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Article The Grand East of Ulster. ← Page 2 of 5 Article The Grand East of Ulster. Page 2 of 5 →
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The Grand East Of Ulster.
" That , at the time of his dismissal , thc said Alexander Seton had in his hands moneys , to the amount of £ 300 , or some other considerable sum , which lie had receiA'ed on account of Warrants issued and contributions paid , and hail failed to pay * over to Petitioner as his principal , to be by * Petitioner paid into thc funds of the Society .
" That said Alexander Seton , having been appointed by * Petitioner to said situation , the emoluments of which Avere considerable , should haAre eArinced in its conduct both gratitude and obedience to Petitioner , and fidelity to the Grand Officers and Lodge ; but , on the contrary , had Avholly omitted to hold any communication with Petitioner or the officers of the Grand Lodge , aud had entered into a confederacy against Petitioner , and had endeavored to prevent his election as Grand Secretary .
" That said Alexander Seaton had instigated and directed A'arious turbulent , irregular , ancl disorderly proceedings amongst the members of the said Society , Avith a A * iew to securing for himself an estate for life , as he termed it , in the perquisites and emoluments of his ofiice .
" That , on Seton s dismissal , Petitioner demanded said books and muniments from him , but he peremptorily refused to deliver up same , and continued to act as Grand Secretary ' s Clerk , and to receive the fees of said office , contrary to the Avill , and in defiance of Petitioner , and in opposition to the Grand Lodge .
" That Seton , in consequence of his misconduct , had been on the 2 nd April , 1807 , unanimously expelled by the Grand Lodge from the Grand Lodge , and from the Society . " That , pursuant to the Rules and Regulations of thc Society , the Deputy Grand Alaster called on Scton for said books , and commanded him to attend therewith , Avhich he had refused to do , and paid no attention to said commands or application .
" That , pursuant to the said Rules , a regularl y appointed Committee of the Grand Lodge called on Seton to deliA * er over the Books to Petitioner , but hc refused to give them up , alleging there was money due to him on them , Avhich the Committee offeree ! to pay , but he still refused .
" That every amicable method that could be possibly resorted to was taken to induce Seton to give up the Books , and come to an account Avith Petitioner , but Avithout effect . "That Petitioner , although he had an absolute right to said Booksand AIunimcnts , was ready and willing , and thereby offered to pay Seton any sum which mi g ht appear on a fair account to be due him ,
but that the allegation of any sum being due him was a mere colorable pretence for keeping the Books , itc , and to avoid coming to an account : and Petitioner charged that Seton had received various sums on account of the A'arious Charitable Funds of the Order , and of Petitioner , to the amount of £ 100 and upwards , for which he had not accounted , although bound to do so Avith
Petitioner . " That the principal Book witheld by * Seton Avas the Register , in Avhich the Lodges in the Kingdom Avere ranged in numerical oi * dcr , and in Avhich , under their respective numbers , the names of all the Lodges in Ireland AVCI * C entered ; and for every person ' s name so entered a fee of 2 s . 8 Ad . was payable to the Grand Secretary , and
Avas usually given to his Clerk as a perquisite ; and a further sum of 2 s . 2 d . by every such person on obtaining a certificate ; which sums , ¦ with a further sum , therein after mentioned , constituted the principal emolument of the Grand Secretary , or his Clerk , when the former chose to give them to the latter ; ami Avhich sums could onl y be correctly estimated by the possession of the Register , itc , withheld by Seton .
" That said Register being very old , the Deputy Grand AIaster had authorised and directed Seton to haA'c said Books copied , which had been done , and such copies , contained in seven volumes , Avere then in the possession of Seton . "That Seton had also in his possession a Book , or Books , containing the Transactions of the Grand Lodge up to 3 rd Alay , 1806 ,
and also a Book , or Books , containing the Transactions of thc Committee of Charity and Inspection for the same period , and a great number of cancelled or dormant Warrants , copperplate Certificate , and the Seal of the Grand Lodge ; that same came to his hands merely as Clerk , and that Seton , having been dismissed , had no just rig ht to withhold same from Petitioner .
" That Seton , ever since being dismissed , had continued to Register members , anti grant Certificates toall Freemasons appl ying i ' or same , for each ot which he received 4 s . lOld . ; and had re-issued cancelled or dormant Warrants , for each of which he AVUS paid £ 7 13 s . 5 ^ d ., though such Warrants ought to be absolutely null and invalid .
