-
Articles/Ads
Article PROVINCIAL. ← Page 8 of 25 →
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Provincial.
tacit acquiescence in the measure which now forms the pretext for my dismissal—( cheers ) . Under these circumstances , I think the P . G . M . ought to have favoured me with some notice of his intentions , that I might have had an opportunity of taking leave of the officers whom I had myself appointed ; that I mi ght have taken leave of the Brethren of the Province , to whom I have been most affectionately attached ; and one and all of whom I have ever considerednot merely as my Brethrenbut as
, , my children—( great applause ) . Secondly—The P-G-M . has omitted to convene the Spring P . G . Lodge , in conformity with the by-laws of tbe Province , with his own recommendation , and a formal Resolution of the last P . G . Lodge . This is a breach of discipline , to which it is not my intention to demur , but shall leave it in the hands of those who may consider themselves more particularly interested in the matter . Thirdly—He has dismissed me on an alleged charge of insubordination ,
an offence , if it be one , which was committed many months ago , and out of the limits of his jurisdiction . Fourthly—He has broadly asserted that the interests of Masonry demanded my removal . On these two last points , which are purely personal , I intend to offer a few observations . And first on the question of insubordination . It appears from the above letters , that the head and front of my offending is , that I consented to preside at a private meeting of the Bank of England Lod of which I
ge , am a member , on the occasion of presenting a testimonial to a worthy and meritorious Brother , as a tribute of gratitude for his exertions in establishing a permanent Fund for the Relief of Worthy Aged and Decayed Freemasons ; to which design P . G . M . D'Eyncourt was himself a subscriber , and the Brethren of the Province liberally contributed . Now , Brethren , you have most of you , at one time or another , met me in
P . G . Lodge . I call upon you , therefore , to bear me witness , whether I have not , on all occasions , shewn a disposition to treat the P . G . M . with that deference and respect which were due to his character as my immediate superior in the Province —( cheers ); whicli were due to his character as a man of exalted rank , being descended from the ancient Lords of Blankney ; and , as rank presupposes virtue , as a man whose virtues are resplendent , and whose integrity is unblemished . But out of the Provinceit cannot be conceived that I am responsible to him for
, my Masonic conduct—( no , no !) . Can I be responsible to the P . G . M . for Lincolnshire for a transaction which occurred in the metropolis , under the immediate jurisdiction of the Grand Lodge of England ? As a member of the Bank of England Lodge , I doubt whether I am accountable to him . Out of the Province his jurisdiction ceases —( applause ) . I was Bro . D'Eyncourt ' s deputy , and in that capacity 1 was bound to obeyand I did obey his lawful commands on all points connected with
, the discipline of the Province . But is this any reason why I should be deprived of the privilege of entertaining my own opinions on the general transactions of the Craft ? Was I , therefore , under the necessity of waiving my right of private judgment ?—of relinquishing the high birthright of an Englishman—( loud cheers)—of a man free by birth , of mature age , sound judgment , and , I hope and trust , strict morality ? — ( cheers ) . AVas I deprived of the riht of thinking for myself the
g moment my patent of office was signed ? Is every P . G . Officer obliged , at his appointment , to renounce his own opinions , and subscribe to those of the P . G . M v however they may be opposed to the sacred dictates of truth ,. honour , and virtue ? —( no , no !) If so , who would be a P . G . Officer ? But it is not so . 'In the multitude of counsellors there is
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Provincial.
tacit acquiescence in the measure which now forms the pretext for my dismissal—( cheers ) . Under these circumstances , I think the P . G . M . ought to have favoured me with some notice of his intentions , that I might have had an opportunity of taking leave of the officers whom I had myself appointed ; that I mi ght have taken leave of the Brethren of the Province , to whom I have been most affectionately attached ; and one and all of whom I have ever considerednot merely as my Brethrenbut as
, , my children—( great applause ) . Secondly—The P-G-M . has omitted to convene the Spring P . G . Lodge , in conformity with the by-laws of tbe Province , with his own recommendation , and a formal Resolution of the last P . G . Lodge . This is a breach of discipline , to which it is not my intention to demur , but shall leave it in the hands of those who may consider themselves more particularly interested in the matter . Thirdly—He has dismissed me on an alleged charge of insubordination ,
an offence , if it be one , which was committed many months ago , and out of the limits of his jurisdiction . Fourthly—He has broadly asserted that the interests of Masonry demanded my removal . On these two last points , which are purely personal , I intend to offer a few observations . And first on the question of insubordination . It appears from the above letters , that the head and front of my offending is , that I consented to preside at a private meeting of the Bank of England Lod of which I
ge , am a member , on the occasion of presenting a testimonial to a worthy and meritorious Brother , as a tribute of gratitude for his exertions in establishing a permanent Fund for the Relief of Worthy Aged and Decayed Freemasons ; to which design P . G . M . D'Eyncourt was himself a subscriber , and the Brethren of the Province liberally contributed . Now , Brethren , you have most of you , at one time or another , met me in
P . G . Lodge . I call upon you , therefore , to bear me witness , whether I have not , on all occasions , shewn a disposition to treat the P . G . M . with that deference and respect which were due to his character as my immediate superior in the Province —( cheers ); whicli were due to his character as a man of exalted rank , being descended from the ancient Lords of Blankney ; and , as rank presupposes virtue , as a man whose virtues are resplendent , and whose integrity is unblemished . But out of the Provinceit cannot be conceived that I am responsible to him for
, my Masonic conduct—( no , no !) . Can I be responsible to the P . G . M . for Lincolnshire for a transaction which occurred in the metropolis , under the immediate jurisdiction of the Grand Lodge of England ? As a member of the Bank of England Lodge , I doubt whether I am accountable to him . Out of the Province his jurisdiction ceases —( applause ) . I was Bro . D'Eyncourt ' s deputy , and in that capacity 1 was bound to obeyand I did obey his lawful commands on all points connected with
, the discipline of the Province . But is this any reason why I should be deprived of the privilege of entertaining my own opinions on the general transactions of the Craft ? Was I , therefore , under the necessity of waiving my right of private judgment ?—of relinquishing the high birthright of an Englishman—( loud cheers)—of a man free by birth , of mature age , sound judgment , and , I hope and trust , strict morality ? — ( cheers ) . AVas I deprived of the riht of thinking for myself the
g moment my patent of office was signed ? Is every P . G . Officer obliged , at his appointment , to renounce his own opinions , and subscribe to those of the P . G . M v however they may be opposed to the sacred dictates of truth ,. honour , and virtue ? —( no , no !) If so , who would be a P . G . Officer ? But it is not so . 'In the multitude of counsellors there is