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Article GLASGOW MASONICS. ← Page 10 of 11 →
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Glasgow Masonics.
represented and the representative . No one for a moment would think it right or proper that there should be a continued difference of opinion between a Lodge autl its proxy representatives—they should both go hand in hand as Brothers . A proxy is , without doubt , a free agent , governed by his own . opinions . So also is a Lodge governed by Us own opinions , and it is not very likely that a Lodge will choose a proxy , whose opinions they know to be at variance with their own . A
proxy can vote as he pleases ; no one will doubt that : at the same time , it is but right and fair , that the Lodge which he represents should know how he votes , that they may have it in their power to record their opinion of his services either on the 24 th of June or 27 th of December . It would be far better for a Lodge to have no representative than one whose opinions they do not know ; and until there is a regular system of taking the votes , the Lodges must be content to remain in ignorance
of the opinions of proxy masters . A proxy ought to know the feelings , opinions , and wishes of the Lodge which he represents , and if he is an honest man and a true Mason , he would not accept a commission from a Lodge whose opinions he knew did not harmonize with his own . It is not to be supposed that any proxy could or would vote for every motion so as to please the Lodge ; and a Lodge would be very unreasonable if they would expect a proxy to do anything of the kind . Stillin
what-, ever way a proxy does vote , that vote ought to be recorded in such a manner that it may be referred to in after periods for the information of the Brethren at large , ancl ought to be communicated to all the Lodges , along with other information of a like nature , after each meeting of the Grand Lodge . The fact appears to be that there are not twenty
Lodges who know anything of the opinion which their proxies hold , as there is little or no correspondence between them anil the Lodges which they represent . It will not do for proxies to say that they confer an honour upon the Lodge by representing it ; in some cases this may be true , but 1 question very much if it be not a fact , in ninety-nine cases out of every hundred , that the honour of representing a Lodge has been sought by the proxy master , and in many instances obtained through the officers of the Grand Lodge . If this be the caselet us ask
, who confers the honour ? surely the Lodge which is solicited to grant the commission ; far better that Lodges had uo representatives in Grand Lodge , than have any one in that capacity who considers that he confers an honour upon the Lodge— because he solicited the appointment—and paid the dues consequent upon it—and thus gained the style and title of Proxy Master—when he docs not perform one of the duties of that office , if we may judge from the attendance of members at the Grand Lodge
meetings , and from the ignorance which the proxies have of the names of the Lodges which they represent . I shall be very much mistaken if there is not , in tlie course of a short time , ( say within the period of the next two Quarterly Communications ) , a better acquaintance with the names , and a more extensive correspondence with the Lod ges by the proxies , than there has been for the last ten years ; and more deference given to the opinions of the Lodges than has been the custom for a much
longer period . The Lodges are becoming alive to the duty which they are bound to perform ; time has changed the relation which we in this city held at one time , with respect to the Craft ; we are now much nearer to both ends of Scotland than we were ; the expense of communication is reduced to a fraction of what is was ; printing is cheaper ; all these thing ? combined , with a desire for information which issteadily
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Glasgow Masonics.
represented and the representative . No one for a moment would think it right or proper that there should be a continued difference of opinion between a Lodge autl its proxy representatives—they should both go hand in hand as Brothers . A proxy is , without doubt , a free agent , governed by his own . opinions . So also is a Lodge governed by Us own opinions , and it is not very likely that a Lodge will choose a proxy , whose opinions they know to be at variance with their own . A
proxy can vote as he pleases ; no one will doubt that : at the same time , it is but right and fair , that the Lodge which he represents should know how he votes , that they may have it in their power to record their opinion of his services either on the 24 th of June or 27 th of December . It would be far better for a Lodge to have no representative than one whose opinions they do not know ; and until there is a regular system of taking the votes , the Lodges must be content to remain in ignorance
of the opinions of proxy masters . A proxy ought to know the feelings , opinions , and wishes of the Lodge which he represents , and if he is an honest man and a true Mason , he would not accept a commission from a Lodge whose opinions he knew did not harmonize with his own . It is not to be supposed that any proxy could or would vote for every motion so as to please the Lodge ; and a Lodge would be very unreasonable if they would expect a proxy to do anything of the kind . Stillin
what-, ever way a proxy does vote , that vote ought to be recorded in such a manner that it may be referred to in after periods for the information of the Brethren at large , ancl ought to be communicated to all the Lodges , along with other information of a like nature , after each meeting of the Grand Lodge . The fact appears to be that there are not twenty
Lodges who know anything of the opinion which their proxies hold , as there is little or no correspondence between them anil the Lodges which they represent . It will not do for proxies to say that they confer an honour upon the Lodge by representing it ; in some cases this may be true , but 1 question very much if it be not a fact , in ninety-nine cases out of every hundred , that the honour of representing a Lodge has been sought by the proxy master , and in many instances obtained through the officers of the Grand Lodge . If this be the caselet us ask
, who confers the honour ? surely the Lodge which is solicited to grant the commission ; far better that Lodges had uo representatives in Grand Lodge , than have any one in that capacity who considers that he confers an honour upon the Lodge— because he solicited the appointment—and paid the dues consequent upon it—and thus gained the style and title of Proxy Master—when he docs not perform one of the duties of that office , if we may judge from the attendance of members at the Grand Lodge
meetings , and from the ignorance which the proxies have of the names of the Lodges which they represent . I shall be very much mistaken if there is not , in tlie course of a short time , ( say within the period of the next two Quarterly Communications ) , a better acquaintance with the names , and a more extensive correspondence with the Lod ges by the proxies , than there has been for the last ten years ; and more deference given to the opinions of the Lodges than has been the custom for a much
longer period . The Lodges are becoming alive to the duty which they are bound to perform ; time has changed the relation which we in this city held at one time , with respect to the Craft ; we are now much nearer to both ends of Scotland than we were ; the expense of communication is reduced to a fraction of what is was ; printing is cheaper ; all these thing ? combined , with a desire for information which issteadily