-
Articles/Ads
Article MISCONDUCT IN A LODGE Page 1 of 2 Article MISCONDUCT IN A LODGE Page 1 of 2 →
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Misconduct In A Lodge
MISCONDUCT IN A LODGE
OUR readers may possibly be somewhat surprised at our so soon reverting to a theme to which we have latterly devoted a considerable portion of our space . The fact is , one of those dear little birds , which habitually flutter about the ears of journalists , has been kindly
whispering to us and urging ns to deal out our censure with strict impartiality . He has pointed out that while it is undeniable there is , unfortunately , great room for censure in the conduct of our English Lodges , there is also even more to condemn in the conduct of those located north of
the Tweed . He has , further , chirruped to us , in appropriately melancholy notes—such notes as we may imagine the birds of the air gave utterance to when they began sighing and sobbing over the death of poor Cock Robinwe say he has chirruped to us with such clearness as the
mournful nature of the case permitted , the story of a desperate conflict—in common parlance , a free fight—which took place , less than a year ago , in one of the subordinate Lodges of the Grand Lodge of Scotland . The narrative is not a pleasant one , but journals do not always enjoy the
pleasure of recording what is agreeable . If we are to fulfil our mission worthily , we must take the sour and the sweet together , and offer them both to our readers . But to unfold our little tale , and we doubt not our friends will give us credit when we declare that we write it in sorrow ,
not in anger . We are far too kindly disposed towards our Scottish brethren generally to say , intentionally , anything that could possibly give offence . But the interests of the
Craft demand that we should speak out clearly aud emphatically , and , after all , we are only repeating the tale as chirruped to us by our kind little birdie , and birdies are innocent of all harm to their Masonic friends . There is in
the important Province of Glasgow a St . Vincent Lodge , No . 553 on the roll of Grand Lodge Scotland , which has not enjoyed a long life as yet , though a life sufficientl y long to allow of its having earned for itself a most uncomfortable notoriety . It is usual , of course , when a
Lodge is constituted to enact a code of bye-laws , but this business does not appear to have gone as smoothly as could have been wished . A petition was presented by certain brethren , who were dissatisfied with the enactments , to the Laws Committee of Grand Lodge , and the said Committee
set itself to institute the usual inquiries with a view to arrange the differences which had arisen . No notice , however , was taken by tbe R . W . M . of the Laws Committee ' s letter , and it was determined to remit the matter to the Provincial Grand Lodge of Glasgow . Forthwith , a
Provincial Grand Lodge Committee of inquiry was appointed ; a day was fixed for examining into all the circumstances , and it having been shown that the bye-laws had been properly passed in open Lodge , that a proper record of such passing was entered on the minutes , and that due notice
had been given to the members of the Lodgo whenever the bye-laws would come under consideration , the Committee unanimousl y adopted a resolution embod ying these circumstances , and concluding thus : — " We therefore declare the Bye-Laws of Lodge St . Vincent , No . 553 , to be law ,
and hereb y order the regular meetings of said Lodge to be at once resumed . " The Lodsje had been convened , in order that the report of the Provincial Committee—which consisted of Bros . Barrow D . P . G . M ., Baird S . P . G . M . Treas ., Morgan Int . Sec , Bain B . B ., Balfour D . of C , with Jack , N 0 > > 128 , Thomson No . 333 , Loutitt No . 413 , and Gilchrist No . 435—might be at once communicated , Bro .
Misconduct In A Lodge
Barrow and his colleagues therefore entered the Lodge , aud ¦ were received with the customary honours . The R . W . M . Bro . McDougall tendered his mallet to the Acting Grand Master , Bro . Barrow , who at once occupied the chair , and proceeded to explain what they had done . But this was a far more difficult task than Bro . Barrow could have
anticipated . In fact , he was not allowed to complete his explanation , for the dissatisfied brethren who objected to the Bye-laws , a Bro . Stevens and others , were continually interrupting him with some disrespectful comment . Bro . Stevens , however , was repeatedly cautioned "b y the
acting P . G . M ., and "informed that if he persisted in hia conduct , he would be conducted outside the Lodge . " Bro . Barrow then resumed , but the interruptions were renewed with such persistency that the Wardens were called upon to remove Bro . Stevens ; but tbe latter , having given
" his word as a Mason he would say no more , " was allowed to remain . This Brother Stevens , however , had a way of his own of keeping " his word as a Mason , " for hardly had Brother Barrow started again , when this singular specimen of a St . Vincent Craftsman
and his followers renewed their interruptions , such , disgraceful expressions as " Rotten Prov . Grand Lodge , " " You have no authority to come here , " "Damn your authority , " & c , & c , being freely indulged in . The Wardens were thereupon ordered to remove Bro . Stevens ,
when "there ensued one of the most disgraceful scenes ever witnessed inside or even outside a Masonic Lodge . Steven ' s follower ' s leaped the forms , and tore the Wardens and Prov . Grand Office Bearers from their men , knocking them about in the most free manner . " There was , in fact ,
as we have said , a free fight , in tbe course of which the Prov . G . Treasurer was knocked down , and Bros . G . Bible Bearer and Director of Ceremonies were nearly strangled , tho latter likewise losing his scarf-pin . Others were similarly treated , and the language addressed to the P . G .
