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  • July 7, 1866
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The Freemasons' Monthly Magazine, July 7, 1866: Page 25

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    Article NORTH AMERICA. ← Page 2 of 3 →
Page 25

Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.

North America.

" Freemasons' Hall , London , AV . C , Feb . 28 th , 1866 . " Right AVorshipful Sir ancl Brother , —I am commanded by the most AVorshipful Grand Master , the Earl -of Zetland , to inform you that he has been graciously pleased to nominate von to the office of Provincial Grand Master of New Brunswick , void by the supercession of the Right AA'orshipful Brother Alexander Balloch . Your patent will be transmitted with the least practicable delay .

" Pending the arrival of your patent , you will , however , assume the office and exercise all the functions appertaining to a Provincial Grand Master , and which you are empowered to do by virtue of this Communication written by the Grand Master's orders and sealed with the seal of the Grand Lodge , as fully as though you wore in possession of the more ^ formal patent . " Having regard to tho circumstances that have so recently

taken place in New Brunswick , the Grand Master cannot but impress upon you the necessity of exercising great moderation in the discbarge ' of your duties , and his Lordship enjoins you to forget so far as possible , any acts that may appear to have been taken by others in opposition to you . The welfare of the Craft placed under your rule must for some time , at least , depend on the skill and ability with which you discharge the functions of the high office in which you are placed .

Firmness and moderation must be so blended that the discontented , should there unfortunately be any , must be made to learn that obedience is one of the principles of our Order and must be enforced , whilst on the other hand , that conciliatory measures will have their full influence and will be your guide in all your decisions .

" I have the honour to be , Right AVorshipful Sir , "Your faithful servant and Brother , " ( Signed ) AVM . GRAY CLARKE , G . S . " " Bro . R . T . Clinch , " Provincial Grand Master of New Brunswick . " The D . G . Master then stated : that having received that authority and direction from the M . AA . G . M . of England , delivered to him hy the Hon . Alexander Keith , D . G . M . of Nova

Scotia , he had summoned this meeting of Past Masters , Masters , and present AVardens of Lodges holding their warrants from the Grand Lodge of England , and past officers of former District Grand Lodge , for the purpose of organising tho District Grand Lodge of New Brunswick , and appointing and installing the officers thereof . Before proceeding with such appointments , the D . G . Master addressed the brethren present , expressing the great regret with

which they would learn that the mental { and bodily health of Bro . Balloch had not improved . He referred to the Masonic wisdom and discretion with which Bro . Balloch had , during many years of bodily health and mental vigour , managed tht affairs of tho Fraternity in this province , and to the respece with which he had been universally regarded as the head of the Craft , and the profound regret and cordial sympathy with which the Craft had received the intelligence of the illness

which had clouded an intellect of great natural power , and had exhausted energies , ivhich up to advanced age , and to the very day of his last violent attack in November , 1864 , sustained the brother in the constant fulfilment of his social and Masonicduties .

The D . G . Master said : In accepting the appointment with which the Most AA'orshipful Grand Master of England had entrusted him , and in entering on the onerous and responsible duties of the office of District Grand Master of New Brunswick , he relied on the support and assistance of his Masonic brethren , without which bis best efforts for the welfare of the Craft must he unavailing . That the questions of difference that had agitated the brotherhood recently , being now settled ,

he hoped and believed , that any unpleasant feelings that may havo arisen during the discussions would be allayed , ancl that each brother of the Craft would unite with him in exertion for its maintenance and the advancement of its prosperity in this province . The D . G . Master then directed tho attention of the brethren to the greatly increased duties ancl responsiblities which certain changes in the Constitutions relating to Provincial

Grand Lodges in the Colonies , had devolved upon the officers and members of such lod ges ; and read from the circular of the proceedings of the Grand Lodge of England in December last , an extract setting forth what those increased powers were , as follows : — 1 That it is desirable to increase the powers of Provincial

Grand Lodges in the Colonies and Foreign Ports , and to provide for their continuance notwithstanding the death , resignation , removal , or suspension of the Grand Provincial Master . 2 . The Most AVorshipful Grand Master may confer on Provincial Grand Masters , in the Colonies ancl foreign parts , a power of dispensation , in cases of emergency , for a brother to be advanced [ to a higher degree , at an interval of one week , instead of four weeks .

