-
Articles/Ads
Article THE MASONIC MIRROR. ← Page 8 of 14 →
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
The Masonic Mirror.
Master and the Brethren to come and see how he presided over his Lodge , which , he assured them , he did in a most efficient manner , combining temperance with firmness . He invited the Brethren to come and judge for themselves , amidst laughter and cheers . He asked , in conclusion , whether there was any motion before the Lodge , and if so , whether it was to be permitted to go on ?
The Grand Master said , he did not know whether there was any motion before the Lodge ; if there was , he had not heard it . ( Laughter and cheers . ) The motion was then carried . THE GRAND MASTER ' S COMMUNICATION . Bro . the Earl of Carnarvon said : "Bight Worshipful Sir , the motion which I have now to propose , follows , as a natural consequence , that which has preceded it . My motion is , to refer the communication of the M . W . the Grand
Master to the board which you have just appointed . ( Hear , hear . ) If the members of that board are men of experience and judgment , as we believe them to be , the matter cannot be placed in better hands . Indeed , the Brethren , really , have only two alternatives which they can adopt . You must either deal with this communication from the Grand Master now , in whatever way seems good to you , or refer it to that committee ; but I believe , myself , that it would be far easier ,
far pleasanter to the Grand Lodge , to avoid the unsatisfactory task of dealing with the communication now , by referring it to the Colonial . Board which has just been appointed . In fact , I think , it would be best to do so under any circumstances . Let it be understood by the Grand Lodge that they are responsible for the issue of this letter ; for the Grand Master , in language too emphatic to be misunderstood—in language which I wish the Grand Lodge attentively to consider —has told us that he himself now submits his communication to us "to consider
and decide . " Therefore , up to this time , the Grand Master has managed the matter for himself ; but , for the future , with you rests the responsibility . ( Hear , hear . ) It is cast entirely upon your shoulders ( hear , hear ) , and I implore you not to arrive at any conclusion of which your judgment does not fully approve . I don't like to go back into the past . ( Hear , hear . ) The references which have already been made have excited feelings which I have regretted to see displayed , feelings of a character anything but pleasant . I shall not recapitulate the stages
by which we have arrived at the present unhappy state of affairs ; I have no wish to trespass on the time of the Grand Lodge , and I shall therefore shorten the matter as far as possible . In 1853 , we find the first evidence of any discontent in Canada . The Canadian Lodges had a conference at Hamilton , at which they stated their grievances and complaints , in a petition which was forwarded to England ; it bewailed the want of harmony in the Canadian Lodges , the irregularity of communications between England and Canada , and last , but not least ,
the unsatisfactory position of the Prov . Grand Master . This , in fact , was the principal complaint . They complained of the position of the Prov . Grand Master as part and parcel of the whole system of nomineeism , which they described as distasteful to them . They complained that he was holding an irresponsible position , and that they had neither a concurrent voice in the management of the affairs , nor any check upon his proceedings . ( Hear . ) No notice whatever was taken of this communication . They met again ; and embodied their grievances in
a set of resolutions . What became of those resolutions , I ask ? It is sufficient to say that there was no reply . ( Cries of "Shame ! " ) Now Brethren , can you wonder that as time flew in a manner little reckoned of by us in England , it was counted by days and weeks in Canada ? Years elapsed—three years , three long years—and yet the Canadian communication was unattended to , and even unacknowledged ; and now , who can wonder that hope deferred produced its natural
results ? Do you wonder that such neglect ripened into bitter fruit the seeds of discontent which had been sown ? ( Loud cries of "No ! " ) Only look at the consequences . It was at last , with a precipitancy which I cannot but deplore , that finding they could not obtain relief from England , some of the Canadian Lodges seceded , and perhaps they will never be reunited to those under our jurisdiction . But there are others who have remained true and faithful to their allegiance . ( Cheers . ) I wish , indeed , and strongly do I feci it , that I hope my
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
The Masonic Mirror.
Master and the Brethren to come and see how he presided over his Lodge , which , he assured them , he did in a most efficient manner , combining temperance with firmness . He invited the Brethren to come and judge for themselves , amidst laughter and cheers . He asked , in conclusion , whether there was any motion before the Lodge , and if so , whether it was to be permitted to go on ?
The Grand Master said , he did not know whether there was any motion before the Lodge ; if there was , he had not heard it . ( Laughter and cheers . ) The motion was then carried . THE GRAND MASTER ' S COMMUNICATION . Bro . the Earl of Carnarvon said : "Bight Worshipful Sir , the motion which I have now to propose , follows , as a natural consequence , that which has preceded it . My motion is , to refer the communication of the M . W . the Grand
Master to the board which you have just appointed . ( Hear , hear . ) If the members of that board are men of experience and judgment , as we believe them to be , the matter cannot be placed in better hands . Indeed , the Brethren , really , have only two alternatives which they can adopt . You must either deal with this communication from the Grand Master now , in whatever way seems good to you , or refer it to that committee ; but I believe , myself , that it would be far easier ,
far pleasanter to the Grand Lodge , to avoid the unsatisfactory task of dealing with the communication now , by referring it to the Colonial . Board which has just been appointed . In fact , I think , it would be best to do so under any circumstances . Let it be understood by the Grand Lodge that they are responsible for the issue of this letter ; for the Grand Master , in language too emphatic to be misunderstood—in language which I wish the Grand Lodge attentively to consider —has told us that he himself now submits his communication to us "to consider
and decide . " Therefore , up to this time , the Grand Master has managed the matter for himself ; but , for the future , with you rests the responsibility . ( Hear , hear . ) It is cast entirely upon your shoulders ( hear , hear ) , and I implore you not to arrive at any conclusion of which your judgment does not fully approve . I don't like to go back into the past . ( Hear , hear . ) The references which have already been made have excited feelings which I have regretted to see displayed , feelings of a character anything but pleasant . I shall not recapitulate the stages
by which we have arrived at the present unhappy state of affairs ; I have no wish to trespass on the time of the Grand Lodge , and I shall therefore shorten the matter as far as possible . In 1853 , we find the first evidence of any discontent in Canada . The Canadian Lodges had a conference at Hamilton , at which they stated their grievances and complaints , in a petition which was forwarded to England ; it bewailed the want of harmony in the Canadian Lodges , the irregularity of communications between England and Canada , and last , but not least ,
the unsatisfactory position of the Prov . Grand Master . This , in fact , was the principal complaint . They complained of the position of the Prov . Grand Master as part and parcel of the whole system of nomineeism , which they described as distasteful to them . They complained that he was holding an irresponsible position , and that they had neither a concurrent voice in the management of the affairs , nor any check upon his proceedings . ( Hear . ) No notice whatever was taken of this communication . They met again ; and embodied their grievances in
a set of resolutions . What became of those resolutions , I ask ? It is sufficient to say that there was no reply . ( Cries of "Shame ! " ) Now Brethren , can you wonder that as time flew in a manner little reckoned of by us in England , it was counted by days and weeks in Canada ? Years elapsed—three years , three long years—and yet the Canadian communication was unattended to , and even unacknowledged ; and now , who can wonder that hope deferred produced its natural
results ? Do you wonder that such neglect ripened into bitter fruit the seeds of discontent which had been sown ? ( Loud cries of "No ! " ) Only look at the consequences . It was at last , with a precipitancy which I cannot but deplore , that finding they could not obtain relief from England , some of the Canadian Lodges seceded , and perhaps they will never be reunited to those under our jurisdiction . But there are others who have remained true and faithful to their allegiance . ( Cheers . ) I wish , indeed , and strongly do I feci it , that I hope my