Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
To His Royal Highness The Duke Of Sussex.
If any one had desired to ruin the small remains of popularity possessed by your Royal Highness , it could not have been accomplished so successfully as by this vote of the Board , so directly in opposition to evidence and common sense ., unless perhaps by the mode in which it was done , and by your conduct afterwards . The mode was , by deciding the week after Grand Lodge , in order that their conduct might not be questioned for three months , except by your Royal Highness ' s consent . And your Royal Highness ' s conduct was , in refusing that consent in the unusual manner of giving no answer to the request of the Brethren aggrieved .
It might have been supposed that your Royal Highness would have been satisfied with the excitement of the opposition which had arisen from all those proceedings , had you not proved the contrary by pledging the Masonic body to certain political opinions on church government , which , if they had not been denounced by individual Masons on the part of the whole body , might have had the effect of depriving us of those immunities which we as a secret societyon the sole ground
possess , of our entertaining , as a body , no political opinions whatever . I stated in the outset that the principles of Masonry were Charity and Friendship ; but in order to carry these to their utmost extent , there is a third principle , viz . a total abstinence from political and religious discussions .
Your Royal Highness has ingeniously contrived to contravene them all . You have objected , without reason , to the extension of our Charities ; you have set the Brethren by the ears , * and you have pledged them as a body to particular religious and political opinions .
I have thus shown your Royal Highness how the present opposition has arisen , an opposition which must increase daily by a perseverance in the conduct which has created it ; but great as it is , it is not incurable . Retrace your steps for the last three years—give up all foolish idea of victory , and prove the superiority of your mind by freely and openly withdrawing all opposition to the Aged Masons' Asylum . It is not asked that you should patronise it ; but the subscribers have aright to demand that further difficulties shall be thrown
no in its way . Behave with candour and kindness to Brethren , who apply to you in Masonry , and abstain from hurting the feelings of any Brother by pledging him to . opinions which he does not entertain . Thus , and thus only , can you regain the affections of the Brethren , and I should blush for your Royal Highness , if such a victory were not more prized than any advantage to be gained ( even if success were certain ) in a conflict with so large a body of your Brethren . I am your Royal Highness ' s humble Servant , PYTHAGORAS .
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
To His Royal Highness The Duke Of Sussex.
If any one had desired to ruin the small remains of popularity possessed by your Royal Highness , it could not have been accomplished so successfully as by this vote of the Board , so directly in opposition to evidence and common sense ., unless perhaps by the mode in which it was done , and by your conduct afterwards . The mode was , by deciding the week after Grand Lodge , in order that their conduct might not be questioned for three months , except by your Royal Highness ' s consent . And your Royal Highness ' s conduct was , in refusing that consent in the unusual manner of giving no answer to the request of the Brethren aggrieved .
It might have been supposed that your Royal Highness would have been satisfied with the excitement of the opposition which had arisen from all those proceedings , had you not proved the contrary by pledging the Masonic body to certain political opinions on church government , which , if they had not been denounced by individual Masons on the part of the whole body , might have had the effect of depriving us of those immunities which we as a secret societyon the sole ground
possess , of our entertaining , as a body , no political opinions whatever . I stated in the outset that the principles of Masonry were Charity and Friendship ; but in order to carry these to their utmost extent , there is a third principle , viz . a total abstinence from political and religious discussions .
Your Royal Highness has ingeniously contrived to contravene them all . You have objected , without reason , to the extension of our Charities ; you have set the Brethren by the ears , * and you have pledged them as a body to particular religious and political opinions .
I have thus shown your Royal Highness how the present opposition has arisen , an opposition which must increase daily by a perseverance in the conduct which has created it ; but great as it is , it is not incurable . Retrace your steps for the last three years—give up all foolish idea of victory , and prove the superiority of your mind by freely and openly withdrawing all opposition to the Aged Masons' Asylum . It is not asked that you should patronise it ; but the subscribers have aright to demand that further difficulties shall be thrown
no in its way . Behave with candour and kindness to Brethren , who apply to you in Masonry , and abstain from hurting the feelings of any Brother by pledging him to . opinions which he does not entertain . Thus , and thus only , can you regain the affections of the Brethren , and I should blush for your Royal Highness , if such a victory were not more prized than any advantage to be gained ( even if success were certain ) in a conflict with so large a body of your Brethren . I am your Royal Highness ' s humble Servant , PYTHAGORAS .