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Article FREEMASONRY in IRELAND. ← Page 2 of 3 Article FREEMASONRY in IRELAND. Page 2 of 3 Article FREEMASONRY in IRELAND. Page 2 of 3 →
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Freemasonry In Ireland.
and laws , and though we consider an obligation taken voluntarily by a brother is binding , and demands obedience to , or withdrawal from , the Society , yet we can quite
imagine circumstances that would justify opposition to a Grand Lodge , so long as the brethren objecting refrained from starting a rival institution . In this respect the seceders from the Grand Lodge of
Ireland did wrong , as also did the " Ancients " of England . Granting that there were reasons to complain of the " shameful
mismanagement " existing in the Grand Lodge of Ireland early in this century , all the evils said to be connected with the government of the Craft would not form a
sufficient plea to throw off allegiance and constitute a new Grand Lodge . The obligation of fealty having been taken , it was simply for the discontented to seek a redress of their grievances by
constitutional means , and failing in such an attempt , we would rather have withdrawn from the Body than have done wrong ourselves because others had done wrong also .
In order to understand the schism in
the Grand Lodge of Ireland , we will now present a few authoritative documents , according to their chronological order as nearly as possible . The first is dated 12 th December , 1805 , and was issued by
the regular Grand Lodge of Ireland . Even according to this account , there must have been much gross mismanagement of the funds of the Grand Lodge , and we can quite fancy the minds of the brethren could
not have been easy under the circumstances . The revenue from 24 th June , 1806 , to 24 th June , 1 S 07 , was £ 269 13 s .
6 £ d ., less £ 19 14 s . 5 d . owing to the Grand Treasurer , and yet in the latter part of 1800 upwards of ^ 2 , 000 were owing by lodges in arrears , and the accounts had neither been
settled noraudited for five years and a half ! The communication is as follows : —
GRAND LODGE OF IRELAND , THURSDAY , THE 12 th DECEMBER , 1805 , The Right Worshipful Deputy Grand Master on the Throne . The Grand Lodge met on cinergeney for tlie purpose of
taking Ihe foUinoiiig sliile »/ , - »! r a ml' I'hst-n-alions into eeit siiienition , mi J the siime having been read were unanimously agreed to , and ordered to tie forlh-vilh transmitted to the respective lodges in the kingdom . PUBLICATION ' S , grossly reflecting on the conduct of
the Grand Lodjjc of Ireland and its Officers , have issued from an obscure and contaminated press the productions of anonymous and despicable libellersfalse in statement—unfounded in inference , and malignant in intent—tliey endeavour to deceive , pervert and
revile . —Such attempts can do little mischief in the metropolis , where characters are known and facts can be resorted to . —It is at a distance that the injury works and its effects are to lie deprecated . Tothe Brethren and Lodges in the country , therefore , the following
statements and observations are principally addressed : AMONG many pretended grievances the separation of the offices of Deputy Treasurer and Deputy Secretary is held out as the chief , it is thc unceasing theme of reprobation .
In thc year 1767 the late Brother Thomas Corker was appointed Deputy Grand Secretary , and continued in that situation until his death , in the latter end of the year 1 S 00 , during which period he also acted as , and attempted to discharge the duties of
Deputy Grand Treasurer . Thc result naturally was an encrcase of perquisite to compensate this junction of offices , and great irregularity in thc performance of their compound and incompatible duties .
Here it is necessary to protest that thc slightest imputation is not intended against Brother Corker , who , during 33 years . ac . cd to the best of his ability for thc advantage of thc Gift -while lu : enjoved
Freemasonry In Ireland.
health his exertions were unremitting , but even then he was unable effectually to fulfil the duties of Deputy Treasurer and Deputy Secretary . — The latter part of his life was embittered by affliction and disease .
