-
Articles/Ads
Article ROYAL ARCH, ← Page 2 of 3 →
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Royal Arch,
Comp . JOSEPH SMITH moved that the prayer . of the petition he complied with . Comp . LEVINSON seconded the proposition . The G . Z . thought it would be but respectful to Grand Chapter that either tho mover or seconder gave some reason for their motion . Comp . SMITH said he had refrained from doing so , as they w ere fully set forth in the petition itself . He then repeated the circumstances , and added that a great number of the companions in the chapter were members of the Athelstan Lodge . The G . Z . expressed himself satisfied with the explanation . The motion was then put , ancl carried nem . con .
NEW CHAPTEES . AVarrants were ordered to he issued for a chapter to be attached to the Cabbell Lodge ( No . 1109 ) , Norwich , to the Unity ( No . SS 9 ) , at Southport , and to the Crystal Palace ( No . 1044 ) , at Sydenham . On the motion for the issue of the warrant in the last ease , a private letter was read , signed by some members of the lodge , dissenting from the movement for the formation of a chapter ; hot as such a communication was altogether irregular , no attention was paid to it by Grand Chapter .
EEASUBE OP CHAPTEES . Itwas then ordered that Chapter of Love and Unity ( No . 235 ) , Dover ; Chapter of Harmony ( No . 339 ) , Boston , Lincolnshire ' ¦ Chapter of Good Intent ( No . 385 ) , Hebden Bridge , near Halifax ; Chapter of Faith ( No . 403 ) , Stockport ; Kingston ( No . 447 ) , Jamaica , and Mount Sinai Chapter ( No . 595 ) , Longtown , be removed from the list of chapters ordered to be erased .
G EASD C HAPTER OP C ANADA . Comp . EA AHS ,-G . J ., then called attention to the communication received from Com . Harris , G . S . E . ot Canada , and requested that the following paragraph from the report of the Board of General Purposes on the subject he read viz -. — "The Committee have ordered to be printed with the Report , for the information of the members of Grand Chapter , and in order
to the subject being taken into consideration at the approaching meeting , a letter lately received from the G . Scribe E . of the Grand Chapter of Canada with reference to the charter granted hy the Supreme Grand Chapter of England for a Chapter to bo attached to the Dalhousie Lodge ( No . 835 ) at Ottawa , Canada AA est . The Committee must , however , observe that the paragraph in that letter between inverted commas , professing to be an extract from a letter of the G . Scribe E . of the Supreme Grand Chapter of England ,
is not a correct extract , as some words are omitted : ancl , further , that the reasons given for recognizing the Grand Chapter of Canada are wholly suppressed . " He then asked to have read to Grand Chapter the passage in Comp . Harris's letter to which allusion was made . " The subject was introduced in the M . E . Z . address as a matter of grave importance , involving a principle which he conceived to be irreconcilable with the terms of your letter of the 10 th February ,
1860 , by which the constitutional position of the Grand Chapter of Canada was recognised hy the Supreme Grand Chapter of England in the following words : —¦ ' I am instructed to state that , in the name ancl on behalf of the Supreme Grand Chapter of England ,
they , the Grand Principals , fully recognise the Grand Chapter of Canada , reserving , however , to all Chapters now in Canada , who are still holding charters under the Supreme Grand Chapter of England , all their rights and privileges . ' " The words omitted from the original letter addessed to the Grand Chapter of Canada , were to the effect that the rights ancl privileges of Royal Arch Masons , in ' allegiance to the Supreme Grand Chapter , were reserved as fully and as completely as if the
Grand Chapter of Canada had never existed . Comp . EA'ANS then moved that it he referred to the Committoeof General Purposes , to reply to the communication , in a formal , constitutional , and legal manner . He was ready to acknowledge that it had been the intention both of Grand Lodge and Grand Chapter to acknowledge to the full the independence of the Canadian Masons ; but according to what appeared to him the correct interpretation of the treatythey not only reserved the rights and privileges of all
, Chapters holding under the Supreme Grand Chapter , hut also the rights and privileges of English Royal Arch Masons , ancl surely one of those privileges was that of being associated together in Chapters , ancl when they received a petition from certain of their Companions in Canada asking- permission to so associate themselves , Grand Chapter acceeded to their prayer . The Pooh of Constitutions stated that Masonry consisted of the three degrees of Craft Masonry , including the Royal Arch . Therefore Masonry was not perfect unless it
included the Royal Arch , ancl it was , therefore , clear that when the English Craft Masons were secured their rights and privileges , they were also secured the right of being exalted in English Royal Arch Chapters , else they would be driven to take tho Royal Arch
Degree in a Canadian lodge , and they could not do that unless they first became Mark Masons . In fact , they would he driven to take a degree that was recognised neither hy the Grand Lodge or the Grand Chapter in this country , ancl would be to them a great hardship . Corep . SilG-nT seconded the motion . He had , he said , been present at all the discussions which had taken place in reference to the independence of the Canadian brethrenand couldfrom his
, , own knowledge , state that it had never been the intention of either Grand . Lodge or Grand Chapter to surrender the privileges which belonged either to private lodges or to individual brethren , and it was the privilege of every lodge to have a Chapter attached to it .
