Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
The Thirtieth Of October, 1840.—Conclusion Of The Case Of Dr. Crucefix.
Few would have thought sufficient time had been allowed , but lie had looked forward to this night with avidity ; the time was , in fact , too long . He belonged to a profession in which decision ancl promptitude were essential qualifications . He remembered an anecdote of an officer who , on being directed by his general to be in readiness for some important undertaking within an hour , having replied— " Sir , twenty minutes will be sufficient . " He ( Dr . Crueefix ) was ready at the moment . knew better than
He any other Brother the real state of things , and felt that there was too much time on hand for the safety of the Order ; still the cause of the delay was not satisfactory . His first step was to prepare an address , to be read by him in Grand Lodge ; it was somewhat lengthy , but not in disproportion to the nature ofthe charges , which were , in many respects , incorrect , and altogether unfriendly ; but having since understood that certain Brethren ( -
, per sonal friends , ) cognisant of things in general , had kindly interfered , with a hope of effecting a good understanding , and that they had , in their opinion , succeeded in their praiseworthy intention , —he , so far from offering any impediment , should unhesitatingly conform to their views , the more especially as he had been given to understand that H . R . H . the M . W . G . M . hacl intimated that he had been misunderstood on a material point ; in that he ( the Grand Master ) hacl never entertained
any personal feeling on the subject , from first to last ; consequently , he ( Dr . Crueefix ) felt bound to express his regret at what had taken place . In doing so , however , he could not but remember that H . R . H . did , on the 29 th April , make observations that he thought partook strongly of
personal feeling , and at the time , he certainly did feel that any Freemason , however exalted in rank , when he joined the Order , was as much bound b y its social regulations as the humblest brother , and that no advantage should be taken of position . _ He trusted that his own honest admission of error would not impair his reputation as a Mason , or his views of Masonic polity . All effects , good or bad , may be traced to their proper causes . He
hacl , among numerous other papers , any of which might then be read in Grand Lodge , if needed , one whicli , if not the production of an infidel to the Craft , must be the production of an unsound mind . This vile , false , and scandalous paper was the cause of all the dissension in the Order . He was , in that paper , scandalized with many other Brethren ; that paper , and others of a scandalous nature , were not only circulated within the precincts of Grand Lod but since sent round to the Craft
ge , , and even to his personal friends , some of whom were not Masons . Was any notice taken of these proceedings ? NO ! On the contrary , there could be found four Past Masters to bring charges against himself and others , and a Board of General Purposes to sustain those charges . The . persecution once commenced , was most unremittingly pursued ; sentences were passed ancl appealed against ; yet pending the appeal , the Brethren were deprived of their rights under the ConstitutionsA report
. of that Board was brought before the Grand Lodge in June , which , in the case of one Brother , who was assumed to have expressed himself with a tendency to disrespect for the Grand Master , that Brother was , on an explanation to the contrary , received into the bosom of the Grand Lodge .
The second Brother , failing to succeed in having the evidence read , retired much dissatisfied , and in that case , the sentence was confirmed . In his ( Dr . Crueefix ) case , the appeal was declared to be null and void . At the moment , he addressed the Grand Master , and made as
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
The Thirtieth Of October, 1840.—Conclusion Of The Case Of Dr. Crucefix.
Few would have thought sufficient time had been allowed , but lie had looked forward to this night with avidity ; the time was , in fact , too long . He belonged to a profession in which decision ancl promptitude were essential qualifications . He remembered an anecdote of an officer who , on being directed by his general to be in readiness for some important undertaking within an hour , having replied— " Sir , twenty minutes will be sufficient . " He ( Dr . Crueefix ) was ready at the moment . knew better than
He any other Brother the real state of things , and felt that there was too much time on hand for the safety of the Order ; still the cause of the delay was not satisfactory . His first step was to prepare an address , to be read by him in Grand Lodge ; it was somewhat lengthy , but not in disproportion to the nature ofthe charges , which were , in many respects , incorrect , and altogether unfriendly ; but having since understood that certain Brethren ( -
, per sonal friends , ) cognisant of things in general , had kindly interfered , with a hope of effecting a good understanding , and that they had , in their opinion , succeeded in their praiseworthy intention , —he , so far from offering any impediment , should unhesitatingly conform to their views , the more especially as he had been given to understand that H . R . H . the M . W . G . M . hacl intimated that he had been misunderstood on a material point ; in that he ( the Grand Master ) hacl never entertained
any personal feeling on the subject , from first to last ; consequently , he ( Dr . Crueefix ) felt bound to express his regret at what had taken place . In doing so , however , he could not but remember that H . R . H . did , on the 29 th April , make observations that he thought partook strongly of
personal feeling , and at the time , he certainly did feel that any Freemason , however exalted in rank , when he joined the Order , was as much bound b y its social regulations as the humblest brother , and that no advantage should be taken of position . _ He trusted that his own honest admission of error would not impair his reputation as a Mason , or his views of Masonic polity . All effects , good or bad , may be traced to their proper causes . He
hacl , among numerous other papers , any of which might then be read in Grand Lodge , if needed , one whicli , if not the production of an infidel to the Craft , must be the production of an unsound mind . This vile , false , and scandalous paper was the cause of all the dissension in the Order . He was , in that paper , scandalized with many other Brethren ; that paper , and others of a scandalous nature , were not only circulated within the precincts of Grand Lod but since sent round to the Craft
ge , , and even to his personal friends , some of whom were not Masons . Was any notice taken of these proceedings ? NO ! On the contrary , there could be found four Past Masters to bring charges against himself and others , and a Board of General Purposes to sustain those charges . The . persecution once commenced , was most unremittingly pursued ; sentences were passed ancl appealed against ; yet pending the appeal , the Brethren were deprived of their rights under the ConstitutionsA report
. of that Board was brought before the Grand Lodge in June , which , in the case of one Brother , who was assumed to have expressed himself with a tendency to disrespect for the Grand Master , that Brother was , on an explanation to the contrary , received into the bosom of the Grand Lodge .
The second Brother , failing to succeed in having the evidence read , retired much dissatisfied , and in that case , the sentence was confirmed . In his ( Dr . Crueefix ) case , the appeal was declared to be null and void . At the moment , he addressed the Grand Master , and made as