Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Mark Masonry.
had only to hope that the same zeal and energy in the discharge of their several duties which had hitherto been evinced , ivould continue to be exercised by all . The noble Earl then appointed the officers for the ensuing year , viz .: — Bro . Visct . Holmesdalc , M . P Dep . Grand Master „ Ralph A Benson Grand Sen . Warden W . Lewis Collins . Tun . Warden
„ „ „ KOA-. V \ MI pavis | Chaplains „ Rev . J . G . AA ood ) x „ Dr . Jones „ Treasurer „ Ed . Burrell „ Registrar „ Fredk . B ' mckes , „ Secretary „ J . R . Stebbing „ 1 st Overseer „ George Haward „ 2 nd Overseer
„ Lyons AA right „ 3 rd Overseer „ George Lambert „ Sen . Deacon „ AVilliam "White „ Jun . Deacon „ H . AA . Spratt „ Supt . of AVorks „ W . Blenkin „ Dir . of Cers . „ 3 . W . Pigir „ Sword Bearer JEdney Organist
„ . „ „ AA . Rice „ Tyler The General Board was nominated as follows : —Bros . AA . AA ' . Beach , M . P . ( President ) , A . F . Ridgway , Jun ., Dr . Jones , Rev . J . G . Wood , Rev . G . R . Portal , Edward Burrell , Frederick B ' mckes , J . R . Stebbing , George Lambert , Richard Spencer . The Grand Stewards for the year are Bros . J . Cole , Bon Accord Lodge ; Robt . SparkerKeystone Lodge ( Xo . 3 ); Henry GarrodThistle Lodge
, , ( No . S . ) After discussions on the questions of fees , the issue of certificates , the regularity of returns made by the Provincial Lodges to Grand Lodge , and on other subjects of interest and importance to the Order , business was formally concluded , and Grand Lodge closed with solemn prayer .
Scotland.
SCOTLAND .
BURXS'S MOTHER LODGE—SURRENDER OF THE CHARTER . ( From the Ayr Advertiser . ) Being called upon to take a somewhat prominent part in the endeavours of the Craft to prevent the contemplated sale of the charter of Tarbolton St . David's Lodge , and having , in our official Masonic capacity , hadan opportunity of making ourselves acquainted with the circumstances of the casewhich has of late created so
, much stir , not only in Masonic circles , but amongst the admirers of Burns throughout the length and breadth of the land , we would crave your further indulgence while in a few sentences we report the result of the agitation ivhich bas been raised by the appearance of the "Masonic advertisement of a novel and unusual character " obtaining publicity through the columns of the public press . The subject having , by the Junior AVarden of Mother Kilwinning ,
been brought before the Grand Lodge of Scotland , that body addressed an order to Sir James Fergusson , Bart ., M . P ., Prov . G . Master for Ayrshire , his Dcp . and Sub . Masters , AA ' ardens , and Secretary , desiring each and all of them , as representing the said Grand Lodge , to take the most immediate and effectual means of possessing the charter of the Ayrshire Poet ' s Mother Lodge , and returning the same to the Grand Secretary at Edinburgh . " " Meantime , acting upon information received , and to secure the safetv of
the charter until the Vrov . G . Master should cause the necessary arrangemonts to bo made for carrying out the instructions of the Supreme Lodge , a petition ivas presented to Sheriff Robison for an interdict prohibiting the sale or removal of the said charter : and the interdict was granted accordingly . Sir James Fergusson thereafter nominated and appointed the following brethren as Prov . G . Officers , armed with full powers to compel restitution of the interesting document illegalloffered for sale : —Hugh ConnDepProvGM '
y , . . .. ; James Hendrie , Senior Prov . G . W . ; 1 ) . Murray Lyon , Junior Prov . G . \ A . ; and Robert AV ' ylie , Prov . G . See . Parties having been cited to appeal-before these officials on the 14 th inst ., the deputation from the Prov . G . Lodge proceeded to Tarbolton on the afternoon of Friday last , and opened a lodge for the despatch of the special business with which they had been entrusted . There was an unusually large attendance of brethren , attracted to the lodge no doubt b
y the peculiarity of the circumstances ivhich had led to the visitation by the representatives of the ( fraud Lodge : even the villagers seemed on the qui rice as to the upshot of the proceedings of the meeting . The lodge being duly opened and the preliminaries disposed of , parties were called . Bro . John Oliver appeared , and in a firm yet respectful and feeling manner repudiated all connection with tbe publication of the objectionable advertisement above alluded to , or of being a party to the proposed sale of St . David ' s
charter , neither had he authorised any agent to " act for him in resisting the claims of the Grand Lodge to its possession . On the contrary , he was most anxious that that interesting memorial of Robert Burns should be preserved to the village of Tarbolton , so intimately associated with the Bard ' s Masonic history . It was nearly thirty years since he ceased attending the meetings of St . David's Lodge , or taken any part in the management of its affairs , and he felt annoyed that his name should have been identified with
