-
Articles/Ads
Article THE FREEMASONS' QUARTERLY REVIEW. ← Page 3 of 8 →
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
The Freemasons' Quarterly Review.
our public capacity as journalists , and in our private position in the fraternity , we threw ourselves heart and soul into the cause;—hut it is unnecessary to say more on this point . In March 1844 , the Earl of Zetland was elected , by a significant majority , to be Grand Master . We thus observed on the occasion : — " ¦ In falling back on the peerage for our future supportwe indulge
, the confident expectation that the Earl of Zetland , on his retirement , will amply merit and full y enjoy the esteem , the love and veneration of a grateful fraternity . " Be it remarked , our words were that we expected that his retirement would be so graced ; contemplating that he would retire , as a matter of course , at the end of three years , that other noblemen might be called to
the protectorate , and thereby give the additional strength of their influence and position to the support of the Order . The masonic throne is not a life-tenancy—it is elective , although the election be , it is true ,
somewhat farcical ; but as the present Grand Master does not read the signs of the times , it is " high time" that a new law should be presented for the Constitutions , to limit the period of the protectorate . Had this been done before , it would " have caused the widows heart to sing f p j ° y 5 " and our masonic ritual would have been unstained by spoliation . Are we patiently to abide further insult and aggression ? and
especially at the hands of a Grand Master who , although it is to be confessed that his year of probation passed in the promotion of amity and peace , yet has proved that he is in reality not now equal to the high position ; the change has come over him perhaps suddenly at a late moment , but it has come over him so clearl y as not to admit of concealment . There are certainl y two redeeming points in his masonic
governmentviz ., his taking the directions of Grand Lodge as regards the Jewish Freemasons , who were insulted by the Grand Lodge of Prussia , and his adapting , by the consent of Grand Lod ge , the masonic law to that of the law of the land , regarding the admission of the coloured population into Freemasonry— " O si sic omnia ! "
It may be enquired , what has mainl y tended to this change in the views ofthe Grand Master ? possibly the advice of those by whom he is more immediatel y in contact ; it is this unwholesome contact from which all future Grand Masters should be released—limit their period of office , and throw it open to the fair prospect of all the masonic nobility , and new enlightenment will dawn on the Craft ; as it isthe
, purple is , in many instances , conferred on those who are incapacitated from doing mere justice , much less honour , to their appointment . From time to time it has been our dut y to state the general circumstances of masonic polity , sometimes with satisfaction , oftener with regret . We have had to animadvert , perhaps somewhat severely , on
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
The Freemasons' Quarterly Review.
our public capacity as journalists , and in our private position in the fraternity , we threw ourselves heart and soul into the cause;—hut it is unnecessary to say more on this point . In March 1844 , the Earl of Zetland was elected , by a significant majority , to be Grand Master . We thus observed on the occasion : — " ¦ In falling back on the peerage for our future supportwe indulge
, the confident expectation that the Earl of Zetland , on his retirement , will amply merit and full y enjoy the esteem , the love and veneration of a grateful fraternity . " Be it remarked , our words were that we expected that his retirement would be so graced ; contemplating that he would retire , as a matter of course , at the end of three years , that other noblemen might be called to
the protectorate , and thereby give the additional strength of their influence and position to the support of the Order . The masonic throne is not a life-tenancy—it is elective , although the election be , it is true ,
somewhat farcical ; but as the present Grand Master does not read the signs of the times , it is " high time" that a new law should be presented for the Constitutions , to limit the period of the protectorate . Had this been done before , it would " have caused the widows heart to sing f p j ° y 5 " and our masonic ritual would have been unstained by spoliation . Are we patiently to abide further insult and aggression ? and
especially at the hands of a Grand Master who , although it is to be confessed that his year of probation passed in the promotion of amity and peace , yet has proved that he is in reality not now equal to the high position ; the change has come over him perhaps suddenly at a late moment , but it has come over him so clearl y as not to admit of concealment . There are certainl y two redeeming points in his masonic
governmentviz ., his taking the directions of Grand Lodge as regards the Jewish Freemasons , who were insulted by the Grand Lodge of Prussia , and his adapting , by the consent of Grand Lod ge , the masonic law to that of the law of the land , regarding the admission of the coloured population into Freemasonry— " O si sic omnia ! "
It may be enquired , what has mainl y tended to this change in the views ofthe Grand Master ? possibly the advice of those by whom he is more immediatel y in contact ; it is this unwholesome contact from which all future Grand Masters should be released—limit their period of office , and throw it open to the fair prospect of all the masonic nobility , and new enlightenment will dawn on the Craft ; as it isthe
, purple is , in many instances , conferred on those who are incapacitated from doing mere justice , much less honour , to their appointment . From time to time it has been our dut y to state the general circumstances of masonic polity , sometimes with satisfaction , oftener with regret . We have had to animadvert , perhaps somewhat severely , on