Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
The Rev. Brother T. Harvey And The Bishop.*
upon an ex parte statement ; and if they had , they would only have meted to the Bishop the measure he had heaped upon Bro . Harvey , when he refused his licence at Leghorn , and caused him an outlay exceeding 300 / ., upon anonymous and ex parte statements . On the contrary , avoiding this example , the Committee read and re-read Bro . Harvey ' s statements with great caution . They studied and re-studied the Bishop of London ' s statement and BroHarvey ' s "
refu-. tation , " and they arrived at the conclusion , which every unbiassed honest man must come to , having perused the documents , " that Bro . Harvey had sustained grievous oppression at the hands of the Bishop of London . " Had the Bishop been connected with the Fraternity , would the Lodge of Good Fellowship on that account have stood blameless in the eyes of your Lordship ? It is evident , too evident , that you , Worshipful Grand Master , do not
know any thing of the case , but you may be made thoroughly acquainted with it if you will only take the trouble to read Bro . Harvey s " appeal to Lord J . Russell ; " and your Lordship must pardon me for reminding you , that you unjustly condemn the Lodge and their Committee for having given an opinion "upon an ex parte statement , " whilst you acknowledge that you know nothing , and intimate that it is not your intention to know anything , about the subject upon which you deliver your judicial opinion , pronounce judgment , and issue commands !
You declare , my Lord , that the integrity and honour of the Craft is jeopardized by the Lodge of Good Fellowship ' s proposal to purchase a living to enable Bro . Harvey to provide for his family , instead of waiting for his entire ruin or his death , when they would receive your approbation of any generous attempts of theirs to afford relief ! Neither reason , nor argument or proofs of error have been adduced ; in lieu of which we have received censure and imperative command . What Masonic law have we broken ? What landmark have we removed or
injured ? How have we perilled the honour and integrity of the Craft ? The Lodge has seriously declared that it is not the wish of the Brethren to interfere with any one ' s views , religious or political . It is even puerile to accuse them of such intention . They think an act of injustice has been perpetrated , and are desirous , from benevolent motives solely , to secure an income to the injured party . Fifteen hundred letters have been circulated among the Lod and
ges Chapters of England , and it will say little for the brotherl y love , relief , and truth of the" Craft if they be not speedily and generously responded to . If they are not , in such a melancholy case , I shall myself indeed begin to encourage my many years of previous misgivings , and fully entertain the opinion that Freemasonry is another form of tyranny , and only " an organized hypocrisy . "
" Nil falsi audeat , nil veri non audeat . " With this letter we for the present call off , and leave our readers to ponder on the case , merely reminding them that there is a general or central Committee and a London Committee , and assuring them that b y mutual co-operation they may prove their title to the honourable distinction of the rank of "Freemasons , " by associating therewith , or still more so by forming local committees , to put down intolerance and maintain the rallying words of " Brotherly love , relief and truth , " supported by " wisdom , strength and beauty . "
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
The Rev. Brother T. Harvey And The Bishop.*
upon an ex parte statement ; and if they had , they would only have meted to the Bishop the measure he had heaped upon Bro . Harvey , when he refused his licence at Leghorn , and caused him an outlay exceeding 300 / ., upon anonymous and ex parte statements . On the contrary , avoiding this example , the Committee read and re-read Bro . Harvey ' s statements with great caution . They studied and re-studied the Bishop of London ' s statement and BroHarvey ' s "
refu-. tation , " and they arrived at the conclusion , which every unbiassed honest man must come to , having perused the documents , " that Bro . Harvey had sustained grievous oppression at the hands of the Bishop of London . " Had the Bishop been connected with the Fraternity , would the Lodge of Good Fellowship on that account have stood blameless in the eyes of your Lordship ? It is evident , too evident , that you , Worshipful Grand Master , do not
know any thing of the case , but you may be made thoroughly acquainted with it if you will only take the trouble to read Bro . Harvey s " appeal to Lord J . Russell ; " and your Lordship must pardon me for reminding you , that you unjustly condemn the Lodge and their Committee for having given an opinion "upon an ex parte statement , " whilst you acknowledge that you know nothing , and intimate that it is not your intention to know anything , about the subject upon which you deliver your judicial opinion , pronounce judgment , and issue commands !
You declare , my Lord , that the integrity and honour of the Craft is jeopardized by the Lodge of Good Fellowship ' s proposal to purchase a living to enable Bro . Harvey to provide for his family , instead of waiting for his entire ruin or his death , when they would receive your approbation of any generous attempts of theirs to afford relief ! Neither reason , nor argument or proofs of error have been adduced ; in lieu of which we have received censure and imperative command . What Masonic law have we broken ? What landmark have we removed or
injured ? How have we perilled the honour and integrity of the Craft ? The Lodge has seriously declared that it is not the wish of the Brethren to interfere with any one ' s views , religious or political . It is even puerile to accuse them of such intention . They think an act of injustice has been perpetrated , and are desirous , from benevolent motives solely , to secure an income to the injured party . Fifteen hundred letters have been circulated among the Lod and
ges Chapters of England , and it will say little for the brotherl y love , relief , and truth of the" Craft if they be not speedily and generously responded to . If they are not , in such a melancholy case , I shall myself indeed begin to encourage my many years of previous misgivings , and fully entertain the opinion that Freemasonry is another form of tyranny , and only " an organized hypocrisy . "
" Nil falsi audeat , nil veri non audeat . " With this letter we for the present call off , and leave our readers to ponder on the case , merely reminding them that there is a general or central Committee and a London Committee , and assuring them that b y mutual co-operation they may prove their title to the honourable distinction of the rank of "Freemasons , " by associating therewith , or still more so by forming local committees , to put down intolerance and maintain the rallying words of " Brotherly love , relief and truth , " supported by " wisdom , strength and beauty . "