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Article THE GRAND LODGE OF ENGLAND. ← Page 2 of 3 →
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The Grand Lodge Of England.
ample—Lodges in the county of Northumberland have an undoubted right to initiate persons residing in Scotland , and lodges in Scotland have a similar right to initiate persons residing in England . Nor can the Grand Lodge of either country complain of , or object to such a proceeding . It is for the person who seeks admittance into the order to select the lodge in which he wishes to be initiated .
AVith regard to tho second part of the question , as to the course a lodge ought to pursue that has by ifcs own act divested itself of such right , and has bound itself not to initiate any individual residing in the territory under another Masonic jurisdiction , such arrangement—not being at variance with the spirit of the constitutions under which they act—ought to be carried out faithfully ; oven though
attended at times with souio slight inconvenience . But independently of any existing arrangements , tho M . AV . Grand Master is of opinion that it is nofc desirable nor convenient that a lodge should bind itself to confine its initiations to residents in its own immediate locality ; or that ifc should only initiate persons residing over a certain territorial boundary line with the consent of a lodge working on
the other side of such line , even with the proviso—as proposed by Union Lodge—that sufficient reasons should be given for withholding such consent . And it must bo self evident , that when one lodge gives the reasons , and tlie other is to be the judge whether those reasons are sufficient , frequent difficulties and disputes arc sure to rise . In conclusionI have only to remarkthat the opinion of
, , the M . AV . GrandMaster has been communicated to the Union Lodge , and that ifc has been impressed on them , that private arrangements onco entered upon should be strictly and honourably fulfilled . Trusting therefore thafc the misunderstanding between the two lodges will soon be removed , and that each will hold
out the right hand of good fellowship to the other , ancl practice in their fullest extent brotherly love and forbearance , I have the honour to be , M . AV . Sir and Brother , fraternally yours , AVM . GRAY CLARK , G . S . EGBERT P . DUNLAP , Esq ., M . W . Grand Master of tlie Grand Loclge of Maine , Brunswick , Mc . This last letter was referred to the Committee of Foreign
Correspondence at the Annual Communication in 1858 , who thereupon submitted tho following report : IN GRAND LODGE or MAINE , ") MASONIC HALL , Portland , May 5 , 1858 . j The Committee on Foreign Correspondence , to which was referred the letter of the M . AV . Grand Master of the Grand Lodge of England , the Earl of Zetland , to M . AV . E . P .
Dunlap , Grand Master of the Grand Lodge of Maine , —having carefully considered that document , ask leave to report : —• That while they approve its courteous and conciliatory tone , they cannot view it as altogether satisfactory . Some of its positions seem to us unwarranted aud inconclusive , and adapted to perpetuate and aggravate the evils which gave rise to the complaint and correspondence . In order to a clear understanding of tho case , we must
recur to its history . Prior to 1855 , a difficulty had arisen between St . Croix Lodge at Calais , under the jurisdiction of the GrandLodge of Maine , and Union Loclge afc St . Stephen ' s , New Brunswick , under charter from the Grand . Lodgo of England , by the act of Union Lodge invading the jurisdiction of the Grand Lodge of Maine , by initiating persons under the jurisdiction of St . Croix Lodge without the consent of
that body . Complaints of this invasion of jurisdiction having been made to Union Lodge , an agreement was entered into by which the Union Lodge gave a pledge to abstain from such invasion . After repeated and aggravated violations of this pledge , complaints were made to the Grand Lodgo of Maine , and by direction of that body the Grand Master represented fche
grievance to the Deputy Grand Master for New Brunswick . In his annual address for 1857 , Grand Master True stated that , in June , 1850 , the Grand Secretary had sent him the papers , all bearing more than one year ' s date . He also stated that he had written to the Master of St . Croix Lodge , inquiring whether the difficulties still existed , and , if so , suggesting to him the propriety of having the District Deputy Grand Master , or some other brother , visit them , and , if possible , restore harmony .
His reply was , " that it was useless to attempt a reconciliation . " I , therefore , on the 5 fch day of July , 1856 , addressed a letter to AV . Bro . A . Ballock , Deputy Grand Master of New Brunswick , stating to him the difficulties existing between the two lodges in question , also copies of the papers sent me by tho Grand Secretary , and respectfully asked his aid in restoring harmony on our borders .
