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  • Dec. 1, 1856
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The Masonic Observer, Dec. 1, 1856: Page 2

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    Article GRAND LODGE OF EMERGENCY, Nov. 19. Page 1 of 6 →
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Ar00201

Both adjournments were unanimous , both were agreed to m the absence of the G . M . of England . In the one case he recommended G . L . to adjourn , implying that the power was not with himself : in the other he acquiesced for two months without objection in the act of G . L . The distinction is so subtle that we must confess ourselves unable to discriminate

between the two . But abandon the arguments derived from precedent , and it is clear that if private lodges both claim and exercise the power to adjourn , —in calling from labour to refreshment , —a fortiori G . L . which is as the greater to the less , the whole to the part , cannot be without an equal authority . But it was contended that the

presence of the G . M . of England is essential to the legality of the proceedings . If this be trae , we fear much that an infinitesimally small proportion of the measures passed by G . L ., with the approval of the craft , are valid . But surely if , as it is reasonable to believe , the G . M . of

England and G . L . can , by a concurrent action , adjourn a meeting , so , also , the provisional G . M . - who is his representative—can , conjointly with G . L ., exercise an equal power . " Qui faeit per alium , facit per se , " is an axiom as old as the hills , and a principle , which we recognise , equally in the hig hest branches of law or politics , and in the ordinary

transactions of daily life . In conclusion , dismissing all argument , which we fear is useless , we would ask the Dais one question . If the adjournment was illegal , why were we not sooner apprised of the infraction of the law , into which we had been inadvertently betrayed ? If , as the G . M . in his circular stated ,

there be " a solemn obligation" to interpose at a late stage of the proceedings , why not an equally solemn obligation to interfere at an earlier period ? If it be a duty to correct a wrong done , it is still more a duty to anticipate the evil in its origin ; and an ambiguous silence ethically differs little from approval .

Ar00200

E VERY one must have felt regret for the very unpleasant position into which the M . W . the G . M . was forced on the 9 th inst . To a nobleman , singularly benevolent and honourable , it must have been extremely painful . To be p laced in the chair for the purpose of forcibl y preventin g free discussion—to be compelled to gag G . 'L . for fear they

should censure conduct on the part of the executive , at which they felt themselves aggrieved—to lie under the imputation of unfairness—to be charged with arbitrary and unconstitutional conduct , and in place of meeting the charge , to escape from it by silencing the accusers—this is the price at which the Dais compelled the M . W . the G . M . to

do their dirty work . We can well imagine that to many members of that august body , it must have been infinitel y diverting to witness the helpless disapprobation of all fair men , at the apparently partial enforcement of the silent svstem . What was sauce for the goose , was by no means

thought a fit condiment for the gander . The opinions of the speakers affected their treatment in no slight degree ; but while some of the purple aprons may have chuckled at their temporary triumph over the authority of G . L ., and the right of free discussion , obtained even by such means as these , we believe the great majority of the craft , when they

read the account of what passed , will agree with us that it was " no canny" to place an English nobleman in such a false position as regards G . L . —in one which we are quite certain was equally distasteful to himself as to them . The members of the Dais are , most of them , socially , worthy and excellent masons ; but whatever may be the

cause , certain it is that collectively , not only do they oppose every useful measure that is brought forward , but they assume a conscious air of patronising superiority towards the great body of G . L ., as offensive as it is ridiculous ; like little Jack Horner , they seem never tired of saying " What a good boy am I !"

We sb all shortly take an opportunity of investigating how far the Dais is entitled to the confidence of the craft , by giving a brief sketch of the different measures of internal and

external reform proposed in G . L . withm the last few years , and the line adopted by the purple aprons upon each occasion ; and if it shall appear that their exertions and combinations are always for factious and obstructive purposes , we trust that they will at least appreciate themselves at their proper value , and in place of attempting to overbear and

beard G . L ., will subside into quiescence , like the owls in the " happy family . " Of the Grand Secretary ' s office , —the compound double extract of purple , —it is needless to say more than that any mercantile company would be bankrupt in a week whose affairs were managed in the same way ; and that if English

lodges were created for the purpose of waiting three and six months for their communications , it would at any rate be advisable—if only for the civility of the thing—not to treat the Grand Orient of France in the same fashion . We must , in fairness add , that we believe the subordinates in that department to be hard-working and efficient

functionaries , and we only regret that their venerable chief will not either content himself with a general superintendance , or permit his brethren to express their sense of his long services by a substantial retiring pension .

Grand Lodge Of Emergency, Nov. 19.

GRAND LODGE OF EMERGENCY , Nov . 19 .

The M . Wthe G . M . summoned the G . L . of Emergency , on the 19 th of November , to take up the business at the point at which it terminated at the Quarterly Communications , in September last , and to ignore and declare null and void the proceedings of the adjourned Grand Lodge , held October 1 . The Eight Hon the Earl of Zetland , G . M ., presided in person , supported by Sir Lucius Curtis , Prov . G . M . of Hampshire , as D . G . M . ; T . W . Fleming , Prov . G . M . Isle of Wight ; B . J . Bagshaw , Prov . G . M . of Essex ; C . P . Cooper , Prov . G . M . of Kent , Dr . Kent , Prov . G . M . of South Australia ; T . H . Hall , Prov . G . M . of

“The Masonic Observer: 1856-12-01, Page 2” Masonic Periodicals Online, Library and Museum of Freemasonry, 24 May 2025, django:8000/periodicals/mob/issues/mob_01121856/page/2/.
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GRAND LODGE OF EMERGENCY, Nov. 19. Article 2
Untitled Article 7
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NEW SCHOOL ATLASES. Article 8
Untitled Article 8
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Untitled Article 9
Untitled Article 9
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Untitled Article 10
Untitled Article 10
Untitled Article 11
QUARTERLY COMMUNICATION OF GRAND LODGE. Article 12
Untitled Article 15
Untitled Article 16
"A TUB TO THE WHALE." Article 16
CORRESPONDENCE BETWEEN BILL SYKES AND THE CREEPING CRACKSMAN ON MASONRY IN GENERAL AND G. L. IN PARTICULAR. Article 16
NOTES AND QUERIES. Article 17
Untitled Article 17
Correspondence. Article 17
Untitled Ad 18
PROVINCIAL MESS. Article 18
Untitled Article 18
Untitled Article 18
Untitled Article 18
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Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.

