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Article THE GEA^D MASTEE A^ ← Page 7 of 11 →
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The Gea^D Mastee A^
hold office in the Prov . Grand Lodge thereunder , have been urging the propriety of amalgamating the Lodges under the English , Irish , and Scottish Grand Lodges , numbering respectively , twenty-seven , nine , and two Lodges , and forming them into an independent Grand Lodge of Victoria . Two young colonial Masters , who have also recently passed the
chairs of their respective Lodges under the Scottish constitution ( one oi which Past Masters however expresses some doubt and hesitation at the step ) , have given their adhesion to the project ; and , and we regret to add , ah actual Prov . Grand Officer , under the English constitution , and who passed the chair of a Lodge in England , has also joined in the project with the singular reservation that this course be taken constitutionally . " These Brethren have determined to convoke a convention in Melbourne of all
the Masters , Past Masters , and Wardens of Lodges in Victoria . The reasons assigned for this proceeding are , That it is for the interests of Freemasonry in Victoria that there should be an independent united Grand Lodge , and that the existence of three Prov . Grand Lodges affords undue fecUitieshy rivalry to obtain dispensations to form Lodges , which if refused by one Prov . Grand Lodge are granted readily by another . "
We challengeany Brother to prove that Captain Clarke , the Prov . Grand Master , under the English constitution ( who will sail in the same ship by which this is conveyed ) has ever granted a dispensation to form , a Lodge because it was refused by a Prov . Grand Master of another constitution , or in order to augment the number of English Lodges . We also affirm that the total number of thirty-eight Lodges in Victoria under the three constitutions , does not afford any support for the assertion which we now dispute ; there being a population of half a-million , and numerous flourishing to wns .
We also affirm that the interests of Freemasonry in Victoria do not require the amalgamation of the three Lodges , even if attainable , which we believe is not practicable ; the remote future not being now under review . We affirm that , an English Master or Past Master of a Lodge , bearing in mind his solemn obligation to submit to and support the ancient charges and regulations , as Masters have done in all ages , can take no part in promoting
separation from united Grand Lodge unless it have forfeited its claims to allegiance , have inflicted unconstitutional appeals , and refused to redress real grievances . What do these ancient charges comprise—the promise of the Master elect of a Lodge strictly to conform to every edict of the Grand Lodge—to admit that no new Lodge can be formed without permission of the Grand Master or his deputy , and that no countenance ought to be given to any irregular Lodge , or to any person initiated therein , & c .
It is a significant fact that no English Lodge has originated this movement , but that it is projected by young colonially installed Masters , who have recently passed the chairs of their respective " Lodges , under the Irish and Scottish constitutions , though they have , with one exception joined , but do not hold office in English Lodges .
if unity be the only object , the Lodges under the Irish and Scottish constitutions could at once merge their individuality , which , however , they decline to do , by affiliating with the English ( the most ancient ) as oiie Provincial Grand Lodge . But will the Irish and Scottish Provincial Grand Masters resign their patents either to this or any independent Grand Lodge ?
When Bro . J . J . Moody , a Past Provincial Grand Junior Warden for Cheshire , whose Masonic fidelity to the united Grand Lodge is indisputable , was consulted by these Brethren , he stated to them these objections , which we now only repeat . He added that fidelity to their united Grand Lodge 3 o 2
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
The Gea^D Mastee A^
hold office in the Prov . Grand Lodge thereunder , have been urging the propriety of amalgamating the Lodges under the English , Irish , and Scottish Grand Lodges , numbering respectively , twenty-seven , nine , and two Lodges , and forming them into an independent Grand Lodge of Victoria . Two young colonial Masters , who have also recently passed the
chairs of their respective Lodges under the Scottish constitution ( one oi which Past Masters however expresses some doubt and hesitation at the step ) , have given their adhesion to the project ; and , and we regret to add , ah actual Prov . Grand Officer , under the English constitution , and who passed the chair of a Lodge in England , has also joined in the project with the singular reservation that this course be taken constitutionally . " These Brethren have determined to convoke a convention in Melbourne of all
the Masters , Past Masters , and Wardens of Lodges in Victoria . The reasons assigned for this proceeding are , That it is for the interests of Freemasonry in Victoria that there should be an independent united Grand Lodge , and that the existence of three Prov . Grand Lodges affords undue fecUitieshy rivalry to obtain dispensations to form Lodges , which if refused by one Prov . Grand Lodge are granted readily by another . "
We challengeany Brother to prove that Captain Clarke , the Prov . Grand Master , under the English constitution ( who will sail in the same ship by which this is conveyed ) has ever granted a dispensation to form , a Lodge because it was refused by a Prov . Grand Master of another constitution , or in order to augment the number of English Lodges . We also affirm that the total number of thirty-eight Lodges in Victoria under the three constitutions , does not afford any support for the assertion which we now dispute ; there being a population of half a-million , and numerous flourishing to wns .
We also affirm that the interests of Freemasonry in Victoria do not require the amalgamation of the three Lodges , even if attainable , which we believe is not practicable ; the remote future not being now under review . We affirm that , an English Master or Past Master of a Lodge , bearing in mind his solemn obligation to submit to and support the ancient charges and regulations , as Masters have done in all ages , can take no part in promoting
separation from united Grand Lodge unless it have forfeited its claims to allegiance , have inflicted unconstitutional appeals , and refused to redress real grievances . What do these ancient charges comprise—the promise of the Master elect of a Lodge strictly to conform to every edict of the Grand Lodge—to admit that no new Lodge can be formed without permission of the Grand Master or his deputy , and that no countenance ought to be given to any irregular Lodge , or to any person initiated therein , & c .
It is a significant fact that no English Lodge has originated this movement , but that it is projected by young colonially installed Masters , who have recently passed the chairs of their respective " Lodges , under the Irish and Scottish constitutions , though they have , with one exception joined , but do not hold office in English Lodges .
if unity be the only object , the Lodges under the Irish and Scottish constitutions could at once merge their individuality , which , however , they decline to do , by affiliating with the English ( the most ancient ) as oiie Provincial Grand Lodge . But will the Irish and Scottish Provincial Grand Masters resign their patents either to this or any independent Grand Lodge ?
When Bro . J . J . Moody , a Past Provincial Grand Junior Warden for Cheshire , whose Masonic fidelity to the united Grand Lodge is indisputable , was consulted by these Brethren , he stated to them these objections , which we now only repeat . He added that fidelity to their united Grand Lodge 3 o 2