I have ascertained that he has received my communication , and regret to say no answer has been received . It was under this state of things that the question camo before the Grand Lodge in May , 1857 , and the report and resolutions wore adopted , directing this correspondence with the Grand Master of England . That report sets forth the facts and grievances in the case
, and closes with the following statement : — " In the meantime , as we learn from the representative of tho St . Croix Lodge , the grievances of that lodge are aggravated by the offensive action of Union Lodge in admitting persons from this jurisdiction who could not gain admission to our lodges , bufc who go over to Sfc . Stephen's and receive tbe degrees , and then return to insult Sfc . Croix Lodby their demands
ge for admission as visitors . In view of these grievances , which the Sfc . Croix Lodge have too long been compelled to bear , your Committee believe thafc our brethren of that lodgo are entitled to prompt and ample protection afc tho hands of this Grand Lodge , ivhich they propose to afford by tlie adoption of tho following resolutions : —
1 . Resolved , —That the several documents referred to in this report , lettered from A . to E ., bo placed in the hands of our M . AV . Grand Master , and that he be requested to correspond with the M . AV . the Grand Master of England , to lay before him the grievances complained of , and ask at his hands -the protection and redress of grievances so long sought for , 'and so long refused by Union Lodge , and thus
far withheld by the Deputy Grand Master of New Brunswick . 2 . R . esolved , —During the pending of this correspondence tho M . AV . Grand Master be requested to adopt such measures as he may deem necessary to afford protection and relief from the grievances complained of , and report his action on this whole subject at tho next annual communication . The report ancl resolutions were adopted , and in May , 1858 ,
M . AV . Grand Master Dunlap stated that he had " addressed a communication to tho Eight Hon . the Earl of Zetland , Grand Master of the United Grand Lodge of England , calling his . attention to a matter of difference between two lodges within our respective limits of jurisdiction . " No formal reply has yet been received from him , but I am advised bbis Grand Secretary that lie has instituted
y an investigation into tbe circumstances , and thafc his opinion will be communicated as soon as the investigation shall be completed . " That opinion we now have in the letter submitted to this Committee , ivhich is as follows : — In view of all the facts , your Committee regard this letter as a most vemnvk . ihle document .
1 . lhenrst thing wo notice is the length of time taken for investigation , and preparing tho opinion . It seems to us marvellous that in this ago of steam it should require from the llth December , 1857 , to tho 9 th July , 1858 , a period of somo seven months , to investigate the facts in this ease , and report upon them , knowing , as the Eight Hon . the Earl of Zetland must have known , thafc the evils of delay
were very serious ; and the facts in the case were very fully detailed in the correspondence . 2 . It is still more marvellous that , after this long delay , such an answer should havo been given from so exalted a source as that of tho head of the Grand Lodge of England . The facts in this case and the whole correspondence between the two lodges was before him , as ive learn from P . Grand
Master Dunlap , yet this reply has no allusion to the facts in the case , and . no censure upon a course of conduct by subordinates , which conduct this Grand Lodge deems of an aggravated character . Passing by all those facts , the Grand Master of England coolly tells us , " Tho case divides itself into too parts—first , as to the right of a lodge to initiate persons in a country under another Masonic jurisdiction ; and , secondly , what course of action a lodge ought to pursue which has by its own act divested itself of such right . " That ifc should require seven months to state
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
The Grand Lodge Of England.
ample—Lodges in the county of Northumberland have an undoubted right to initiate persons residing in Scotland , and lodges in Scotland have a similar right to initiate persons residing in England . Nor can the Grand Lodge of either country complain of , or object to such a proceeding . It is for the person who seeks admittance into the order to select the lodge in which he wishes to be initiated .
AVith regard to tho second part of the question , as to the course a lodge ought to pursue that has by ifcs own act divested itself of such right , and has bound itself not to initiate any individual residing in the territory under another Masonic jurisdiction , such arrangement—not being at variance with the spirit of the constitutions under which they act—ought to be carried out faithfully ; oven though
attended at times with souio slight inconvenience . But independently of any existing arrangements , tho M . AV . Grand Master is of opinion that it is nofc desirable nor convenient that a lodge should bind itself to confine its initiations to residents in its own immediate locality ; or that ifc should only initiate persons residing over a certain territorial boundary line with the consent of a lodge working on
the other side of such line , even with the proviso—as proposed by Union Lodge—that sufficient reasons should be given for withholding such consent . And it must bo self evident , that when one lodge gives the reasons , and tlie other is to be the judge whether those reasons are sufficient , frequent difficulties and disputes arc sure to rise . In conclusionI have only to remarkthat the opinion of
, , the M . AV . GrandMaster has been communicated to the Union Lodge , and that ifc has been impressed on them , that private arrangements onco entered upon should be strictly and honourably fulfilled . Trusting therefore thafc the misunderstanding between the two lodges will soon be removed , and that each will hold
out the right hand of good fellowship to the other , ancl practice in their fullest extent brotherly love and forbearance , I have the honour to be , M . AV . Sir and Brother , fraternally yours , AVM . GRAY CLARK , G . S . EGBERT P . DUNLAP , Esq ., M . W . Grand Master of tlie Grand Loclge of Maine , Brunswick , Mc . This last letter was referred to the Committee of Foreign
Correspondence at the Annual Communication in 1858 , who thereupon submitted tho following report : IN GRAND LODGE or MAINE , ") MASONIC HALL , Portland , May 5 , 1858 . j The Committee on Foreign Correspondence , to which was referred the letter of the M . AV . Grand Master of the Grand Lodge of England , the Earl of Zetland , to M . AV . E . P .