" That , under said Regulations , each Lodge was to pay 10 s . 10 d ., yearly as Grand Lodge dues , in aid of thc Charitable Fund , such contributions to be paid by City * Lodges half-yearly , and by country Lodges before 25 th Alarch in each year , under certain penalties
therein set out ; that Seton , before and after his dismissal , had received , and continued to receive , from all such Lodges as he could prevail on to pay him said sums of £ 7 13 s . 5 kl . and 10 s . 10 d ., all of which he had converted to his own use , and refused to account for , Avhich sums amount cd to £ 1000 and upwards .
" That Seton had not only done all in his power to injure thc Society hy receiving the contributions and converting them to his own use , but had , by every means in his powei * , endeavoured to destroy such sources of Charitable contribution , and had , in the previous Alay , attempted to prevent the performance of a Alasonic play at the Theatre Royal , Crow-street , in aid of ' The Charitable Fund for the Relief of Distressed Freemasons , ' by sending a nicnaiicing letter to
The Grand East Of Ulster.
the Deputy Grand Alaster , and by threatening to ath-ertis : that such play Avas advertised Avithout the authority of the Graid Alaster ; that he was warranted in doing so from his communicaticii Avith the Grand Alaster , which was untrue ; that , having failed in this attempt to injure the Charitable Fund , hc , on the night of the performance , under pretence of installing a Warrant , rcviA-ed or issuecby himself , assembled all the military Freemasons in Dublin , and prevented their attendance at the Play * , thereby injuring the Charity .
" That the Female Alasonic Orphan School had been nuch injured , and almost annihilated , by the mal-practiccs and machinations of Seton ; that said School was entitled on the gT * uitin < - of any * new Warrant to £ 1 2 s . 9 d ., and 2 s 8 *§ d . on registering or granting Certificates to Freemasons admitted in country Lodges from 27 th December , 1802 , which sums , amounting to £ 300 and upAvavds , Seton had received and retained .
" That , without the interposition of the Court in compelling Seton to account and hand over said Books , etc ., not only thc School must fall to the ground , and the eighteen Orphans slieltered therein must be thrown unprotected on the world , but the general Charitable Fund must bc exhausted .
" That the Charitable Funds of said Society wive so much reduced by Seton ' s misconduct that the Grand Lodge was scarcely able to dispense as many pounds as it formally did hundreds . " Petitioner prayed , for the reasons shown , that Seton might , upon oath , make true , full , plain , perfect , and distinct ansAver to the matters and charges thereinbefore set forth , and to the several interroD-afions thereinafter set out .
" That Seton might be bound to account for all sums received by him for the Charitable purposes of said Society , and to hand over to Petitioner Avhate \ 'er sum he might appear , on such account , to have received of the Charitable Fund ; to set forth a true account of all the Books , itc , then in his possession ; and to givo up same to Petitioner , or deposit them with the proper olliccr of the Court .
" That he might be restrained by injunction from registering Freemasons , or granting Certificates , or using the Grand Seal , and from issuing , reviving , or restoring Avarrants to hold Lodges ; that all proper and necessary accounts might be directed ; that Seton should , before answering , inspect the letters , itc , in Petitioner ' s possession , endorse his name thereon , and say if same , or auy of them , Avere Avritten or signed by him , or if the originals of such as AY ere copies Avere received by him .
