Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
America
them from ^ publication : from fraternal considerations ; and in the belief that the hasty and . erronequs action at Mas not meet the response ( as far as informed ) of any of the srjbprfmates of this State , as it did not , I was personally assured by your Grand Commander , meet his approbation ; and that he desired to call his conimand together at an early day to reconsider and rescind that action , It is likewise due to that Right Eminent officer to state that he was earnestly desirous to have none of the proceedings in that matter sent abroad .
I desired therefore to use my exertions to aid him in restoring tjiat harmony which should exist among those whose faith , principles , vows , and professions are one and the same . And my earnest prayer now is , that all supposed causes of dissatisfaction may be explained and removed , and with an honest and sincere wish on the part of all , to know the right and then with moral courage pursue it ; that the erring brethren , now returned to their fealty , may with the whole , once more aiui for ever thereafter , without discord , unite their hearts and prayers around pur , common altars , in time and in eternity , Let us then calmly look to the ajleged grounds or excuses for arousing feelings of hostility to the Grand Encampment of the United States , or for the acts of discord at the late Massillon
meeting . It is alleged in the 2 nd resolution , that the General Grand Encampment of the United States , '' had " virtually disbanded '— -by reason , it is fair to mfer , _ . of the amendment and revision of its constitution , at Hartford , in 1856 % That revised constitution , as reported to the Grand body by the committee appointed for that purpose , was printed , and a copy thus furnished each member . The whole was carefuily considered , occupying the attention of that Grand body for several daj ^ s , and after such careful examination , section by section , and after . being amended to the satisfaction of the whole , w as deliberately adopted by a unanimous vote .
This revised constitution , with one exception , contains no important changes from the previous ones , unless it be in a thorough and systematic classification oi powers and duties ; the leaving out the prefix to names of the Grand body and its officers , and the restoring to State Grand and individual subordinates , their legitimate Templar name of Commanderies . All the main principles and provisions are the same as are contained in the revised constitution that preceded the
present ; incorporating in the present , however , the substance of two or three resolutions of a general nature , in full force , and more appropriately now embodied in the constitution . The one exception to which I alluded was not reported by the committee . They steadily desired , and with unanimity , to make no change of principle , and would not have united , upon the important change that was inserted by the Grand body . That change was in authorizing " an appeal to be taken by any member from the decision of the chair , on any question under consideration therein . " "Provided , however , that such appeal shall not
be maintained unless two-thirds of all the members present shall vote therefor . " This anomaly o in Masonic history and Masonic government , is confined and limited to the Grand body in which it originated . Did the Grand body "disband " itself by thus revising , amending or altering its constitution ? J 3 y a provision in the first constitution , adopted in 1810 , are these words with authority , —' Thc General Grand Encampment shall be competent on concurrence of two-thirds of its members present at any time hereafter , to revise , amend , or ALTKli this constitution . "
That constitution has been revised , amended , or altered , several times since 1816 ; each retaining , as the . present one does , the same provision for revision , amendment or alteration .
Every lawful and worthy Templar made in the United States , under the government and authority of that Grand body , or affiliated in any of its subordinates , is under a solemn obligation to maintain that constitution ; and as the same may be , under the above provision , from time to ' time , revised , amended or altered . Again : the committee appointed at Lexington , in 1853 , to revise the constitution , were not only vested with discretionary power , as to reporting amendments in general , but were expressly u authorized to report such changes in the organization as will make the Order in this country conform more completely to the
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
America
them from ^ publication : from fraternal considerations ; and in the belief that the hasty and . erronequs action at Mas not meet the response ( as far as informed ) of any of the srjbprfmates of this State , as it did not , I was personally assured by your Grand Commander , meet his approbation ; and that he desired to call his conimand together at an early day to reconsider and rescind that action , It is likewise due to that Right Eminent officer to state that he was earnestly desirous to have none of the proceedings in that matter sent abroad .
I desired therefore to use my exertions to aid him in restoring tjiat harmony which should exist among those whose faith , principles , vows , and professions are one and the same . And my earnest prayer now is , that all supposed causes of dissatisfaction may be explained and removed , and with an honest and sincere wish on the part of all , to know the right and then with moral courage pursue it ; that the erring brethren , now returned to their fealty , may with the whole , once more aiui for ever thereafter , without discord , unite their hearts and prayers around pur , common altars , in time and in eternity , Let us then calmly look to the ajleged grounds or excuses for arousing feelings of hostility to the Grand Encampment of the United States , or for the acts of discord at the late Massillon
meeting . It is alleged in the 2 nd resolution , that the General Grand Encampment of the United States , '' had " virtually disbanded '— -by reason , it is fair to mfer , _ . of the amendment and revision of its constitution , at Hartford , in 1856 % That revised constitution , as reported to the Grand body by the committee appointed for that purpose , was printed , and a copy thus furnished each member . The whole was carefuily considered , occupying the attention of that Grand body for several daj ^ s , and after such careful examination , section by section , and after . being amended to the satisfaction of the whole , w as deliberately adopted by a unanimous vote .
This revised constitution , with one exception , contains no important changes from the previous ones , unless it be in a thorough and systematic classification oi powers and duties ; the leaving out the prefix to names of the Grand body and its officers , and the restoring to State Grand and individual subordinates , their legitimate Templar name of Commanderies . All the main principles and provisions are the same as are contained in the revised constitution that preceded the
present ; incorporating in the present , however , the substance of two or three resolutions of a general nature , in full force , and more appropriately now embodied in the constitution . The one exception to which I alluded was not reported by the committee . They steadily desired , and with unanimity , to make no change of principle , and would not have united , upon the important change that was inserted by the Grand body . That change was in authorizing " an appeal to be taken by any member from the decision of the chair , on any question under consideration therein . " "Provided , however , that such appeal shall not
be maintained unless two-thirds of all the members present shall vote therefor . " This anomaly o in Masonic history and Masonic government , is confined and limited to the Grand body in which it originated . Did the Grand body "disband " itself by thus revising , amending or altering its constitution ? J 3 y a provision in the first constitution , adopted in 1810 , are these words with authority , —' Thc General Grand Encampment shall be competent on concurrence of two-thirds of its members present at any time hereafter , to revise , amend , or ALTKli this constitution . "
That constitution has been revised , amended , or altered , several times since 1816 ; each retaining , as the . present one does , the same provision for revision , amendment or alteration .
Every lawful and worthy Templar made in the United States , under the government and authority of that Grand body , or affiliated in any of its subordinates , is under a solemn obligation to maintain that constitution ; and as the same may be , under the above provision , from time to ' time , revised , amended or altered . Again : the committee appointed at Lexington , in 1853 , to revise the constitution , were not only vested with discretionary power , as to reporting amendments in general , but were expressly u authorized to report such changes in the organization as will make the Order in this country conform more completely to the