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Article UNITED GRAND LODGE OF NEW SOUTH WALES. ← Page 2 of 3 Article UNITED GRAND LODGE OF NEW SOUTH WALES. Page 2 of 3 →
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United Grand Lodge Of New South Wales.
the mother country was held to be snch a valued distinction , that it was not till this centennial year of Australia that any tangible step was taken by their Lodges towards amalgamation . And even now it is not disloyalty , and not disaffection , -which have led the brethren nnder these two Constitutions to join hands with the
others in forming " The United Grand Lodge of New Sonth Wales , which takes its first step as an established body to-night . What then ia the cause of this new departure ? Is not it a feeling that the continued existence of three governing powers would be an evidence of disunion , -which might well make tbe world doubt tbe
genuineness of the principles of brotherly love , which we all profess to hold dear ? Is not it the certainty that great as has been the progress of the Craft heretofore , it will be tenfold greater and its influence be an hundredfold more when it confronts its detractors as a strong ( because
united ) band , powerful in its " brotherly love , relief and truth , to " diffuse the light of wisdom and the strength of reason , dispense the bounties of charity and lessen the aggregate of hnman misery
and vice . It is not to be supposed that these feelings had no existence or found no expression during the long period of comparative estrangement .
On the contrary , they were many times enunciated in our gatherings and always applauded by the brethren , who deplored a state of affairs which they , however , saw no immediate way of remedying . For , by the form of government , nnder the English Constitution at all events , the rulers of District Grand Lodges were appointed
by and during the pleasure of the Grand Master , and so long as they conscientiously opposed a change in our system feelings of respect and affection due to their advanced years and faithful service to the Craft restrained even the most enthusiastic advocates of amalgamation from moving .
It was , however , well understood that some change must be made when time and circumstances warranted , and the opportune moment arrived when , dnring the visit to this colony of the Pro Grand Master of England , Lord Carnarvon , a few months ago , he recognised so fully the harm Freemasonry was suffering and was likely to suffer by
disunion that he urged immediate steps to end it , and aided with valuable suggestions and encouragement a committee of brethren from various Lodges under the different Constitutions who had taken upon themselves tho task of drawing up a " basis of union . "
They duly submitted this to the Craft , but , it being viewed as scarcely broad enough to ensure all Constitutions meeting on an equal footing , resolutions were passed by the English , Scotch and New South Wales Masons , referring the question to a conference of Past Masters , Ave from eaoh Constitution .
In the meantime , Right Worshipful Bro . John Williams had resigned bis position as District Grand Master , and the Grand Master of England had appointed His Excellency Lord Carrington , the Governor of this colony , as his successor . The New South Wales brethren , with the full approval of their head , Dr . Tarrant , had
signified their intention of electing the same illustrious brother as their Grand Master ; and it was known that his acceptance of the supreme rule would also be welcomed by the Scotch Masons . Lord Carrington himself , though Past Grand Senior Warden of
England , was heartily in accord with the movement ; and so every , thing was propitious for the success of the conference . Of the spirit in which these worshipful brethren met the Craft has already had evidence .
From the first it was manifest that brotherly feeling , mutual forbearance , concessions on minor points , and yet withal a determination to adhere closely to the landmarks of tbe Order would guide their deliberations . Ten meetings in all have been held , and the " Articles of Union , "
agreed npon in June last , have since received the almost unanimous assent of all the Lodges . They will now be read to yon , as forming onr authority for meeting here to-night to elect our Grand Master , and may the Great Architect of the Universe make our union perpetual .
Bro . Stokes having read the Articles of Union , he said that he trusted the Almighty Father and Supreme Ruler might favourably regard their present undertaking , and that it might be a means of bringing under the banner of the United Grand Lodge of New South Wales the whole
of the Masonic brethren of the colony in the Masonic unity and fraternal love which might last until time should be no more . The Chairman said : Worshipful brethren and brethren , I proclaim for the first time and in the east the United Grand Lodge of Free and Accepted Masons of
New South Wales to bo duly constituted and formed in accordance with the Masonic rules and customs regulating the formation of Grand Lodges . A similar proclamation was then made by the S . W . in the west and by the J . W .
