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Article UNITED GRAND LODGE. ← Page 2 of 3 Article UNITED GRAND LODGE. Page 2 of 3 →
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United Grand Lodge.
lodges in the country to do what they wished . ( Hear , hear . ) They did not wish to impose on any body as a right that a P . M . joining should , as a right , obtain the position of P . M . in a lodge . All they asked for was that the country lodges should , if they pleased , have the power to admit to the privileges of P . M . of their lodges such eminent brethren as they chose to admit to it .
Bro . Sir J . B . MONCKTON asked Grand Lodge at once to reject this proposition , and he did it for the reason that the rev . brother had just provided him with . He was afraid the rev . brother confounded liberty with licence ; and he ( Sir J . B . Monckton ) was quite sure that no good , loyal , true brother would assent to the proposition that a private lodge should have the power to do what a Provincial Grand Lodge could not do . He believed it would degenerate into licence , and would not add any dignity to the illustrious brethren joining lodges .
Bro . TOMBS , Prov . G . Sec . Wilts , seconded Sir J . B . Monckton ' s proposition . He was sure Bro . Arnold ' s amendment would be placing very dangerous power in the hands of private lodges , and be giving them the invidious task of granting honours to certain P . Ms , as they thought fit . ( Cries of "vote , vote . " ) Bro . the Rev . R . J . SIMPSON- P . G . C , who rose amidst loud signs of
impatience , said he entirely differed fiom the worthy brother who had just spoken that there would be any danger in permitting Masons to use their own discretion in giving honour to whom honour was due . He was one of those who felt that when once a man had held an honour by the suffrages of his brethren whether in the north , south , east , or west , when he moved from one place to another he ought to hold that honour fast , and it should be
recognised wherever he went . It was so with the Grand Officers—with himself , and the other Grand Chaplains—once a Grand Chaplain , always a Grand Chaplain—once a Grand Treasurer , always a Grand Treasurer ; they were Past Officers , and took past rank ; and he did not see why the P . Ms , of England , whether in the country or London should not be so recognised ; for himself he did not recognise any difference in Masonry between London
and the country . Under such circumstances he did not think anything in the shape of exclusiveness should be recognised ; but London should be able to receive the country , and the country London , with open arms of brotherly love . He hoped Bro . Arnold ' s very moderate and temperate amendment would be accepted as a link to bind both London and the country , and the Masons in all parts of England should be able to give tribute to whom tribute was due , and honour to whom honour . ( Renewed cries of " vote , vote . " )
A BROTHER said if Bro . Arnold ' s amendment was carried it might result in a thoroughly good man being rejected on ballot . He thought that if brethren of a lodge really wished to do honour to a joining P . M . they would be glad of the opportunity of electing him to the chair . Still he thought a brother should carry with him wherever he went the recognition that he was a P . M . If a W . M . was not present in a lodge and there was no one else but the joining P . M . to do the work , was the work to be stopped because this P . M . was not to be recognised ? ( Cries of * ' vote " and confusion . )
The Earl of CARNARVON said it was quite impossible that the very large amount of business which Grand Lodge had to get through could beproperly and satisfactory accomplished unless there was a great deal of forbearance on the part of that grand assembly ; and he would make an appeal to the two parties who wished to speak not to speak unless they had some point
that they especially desired to press and urge upon Grand Lodge , and he would further request them to speak as closely and as briefly as they could on the point , and secondly he would request the great body of Masons in the hall to hear them as quietly and patiently as they could , that they might without loss of time proceed to a division if a division was necessary . ( Hear , hear , and cheers . )
Bro . FRANK GREEN , Past Vice-President of the Board of General Purposes , said he thought if this rule was passed it would lead to many proposed joining members being blackballed . Several joining members had worked their way up to the chair . Brethren loved their mother lodge and were jealous of every position in it , and he was sure if this resolution was carried it would defeat the object Bro . Arnold had in view .
A BROTHER made some other observations , but amidst the confusion and cries of " vote , vote , " with which his rising was greeted , his remarks or the purport of them could not be gathered . The Earl of CARNARVON said there was a time for speaking , and a time for voting , and he gathered from appearances that it was the feeling of Grand Lodge that the time for voting had arrived . He should therefore proceed to put the question .