Comp . STEBBING said it was with great deference to the opinions of the companions who had just spoken that he ventured to differ from them . He certainly thought that in what the Supreme Grand Chapter had done they had gone beyond the treaty . By that treaty Grand Chapter had no authority whatever in Canada . It was true they had reserved the right of existing chapters ; but they had not , either in law or equity , any right further to interfere with tho action of the Grand Chapter of Canada . It was not a question of
privilege at all , but was one of right , and was analagous to thiswhether a conquered sovereign possessed any sovereign rights in a country which was taken from him hy conquest . The practice and polity of nations both denied he had any such rights . He hoped that before a decision was arrived at , the whole question would he fully and fairly deliberated . Comp . HAVEES saw the full force of Comp . Stebbing's remarks , and thought it would be better to postpone any action upon the
matter . It was certainly a grave point . He had no doubt that Grand Lodge and Grand Chapter both intended to reserve to the English brethren in Canada this right ; but they ought to he perfectly clear upon the subject . They ought to have before them not only the letter from the Grand Chapter , but also that from the Grand Lodge , recognising the independence of the Canadian brethren . No doubt the Grand Scribe E . could let them have it . Comp . GEAY GLAEKE . AVe intended to have had it herebut could
, not find it . Comp . HAVEES . Why a document of that importance ought to be found in a minute . Comp . G . CLAEKE . It can be found , but we were not able to lay our hands upon it the minute before Grand Chapter met . Comp . HAVEES . It was part of the case , ancl it ought to have been here . Comp . PJEAESEof Penzancethought that instead of leaving the
, , decision of the matter to . the Committee of General Purposes , the better course would be to refer it to them to report on to the next convocation of Grand Chapter . Comp . SEIGHT considered the reservation of rights ancl privileges perfectly clear . It could not mean that they were to be allowed to wear their Masonic clothing , and must therefore refer to such matters as that under discussion .
Comp . PEBKINS remarked that we had also reserved to Craft Masons their rights and privileges . One of the privileges as Masons was to meet together in lodges , and he should therefore like to know if ten or twelve Masons , members of the same lodge , removed to another part of Canada , and applied for a warrant to enable them to hold a lodge , if the Grand Master could issue them such an authority . After a few words from Comp . Lambert ,
Comp . HAA'EBS said he thought the best course would be to fall in with the suggestions of Comp . Pearce , ancl refer the matter to the Committee of General Purposes for them to report on it to the next meeting of Grand Chapter , as , perhaps , by that time the Grand Scribe E . of England would be able to find the letter from Grand Lodge to the Grand Lodge of Canada . Comp . STEBBING hoped the report would he a little more Ml than that presented at the present convocation , ancl that they would
have the omitted portions of the letters inserted . A resolution to that effect was then agreed to . Comp . LAMBERT said that he hoped that in the meantime a letter would ho addressed to Comp . Harris explanatory of what was being clone . Comp . HAVEES said that would be done as a matter of course . It was the custom of the G . Scribe's office to reply punctually to all such communications . ( A laugh . )
REMOA * AI OP A CHAPTER . Comp . STUBBING then said he had to bring before Grand Chapter a matter of privilege . He was exerting himself to resuscitate the Chapter of Harmony , formerly held at Gosport , in connection with the Lodge of Harmony , since removed to Farnhorough . He wished also to remove the chapter to that town ; and when he applied to the G . Sup . of the Province for his permission , that companion informed him that the removal could not take place without the
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Royal Arch,
Comp . JOSEPH SMITH moved that the prayer . of the petition he complied with . Comp . LEVINSON seconded the proposition . The G . Z . thought it would be but respectful to Grand Chapter that either tho mover or seconder gave some reason for their motion . Comp . SMITH said he had refrained from doing so , as they w ere fully set forth in the petition itself . He then repeated the circumstances , and added that a great number of the companions in the chapter were members of the Athelstan Lodge . The G . Z . expressed himself satisfied with the explanation . The motion was then put , ancl carried nem . con .