Fees payable to the Grand Fees which were encreased Secretary by the Rulesand at sundry times while Regulations of the 3 d Brother Corker acted as November , 1768 * , Sec . X . Deputy Treasurer and Deputy Secretary . For a warrant ; £ i 2 9 tFor a warrant , £ 256 For three mem- For a revived
others enrolled - 3 3 restored warrant 256 Each member , For three memfor registry - I I bers enrolled - 8 I-J A member join- Each member , ing another for registry - 2 8 J
lodge , fortrans- Each member ferring - - 6 J transferred -11 For a Grand Grand Lodge Lodge certifi- certificate - 2 2 cate -I 1 Registering members of army lodges- I I
By this encrease the average emolument to Brother Corker was about , £ 300 per year , but as it was not specified what proportion of the encreased fees were intended as a compensation to the Deputy Treasurer , no diminution took place when the offices of Treasurer and Secretary were separated . The Deputy Secretary now receives the entire .
On the death of Brother Corker the affairs ofthe Order were found to be in a state of the utmost confusion—the usual communications with the respective lodges of the kingdom had been neglected '—an arrear of , £ 2 , 000 and upwards was owing for Grand Lodge dues—and the sum of £ 446 10 s . 9 >_ d . for play-tickets , passed for the benefit of distressed
free-masons—the accounts of the Order to the amount of . £ 3 , 058 os . 6 } 4 d . had not been settled or audited for five years and a half . In this situation Brother Semple , at the request of the Treasurer , by extraordinary exertions and in the most satisfactory manner , arranged and stated the arrears due , and also Brother Corker's account as Deputy Treasurer ,
when a balance of , £ 60 7 s . id . appeared due to him thereon , so far as the slender materials and imperfect documents with which Brother Semple was furnished enabled him to do . The arrangements made , and the regularity introduced , by Bro . Semple in the accounts and the method of keeping them , produced the most
beneficial consequences , and it appeared of the utmost importance that the system thus introduced should be upheld . It was therefore , after a month ' s notice given for that purpose , Resolved by the Grand Lodge , on the 2 d July , 1801 , " That the Treasurer be empowered to allow his Deputy a salary of 50 guineas per annum , andalso a poundage of , £ io per
cent , on tlie collection of all arrears due to the Grand Lodge up to the St . John ' s Day preceding , and £ 5 per cent on all . moneys to be paid thereafter into the treasury of the Grand Lodge . " Whereupon the Grand Treasurer , with the unanimous approbation of the Grand Lodge , appointed Brother Semple his deputy or assistant , as he was
authorized to do by the Regulations of 1734 , Rule XIII ., Sec . 10 , by which it is provided , "That thc Treasurer or Secretary may each have a clerk or assistant , if they think fit , " and under which provision the Deputy Secretary hath hitherto always been appointed . On thc 24 th June , 1803 , Brother Semple resigned the office of Deputy Treasurer ,
having discharged its arduous duties in the most exemplary manner , and to the perfect satisfaction ofthe Grand Lodge . For his services and thc incalculable advantages resulting to thc Order from his labours , he received thc sum of , £ 205 7 s . sd . ; a sum , according to the opinion of eminent merchants most competent to
appreciate thc value , fall short indeed of remuneration adequate to his meritorious exertions . —After Brother Sample ' s resignation , on thc 14 th July , 1803 , the Grand Lodge reduced thc salary of Deputy Treasurer to , £ 20 per annum , with £ 2 per cent , on all monies received at charity sermons and benefit plavs , together with £ 5 per cent , on all
other monies comprising the funds of thc Order . In consequence of which reduction Brother Graham , the present Deputy Treasurer , receives about £ 40 a year for performing thc duties of that most arduous and responsible situation which he fills with the entire approbation of thc Grand Lodge to thc great advantage of the Order .
By the accounts , which arc regularly printed , it appears that from the 27 th of December , 1 S 00 , to the 24 th June 1 S 03 , Brother Semple received , paid , and accounted for ... ... .... £ 1888 5 4 From 24 th June , 1803 , 1027 th December , 1 S 04 , Brother Graham received , paid , and accounted for ... ... .. 1476 9 4 _ 3364 14 8 J
Freemasonry In Ireland.