3 . Provincial Grand Masters and Provincial Grand Lodges in the Colonies ancl Foreign parts are designated District Grand Masters and District Grand Loclges , to distinguish such officers ancl such bodies from the Provincial Grand Masters aud Provincial Grand Lodges at home . 4 . It being necessary on account of the distance from England of District Grand Loclges , and the consequent delay in their communications with the Grand Lodof Englandthat

ge , their powers should be more extensive than those of Provincial Grand Lodges , tbe Grand Lodge delegates to its several District Grand Loclges respectively meeting under District Grand Masters , duly authorised and appointed by the Grand Master of England , in addition to the powers specified under the head of Provincial Grand Lodges , the power of investigating , regulating , and deciding on all matters relating to loclges and

individual Masons within their respective districts , which power they may exercise either of themselves or by a committee of their body . 5 . District Grand Lodges have the power of expelling Masons , and erasing lodges within their districts . 6 . All powers given by the Book of Constitutions to the Board of General Purposes in cases of Masonic complaint , or

irregularity , may be exercised by District Graud Lodges , or by such committee as aforesaid . 7 . Complaints against lodges or brethren may be preferred either to the District Grand Master or to the District Grand Lodge . 8 . 'The proceedings and decisions of District Grand Lodges , and of any such committee as aforesaid , shall in all cases be strictly governed and controlled by the laws of the Craft , as laid down in the Book of Constitutions and by the Ancient Landmarks .

9 . District Grand Lodges may pass rules and regulations for the management and conduct of their own proceedings , and of those of any committee of their body , and may define or limit , as they may think fit , the powers of such committee ; but no such rules or regulations shall bo binding or in force until approved by the M . AV . the Grand Master of England . 10 . In all cases an appeal lies from the decision of District Grand Lodges to the Grand Lodge of England .

11 . District Grand Lodges may fix stated times for their meetings , not exceeding four times in the year ; but the District Grand Master may as at present , summon and hold a District Grand Lodge of Emergency whenever the interests of the Craft shall in bis opinion require it . The particular reason for calling such District Grand Lodge of Emergency shall be expressed in the summons . 12 . In tbe event of the deathresignationremovalor

sus-, , , pension of the District Grand Master , the District Graud Lodge shall continue to exercise its functions , and the Deputy District Grand Master , if there be one , and if not ( or in the event of his being absent from his district , and until his return ) , the District Grand Officer , or Past District Grand Officer next in rank then in the district , shall assume and exercise the functions of District Grand Master until another District Grand Master shall have received his patent of appointment from the Grand

Master of England , and shall have notified the same to the District Grand Secretary . 13 . The brother so exercising the functions of a District Grand Master shall not assume that title ; nor shall such brother , in consequence cf his so acting , be entitled to rank as a Past District Grand Master , or to wear the Masonic clothing appropriate to that office . Tho D . G . Master then said that in view of the greatly increased

powers that had been conferred on District Grand Lodges , he considered it desirable to select the Officers of District Grand Lodge , as far as possible , from among those who are by right members of District Grand Lodge , and that , in making his appointments , it had been his aim to choose representatives from various parts of the province , and he hoped that a punctual attendance of the brethren from the country districts at the meetings of this Grand Lodge would evince their wish to support him in this endeavour and that this

