-
Articles/Ads
Article THE FEEEMASONS' QUARTERLY MAGAZINE. ← Page 9 of 12 →
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
The Feeemasons' Quarterly Magazine.
the mother Grand Lodge for permission to establish an independent Grand Lodge in their Province . They find their action embarrassed and their progress retarded by the delay consequent on their necessary and obligatory intercourse with , and dependence on , the parent Grand Lodge . A single fact will illustrate this . The District Grand Lodge , composed of its officers and the representatives of the Lodges in the District , deems it expedient to increase its charity fund , or to raise a fund for any other
Masonic purpose , by the increase of the fees paid by the Lodges . The parent Grand Lodge says it may clo this . But then it requires , after the proposition has been brought forward in the District Grand Lodge , that notice in writing of the fees proposed , and also of tho day fixed for the discussion ofthe subject , shall be sent to each Lodge in the District , two months at least prior to ( the ) said day . If the proposed payments shall then be agreed to by two-thirds of the members presenta clay is appointed for
, considering the confirmation thereof , at a period of not less than three months from the first meeting . Eive months at least are thus required to bring the subject to this point of progress ; and this might not be objectionable , if it were the end of the matter , as it manifestly should be . But it is not . After the proceedings are so confirmed by the only parties pecuniarily interested in them , a copy is required to be sent to the Grand Master in England ,- for his sanction and approval . If he approves of
them , then the proposition or regulation is valid , and may be carried into execution . Now , what is the point attained by this long and tiresome and expensive process ? Simply that the Lodges in the District may tax , not their parent Grand Lodge , but themselves , for an object which they deem
to be essential to their own prosperity , and to the accomplishment of the purposes of their Institution . The whole proceeding is hampered and embarrassed by unnecessary delay and formality , —the inevitable consequence of which is , that the Lodges in large and populous districts , like Canada , do not prosper to the extent they would do , if left to their own free government . Under the present system , they are cramped in their means and in their movements . The means are not needed in England , while they would be of vast importance in Canadain relieving the
, distresses of the hundreds of poor Brethren who are annually thrown upon their charity by the home government . Many of these poor Brethren have , in their better days , paid their money into the treasury of the Grand Lodge of England , or of Ireland . Those bodies should , therefore , be satisfied now to leave the Lodges in Canada in the full possession of all their earnings and contributions , for their relief in their hour of necessity . The Grand Lodge of England can afford to be liberal to its
Colonial Lodges , as it is magnificently liberal in the dispensation of its vast charities and provisions for the relief of the poor of its household at home . We presume there are very few colonial Brethren who ever draw from its fund of benevolence . Why , then , should it continue to require what it does not give , when that which it takes is most needed , and its distribution would be most blessed , in the midst of those from whom it is taken ? We admire the Grand Lodge of England , —its magnitude , its great
benevolence , its elevated character , its beautiful , if not altogether perfect system ; and should regret to see its efficiency weakened , or the harmony of its whole impaired . We think a favourable answer to the prayer of our Canadian Brethren would do neither , while it would be adding another bright star to the Western Masonic hemisphere . In each of these observations there is a tacit acknowledgment of the fact to which we have adverted—that there is a
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
The Feeemasons' Quarterly Magazine.
the mother Grand Lodge for permission to establish an independent Grand Lodge in their Province . They find their action embarrassed and their progress retarded by the delay consequent on their necessary and obligatory intercourse with , and dependence on , the parent Grand Lodge . A single fact will illustrate this . The District Grand Lodge , composed of its officers and the representatives of the Lodges in the District , deems it expedient to increase its charity fund , or to raise a fund for any other
Masonic purpose , by the increase of the fees paid by the Lodges . The parent Grand Lodge says it may clo this . But then it requires , after the proposition has been brought forward in the District Grand Lodge , that notice in writing of the fees proposed , and also of tho day fixed for the discussion ofthe subject , shall be sent to each Lodge in the District , two months at least prior to ( the ) said day . If the proposed payments shall then be agreed to by two-thirds of the members presenta clay is appointed for
, considering the confirmation thereof , at a period of not less than three months from the first meeting . Eive months at least are thus required to bring the subject to this point of progress ; and this might not be objectionable , if it were the end of the matter , as it manifestly should be . But it is not . After the proceedings are so confirmed by the only parties pecuniarily interested in them , a copy is required to be sent to the Grand Master in England ,- for his sanction and approval . If he approves of
them , then the proposition or regulation is valid , and may be carried into execution . Now , what is the point attained by this long and tiresome and expensive process ? Simply that the Lodges in the District may tax , not their parent Grand Lodge , but themselves , for an object which they deem
to be essential to their own prosperity , and to the accomplishment of the purposes of their Institution . The whole proceeding is hampered and embarrassed by unnecessary delay and formality , —the inevitable consequence of which is , that the Lodges in large and populous districts , like Canada , do not prosper to the extent they would do , if left to their own free government . Under the present system , they are cramped in their means and in their movements . The means are not needed in England , while they would be of vast importance in Canadain relieving the
, distresses of the hundreds of poor Brethren who are annually thrown upon their charity by the home government . Many of these poor Brethren have , in their better days , paid their money into the treasury of the Grand Lodge of England , or of Ireland . Those bodies should , therefore , be satisfied now to leave the Lodges in Canada in the full possession of all their earnings and contributions , for their relief in their hour of necessity . The Grand Lodge of England can afford to be liberal to its
Colonial Lodges , as it is magnificently liberal in the dispensation of its vast charities and provisions for the relief of the poor of its household at home . We presume there are very few colonial Brethren who ever draw from its fund of benevolence . Why , then , should it continue to require what it does not give , when that which it takes is most needed , and its distribution would be most blessed , in the midst of those from whom it is taken ? We admire the Grand Lodge of England , —its magnitude , its great
benevolence , its elevated character , its beautiful , if not altogether perfect system ; and should regret to see its efficiency weakened , or the harmony of its whole impaired . We think a favourable answer to the prayer of our Canadian Brethren would do neither , while it would be adding another bright star to the Western Masonic hemisphere . In each of these observations there is a tacit acknowledgment of the fact to which we have adverted—that there is a