" That Petitioner might have such further relief as the nature of the case woultl admit , and to Justice and Equity should belong . " And Petitioner prayed that the subpoenas , therein mentioned , directed to Seton , should be issued ; and that a AVrit of Injunction , diiected to Scton ami his confederates , should be granted , restraining him and them from reviving or restoring any Warrant to hold
Lodges , and from demanding money on account thereof , or on account of the Charitable Funds of the Society . " ( Signed ) hy DAXIEL O'COXXEU , as Junior Counsel for Plaintiff . AiJEAiiAJi G . HILL , Solicitor for Plaintiff . "
On 3 rd Alarch , 1809 , defendant filed his ansAver , Avhich AVUS on 15 th July , 1809 , expunged for prolixity and impertinence , pursuant to order of 13 th July , 1809 . On 18 th November , 1809 , the cause Avas heard , and by an order or conditional decree of that date , it was ordered that Plaintiff ' s bill and all the matters and things therein contained should be taken as
confessed against Seton ; that it should be referred to one of the Alasters to take an account of the moneys received b y him for the Charitable purposes of said Society , ami on account of the Plaintiff its Grand Secretary , and that he should hand over all such moneys to the Plaintiff ; that Seton should account , on oath , for all books , itc , in his possession , or of any person for him , which came to his possession , since being appointed Clerk ; that Scton should lodge all such
books , Ac , in the Bank of Ireland ; that he should be restrained from -registering any * persons as Freemasons , and from giving certificates thereof ; and from making or reviving any warrants ; and that Plaintiff mi ght make up and enrol a decree , with costs , against Seton , unless good cause bc shown in tho then next Hilary Term ; but that before Seton should bc permitted to SIIOAV cause , he shoulel purge his contempt and pay Plaintiff his costs out of pocket .
" On 15 th December , 1810 , Seton tiled his first further Answer . " By an Order of 5 th February , 1810 , it AVIIS ordered that it bo referred to William Henn , one of thc Alasters of said Court ; to inspect the Plaintiff ' s Bill , the Defendant ' s further Answer and the
exceptions thereto ; and to certif y Avhether said Answer Avas short and insufficient in the points excepted to , or not . And , by a Certificate dated 10 th February , 1810 , said Alaster certified that Defendant ' s further Answer was short and insufficient in all the points excepted to by Plaintiff .
"On 12 th February , 1810 , Defendant filed his second further Ans Aver .
"By Certificate , dated 14 th June , 1810 , the said AIaster certified , pursuant to Order of 6 th June , 1810 , that Defendant ' s second further Answer was short and insufficient in all the points excepted to hythe Plaintiff . "On 19 th July , 1810 , Defendant filed his third further Answer .
" By Certificate , dated 12 th December , 1810 , the said AIaster certified , pursuant to Order of 23 rd November , 1810 , that Defendants third further Answer was short and insufficient in thc 4 th and 5 th exceptions taken thereto , and full and sufficient in the Oth exception taken thereto .
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
The Grand East Of Ulster.
" That , at the time of his dismissal , thc said Alexander Seton had in his hands moneys , to the amount of £ 300 , or some other considerable sum , which lie had receiA'ed on account of Warrants issued and contributions paid , and hail failed to pay * over to Petitioner as his principal , to be by * Petitioner paid into thc funds of the Society .
" That said Alexander Seton , having been appointed by * Petitioner to said situation , the emoluments of which Avere considerable , should haAre eArinced in its conduct both gratitude and obedience to Petitioner , and fidelity to the Grand Officers and Lodge ; but , on the contrary , had Avholly omitted to hold any communication with Petitioner or the officers of the Grand Lodge , aud had entered into a confederacy against Petitioner , and had endeavored to prevent his election as Grand Secretary .
" That said Alexander Seaton had instigated and directed A'arious turbulent , irregular , ancl disorderly proceedings amongst the members of the said Society , Avith a A * iew to securing for himself an estate for life , as he termed it , in the perquisites and emoluments of his ofiice .
" That , on Seton s dismissal , Petitioner demanded said books and muniments from him , but he peremptorily refused to deliver up same , and continued to act as Grand Secretary ' s Clerk , and to receive the fees of said office , contrary to the Avill , and in defiance of Petitioner , and in opposition to the Grand Lodge .
" That Seton , in consequence of his misconduct , had been on the 2 nd April , 1807 , unanimously expelled by the Grand Lodge from the Grand Lodge , and from the Society . " That , pursuant to the Rules and Regulations of thc Society , the Deputy Grand Alaster called on Scton for said books , and commanded him to attend therewith , Avhich he had refused to do , and paid no attention to said commands or application .
" That , pursuant to the said Rules , a regularl y appointed Committee of the Grand Lodge called on Seton to deliA * er over the Books to Petitioner , but hc refused to give them up , alleging there was money due to him on them , Avhich the Committee offeree ! to pay , but he still refused .
