-
Articles/Ads
Article THE MASONIC MIE10E ← Page 7 of 13 →
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
The Masonic Mie10e
courage to express his reasons for differing from his royal highness on that point . If this was a precedent which was not to be followed ; it would be drawing an invidious distinction between Bro . Chapman on the one hand , and the rest of the Grand Officers who might not be similarly honoured on the other hand . On the . contrary , if this was a precedent which was to be followed , and all Assistant Grand Directors of Ceremonies were to be created P . G . Deacons , they would give an impression that this office was not a sufficient reward for the
Brethren who served it faithfully , but that something else was necessary to make it acceptable to deserving Brethren . ( Hear , hear . ) If his lordship bad thought that Bro . Chapman ought to have been honoured with the office of P . G . Deacon , there had been plenty of opportunities for to the office of Grand Deacon in the regular way during the seventeen years . They would now reward his services most unworthily if they disassociated him from the office in which he had gained distinction . What they were now asked to do was to promote him to an ofiice with which he had no more to do than with the office of G . Treas . or
G . Chaplain . ( Hear , hear . ) He would , therefore , propose , as an amendment , " That a jewel of tlie office of Assist . G . Dir . of Cers . be presented to Bro . Chapman , as a token of the appreciation in which his past services are held by the G . M . arid the Craft at large . " Bro . Lord Yalletort seconded the motion in a brief speech , which was wholly inaudible where our reporters sat , the noble Brother being on the opposite side of Grand Lodge , and speaking in a low tone of voice .
Bro . Aria appreciated Bro . Chapman ' s services ; and did not see the force of Bro . Portal's observations . The fact that this motion was without precedent was no reason why the G . M . should not suggest it . As to Bro . Chapman not having been promoted to the office of Deacon , the reason of that was obvious— -the G . M . did not wish to be deprived of his services as Assist . G . Dir . of Cers , as it might have been difficult to find a suitable successor . Bro . Singer supported the amendment , and announced that if it was lost he should move that words to that effect be added to his lordship ' s motion .
Bro . Masson , without at all undervaluing Bro . Chapman ' s services , agreed with the proposition of Bro . Portal . If they passed the motion proposed from the chair they would he doing something radically wrong , and totally inconsistent with Masonic ideas . ( Hear , hear . ) They would call Bro . Chapman a Past Grand Deacon when he had never been a Grand Deacon , and this would stamp a lie on his forehead . They might as well create him a P . G . Chaplain . The resolution was inconsistent with truth , it was inconsistent with logic , and it was inconsistent with fact . On this ground he should support Bro . Portal ' s amendment .
Bro . Binckes supported the amendment , questioning the power of Grand Lodge to carry the resolution itself . It ought not to be deemed derogatory to the dignity of any man , whatever his position , to hold any office in Grand Lodge , however humble that office might be . Bro . Havers denied that this proposal was without precedent . As to the remarks of another Brother he could scarcely have read the Book of Constitutions , ( i
page 18 , where it said , Brethren of eminence and ability , who have rendered service to the Craft , may , by a vote of the Grand Lodge , duly confirmed , be constituted members of the Grand Lodge , with such rank and distinction as may be thought proper . " He was told that this was to carry with it a positive lie on some part of Bro . Chapman ' s person . ( Laughter . ) Nothing could be more contrary to fact , and he thought they ought to support the motion as a graceful recognition of Bro . Chapman ' s services .
