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  • Dec. 20, 1857
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The Masonic Observer, Dec. 20, 1857: Page 13

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Colonial.

"In conclusion , your Memorialists will ever pray that the rays of heaven may shed their benign influence , producing and reproducing order , harmony , and peace . " So mote it be . "Signed , "ALLAN N . MACNAB , Grand Master . " FRANCIS RICHARDSON , Grand Secretary . " The Grand Lodge was closed in ample form at eleven o ' clock , p . m ., with solemn prayer .

LIST OF LODGES UNDER THE JURISDICTION OF THE ANTIENT GRAND LODGE OF CANADA . No . 1 , St . Andrew ' s Lodge , Toronto ; No . 3 , St . John ' s Lodge , Kingston ; No . 4 , Belleville Lodge , Belleville ; No . 5 , St . John ' s Lodi > e , Cobourg ; No . 6 , Union Lodge , Napanee ; No . 7 , Western Lig ht . Lodge , Bolton ; No . 10 , Union Goderich Lodge , Goderich ; No . 14 , Richmond Lodge , Richmond Hill ( Dis . ); No . 16 , St . John's Lodge , Carlton Place ; No . 17 , St . Francis Lodge , Smith's Falls ;

No . 16 , Ionic Lodge , Toronto ; No . 19 , United Lodge , Brighton ; No . 20 , Ontario Lodge , Port . Hope ; No . 21 , True Britons' Lodge , Perth ; No . 22 , Corinthian Lodge , Peterborough ; No . 24 , Dalhousie Lodge , Ottawa ; No . 25 , Kemptville Lodge , Kemptville ; No . 26 , Wellington Lodge , Guclph ; No . 28 , Jerusalem Lodge , Bowmanville ; No . 29 , Amity Lodge , Dunnville ; No . 30 , Rose Lodge , Sandwich ; No . 32 , Trent Lodge . Trenton ; No . 33 , Mount Zion , Borelia ; No . 34 , St . George's Lodge , Gosfield ; No . 35 , Composite Lodge , Whitby ; No . 36 , Welland Lodge , Fonthill ; No .

37 , St . George ' s Lodge , London ; No . 38 , King Soloman's Lodge , Woodstock ; No . 39 , Wellington Lodge , Chatham ; No . 42 , Madoc Lodge , Madoc ; No . 43 , Erie Lodge , Morpeth ; No . 44 , Consecon Lodge , Consecon ; No . 45 , Corinthian Lodge , Stanley ' s Mills ; No . 46 , Mirickville Lodge , Mirickville ; No . 47 , Victoria Lodge , Port Sarnia ; No . 43 , North Gower Lodge , North Gower ; No . 49 . Doric Lodge , Ottawa ; No . 50 , Corinthian Lodge , Ottawa ; No . 52 , Simcoe Lodge , Simcoe ; No . 53 , Durham Lodge , Newcastle : No . 54 , Stirling Lodge , Stirling ; No . 55 , St . John ' s Lodge , Toronto ( Dis . ); No . 56 , Oxford Lodge , Woodstock ( Dis . ); No . 57 , Faithful Brethren Lodge , Manilla ( Dis . ); No . 58 , Simcoe Lodge , Bradford ( Dis . ); Moira Lodge , Belleville ( Dis . ); St . George ' s Lodge , Owen Sound ( Dis . ) .

The Grand Lodge of Ohio , having adopted a resolution making a belief in the authenticity of the Scriptures a requisite qualification for initiation , the Committee of Correspondence of Alabama condemn this action , and by a long and able argument prove its impolicy and unmasonic character . It is , indeed , much to be deplored that Masons will sometimes forget the fundamental law of their institution , and endeavor to add to or detract from the perfect integrity of the building , as it was left to them by their ancestors . Whenever this is done , the beauty of our temple must suffer . The

landmarks of Masonry are so perfect , that they need and will permit no amendment . Thus , in the very instance before us , the fundamental law of Masonry requires a belief in the Supreme Architect of the Universe ; saying , that in matters of religious belief , Masons are only expected to be of "that religion in which all men agree , leaving their particular opinions to themselves . " Under the shelter of this wise provision , the Christian and the Jew , the Mahometan and the Brahmin , are permitted to unite round our common altar ; and Masonry becomes in practice , as well as theory , universal . The

Grand Lodge of Ohio attempted to amend ( as they supposed ) the law ; and at once the universality of the institution is destroyed , and none but the Christian becomes eligible to initiation . The truth is that Masonry is undoubtedly a religious institution : its religion is of that universal kind in which all men agree ; and which , handed down through a long succession of ages from that ancient priesthood who first taught it , embraces the great tenets of the existence of God and the immortality of the soul , tenets which , by its symbolical language , it has preserved from its foundation and still continues in the same beautiful way to teach . Beyond this , we must not and cannot go . —Masonic Journal .