the proceeding which had so universally been condemned by the Craft . He trusted the J . G . AV . ivould do him the justice of now putting him right in the eyes of the fraternity . Bro . Oliver ' s remarks were ivarmly applauded—the Master of St . James's ( Bro . Brown ) , P . M . Sloan of St . David ' s , and other brethren , expressing their belief in the truth of the statement made by that brother . Bro . Conn , in name of his colleagues , expressed their admiration of the course Bro . Oliver had taken to vindicate himself from the
charge of complicity in this unfortunate business , and their sympathy for him that his name should have been mixed up with it ; and he had every confidence that the Jun . Grand Warden ivould attend to the injured brother's request , by clearing him of the charge which had been brought against him . The J . AA . ivas the official through whom the charge and complaint should be brought before the Prov . G . Lodge ; audit was only in the
performance of his official Masonic duties , and acting upon the information tendered to him by brethren of good Masonic standing , that Bro . Lyon had included Bro . John Oliver ' s name in the indictment presented to the Prov . Grand Master ; and considering that the safety of the charter and the honour of the Craft were imperilled by the inconsiderate act of a few , a very few , ho was glad to say , of the St . David ' s brethren , the thanks of the Scottish Craft were due to their Junior G . AVarden for the prompitude and tact he had
exhibited in arresting what , if accomplished , would hai-e been looked upon as an act involving the Masonic disgrace of the ivhole brotherhood . He regretted that anything should have transpired on the part of those in possession of the charter calculated to wound the feelings of the Craft , or bring reproach upon the Order ,
of which Burns was so bright an ornament , and hoped , nay , be was sure of it—that Bro . AA'illiam Oliver , and those acting with him , ivould sec it to be their duty as Masons and Scotchmen to deliver up to the representatives of the Grand Lodge the charter of which they had lately heard so much , and which , on no account , would be permitted to be sold . Bro . William Oliver , the holder of the charter , having in the first-instance declined to appear before the open lod the Depute
ge , Prov . Grand Master named the following brethren to accompany Jun . G . Warden and P . G . Secretary in holding a private conference with Bro . AA ' m . Oliver , with the view of affecting an amicable adjustment ofthe question at issue—Rev . Robert Murray , Prov . G . Chaplain ; James Brown , R . W . M . of St . James ' s Lodge ; John Sloan , Past Master of St . David ' s ; and John Oliver , also of St . David ' s . Aftei a lengthened meeting with Bros . Wm . Oliver ,
and George Bryan , as representing the holders of tho charter and books of St . David ' s , in course of conversation it was stated by these brethren that the advertising for sale of the charter was intended more to test the right of ownership to that document than Cor the purpose of effecting a sale ; and that now being convinced ofthe justness of the Grand Lodge ' s claim to the dormant charter , they ivould cheerfully and unhesitatingly surrender it to the representatives of that body . Had they been anxious to dispose of the charter they could have done so long ago ; but further
than causing the advertisement to be published , they had taken no steps whatever to hasten the sale of the charter . Bros . Bryan and Win . Oliver then accompanied the deputation to the lodgeroom , and in open lodge presented to the J ) . Grand Master , amid the plaudits of the assembled brethren , the charter of Burns ' s Mother Lodge . After a few congratulatory remarks hy Bro . Conn , specially addressod to Bros . AVm . Oliver and George Branthe Junior Grand
y , Warden reiterated what he had publicly expressed , viz ., that in offering for sale the charter of their dormant lodge the brethren hail been acting more through a misconception of tho laws and usages of the Craft , than from any desire to ignore these laws or to bring reproach upon the Fraternity ; although they were not without blame in taking upon themselves the responsibility of in any way disposing of the charter without consulting the wishes of
the other members of tbe lodge , all of whom bad an equal voice iu anything affecting that lodge . The readiness with ivhich Bro . Oliver had complied with the demand of the Grand Lodge for possession of St . Davids charter compensated in a great measure for his former inadvertency—it did justice to tho body , and ivould fo far to wipe out the stigma of an act , done more through ignorance of masonic law than from any deliberate intention to affect the good
name or interests of Freeinasomy . The error Bro . AVillian Oliver and those acting with him , had committed , had raised the worst suspicions of the brethren , and the most exaggerated rumours were-
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Mark Masonry.