Dunlap , Grand Master of the Grand Lodge of Maine , —having carefully considered that document , ask leave to report : —• That while they approve its courteous and conciliatory tone , they cannot view it as altogether satisfactory . Some of its positions seem to us unwarranted aud inconclusive , and adapted to perpetuate and aggravate the evils which gave rise to the complaint and correspondence . In order to a clear understanding of tho case , we must
recur to its history . Prior to 1855 , a difficulty had arisen between St . Croix Lodge at Calais , under the jurisdiction of the GrandLodge of Maine , and Union Loclge afc St . Stephen ' s , New Brunswick , under charter from the Grand . Lodgo of England , by the act of Union Lodge invading the jurisdiction of the Grand Lodge of Maine , by initiating persons under the jurisdiction of St . Croix Lodge without the consent of
that body . Complaints of this invasion of jurisdiction having been made to Union Lodge , an agreement was entered into by which the Union Lodge gave a pledge to abstain from such invasion . After repeated and aggravated violations of this pledge , complaints were made to the Grand Lodgo of Maine , and by direction of that body the Grand Master represented fche
grievance to the Deputy Grand Master for New Brunswick . In his annual address for 1857 , Grand Master True stated that , in June , 1850 , the Grand Secretary had sent him the papers , all bearing more than one year ' s date . He also stated that he had written to the Master of St . Croix Lodge , inquiring whether the difficulties still existed , and , if so , suggesting to him the propriety of having the District Deputy Grand Master , or some other brother , visit them , and , if possible , restore harmony .
His reply was , " that it was useless to attempt a reconciliation . " I , therefore , on the 5 fch day of July , 1856 , addressed a letter to AV . Bro . A . Ballock , Deputy Grand Master of New Brunswick , stating to him the difficulties existing between the two lodges in question , also copies of the papers sent me by tho Grand Secretary , and respectfully asked his aid in restoring harmony on our borders .
I have ascertained that he has received my communication , and regret to say no answer has been received . It was under this state of things that the question camo before the Grand Lodge in May , 1857 , and the report and resolutions wore adopted , directing this correspondence with the Grand Master of England . That report sets forth the facts and grievances in the case
, and closes with the following statement : — " In the meantime , as we learn from the representative of tho St . Croix Lodge , the grievances of that lodge are aggravated by the offensive action of Union Lodge in admitting persons from this jurisdiction who could not gain admission to our lodges , bufc who go over to Sfc . Stephen's and receive tbe degrees , and then return to insult Sfc . Croix Lodby their demands
ge for admission as visitors . In view of these grievances , which the Sfc . Croix Lodge have too long been compelled to bear , your Committee believe thafc our brethren of that lodgo are entitled to prompt and ample protection afc tho hands of this Grand Lodge , ivhich they propose to afford by tlie adoption of tho following resolutions : —
1 . Resolved , —That the several documents referred to in this report , lettered from A . to E ., bo placed in the hands of our M . AV . Grand Master , and that he be requested to correspond with the M . AV . the Grand Master of England , to lay before him the grievances complained of , and ask at his hands -the protection and redress of grievances so long sought for , 'and so long refused by Union Lodge , and thus
far withheld by the Deputy Grand Master of New Brunswick . 2 . R . esolved , —During the pending of this correspondence tho M . AV . Grand Master be requested to adopt such measures as he may deem necessary to afford protection and relief from the grievances complained of , and report his action on this whole subject at tho next annual communication . The report ancl resolutions were adopted , and in May , 1858 ,
M . AV . Grand Master Dunlap stated that he had " addressed a communication to tho Eight Hon . the Earl of Zetland , Grand Master of the United Grand Lodge of England , calling his . attention to a matter of difference between two lodges within our respective limits of jurisdiction . " No formal reply has yet been received from him , but I am advised bbis Grand Secretary that lie has instituted
y an investigation into tbe circumstances , and thafc his opinion will be communicated as soon as the investigation shall be completed . " That opinion we now have in the letter submitted to this Committee , ivhich is as follows : — In view of all the facts , your Committee regard this letter as a most vemnvk . ihle document .
1 . lhenrst thing wo notice is the length of time taken for investigation , and preparing tho opinion . It seems to us marvellous that in this ago of steam it should require from the llth December , 1857 , to tho 9 th July , 1858 , a period of somo seven months , to investigate the facts in this ease , and report upon them , knowing , as the Eight Hon . the Earl of Zetland must have known , thafc the evils of delay
were very serious ; and the facts in the case were very fully detailed in the correspondence . 2 . It is still more marvellous that , after this long delay , such an answer should havo been given from so exalted a source as that of tho head of the Grand Lodge of England . The facts in this case and the whole correspondence between the two lodges was before him , as ive learn from P . Grand
Master Dunlap , yet this reply has no allusion to the facts in the case , and . no censure upon a course of conduct by subordinates , which conduct this Grand Lodge deems of an aggravated character . Passing by all those facts , the Grand Master of England coolly tells us , " Tho case divides itself into too parts—first , as to the right of a lodge to initiate persons in a country under another Masonic jurisdiction ; and , secondly , what course of action a lodge ought to pursue which has by its own act divested itself of such right . " That ifc should require seven months to state