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  • Jan. 5, 1861
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The Freemasons' Monthly Magazine, Jan. 5, 1861: Page 10

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    Article THE GRAND MASTER OF CANADA. ← Page 2 of 3 →
Page 10

Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.

The Grand Master Of Canada.

Sears in the smallest degree upon the circumstances which were the foundation of our strictures on Bro . Harington . As for the insinuation that ours is not a "Masonic" account , Ave can only say that , in the absence of any better authority , Ave quoted from the wellknown Toronto Globe , giving our authority . Bro .

Harington has not denied the facts there stated ; though he ought to have shown their falsity before he blamed ITS for making use of them . "Until he does so , AVC shall take leave to assume that they are correct .

We are at a loss why" our . M . W . brother should address us at all , if not in his ' official capacity . " Our criticism AA'as upon tho conduct of the Grand Master of Canada in his capacity of ruler ; with Bro . Harington , as an individual brother Freemason , Ave have no difference , nor are Ave aArare of anything but AA'hat is

estimable concerning Bro . Harington ' s private Masonic character . His remark appears to us , therefore , totally irrelevant . But , directly afterwards , our M . W . brother informs us of his intention to submit our remarks to the Grand Lodge of Canada , Ave presume in his capacity as

Grand Master—Avhich appears , to say the least of it , someAvhat contradictory . And , with regard to this kind promise of introducing us to that august assembly , Ave can only say that AVO are particularly obliged to Bro . Harington . We have already ( we are proud to say )

numerous friends in Canada ; and Ave have no doubt that our presentation by the Grand Master Avill largely advance the interests of THE TJIEEIIASOSS MA & . ' / iixE .

The brethren will appreciate our Avafcchful cave for their interests iu common with the other great branches of the Masonic family ; and Avill feel happy in observing our zeal in their cause , though an ocean rolls between us . -Nay , more ; who knows but Avhat , perhaps , the result may be a Yote of confidence in this journal—Avhich AVOUM bo received by its conductors Avith that mingled pride and diffidence / which ei-er characterise modest merit !

But by far the most important point iu our M . W . brother ' s letter is , his assertion that Ave have charged him . -with disloyalty . Here , again , anger has blinded Bro . Harington . Instead of anywhere " indirectly charging him Avith disloyal !// , Ave have twice , in the space of a few lines , called him ( b y implication , to say

the least ) a loyal subject . If he will take the trouble to refer to it , ho AA'ill find that the "Deputy Eeceiver-General" is compared with "the Queen ' s oilier loyal subjects' '—thereb y implying that he is . one also . A little further on he is expressl y described "as a loyal

subject . " We have before said that Ave know nothingwhatever against Bro . Harington's private Masonic character ; Are certainly could not make that assertion if AVC suspected him of disloyalty to the Sovereign . But , though wo have no disloyalty to lay to the charge ,

¦ of Bro . Harington , Ave regret to say that AVC cannot exonerate him from tho blame of discourtesy , and of most ungracious conduct . And . since our brother has taken up our temperate remarks Avith so much Avarmfch , we are induced to speak somewhat freely upon this

matter . We spoke of his conduct in our former article as undignified and injudicious ; Ave will noAv add our opinion that it Avas characterised by a churlish want of courtesy , and by disrespect not only to the constituted authorities , but also to the brethren whom he had brought from their homes to be present at the ceremony .

Neither in his letter to ourselves nor in his printed Circular does he offer any explanation of his conduct on the day itself , in refusing to alloAv the brethren to be present in their costume , though they had been specially invited to do so . Why Bro . Harington has tacked the extract from his letter to the Grand Secretary to the

end of his letter to us , Ave cannot tell , unless it be to show still more plainly the rudeness of his refusal to comply with the intimation from the Prince , which , Bro . Harington himself says , he " looked upon as amounting to more than a simple desire . " Wc ought not , hoAveA'er ,

to be surprised at these instances of eccentricity ( to use the very mildest term ) on the part of the brother in question . We have not forgotten his having volunteered to instal Sir A . M ' jSihb as an independent Grand Master of Canada at the A'ery time Avhen he himself Avas professing fealty as a Provincial Grand Master under the Grand Lodges both of England and Scotland . Other instances mi ght be quoted A \ diich redound but little

