-
Articles/Ads
Article THE MASONIC MIIROR, ← Page 10 of 13 →
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
The Masonic Miiror,
I own province was almost in a state of rebellion ( hear , and laughter ) , not from any fault of their excellent Prov . G-. M . ( applause ) > than whom no man had done more for the Craft in Hampshire ; but not all his influence , personal and Masonic , could stop rebellion there , unless there was free and full discussion in Grand Lodge , which could only be obtained by having as many meetings as Were necessary for the transaction of the business . No motion ought to be burked by reading such a ridiculous amount of nonsense as so long occupied the attention of the last Grand Lodge . ( Laughter ) .
Bro . Binckes seconded this amendment because it was more respectful to the M . W . the Grand Master .
Bro . Hall said this motion , if carried , must either produce great good or great evih He had his fears about it . They should not lightly make any alteration in their laws . The power of adjournment would imply that the Grand Master had not sufficient powers , or else that he abused them—either that he could not call special Lodges to wipe off arrears of business , or else that he would not do so . But he thought that the Grand Master had sufficient power , and that there was no fear of his abusing it . ( Applause . ) There was no reason to suppose that he would ever neglect or refuse to call a Grand Lodge of Emergency whenever the
necessity of the case required it . ( Loud calls for a division . ) He could only s a ^ that if this motion was carried , he doubted whether his Lordship would continuCr to fill that chair . ( Divide , divide . ) Since 1850 , only six instances had occurred in which Grand Lodge had not concluded in time , and up to March , 185 ^ was not one instance of it . ( Applause . ) On that occasion a special Grand Lodge was called to dispose of the arrears of business . In the cases of the last three Grand Lodges of 1556 , Lodges of Emergency were necessary , and there had been no
hesitation on the part of the Grand Master to call Grand Lodges of Emergency . To have Grand Lodge too frequently would encourage that spirit of discussion , or rather , he might say , disputation ( hear , hear ) , which he grieved to see creeping in . ( Hear . ) He would be sorry to oppose the amendment of any law the working of which was shown to be prejudicial ; but these frequent changes were very injurious . It was not more than three years ago that the Constitutions underwent
a complete revision . ( Hear , hear . ) As to this love of debating , there were plenty of other places where those Brethren who were so gifted with the powers of oratory might exercise them . ( Loud and protracted shouts of disapprobation greeted this remark . ) The worthy Brother tried in vain to continue his observations , but after this Grand Lodge would not listen to him . Bro . Binckes rose to order , and complained of the time being wasted .
Bro . Aria repudiated the idea that the motion had any reference to the present Grand Master . It was not a personal question . Nor was it any infringement on the privileges of the Grand Master . This motion would give general satisfaction . As to altering our laws and constitutions , when it was decided to have four Quarterly Communications in the year , such a pressure of business as they now experienced was never anticipated .
Bro . Taylor , No . 21 , opposed the motion . During the last twenty-one years there had been thirteen Lodges of Emergency ; but only three of them were really required for business , the others were votes of condolence or of congratulation , and in connection with the revision of the constitutions . During the past seven years there had been thirty-five Grand Lodges , of which twenty-eight had been concluded before eleven o ' clock . The necessity for this motion to take the power out of the hands of the Grand Master , and give Grand Lodge the power of
adjournment , had not been shown . Such a change m the fundamental laws of the Order would be very disastrous , as it would virtually exclude the Masters of country Lodges from participating in their discussions . ( Hear , hear , and cries of no , no . ) The motion before ( hand Lodge would enable them to meet week by week , and even day by day . ( No , no , and disapprobation . ) There was no limitation in the terms of the motion . ( Divide , divide . ) It would introduce discord and dissension . ( Cries of no , no , and sit down , sit down . )' Brother the Lord Panmuro said : There are two motions before Grand Lodge , the original motion which is only standing for a division as a matter of form , and the other is the proposition which has been brought before you as an amendment ,
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
The Masonic Miiror,
I own province was almost in a state of rebellion ( hear , and laughter ) , not from any fault of their excellent Prov . G-. M . ( applause ) > than whom no man had done more for the Craft in Hampshire ; but not all his influence , personal and Masonic , could stop rebellion there , unless there was free and full discussion in Grand Lodge , which could only be obtained by having as many meetings as Were necessary for the transaction of the business . No motion ought to be burked by reading such a ridiculous amount of nonsense as so long occupied the attention of the last Grand Lodge . ( Laughter ) .
Bro . Binckes seconded this amendment because it was more respectful to the M . W . the Grand Master .
Bro . Hall said this motion , if carried , must either produce great good or great evih He had his fears about it . They should not lightly make any alteration in their laws . The power of adjournment would imply that the Grand Master had not sufficient powers , or else that he abused them—either that he could not call special Lodges to wipe off arrears of business , or else that he would not do so . But he thought that the Grand Master had sufficient power , and that there was no fear of his abusing it . ( Applause . ) There was no reason to suppose that he would ever neglect or refuse to call a Grand Lodge of Emergency whenever the
necessity of the case required it . ( Loud calls for a division . ) He could only s a ^ that if this motion was carried , he doubted whether his Lordship would continuCr to fill that chair . ( Divide , divide . ) Since 1850 , only six instances had occurred in which Grand Lodge had not concluded in time , and up to March , 185 ^ was not one instance of it . ( Applause . ) On that occasion a special Grand Lodge was called to dispose of the arrears of business . In the cases of the last three Grand Lodges of 1556 , Lodges of Emergency were necessary , and there had been no
hesitation on the part of the Grand Master to call Grand Lodges of Emergency . To have Grand Lodge too frequently would encourage that spirit of discussion , or rather , he might say , disputation ( hear , hear ) , which he grieved to see creeping in . ( Hear . ) He would be sorry to oppose the amendment of any law the working of which was shown to be prejudicial ; but these frequent changes were very injurious . It was not more than three years ago that the Constitutions underwent
a complete revision . ( Hear , hear . ) As to this love of debating , there were plenty of other places where those Brethren who were so gifted with the powers of oratory might exercise them . ( Loud and protracted shouts of disapprobation greeted this remark . ) The worthy Brother tried in vain to continue his observations , but after this Grand Lodge would not listen to him . Bro . Binckes rose to order , and complained of the time being wasted .
Bro . Aria repudiated the idea that the motion had any reference to the present Grand Master . It was not a personal question . Nor was it any infringement on the privileges of the Grand Master . This motion would give general satisfaction . As to altering our laws and constitutions , when it was decided to have four Quarterly Communications in the year , such a pressure of business as they now experienced was never anticipated .
Bro . Taylor , No . 21 , opposed the motion . During the last twenty-one years there had been thirteen Lodges of Emergency ; but only three of them were really required for business , the others were votes of condolence or of congratulation , and in connection with the revision of the constitutions . During the past seven years there had been thirty-five Grand Lodges , of which twenty-eight had been concluded before eleven o ' clock . The necessity for this motion to take the power out of the hands of the Grand Master , and give Grand Lodge the power of
adjournment , had not been shown . Such a change m the fundamental laws of the Order would be very disastrous , as it would virtually exclude the Masters of country Lodges from participating in their discussions . ( Hear , hear , and cries of no , no . ) The motion before ( hand Lodge would enable them to meet week by week , and even day by day . ( No , no , and disapprobation . ) There was no limitation in the terms of the motion . ( Divide , divide . ) It would introduce discord and dissension . ( Cries of no , no , and sit down , sit down . )' Brother the Lord Panmuro said : There are two motions before Grand Lodge , the original motion which is only standing for a division as a matter of form , and the other is the proposition which has been brought before you as an amendment ,