in the south , and an anthem of praise was sung . Bro . Dr . Tarrant M . W . G . M . then nominated Bro . Lord Carrington P . G . W . of the Grand Lodge of England as the first Grand Master of the United Grand Lodge of
New South Wales . Bro . C . F . Stokes D . G . M . seconded .
and Bro . Dr . Sedgwick D . G . M . supported the nomination , and a ballot having been taken , the Chairman said : I havo to announce that the election has been unanimous in favour of Very Worshipful Brother Lord Carrington Past Grand Warden of the Grand Lodge of England , who is now elected as the first Grand Master of the United Grand
Lodge of New South Wales . An anthem , written for
United Grand Lodge Of New South Wales.
the occasion , was then sung . Bro . J . 0 . Remington
proposed—That it is hereby resolved that , the United Grand Lodge of New South Wales , being now dnly and legally established according to Masonio precedent and custom , we do authorize our M . W . Grand Master elect to issue to each Lodge a dispensation empowering it to continue Masonio work until such time as the more formal documents refered to in the Articles of Union shall have been executed and issued after his installation .
Bro . F . B . Davidson seconded the motion , which was carried nem con . The election of Officers was then proceeded with , and resulted as follows : —
Bros . Stokes .... Deputy Master M'Laohlan ... Senior Warden Henry .... Junior Warden Right Rev . Bishop of Bathurst - " \ Rev . D'Arcy Irvine - - f Chaplains Rev . R . V . Gale - - . )
Remington ... Registrar Rofe .... Treasurer A . H . Bray ... Secretary M . A . Toomey - - - Deputy Secretary De Courcey Browne - ¦ Inspector of Works Tulloch .... President Board Gen . fPur .
Davidson .... Pres . Board Benevolence J . Hunt - Pres , Board Foreign Cor . White - - - - ) r . Butterfield - - . j Deacons Slade .... Architeot
Garland .... Organist Allpress .... Director of Mnsio Hopson - - - - ~ \ Dale - - - - £ Directors of Ceremonies Spencer . - - - )
W . H . Ore - - - Bard l » ZZ : : : } * - * *—Amess .... Standard Bearer
Robinson - - - - ^ Christie * - - - £ Pursuivants Mason - - » - )
Browne - - - - ) Podmore - - - » ' i ? fni «„ " ^ Stewards Alphen - - - - j Smith - - - . | Brett - - ¦ - -J
W . H . Carrick - . . Tyler Bro . Stokes
moved—That until such time as Constitutions could be prepared the Constitutions of the Grand Lodge of England , with verbal alterations , be adopted ; that the Grand Master have power to appoint a Pro .
Grand Master ; that the fees of Office be half those fixed in the Grand Lodge of England 5 and that every Lodge should within six months pay into the Grand Lodge Fund the sum of £ 10 .
The motion was seconded by Bro . J . 0 . Remington and agreed to unanimously . Bro . Stokes then moved—That the date of installation of the M . W . the Grand Master and Officers of the United Grand Lodge of New South Wales be fixed for Tuesday , 18 bh September prox .
He stated that Lord Carrington had been consulted with regard to this matter , and this date suited his convenience in every way , and in the hope that the brethren assembled that evening would approve of the date named the
conference composed of representatives of the three Constitutions had made preliminary arrangements for the engagement of the Exhibition Building for the purpose . Bro . F . B . Davidson seconded the motion , which was agreed to mem con . Bro . E . 0 . Smith then
moved—That a Ceremonial Committee , to consist of the members of the present conference , be formed , and that they be appointed to act as the Board of General Purposes and as the Board of Benevolence until such time as these Boards could be duly elected .
Bro . 3 . Hunt seconded the motion , which was carried . Bro . Dr . Tarrant said that he thought the Masonic Craft in New South Wales was to be congratulated upon the auspicious event which had taken place in the history of
Freemasonry within those walls that evening , and upon the unanimous manner in which the United Grand Lodge had been established and its Officers elected . He did nofc think , as one who was retiring from a prominent position in the
Masonic Craft in the colony , that he would be discharging his duties properly if he did not propose a vote of thanks to the worthy brethren who had been the means of promoting that union which had occurred that evening . Ifc
afforded him extreme satisfaction to propose a hearty voto of thanks to the brethren composing the Masouic Union Conference for the manner in which they had up to the
present stage conducted the proceedings of the union . Bro . Dr . Sedgwick had very great pleasure in seconding tho resolution proposed by the M . W . the Grand Master
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
United Grand Lodge Of New South Wales.