had only to hope that the same zeal and energy in the discharge of their several duties which had hitherto been evinced , ivould continue to be exercised by all . The noble Earl then appointed the officers for the ensuing year , viz .: — Bro . Visct . Holmesdalc , M . P Dep . Grand Master „ Ralph A Benson Grand Sen . Warden W . Lewis Collins . Tun . Warden
„ „ „ KOA-. V \ MI pavis | Chaplains „ Rev . J . G . AA ood ) x „ Dr . Jones „ Treasurer „ Ed . Burrell „ Registrar „ Fredk . B ' mckes , „ Secretary „ J . R . Stebbing „ 1 st Overseer „ George Haward „ 2 nd Overseer
„ Lyons AA right „ 3 rd Overseer „ George Lambert „ Sen . Deacon „ AVilliam "White „ Jun . Deacon „ H . AA . Spratt „ Supt . of AVorks „ W . Blenkin „ Dir . of Cers . „ 3 . W . Pigir „ Sword Bearer JEdney Organist
„ . „ „ AA . Rice „ Tyler The General Board was nominated as follows : —Bros . AA . AA ' . Beach , M . P . ( President ) , A . F . Ridgway , Jun ., Dr . Jones , Rev . J . G . Wood , Rev . G . R . Portal , Edward Burrell , Frederick B ' mckes , J . R . Stebbing , George Lambert , Richard Spencer . The Grand Stewards for the year are Bros . J . Cole , Bon Accord Lodge ; Robt . SparkerKeystone Lodge ( Xo . 3 ); Henry GarrodThistle Lodge
, , ( No . S . ) After discussions on the questions of fees , the issue of certificates , the regularity of returns made by the Provincial Lodges to Grand Lodge , and on other subjects of interest and importance to the Order , business was formally concluded , and Grand Lodge closed with solemn prayer .
Scotland.
SCOTLAND .
BURXS'S MOTHER LODGE—SURRENDER OF THE CHARTER . ( From the Ayr Advertiser . ) Being called upon to take a somewhat prominent part in the endeavours of the Craft to prevent the contemplated sale of the charter of Tarbolton St . David's Lodge , and having , in our official Masonic capacity , hadan opportunity of making ourselves acquainted with the circumstances of the casewhich has of late created so
, much stir , not only in Masonic circles , but amongst the admirers of Burns throughout the length and breadth of the land , we would crave your further indulgence while in a few sentences we report the result of the agitation ivhich bas been raised by the appearance of the "Masonic advertisement of a novel and unusual character " obtaining publicity through the columns of the public press . The subject having , by the Junior AVarden of Mother Kilwinning ,
been brought before the Grand Lodge of Scotland , that body addressed an order to Sir James Fergusson , Bart ., M . P ., Prov . G . Master for Ayrshire , his Dcp . and Sub . Masters , AA ' ardens , and Secretary , desiring each and all of them , as representing the said Grand Lodge , to take the most immediate and effectual means of possessing the charter of the Ayrshire Poet ' s Mother Lodge , and returning the same to the Grand Secretary at Edinburgh . " " Meantime , acting upon information received , and to secure the safetv of
the charter until the Vrov . G . Master should cause the necessary arrangemonts to bo made for carrying out the instructions of the Supreme Lodge , a petition ivas presented to Sheriff Robison for an interdict prohibiting the sale or removal of the said charter : and the interdict was granted accordingly . Sir James Fergusson thereafter nominated and appointed the following brethren as Prov . G . Officers , armed with full powers to compel restitution of the interesting document illegalloffered for sale : —Hugh ConnDepProvGM '
y , . . .. ; James Hendrie , Senior Prov . G . W . ; 1 ) . Murray Lyon , Junior Prov . G . \ A . ; and Robert AV ' ylie , Prov . G . See . Parties having been cited to appeal-before these officials on the 14 th inst ., the deputation from the Prov . G . Lodge proceeded to Tarbolton on the afternoon of Friday last , and opened a lodge for the despatch of the special business with which they had been entrusted . There was an unusually large attendance of brethren , attracted to the lodge no doubt b
y the peculiarity of the circumstances ivhich had led to the visitation by the representatives of the ( fraud Lodge : even the villagers seemed on the qui rice as to the upshot of the proceedings of the meeting . The lodge being duly opened and the preliminaries disposed of , parties were called . Bro . John Oliver appeared , and in a firm yet respectful and feeling manner repudiated all connection with tbe publication of the objectionable advertisement above alluded to , or of being a party to the proposed sale of St . David ' s
charter , neither had he authorised any agent to " act for him in resisting the claims of the Grand Lodge to its possession . On the contrary , he was most anxious that that interesting memorial of Robert Burns should be preserved to the village of Tarbolton , so intimately associated with the Bard ' s Masonic history . It was nearly thirty years since he ceased attending the meetings of St . David's Lodge , or taken any part in the management of its affairs , and he felt annoyed that his name should have been identified with