BRITISH NORTH AMERICA . Perhaps the present would bo the most opportune period to give a few practical thoughts on the present , and at the same time take a cursory glance at the future prospects of Masonry in the Lower Provinces . We do not profess to be gifted with any extraordinary prophetic visionary powers , but still we cannot blind our eyes to the fact , that , ere many years roll round , many great changes will of necessity take place in the state of Masonry in the Lower Provinces ,

both as regards the mode of government and the manner of working . Every intelligent Mason must feel alive to the fact , that the differences " which exist in the workings of the several parent Grand Lodges is detrimental to the true interests of Masonry in their colonial dependencies . In the province of New Brunswick , for instance , there are Lodges hailing from the Grand Lodges of England , Ireland , and Scotland ; all differing slightly in their mode of working , but yet the essential parts are the same . Now , it does not need any lengthy arguments of ours to show to the Craftsmen

generally the difficulty which arises from this state of things . Indeed , we might point to a variety of causes by which the progross of our time-honored Institution is retarded . The difference in working is not the only or the principal cause which prompts us to think of the present and glance at the future . The length of time which elapses before decisions can be had upon questions , which sometimes seriously affect the dearest interests of the Craft , is one of the many reasons which might be adduced to show that the present mode of government is pregnant with many illsand not calculated to

, give satisfaction to the provincial Brethren . We will cite one more instance of the evils which exist , and then allow the good sense of the Brethren to supply the remainder . Without further comment we will proceed to view the case . The large amounts which have annually to be forwarded to the parent bodies for various services , keep the Lodges in the colonies with ( to use a vulgarism ) their noses continually to the grindstone , and thus virtually destroy their usefulness , so far as carrying out many of the prime objects of the organisation in the place ' s where they are more immediately located .

What an amount of good might be accomplished with the surplus money which has yearly to be sent away ! It is true that much good is accomplished by or with it even now , but the beneficial influence of the money ' thus appropriated is felt here indirectly . How many orphan schools , and such only like charitable and philanthropise institutions might we not have erected in our midst ; and what an incalculable amount of good would thus be accomplished ? Some may say : " How is it that you cannot now direct your energies

to such undertakings , and thereby alleviate the condition of at least some portion of suffering humanity ? " Alas ! our energies are paralyzed , and our strength financially , is entirely gone . Already the burden is more than we can bear ; taxed as we are to the very utmost , in order to support the parent Grand Lodges , and yet

compelled to spend the scanty remnant which remains to support and uphold a provincial dynasty—it becomes apparent to the observant eye , that to accomplish any such laudable designs would require more powerful means than we are capable of bringing in force . The question will then necessarily follow : " Why , if this state of things is the cause of your depressed condition , and your inability to exhibit the beneficent objects of the association , do you not seek for or apply a remedy ? " It is to this we would now direct your attention , to the consideration of which we would ask you to give

heed for a short time . Her opinions may not comprise the universal feeling among the Craft in the Lower Provinces , for we know full well that there are some who , rather than give up place and power and advance with the enlightenment of the age , would sacrifice every feeling of independence and every desire to improve the condition of the Fraternity ; but we are convinced that the day is not far distant , when the views which we entertain in regard to the subject will reign predominant in the mind of every intelligent Mason in the colonies . Againwe askwhat is the remedy ? Need we paint it in

, , letters of dazzling brilliancy , need we proclaim it in the highways and upon the housetops , before it can be comprehended by the Brethren ? we think not . It will be only necessary to point you to Canada for an example . The Brethren there have at last almost unanimously felt a disposition to be up and doing . It was no doubt hard for the parent Grand Lodges to allow such a large number of Lodges as there are in that province to pass from their control , thus entailing a heavy loss , financially speaking ; but notwithstanding all this ,

necessity's stern law must be obeyed ; the link which extended across the broad Atlantic has been snapped asunder , and the Masons of Canada have sallied forth under the blue canopy of heaven , and with the banners of truth and justice gaily floating on the breeze , they fear not the efforts of the oppressor , and freely welcome all who feel disposed to fraternise with them . May we be permitted , then , to predict a similar future for the Lower Provinces ? We believe there will bo but few dissentient voices when the proper time arrives ; but we do not think it would be advisable to adopt

the same course pursued by Canada . It will not be necessary to raise the standard of revolt or to fan the flames of insubordination , in order that the war-whoop of battle may echo and re-echo throughout the land . The sword of warfare will remain stationary in the scabbard ; and we shall be enabled to gather round the council-fire with our elder Brethren , and there calmly discuss the proba-

“The Masonic Observer: 1857-12-20, Page 13” Masonic Periodicals Online, Library and Museum of Freemasonry, 24 May 2025, django:8000/periodicals/mob/issues/mob_20121857/page/13/.
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GRAND LODGE. Article 4
GRAND LODGE OF MARK MASTERS. Article 9
Untitled Article 10
Masonic Charities. Article 10
Colonial. Article 11
Correspondence. Article 14
Untitled Article 15
Reviews and Notices. Article 16
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Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.