to the credit of a conscientious ruler ; such as his introduction of the Mark degree into the Eoyal Arch , in direct contravention of the laws and constitution of English Masonry . But enough on this head ; Bro . Harington's career in high office has not , as far as we can judge , been marked in any great degree by either the

confidence or the respect of the Canadian brethren . We do not expect to hear of his re-election , nor shall Ave be by any means grieved if the throne next year is filled by another brother . With all our respect for trans-Atlantic customs and institutions , aud making all the allowances AA'hich Ave ought to do for a "young country , " Ave should

not be sorry to see our Canadian brethren take a leaf out of our OAA ' U book , and elect to the head of their Craft some brother possessing tact and coiArtesy—as well as firmness and conscientiousness—AAIIO , from his position in the social scale , irrespective of Masonry , may be able to add dignity to his office in the Craft . The knowledge

of the usages of good society , Avhich such a man Avould from his rank be possessed of , Avould prevent the repetition of the unseemly spectacle of a man making a foolish display of arrogance , through his Masonic rank , towards higher functionaries in the GoA-ernment of his country . Tarn Ave UOAV to the minted " Circular" to AA'hich Bro .

Harington has directed our attention ; and here Ave find a corroboration of some other remarks in our September article . Wc then expressed our doubts Avhether the brethren in Canada Avould approve the step taken b y their Grand Master ; and Ave think there is but little doubt that this document was put forth in consequence

of such disapprobation having been either expected or expressed . It could not have been in consequence of our humble remarks , for its date SIIOAVS that to have been

“The Freemasons' Monthly Magazine: 1861-01-05, Page 10” Masonic Periodicals Online, Library and Museum of Freemasonry, 4 June 2025, django:8000/periodicals/mmr/issues/mmr_05011861/page/10/.
  • List
  • Grid
Title Category Page
Untitled Article 1
Untitled Article 2
ADDRESS TO OUR READERS. Article 3
INDEX. Article 5
TO OUR READERS. Article 9
THE GRAND MASTER OF CANADA. Article 9
CLASSICAL THEOLOGY.—XXXIX. Article 11
POPULARITY OF FREEMASONRY. Article 12
ARCHITECTURE AND ARCHÆOLOGY. Article 12
MASONIC NOTES AND QUERIES. Article 15
NOTES ON LITERATURE, SCIENCE, AND ART. Article 17
Poetry. Article 19
VICTORIA (AUSTRALIA) TO ENGLAND. Article 19
THE DYING HEROES. Article 20
CORRESPONDENCE. Article 20
THE SUFFERING RIBBON WEAVERS AT COVENTRY. Article 21
THE MASONIC MIRROR. Article 21
PROVINCIAL. Article 21
ROYAL ARCH. Article 23
ANCIENT AND ACCEPTED RITE. Article 23
COLONIAL. Article 24
TURKEY. Article 25
INDIA. Article 25
Obituary. Article 26
THE WEEK. Article 26
PUBLIC AMUSEMENTS. Article 27
TO CORRESPONDENTS. Article 28
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Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.

The Grand Master Of Canada.

Sears in the smallest degree upon the circumstances which were the foundation of our strictures on Bro . Harington . As for the insinuation that ours is not a "Masonic" account , Ave can only say that , in the absence of any better authority , Ave quoted from the wellknown Toronto Globe , giving our authority . Bro .

Harington has not denied the facts there stated ; though he ought to have shown their falsity before he blamed ITS for making use of them . "Until he does so , AVC shall take leave to assume that they are correct .

We are at a loss why" our . M . W . brother should address us at all , if not in his ' official capacity . " Our criticism AA'as upon tho conduct of the Grand Master of Canada in his capacity of ruler ; with Bro . Harington , as an individual brother Freemason , Ave have no difference , nor are Ave aArare of anything but AA'hat is

estimable concerning Bro . Harington ' s private Masonic character . His remark appears to us , therefore , totally irrelevant . But , directly afterwards , our M . W . brother informs us of his intention to submit our remarks to the Grand Lodge of Canada , Ave presume in his capacity as

Grand Master—Avhich appears , to say the least of it , someAvhat contradictory . And , with regard to this kind promise of introducing us to that august assembly , Ave can only say that AVO are particularly obliged to Bro . Harington . We have already ( we are proud to say )

numerous friends in Canada ; and Ave have no doubt that our presentation by the Grand Master Avill largely advance the interests of THE TJIEEIIASOSS MA & . ' / iixE .

