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Article THE FREEMASONRY QUARTERLY REVIEW. ← Page 6 of 8 →
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The Freemasonry Quarterly Review.
may give to our readers the reports from Grand Lodge , by which wc shall not only be saved much space , but equal trouble , in having to eliminate the gist of much irrelevant matier , and to give , as we have often been obliged , a seeming decency of speech , to parties whom natural disqualifications or ignorance have denied the power . Alay we not say , "let the galled jade wince , our withers are unwrung . "
BOARD OF GENERAL PURPOSES . —The late election to this Board was marked by a very significant expression of the public opinion of the Grand Lodge , by the return of every candidate on the independent list ; it is also worthy of remark , that between the lowest candidate on the independent list and the highest on that of the Grand Officers there was a very considerable difference , not even a close approach . We must , however observe , that both lists contained two of tlie candidates—but the remaining twelve names were unequivocally rejected ; this as regards
a few Brethren may be considered somewhat unfavourable as they are highly honourable—still having been the nominees of the purple , they shared the luckless fate of others who truckle to the powers that be . At no former period was the power of the Grand Lodge so perfectly in its own hands , and could the Grand Master but disenthral himself from the too close embrace of some six or eight parasites , he would possess the undivided esteem and affection of the English Craft . The election of
Bro . John Savage as Vice-President of the Board on the 22 nd is an additional proof of right working . The Grand Master and the other Grand Officers constitute one half ofthe Board , including the President , the remaining half are elected by the Grand Lodge , and it is but right
that such half should elect their own Vice-President . Possibly on no previous occasion did the Grand Master , with two or three exceptions , ever nominate ten more unpopular members . The success attending the recent election is the more satisfactory because the parasites essayed their utmost endeavours to obtain proselytes ; and we regret to observe that one Grand Officer , from whom better things had been expected , should have lent himself to the toadying system . Another Grand Officer who puts all decency at defianceeven went so far as to call on private
, individuals and ask them to support the attack against the Review . A-scavenger is a useful functionary in a literal sense , but in a Past Grand Officer , we denounce such conduct as indecent and unmasonicyet he enjoys the confidence of the " Purple , "—so let him . AVe must repeat our opinion that tbe mode of electing the Board of General Purposes is radically wrong ; it may be according to the Constitution , but the law as regarding it is bad , works badly , and brings forth bad fruit . It would be more correct that the Grand Master should
previously nominate his section of the Board ; this course would , enable the Grand Lodge to judge better how to act . Next , it would be more decent—we use such term emphatically—that no Grand Officer , not even the-Grand Master himself , should vote for the fourteen members to . be elected by the Grand Lodge . The purpled Brethren having already one half , including the President , are surely more than amply ' represented . And let us a ' sk , ' -without offence—are they of a higher class , are they of a more intellectual class , aie they of a more numerous class , are they < of a better ' class of 'Masons ? The answer will be readily supplied—llicy do not fall within any of these ranks ; and it is full time that a . bold
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
The Freemasonry Quarterly Review.
may give to our readers the reports from Grand Lodge , by which wc shall not only be saved much space , but equal trouble , in having to eliminate the gist of much irrelevant matier , and to give , as we have often been obliged , a seeming decency of speech , to parties whom natural disqualifications or ignorance have denied the power . Alay we not say , "let the galled jade wince , our withers are unwrung . "
BOARD OF GENERAL PURPOSES . —The late election to this Board was marked by a very significant expression of the public opinion of the Grand Lodge , by the return of every candidate on the independent list ; it is also worthy of remark , that between the lowest candidate on the independent list and the highest on that of the Grand Officers there was a very considerable difference , not even a close approach . We must , however observe , that both lists contained two of tlie candidates—but the remaining twelve names were unequivocally rejected ; this as regards
a few Brethren may be considered somewhat unfavourable as they are highly honourable—still having been the nominees of the purple , they shared the luckless fate of others who truckle to the powers that be . At no former period was the power of the Grand Lodge so perfectly in its own hands , and could the Grand Master but disenthral himself from the too close embrace of some six or eight parasites , he would possess the undivided esteem and affection of the English Craft . The election of
Bro . John Savage as Vice-President of the Board on the 22 nd is an additional proof of right working . The Grand Master and the other Grand Officers constitute one half ofthe Board , including the President , the remaining half are elected by the Grand Lodge , and it is but right
that such half should elect their own Vice-President . Possibly on no previous occasion did the Grand Master , with two or three exceptions , ever nominate ten more unpopular members . The success attending the recent election is the more satisfactory because the parasites essayed their utmost endeavours to obtain proselytes ; and we regret to observe that one Grand Officer , from whom better things had been expected , should have lent himself to the toadying system . Another Grand Officer who puts all decency at defianceeven went so far as to call on private
, individuals and ask them to support the attack against the Review . A-scavenger is a useful functionary in a literal sense , but in a Past Grand Officer , we denounce such conduct as indecent and unmasonicyet he enjoys the confidence of the " Purple , "—so let him . AVe must repeat our opinion that tbe mode of electing the Board of General Purposes is radically wrong ; it may be according to the Constitution , but the law as regarding it is bad , works badly , and brings forth bad fruit . It would be more correct that the Grand Master should
previously nominate his section of the Board ; this course would , enable the Grand Lodge to judge better how to act . Next , it would be more decent—we use such term emphatically—that no Grand Officer , not even the-Grand Master himself , should vote for the fourteen members to . be elected by the Grand Lodge . The purpled Brethren having already one half , including the President , are surely more than amply ' represented . And let us a ' sk , ' -without offence—are they of a higher class , are they of a more intellectual class , aie they of a more numerous class , are they < of a better ' class of 'Masons ? The answer will be readily supplied—llicy do not fall within any of these ranks ; and it is full time that a . bold