Colonial.

"In conclusion , your Memorialists will ever pray that the rays of heaven may shed their benign influence , producing and reproducing order , harmony , and peace . " So mote it be . "Signed , "ALLAN N . MACNAB , Grand Master . " FRANCIS RICHARDSON , Grand Secretary . " The Grand Lodge was closed in ample form at eleven o ' clock , p . m ., with solemn prayer .

LIST OF LODGES UNDER THE JURISDICTION OF THE ANTIENT GRAND LODGE OF CANADA . No . 1 , St . Andrew ' s Lodge , Toronto ; No . 3 , St . John ' s Lodge , Kingston ; No . 4 , Belleville Lodge , Belleville ; No . 5 , St . John ' s Lodi > e , Cobourg ; No . 6 , Union Lodge , Napanee ; No . 7 , Western Lig ht . Lodge , Bolton ; No . 10 , Union Goderich Lodge , Goderich ; No . 14 , Richmond Lodge , Richmond Hill ( Dis . ); No . 16 , St . John's Lodge , Carlton Place ; No . 17 , St . Francis Lodge , Smith's Falls ;

No . 16 , Ionic Lodge , Toronto ; No . 19 , United Lodge , Brighton ; No . 20 , Ontario Lodge , Port . Hope ; No . 21 , True Britons' Lodge , Perth ; No . 22 , Corinthian Lodge , Peterborough ; No . 24 , Dalhousie Lodge , Ottawa ; No . 25 , Kemptville Lodge , Kemptville ; No . 26 , Wellington Lodge , Guclph ; No . 28 , Jerusalem Lodge , Bowmanville ; No . 29 , Amity Lodge , Dunnville ; No . 30 , Rose Lodge , Sandwich ; No . 32 , Trent Lodge . Trenton ; No . 33 , Mount Zion , Borelia ; No . 34 , St . George's Lodge , Gosfield ; No . 35 , Composite Lodge , Whitby ; No . 36 , Welland Lodge , Fonthill ; No .

37 , St . George ' s Lodge , London ; No . 38 , King Soloman's Lodge , Woodstock ; No . 39 , Wellington Lodge , Chatham ; No . 42 , Madoc Lodge , Madoc ; No . 43 , Erie Lodge , Morpeth ; No . 44 , Consecon Lodge , Consecon ; No . 45 , Corinthian Lodge , Stanley ' s Mills ; No . 46 , Mirickville Lodge , Mirickville ; No . 47 , Victoria Lodge , Port Sarnia ; No . 43 , North Gower Lodge , North Gower ; No . 49 . Doric Lodge , Ottawa ; No . 50 , Corinthian Lodge , Ottawa ; No . 52 , Simcoe Lodge , Simcoe ; No . 53 , Durham Lodge , Newcastle : No . 54 , Stirling Lodge , Stirling ; No . 55 , St . John ' s Lodge , Toronto ( Dis . ); No . 56 , Oxford Lodge , Woodstock ( Dis . ); No . 57 , Faithful Brethren Lodge , Manilla ( Dis . ); No . 58 , Simcoe Lodge , Bradford ( Dis . ); Moira Lodge , Belleville ( Dis . ); St . George ' s Lodge , Owen Sound ( Dis . ) .

The Grand Lodge of Ohio , having adopted a resolution making a belief in the authenticity of the Scriptures a requisite qualification for initiation , the Committee of Correspondence of Alabama condemn this action , and by a long and able argument prove its impolicy and unmasonic character . It is , indeed , much to be deplored that Masons will sometimes forget the fundamental law of their institution , and endeavor to add to or detract from the perfect integrity of the building , as it was left to them by their ancestors . Whenever this is done , the beauty of our temple must suffer . The

landmarks of Masonry are so perfect , that they need and will permit no amendment . Thus , in the very instance before us , the fundamental law of Masonry requires a belief in the Supreme Architect of the Universe ; saying , that in matters of religious belief , Masons are only expected to be of "that religion in which all men agree , leaving their particular opinions to themselves . " Under the shelter of this wise provision , the Christian and the Jew , the Mahometan and the Brahmin , are permitted to unite round our common altar ; and Masonry becomes in practice , as well as theory , universal . The

Grand Lodge of Ohio attempted to amend ( as they supposed ) the law ; and at once the universality of the institution is destroyed , and none but the Christian becomes eligible to initiation . The truth is that Masonry is undoubtedly a religious institution : its religion is of that universal kind in which all men agree ; and which , handed down through a long succession of ages from that ancient priesthood who first taught it , embraces the great tenets of the existence of God and the immortality of the soul , tenets which , by its symbolical language , it has preserved from its foundation and still continues in the same beautiful way to teach . Beyond this , we must not and cannot go . —Masonic Journal .