Brother Semple received in salary and fees ... •¦¦ £ 20 S 7 5 Brother Graham , ditto ... 61 3 3 . 266 10 8 .
Besides the above sum of ^ 3364 14 s . 8 ) 4 , the sum of £ 1324 13 Syi was received by the Grand Treasurer and his Deputies , and regularly accounted for to the Masonic Orphan School , without any charge or deduction whatsoever .
So that for the trouble and meritorious exertions in ascertaining the arrears due by lodges and individuals to the amount of ... ... .., ^ 2446 10 9 $ Ditto ditto in settling Brother Corker ' s
account as Deputy . Grand Treasurer for five and a half years , to the amount of ... ... ... 3058 - 6 J For having received , paid , and accounted for , 3364 14 H Also the Orphan School accounts ... 1324 13 SJ
Amounting in the whole to ... 10 , 193 ' 9 ° h And for four years regular attendance on the Grand Lodge and Committee of Charity and Inspection , the Deputy Treasurer has received ^ 266 10 8 J ! From the 27 th December , 1800 , to the 27 th December , 1 S 04 , the Grand Lodge has given the Orphan School
the sum of ... ... ... ^ 300 0 0 And dispensed in charity to indigent brethren and the widows of brethren , to the number of 375 , the sum of ... 1170 8 3 J And there is at present a funded property in Government stock , at £$ per » cent ., in the National Bank , for Grand Lodge ... ... ... ... 500 O O
In the foregoing statement of money received , the sum of , £ 903 18 s . 7 d . has been collected out of the arrear due at Brother Corker's death , and it is hoped more may still be collected . It is to be observed , that since the apppointment of a Deputy Treasurer , the sum due for tickets
passed for benefit plays ( except the last , which is not yet settled ) does not in the whole amount to the sum of . £ 5 ; and , further , that the £ 2 per cent , now allowed the Deputy Treasurer on the produce of benefit plays , has not amounted to . £ 10 , the sum formerly allowed the Grand Secretary .
By the foregoing statements , taken from the public accounts and proceedings of the Order , it is manifest that the funds are in a flourishing and progressive stale of improvement , and that this is to be attributed to the necessary and judicious separation of offices , and the unremitting exertions and
attention of those to whom the care and management of thc funds have been entrusted . * The conduct of the Grand Lodge in recently resolving to take the Royal Arch and Knights Templars degrees under its protection is another subject upon which the traders in libels display
their falsehood , misrepresentation , and malignity . Royal Arch Chapters and Knights Templars Encampments were hitherto held in this kingdom without the concurrence of the Grand Lodge , and not subject to any general or superintending control—hence want of uniformity in the practices and
ceremonies of each degree—no authority to appeal to in matters of regulation— no power to redress in cases of complaint or grievance . To remedy these evils , which were very emphatically set forth in memorials from sundry Royal Arch brethren and Knights Templars , the Grand Lodge on the 5 th
day of September , 1805 , agreed to the resolutions annexed . The anonymous calumniators , persistent in untruth and uniform in perversion , have the hardihood to assert that these resolutions give to Blue Masons the power of controling Chapters and
Encampments , and granting warrants for holding them ; but to men of common sense—to the plain understanding of any dispassionate and candid mindit must be evident that such an inconsistency is expressly guarded against ; as thc Grand Royal Arch Chapter and the Grand Knights Templars
Encampment are each exclusively composed of brethren ( being members ofthe Grand Lodge ) who arc of those respective degrees . To refute thc other topics of anonymous attacks , it is only necessary to observe that the publications in question manifest throughout the most flagrant
courage against truth and fact , in order to accomp lish thc most malevolent and evil designs . It is thc duty of thc Grand Lodge to apprize the Brethren and Lodges of the kingdom of such designs , and to warn them against the machinations of depraved and wicked men .