The M . W . G . M . replied , The case was not altogether without precedent ; for they now made Brethren P . G . Wardens when they wished to confer upon them distinction . What was now proposed was merely a nominal rank as a token of acknowledgment of past services—of distinguished servicer on the part of the worthy Brother . He did not ask this as a personal favour , and as to the question of precedent , they would not be likely ever again to have a Brother fill the office for seventeen years . ( Hear , hear . ) Bro * Portal ' s amendment was then read and put , and the show of hands in its favour was a very decided majority of the Brethren present ,
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
The Masonic Mie10e
courage to express his reasons for differing from his royal highness on that point . If this was a precedent which was not to be followed ; it would be drawing an invidious distinction between Bro . Chapman on the one hand , and the rest of the Grand Officers who might not be similarly honoured on the other hand . On the . contrary , if this was a precedent which was to be followed , and all Assistant Grand Directors of Ceremonies were to be created P . G . Deacons , they would give an impression that this office was not a sufficient reward for the
Brethren who served it faithfully , but that something else was necessary to make it acceptable to deserving Brethren . ( Hear , hear . ) If his lordship bad thought that Bro . Chapman ought to have been honoured with the office of P . G . Deacon , there had been plenty of opportunities for to the office of Grand Deacon in the regular way during the seventeen years . They would now reward his services most unworthily if they disassociated him from the office in which he had gained distinction . What they were now asked to do was to promote him to an ofiice with which he had no more to do than with the office of G . Treas . or
G . Chaplain . ( Hear , hear . ) He would , therefore , propose , as an amendment , " That a jewel of tlie office of Assist . G . Dir . of Cers . be presented to Bro . Chapman , as a token of the appreciation in which his past services are held by the G . M . arid the Craft at large . " Bro . Lord Yalletort seconded the motion in a brief speech , which was wholly inaudible where our reporters sat , the noble Brother being on the opposite side of Grand Lodge , and speaking in a low tone of voice .
Bro . Aria appreciated Bro . Chapman ' s services ; and did not see the force of Bro . Portal's observations . The fact that this motion was without precedent was no reason why the G . M . should not suggest it . As to Bro . Chapman not having been promoted to the office of Deacon , the reason of that was obvious— -the G . M . did not wish to be deprived of his services as Assist . G . Dir . of Cers , as it might have been difficult to find a suitable successor . Bro . Singer supported the amendment , and announced that if it was lost he should move that words to that effect be added to his lordship ' s motion .
Bro . Masson , without at all undervaluing Bro . Chapman ' s services , agreed with the proposition of Bro . Portal . If they passed the motion proposed from the chair they would he doing something radically wrong , and totally inconsistent with Masonic ideas . ( Hear , hear . ) They would call Bro . Chapman a Past Grand Deacon when he had never been a Grand Deacon , and this would stamp a lie on his forehead . They might as well create him a P . G . Chaplain . The resolution was inconsistent with truth , it was inconsistent with logic , and it was inconsistent with fact . On this ground he should support Bro . Portal ' s amendment .
Bro . Binckes supported the amendment , questioning the power of Grand Lodge to carry the resolution itself . It ought not to be deemed derogatory to the dignity of any man , whatever his position , to hold any office in Grand Lodge , however humble that office might be . Bro . Havers denied that this proposal was without precedent . As to the remarks of another Brother he could scarcely have read the Book of Constitutions , ( i
page 18 , where it said , Brethren of eminence and ability , who have rendered service to the Craft , may , by a vote of the Grand Lodge , duly confirmed , be constituted members of the Grand Lodge , with such rank and distinction as may be thought proper . " He was told that this was to carry with it a positive lie on some part of Bro . Chapman ' s person . ( Laughter . ) Nothing could be more contrary to fact , and he thought they ought to support the motion as a graceful recognition of Bro . Chapman ' s services .
The M . W . G . M . replied , The case was not altogether without precedent ; for they now made Brethren P . G . Wardens when they wished to confer upon them distinction . What was now proposed was merely a nominal rank as a token of acknowledgment of past services—of distinguished servicer on the part of the worthy Brother . He did not ask this as a personal favour , and as to the question of precedent , they would not be likely ever again to have a Brother fill the office for seventeen years . ( Hear , hear . ) Bro * Portal ' s amendment was then read and put , and the show of hands in its favour was a very decided majority of the Brethren present ,