-
Articles/Ads
Article CORRESPONDENCE ← Page 4 of 10 →
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Correspondence
contributions to the central funds of Benevolence and General Purposes were arraigned ; and it was contended that the choice of the Provincial Grand Master should be left to the Provincial or District Grand Lodge . A contribution of sixpence a quarter was , indeed , then imposed by the constitution on every subscribing member of Lodges out of England , in aid of that Fund of Masonic benevolence with which Brethren from every part of the world are relieved , and to which the London Brethren contribute in a double ratio . The fund of General
Purposes is mainly supported by fees of honour , payable on the appointments of officers of the Grand Lodge of England , and by fees received from Lodges in England ; and the fees , then similar in scale , received from Lodges out of England were but a just and moderate contribution towards the secretariat and other expenses attending the administration of the whole empire of English Freemasonry .
As to the Provincial or District Grand Masters , their rank in Grand Lodge , in consistency with every Masonic principle , flows from the Grand Master as the Fountain of Honour ; and in their functions in Provincial or . District Grand Lodge , they personally represent the Grand Master ; and it is plainly fitting that he who is represented should appoint the representative .
Due consideration would surely lead every well-informed Mason to the conclusion , if not that the objections to the existing system were unfounded , at least that they furnished neither motive nor excuse for attempting to destroy a longestablished government . The true cause of the existing troubles is probably to be found in a mistaken feeling , mischievously stimulated by some Brethren on both sides of the waterthe feeling of dependence , subjugation , and inferiority . The case has been
studiously likened to that which once arose between Great Britain and some of her then colonies ; and antagonism has been roused , and bitter sentiments inspired by teaching the Canadian Brethren to view themselves in the light of oppressed dependents , seeking to obtain rightful concessions from a stepmother country . A grosser fallacy never was propounded . The cases are not only different , but opposite . A colony in its infancy is necessarily more or less dependent on the mother country for legislation and defence , and rises to self-government
only as its capacities increase . In Masonry , on the contrary , there never is any such dependence . Each Lodge in every part of the empire possesses , from the first moment of its existence , an original and inherent right of self-government , subject only , and in common only with other Lodges , to the Masonic authority of the Grand Master and Grand Lodge , and to the general laws by which all are alike bound . The Canadian Brother is neither more nor less dependent on the
Grand Master , or Grand Lodge than is the English Brother , and could not be more independent than he already is , if the Grand Lodge were held at Quebec or Toronto . The Canadian brother , like every brother who follows the ancient banner of England , may indeed say , " Civis liomanus sum "— "I am an equal member of the glorious fraternity extended over every part of an empire on which the sun never sets , —the oldest , the greatest , tlie most successful , and , if we be but true to ourselves , the most lasting of all Masonic bodies . "
Agitation , however , ran its dangerous course , till a certain number of Canadian Brethren assumed to defy the authority of the Provincial or District Grand Lodge , and to constitute themselves into what they called a Grand Lodge . As well might any private Lodge in England assume the privileges of a Grand Lodge . Such an assumption is simply a nullity , and ineffectual for any purpose save to render the
Brethren guilty of so gross a hreach of Masonic discipline liable to Masonic condemnation . The Grand Master and Grand Lodge , however , showed forbearance , and proceeded in the consideration of the changes which , consistently with the constitution and the welfare of the Order , might be made , in conformity with the wishes expressed by Canadian Brethren . Such changes were ultimately made , and were known in Canada in the early part of this year .
Since then a second step has been taken in the road of anarchy , Another body of Canadian Masons has imitated the example of their predecessors in disunion , by assuming to constitute a new Grand Lodge , to which the name of the Ancient Grand Lodge has been given by its founders . The association of tins sort next established may as reasonably call itself more ancient ; and , by the same rule , tho
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Correspondence
contributions to the central funds of Benevolence and General Purposes were arraigned ; and it was contended that the choice of the Provincial Grand Master should be left to the Provincial or District Grand Lodge . A contribution of sixpence a quarter was , indeed , then imposed by the constitution on every subscribing member of Lodges out of England , in aid of that Fund of Masonic benevolence with which Brethren from every part of the world are relieved , and to which the London Brethren contribute in a double ratio . The fund of General
Purposes is mainly supported by fees of honour , payable on the appointments of officers of the Grand Lodge of England , and by fees received from Lodges in England ; and the fees , then similar in scale , received from Lodges out of England were but a just and moderate contribution towards the secretariat and other expenses attending the administration of the whole empire of English Freemasonry .
As to the Provincial or District Grand Masters , their rank in Grand Lodge , in consistency with every Masonic principle , flows from the Grand Master as the Fountain of Honour ; and in their functions in Provincial or . District Grand Lodge , they personally represent the Grand Master ; and it is plainly fitting that he who is represented should appoint the representative .
Due consideration would surely lead every well-informed Mason to the conclusion , if not that the objections to the existing system were unfounded , at least that they furnished neither motive nor excuse for attempting to destroy a longestablished government . The true cause of the existing troubles is probably to be found in a mistaken feeling , mischievously stimulated by some Brethren on both sides of the waterthe feeling of dependence , subjugation , and inferiority . The case has been
studiously likened to that which once arose between Great Britain and some of her then colonies ; and antagonism has been roused , and bitter sentiments inspired by teaching the Canadian Brethren to view themselves in the light of oppressed dependents , seeking to obtain rightful concessions from a stepmother country . A grosser fallacy never was propounded . The cases are not only different , but opposite . A colony in its infancy is necessarily more or less dependent on the mother country for legislation and defence , and rises to self-government
only as its capacities increase . In Masonry , on the contrary , there never is any such dependence . Each Lodge in every part of the empire possesses , from the first moment of its existence , an original and inherent right of self-government , subject only , and in common only with other Lodges , to the Masonic authority of the Grand Master and Grand Lodge , and to the general laws by which all are alike bound . The Canadian Brother is neither more nor less dependent on the
Grand Master , or Grand Lodge than is the English Brother , and could not be more independent than he already is , if the Grand Lodge were held at Quebec or Toronto . The Canadian brother , like every brother who follows the ancient banner of England , may indeed say , " Civis liomanus sum "— "I am an equal member of the glorious fraternity extended over every part of an empire on which the sun never sets , —the oldest , the greatest , tlie most successful , and , if we be but true to ourselves , the most lasting of all Masonic bodies . "
Agitation , however , ran its dangerous course , till a certain number of Canadian Brethren assumed to defy the authority of the Provincial or District Grand Lodge , and to constitute themselves into what they called a Grand Lodge . As well might any private Lodge in England assume the privileges of a Grand Lodge . Such an assumption is simply a nullity , and ineffectual for any purpose save to render the
Brethren guilty of so gross a hreach of Masonic discipline liable to Masonic condemnation . The Grand Master and Grand Lodge , however , showed forbearance , and proceeded in the consideration of the changes which , consistently with the constitution and the welfare of the Order , might be made , in conformity with the wishes expressed by Canadian Brethren . Such changes were ultimately made , and were known in Canada in the early part of this year .
Since then a second step has been taken in the road of anarchy , Another body of Canadian Masons has imitated the example of their predecessors in disunion , by assuming to constitute a new Grand Lodge , to which the name of the Ancient Grand Lodge has been given by its founders . The association of tins sort next established may as reasonably call itself more ancient ; and , by the same rule , tho