Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
The Threatened Secession From The Supreme Grand Royal Arch Chapter Of Scotland. No. Iii.
THE THREATENED SECESSION FROM THE SUPREME GRAND ROYAL ARCH CHAPTER OF SCOTLAND . No . III .
( From our own Correspondent . ) The publicity given , through the pages of the MAGAZINE , to the report of the Special Meeting of Supreme Grand Chapter , and our strictures on the present position of Royal Arch Masonry in the West of Scotland , has had the effect , it seems , of raising the choler of the malcontents aa'ainst us . The
veracity of many of our statements is not only questioned , feat boldly denied , and in proof of these counterassertions we are treated to a view of the whole case as taken from the rebel stand-point , and elaborately coloured by their own artist , who , by the way , heralds his " statement of facts" with an
introduction characteristic enough of its author , but scarcely meriting a reply . Lest , however , the "Interim Secretary" should feel slighted by our apparent non-appreciation of the wondrous acumen displayed in the few paragraphs he appears to have penned for your own Correspondent ' s special
benefit , we beg to congratulate hhn upon the utter harmlessness of his recondite production . His sneer at " the source" whence is drawn our information affects us as little as it does the correctness of our report . His disavowal of being "influenced by feelings of animosity" towards
those who , on the question in dispute , happen to differ from linn , may be taken for what it is worth ; his professions of respect for " the laws by which all have agreed to be governed " are irreconcilable with the facts of the case ; and his aversion to being led into a " paper war" in defence of his
position betrays a want of faith in the ri ghteousness of the cause he has espoused , which we hesitate not to characterise as one of pure Masonic intolerance . Sinking , then , the individuality of the " Interim Secretary , " we shall now proceed to the consideration of the Report which has
been submitted to "the Royal Arch Masons throughout the world , " by the Committee charged with that special service on behalf of certain companions who met in the Crow Hotel , Glasgow , on the evening of the 8 th July last . That Report is divided into the three folio-wing parts : —¦
1 st . A statement of facts bearing on and connected with our present position . 2 nd . The decisions of Supreme Committee and Supreme Chapter relative thereto . 3 rd . The reasons why tho Eoyal Arch Masons , present at the meeting on 8 th July , dissented from , and now earnestly invite the opinion of the several chapters connected therewith , as to what course ought to be followed .
" A statement of facts ! " This must be a misnomer ; for the very first " fact" laid before us presents no analogy to the case under discussion . . Not-withstanding this , however , we hope to be able to make good use of it as a weapon turned against iih & Committee themselves . The reference to it
The Threatened Secession From The Supreme Grand Royal Arch Chapter Of Scotland. No. Iii.
on their part proves their ignorance of the facts of the particular case cited , and shows the paucity of material possessed by the Committee upon which to found their Report , when , in furtherance of that object , they had to proceed to the examination of " various documents" connected with an
old dispute in Chapter No . 18 , which had its origin in circumstances not at all creditable to the Masonic acquirements of the three present Principals of that very Chapter , or to the parties in Glasgow who fomented the quarrel . The Committee give two reasons for noticing in then
Report the case of No . 18 . First—to show "the understanding then held by Supreme Chapter and Supreme- Committee as to the powers of a remit , and—2 nd , Because some of the than chief supporters of the First Principal of Chapter No . 18 in his irregularities , are now principal parties in bringing about the present state of affairs . " Well , then , as to the " powers of a remit / '' It
is stated by the Committee , in their quotation of the case of No . 18 , that upon petition and complaint being presented by several members of that Chapter against its then First Principal , Supreme Grand Chapter remitted the petition to the Prov . Gr . Superintendent , " that he might examine all
books and documents , & c , in connection with said Chapter , and also to pronounce such sentence as lie might deem proper . " This the Superintendent did . He did more—he seized the books of No . IS and carried them to Glasgow , and for that , and other proceedings in the course of his
investigation of the case , Dr . Arnott , on presenting his Report to Supreme Chapter , received the thanks of that body ; and upon this is based by the Committee an argument that Supreme Grand Chapter has acted inconsistently in now condemning what was formerly approved of . This argument is a fallacious one , and shows the unprincipled character of the Report .
It is quite true that Dr . Arnott did seize the books of Chapter No . 18 , and that on presenting his Report he did receive the thanks of Supreme Chapter ; but the important " fact" is studiously concealed that Dr . Arnott himself applied for , and obtained special powers to enable hhn to take
possession of the Minute and Treasurer's Books of the said Chapter , clearly showing that then the Doctor was of opinion that such an act Avas an extraordinary exercise of power , and quite beyond his province as the Grand Superintendent of the Western District . The additional powers asked
for by Dr . Amott -were granted to him by Supreme Grand Committee on the 3 rd October , 1860 , and were exercised by him on the 5 th of the same month . In confirmation of this statement , we refer to the Supreme Chapter " Beportm ' " for 1860-61 . Thisthenfor the Committee is an
, , unfortunate case upon which to illustrate the powers of a remit . There are also several import-ant discrepancies between the cases which we cannot permit to be lost sight of , and which go far
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
The Threatened Secession From The Supreme Grand Royal Arch Chapter Of Scotland. No. Iii.