“The Freemasons' Monthly Magazine: 1866-07-07, Page 25” Masonic Periodicals Online, Library and Museum of Freemasonry, 9 July 2025, django:8000/periodicals/mmr/issues/mmr_07071866/page/25/.
  • List
  • Grid
Title Category Page
Untitled Article 1
Untitled Article 2
ADDRESS TO OUR READERS. Article 3
INDEX. Article 5
THE LOSS OF THE " LONDON." Article 9
RECOLLECTIONS OF THE LODGE OF FREEMASONS AT THORNHILL. Article 11
"I AM TOO OLD." Article 13
MASONIC NOTES AND QUERIES. Article 14
THE MASONIC MIRROR. Article 15
ROYAL BENEVOLENT INSTITUTION FOR AGED FREEMASONS AND THEIR WIDOWS. Article 15
METROPOLITAN. Article 15
Untitled Article 15
PROVINCIAL. Article 15
ROYAL ARCH. Article 23
SCOTLAND. Article 23
IRELAND. Article 24
CHANNEL ISLANDS. Article 24
NORTH AMERICA. Article 24
Obituary. Article 26
REVIEWS. Article 26
THE WEEK. Article 26
TO CORRESPONDENTS. Article 28
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Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.

North America.

" Freemasons' Hall , London , AV . C , Feb . 28 th , 1866 . " Right AVorshipful Sir ancl Brother , —I am commanded by the most AVorshipful Grand Master , the Earl -of Zetland , to inform you that he has been graciously pleased to nominate von to the office of Provincial Grand Master of New Brunswick , void by the supercession of the Right AA'orshipful Brother Alexander Balloch . Your patent will be transmitted with the least practicable delay .

" Pending the arrival of your patent , you will , however , assume the office and exercise all the functions appertaining to a Provincial Grand Master , and which you are empowered to do by virtue of this Communication written by the Grand Master's orders and sealed with the seal of the Grand Lodge , as fully as though you wore in possession of the more ^ formal patent . " Having regard to tho circumstances that have so recently

taken place in New Brunswick , the Grand Master cannot but impress upon you the necessity of exercising great moderation in the discbarge ' of your duties , and his Lordship enjoins you to forget so far as possible , any acts that may appear to have been taken by others in opposition to you . The welfare of the Craft placed under your rule must for some time , at least , depend on the skill and ability with which you discharge the functions of the high office in which you are placed .

Firmness and moderation must be so blended that the discontented , should there unfortunately be any , must be made to learn that obedience is one of the principles of our Order and must be enforced , whilst on the other hand , that conciliatory measures will have their full influence and will be your guide in all your decisions .

" I have the honour to be , Right AVorshipful Sir , "Your faithful servant and Brother , " ( Signed ) AVM . GRAY CLARKE , G . S . " " Bro . R . T . Clinch , " Provincial Grand Master of New Brunswick . " The D . G . Master then stated : that having received that authority and direction from the M . AA . G . M . of England , delivered to him hy the Hon . Alexander Keith , D . G . M . of Nova

Scotia , he had summoned this meeting of Past Masters , Masters , and present AVardens of Lodges holding their warrants from the Grand Lodge of England , and past officers of former District Grand Lodge , for the purpose of organising tho District Grand Lodge of New Brunswick , and appointing and installing the officers thereof . Before proceeding with such appointments , the D . G . Master addressed the brethren present , expressing the great regret with

which they would learn that the mental { and bodily health of Bro . Balloch had not improved . He referred to the Masonic wisdom and discretion with which Bro . Balloch had , during many years of bodily health and mental vigour , managed tht affairs of tho Fraternity in this province , and to the respece with which he had been universally regarded as the head of the Craft , and the profound regret and cordial sympathy with which the Craft had received the intelligence of the illness

which had clouded an intellect of great natural power , and had exhausted energies , ivhich up to advanced age , and to the very day of his last violent attack in November , 1864 , sustained the brother in the constant fulfilment of his social and Masonicduties .

