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Article THE GRAND MASTER AND THE "MASONIC OBSERV... ← Page 3 of 8 →
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
The Grand Master And The "Masonic Observ...
man ; " but there are few who know-how much demand Masonry makes upon his time , and how he responds to that demand . It is . no slight credit to a nobleman in his position , that—no matter what the number or length of the documents sent to him may be—there have not been , as I am informed , two instances during the period of office of the present Grand a reply has failed to be returned within twenty-four hours , nor one in which the reply has been delayed beyond the second day . Of my own personal
knowledge I will add , that "I do not know any ^ Mason amongst us who possesses in a more marked degree the enviable power of rapidly analysing long and frequently intricate documents , and of committing to paper clear and comprehensive opinions upon their contents . Incapacity for business , punctuality and despatch , I believe him to have few equals . I have seen Mm left almost alone and unsupported under circumstances of no ordinary difficulty—I have heard heavy charges of neglect and
maladministration cast at him , from which a breath from himself would have relieved him — I have seen him patient and silent , because to relieve himself would , without removing difficulty , have been to involve others ; and though I might grieve at the course which his sense of honour induced him to take , I could not but admire his courageous and chivalrous feeling- —lastly , I have seen him , for the last two or three years , made the object of a petty and systematic persecution , by men calling themselves Masons , in the pages
of the Masonic Observer . It is not ' in the nature of an Englishman to stand by and see any one systematically ill used . If to have consistently supported thei 3-rand Master be a fault—I plead guilty , I have ever held it as a principle ^ that it is not only the duty of all Masons to support their elected chief , but that it is imperatively essential to the welfare of the Order itself that they should do so : and holding to that principle , neither taunt , misinterpretation , nor calumny shall deter me from doing that which I conceive to be right and just . With others I responded to the call made upon me ; I claim to have done my duty , not well perhaps , but to the best of my ability . 7
There are certain hints , and much self-laudation in Bro . Binckesletters as regards the former , I have to say , for the information of those whom it may interest , that although I agree in the sentiments expressed , I am not the author of the letters signed " Justitia , " or A Country Mason"
by the latter I am reminded of the reply of Mirabeau to one who made a somewhat similar claim to that put forward by Bro . Binckes—to be clothed in the garment of righteousness ; the witty Frenchman shrugged his shoulders and observed , Voici un homme legeremcnt vetu . " In conclusion , I may observe , that I have reason to believe that some ol
the hard language applied to me is due to the remarks I have thought proper to make upon the honourable course adopted by the Freemasons ' Magazine—let it be so * , you likewise if you do your duty must expect hard names . With this reply , unless the facts I have alleged can be disproved , I have done with , paper controversy on the subject . To my Brethren 1 submit the whole circumstances for such careful consideration as they desire
and can only crave their indulgence for having , in taking up a public question upon public grounds , incidentally , but unavoidably , introduced so much that is personal to myself . "I am , Sir and Brother , yours fraternally , October 20 , 1858 , John IIAvians-
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
The Grand Master And The "Masonic Observ...
man ; " but there are few who know-how much demand Masonry makes upon his time , and how he responds to that demand . It is . no slight credit to a nobleman in his position , that—no matter what the number or length of the documents sent to him may be—there have not been , as I am informed , two instances during the period of office of the present Grand a reply has failed to be returned within twenty-four hours , nor one in which the reply has been delayed beyond the second day . Of my own personal
knowledge I will add , that "I do not know any ^ Mason amongst us who possesses in a more marked degree the enviable power of rapidly analysing long and frequently intricate documents , and of committing to paper clear and comprehensive opinions upon their contents . Incapacity for business , punctuality and despatch , I believe him to have few equals . I have seen Mm left almost alone and unsupported under circumstances of no ordinary difficulty—I have heard heavy charges of neglect and
maladministration cast at him , from which a breath from himself would have relieved him — I have seen him patient and silent , because to relieve himself would , without removing difficulty , have been to involve others ; and though I might grieve at the course which his sense of honour induced him to take , I could not but admire his courageous and chivalrous feeling- —lastly , I have seen him , for the last two or three years , made the object of a petty and systematic persecution , by men calling themselves Masons , in the pages
of the Masonic Observer . It is not ' in the nature of an Englishman to stand by and see any one systematically ill used . If to have consistently supported thei 3-rand Master be a fault—I plead guilty , I have ever held it as a principle ^ that it is not only the duty of all Masons to support their elected chief , but that it is imperatively essential to the welfare of the Order itself that they should do so : and holding to that principle , neither taunt , misinterpretation , nor calumny shall deter me from doing that which I conceive to be right and just . With others I responded to the call made upon me ; I claim to have done my duty , not well perhaps , but to the best of my ability . 7
There are certain hints , and much self-laudation in Bro . Binckesletters as regards the former , I have to say , for the information of those whom it may interest , that although I agree in the sentiments expressed , I am not the author of the letters signed " Justitia , " or A Country Mason"
by the latter I am reminded of the reply of Mirabeau to one who made a somewhat similar claim to that put forward by Bro . Binckes—to be clothed in the garment of righteousness ; the witty Frenchman shrugged his shoulders and observed , Voici un homme legeremcnt vetu . " In conclusion , I may observe , that I have reason to believe that some ol
the hard language applied to me is due to the remarks I have thought proper to make upon the honourable course adopted by the Freemasons ' Magazine—let it be so * , you likewise if you do your duty must expect hard names . With this reply , unless the facts I have alleged can be disproved , I have done with , paper controversy on the subject . To my Brethren 1 submit the whole circumstances for such careful consideration as they desire
and can only crave their indulgence for having , in taking up a public question upon public grounds , incidentally , but unavoidably , introduced so much that is personal to myself . "I am , Sir and Brother , yours fraternally , October 20 , 1858 , John IIAvians-