Deputation is described as having been of " the most obscene aud disgusting character . " No wonder the acting P . G . M . declared " the Lodge St . Vincent closed , and meantime suspended . " Nor will our readers be surprised to learn that an extraordinary meeting of Prov . G . Lodge
was summoned eight days afterwards , and that after due consideration of the circumstances , and such defence as Bro . Stevens and his followers were able to offer , the following sentence was passed by a large majority , namely , sentence of suspension from all Masonic privileges for , in the case of
" Bro . Stevens , 5 years ; Bro . Hugh M'Lean , 2 years ; Bro . M'Indoe , 2 years ; Bro . Allan M'Lean , 2 years ; Bro . Graham , 1 year ; and Bro . Groves , 1 year . " In the defences that were offered , Bro . Stevens expressed his willing , ness to apologise , but with classic elegance and firmness
declared "he was not , however , going to have the St . Vincent Bye-laws shoved down his throat . " Bro . Graham was "sorry if'he had done wrong , but was not aware of it , " as though taking part in knocking a Prov . Grand Treasurer , and helping to half strangle the Bible Bearer and Director
of Ceremonies were a perfectly innocent and legitimate amusement . Bro . M'Indoe naively excused himself on the score that " he was quite a young Mason ; had never seen a Mason made ; thought he was doing right in Resisting P . G . Committee , as he was taught to defend a brother
Mason . " Quite right , Bro . M'Indoe , but not to defend one brother Ma < on in L > dge by helping to knock other brother Masons down . Moreover , the Bible Bearer gave a slightly different version of the affair , and said that he " endeavoured to remind Bro . M'Indoe of his obligation , when
he aiid . the obligation were at once consigned to the bottom
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Misconduct In A Lodge
MISCONDUCT IN A LODGE
OUR readers may possibly be somewhat surprised at our so soon reverting to a theme to which we have latterly devoted a considerable portion of our space . The fact is , one of those dear little birds , which habitually flutter about the ears of journalists , has been kindly
whispering to us and urging ns to deal out our censure with strict impartiality . He has pointed out that while it is undeniable there is , unfortunately , great room for censure in the conduct of our English Lodges , there is also even more to condemn in the conduct of those located north of
the Tweed . He has , further , chirruped to us , in appropriately melancholy notes—such notes as we may imagine the birds of the air gave utterance to when they began sighing and sobbing over the death of poor Cock Robinwe say he has chirruped to us with such clearness as the
mournful nature of the case permitted , the story of a desperate conflict—in common parlance , a free fight—which took place , less than a year ago , in one of the subordinate Lodges of the Grand Lodge of Scotland . The narrative is not a pleasant one , but journals do not always enjoy the
pleasure of recording what is agreeable . If we are to fulfil our mission worthily , we must take the sour and the sweet together , and offer them both to our readers . But to unfold our little tale , and we doubt not our friends will give us credit when we declare that we write it in sorrow ,
not in anger . We are far too kindly disposed towards our Scottish brethren generally to say , intentionally , anything that could possibly give offence . But the interests of the
Craft demand that we should speak out clearly aud emphatically , and , after all , we are only repeating the tale as chirruped to us by our kind little birdie , and birdies are innocent of all harm to their Masonic friends . There is in
the important Province of Glasgow a St . Vincent Lodge , No . 553 on the roll of Grand Lodge Scotland , which has not enjoyed a long life as yet , though a life sufficientl y long to allow of its having earned for itself a most uncomfortable notoriety . It is usual , of course , when a
Lodge is constituted to enact a code of bye-laws , but this business does not appear to have gone as smoothly as could have been wished . A petition was presented by certain brethren , who were dissatisfied with the enactments , to the Laws Committee of Grand Lodge , and the said Committee
set itself to institute the usual inquiries with a view to arrange the differences which had arisen . No notice , however , was taken by tbe R . W . M . of the Laws Committee ' s letter , and it was determined to remit the matter to the Provincial Grand Lodge of Glasgow . Forthwith , a
Provincial Grand Lodge Committee of inquiry was appointed ; a day was fixed for examining into all the circumstances , and it having been shown that the bye-laws had been properly passed in open Lodge , that a proper record of such passing was entered on the minutes , and that due notice
had been given to the members of the Lodgo whenever the bye-laws would come under consideration , the Committee unanimousl y adopted a resolution embod ying these circumstances , and concluding thus : — " We therefore declare the Bye-Laws of Lodge St . Vincent , No . 553 , to be law ,
and hereb y order the regular meetings of said Lodge to be at once resumed . " The Lodsje had been convened , in order that the report of the Provincial Committee—which consisted of Bros . Barrow D . P . G . M ., Baird S . P . G . M . Treas ., Morgan Int . Sec , Bain B . B ., Balfour D . of C , with Jack , N 0 > > 128 , Thomson No . 333 , Loutitt No . 413 , and Gilchrist No . 435—might be at once communicated , Bro .
