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Article MASONIC AFFAIES IN CANADA. ← Page 6 of 11 →
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Masonic Affaies In Canada.
<( J I will now turn to * paragraph 6 of your letter . Your lordship abstains from offering any opinion , whether any , or what circumstances can absolve Masons from their moral obligation , and justify them in separating from their mother Grand Lodge . I assure you that the length of time suffered to elapse here before the present decided step was adopted , and the patience shown under neglect and apparent indifference , as detailed in the memorials from Upper Canada > have been the result of extreme sensitiveness on that very point , coupled with ancient
affection . While care has been taken to point out the many causes of dissatisfaction , recognition of future independent government has been studiously asked for , and has formed the steady prayer , and it was not till the Brethren found that neither Grand Master nor Grand Lodge appeared disposed to take np this prayer openly and definitively—that their respectful memorials were not read in Grand Lodgethat month after month glided by , and the important ; question at issue continued to be delayed , or , if brought forward in Grand Lodge , only resulted in debates
and proceedings quite disgraceful to such a body as the Grand Lodge of Englandthat they began to , and at last did make up their minds , that there was a limit to even theirmoral obligation as Mason s —that further petitioning would be servility , and that they were better able , and had a clear right to govern themselves , and fair warning was sent home of the course they would in self-respect undoubtedly pursue . That Brethren in England , however much they , like us , might regret separation , did not deem independent government a violation of Masonic moral
obligation , may be gleaned from the proceedings of Grand Lodge itself , and the fact that one plain notice of motion for recognition was given by Brother the Earl of Carnarvon , in whom your lordship has confidence , and who , when visiting a Lodge at Stonehouse , in a speech which , the reporter says , was greeted with rounds of applause and listened to with earnest attention , expressed himself thus emphatically in relation to Canada . Alluding to the concessions announced , he added \ - —
" He could not disguise that these concessions came tardily , that the feeling in Canada in favour of independence had grown very strong , and that it was more than doubtful if their colonial supremacy could now be preserved . He was afraid that in this matter they had gone too near that fatal rock " too late , " which had shipwrecked so many empires , dynasties , and governments . ' " His lordship , unhappily , had divined the truth ! "You , Most Worshipful Grand Master , declare that recognition of either of the bodies , which have recently assumed the power of erecting themselves into a
Grand Lodge , is impossible , and that , even were it accorded , it would lead only to increased confusion . No Brethren lament more sincerely the state of / Masonry in this province than those residing there , who have been all along the real sufferers , and they have shown this by their actions and their urgent appeals to England to remedy it . I believe I echo their sentiments by repudiating the justice of any attempt to fasten the blame upon them . The documents they have drawn up show , in truthful language , who were the originators of the confusion ; and I would ask your lordship certain plain questions—Why has not the course adopted
by the Grand Lodge of Ireland been solemnly protested against—and why , when that sovereign body upheld and encouraged by recognition those English Lodges which first withdrew from allegiance to you , did you continue on the same terms of intimacy as before , when you could not be blind to the serious importance of the proceedings of Ireland , and must have been conscious that half a victory was thereby gained by those whom your lordship simply styled ( rebellious ? ' It is asserted that the Grand Lodge of Ireland did seek information from England , but , like other correspondents , it met with no notice , and therefore acted as it thought
best . Whether this be true or not , the recognition by a part of the empire , and the mutual appointment of representatives by that portion and the seceding body , must have had a damaging effect on the permanent continuation of your Masonic supremacy here . Yet , I believe the Grand Lodge of England has not ventured any objection or remonstrance . Again , permit me to ask , why was the first body of the seceders here so indulgently let off , while the late Prov . Grand Lodge of Canada West , after using every exertion to preserve its connection with England intact—only succumbing to an imperious necessity—and to the last moment
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Masonic Affaies In Canada.
<( J I will now turn to * paragraph 6 of your letter . Your lordship abstains from offering any opinion , whether any , or what circumstances can absolve Masons from their moral obligation , and justify them in separating from their mother Grand Lodge . I assure you that the length of time suffered to elapse here before the present decided step was adopted , and the patience shown under neglect and apparent indifference , as detailed in the memorials from Upper Canada > have been the result of extreme sensitiveness on that very point , coupled with ancient
affection . While care has been taken to point out the many causes of dissatisfaction , recognition of future independent government has been studiously asked for , and has formed the steady prayer , and it was not till the Brethren found that neither Grand Master nor Grand Lodge appeared disposed to take np this prayer openly and definitively—that their respectful memorials were not read in Grand Lodgethat month after month glided by , and the important ; question at issue continued to be delayed , or , if brought forward in Grand Lodge , only resulted in debates
and proceedings quite disgraceful to such a body as the Grand Lodge of Englandthat they began to , and at last did make up their minds , that there was a limit to even theirmoral obligation as Mason s —that further petitioning would be servility , and that they were better able , and had a clear right to govern themselves , and fair warning was sent home of the course they would in self-respect undoubtedly pursue . That Brethren in England , however much they , like us , might regret separation , did not deem independent government a violation of Masonic moral
obligation , may be gleaned from the proceedings of Grand Lodge itself , and the fact that one plain notice of motion for recognition was given by Brother the Earl of Carnarvon , in whom your lordship has confidence , and who , when visiting a Lodge at Stonehouse , in a speech which , the reporter says , was greeted with rounds of applause and listened to with earnest attention , expressed himself thus emphatically in relation to Canada . Alluding to the concessions announced , he added \ - —
" He could not disguise that these concessions came tardily , that the feeling in Canada in favour of independence had grown very strong , and that it was more than doubtful if their colonial supremacy could now be preserved . He was afraid that in this matter they had gone too near that fatal rock " too late , " which had shipwrecked so many empires , dynasties , and governments . ' " His lordship , unhappily , had divined the truth ! "You , Most Worshipful Grand Master , declare that recognition of either of the bodies , which have recently assumed the power of erecting themselves into a
Grand Lodge , is impossible , and that , even were it accorded , it would lead only to increased confusion . No Brethren lament more sincerely the state of / Masonry in this province than those residing there , who have been all along the real sufferers , and they have shown this by their actions and their urgent appeals to England to remedy it . I believe I echo their sentiments by repudiating the justice of any attempt to fasten the blame upon them . The documents they have drawn up show , in truthful language , who were the originators of the confusion ; and I would ask your lordship certain plain questions—Why has not the course adopted
by the Grand Lodge of Ireland been solemnly protested against—and why , when that sovereign body upheld and encouraged by recognition those English Lodges which first withdrew from allegiance to you , did you continue on the same terms of intimacy as before , when you could not be blind to the serious importance of the proceedings of Ireland , and must have been conscious that half a victory was thereby gained by those whom your lordship simply styled ( rebellious ? ' It is asserted that the Grand Lodge of Ireland did seek information from England , but , like other correspondents , it met with no notice , and therefore acted as it thought
best . Whether this be true or not , the recognition by a part of the empire , and the mutual appointment of representatives by that portion and the seceding body , must have had a damaging effect on the permanent continuation of your Masonic supremacy here . Yet , I believe the Grand Lodge of England has not ventured any objection or remonstrance . Again , permit me to ask , why was the first body of the seceders here so indulgently let off , while the late Prov . Grand Lodge of Canada West , after using every exertion to preserve its connection with England intact—only succumbing to an imperious necessity—and to the last moment