THE THREATENED SECESSION FROM THE SUPREME GRAND ROYAL ARCH CHAPTER OF SCOTLAND . No . III .
( From our own Correspondent . ) The publicity given , through the pages of the MAGAZINE , to the report of the Special Meeting of Supreme Grand Chapter , and our strictures on the present position of Royal Arch Masonry in the West of Scotland , has had the effect , it seems , of raising the choler of the malcontents aa'ainst us . The
veracity of many of our statements is not only questioned , feat boldly denied , and in proof of these counterassertions we are treated to a view of the whole case as taken from the rebel stand-point , and elaborately coloured by their own artist , who , by the way , heralds his " statement of facts" with an
introduction characteristic enough of its author , but scarcely meriting a reply . Lest , however , the "Interim Secretary" should feel slighted by our apparent non-appreciation of the wondrous acumen displayed in the few paragraphs he appears to have penned for your own Correspondent ' s special
benefit , we beg to congratulate hhn upon the utter harmlessness of his recondite production . His sneer at " the source" whence is drawn our information affects us as little as it does the correctness of our report . His disavowal of being "influenced by feelings of animosity" towards
those who , on the question in dispute , happen to differ from linn , may be taken for what it is worth ; his professions of respect for " the laws by which all have agreed to be governed " are irreconcilable with the facts of the case ; and his aversion to being led into a " paper war" in defence of his
position betrays a want of faith in the ri ghteousness of the cause he has espoused , which we hesitate not to characterise as one of pure Masonic intolerance . Sinking , then , the individuality of the " Interim Secretary , " we shall now proceed to the consideration of the Report which has
been submitted to "the Royal Arch Masons throughout the world , " by the Committee charged with that special service on behalf of certain companions who met in the Crow Hotel , Glasgow , on the evening of the 8 th July last . That Report is divided into the three folio-wing parts : —¦
1 st . A statement of facts bearing on and connected with our present position . 2 nd . The decisions of Supreme Committee and Supreme Chapter relative thereto . 3 rd . The reasons why tho Eoyal Arch Masons , present at the meeting on 8 th July , dissented from , and now earnestly invite the opinion of the several chapters connected therewith , as to what course ought to be followed .
" A statement of facts ! " This must be a misnomer ; for the very first " fact" laid before us presents no analogy to the case under discussion . . Not-withstanding this , however , we hope to be able to make good use of it as a weapon turned against iih & Committee themselves . The reference to it
The Threatened Secession From The Supreme Grand Royal Arch Chapter Of Scotland. No. Iii.
on their part proves their ignorance of the facts of the particular case cited , and shows the paucity of material possessed by the Committee upon which to found their Report , when , in furtherance of that object , they had to proceed to the examination of " various documents" connected with an
old dispute in Chapter No . 18 , which had its origin in circumstances not at all creditable to the Masonic acquirements of the three present Principals of that very Chapter , or to the parties in Glasgow who fomented the quarrel . The Committee give two reasons for noticing in then
Report the case of No . 18 . First—to show "the understanding then held by Supreme Chapter and Supreme- Committee as to the powers of a remit , and—2 nd , Because some of the than chief supporters of the First Principal of Chapter No . 18 in his irregularities , are now principal parties in bringing about the present state of affairs . " Well , then , as to the " powers of a remit / '' It
is stated by the Committee , in their quotation of the case of No . 18 , that upon petition and complaint being presented by several members of that Chapter against its then First Principal , Supreme Grand Chapter remitted the petition to the Prov . Gr . Superintendent , " that he might examine all
books and documents , & c , in connection with said Chapter , and also to pronounce such sentence as lie might deem proper . " This the Superintendent did . He did more—he seized the books of No . IS and carried them to Glasgow , and for that , and other proceedings in the course of his
investigation of the case , Dr . Arnott , on presenting his Report to Supreme Chapter , received the thanks of that body ; and upon this is based by the Committee an argument that Supreme Grand Chapter has acted inconsistently in now condemning what was formerly approved of . This argument is a fallacious one , and shows the unprincipled character of the Report .
It is quite true that Dr . Arnott did seize the books of Chapter No . 18 , and that on presenting his Report he did receive the thanks of Supreme Chapter ; but the important " fact" is studiously concealed that Dr . Arnott himself applied for , and obtained special powers to enable hhn to take
possession of the Minute and Treasurer's Books of the said Chapter , clearly showing that then the Doctor was of opinion that such an act Avas an extraordinary exercise of power , and quite beyond his province as the Grand Superintendent of the Western District . The additional powers asked
for by Dr . Amott -were granted to him by Supreme Grand Committee on the 3 rd October , 1860 , and were exercised by him on the 5 th of the same month . In confirmation of this statement , we refer to the Supreme Chapter " Beportm ' " for 1860-61 . Thisthenfor the Committee is an
, , unfortunate case upon which to illustrate the powers of a remit . There are also several import-ant discrepancies between the cases which we cannot permit to be lost sight of , and which go far