Misconduct In A Lodge
Barrow and his colleagues therefore entered the Lodge , aud ¦ were received with the customary honours . The R . W . M . Bro . McDougall tendered his mallet to the Acting Grand Master , Bro . Barrow , who at once occupied the chair , and proceeded to explain what they had done . But this was a far more difficult task than Bro . Barrow could have
anticipated . In fact , he was not allowed to complete his explanation , for the dissatisfied brethren who objected to the Bye-laws , a Bro . Stevens and others , were continually interrupting him with some disrespectful comment . Bro . Stevens , however , was repeatedly cautioned "b y the
acting P . G . M ., and "informed that if he persisted in hia conduct , he would be conducted outside the Lodge . " Bro . Barrow then resumed , but the interruptions were renewed with such persistency that the Wardens were called upon to remove Bro . Stevens ; but tbe latter , having given
" his word as a Mason he would say no more , " was allowed to remain . This Brother Stevens , however , had a way of his own of keeping " his word as a Mason , " for hardly had Brother Barrow started again , when this singular specimen of a St . Vincent Craftsman
and his followers renewed their interruptions , such , disgraceful expressions as " Rotten Prov . Grand Lodge , " " You have no authority to come here , " "Damn your authority , " & c , & c , being freely indulged in . The Wardens were thereupon ordered to remove Bro . Stevens ,
when "there ensued one of the most disgraceful scenes ever witnessed inside or even outside a Masonic Lodge . Steven ' s follower ' s leaped the forms , and tore the Wardens and Prov . Grand Office Bearers from their men , knocking them about in the most free manner . " There was , in fact ,
as we have said , a free fight , in tbe course of which the Prov . G . Treasurer was knocked down , and Bros . G . Bible Bearer and Director of Ceremonies were nearly strangled , tho latter likewise losing his scarf-pin . Others were similarly treated , and the language addressed to the P . G .
Deputation is described as having been of " the most obscene aud disgusting character . " No wonder the acting P . G . M . declared " the Lodge St . Vincent closed , and meantime suspended . " Nor will our readers be surprised to learn that an extraordinary meeting of Prov . G . Lodge
was summoned eight days afterwards , and that after due consideration of the circumstances , and such defence as Bro . Stevens and his followers were able to offer , the following sentence was passed by a large majority , namely , sentence of suspension from all Masonic privileges for , in the case of
" Bro . Stevens , 5 years ; Bro . Hugh M'Lean , 2 years ; Bro . M'Indoe , 2 years ; Bro . Allan M'Lean , 2 years ; Bro . Graham , 1 year ; and Bro . Groves , 1 year . " In the defences that were offered , Bro . Stevens expressed his willing , ness to apologise , but with classic elegance and firmness
declared "he was not , however , going to have the St . Vincent Bye-laws shoved down his throat . " Bro . Graham was "sorry if'he had done wrong , but was not aware of it , " as though taking part in knocking a Prov . Grand Treasurer , and helping to half strangle the Bible Bearer and Director
of Ceremonies were a perfectly innocent and legitimate amusement . Bro . M'Indoe naively excused himself on the score that " he was quite a young Mason ; had never seen a Mason made ; thought he was doing right in Resisting P . G . Committee , as he was taught to defend a brother
Mason . " Quite right , Bro . M'Indoe , but not to defend one brother Ma < on in L > dge by helping to knock other brother Masons down . Moreover , the Bible Bearer gave a slightly different version of the affair , and said that he " endeavoured to remind Bro . M'Indoe of his obligation , when
he aiid . the obligation were at once consigned to the bottom