" That every amicable method that could be possibly resorted to was taken to induce Seton to give up the Books , and come to an account Avith Petitioner , but Avithout effect . "That Petitioner , although he had an absolute right to said Booksand AIunimcnts , was ready and willing , and thereby offered to pay Seton any sum which mi g ht appear on a fair account to be due him ,
but that the allegation of any sum being due him was a mere colorable pretence for keeping the Books , itc , and to avoid coming to an account : and Petitioner charged that Seton had received various sums on account of the A'arious Charitable Funds of the Order , and of Petitioner , to the amount of £ 100 and upwards , for which he had not accounted , although bound to do so Avith
Petitioner . " That the principal Book witheld by * Seton Avas the Register , in Avhich the Lodges in the Kingdom Avere ranged in numerical oi * dcr , and in Avhich , under their respective numbers , the names of all the Lodges in Ireland AVCI * C entered ; and for every person ' s name so entered a fee of 2 s . 8 Ad . was payable to the Grand Secretary , and
Avas usually given to his Clerk as a perquisite ; and a further sum of 2 s . 2 d . by every such person on obtaining a certificate ; which sums , ¦ with a further sum , therein after mentioned , constituted the principal emolument of the Grand Secretary , or his Clerk , when the former chose to give them to the latter ; ami Avhich sums could onl y be correctly estimated by the possession of the Register , itc , withheld by Seton .
" That said Register being very old , the Deputy Grand AIaster had authorised and directed Seton to haA'c said Books copied , which had been done , and such copies , contained in seven volumes , Avere then in the possession of Seton . "That Seton had also in his possession a Book , or Books , containing the Transactions of the Grand Lodge up to 3 rd Alay , 1806 ,
and also a Book , or Books , containing the Transactions of thc Committee of Charity and Inspection for the same period , and a great number of cancelled or dormant Warrants , copperplate Certificate , and the Seal of the Grand Lodge ; that same came to his hands merely as Clerk , and that Seton , having been dismissed , had no just rig ht to withhold same from Petitioner .
" That Seton , ever since being dismissed , had continued to Register members , anti grant Certificates toall Freemasons appl ying i ' or same , for each ot which he received 4 s . lOld . ; and had re-issued cancelled or dormant Warrants , for each of which he AVUS paid £ 7 13 s . 5 ^ d ., though such Warrants ought to be absolutely null and invalid .
" That , under said Regulations , each Lodge was to pay 10 s . 10 d ., yearly as Grand Lodge dues , in aid of thc Charitable Fund , such contributions to be paid by City * Lodges half-yearly , and by country Lodges before 25 th Alarch in each year , under certain penalties
therein set out ; that Seton , before and after his dismissal , had received , and continued to receive , from all such Lodges as he could prevail on to pay him said sums of £ 7 13 s . 5 kl . and 10 s . 10 d ., all of which he had converted to his own use , and refused to account for , Avhich sums amount cd to £ 1000 and upwards .
" That Seton had not only done all in his power to injure thc Society hy receiving the contributions and converting them to his own use , but had , by every means in his powei * , endeavoured to destroy such sources of Charitable contribution , and had , in the previous Alay , attempted to prevent the performance of a Alasonic play at the Theatre Royal , Crow-street , in aid of ' The Charitable Fund for the Relief of Distressed Freemasons , ' by sending a nicnaiicing letter to
The Grand East Of Ulster.
the Deputy Grand Alaster , and by threatening to ath-ertis : that such play Avas advertised Avithout the authority of the Graid Alaster ; that he was warranted in doing so from his communicaticii Avith the Grand Alaster , which was untrue ; that , having failed in this attempt to injure the Charitable Fund , hc , on the night of the performance , under pretence of installing a Warrant , rcviA-ed or issuecby himself , assembled all the military Freemasons in Dublin , and prevented their attendance at the Play * , thereby injuring the Charity .
" That the Female Alasonic Orphan School had been nuch injured , and almost annihilated , by the mal-practiccs and machinations of Seton ; that said School was entitled on the gT * uitin < - of any * new Warrant to £ 1 2 s . 9 d ., and 2 s 8 *§ d . on registering or granting Certificates to Freemasons admitted in country Lodges from 27 th December , 1802 , which sums , amounting to £ 300 and upAvavds , Seton had received and retained .