The motion of the Rev . C . W . ARNOLD was then put , and it was lost by an overwhelming majority . The Earl of CARNARVON said that subject to the votes in the other rooms he had to declare Bro . Arnold ' s amendment lost , and he wished to take this opportunity of informing Grand Lodge that the previous vote agreed to by Grand Lodge had been confirmed in the other rooms . The amendment was received with loud cheers .
Bro . H . C TOMBS , P . G . D ., then moved the non-confirmation of Article 130 of the revision of Book of Constitutions . He said that with a view to the better wording of the amendment carried on the 8 th August , he entered into negotiations with the Executive of Grand Lodge , and his proposition was agreed to . Bro . Sir J . B . MONCKTON seconded the motion , and Article 130 was unanimously not confirmed .
Bro . H . C . TOMBS then moved , and Sir J . B . MONCKTON seconded , the following amendment : To omit clause added by Special Grand Lodge in June , to follow the words " antient usage , " and instead thereof , to insert the following : " If in any lodge it should become impossible to hold either or both of such meetings upon the day named in the Bye-laws
for that purpose , the Grand Master , and in Provinces and Districts the Provincial and District Grand Master , may grant a dispensation for the holding- of such meetings , or either of them , upon a day not more than seven days before or after that fixed by the Bye-laws , which day shall , for all purposes , be deemed the regular day of meeting ' , " and that the Paragraph do now stand as so amended .
The amendment was unanimously carried . R . W . Bro . The Hon . Mr . J USTICE PRINSEP , D . G . M . Bengal Then moved that in Article 190 , the following words be added after the word " Fees , " viz .: — "in England , nor for less than three guineas , exclusive of Registration and Certificate fees , abroad . The hon . and learned brother said he wished to state on behalf of the
colonial brethren that there was no desire on their part to claim any undue exemption from any Masonic rule . As the District Grand Master of the largest district in British India , he addressed Grand Lodge on his own behalf and also on behalf of some of his brother District Grand Masters . He desired to avoid on behalf of Masonry outside the United Kingdom the increase of initiation fees . His object was to benefit Masonry . The brethren
United Grand Lodge.
would understand what that object was when he told them that in different parts of the world there were rival Constitutions in force , and under those Constitutions the fees were much lower than under the English Constitution . If Grand Lodge did not grant him the exception he asked , they would
unduly favour Masonry under the other Constitutions . There were facilities under other Constitutions to which he would not refer ; but he could tell the brethren , from long experience as a ruler of the Craft , that unless his amend , ment was granted there would be a practical expulsion from English Freemasonry outside the L nited Kingdom .
Bro . Sir J . B . MONCKTON seconded the amendment , which was put and carried . Bro . Sir J . B . MONCKTON moved—That in any case where an amendment to any rule provided for in the Revise of the Book of Constitutions shall have been carried at the special meetings of Grand Lodge in June and August last , but shall not be confirmed at a subsequent meeting of Grand Lodge , the law shall stand as proposed in the Revised Book of Constitutions , and without such amendment .
Sir J . B . Monckton said his resolution did not apply to any one of the Constitutions , but was meant to fill up a gap which existed , and was seen with reference to Bro . Arnold's motion . It would have the immediate effect on the question now at issue , and the status of P . Ms , would remain as it was of old . That being so , he felt that Grand Lodge thoroughly appreciated the meaning of the resolution .
Bro . J AMES LEWIS THOMAS , P . A . G . D . C ., seconded the motion . The motion was carried . Bro . EDWIN T . BUDDEN , P . M . 622 , moved "That the regulations as to Masonic funerals contained in page 136 of the present edition Book of Con * stitutions ( 1873 ) stand part of the Revised Edition . "
Bro . CHARLES BURTON seconded the motion . Bro . Sir J . MONCKTON thought it undesirable the motion should be passed Bro . Sheriff LANE thought the time had come when they should do away with Masonic funerals . The motion was put , and lost .
