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Article BROTHER J. LEE STEVENS. ← Page 15 of 23 →
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Brother J. Lee Stevens.
" Resolved , that the tendency of the expressions used by the AV . Brother John Lee Stevens , P . M . ofthe Lodge of Fortitude , No . 122 , at thc Meeting of the 13 th of November last , at Radley ' s Hotel , was intentionally disrespectful to His Royal Highness the M . W . Grand Master . " Resolved unanimously , that Brother John Lee Stevens be suspended from all Masonic functions and Privileges ¦ for the term of three calendar months . " By order of the Board , " AVILLIAM H . WHITE , G . S . "
In the Book of Constitutions , under the head of " Board of General Purposes , " article 5 , page 110 , it is declared that " The Board has authority to hear and determine all subjects of Masonic complaint or irregularity , respecting Lodges or individual Masons , when regularly brought before it , and generally to take cognizance of all matters relating to the Craft . It may proceed to suspension , admonition , or fine , according to the laws of the society ; and its decision shall be final , unless an appeal be made to thc Grand Lodge , & c . " And under the head " Of Appeals" page 101 it is declared that " As the
, , Grand Lodge , when congregated , is a representation of every individual member of the Fraternity , it necessarily possesses a supreme superintending authority , and the power of finally deciding on every case which concerns the interest of thc Craft . Any Lodge or Brother , therefore , who may feel aggrieved by the decision of any other Masonic authority or jurisdiction , may appeal to the Grand Lodge against such decision , & c . " In accordance with those articles , I hereby give you notice of my appeal to the Grand Lod against your decision so communicated to meof which decision
ge , , I complain , as contrary to the evidence and to justice . I was informed and I still assume that it had previously been the practice of your AV . Board , whenever the parties interested had personally appeared , to inform them in person of your decision ; and I could not , therefore , expect any deviation from your common practice in my case ; much less so , as , after I read my imperfect , because hurried defence to your AV . Board on Monday , the 2 d inst ., I was requested by your R . AV . President to remain below until you had decided upon it . I cheerfully complied with that request ; and after waiting
about an hour I was told by your Tyler that your AV . Board had broken up , and that I need not wait any longer . I could then only conclude that your AV . Board had been unable to come to a decision that evening , and that I should have due notice of the next meeting . Your AV . Board is , of course , aware that I received no such notice , and that no opportunity has been afforded to me of appealing against your decision until my receipt of the communication from the Grand Secretary . I mention these facts , because I was last evening refused admission to the
festival in aid of the Boys' School—of which Charity I am a Life Subscriber , and served the office of Steward in 1836—by the AV . Brother Phillipe , P . G . S . B ., the President of the present Board of Stewards , and a member of your AV . Board , in consequence , as he ' officially' stated , of my having been suspended from my Masonic Privileges by your W . Board ; but to which declaration , under such very peculiar circumstances , I refused to give credit , although compelled to submit to the penalty of exclusion . Nor am I even now satisfied of the truth of that statement , because , if the copy of your resolutions be correct , your AV . Board
has not suspended me without appeal , inasmuch as no date is declared from which the suspension shall commence . But if any instructions were really given to suspend my Masonic Privileges , in the interim between the decision of your AV . Board and the very first opportunity afforded to rne of appealing—a grievance into which early inquiry would have to be made—I respectfully , but firmly and confidently request , that they may be immediately countermanded , as I have this evening to preside as AV . M , over the Bank of England Lodge , No . 329 . VOL . vn . B B
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Brother J. Lee Stevens.
" Resolved , that the tendency of the expressions used by the AV . Brother John Lee Stevens , P . M . ofthe Lodge of Fortitude , No . 122 , at thc Meeting of the 13 th of November last , at Radley ' s Hotel , was intentionally disrespectful to His Royal Highness the M . W . Grand Master . " Resolved unanimously , that Brother John Lee Stevens be suspended from all Masonic functions and Privileges ¦ for the term of three calendar months . " By order of the Board , " AVILLIAM H . WHITE , G . S . "
In the Book of Constitutions , under the head of " Board of General Purposes , " article 5 , page 110 , it is declared that " The Board has authority to hear and determine all subjects of Masonic complaint or irregularity , respecting Lodges or individual Masons , when regularly brought before it , and generally to take cognizance of all matters relating to the Craft . It may proceed to suspension , admonition , or fine , according to the laws of the society ; and its decision shall be final , unless an appeal be made to thc Grand Lodge , & c . " And under the head " Of Appeals" page 101 it is declared that " As the
, , Grand Lodge , when congregated , is a representation of every individual member of the Fraternity , it necessarily possesses a supreme superintending authority , and the power of finally deciding on every case which concerns the interest of thc Craft . Any Lodge or Brother , therefore , who may feel aggrieved by the decision of any other Masonic authority or jurisdiction , may appeal to the Grand Lodge against such decision , & c . " In accordance with those articles , I hereby give you notice of my appeal to the Grand Lod against your decision so communicated to meof which decision
ge , , I complain , as contrary to the evidence and to justice . I was informed and I still assume that it had previously been the practice of your AV . Board , whenever the parties interested had personally appeared , to inform them in person of your decision ; and I could not , therefore , expect any deviation from your common practice in my case ; much less so , as , after I read my imperfect , because hurried defence to your AV . Board on Monday , the 2 d inst ., I was requested by your R . AV . President to remain below until you had decided upon it . I cheerfully complied with that request ; and after waiting
about an hour I was told by your Tyler that your AV . Board had broken up , and that I need not wait any longer . I could then only conclude that your AV . Board had been unable to come to a decision that evening , and that I should have due notice of the next meeting . Your AV . Board is , of course , aware that I received no such notice , and that no opportunity has been afforded to me of appealing against your decision until my receipt of the communication from the Grand Secretary . I mention these facts , because I was last evening refused admission to the
festival in aid of the Boys' School—of which Charity I am a Life Subscriber , and served the office of Steward in 1836—by the AV . Brother Phillipe , P . G . S . B ., the President of the present Board of Stewards , and a member of your AV . Board , in consequence , as he ' officially' stated , of my having been suspended from my Masonic Privileges by your W . Board ; but to which declaration , under such very peculiar circumstances , I refused to give credit , although compelled to submit to the penalty of exclusion . Nor am I even now satisfied of the truth of that statement , because , if the copy of your resolutions be correct , your AV . Board
has not suspended me without appeal , inasmuch as no date is declared from which the suspension shall commence . But if any instructions were really given to suspend my Masonic Privileges , in the interim between the decision of your AV . Board and the very first opportunity afforded to rne of appealing—a grievance into which early inquiry would have to be made—I respectfully , but firmly and confidently request , that they may be immediately countermanded , as I have this evening to preside as AV . M , over the Bank of England Lodge , No . 329 . VOL . vn . B B