" That , without the interposition of the Court in compelling Seton to account and hand over said Books , etc ., not only thc School must fall to the ground , and the eighteen Orphans slieltered therein must be thrown unprotected on the world , but the general Charitable Fund must bc exhausted .
" That the Charitable Funds of said Society wive so much reduced by Seton ' s misconduct that the Grand Lodge was scarcely able to dispense as many pounds as it formally did hundreds . " Petitioner prayed , for the reasons shown , that Seton might , upon oath , make true , full , plain , perfect , and distinct ansAver to the matters and charges thereinbefore set forth , and to the several interroD-afions thereinafter set out .
" That Seton might be bound to account for all sums received by him for the Charitable purposes of said Society , and to hand over to Petitioner Avhate \ 'er sum he might appear , on such account , to have received of the Charitable Fund ; to set forth a true account of all the Books , itc , then in his possession ; and to givo up same to Petitioner , or deposit them with the proper olliccr of the Court .
" That he might be restrained by injunction from registering Freemasons , or granting Certificates , or using the Grand Seal , and from issuing , reviving , or restoring Avarrants to hold Lodges ; that all proper and necessary accounts might be directed ; that Seton should , before answering , inspect the letters , itc , in Petitioner ' s possession , endorse his name thereon , and say if same , or auy of them , Avere Avritten or signed by him , or if the originals of such as AY ere copies Avere received by him .
" That Petitioner might have such further relief as the nature of the case woultl admit , and to Justice and Equity should belong . " And Petitioner prayed that the subpoenas , therein mentioned , directed to Seton , should be issued ; and that a AVrit of Injunction , diiected to Scton ami his confederates , should be granted , restraining him and them from reviving or restoring any Warrant to hold
Lodges , and from demanding money on account thereof , or on account of the Charitable Funds of the Society . " ( Signed ) hy DAXIEL O'COXXEU , as Junior Counsel for Plaintiff . AiJEAiiAJi G . HILL , Solicitor for Plaintiff . "
On 3 rd Alarch , 1809 , defendant filed his ansAver , Avhich AVUS on 15 th July , 1809 , expunged for prolixity and impertinence , pursuant to order of 13 th July , 1809 . On 18 th November , 1809 , the cause Avas heard , and by an order or conditional decree of that date , it was ordered that Plaintiff ' s bill and all the matters and things therein contained should be taken as
confessed against Seton ; that it should be referred to one of the Alasters to take an account of the moneys received b y him for the Charitable purposes of said Society , ami on account of the Plaintiff its Grand Secretary , and that he should hand over all such moneys to the Plaintiff ; that Seton should account , on oath , for all books , itc , in his possession , or of any person for him , which came to his possession , since being appointed Clerk ; that Scton should lodge all such
books , Ac , in the Bank of Ireland ; that he should be restrained from -registering any * persons as Freemasons , and from giving certificates thereof ; and from making or reviving any warrants ; and that Plaintiff mi ght make up and enrol a decree , with costs , against Seton , unless good cause bc shown in tho then next Hilary Term ; but that before Seton should bc permitted to SIIOAV cause , he shoulel purge his contempt and pay Plaintiff his costs out of pocket .
" On 15 th December , 1810 , Seton tiled his first further Answer . " By an Order of 5 th February , 1810 , it AVIIS ordered that it bo referred to William Henn , one of thc Alasters of said Court ; to inspect the Plaintiff ' s Bill , the Defendant ' s further Answer and the
exceptions thereto ; and to certif y Avhether said Answer Avas short and insufficient in the points excepted to , or not . And , by a Certificate dated 10 th February , 1810 , said Alaster certified that Defendant ' s further Answer was short and insufficient in all the points excepted to by Plaintiff .
"On 12 th February , 1810 , Defendant filed his second further Ans Aver .
"By Certificate , dated 14 th June , 1810 , the said AIaster certified , pursuant to Order of 6 th June , 1810 , that Defendant ' s second further Answer was short and insufficient in all the points excepted to hythe Plaintiff . "On 19 th July , 1810 , Defendant filed his third further Answer .
" By Certificate , dated 12 th December , 1810 , the said AIaster certified , pursuant to Order of 23 rd November , 1810 , that Defendants third further Answer was short and insufficient in thc 4 th and 5 th exceptions taken thereto , and full and sufficient in the Oth exception taken thereto .