Bro . THOMAS WM . TEW , G . S . D ., moved " that in article 129 of the Revise of the Book of Constitutions , the following words be added at the end of the paragraph : ' Except that of Treasurer . ' " The motion having been seconded , Bro . F . A . PHILBRICK , O . C , P . G . D ., said he trusted Grand Lodge would not assent to this . ( T ( all officers who held an office , the man who held the brethren ' s money was the
man who ought never to be joined with another , the Treasurer and Secretary ought not to be joined . The Treasurer and anyone else ought not to be joined . Let the Treasurer see to his business and keep his funds , and let other brethren of the lodge be able to call him to account , and let him not be able to plead he had duties of other offices to discharge which might either muddle up his accounts or prevent him giving sole attention to the duties of his office .
Bro . TEW S motion was lost . The EARL OF CARNARVON here explained that article 186 having been non-confirmed was therefore not now in existence , the Rev . John Studholme Brownrigg ' s motion to omit from it the words " ranking next" to end , and to insert " but junior to all who at that time shall have or at any future time may be installed in the chair of that lodge " could not come on .
Bro . the Rev . HERBERT GEORGE MORSE , G . C , moved to insert in article 146 , Revise of the Book of Constitutions , before the word " present " the words " past or . " Article 146 permitted the Provincial or District Grand Master to send any one of his Grand Officers to visit officially a private lodge in his province or district . He thought this should be so amended as to permit the Grand Master to send any of the Past Grand
Officers as well as the Present Grand Officers . The Prov . Grand Master for Devonshire felt that the wording of the article 146 might be held to exclude the Past Grand Officers and to confine the Prov . Grand Master to sending only the Present Grand Officers . He hoped he had made it clear to Grand Lodge that the only thing required to be altered here , although there was a little clerical error , was that the Grand Master might send any of his Grand Officers Past or Present .
Bro . G . J . MCKAY seconded the motion . The motion was carried . Bro . THOMAS FENN , P . G . D ., moved to non-confirm Article 209 , as amended by an addition made August 8 th . The addition was that any lodge failing to make due inquiry ( whether a joining brother had paid his dues in his former lodge ) , should be liable to pay the arrears , if any , owing bsuch brother to the lod
y ge from which he had been excluded . He thought the brother who proposed this could hardly have had in his mind the liability of lodges for inadvertence or inability to comply with the law when electing a member from some other part of the world . He knew some brethren who were £ 60 in arrear before they were excluded . Perhaps the brother had in his mind small arrears due to provincial lodges . He would call attention to rules 210 , 204 , and 205 in the revised Book of Constitutions .
By Article 210 a lodge was required to have some clearance certificate produced before it could elect a member . If they did not , it was a breach of law . B y Article 210 any breach of the law could be visited by fine or suspension by a Provincial Grand Master ; if by fine , the fine might be as much as £ 5 for a first offence , and £ 10 for a second . He thought Grand Lodge would agree that that was a penalty sufficient , without inflicting an unknown penalty . Bro . M . J . MCINTYRE , Q . C ., G . Reg ., seconded the motion .
A BROTHER said the only objection was that where a joining member came from abroad an answer could not be got in reasonable time . With regard to English lodges , it was perfectly possible to get an answer b y return of post . If a brother owed as much as ' Bro . Fenn stated it was quite clear he was not a worthy member to be received into a IooVe .
Bro . J . E . LE FEUVRE , Prov . G . Sec . Hants and Isle of Wight , said the penalty would only be inflicted where a lodge failed to make duo enquiry . Grand Lod ge would be doing quite right to impose upon a lodge as great an obligation as possible that it should make due enquiry . The motion of Bro . Fenn was then put and lost .
Bro . H . H . RIACH , S . W . 1118 , moved the non-confirmation of Article 297 . He said that Lord Holmesdale , Prov . G . M . for Kent , moved and carried that for the future the light blue collars , which were the brethren ' s badges of office in Grand Lodge should be worn under the Provincial Grandcollars .
He ( Bro . Riach ) did not think this was polite or fair to the lodges that their collars should be subservient to the badges worn elsewhere in England or in a foreign land . He held that they ought to wear in Grand Lodge the badges of the position which entitled them to a seat there . If they adopted the rule as it stood they would have a mongrel assembly of red , blue , and purple , instead of that beautiful sight they had at present of cerulean blue .
