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Article THE GEA^D MASTEE A^ ← Page 6 of 11 →
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The Gea^D Mastee A^
undoubtedly desirous of being on friendly and Masonic terms with their fellows in Scotland , Ireland , France , Germany , or wherever Masons congregate , but to place themselves under foreign commands—no ^ English Masons will confess allegiance to English authority , and no other 1 They will be ever ready to receive with cordiality and welcome Brethren of every country , but they do not , and will not , hail from Scotch , or Irish , or French supremacies .
With the view then of establishing the required authority , communications were entered into with many very eminent Masons , ( some of them holding highest positions in the Craft ) , and inquiries made for the purpose of ascertaining what Mark Master Lodges were in existence in the country . After several meetings the nucleus of the Grand Lodge was formed and invitations issued , by means of advertisements in the public papers and circulars , for all those who were desirous of co-operating with that body , to meet at the Freemasons' Tavern .
A meeting accordingly was held in June , 1857 . It was attended by a great number of representatives of Mark Lodges , many belonging to Lodges w ^ hich had conferred the degree from time immemoriaWsome hailing from the Irish constitution , I believe- — some from what are termed regimental Lodges—some colonial—and somq zealous and able Brethren holding
under the Supreme Chapter of Scotland ^ who were really desirous of establishing good feeling and brotherly love between all members of the degree , and were thus prepared to meet half way the open hand of friendship and equality held out for their acceptance by Lord Leigh and the Grand Lodge .
The proceedings of the Grand Lodge were approved , and a committee appointed to devise means of promoting union and uniformity between all Mark Master Lodges . That committee held several meetings , and finally agreed upon certain resolutions , recommending co-operation and Union with the Grand Lodge . Now , sir , I do not see how any Mason could desire a more legally
constituted authority than that of this Grand Lodge . I believe that I may say that nine tenths of the old Mark Master Lodges have united with it ; many new Mark Master Lodges have been appointed by it ; and I trust that our Brethren hitherto acknowledging the supremacy of a foreign country ( for in Masonry Scotland is to England as foreign as France ) will range themselves under our English banner , and support an English Grand Lodge . I am , Sir and Brother ,. Yours fraternally , London , November 6 th , 1858 . Y . B . C .
AN INDEPENDENT GRAND LODGE FOR VICTORIA . ¦ 'i ¦ TO THE EDITOR 01 ? THJS FRUJSMASONS' MAOAZINK AND MASONIC MIRROR . Sir ANJ > Brother , —The importance of the subject of tjhis letter must be my apology for bringing it so promptly before the Brethren affiliated with Lodges under the United Grand Lodge of England , not only as it regards the interests of that branch of Freemasonry in Victoria , but also of those Lodges under the same in other British colonies .
For some time , two young colonial Masters , who have recently passed £ he ijfcsiw of their respective Lodges under the Irish constitution , and who
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
The Gea^D Mastee A^
undoubtedly desirous of being on friendly and Masonic terms with their fellows in Scotland , Ireland , France , Germany , or wherever Masons congregate , but to place themselves under foreign commands—no ^ English Masons will confess allegiance to English authority , and no other 1 They will be ever ready to receive with cordiality and welcome Brethren of every country , but they do not , and will not , hail from Scotch , or Irish , or French supremacies .
With the view then of establishing the required authority , communications were entered into with many very eminent Masons , ( some of them holding highest positions in the Craft ) , and inquiries made for the purpose of ascertaining what Mark Master Lodges were in existence in the country . After several meetings the nucleus of the Grand Lodge was formed and invitations issued , by means of advertisements in the public papers and circulars , for all those who were desirous of co-operating with that body , to meet at the Freemasons' Tavern .
A meeting accordingly was held in June , 1857 . It was attended by a great number of representatives of Mark Lodges , many belonging to Lodges w ^ hich had conferred the degree from time immemoriaWsome hailing from the Irish constitution , I believe- — some from what are termed regimental Lodges—some colonial—and somq zealous and able Brethren holding
under the Supreme Chapter of Scotland ^ who were really desirous of establishing good feeling and brotherly love between all members of the degree , and were thus prepared to meet half way the open hand of friendship and equality held out for their acceptance by Lord Leigh and the Grand Lodge .
The proceedings of the Grand Lodge were approved , and a committee appointed to devise means of promoting union and uniformity between all Mark Master Lodges . That committee held several meetings , and finally agreed upon certain resolutions , recommending co-operation and Union with the Grand Lodge . Now , sir , I do not see how any Mason could desire a more legally
constituted authority than that of this Grand Lodge . I believe that I may say that nine tenths of the old Mark Master Lodges have united with it ; many new Mark Master Lodges have been appointed by it ; and I trust that our Brethren hitherto acknowledging the supremacy of a foreign country ( for in Masonry Scotland is to England as foreign as France ) will range themselves under our English banner , and support an English Grand Lodge . I am , Sir and Brother ,. Yours fraternally , London , November 6 th , 1858 . Y . B . C .
AN INDEPENDENT GRAND LODGE FOR VICTORIA . ¦ 'i ¦ TO THE EDITOR 01 ? THJS FRUJSMASONS' MAOAZINK AND MASONIC MIRROR . Sir ANJ > Brother , —The importance of the subject of tjhis letter must be my apology for bringing it so promptly before the Brethren affiliated with Lodges under the United Grand Lodge of England , not only as it regards the interests of that branch of Freemasonry in Victoria , but also of those Lodges under the same in other British colonies .
For some time , two young colonial Masters , who have recently passed £ he ijfcsiw of their respective Lodges under the Irish constitution , and who