Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Ireland.
in the oldest Lodge in the world , *—mother Kilwinning , —and in the country most celebrated of all the world for its religious preservation of , and adherence to , all systems of relationship between man and man , ( Freemasonry amongst the rest ) , whether natural , religious , political , or educational . How this question might be decided in England I do not enquire ; hut I feel assured thatin tlie Grand Lodge of Englandnot a single
in-, , dividual would have stepped forward to insinuate a personal charge or complaint against a Brother standing in the position of Bro . Lawrence . Bro . Lawrence is , indeed , ' prior of Kilmainham , ' under a grant from the Chivalric Order of the Temple ; and that Order is ( I believe ) , disapproved of , or looked upon with some degree of suspicion or of alarm , by a large , or by a certain portion , ( whether large or small , ) of the English fraternity . Bro . Lawrence is also Provincial Grand Master for
Ireland of the Scottish Royal Order of Robert Bruce , whereof I had the high honour of being the first person who received the mysteries in this country . Bro . Lawrence also received the thirty-third degree in Scotland . But even these grave offences would , I humbly opine , have been pardoned in England . And why are they HERE made the subject of prosecution ? AA'hy are futile , frivolous , and ridiculous charges made against Bro . Lawrence ? Because those who , in the battle of the higher degrees , were generously allowed by their victorious opponents to walk out of their entrenchments with all the honours of war , are still on the
alert , and busily engaged in the manufacture of a wooden horse , by means of which they hope to obtain , through stratagem , a position somewhat similar to that from which they have been already fairly , soundly , ( and , shall I not say , fraternally ?) beaten in a fair field , or rather , in a field wherein they had every conceivable advantage . ' A stitch in time saves nine , ' I , therefore , do not hesitate to expose this trifling rent in our garment , to which a slight but timely application of the needle is necessary in order to prevent future patchwork .
I am the more anxious to leave undone no portion of my duty , whilst permitted to enjoy the highly honorary rank of a correspondent to the F . Q . JR ., because I feel and KNOW that I possess the key of all those secrets which are rather unmasonically introduced amongst the Craft . Of all my numerous communications to the F . Q . R ., NOT ONE has been ever even contradicted , and therefore it is not unreasonable that I should assume to myself that knowledge , discernment , and skill ,
which , indeed , alone would entitle me to assume the responsibility of announcing facts , or suggesting inferences , to that powerful and independent organ of Masonic opinions . Now I do not hesitate to declare that this present assault , a brulumfulmen as it is , is shot from the same quiver from which so many annoyances have been discharged against every regular system of the higher degrees of Masonry in Ireland , and against every person who did good or honest service in their defence , from the Marquis of Kildare , or Bro . Hercules Ellis , or Bro . Lawrence , down to my humble self .
An address now in the hands of our amiable Brother , George James Baldwin , the creator of Lodge 50 , has been prepared for the purpose of testifying the respect of the universal Craft of Ireland to its accomplished member , Bro . W . Lawrence , Jun . It has already received not
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Ireland.
in the oldest Lodge in the world , *—mother Kilwinning , —and in the country most celebrated of all the world for its religious preservation of , and adherence to , all systems of relationship between man and man , ( Freemasonry amongst the rest ) , whether natural , religious , political , or educational . How this question might be decided in England I do not enquire ; hut I feel assured thatin tlie Grand Lodge of Englandnot a single
in-, , dividual would have stepped forward to insinuate a personal charge or complaint against a Brother standing in the position of Bro . Lawrence . Bro . Lawrence is , indeed , ' prior of Kilmainham , ' under a grant from the Chivalric Order of the Temple ; and that Order is ( I believe ) , disapproved of , or looked upon with some degree of suspicion or of alarm , by a large , or by a certain portion , ( whether large or small , ) of the English fraternity . Bro . Lawrence is also Provincial Grand Master for
Ireland of the Scottish Royal Order of Robert Bruce , whereof I had the high honour of being the first person who received the mysteries in this country . Bro . Lawrence also received the thirty-third degree in Scotland . But even these grave offences would , I humbly opine , have been pardoned in England . And why are they HERE made the subject of prosecution ? AA'hy are futile , frivolous , and ridiculous charges made against Bro . Lawrence ? Because those who , in the battle of the higher degrees , were generously allowed by their victorious opponents to walk out of their entrenchments with all the honours of war , are still on the
alert , and busily engaged in the manufacture of a wooden horse , by means of which they hope to obtain , through stratagem , a position somewhat similar to that from which they have been already fairly , soundly , ( and , shall I not say , fraternally ?) beaten in a fair field , or rather , in a field wherein they had every conceivable advantage . ' A stitch in time saves nine , ' I , therefore , do not hesitate to expose this trifling rent in our garment , to which a slight but timely application of the needle is necessary in order to prevent future patchwork .
I am the more anxious to leave undone no portion of my duty , whilst permitted to enjoy the highly honorary rank of a correspondent to the F . Q . JR ., because I feel and KNOW that I possess the key of all those secrets which are rather unmasonically introduced amongst the Craft . Of all my numerous communications to the F . Q . R ., NOT ONE has been ever even contradicted , and therefore it is not unreasonable that I should assume to myself that knowledge , discernment , and skill ,
which , indeed , alone would entitle me to assume the responsibility of announcing facts , or suggesting inferences , to that powerful and independent organ of Masonic opinions . Now I do not hesitate to declare that this present assault , a brulumfulmen as it is , is shot from the same quiver from which so many annoyances have been discharged against every regular system of the higher degrees of Masonry in Ireland , and against every person who did good or honest service in their defence , from the Marquis of Kildare , or Bro . Hercules Ellis , or Bro . Lawrence , down to my humble self .
An address now in the hands of our amiable Brother , George James Baldwin , the creator of Lodge 50 , has been prepared for the purpose of testifying the respect of the universal Craft of Ireland to its accomplished member , Bro . W . Lawrence , Jun . It has already received not