The Grand Secretary.

THE GRAND SECRETARY .

LONDON , SATURDAY , JUNE 21 , 1 S 62 .

It is always with extreme regret , AA'henassonietiuies by inadventure it may , anything appears in our columns reflecting upon , any brother or brothers , which Ave are not in a position altogether to justify from our own knowledge of the facts , ancl in that

position we , in some measure , stand upon the present occasion , in consequence of a letter which we published last week , signed " One of the Grand Secretary ' s Victims . " To this letter we have receiA'ed a reply from the Grand Secretary , Avhich Ave print AA'ith deeper

regret than even that to which it purports to be an answer , in consequence of the intemperate tone in whichit is worded . Indeed , hacl it been addressed to any individual connected Avith the MAGAZINE , Ave should have endeavoured to £ > oint out to the Grand Secretary , the propriety of modifying some of its expressions

before making it public—but as it is addressed to the Editor , and contains certain reflections upon ourselves , we presume that Bro . Clarke intended it for publication , and we do so , admitting the full force of the axiom , that those who play at bowls must sometimes expect to receive rubbers in reward of their labours . Here is the Grand Secretary ' s letter - . —

10 THE EDITOR 01 ? TEE EltEEAIASOXS * 3 TAGAZIXE AXD 1 TAS 0 XXC 3 IIER 0 R . SIB , —My attention has been called to an anonymous letter that appears in your impression of Saturday , the 14 th inst ., containing some offensive and impertinent observations onmyself , which it may ansAver your purpose to circulate , but which cannot tend to elevate the character of your paper . I shall , however , take no further notice

of this unwarranted attack on me , than to say , that the man who penned the remarks has proved himself utterly regardless of a solemn obligation he has taken , and consequently unfit ever to have been admitted into Preemasonry . But in addition to the attack on myself personally your correspondent brings a specific charge of neglect ,

in respect to the duties of the office I hold . As this charge affects others , as well as myself , I am bound to investigate it , and the accuser is equally bound to substantiate what he has asserted . I have , therefore , to beg the favour of your giving me the name of the writer Of the letter signed " One of the Q . Secretary ' s Victims , " as well as the name and number of the loclge to which he belongs . I have the honour to be , Sir , your obedient servant , W . Grit AY OiABKE , G . S .

As respects the first part of the letter Ave can asstire the Grand Secretary that it does not " answer our purpose" to circulate " offensive ancl impertinent observations" against any brother , well knoAving that vituperation is not argument , and being aware that the dignity of our position can never be

maintained , except by the exercise of the utmost temper , however strongly Ave may feel on any subject ; and that we shall best promote the objects we have in view , by expressing our opinions in moderate

The Grand Secretary.

ancl gentlemanly language , though Ave shall evei ? continue strenuously to denounce abuses and irregularities , in the conduct of the business of the order , wheneA'er we observe them , whilst , at the same time , we shall endeavour to do so in such a manner as to merit the respect of every brother .

As the second part of the letter complained of does , as Bro . Clarke states , contain " a specific charge of neglect in respect to the duties of his office , " and as we hold Avith him that every brother who makes such a charge is bound to substantiate it , Ave should ,

under ordinary circumstances , have asked , and recommended , the writer of the letter to allow us to give his name to the Grand Secretary ; but in the present instance we cannot do so , the Grand Secretary having put himself entirely " out of Court" by the declaration "that the man who penned the remarks , has

proved himself utterly regardless of a solemn obligation he has taken , and consequently unfit ever to have been admitted into Ereeinasonry , " thereby proving to us that should we hand the name of the brother implicated to the Grand Secretary , we should

not be doing so m order to allow a fair investigation , of the charge of neglect , but that he might be subjected to every petty persecution which might suggest itself to the vengeance of the Grand Secretary ; and here let us observe that the passages of the letter relative to which these strong expressions of the Grand

Secretary are used , appeared to us in no other light than a little harmless badinage , for we do not go so far as to suppose that it is in the power of the Grand Secretary , any more than of "any other man , " to know the exact spelling of every individual brother ' s name ; ancl that the Grand Secretary could have had

no partizan view in not objecting to Bro . Gauleiter ' s name , for a mere typographical error , is shown by the fact that that brother ' s name was on both lists proposed as a candidate for the Board of General Purposes , and the high position he held upon the poll

showed that he Avas generally acceptable to Grand Lodge . Though we think that under the circumstances we have named , we should not be justified in g iving- up the name of the writer complained of , Ave haA e thought it desirable to submit the letter of the Grand

Secretary to our correspondent , asking also for an explanation of the circumstances of which he complains ( for our private information only ) , and have received the following reply for p ublication : — TO THE EDITOR OP THE PREEjIASOXS' 3 IAGAZIXJ 3 AXB MASONIC MIRROR . DEAK SIB AND BROTHER—Having read the Grand

, Secretary ' s letter , enclosed with your note , I object to my name and the number of my lodge being handed to him . Such a demand is unconstitutional , and he has no right to make it under any semblance of Masonic law . 'The Grand Secretary being an official , his acts are fair subjects for comment , remark , or enquiry , either in print , or otherwise , by e \ 'ery brother in the Craft . If ,