-
Articles/Ads
Article eOHEISPOTOEEGE ← Page 4 of 4
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Eoheispotoeege
tary , which I have no doubt you can see at any time . After that there was no need to invite Brother Toby and the representatives of ISFo . 781 to attend at the installation . The contumacy was already committed . Instead , therefore , of acting at once on my authority , and in the arbitrary way you speak of , I sent the polite request dated the 11 th April , 1857 , ( page 488 ) to attend the installation .
Now since the intimation was given some weeks before that returns were needed to prepare for the installation , it is a mere stalking-horse excuse to say that fifty hours' ' notice of the meeting was not enough . Had the Lodge Ho . 781 taken the proper step in time to authorize its representatives to attend , the fifty hours notice was enough . It was long enough , however , to bring from Brother Toby a letter repeating the formerly expressed contumacy , and that in terms more offensive than those of his first letter , a copy of which is also contained in my despatch (( marked No . 1 ) to Grand Secretary . Tn nil instice . from the snirit and declarations of the first letter , I I might Now since the intimation was given some weeks before that returns were needed to prepare for the installation , it is a mere stalking-horse excuse to say that fifty hoursnotice of the meeting was not enough . Had the Lodge Ho . 781 taken the proper step in time to authorize its representatives to attend , the fifty hours notice was enough . It was long enough , however , to bring from Brother Toby a letter repeating the formerly expressed contumacy , and that in terms more offensive than those of his first letter , a copy of which is also contained in my despatch marked No . 1 ) to Grand Secretary . Tn nil instice . from the snirit and declarations of the first letter , might
have acted at once and proceeded to suspend the Lodge ; but I did not do so until again my authority was repudiated and the independence of Ho . 781 of the Prov . Grand Lodge declared , as well as the refusal to accept office , announced once more in terms arrogant and defiant . I was not " offended by onebrother" as you stated in page 489 , and so wreaked my vengeance on the Lodge , which would appear to be your conclusion , though I cannot really believe you meant it . I never spoke to Brother Toby but once in my life , till after No . 781 was suspended .
He wrote to me defying my authority in the name of the whole Lodge ; and it was , therefore , with the Lodge as such , that I dealt , on Masonic grounds , and without any personal feeling whatever . It could not be otherwise , for nearly all were personally unknown to me . The report of the Board of Past Masters of No . 781 is fully answered in one of my despatches ; and as you have published it , here , in justice , is another reason for publishing my reply . The memorial printed in the Mirror , p . 281 , February number , 1858 , was also answered in full in my despatches ; and
seeing you have published the memorial , it is but fair to all parties concerned you should also publish my strictures on it . You clearly admit , in your prefatory remarks to the memorial , that your opinion is based on ex parte evidence—that you have only heard one side . Now , whether it be truly Masonic , on such ground as hearsay or evidence from one side , to use concerning the other party interested ( myself ) such strong language as you do , does not admit of debate . I do say that , before saying of me that I appear "to have inaugurated my entrance upon office , in a very arbitrary and unmasonic manner , " you were called on to take the trouble to make
yourself properly acquainted Avith both sides of the case . I write from an ardent love of Masonry , and a desire to defend at all times constitutional authority and subordination . I write also in the best feeling , to redeem myself from evident misrepresentation of my official conduct ; and to put before your readers a few facts to justify the steps I took concerning No . 781 . I do hope you will be able to supply them soon with the whole case ,
by publishing it in its entirety . I am , Sir and Brother , fraternally yours , R . K . Ewing , Prov . G . M . Tasmania Masonic Hall , Launceston , Tasmania , 9 lh Aug ,, 1858 .
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Eoheispotoeege
tary , which I have no doubt you can see at any time . After that there was no need to invite Brother Toby and the representatives of ISFo . 781 to attend at the installation . The contumacy was already committed . Instead , therefore , of acting at once on my authority , and in the arbitrary way you speak of , I sent the polite request dated the 11 th April , 1857 , ( page 488 ) to attend the installation .
Now since the intimation was given some weeks before that returns were needed to prepare for the installation , it is a mere stalking-horse excuse to say that fifty hours' ' notice of the meeting was not enough . Had the Lodge Ho . 781 taken the proper step in time to authorize its representatives to attend , the fifty hours notice was enough . It was long enough , however , to bring from Brother Toby a letter repeating the formerly expressed contumacy , and that in terms more offensive than those of his first letter , a copy of which is also contained in my despatch (( marked No . 1 ) to Grand Secretary . Tn nil instice . from the snirit and declarations of the first letter , I I might Now since the intimation was given some weeks before that returns were needed to prepare for the installation , it is a mere stalking-horse excuse to say that fifty hoursnotice of the meeting was not enough . Had the Lodge Ho . 781 taken the proper step in time to authorize its representatives to attend , the fifty hours notice was enough . It was long enough , however , to bring from Brother Toby a letter repeating the formerly expressed contumacy , and that in terms more offensive than those of his first letter , a copy of which is also contained in my despatch marked No . 1 ) to Grand Secretary . Tn nil instice . from the snirit and declarations of the first letter , might
have acted at once and proceeded to suspend the Lodge ; but I did not do so until again my authority was repudiated and the independence of Ho . 781 of the Prov . Grand Lodge declared , as well as the refusal to accept office , announced once more in terms arrogant and defiant . I was not " offended by onebrother" as you stated in page 489 , and so wreaked my vengeance on the Lodge , which would appear to be your conclusion , though I cannot really believe you meant it . I never spoke to Brother Toby but once in my life , till after No . 781 was suspended .
He wrote to me defying my authority in the name of the whole Lodge ; and it was , therefore , with the Lodge as such , that I dealt , on Masonic grounds , and without any personal feeling whatever . It could not be otherwise , for nearly all were personally unknown to me . The report of the Board of Past Masters of No . 781 is fully answered in one of my despatches ; and as you have published it , here , in justice , is another reason for publishing my reply . The memorial printed in the Mirror , p . 281 , February number , 1858 , was also answered in full in my despatches ; and
seeing you have published the memorial , it is but fair to all parties concerned you should also publish my strictures on it . You clearly admit , in your prefatory remarks to the memorial , that your opinion is based on ex parte evidence—that you have only heard one side . Now , whether it be truly Masonic , on such ground as hearsay or evidence from one side , to use concerning the other party interested ( myself ) such strong language as you do , does not admit of debate . I do say that , before saying of me that I appear "to have inaugurated my entrance upon office , in a very arbitrary and unmasonic manner , " you were called on to take the trouble to make
yourself properly acquainted Avith both sides of the case . I write from an ardent love of Masonry , and a desire to defend at all times constitutional authority and subordination . I write also in the best feeling , to redeem myself from evident misrepresentation of my official conduct ; and to put before your readers a few facts to justify the steps I took concerning No . 781 . I do hope you will be able to supply them soon with the whole case ,
by publishing it in its entirety . I am , Sir and Brother , fraternally yours , R . K . Ewing , Prov . G . M . Tasmania Masonic Hall , Launceston , Tasmania , 9 lh Aug ,, 1858 .