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Correspondence
CORRESPONDENCE
MASONRY IN CANADA . TO THE EDITOR 0 T THE ^ REEMASOKS MAGAZINE AND MASONIC MIRROR , Sir AND Brother , —The interest excited by the late differences among the Brethren of Canada West arises not only from fraternal feelings towards those Brethren , but also from the importance of the principles involved in those differences . Personal or local disputes sooner or later pass away , but the principles of our Order cannot be long or seriously violated without endangering the noble fabric which rests on them .
[ The Editor does not hold himself responsible for any opinions entertained by Correspondents . ]
The thoughts of one who , with ample means of information , has carefully considered recent events in connection with those differences , may he acceptable to yoiir readers , as explanatory to such of them as have not yet had the opportunity of examining the subject with the attention which it deserves , of views which many Brethren are known to have adopted , which others , it is believed , will , on reflection , see fit to adopt , and which I have endeavoured to present in such a form as to enable any intelligent Mason , however little previous study he may have been able to bestow on the matter , to judge for himself as to their accuracy ,.
The great Masonic principle now threatened is that of Unity . It has been , from the earliest times , exemplified by the form of government in every Lodge . The Master , elected by the Brethren , always appointed every officer except the Treasurer , and alone exercised an authority , obeyed and upheld by every member . Grand Lodges , as now organized , did not exist till comparatively modern times . Large assemblies of Brethren occasionally took place , but such a body as we now call a Grand Lodge was unknown . Grand Masters , sometimes elected , sometimes hereditary , generally assuming the character of protectors , and apparently taking
little part in internal discipline , are often mentioned in Masonic history , and the territorial extent of their rule was evidently regulated by the same principle of unity . The union of all Brethren under one chief seems to be , by reason of national differences , unattainable , and perhaps is not desirable , but the sway of one Grand Master over every part of countries politically united , has ever been maintained as the bond , and in early days the only bond of corporate union among the Brethren of those countries . Each Lodge , governed by no laws but its own , and subject to no external authority save that of the Grand Master , which appears to have often been practically arbitrary , was connected with other Lodges
only by community of Grand Mastership . The extension , in the seventeenth century , of Freemasonry beyond the ranks of operatives led to a desire for more perfect combination and liberty , and ultimately to the establishment in the early part of last century , of the Grand Lodge of England , the parent of many , and , in its constitutional arrangements , the model of all Grand Lodges in the form in which they now exist . In this new organization the principle of unity was strictly followed ; Grand Lodge being an expansion of private Lodge , with the addition of the principle of representation , the Grand Master , elected by the Brethren , appointing , like the Master of a private Lodge , all officers except the Treasurer , and the local
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Correspondence
CORRESPONDENCE
MASONRY IN CANADA . TO THE EDITOR 0 T THE ^ REEMASOKS MAGAZINE AND MASONIC MIRROR , Sir AND Brother , —The interest excited by the late differences among the Brethren of Canada West arises not only from fraternal feelings towards those Brethren , but also from the importance of the principles involved in those differences . Personal or local disputes sooner or later pass away , but the principles of our Order cannot be long or seriously violated without endangering the noble fabric which rests on them .
[ The Editor does not hold himself responsible for any opinions entertained by Correspondents . ]
The thoughts of one who , with ample means of information , has carefully considered recent events in connection with those differences , may he acceptable to yoiir readers , as explanatory to such of them as have not yet had the opportunity of examining the subject with the attention which it deserves , of views which many Brethren are known to have adopted , which others , it is believed , will , on reflection , see fit to adopt , and which I have endeavoured to present in such a form as to enable any intelligent Mason , however little previous study he may have been able to bestow on the matter , to judge for himself as to their accuracy ,.
The great Masonic principle now threatened is that of Unity . It has been , from the earliest times , exemplified by the form of government in every Lodge . The Master , elected by the Brethren , always appointed every officer except the Treasurer , and alone exercised an authority , obeyed and upheld by every member . Grand Lodges , as now organized , did not exist till comparatively modern times . Large assemblies of Brethren occasionally took place , but such a body as we now call a Grand Lodge was unknown . Grand Masters , sometimes elected , sometimes hereditary , generally assuming the character of protectors , and apparently taking
little part in internal discipline , are often mentioned in Masonic history , and the territorial extent of their rule was evidently regulated by the same principle of unity . The union of all Brethren under one chief seems to be , by reason of national differences , unattainable , and perhaps is not desirable , but the sway of one Grand Master over every part of countries politically united , has ever been maintained as the bond , and in early days the only bond of corporate union among the Brethren of those countries . Each Lodge , governed by no laws but its own , and subject to no external authority save that of the Grand Master , which appears to have often been practically arbitrary , was connected with other Lodges
only by community of Grand Mastership . The extension , in the seventeenth century , of Freemasonry beyond the ranks of operatives led to a desire for more perfect combination and liberty , and ultimately to the establishment in the early part of last century , of the Grand Lodge of England , the parent of many , and , in its constitutional arrangements , the model of all Grand Lodges in the form in which they now exist . In this new organization the principle of unity was strictly followed ; Grand Lodge being an expansion of private Lodge , with the addition of the principle of representation , the Grand Master , elected by the Brethren , appointing , like the Master of a private Lodge , all officers except the Treasurer , and the local