NEW CHAPTEES . AVarrants were ordered to he issued for a chapter to be attached to the Cabbell Lodge ( No . 1109 ) , Norwich , to the Unity ( No . SS 9 ) , at Southport , and to the Crystal Palace ( No . 1044 ) , at Sydenham . On the motion for the issue of the warrant in the last ease , a private letter was read , signed by some members of the lodge , dissenting from the movement for the formation of a chapter ; hot as such a communication was altogether irregular , no attention was paid to it by Grand Chapter .
EEASUBE OP CHAPTEES . Itwas then ordered that Chapter of Love and Unity ( No . 235 ) , Dover ; Chapter of Harmony ( No . 339 ) , Boston , Lincolnshire ' ¦ Chapter of Good Intent ( No . 385 ) , Hebden Bridge , near Halifax ; Chapter of Faith ( No . 403 ) , Stockport ; Kingston ( No . 447 ) , Jamaica , and Mount Sinai Chapter ( No . 595 ) , Longtown , be removed from the list of chapters ordered to be erased .
G EASD C HAPTER OP C ANADA . Comp . EA AHS ,-G . J ., then called attention to the communication received from Com . Harris , G . S . E . ot Canada , and requested that the following paragraph from the report of the Board of General Purposes on the subject he read viz -. — "The Committee have ordered to be printed with the Report , for the information of the members of Grand Chapter , and in order
to the subject being taken into consideration at the approaching meeting , a letter lately received from the G . Scribe E . of the Grand Chapter of Canada with reference to the charter granted hy the Supreme Grand Chapter of England for a Chapter to bo attached to the Dalhousie Lodge ( No . 835 ) at Ottawa , Canada AA est . The Committee must , however , observe that the paragraph in that letter between inverted commas , professing to be an extract from a letter of the G . Scribe E . of the Supreme Grand Chapter of England ,
is not a correct extract , as some words are omitted : ancl , further , that the reasons given for recognizing the Grand Chapter of Canada are wholly suppressed . " He then asked to have read to Grand Chapter the passage in Comp . Harris's letter to which allusion was made . " The subject was introduced in the M . E . Z . address as a matter of grave importance , involving a principle which he conceived to be irreconcilable with the terms of your letter of the 10 th February ,
1860 , by which the constitutional position of the Grand Chapter of Canada was recognised hy the Supreme Grand Chapter of England in the following words : —¦ ' I am instructed to state that , in the name ancl on behalf of the Supreme Grand Chapter of England ,
they , the Grand Principals , fully recognise the Grand Chapter of Canada , reserving , however , to all Chapters now in Canada , who are still holding charters under the Supreme Grand Chapter of England , all their rights and privileges . ' " The words omitted from the original letter addessed to the Grand Chapter of Canada , were to the effect that the rights ancl privileges of Royal Arch Masons , in ' allegiance to the Supreme Grand Chapter , were reserved as fully and as completely as if the
Grand Chapter of Canada had never existed . Comp . EA'ANS then moved that it he referred to the Committoeof General Purposes , to reply to the communication , in a formal , constitutional , and legal manner . He was ready to acknowledge that it had been the intention both of Grand Lodge and Grand Chapter to acknowledge to the full the independence of the Canadian Masons ; but according to what appeared to him the correct interpretation of the treatythey not only reserved the rights and privileges of all
, Chapters holding under the Supreme Grand Chapter , hut also the rights and privileges of English Royal Arch Masons , ancl surely one of those privileges was that of being associated together in Chapters , ancl when they received a petition from certain of their Companions in Canada asking- permission to so associate themselves , Grand Chapter acceeded to their prayer . The Pooh of Constitutions stated that Masonry consisted of the three degrees of Craft Masonry , including the Royal Arch . Therefore Masonry was not perfect unless it
included the Royal Arch , ancl it was , therefore , clear that when the English Craft Masons were secured their rights and privileges , they were also secured the right of being exalted in English Royal Arch Chapters , else they would be driven to take tho Royal Arch
Degree in a Canadian lodge , and they could not do that unless they first became Mark Masons . In fact , they would he driven to take a degree that was recognised neither hy the Grand Lodge or the Grand Chapter in this country , ancl would be to them a great hardship . Corep . SilG-nT seconded the motion . He had , he said , been present at all the discussions which had taken place in reference to the independence of the Canadian brethrenand couldfrom his
, , own knowledge , state that it had never been the intention of either Grand . Lodge or Grand Chapter to surrender the privileges which belonged either to private lodges or to individual brethren , and it was the privilege of every lodge to have a Chapter attached to it .
