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Article THE FREEMASONS' QUARTERLYREVIEW, ← Page 5 of 8 →
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The Freemasons' Quarterlyreview,
thus had to record , during twelve months , eight meetings of the representatives of the Craft . Numerous as these gatherings were , they have been marked by the importance of the debates , and of the subjects brought under their notice for discussion , to many of which we have not here alluded , not having become law . Taking a parting glance at the events of the year , we are naturally led to those more prominent and
important in which the Grand Master is most essentially concerned . The granting to the Freemasons at large a report of what has been transacted in their parliament , the Grand Loclge—the admission of all creeds to Prussian lodges , and all freemen to our own—the power gracefully conceded to Grand Lodge to dismiss their highest paid officer instead of retaining the right himself—with the performance of all these
popular acts , so completely in accordance with a masonic spirit and the progress of the times , we fear we must state the unpleasant fact that the Grand Master is less popular now . than he was a year since . We grieve while we reluctantly make the admission that such is the opinion of a large portion of our body ; it can only arise , therefore , from causes over which he has not the entire control , or in which he allows himself to be injudiciously advised . For the acts to which we have alluded are those emanating from a well-governed mind , an amiable disposition , a sense of justice , and a determination to uphold Freemasonry in its
integrity . If he was esteemed before the carrying of those measures of right , that such decisions of equity should have raised him to the pinnacle of popularity ; but it is not so , and the causes are not a secret ; they are , that taking upon himself the duty and the responsibility of an Editor , he has laid himself open to the charge of partiality . The reports of the Grand Lodge are not satisfactory ; hence many have ,
or fancy they have , cause to murmur ; but to whom and of whom are they to complain , how and where are they to obtain redress for a real or an imaginary wrong ? Another cause is , we fear not to say , the active part taken by the Grand Master in debate . Every member of the Grand Lodge considers the Chairman of every meeting of that body as one to act between the speakersor the arguments of proposers or opposers
, of measures . To which ever side an inclination is observed to exist , a preponderance is given , and the loser by such power as that exercised by a Grand Master on the throne naturally smarts when it causes a defeat . We at once concede the undoubted right of the Grand Master to hold certain opinions upon every subject brought forward , and to give utterance to those opinions . The time of speaking makes an important
difference , and when the opportunity of speaking after a reply and close of a debate is taken , gives rise to unpleasant feelings . The opposing such motions as grants to widows on confirmation , after having been nearly unanimously carried , is , to say the least , injudicious , especially where
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
The Freemasons' Quarterlyreview,
thus had to record , during twelve months , eight meetings of the representatives of the Craft . Numerous as these gatherings were , they have been marked by the importance of the debates , and of the subjects brought under their notice for discussion , to many of which we have not here alluded , not having become law . Taking a parting glance at the events of the year , we are naturally led to those more prominent and
important in which the Grand Master is most essentially concerned . The granting to the Freemasons at large a report of what has been transacted in their parliament , the Grand Loclge—the admission of all creeds to Prussian lodges , and all freemen to our own—the power gracefully conceded to Grand Lodge to dismiss their highest paid officer instead of retaining the right himself—with the performance of all these
popular acts , so completely in accordance with a masonic spirit and the progress of the times , we fear we must state the unpleasant fact that the Grand Master is less popular now . than he was a year since . We grieve while we reluctantly make the admission that such is the opinion of a large portion of our body ; it can only arise , therefore , from causes over which he has not the entire control , or in which he allows himself to be injudiciously advised . For the acts to which we have alluded are those emanating from a well-governed mind , an amiable disposition , a sense of justice , and a determination to uphold Freemasonry in its
integrity . If he was esteemed before the carrying of those measures of right , that such decisions of equity should have raised him to the pinnacle of popularity ; but it is not so , and the causes are not a secret ; they are , that taking upon himself the duty and the responsibility of an Editor , he has laid himself open to the charge of partiality . The reports of the Grand Lodge are not satisfactory ; hence many have ,
or fancy they have , cause to murmur ; but to whom and of whom are they to complain , how and where are they to obtain redress for a real or an imaginary wrong ? Another cause is , we fear not to say , the active part taken by the Grand Master in debate . Every member of the Grand Lodge considers the Chairman of every meeting of that body as one to act between the speakersor the arguments of proposers or opposers
, of measures . To which ever side an inclination is observed to exist , a preponderance is given , and the loser by such power as that exercised by a Grand Master on the throne naturally smarts when it causes a defeat . We at once concede the undoubted right of the Grand Master to hold certain opinions upon every subject brought forward , and to give utterance to those opinions . The time of speaking makes an important
difference , and when the opportunity of speaking after a reply and close of a debate is taken , gives rise to unpleasant feelings . The opposing such motions as grants to widows on confirmation , after having been nearly unanimously carried , is , to say the least , injudicious , especially where