The Masonic Mirror.

them , lie should have been met by the JI . AV . Grand Master with a refusal to put his motion . He maintained that on that law he was perfectly justified in making the - irouasition he had made -, and be defied any brother present , by any amount of sophistry , or any amount of special pleading , to prove that he was not so justified . The very first resolution of Bro . Havers recognised the principle for which he was contending , namely , that Grand Lodge was competent to refer the consideration of tho matter to other bod well the Board of General

any y as as Purposes . He saw that Bro . Havers shook his head , but still the case was so , and innumerable instances might be quoted to prove that Grand Lodge had at all fames possessed a power of supervision over the proceedings of the Board of General Purposes . ( Hear , hear ) . He know there was a vast deal of business to be that evening disposed of , and he was therefore unwilling to further occupy their attention ; nor ivould he at all have trespassed upon their time , were it not that on his conscience and on his soul he believed the prerogatives of the independent members of Grand Lod

ge were perilled . ( Laughter ) . He could now refer to a period of twenty-five years spent in Jlasonry , and he boldly asked any one to point to a single act of his inconsistent with the tenets ofthe Craft . He cared for no man ' s displeasure , and he courted no man ' s favour ; and so long as ho had power to do so , ho ivould stand up , if he ivere to stand up alone , and support the privileges of the brethren iu Grand Lodge . If Grand Lodge now confirmed the resolutions to which he objected , they would give the executive tho power to put whatever interpretation wished

they upon tho laws of the Craft . . ( " No , no I" ) He must be met by better arguments than "Z \ o , no 1 " and he should like some brother to provo to him , that the Grand JIaster had the power to say that ho ivould not put an amendment which was in conformity with JIasonie law . Taking the assumption that he was not justified , ho ivould ask them , were they prepared to confirm the minutes ? ( "Time , time ! " ) Brethren might cry "Time , time ! " but in debating a matter like that before Grand Lodtime ivas well spentand if he ied

ge , ; occup six or ten evenings and succeeded in preserving the privileges and prerogatives of the independent members of ihe Grand Lodge , he should feci tho time haefnot been wasted , but that he had conferred a benefit upon the Craft . ( Laughter ) . He wanted to know if it could be made apparent to him , that the Grand JIaster ivas instilled in refusing to put his amendment . He took his stand ou the Book of Constitutions , and asked Grand Lod ge to decide whether ho was right or wroii " ( Cheers ) Bro . Geo . Barrett seconded the amendment .

The JI . AV . Grand JIaster then said , Brethren , as I have been asked certain questions by Bro . AVhitmore , and as my decision upon a motion of his has been impugned by him , it is my duty to rise to answer his questions , and give him the explanation he asks . I assure you , I shall not occupy one tenth the time which ho has done , and I hope to answer his questions and confirm the justice of mv decision in a manner that few members of Grand Lodge will question-some I havo no doubt will . ( Laughter ) . I adhere entivelv to my decision , and I am propared to justifit ( Cheers ) Indeed there is

y . . , no one decision of mine , of tho justice ot which I am more confident , and I shall now very shortly lay before you my reasons lor it . Bro . AVhitmore moved a resolution to add certain membera to the Board oi General Purposes , for the purpose ho has mentioned to you The law sivs that the Board of General Purposes has the direction of every thing relating to the furniture and building of Grand Lodge ; and the next clause says , that the Bo-ird has likewise the care and regulation of all the concernof Grand

s Lodge JNow brethrcn , I maintain that it was not competent for him to move such an amendment ivithout first rescinding those laws . Bro . AVhitmore quotes the Book of CoiMitu . turns , that Grand Lodge alone has the inherent power of enacting laws and regulations for the government ot the Craft , and of altering , repealing , and abrogating them ' always taking care unit the ancient landmarks of the Order be preserved That clause is the ample justification of my decision . I do not deny the rWht of Grand Lodge to make what alterations it lease with regard lo ti ° of the Board

may p . epowers oi General Imposes , or of any other Board ; but I do say , that in order to luve enabled him to put his amendment , he should have looked to this law , and regularly proposed the appointment of a new Board , to take charge of the furniture and buildings of Grand Lodge , before he ventured to take that power from the Board of