Ar00201

Both adjournments were unanimous , both were agreed to m the absence of the G . M . of England . In the one case he recommended G . L . to adjourn , implying that the power was not with himself : in the other he acquiesced for two months without objection in the act of G . L . The distinction is so subtle that we must confess ourselves unable to discriminate

between the two . But abandon the arguments derived from precedent , and it is clear that if private lodges both claim and exercise the power to adjourn , —in calling from labour to refreshment , —a fortiori G . L . which is as the greater to the less , the whole to the part , cannot be without an equal authority . But it was contended that the

presence of the G . M . of England is essential to the legality of the proceedings . If this be trae , we fear much that an infinitesimally small proportion of the measures passed by G . L ., with the approval of the craft , are valid . But surely if , as it is reasonable to believe , the G . M . of

England and G . L . can , by a concurrent action , adjourn a meeting , so , also , the provisional G . M . - who is his representative—can , conjointly with G . L ., exercise an equal power . " Qui faeit per alium , facit per se , " is an axiom as old as the hills , and a principle , which we recognise , equally in the hig hest branches of law or politics , and in the ordinary

transactions of daily life . In conclusion , dismissing all argument , which we fear is useless , we would ask the Dais one question . If the adjournment was illegal , why were we not sooner apprised of the infraction of the law , into which we had been inadvertently betrayed ? If , as the G . M . in his circular stated ,

there be " a solemn obligation" to interpose at a late stage of the proceedings , why not an equally solemn obligation to interfere at an earlier period ? If it be a duty to correct a wrong done , it is still more a duty to anticipate the evil in its origin ; and an ambiguous silence ethically differs little from approval .

Ar00200

E VERY one must have felt regret for the very unpleasant position into which the M . W . the G . M . was forced on the 9 th inst . To a nobleman , singularly benevolent and honourable , it must have been extremely painful . To be p laced in the chair for the purpose of forcibl y preventin g free discussion—to be compelled to gag G . 'L . for fear they

should censure conduct on the part of the executive , at which they felt themselves aggrieved—to lie under the imputation of unfairness—to be charged with arbitrary and unconstitutional conduct , and in place of meeting the charge , to escape from it by silencing the accusers—this is the price at which the Dais compelled the M . W . the G . M . to

do their dirty work . We can well imagine that to many members of that august body , it must have been infinitel y diverting to witness the helpless disapprobation of all fair men , at the apparently partial enforcement of the silent svstem . What was sauce for the goose , was by no means

thought a fit condiment for the gander . The opinions of the speakers affected their treatment in no slight degree ; but while some of the purple aprons may have chuckled at their temporary triumph over the authority of G . L ., and the right of free discussion , obtained even by such means as these , we believe the great majority of the craft , when they

read the account of what passed , will agree with us that it was " no canny" to place an English nobleman in such a false position as regards G . L . —in one which we are quite certain was equally distasteful to himself as to them . The members of the Dais are , most of them , socially , worthy and excellent masons ; but whatever may be the

cause , certain it is that collectively , not only do they oppose every useful measure that is brought forward , but they assume a conscious air of patronising superiority towards the great body of G . L ., as offensive as it is ridiculous ; like little Jack Horner , they seem never tired of saying " What a good boy am I !"

We sb all shortly take an opportunity of investigating how far the Dais is entitled to the confidence of the craft , by giving a brief sketch of the different measures of internal and

external reform proposed in G . L . withm the last few years , and the line adopted by the purple aprons upon each occasion ; and if it shall appear that their exertions and combinations are always for factious and obstructive purposes , we trust that they will at least appreciate themselves at their proper value , and in place of attempting to overbear and

beard G . L ., will subside into quiescence , like the owls in the " happy family . " Of the Grand Secretary ' s office , —the compound double extract of purple , —it is needless to say more than that any mercantile company would be bankrupt in a week whose affairs were managed in the same way ; and that if English

lodges were created for the purpose of waiting three and six months for their communications , it would at any rate be advisable—if only for the civility of the thing—not to treat the Grand Orient of France in the same fashion . We must , in fairness add , that we believe the subordinates in that department to be hard-working and efficient

functionaries , and we only regret that their venerable chief will not either content himself with a general superintendance , or permit his brethren to express their sense of his long services by a substantial retiring pension .

Grand Lodge Of Emergency, Nov. 19.

GRAND LODGE OF EMERGENCY , Nov . 19 .

The M . Wthe G . M . summoned the G . L . of Emergency , on the 19 th of November , to take up the business at the point at which it terminated at the Quarterly Communications , in September last , and to ignore and declare null and void the proceedings of the adjourned Grand Lodge , held October 1 . The Eight Hon the Earl of Zetland , G . M ., presided in person , supported by Sir Lucius Curtis , Prov . G . M . of Hampshire , as D . G . M . ; T . W . Fleming , Prov . G . M . Isle of Wight ; B . J . Bagshaw , Prov . G . M . of Essex ; C . P . Cooper , Prov . G . M . of Kent , Dr . Kent , Prov . G . M . of South Australia ; T . H . Hall , Prov . G . M . of

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