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Article MASONIC AFFAIES IN CANADA. ← Page 7 of 11 →
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Masonic Affaies In Canada.
evincing an untiring anxiety to carry out its separate and independent organization in such a manner as to show , in all future times , that it was a child of the old country—is severely reproached , and taxed with all manner of wickedness ? Th ere must be some hidden reason-for such manifest injustice . My conscientious impression is that under all the circumstances , and taking into consideration all the difficulties and the eaiises for complaint , which your lordship confesses -were- not unfounded—recognition might and ought to have been conceded . The only true
course for the two separate independent Grand Lodges now to adopt , is to unite closely , and trust that no harassing impediments may be thrown in their path so as to prevent their working harmoniously and resolutely for the good of our Order . My lord , the chief Masonic connection that this province must cultivate is with our neighbours in the United States , because with them our intercourse is constant , and it is an omnious fact , tlmt the Grand Lodge of nearly every state has already acknowledged the independent organization , or is prepared to do so . In affairs of state , Canada is virtually independent , for no British statesman would attempt
to interfere with her local legislation . In church affairs she is the same , for the right to elect bishops of the established church of England and Ireland is accorded . Why not , then , the same thing as regards Masonry ? I think the propriety of it is more obvious in the latter case , because in the two first named , the Sovereign is the undoubted and sole head ; but the Grand Lodge of England only holds a divided authority in the colonies , in conjunction with Scotland and Ireland , and she could not complain if every Lodge working under her warrant chose to return it , and determine to hold under one of the others . At least she has not objected when such instances have taken place .
^ Einally—as regards paragraph 7 of your Lordship ' s letter . Should the time shortly arrive , when one united sovereign Grand Lodge of Canada is establishedand to accomplish that end the Brethren will , I hope , strenuously exert themselves—I shall ever be at your Lordship ' s disposal , as your representative , to look after English interests , if honoured by the office , and Consider myself , as a Past Prov . Grand Master of your appointing , always at your service , and I shall never forget the kindness you have extended to me . I am sure your Lordship gives utterance to your own true and honourable feelings when you say that you feel
the deepest concern . But m justice to the Brethren ( myself included ) I must protest against that concern being aggravated by ' attempts' on our part to shift the blame to the Grand Lodge of England . Most assuredly the proofs adduced from hence must carry conviction , that our charges are just ones , and it is ungenerous , at this , the eleventh hour to endeavour to make us the aggressors , when there has not been the slightest hint of this before , and we are censured for not being satisfied with ample ' concessions . ' There would be no need of
concessions if we had only attempted to show , and had failed to prove that the conduct of the Grand Lodge of England had driven us to the present extreme course . My Lord , although separation has , as you write , taken place subsequently to what you call the remedy of all reasonable complaints , you had previous plain warning that the time was gone by when moderate concessions would have been satisfactory—valuable time had been frittered away and could not be recalledpatience and hope had become exhausted—and yon could not have been surprised at your proposals not being deemed a remedy for restoring to its normal state the
Craft in Canada . Your lordship says , that you know that many of the delays complained of by Lodges , originated from the neglect of Provincial Officers . I know nothing of this myself ; but it is indignantly and positively contradicted . This is another new charge , made at a late hour , and the Provincial Officers justly complain at its having been held back . The Grand Secretary ' s office , they say , is the Augean stable that required cleansing , and that its waste paper basket could for years have told tales . My lord , I was conversing lately with a Brother not
long from London , and who says he is or was a member of a red apron Lodgean old friend of his , and an attendant at Grand Lodge , designated its proceedings for some time as a solemn farce , and London Ereemasonry as a peculiar system of eating and drinking , veiled with a table-cloth , and illustrated by knives and forks ! I dare say that I am not the only one to whom this has been stated , and , whether or not . the impression left must be injurious .
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Masonic Affaies In Canada.
evincing an untiring anxiety to carry out its separate and independent organization in such a manner as to show , in all future times , that it was a child of the old country—is severely reproached , and taxed with all manner of wickedness ? Th ere must be some hidden reason-for such manifest injustice . My conscientious impression is that under all the circumstances , and taking into consideration all the difficulties and the eaiises for complaint , which your lordship confesses -were- not unfounded—recognition might and ought to have been conceded . The only true
course for the two separate independent Grand Lodges now to adopt , is to unite closely , and trust that no harassing impediments may be thrown in their path so as to prevent their working harmoniously and resolutely for the good of our Order . My lord , the chief Masonic connection that this province must cultivate is with our neighbours in the United States , because with them our intercourse is constant , and it is an omnious fact , tlmt the Grand Lodge of nearly every state has already acknowledged the independent organization , or is prepared to do so . In affairs of state , Canada is virtually independent , for no British statesman would attempt
to interfere with her local legislation . In church affairs she is the same , for the right to elect bishops of the established church of England and Ireland is accorded . Why not , then , the same thing as regards Masonry ? I think the propriety of it is more obvious in the latter case , because in the two first named , the Sovereign is the undoubted and sole head ; but the Grand Lodge of England only holds a divided authority in the colonies , in conjunction with Scotland and Ireland , and she could not complain if every Lodge working under her warrant chose to return it , and determine to hold under one of the others . At least she has not objected when such instances have taken place .
^ Einally—as regards paragraph 7 of your Lordship ' s letter . Should the time shortly arrive , when one united sovereign Grand Lodge of Canada is establishedand to accomplish that end the Brethren will , I hope , strenuously exert themselves—I shall ever be at your Lordship ' s disposal , as your representative , to look after English interests , if honoured by the office , and Consider myself , as a Past Prov . Grand Master of your appointing , always at your service , and I shall never forget the kindness you have extended to me . I am sure your Lordship gives utterance to your own true and honourable feelings when you say that you feel
the deepest concern . But m justice to the Brethren ( myself included ) I must protest against that concern being aggravated by ' attempts' on our part to shift the blame to the Grand Lodge of England . Most assuredly the proofs adduced from hence must carry conviction , that our charges are just ones , and it is ungenerous , at this , the eleventh hour to endeavour to make us the aggressors , when there has not been the slightest hint of this before , and we are censured for not being satisfied with ample ' concessions . ' There would be no need of
concessions if we had only attempted to show , and had failed to prove that the conduct of the Grand Lodge of England had driven us to the present extreme course . My Lord , although separation has , as you write , taken place subsequently to what you call the remedy of all reasonable complaints , you had previous plain warning that the time was gone by when moderate concessions would have been satisfactory—valuable time had been frittered away and could not be recalledpatience and hope had become exhausted—and yon could not have been surprised at your proposals not being deemed a remedy for restoring to its normal state the
Craft in Canada . Your lordship says , that you know that many of the delays complained of by Lodges , originated from the neglect of Provincial Officers . I know nothing of this myself ; but it is indignantly and positively contradicted . This is another new charge , made at a late hour , and the Provincial Officers justly complain at its having been held back . The Grand Secretary ' s office , they say , is the Augean stable that required cleansing , and that its waste paper basket could for years have told tales . My lord , I was conversing lately with a Brother not
long from London , and who says he is or was a member of a red apron Lodgean old friend of his , and an attendant at Grand Lodge , designated its proceedings for some time as a solemn farce , and London Ereemasonry as a peculiar system of eating and drinking , veiled with a table-cloth , and illustrated by knives and forks ! I dare say that I am not the only one to whom this has been stated , and , whether or not . the impression left must be injurious .