The Grand Lodge is imperiously called upon to issue its paternal admonition , and guard thc Craft against attempts intended to undermine the best interests of the Order , and injure the public and private characters of individuals who have disinterestedly and invariably , in all their actions ,
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Freemasonry In Ireland.
and laws , and though we consider an obligation taken voluntarily by a brother is binding , and demands obedience to , or withdrawal from , the Society , yet we can quite
imagine circumstances that would justify opposition to a Grand Lodge , so long as the brethren objecting refrained from starting a rival institution . In this respect the seceders from the Grand Lodge of
Ireland did wrong , as also did the " Ancients " of England . Granting that there were reasons to complain of the " shameful
mismanagement " existing in the Grand Lodge of Ireland early in this century , all the evils said to be connected with the government of the Craft would not form a
sufficient plea to throw off allegiance and constitute a new Grand Lodge . The obligation of fealty having been taken , it was simply for the discontented to seek a redress of their grievances by
constitutional means , and failing in such an attempt , we would rather have withdrawn from the Body than have done wrong ourselves because others had done wrong also .
In order to understand the schism in
the Grand Lodge of Ireland , we will now present a few authoritative documents , according to their chronological order as nearly as possible . The first is dated 12 th December , 1805 , and was issued by
the regular Grand Lodge of Ireland . Even according to this account , there must have been much gross mismanagement of the funds of the Grand Lodge , and we can quite fancy the minds of the brethren could
not have been easy under the circumstances . The revenue from 24 th June , 1806 , to 24 th June , 1 S 07 , was £ 269 13 s .
6 £ d ., less £ 19 14 s . 5 d . owing to the Grand Treasurer , and yet in the latter part of 1800 upwards of ^ 2 , 000 were owing by lodges in arrears , and the accounts had neither been
settled noraudited for five years and a half ! The communication is as follows : —
GRAND LODGE OF IRELAND , THURSDAY , THE 12 th DECEMBER , 1805 , The Right Worshipful Deputy Grand Master on the Throne . The Grand Lodge met on cinergeney for tlie purpose of
taking Ihe foUinoiiig sliile »/ , - »! r a ml' I'hst-n-alions into eeit siiienition , mi J the siime having been read were unanimously agreed to , and ordered to tie forlh-vilh transmitted to the respective lodges in the kingdom . PUBLICATION ' S , grossly reflecting on the conduct of
the Grand Lodjjc of Ireland and its Officers , have issued from an obscure and contaminated press the productions of anonymous and despicable libellersfalse in statement—unfounded in inference , and malignant in intent—tliey endeavour to deceive , pervert and
revile . —Such attempts can do little mischief in the metropolis , where characters are known and facts can be resorted to . —It is at a distance that the injury works and its effects are to lie deprecated . Tothe Brethren and Lodges in the country , therefore , the following
statements and observations are principally addressed : AMONG many pretended grievances the separation of the offices of Deputy Treasurer and Deputy Secretary is held out as the chief , it is thc unceasing theme of reprobation .
In thc year 1767 the late Brother Thomas Corker was appointed Deputy Grand Secretary , and continued in that situation until his death , in the latter end of the year 1 S 00 , during which period he also acted as , and attempted to discharge the duties of
Deputy Grand Treasurer . Thc result naturally was an encrcase of perquisite to compensate this junction of offices , and great irregularity in thc performance of their compound and incompatible duties .
Here it is necessary to protest that thc slightest imputation is not intended against Brother Corker , who , during 33 years . ac . cd to the best of his ability for thc advantage of thc Gift -while lu : enjoved
Freemasonry In Ireland.
health his exertions were unremitting , but even then he was unable effectually to fulfil the duties of Deputy Treasurer and Deputy Secretary . — The latter part of his life was embittered by affliction and disease .