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
United Grand Lodge.
lodges in the country to do what they wished . ( Hear , hear . ) They did not wish to impose on any body as a right that a P . M . joining should , as a right , obtain the position of P . M . in a lodge . All they asked for was that the country lodges should , if they pleased , have the power to admit to the privileges of P . M . of their lodges such eminent brethren as they chose to admit to it .
Bro . Sir J . B . MONCKTON asked Grand Lodge at once to reject this proposition , and he did it for the reason that the rev . brother had just provided him with . He was afraid the rev . brother confounded liberty with licence ; and he ( Sir J . B . Monckton ) was quite sure that no good , loyal , true brother would assent to the proposition that a private lodge should have the power to do what a Provincial Grand Lodge could not do . He believed it would degenerate into licence , and would not add any dignity to the illustrious brethren joining lodges .
Bro . TOMBS , Prov . G . Sec . Wilts , seconded Sir J . B . Monckton ' s proposition . He was sure Bro . Arnold ' s amendment would be placing very dangerous power in the hands of private lodges , and be giving them the invidious task of granting honours to certain P . Ms , as they thought fit . ( Cries of "vote , vote . " ) Bro . the Rev . R . J . SIMPSON- P . G . C , who rose amidst loud signs of
impatience , said he entirely differed fiom the worthy brother who had just spoken that there would be any danger in permitting Masons to use their own discretion in giving honour to whom honour was due . He was one of those who felt that when once a man had held an honour by the suffrages of his brethren whether in the north , south , east , or west , when he moved from one place to another he ought to hold that honour fast , and it should be
recognised wherever he went . It was so with the Grand Officers—with himself , and the other Grand Chaplains—once a Grand Chaplain , always a Grand Chaplain—once a Grand Treasurer , always a Grand Treasurer ; they were Past Officers , and took past rank ; and he did not see why the P . Ms , of England , whether in the country or London should not be so recognised ; for himself he did not recognise any difference in Masonry between London
and the country . Under such circumstances he did not think anything in the shape of exclusiveness should be recognised ; but London should be able to receive the country , and the country London , with open arms of brotherly love . He hoped Bro . Arnold ' s very moderate and temperate amendment would be accepted as a link to bind both London and the country , and the Masons in all parts of England should be able to give tribute to whom tribute was due , and honour to whom honour . ( Renewed cries of " vote , vote . " )
A BROTHER said if Bro . Arnold ' s amendment was carried it might result in a thoroughly good man being rejected on ballot . He thought that if brethren of a lodge really wished to do honour to a joining P . M . they would be glad of the opportunity of electing him to the chair . Still he thought a brother should carry with him wherever he went the recognition that he was a P . M . If a W . M . was not present in a lodge and there was no one else but the joining P . M . to do the work , was the work to be stopped because this P . M . was not to be recognised ? ( Cries of * ' vote " and confusion . )
The Earl of CARNARVON said it was quite impossible that the very large amount of business which Grand Lodge had to get through could beproperly and satisfactory accomplished unless there was a great deal of forbearance on the part of that grand assembly ; and he would make an appeal to the two parties who wished to speak not to speak unless they had some point
that they especially desired to press and urge upon Grand Lodge , and he would further request them to speak as closely and as briefly as they could on the point , and secondly he would request the great body of Masons in the hall to hear them as quietly and patiently as they could , that they might without loss of time proceed to a division if a division was necessary . ( Hear , hear , and cheers . )
Bro . FRANK GREEN , Past Vice-President of the Board of General Purposes , said he thought if this rule was passed it would lead to many proposed joining members being blackballed . Several joining members had worked their way up to the chair . Brethren loved their mother lodge and were jealous of every position in it , and he was sure if this resolution was carried it would defeat the object Bro . Arnold had in view .
A BROTHER made some other observations , but amidst the confusion and cries of " vote , vote , " with which his rising was greeted , his remarks or the purport of them could not be gathered . The Earl of CARNARVON said there was a time for speaking , and a time for voting , and he gathered from appearances that it was the feeling of Grand Lodge that the time for voting had arrived . He should therefore proceed to put the question .