The D . G . Master said : In accepting the appointment with which the Most AA'orshipful Grand Master of England had entrusted him , and in entering on the onerous and responsible duties of the office of District Grand Master of New Brunswick , he relied on the support and assistance of his Masonic brethren , without which bis best efforts for the welfare of the Craft must he unavailing . That the questions of difference that had agitated the brotherhood recently , being now settled ,

he hoped and believed , that any unpleasant feelings that may havo arisen during the discussions would be allayed , ancl that each brother of the Craft would unite with him in exertion for its maintenance and the advancement of its prosperity in this province . The D . G . Master then directed tho attention of the brethren to the greatly increased duties ancl responsiblities which certain changes in the Constitutions relating to Provincial

Grand Lodges in the Colonies , had devolved upon the officers and members of such lod ges ; and read from the circular of the proceedings of the Grand Lodge of England in December last , an extract setting forth what those increased powers were , as follows : — 1 That it is desirable to increase the powers of Provincial

Grand Lodges in the Colonies and Foreign Ports , and to provide for their continuance notwithstanding the death , resignation , removal , or suspension of the Grand Provincial Master . 2 . The Most AVorshipful Grand Master may confer on Provincial Grand Masters , in the Colonies ancl foreign parts , a power of dispensation , in cases of emergency , for a brother to be advanced [ to a higher degree , at an interval of one week , instead of four weeks .

3 . Provincial Grand Masters and Provincial Grand Lodges in the Colonies ancl Foreign parts are designated District Grand Masters and District Grand Loclges , to distinguish such officers ancl such bodies from the Provincial Grand Masters aud Provincial Grand Lodges at home . 4 . It being necessary on account of the distance from England of District Grand Loclges , and the consequent delay in their communications with the Grand Lodof Englandthat

ge , their powers should be more extensive than those of Provincial Grand Lodges , tbe Grand Lodge delegates to its several District Grand Loclges respectively meeting under District Grand Masters , duly authorised and appointed by the Grand Master of England , in addition to the powers specified under the head of Provincial Grand Lodges , the power of investigating , regulating , and deciding on all matters relating to loclges and

individual Masons within their respective districts , which power they may exercise either of themselves or by a committee of their body . 5 . District Grand Lodges have the power of expelling Masons , and erasing lodges within their districts . 6 . All powers given by the Book of Constitutions to the Board of General Purposes in cases of Masonic complaint , or

irregularity , may be exercised by District Graud Lodges , or by such committee as aforesaid . 7 . Complaints against lodges or brethren may be preferred either to the District Grand Master or to the District Grand Lodge . 8 . 'The proceedings and decisions of District Grand Lodges , and of any such committee as aforesaid , shall in all cases be strictly governed and controlled by the laws of the Craft , as laid down in the Book of Constitutions and by the Ancient Landmarks .

9 . District Grand Lodges may pass rules and regulations for the management and conduct of their own proceedings , and of those of any committee of their body , and may define or limit , as they may think fit , the powers of such committee ; but no such rules or regulations shall bo binding or in force until approved by the M . AV . the Grand Master of England . 10 . In all cases an appeal lies from the decision of District Grand Lodges to the Grand Lodge of England .

11 . District Grand Lodges may fix stated times for their meetings , not exceeding four times in the year ; but the District Grand Master may as at present , summon and hold a District Grand Lodge of Emergency whenever the interests of the Craft shall in bis opinion require it . The particular reason for calling such District Grand Lodge of Emergency shall be expressed in the summons . 12 . In tbe event of the deathresignationremovalor

sus-, , , pension of the District Grand Master , the District Graud Lodge shall continue to exercise its functions , and the Deputy District Grand Master , if there be one , and if not ( or in the event of his being absent from his district , and until his return ) , the District Grand Officer , or Past District Grand Officer next in rank then in the district , shall assume and exercise the functions of District Grand Master until another District Grand Master shall have received his patent of appointment from the Grand

Master of England , and shall have notified the same to the District Grand Secretary . 13 . The brother so exercising the functions of a District Grand Master shall not assume that title ; nor shall such brother , in consequence cf his so acting , be entitled to rank as a Past District Grand Master , or to wear the Masonic clothing appropriate to that office . Tho D . G . Master then said that in view of the greatly increased

powers that had been conferred on District Grand Lodges , he considered it desirable to select the Officers of District Grand Lodge , as far as possible , from among those who are by right members of District Grand Lodge , and that , in making his appointments , it had been his aim to choose representatives from various parts of the province , and he hoped that a punctual attendance of the brethren from the country districts at the meetings of this Grand Lodge would evince their wish to support him in this endeavour and that this

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