the mother country was held to be snch a valued distinction , that it was not till this centennial year of Australia that any tangible step was taken by their Lodges towards amalgamation . And even now it is not disloyalty , and not disaffection , -which have led the brethren nnder these two Constitutions to join hands with the
others in forming " The United Grand Lodge of New Sonth Wales , which takes its first step as an established body to-night . What then ia the cause of this new departure ? Is not it a feeling that the continued existence of three governing powers would be an evidence of disunion , -which might well make tbe world doubt tbe
genuineness of the principles of brotherly love , which we all profess to hold dear ? Is not it the certainty that great as has been the progress of the Craft heretofore , it will be tenfold greater and its influence be an hundredfold more when it confronts its detractors as a strong ( because
united ) band , powerful in its " brotherly love , relief and truth , to " diffuse the light of wisdom and the strength of reason , dispense the bounties of charity and lessen the aggregate of hnman misery
and vice . It is not to be supposed that these feelings had no existence or found no expression during the long period of comparative estrangement .
On the contrary , they were many times enunciated in our gatherings and always applauded by the brethren , who deplored a state of affairs which they , however , saw no immediate way of remedying . For , by the form of government , nnder the English Constitution at all events , the rulers of District Grand Lodges were appointed
by and during the pleasure of the Grand Master , and so long as they conscientiously opposed a change in our system feelings of respect and affection due to their advanced years and faithful service to the Craft restrained even the most enthusiastic advocates of amalgamation from moving .
It was , however , well understood that some change must be made when time and circumstances warranted , and the opportune moment arrived when , dnring the visit to this colony of the Pro Grand Master of England , Lord Carnarvon , a few months ago , he recognised so fully the harm Freemasonry was suffering and was likely to suffer by
disunion that he urged immediate steps to end it , and aided with valuable suggestions and encouragement a committee of brethren from various Lodges under the different Constitutions who had taken upon themselves tho task of drawing up a " basis of union . "
They duly submitted this to the Craft , but , it being viewed as scarcely broad enough to ensure all Constitutions meeting on an equal footing , resolutions were passed by the English , Scotch and New South Wales Masons , referring the question to a conference of Past Masters , Ave from eaoh Constitution .
In the meantime , Right Worshipful Bro . John Williams had resigned bis position as District Grand Master , and the Grand Master of England had appointed His Excellency Lord Carrington , the Governor of this colony , as his successor . The New South Wales brethren , with the full approval of their head , Dr . Tarrant , had
signified their intention of electing the same illustrious brother as their Grand Master ; and it was known that his acceptance of the supreme rule would also be welcomed by the Scotch Masons . Lord Carrington himself , though Past Grand Senior Warden of
England , was heartily in accord with the movement ; and so every , thing was propitious for the success of the conference . Of the spirit in which these worshipful brethren met the Craft has already had evidence .
From the first it was manifest that brotherly feeling , mutual forbearance , concessions on minor points , and yet withal a determination to adhere closely to the landmarks of tbe Order would guide their deliberations . Ten meetings in all have been held , and the " Articles of Union , "
agreed npon in June last , have since received the almost unanimous assent of all the Lodges . They will now be read to yon , as forming onr authority for meeting here to-night to elect our Grand Master , and may the Great Architect of the Universe make our union perpetual .
Bro . Stokes having read the Articles of Union , he said that he trusted the Almighty Father and Supreme Ruler might favourably regard their present undertaking , and that it might be a means of bringing under the banner of the United Grand Lodge of New South Wales the whole
of the Masonic brethren of the colony in the Masonic unity and fraternal love which might last until time should be no more . The Chairman said : Worshipful brethren and brethren , I proclaim for the first time and in the east the United Grand Lodge of Free and Accepted Masons of
New South Wales to bo duly constituted and formed in accordance with the Masonic rules and customs regulating the formation of Grand Lodges . A similar proclamation was then made by the S . W . in the west and by the J . W .
in the south , and an anthem of praise was sung . Bro . Dr . Tarrant M . W . G . M . then nominated Bro . Lord Carrington P . G . W . of the Grand Lodge of England as the first Grand Master of the United Grand Lodge of
New South Wales . Bro . C . F . Stokes D . G . M . seconded .