The motion of the Rev . C . W . ARNOLD was then put , and it was lost by an overwhelming majority . The Earl of CARNARVON said that subject to the votes in the other rooms he had to declare Bro . Arnold ' s amendment lost , and he wished to take this opportunity of informing Grand Lodge that the previous vote agreed to by Grand Lodge had been confirmed in the other rooms . The amendment was received with loud cheers .
Bro . H . C TOMBS , P . G . D ., then moved the non-confirmation of Article 130 of the revision of Book of Constitutions . He said that with a view to the better wording of the amendment carried on the 8 th August , he entered into negotiations with the Executive of Grand Lodge , and his proposition was agreed to . Bro . Sir J . B . MONCKTON seconded the motion , and Article 130 was unanimously not confirmed .
Bro . H . C . TOMBS then moved , and Sir J . B . MONCKTON seconded , the following amendment : To omit clause added by Special Grand Lodge in June , to follow the words " antient usage , " and instead thereof , to insert the following : " If in any lodge it should become impossible to hold either or both of such meetings upon the day named in the Bye-laws
for that purpose , the Grand Master , and in Provinces and Districts the Provincial and District Grand Master , may grant a dispensation for the holding- of such meetings , or either of them , upon a day not more than seven days before or after that fixed by the Bye-laws , which day shall , for all purposes , be deemed the regular day of meeting ' , " and that the Paragraph do now stand as so amended .
The amendment was unanimously carried . R . W . Bro . The Hon . Mr . J USTICE PRINSEP , D . G . M . Bengal Then moved that in Article 190 , the following words be added after the word " Fees , " viz .: — "in England , nor for less than three guineas , exclusive of Registration and Certificate fees , abroad . The hon . and learned brother said he wished to state on behalf of the
colonial brethren that there was no desire on their part to claim any undue exemption from any Masonic rule . As the District Grand Master of the largest district in British India , he addressed Grand Lodge on his own behalf and also on behalf of some of his brother District Grand Masters . He desired to avoid on behalf of Masonry outside the United Kingdom the increase of initiation fees . His object was to benefit Masonry . The brethren
United Grand Lodge.
would understand what that object was when he told them that in different parts of the world there were rival Constitutions in force , and under those Constitutions the fees were much lower than under the English Constitution . If Grand Lodge did not grant him the exception he asked , they would
unduly favour Masonry under the other Constitutions . There were facilities under other Constitutions to which he would not refer ; but he could tell the brethren , from long experience as a ruler of the Craft , that unless his amend , ment was granted there would be a practical expulsion from English Freemasonry outside the L nited Kingdom .
Bro . Sir J . B . MONCKTON seconded the amendment , which was put and carried . Bro . Sir J . B . MONCKTON moved—That in any case where an amendment to any rule provided for in the Revise of the Book of Constitutions shall have been carried at the special meetings of Grand Lodge in June and August last , but shall not be confirmed at a subsequent meeting of Grand Lodge , the law shall stand as proposed in the Revised Book of Constitutions , and without such amendment .
Sir J . B . Monckton said his resolution did not apply to any one of the Constitutions , but was meant to fill up a gap which existed , and was seen with reference to Bro . Arnold's motion . It would have the immediate effect on the question now at issue , and the status of P . Ms , would remain as it was of old . That being so , he felt that Grand Lodge thoroughly appreciated the meaning of the resolution .
Bro . J AMES LEWIS THOMAS , P . A . G . D . C ., seconded the motion . The motion was carried . Bro . EDWIN T . BUDDEN , P . M . 622 , moved "That the regulations as to Masonic funerals contained in page 136 of the present edition Book of Con * stitutions ( 1873 ) stand part of the Revised Edition . "
Bro . CHARLES BURTON seconded the motion . Bro . Sir J . MONCKTON thought it undesirable the motion should be passed Bro . Sheriff LANE thought the time had come when they should do away with Masonic funerals . The motion was put , and lost .
