The Masonic Mirror.

ArrEAi FROM THE ISLE OF WIGHT . The next business on tho paper was the appeal of Bro . the Rev . A . Wallace , of Newport , Isle of Wight , against the decision of the Prov . G . M . of the Isle of Wight in the matter of a complaint laid before him on the 19 th February , 1863 , On the notice being read by the G . Sec , Bro . MASON said , before this matter was entered upon , he

wished to offer a few remarks to the Grand Lodge upon the subject . He hacl carefully examined the papers , and he found they contained matters of a personal nature ; and he thought that it would be for the interest of the brother concerned , to the credit of Freemasonry , and the harmony of the Grand Loclge , if the appeal was not entered into , but referred

to the arbitration of some member of Grand Lodge . He had no doubt that the brother in question was entitled , under the " Book of Constitutions , " to submit his appeal to Grand Lodge , and he had taken the necessary steps for that purpose . He had the right to submit all matters , on an appeal to Grand Lodge , hut there was a great difference between the right and the policy of

bringing such personal matters before them . They , as Freemasons , advocated brotherly love , relief , and truth , ancl the promotion of those principles on which their Order was founded ; ancl he thought Bro . Wallace would do well to allow the appeal to be decided by the Grand Registrar , Bro . Stebbing , or any other brother in whom the Grand Lodge would have confidence .

He could not conclude with a motion , but he hoped Bro . Wallace would consult his own interests , the credit of Freemasonry , and the harmony of Grand Lodge by submitting his appeal to the arbitration of the Grand Registrar of their Order . Bro . WALLACE said he was the person who was most deeply interested in the matter , and there was no man present who took

a deeper interest in Freemasonry than himself ; but the reason he had brought forward this appeal was in the exercise of that right which every Englishman possessed to defend his character from the aspersions which had been cast upon him . He had no feeling of anger against any of the persons concerned , but ho did not know where else than to Grand Loclge he could go to vindicate his character . Bro . HAYEKS said he rose to order . If their rev . brother

consented to the course suggested by Bro . Mason , well and good . If he did not consent to the course proposed , then ho thought they ought to enter upon the appeal at once . The R . W . D . G . M . said that Bro . Havers hacl rightly laid down the rule . If Bvo . Wallace was not prepared to accept the suggestion of Bro . Mason , they had better proceed with the appeal at once .

Bro . WALLACE : I am not prepared to agree to his suggestion . The G . SECRETARY then read a long correspondence on the subject , from which it appeared that Bro . Way , P . M ., of the Albany Lodge , Newport , Iv . ccl threatened to black ball every candidate that was proposed so long as Bro . Reed , who was

re-instated in his Masonic privileges by the Grand Lodge some time since , was a member of the loclge , ancl that he ( Bro . Wallace ) hacl been thus black balled , which he considered was an imputation cast upon his character , and . he hoped the Grand Lodgo would clo him justice and acquit him of the aspersions that hacl been cast upon him .

The G . REGISTRAR said , without going through all this long cjrrespondence , they ought to have the tangible grounds of appial against the decision of the Provincial Grand Master . Tlie B . W . D . G . MASTER agreed with their brother , the Grand Registrar , that they ought to have the succinct grounds upon which the appeal was made , and that although documents might fo .-m supplementary evidence , that they ought not to form part

of the appeal itself . Anything which had taken place subsequent to tho appeal could form no part of the case . Bro . WALLACE said he held in his hand a copy of tho minutes of a loclge of emergency . The D . G . MASTER -. Are the original minutes here ? Bro . WALLACE said they were not ; but the W . M . of the loclge

was present , and he would certify that the copy of the minutes he produced of the lodge of emergency at which P . M . Way stated to the members of the Albany Loclge that , so so long as Bro . Reed was a member , he would blackball every candidate for joining , were accurate . Bro . Wallace then read several documents , ancl having clone so , said that was the evidence he had to

place before Grand Loclge , and he thought every reasonable mind would believe that he had proved the facts he had laid hefore Bro . Fleming , the Prov . G . M . ; but by his decision he had ignored those facts . He ( Bro . Wallace ) had no wish to occupy the time of the Grand Loclge , but he felt bound to do something to vindicate his character from the aspersions cast upon him .

The R . W . D . G . MASTER wished to ask if that produced was a certified copy of the minutes . The W . MASTER of the Albany Loclge said it was , if that was the copy which had been sent to the Grand Secretary . The R . W . D . G . MASTER said it would have been more satisfactory hacl the original minutes been produced , instead of a

copy . The W . MASTER of the Albany Lodgo said they were brought on a former occasion . The R . W . D . G . MASTER said he would accept them , hut it would have been more regular to have brought the original minutes . Bro . HAVERS wanted to know what was the question before

them . Bro . Wallace hacl said that Bro . Way hacl remarked that he would blackball every member who was proposed for joining . Now Bro . Way did not deny that he had clone so , ancl he hacl made an acknowledgment to tbe Prov . G . M ., expressing his sincere regret for having done so , for which he had been censured by the Prov . G . M . If Bro . AVallace asked them

to reverse his decision , that would take away from Bro . Way tho censure that had been passed lipon him , and that would put Bro . Wallace in a worse position that he was at present . Bro . FLEMING , Prov . G . M . of the Isle of Wight , said he thought that he was not the proper person to address the Grand Loclge . It was true that the minutes of the Albany Lodge had been sent to him , and when he icad them he was so

horrified at what Bro . Way had done , that he wrote to him and to the W . M . of the lodge , telling them that he should hold an inquiry upon it ; ancl if it should he proved that Bro . Way had acted in the way stated , he should visit him with severity . Upon that Bro . Way wrote to him a most humble apology , stating that he was a very old Mason , that he had spent a large

sum of money from time to time in charity , and being the father of five sons , who were all Masons , he asked him ( Bro . Fleming ) to forgive him . He told him that he must write to the loclge , ancl if they thought proper to forgive him , then he should have no objection . At a meeting of the lodge , after a long discussion , it was agreed that Bro . Way should be admitted

amongst them , ancl they also passed a vote of thanks to him ( Bro . Fleming ) for the course lie had taken . He was totally opposed to what passed in Grand Lodge in reference to Bro . Reed ; but he having been restored to all his Masonic rights and privileges , he felt it to he his duty to carry out that resolution . He-had given Bro . Wallace the best and most conciliatory advice , and had he been appealed to , he would have shielded him to the utmost of his power .