the proceeding which had so universally been condemned by the Craft . He trusted the J . G . AV . ivould do him the justice of now putting him right in the eyes of the fraternity . Bro . Oliver ' s remarks were ivarmly applauded—the Master of St . James's ( Bro . Brown ) , P . M . Sloan of St . David ' s , and other brethren , expressing their belief in the truth of the statement made by that brother . Bro . Conn , in name of his colleagues , expressed their admiration of the course Bro . Oliver had taken to vindicate himself from the
charge of complicity in this unfortunate business , and their sympathy for him that his name should have been mixed up with it ; and he had every confidence that the Jun . Grand Warden ivould attend to the injured brother's request , by clearing him of the charge which had been brought against him . The J . AA . ivas the official through whom the charge and complaint should be brought before the Prov . G . Lodge ; audit was only in the
performance of his official Masonic duties , and acting upon the information tendered to him by brethren of good Masonic standing , that Bro . Lyon had included Bro . John Oliver ' s name in the indictment presented to the Prov . Grand Master ; and considering that the safety of the charter and the honour of the Craft were imperilled by the inconsiderate act of a few , a very few , ho was glad to say , of the St . David ' s brethren , the thanks of the Scottish Craft were due to their Junior G . AVarden for the prompitude and tact he had
exhibited in arresting what , if accomplished , would hai-e been looked upon as an act involving the Masonic disgrace of the ivhole brotherhood . He regretted that anything should have transpired on the part of those in possession of the charter calculated to wound the feelings of the Craft , or bring reproach upon the Order ,
of which Burns was so bright an ornament , and hoped , nay , be was sure of it—that Bro . AA'illiam Oliver , and those acting with him , ivould sec it to be their duty as Masons and Scotchmen to deliver up to the representatives of the Grand Lodge the charter of which they had lately heard so much , and which , on no account , would be permitted to be sold . Bro . William Oliver , the holder of the charter , having in the first-instance declined to appear before the open lod the Depute
ge , Prov . Grand Master named the following brethren to accompany Jun . G . Warden and P . G . Secretary in holding a private conference with Bro . AA ' m . Oliver , with the view of affecting an amicable adjustment ofthe question at issue—Rev . Robert Murray , Prov . G . Chaplain ; James Brown , R . W . M . of St . James ' s Lodge ; John Sloan , Past Master of St . David ' s ; and John Oliver , also of St . David ' s . Aftei a lengthened meeting with Bros . Wm . Oliver ,
and George Bryan , as representing the holders of tho charter and books of St . David ' s , in course of conversation it was stated by these brethren that the advertising for sale of the charter was intended more to test the right of ownership to that document than Cor the purpose of effecting a sale ; and that now being convinced ofthe justness of the Grand Lodge ' s claim to the dormant charter , they ivould cheerfully and unhesitatingly surrender it to the representatives of that body . Had they been anxious to dispose of the charter they could have done so long ago ; but further
than causing the advertisement to be published , they had taken no steps whatever to hasten the sale of the charter . Bros . Bryan and Win . Oliver then accompanied the deputation to the lodgeroom , and in open lodge presented to the J ) . Grand Master , amid the plaudits of the assembled brethren , the charter of Burns ' s Mother Lodge . After a few congratulatory remarks hy Bro . Conn , specially addressod to Bros . AVm . Oliver and George Branthe Junior Grand
y , Warden reiterated what he had publicly expressed , viz ., that in offering for sale the charter of their dormant lodge the brethren hail been acting more through a misconception of tho laws and usages of the Craft , than from any desire to ignore these laws or to bring reproach upon the Fraternity ; although they were not without blame in taking upon themselves the responsibility of in any way disposing of the charter without consulting the wishes of
the other members of tbe lodge , all of whom bad an equal voice iu anything affecting that lodge . The readiness with ivhich Bro . Oliver had complied with the demand of the Grand Lodge for possession of St . Davids charter compensated in a great measure for his former inadvertency—it did justice to tho body , and ivould fo far to wipe out the stigma of an act , done more through ignorance of masonic law than from any deliberate intention to affect the good
name or interests of Freeinasomy . The error Bro . AVillian Oliver and those acting with him , had committed , had raised the worst suspicions of the brethren , and the most exaggerated rumours were-