and Bro . Dr . Sedgwick D . G . M . supported the nomination , and a ballot having been taken , the Chairman said : I havo to announce that the election has been unanimous in favour of Very Worshipful Brother Lord Carrington Past Grand Warden of the Grand Lodge of England , who is now elected as the first Grand Master of the United Grand
Lodge of New South Wales . An anthem , written for
United Grand Lodge Of New South Wales.
the occasion , was then sung . Bro . J . 0 . Remington
proposed—That it is hereby resolved that , the United Grand Lodge of New South Wales , being now dnly and legally established according to Masonio precedent and custom , we do authorize our M . W . Grand Master elect to issue to each Lodge a dispensation empowering it to continue Masonio work until such time as the more formal documents refered to in the Articles of Union shall have been executed and issued after his installation .
Bro . F . B . Davidson seconded the motion , which was carried nem con . The election of Officers was then proceeded with , and resulted as follows : —
Bros . Stokes .... Deputy Master M'Laohlan ... Senior Warden Henry .... Junior Warden Right Rev . Bishop of Bathurst - " \ Rev . D'Arcy Irvine - - f Chaplains Rev . R . V . Gale - - . )
Remington ... Registrar Rofe .... Treasurer A . H . Bray ... Secretary M . A . Toomey - - - Deputy Secretary De Courcey Browne - ¦ Inspector of Works Tulloch .... President Board Gen . fPur .
Davidson .... Pres . Board Benevolence J . Hunt - Pres , Board Foreign Cor . White - - - - ) r . Butterfield - - . j Deacons Slade .... Architeot
Garland .... Organist Allpress .... Director of Mnsio Hopson - - - - ~ \ Dale - - - - £ Directors of Ceremonies Spencer . - - - )
W . H . Ore - - - Bard l » ZZ : : : } * - * *—Amess .... Standard Bearer
Robinson - - - - ^ Christie * - - - £ Pursuivants Mason - - » - )
Browne - - - - ) Podmore - - - » ' i ? fni «„ " ^ Stewards Alphen - - - - j Smith - - - . | Brett - - ¦ - -J
W . H . Carrick - . . Tyler Bro . Stokes
moved—That until such time as Constitutions could be prepared the Constitutions of the Grand Lodge of England , with verbal alterations , be adopted ; that the Grand Master have power to appoint a Pro .
Grand Master ; that the fees of Office be half those fixed in the Grand Lodge of England 5 and that every Lodge should within six months pay into the Grand Lodge Fund the sum of £ 10 .
The motion was seconded by Bro . J . 0 . Remington and agreed to unanimously . Bro . Stokes then moved—That the date of installation of the M . W . the Grand Master and Officers of the United Grand Lodge of New South Wales be fixed for Tuesday , 18 bh September prox .
He stated that Lord Carrington had been consulted with regard to this matter , and this date suited his convenience in every way , and in the hope that the brethren assembled that evening would approve of the date named the
conference composed of representatives of the three Constitutions had made preliminary arrangements for the engagement of the Exhibition Building for the purpose . Bro . F . B . Davidson seconded the motion , which was agreed to mem con . Bro . E . 0 . Smith then
moved—That a Ceremonial Committee , to consist of the members of the present conference , be formed , and that they be appointed to act as the Board of General Purposes and as the Board of Benevolence until such time as these Boards could be duly elected .
Bro . 3 . Hunt seconded the motion , which was carried . Bro . Dr . Tarrant said that he thought the Masonic Craft in New South Wales was to be congratulated upon the auspicious event which had taken place in the history of
Freemasonry within those walls that evening , and upon the unanimous manner in which the United Grand Lodge had been established and its Officers elected . He did nofc think , as one who was retiring from a prominent position in the
Masonic Craft in the colony , that he would be discharging his duties properly if he did not propose a vote of thanks to the worthy brethren who had been the means of promoting that union which had occurred that evening . Ifc
afforded him extreme satisfaction to propose a hearty voto of thanks to the brethren composing the Masouic Union Conference for the manner in which they had up to the
present stage conducted the proceedings of the union . Bro . Dr . Sedgwick had very great pleasure in seconding tho resolution proposed by the M . W . the Grand Master