Fees payable to the Grand Fees which were encreased Secretary by the Rulesand at sundry times while Regulations of the 3 d Brother Corker acted as November , 1768 * , Sec . X . Deputy Treasurer and Deputy Secretary . For a warrant ; £ i 2 9 tFor a warrant , £ 256 For three mem- For a revived
others enrolled - 3 3 restored warrant 256 Each member , For three memfor registry - I I bers enrolled - 8 I-J A member join- Each member , ing another for registry - 2 8 J
lodge , fortrans- Each member ferring - - 6 J transferred -11 For a Grand Grand Lodge Lodge certifi- certificate - 2 2 cate -I 1 Registering members of army lodges- I I
By this encrease the average emolument to Brother Corker was about , £ 300 per year , but as it was not specified what proportion of the encreased fees were intended as a compensation to the Deputy Treasurer , no diminution took place when the offices of Treasurer and Secretary were separated . The Deputy Secretary now receives the entire .
On the death of Brother Corker the affairs ofthe Order were found to be in a state of the utmost confusion—the usual communications with the respective lodges of the kingdom had been neglected '—an arrear of , £ 2 , 000 and upwards was owing for Grand Lodge dues—and the sum of £ 446 10 s . 9 >_ d . for play-tickets , passed for the benefit of distressed
free-masons—the accounts of the Order to the amount of . £ 3 , 058 os . 6 } 4 d . had not been settled or audited for five years and a half . In this situation Brother Semple , at the request of the Treasurer , by extraordinary exertions and in the most satisfactory manner , arranged and stated the arrears due , and also Brother Corker's account as Deputy Treasurer ,
when a balance of , £ 60 7 s . id . appeared due to him thereon , so far as the slender materials and imperfect documents with which Brother Semple was furnished enabled him to do . The arrangements made , and the regularity introduced , by Bro . Semple in the accounts and the method of keeping them , produced the most
beneficial consequences , and it appeared of the utmost importance that the system thus introduced should be upheld . It was therefore , after a month ' s notice given for that purpose , Resolved by the Grand Lodge , on the 2 d July , 1801 , " That the Treasurer be empowered to allow his Deputy a salary of 50 guineas per annum , andalso a poundage of , £ io per
cent , on tlie collection of all arrears due to the Grand Lodge up to the St . John ' s Day preceding , and £ 5 per cent on all . moneys to be paid thereafter into the treasury of the Grand Lodge . " Whereupon the Grand Treasurer , with the unanimous approbation of the Grand Lodge , appointed Brother Semple his deputy or assistant , as he was
authorized to do by the Regulations of 1734 , Rule XIII ., Sec . 10 , by which it is provided , "That thc Treasurer or Secretary may each have a clerk or assistant , if they think fit , " and under which provision the Deputy Secretary hath hitherto always been appointed . On thc 24 th June , 1803 , Brother Semple resigned the office of Deputy Treasurer ,
having discharged its arduous duties in the most exemplary manner , and to the perfect satisfaction ofthe Grand Lodge . For his services and thc incalculable advantages resulting to thc Order from his labours , he received thc sum of , £ 205 7 s . sd . ; a sum , according to the opinion of eminent merchants most competent to
appreciate thc value , fall short indeed of remuneration adequate to his meritorious exertions . —After Brother Sample ' s resignation , on thc 14 th July , 1803 , the Grand Lodge reduced thc salary of Deputy Treasurer to , £ 20 per annum , with £ 2 per cent , on all monies received at charity sermons and benefit plavs , together with £ 5 per cent , on all
other monies comprising the funds of thc Order . In consequence of which reduction Brother Graham , the present Deputy Treasurer , receives about £ 40 a year for performing thc duties of that most arduous and responsible situation which he fills with the entire approbation of thc Grand Lodge to thc great advantage of the Order .
By the accounts , which arc regularly printed , it appears that from the 27 th of December , 1 S 00 , to the 24 th June 1 S 03 , Brother Semple received , paid , and accounted for ... ... .... £ 1888 5 4 From 24 th June , 1803 , 1027 th December , 1 S 04 , Brother Graham received , paid , and accounted for ... ... .. 1476 9 4 _ 3364 14 8 J
Freemasonry In Ireland.
