Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Obituary.
Wc arc quite willing to behove that the Board were sincerely pursuaded that they had faithfully discharged their duty to the Grand Lodge , and to the Craft in general , by thus pronouncing sentence on a discarded Brother ; because as he had refused to obey their summons , they were bound to consider him as contumacious , ancl in the absence of his justification , to judge conscientiously on
the ex parte evidence whicli lay before them . Although Dr . Crucefix positively declared in his defence before the Grand Loclge that , " as regarded the Board of General Purposes , he was so convinced that tho sentence was contrary to the evidence , that in the presence of God ancl the Grand Lodge , he could not too emphatically declare his conviction that if the evidence had been read the Grand Lodge would have arrived at a totally different conclusion . "
But the question imperatively forces itself upon us , whether it would not have been more in accordance with the benignant principles of tho Order , to have reclaimed him as a friend , and reunited him to the fraternity in brotherly love , rather than to treat him as an inveterate enemy , and to make him such by an irreclaimable anathema . It was the advice of Terence never to use compidsion till every mild expedient had failed . Omnia prvus verbis experiri , qudm armis , sapientem dacet . Happily for the well-being of Masonry , his Eoyal Highness the Grancl Master , whose comprehensive mind , divested of prejudice , saw the whole transaction in
its true light , ancl the probable consequences which might result from an injudicious step ; and impressed with the divine maxim , " Blessed are the peace makers , " followed this course ; and his benevolent interposition at length healed the wounds inflicted under the influence of party spirit , and restored the peace and harmony of the Craft . The final scene of this memorable contest was enacted ou the
boards of the Grand Lodge on the 30 th of Oct ., 1840 ; the Marquis of Salisbury , D . G . M . on the throne . Dr . Crucefix appeared to show cause why he should not bo expelled the Craft in pursuance of the above recommendation of the Board of General Purposes . There was a slight demur about the proper clothing in which it would bo expedient for Dr . Crucefix to appear , as he had renounced all
connection with Craft Masonry . It was decided by the D . G . M ., who acted for his Royal Highness , that he should wear the costume of a Past Grand Deacon ; and from this circumstance there cau bo no doubt but the Grand Master had issued instructions to restore the doctor to all his Masonic honours ancl privileges . Accordinglyduring the long continuance of this painful investigationand
, , amidst all the indications of hostility which characterised a few of the most violent of the doctor ' s opponents , the D . G . M . acted with the utmost courtesy and kindness to all tho parties concerned , but with a determination to promote those high and ennobling qualities of Masonry—peace , harmony , and brotherly love ; and his conduct
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Obituary.
Wc arc quite willing to behove that the Board were sincerely pursuaded that they had faithfully discharged their duty to the Grand Lodge , and to the Craft in general , by thus pronouncing sentence on a discarded Brother ; because as he had refused to obey their summons , they were bound to consider him as contumacious , ancl in the absence of his justification , to judge conscientiously on
the ex parte evidence whicli lay before them . Although Dr . Crucefix positively declared in his defence before the Grand Loclge that , " as regarded the Board of General Purposes , he was so convinced that tho sentence was contrary to the evidence , that in the presence of God ancl the Grand Lodge , he could not too emphatically declare his conviction that if the evidence had been read the Grand Lodge would have arrived at a totally different conclusion . "
But the question imperatively forces itself upon us , whether it would not have been more in accordance with the benignant principles of tho Order , to have reclaimed him as a friend , and reunited him to the fraternity in brotherly love , rather than to treat him as an inveterate enemy , and to make him such by an irreclaimable anathema . It was the advice of Terence never to use compidsion till every mild expedient had failed . Omnia prvus verbis experiri , qudm armis , sapientem dacet . Happily for the well-being of Masonry , his Eoyal Highness the Grancl Master , whose comprehensive mind , divested of prejudice , saw the whole transaction in
its true light , ancl the probable consequences which might result from an injudicious step ; and impressed with the divine maxim , " Blessed are the peace makers , " followed this course ; and his benevolent interposition at length healed the wounds inflicted under the influence of party spirit , and restored the peace and harmony of the Craft . The final scene of this memorable contest was enacted ou the
boards of the Grand Lodge on the 30 th of Oct ., 1840 ; the Marquis of Salisbury , D . G . M . on the throne . Dr . Crucefix appeared to show cause why he should not bo expelled the Craft in pursuance of the above recommendation of the Board of General Purposes . There was a slight demur about the proper clothing in which it would bo expedient for Dr . Crucefix to appear , as he had renounced all
connection with Craft Masonry . It was decided by the D . G . M ., who acted for his Royal Highness , that he should wear the costume of a Past Grand Deacon ; and from this circumstance there cau bo no doubt but the Grand Master had issued instructions to restore the doctor to all his Masonic honours ancl privileges . Accordinglyduring the long continuance of this painful investigationand
, , amidst all the indications of hostility which characterised a few of the most violent of the doctor ' s opponents , the D . G . M . acted with the utmost courtesy and kindness to all tho parties concerned , but with a determination to promote those high and ennobling qualities of Masonry—peace , harmony , and brotherly love ; and his conduct