Comp . STEBBING said it was with great deference to the opinions of the companions who had just spoken that he ventured to differ from them . He certainly thought that in what the Supreme Grand Chapter had done they had gone beyond the treaty . By that treaty Grand Chapter had no authority whatever in Canada . It was true they had reserved the right of existing chapters ; but they had not , either in law or equity , any right further to interfere with tho action of the Grand Chapter of Canada . It was not a question of
privilege at all , but was one of right , and was analagous to thiswhether a conquered sovereign possessed any sovereign rights in a country which was taken from him hy conquest . The practice and polity of nations both denied he had any such rights . He hoped that before a decision was arrived at , the whole question would he fully and fairly deliberated . Comp . HAVEES saw the full force of Comp . Stebbing's remarks , and thought it would be better to postpone any action upon the
matter . It was certainly a grave point . He had no doubt that Grand Lodge and Grand Chapter both intended to reserve to the English brethren in Canada this right ; but they ought to he perfectly clear upon the subject . They ought to have before them not only the letter from the Grand Chapter , but also that from the Grand Lodge , recognising the independence of the Canadian brethren . No doubt the Grand Scribe E . could let them have it . Comp . GEAY GLAEKE . AVe intended to have had it herebut could
, not find it . Comp . HAVEES . Why a document of that importance ought to be found in a minute . Comp . G . CLAEKE . It can be found , but we were not able to lay our hands upon it the minute before Grand Chapter met . Comp . HAVEES . It was part of the case , ancl it ought to have been here . Comp . PJEAESEof Penzancethought that instead of leaving the
, , decision of the matter to . the Committee of General Purposes , the better course would be to refer it to them to report on to the next convocation of Grand Chapter . Comp . SEIGHT considered the reservation of rights ancl privileges perfectly clear . It could not mean that they were to be allowed to wear their Masonic clothing , and must therefore refer to such matters as that under discussion .
Comp . PEBKINS remarked that we had also reserved to Craft Masons their rights and privileges . One of the privileges as Masons was to meet together in lodges , and he should therefore like to know if ten or twelve Masons , members of the same lodge , removed to another part of Canada , and applied for a warrant to enable them to hold a lodge , if the Grand Master could issue them such an authority . After a few words from Comp . Lambert ,
Comp . HAA'EBS said he thought the best course would be to fall in with the suggestions of Comp . Pearce , ancl refer the matter to the Committee of General Purposes for them to report on it to the next meeting of Grand Chapter , as , perhaps , by that time the Grand Scribe E . of England would be able to find the letter from Grand Lodge to the Grand Lodge of Canada . Comp . STEBBING hoped the report would he a little more Ml than that presented at the present convocation , ancl that they would
have the omitted portions of the letters inserted . A resolution to that effect was then agreed to . Comp . LAMBERT said that he hoped that in the meantime a letter would ho addressed to Comp . Harris explanatory of what was being clone . Comp . HAVEES said that would be done as a matter of course . It was the custom of the G . Scribe's office to reply punctually to all such communications . ( A laugh . )
REMOA * AI OP A CHAPTER . Comp . STUBBING then said he had to bring before Grand Chapter a matter of privilege . He was exerting himself to resuscitate the Chapter of Harmony , formerly held at Gosport , in connection with the Lodge of Harmony , since removed to Farnhorough . He wished also to remove the chapter to that town ; and when he applied to the G . Sup . of the Province for his permission , that companion informed him that the removal could not take place without the