BRITISH NORTH AMERICA . Perhaps the present would bo the most opportune period to give a few practical thoughts on the present , and at the same time take a cursory glance at the future prospects of Masonry in the Lower Provinces . We do not profess to be gifted with any extraordinary prophetic visionary powers , but still we cannot blind our eyes to the fact , that , ere many years roll round , many great changes will of necessity take place in the state of Masonry in the Lower Provinces ,

both as regards the mode of government and the manner of working . Every intelligent Mason must feel alive to the fact , that the differences " which exist in the workings of the several parent Grand Lodges is detrimental to the true interests of Masonry in their colonial dependencies . In the province of New Brunswick , for instance , there are Lodges hailing from the Grand Lodges of England , Ireland , and Scotland ; all differing slightly in their mode of working , but yet the essential parts are the same . Now , it does not need any lengthy arguments of ours to show to the Craftsmen

generally the difficulty which arises from this state of things . Indeed , we might point to a variety of causes by which the progross of our time-honored Institution is retarded . The difference in working is not the only or the principal cause which prompts us to think of the present and glance at the future . The length of time which elapses before decisions can be had upon questions , which sometimes seriously affect the dearest interests of the Craft , is one of the many reasons which might be adduced to show that the present mode of government is pregnant with many illsand not calculated to

, give satisfaction to the provincial Brethren . We will cite one more instance of the evils which exist , and then allow the good sense of the Brethren to supply the remainder . Without further comment we will proceed to view the case . The large amounts which have annually to be forwarded to the parent bodies for various services , keep the Lodges in the colonies with ( to use a vulgarism ) their noses continually to the grindstone , and thus virtually destroy their usefulness , so far as carrying out many of the prime objects of the organisation in the place ' s where they are more immediately located .

What an amount of good might be accomplished with the surplus money which has yearly to be sent away ! It is true that much good is accomplished by or with it even now , but the beneficial influence of the money ' thus appropriated is felt here indirectly . How many orphan schools , and such only like charitable and philanthropise institutions might we not have erected in our midst ; and what an incalculable amount of good would thus be accomplished ? Some may say : " How is it that you cannot now direct your energies

to such undertakings , and thereby alleviate the condition of at least some portion of suffering humanity ? " Alas ! our energies are paralyzed , and our strength financially , is entirely gone . Already the burden is more than we can bear ; taxed as we are to the very utmost , in order to support the parent Grand Lodges , and yet

compelled to spend the scanty remnant which remains to support and uphold a provincial dynasty—it becomes apparent to the observant eye , that to accomplish any such laudable designs would require more powerful means than we are capable of bringing in force . The question will then necessarily follow : " Why , if this state of things is the cause of your depressed condition , and your inability to exhibit the beneficent objects of the association , do you not seek for or apply a remedy ? " It is to this we would now direct your attention , to the consideration of which we would ask you to give

heed for a short time . Her opinions may not comprise the universal feeling among the Craft in the Lower Provinces , for we know full well that there are some who , rather than give up place and power and advance with the enlightenment of the age , would sacrifice every feeling of independence and every desire to improve the condition of the Fraternity ; but we are convinced that the day is not far distant , when the views which we entertain in regard to the subject will reign predominant in the mind of every intelligent Mason in the colonies . Againwe askwhat is the remedy ? Need we paint it in

, , letters of dazzling brilliancy , need we proclaim it in the highways and upon the housetops , before it can be comprehended by the Brethren ? we think not . It will be only necessary to point you to Canada for an example . The Brethren there have at last almost unanimously felt a disposition to be up and doing . It was no doubt hard for the parent Grand Lodges to allow such a large number of Lodges as there are in that province to pass from their control , thus entailing a heavy loss , financially speaking ; but notwithstanding all this ,

necessity's stern law must be obeyed ; the link which extended across the broad Atlantic has been snapped asunder , and the Masons of Canada have sallied forth under the blue canopy of heaven , and with the banners of truth and justice gaily floating on the breeze , they fear not the efforts of the oppressor , and freely welcome all who feel disposed to fraternise with them . May we be permitted , then , to predict a similar future for the Lower Provinces ? We believe there will bo but few dissentient voices when the proper time arrives ; but we do not think it would be advisable to adopt

the same course pursued by Canada . It will not be necessary to raise the standard of revolt or to fan the flames of insubordination , in order that the war-whoop of battle may echo and re-echo throughout the land . The sword of warfare will remain stationary in the scabbard ; and we shall be enabled to gather round the council-fire with our elder Brethren , and there calmly discuss the proba-

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