of Upper Canada expired ; and for several years previous , the operations of said Grand Lodge , by unforeseen difficulties , were suspended , its concerns were neglected , and Masonry was fast sinking into anarchy and confusion , The consequences of this state of things were seen by many of the members 3 f this convention , hut it was out of their power to remedy the evil . The death of our Grand Master left us a disjointed body , and from want of subordination , the subordinate Lodges which
continued working , without any restraint , were rapidly , declining . As is too frequently the case , where no power exists nor is exercised to enforce adherence to the genuine principles of the Order , bad members had gained admission into the Lodges , and the pure principles of Masonry were so profaned by their conduct , that worthy men stood aloof , in many instances , perhaps , thinking Masonry the cause of such conduct , or , at least , that it did not prohibit it . Irregularities in working had crept into the Lodges , from want of proper correspondence , and from having no official head to which they could apply for the lectures .
The effect of such proceedings , of which this is but a faint picture , was perceived by the Lodges , and several being sensible of our rapidly declining state , did choose delegates to meet in Grand Convention , to deliberate upon proper measures for the correction of existing evils , and said delegates did , on the 27 th day of August , A . L . 5817 , assemble at Kingston , and after mature deliberation , adopt the only remedy in their power , and nominated Roderick McKay , Esq ., for the office of
Prov . Grand Master , and immediately advised the Grand Lodge of England of the nomination , praying that our situation might be taken into consideration , and if the nomination was approved , that a warrant might be forwarded , that a Prov . Grand Lodge might be organized . To this communication no reply has been received , and to add to our misfortunes , our Grand Master elect was suddenly snatched from us by an untimely death .
We , the undersigned delegates , impressed with a deep sense of our depressed state , and fully sensible that our situation requires immediate attention , and having the prosperity of the Fraternity at heart , and being desirous that the genuine principles of Masonry may be more extensivel y diffused and preserved in their ancient purity , do hereby voluntarily enter into the following "Articles of Association , " in order to lay a foundation for a regular organization of the Craft in this Province , ever holding ourselves amenable for our conduct to the United Grand Lodge of England , whose supremacy we acknowledge , and whoso protection we court ; and which ancient and honourable body we hope will listen favourably to the prayer of the petition which we forward , with a copy of tho proceedings of the Convention , for their approval or disavowal : —
Articles of Association of tlie Masonic Convention of Upper Canada , assembled at Kingston , on the $ lh day of February , A . L . 5810 . Art . 1 . —That this Convention shall consist of a President , two Vice-Presidents , Moderator , Secretary , Treasurer , Grand Visitor , and Tyler , who shall bo elected
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Cohkesponbence.
This will hardly satisfy Canadians , who have learned in this country to think and act for thenlselves , and have little more regard for those who wear a coronet than for those who do not ; they want consolidation and a proper governing body who is responsible to themselves ; and , having decided that question in their own minds , will not be put off with anything less , although they may patiently wait a long time for it . Canadian .
Meeting of Masonic Convention , held at Kingston , Upper Canada , 8 th Feb ., 1819 . ( Extracts . ) We the undersigned , delegates from the several Lodges of Eree and Accepted Masons hereinafter mentioned , having met in General Grand Convention , for the purpose of taking into consideration the present state of the Craft in the Province , hereby make the following exposition of the motives which at this critical juncture actuate us .
Upon the death of our late Grand Master , the Prov . Grand Lodge of Upper Canada expired ; and for several years previous , the operations of said Grand Lodge , by unforeseen difficulties , were suspended , its concerns were neglected , and Masonry was fast sinking into anarchy and confusion , The consequences of this state of things were seen by many of the members 3 f this convention , hut it was out of their power to remedy the evil . The death of our Grand Master left us a disjointed body , and from want of subordination , the subordinate Lodges which
continued working , without any restraint , were rapidly , declining . As is too frequently the case , where no power exists nor is exercised to enforce adherence to the genuine principles of the Order , bad members had gained admission into the Lodges , and the pure principles of Masonry were so profaned by their conduct , that worthy men stood aloof , in many instances , perhaps , thinking Masonry the cause of such conduct , or , at least , that it did not prohibit it . Irregularities in working had crept into the Lodges , from want of proper correspondence , and from having no official head to which they could apply for the lectures .
The effect of such proceedings , of which this is but a faint picture , was perceived by the Lodges , and several being sensible of our rapidly declining state , did choose delegates to meet in Grand Convention , to deliberate upon proper measures for the correction of existing evils , and said delegates did , on the 27 th day of August , A . L . 5817 , assemble at Kingston , and after mature deliberation , adopt the only remedy in their power , and nominated Roderick McKay , Esq ., for the office of
Prov . Grand Master , and immediately advised the Grand Lodge of England of the nomination , praying that our situation might be taken into consideration , and if the nomination was approved , that a warrant might be forwarded , that a Prov . Grand Lodge might be organized . To this communication no reply has been received , and to add to our misfortunes , our Grand Master elect was suddenly snatched from us by an untimely death .
We , the undersigned delegates , impressed with a deep sense of our depressed state , and fully sensible that our situation requires immediate attention , and having the prosperity of the Fraternity at heart , and being desirous that the genuine principles of Masonry may be more extensivel y diffused and preserved in their ancient purity , do hereby voluntarily enter into the following "Articles of Association , " in order to lay a foundation for a regular organization of the Craft in this Province , ever holding ourselves amenable for our conduct to the United Grand Lodge of England , whose supremacy we acknowledge , and whoso protection we court ; and which ancient and honourable body we hope will listen favourably to the prayer of the petition which we forward , with a copy of tho proceedings of the Convention , for their approval or disavowal : —
Articles of Association of tlie Masonic Convention of Upper Canada , assembled at Kingston , on the $ lh day of February , A . L . 5810 . Art . 1 . —That this Convention shall consist of a President , two Vice-Presidents , Moderator , Secretary , Treasurer , Grand Visitor , and Tyler , who shall bo elected