The brethren will appreciate our Avafcchful cave for their interests iu common with the other great branches of the Masonic family ; and Avill feel happy in observing our zeal in their cause , though an ocean rolls between us . -Nay , more ; who knows but Avhat , perhaps , the result may be a Yote of confidence in this journal—Avhich AVOUM bo received by its conductors Avith that mingled pride and diffidence / which ei-er characterise modest merit !

But by far the most important point iu our M . W . brother ' s letter is , his assertion that Ave have charged him . -with disloyalty . Here , again , anger has blinded Bro . Harington . Instead of anywhere " indirectly charging him Avith disloyal !// , Ave have twice , in the space of a few lines , called him ( b y implication , to say

the least ) a loyal subject . If he will take the trouble to refer to it , ho AA'ill find that the "Deputy Eeceiver-General" is compared with "the Queen ' s oilier loyal subjects' '—thereb y implying that he is . one also . A little further on he is expressl y described "as a loyal

subject . " We have before said that Ave know nothingwhatever against Bro . Harington's private Masonic character ; Are certainly could not make that assertion if AVC suspected him of disloyalty to the Sovereign . But , though wo have no disloyalty to lay to the charge ,

¦ of Bro . Harington , Ave regret to say that AVC cannot exonerate him from tho blame of discourtesy , and of most ungracious conduct . And . since our brother has taken up our temperate remarks Avith so much Avarmfch , we are induced to speak somewhat freely upon this

matter . We spoke of his conduct in our former article as undignified and injudicious ; Ave will noAv add our opinion that it Avas characterised by a churlish want of courtesy , and by disrespect not only to the constituted authorities , but also to the brethren whom he had brought from their homes to be present at the ceremony .

Neither in his letter to ourselves nor in his printed Circular does he offer any explanation of his conduct on the day itself , in refusing to alloAv the brethren to be present in their costume , though they had been specially invited to do so . Why Bro . Harington has tacked the extract from his letter to the Grand Secretary to the

end of his letter to us , Ave cannot tell , unless it be to show still more plainly the rudeness of his refusal to comply with the intimation from the Prince , which , Bro . Harington himself says , he " looked upon as amounting to more than a simple desire . " Wc ought not , hoAveA'er ,

to be surprised at these instances of eccentricity ( to use the very mildest term ) on the part of the brother in question . We have not forgotten his having volunteered to instal Sir A . M ' jSihb as an independent Grand Master of Canada at the A'ery time Avhen he himself Avas professing fealty as a Provincial Grand Master under the Grand Lodges both of England and Scotland . Other instances mi ght be quoted A \ diich redound but little

to the credit of a conscientious ruler ; such as his introduction of the Mark degree into the Eoyal Arch , in direct contravention of the laws and constitution of English Masonry . But enough on this head ; Bro . Harington's career in high office has not , as far as we can judge , been marked in any great degree by either the

confidence or the respect of the Canadian brethren . We do not expect to hear of his re-election , nor shall Ave be by any means grieved if the throne next year is filled by another brother . With all our respect for trans-Atlantic customs and institutions , aud making all the allowances AA'hich Ave ought to do for a "young country , " Ave should

not be sorry to see our Canadian brethren take a leaf out of our OAA ' U book , and elect to the head of their Craft some brother possessing tact and coiArtesy—as well as firmness and conscientiousness—AAIIO , from his position in the social scale , irrespective of Masonry , may be able to add dignity to his office in the Craft . The knowledge

of the usages of good society , Avhich such a man Avould from his rank be possessed of , Avould prevent the repetition of the unseemly spectacle of a man making a foolish display of arrogance , through his Masonic rank , towards higher functionaries in the GoA-ernment of his country . Tarn Ave UOAV to the minted " Circular" to AA'hich Bro .

Harington has directed our attention ; and here Ave find a corroboration of some other remarks in our September article . Wc then expressed our doubts Avhether the brethren in Canada Avould approve the step taken b y their Grand Master ; and Ave think there is but little doubt that this document was put forth in consequence

of such disapprobation having been either expected or expressed . It could not have been in consequence of our humble remarks , for its date SIIOAVS that to have been

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