Bro . THOMAS WM . TEW , G . S . D ., moved " that in article 129 of the Revise of the Book of Constitutions , the following words be added at the end of the paragraph : ' Except that of Treasurer . ' " The motion having been seconded , Bro . F . A . PHILBRICK , O . C , P . G . D ., said he trusted Grand Lodge would not assent to this . ( T ( all officers who held an office , the man who held the brethren ' s money was the
man who ought never to be joined with another , the Treasurer and Secretary ought not to be joined . The Treasurer and anyone else ought not to be joined . Let the Treasurer see to his business and keep his funds , and let other brethren of the lodge be able to call him to account , and let him not be able to plead he had duties of other offices to discharge which might either muddle up his accounts or prevent him giving sole attention to the duties of his office .
Bro . TEW S motion was lost . The EARL OF CARNARVON here explained that article 186 having been non-confirmed was therefore not now in existence , the Rev . John Studholme Brownrigg ' s motion to omit from it the words " ranking next" to end , and to insert " but junior to all who at that time shall have or at any future time may be installed in the chair of that lodge " could not come on .
Bro . the Rev . HERBERT GEORGE MORSE , G . C , moved to insert in article 146 , Revise of the Book of Constitutions , before the word " present " the words " past or . " Article 146 permitted the Provincial or District Grand Master to send any one of his Grand Officers to visit officially a private lodge in his province or district . He thought this should be so amended as to permit the Grand Master to send any of the Past Grand
Officers as well as the Present Grand Officers . The Prov . Grand Master for Devonshire felt that the wording of the article 146 might be held to exclude the Past Grand Officers and to confine the Prov . Grand Master to sending only the Present Grand Officers . He hoped he had made it clear to Grand Lodge that the only thing required to be altered here , although there was a little clerical error , was that the Grand Master might send any of his Grand Officers Past or Present .
Bro . G . J . MCKAY seconded the motion . The motion was carried . Bro . THOMAS FENN , P . G . D ., moved to non-confirm Article 209 , as amended by an addition made August 8 th . The addition was that any lodge failing to make due inquiry ( whether a joining brother had paid his dues in his former lodge ) , should be liable to pay the arrears , if any , owing bsuch brother to the lod
y ge from which he had been excluded . He thought the brother who proposed this could hardly have had in his mind the liability of lodges for inadvertence or inability to comply with the law when electing a member from some other part of the world . He knew some brethren who were £ 60 in arrear before they were excluded . Perhaps the brother had in his mind small arrears due to provincial lodges . He would call attention to rules 210 , 204 , and 205 in the revised Book of Constitutions .
By Article 210 a lodge was required to have some clearance certificate produced before it could elect a member . If they did not , it was a breach of law . B y Article 210 any breach of the law could be visited by fine or suspension by a Provincial Grand Master ; if by fine , the fine might be as much as £ 5 for a first offence , and £ 10 for a second . He thought Grand Lodge would agree that that was a penalty sufficient , without inflicting an unknown penalty . Bro . M . J . MCINTYRE , Q . C ., G . Reg ., seconded the motion .
A BROTHER said the only objection was that where a joining member came from abroad an answer could not be got in reasonable time . With regard to English lodges , it was perfectly possible to get an answer b y return of post . If a brother owed as much as ' Bro . Fenn stated it was quite clear he was not a worthy member to be received into a IooVe .
Bro . J . E . LE FEUVRE , Prov . G . Sec . Hants and Isle of Wight , said the penalty would only be inflicted where a lodge failed to make duo enquiry . Grand Lod ge would be doing quite right to impose upon a lodge as great an obligation as possible that it should make due enquiry . The motion of Bro . Fenn was then put and lost .
Bro . H . H . RIACH , S . W . 1118 , moved the non-confirmation of Article 297 . He said that Lord Holmesdale , Prov . G . M . for Kent , moved and carried that for the future the light blue collars , which were the brethren ' s badges of office in Grand Lodge should be worn under the Provincial Grandcollars .
He ( Bro . Riach ) did not think this was polite or fair to the lodges that their collars should be subservient to the badges worn elsewhere in England or in a foreign land . He held that they ought to wear in Grand Lodge the badges of the position which entitled them to a seat there . If they adopted the rule as it stood they would have a mongrel assembly of red , blue , and purple , instead of that beautiful sight they had at present of cerulean blue .