Brother Semple received in salary and fees ... •¦¦ £ 20 S 7 5 Brother Graham , ditto ... 61 3 3 . 266 10 8 .
Besides the above sum of ^ 3364 14 s . 8 ) 4 , the sum of £ 1324 13 Syi was received by the Grand Treasurer and his Deputies , and regularly accounted for to the Masonic Orphan School , without any charge or deduction whatsoever .
So that for the trouble and meritorious exertions in ascertaining the arrears due by lodges and individuals to the amount of ... ... .., ^ 2446 10 9 $ Ditto ditto in settling Brother Corker ' s
account as Deputy . Grand Treasurer for five and a half years , to the amount of ... ... ... 3058 - 6 J For having received , paid , and accounted for , 3364 14 H Also the Orphan School accounts ... 1324 13 SJ
Amounting in the whole to ... 10 , 193 ' 9 ° h And for four years regular attendance on the Grand Lodge and Committee of Charity and Inspection , the Deputy Treasurer has received ^ 266 10 8 J ! From the 27 th December , 1800 , to the 27 th December , 1 S 04 , the Grand Lodge has given the Orphan School
the sum of ... ... ... ^ 300 0 0 And dispensed in charity to indigent brethren and the widows of brethren , to the number of 375 , the sum of ... 1170 8 3 J And there is at present a funded property in Government stock , at £$ per » cent ., in the National Bank , for Grand Lodge ... ... ... ... 500 O O
In the foregoing statement of money received , the sum of , £ 903 18 s . 7 d . has been collected out of the arrear due at Brother Corker's death , and it is hoped more may still be collected . It is to be observed , that since the apppointment of a Deputy Treasurer , the sum due for tickets
passed for benefit plays ( except the last , which is not yet settled ) does not in the whole amount to the sum of . £ 5 ; and , further , that the £ 2 per cent , now allowed the Deputy Treasurer on the produce of benefit plays , has not amounted to . £ 10 , the sum formerly allowed the Grand Secretary .
By the foregoing statements , taken from the public accounts and proceedings of the Order , it is manifest that the funds are in a flourishing and progressive stale of improvement , and that this is to be attributed to the necessary and judicious separation of offices , and the unremitting exertions and
attention of those to whom the care and management of thc funds have been entrusted . * The conduct of the Grand Lodge in recently resolving to take the Royal Arch and Knights Templars degrees under its protection is another subject upon which the traders in libels display
their falsehood , misrepresentation , and malignity . Royal Arch Chapters and Knights Templars Encampments were hitherto held in this kingdom without the concurrence of the Grand Lodge , and not subject to any general or superintending control—hence want of uniformity in the practices and
ceremonies of each degree—no authority to appeal to in matters of regulation— no power to redress in cases of complaint or grievance . To remedy these evils , which were very emphatically set forth in memorials from sundry Royal Arch brethren and Knights Templars , the Grand Lodge on the 5 th
day of September , 1805 , agreed to the resolutions annexed . The anonymous calumniators , persistent in untruth and uniform in perversion , have the hardihood to assert that these resolutions give to Blue Masons the power of controling Chapters and
Encampments , and granting warrants for holding them ; but to men of common sense—to the plain understanding of any dispassionate and candid mindit must be evident that such an inconsistency is expressly guarded against ; as thc Grand Royal Arch Chapter and the Grand Knights Templars
Encampment are each exclusively composed of brethren ( being members ofthe Grand Lodge ) who arc of those respective degrees . To refute thc other topics of anonymous attacks , it is only necessary to observe that the publications in question manifest throughout the most flagrant
courage against truth and fact , in order to accomp lish thc most malevolent and evil designs . It is thc duty of thc Grand Lodge to apprize the Brethren and Lodges of the kingdom of such designs , and to warn them against the machinations of depraved and wicked men .
The Grand Lodge is imperiously called upon to issue its paternal admonition , and guard thc Craft against attempts intended to undermine the best interests of the Order , and injure the public and private characters of individuals who have disinterestedly and invariably , in all their actions ,