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Article PROVINCIAL. ← Page 9 of 19 →
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Provincial.
to tender thanks to Sir Lucius Curtis for his attendance , knowing his ill health , and that they all felt deeply grateful for his uniform kindness . This was carried by acclamation . Sir Lucius said , he was greatly obliged by the confidence they reposed in him , and that lie was at all times happy to he with them .
On the question being put , whether any Brother had anything to propose ? Bro . Beech said , he rose to draw the attention of this Grand Lodge to matters of deep moment to the Craft , and to cast their eyes 3 , 000 miles off to their Canadian Brethren , whom the contemptuous neglect of officials had caused to be estranged . Various causes of complaint had led to the present state of things , which were such that unless altered would entirely separate the Canadian Lodges from us ; now about half the Lodges holding under the Grand Lodge of
-England were in open rebellion . The petition of the Canadian Brethren was for an alteration regarding their returns and certificates , involving pecuniary matters , and for liberty to elect their own Prov . Grand Master . Lord Zetland agreed to the first part , but rejected the latter . He concluded by moving , " That this Grand Lodge do take the petition of the Canadian Brethren into consideration for the purpose of petitioning the Grand Lodge of England to grant the concession asked for . " This was seconded by Bro . Wyndham Portal .
Bro . Clarke , G . Steward , opposed the motion , as the Hampshire Brethren , he was sure , generally , were as little informed as he himself was on the case and he moved , " No steps be taken on the subject until they were in possession of sufficient information . " Where and how could they gain this information ? A Brother present answered , " Read the Freemasons' Magazine . " " But , " asked Bro . Clarke , " were both sides stated there ? " ¦ Bro . Portal replied , the case was stated most impartially .
The Prov . Grand Master thought that notice of all business to come before the Grand Lodge should be sent to the Master of every Lodge , and as this had come upon him by surprise , he was scarcely willing to put it to the Grand Lodge ; but , if any Lodge would send him a requisition to hold a Prov . Grand Lodge to take the subject into consideration , he would comply with its request . Bro . Stebbing remarked , that the grievances the Canadas complained of
appeared to be universal , they arising from the studied neglect of a well-paid official , who allowed twenty-five letters from Trinidad to remain unnoticed ; such persons ought to be punished for their neglect . But he , Bro . Stebbing , would never allow it to be proper that the Colonial Brethren should have the election of their Grand Masters . If they desired this , let them set up their own Grand Lodge . If such a motion as that suggested by Bro . Beech was carried , it would drive Lord Zetland from the office he holds .
The subject was then dropped , it being understood that a requisition , such as Sir Lucius alluded to , should be prepared . The Prov . Grand Lodge was then closed in duo form and with solemn prayer , at four o ' clock . The Lodge-room was crowded , and wc understand nearl y ^ 200 Masons wore present .
Ihe Banquet , which was promised at live o ' clock , was not ready till near seven o ' clock , and , although 119 Brethren were present , many went away , who , at an earlier hour , would have attended it . There was much complaint at the delay : some blamed Bro . Crofts , of the George Hotel , Portsmouth , who provided the dinner , but he exculpated himself by pleading tho want of proper orders .
THE BANQUET was tasty and plentiful , but of course hurried by want of duo arrangement . The Prov . Grand Master presided , tho Wardens filling the chairs at the bottom of the room . Tho cloth removed , and the toasts of " The Queen and the Craft , " and " Tho 'Karl of Zetland " having been honoured , Bro . Lord George Lennox rouo and said , *' I am allowed to propose the health of one dear to us all , our Prov . Crand Master , Sir Lucius Curtis , who , in the service of his country and in Masonry , has proved himself worthy the esteem of
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Provincial.
to tender thanks to Sir Lucius Curtis for his attendance , knowing his ill health , and that they all felt deeply grateful for his uniform kindness . This was carried by acclamation . Sir Lucius said , he was greatly obliged by the confidence they reposed in him , and that lie was at all times happy to he with them .
On the question being put , whether any Brother had anything to propose ? Bro . Beech said , he rose to draw the attention of this Grand Lodge to matters of deep moment to the Craft , and to cast their eyes 3 , 000 miles off to their Canadian Brethren , whom the contemptuous neglect of officials had caused to be estranged . Various causes of complaint had led to the present state of things , which were such that unless altered would entirely separate the Canadian Lodges from us ; now about half the Lodges holding under the Grand Lodge of
-England were in open rebellion . The petition of the Canadian Brethren was for an alteration regarding their returns and certificates , involving pecuniary matters , and for liberty to elect their own Prov . Grand Master . Lord Zetland agreed to the first part , but rejected the latter . He concluded by moving , " That this Grand Lodge do take the petition of the Canadian Brethren into consideration for the purpose of petitioning the Grand Lodge of England to grant the concession asked for . " This was seconded by Bro . Wyndham Portal .
Bro . Clarke , G . Steward , opposed the motion , as the Hampshire Brethren , he was sure , generally , were as little informed as he himself was on the case and he moved , " No steps be taken on the subject until they were in possession of sufficient information . " Where and how could they gain this information ? A Brother present answered , " Read the Freemasons' Magazine . " " But , " asked Bro . Clarke , " were both sides stated there ? " ¦ Bro . Portal replied , the case was stated most impartially .
The Prov . Grand Master thought that notice of all business to come before the Grand Lodge should be sent to the Master of every Lodge , and as this had come upon him by surprise , he was scarcely willing to put it to the Grand Lodge ; but , if any Lodge would send him a requisition to hold a Prov . Grand Lodge to take the subject into consideration , he would comply with its request . Bro . Stebbing remarked , that the grievances the Canadas complained of
appeared to be universal , they arising from the studied neglect of a well-paid official , who allowed twenty-five letters from Trinidad to remain unnoticed ; such persons ought to be punished for their neglect . But he , Bro . Stebbing , would never allow it to be proper that the Colonial Brethren should have the election of their Grand Masters . If they desired this , let them set up their own Grand Lodge . If such a motion as that suggested by Bro . Beech was carried , it would drive Lord Zetland from the office he holds .
The subject was then dropped , it being understood that a requisition , such as Sir Lucius alluded to , should be prepared . The Prov . Grand Lodge was then closed in duo form and with solemn prayer , at four o ' clock . The Lodge-room was crowded , and wc understand nearl y ^ 200 Masons wore present .
Ihe Banquet , which was promised at live o ' clock , was not ready till near seven o ' clock , and , although 119 Brethren were present , many went away , who , at an earlier hour , would have attended it . There was much complaint at the delay : some blamed Bro . Crofts , of the George Hotel , Portsmouth , who provided the dinner , but he exculpated himself by pleading tho want of proper orders .
THE BANQUET was tasty and plentiful , but of course hurried by want of duo arrangement . The Prov . Grand Master presided , tho Wardens filling the chairs at the bottom of the room . Tho cloth removed , and the toasts of " The Queen and the Craft , " and " Tho 'Karl of Zetland " having been honoured , Bro . Lord George Lennox rouo and said , *' I am allowed to propose the health of one dear to us all , our Prov . Crand Master , Sir Lucius Curtis , who , in the service of his country and in Masonry , has proved himself worthy the esteem of