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 " decisions" of Supreme Chapter and Supreme Committee are next taken up and analyzed by the Glasg-ow Committee in their own way . The manner in which Grand Chapter disposed of the famous "Minute" which Companions D . Murray Lyon and George Good had the audacity to
" sign , " comes in for special attention , no less than three pai-agraphs being devoted to the consideration of it . It seems to be the unpardonable sin of Supreme Chapter that they refused , at the most urgent and reiterated request of Dr . Arnott , to deprive of Ro 3 al Arch privileges the representatives of those who had adopted the obnoxious Minute .
The Committee say " they cannot pretend to understand " how " the Supreme Committee considered it ( the Minute ) without also considering it required severe animadversion and reprehension . " The " reason why" is very obvious . Both the Minute and the letter which provoked it were considered , and the unanimous opinion of Supreme Grand Chapter was
, that the reckless statements made by Dr . Arnott as to falsifying hooks iu a great measure excused the strong language of the Minute . In Grand Chapter , the Dr . pleaded hard and earnestly for the punishment of Companions Good and Lyon—suspension for twelve months would satisfhim—grant thatand he
y , would waive all other claims . But the Supreme Chapter were inexorable , and unanimously agreed , " that it is incompetent to suspend any Companion without a formal petition and complaint , and in the manner proposed . " Again , in noticing the proceedings at the special
meeting of Grand Chapter , it is stated by the Committee that Supreme Chapter decided the first m'oposition in Dr . Arnott's circular , calling the meeting in the affirmative , and therefore that their subsequent decisions were illogical . The Doctor's proposition was in these words : — " To consider whetherwhen a
, remit is made by the Supreme Chapter to a Companion , to report on any sxibject , he is prevented from taking such steps as ought to be taken by the Supreme Chapter itself , to procure the information he may deem necessary . " Grand Chapter did not confirm that proposition ; they only conceded that a reporter
had the powers claimed when his actings were " consistent with the laws of the Supreme Chapter . " ( See our report of " Decisions " in MAG-AZOTE of 26 th -Tnlv A
The Committee give six "REASONS" in justification of the rebellious movement they and their constituents have inaugurated . They demur to the " findings . " 1 . Because , by virtue of Sees . 4 and 12 of Cap . 10 of Supreme Chapter Laws , and also by the terms of
commission to Provincial Grand Superintendent , a Provincial Grand Chapter or Provincial Grand Superintendeut are entitled to call for the books of Subordinate Chapters at any time , and in any manner . We have read the Laws quoted in- support of the
above reason , as also the Commission , neither of which can be construed into any said meaning as that attached to it by the Glasgow Committee . Sec . 4 < of Cap . 10 gives Provincial Grand Superintendents the power to appoint certain Provincial Grand
The Threatened Secession From The Supreme Grand Royal Arch Chapter Of Scotland. No. Iii.
Office-bearers , and to "hold Provincial Grand Chapters whenever he shall think it expedient . " "He is also empowered to visit the several subordinate Chapters in the district , to see that the laws and regulations of the Supreme Chapter are observed , to inquire into irregularities , aud to report from time to time to the Supreme Chapter . "
Sec . 12 of the same Chapter , says : — " A Provincial Grand Superintendent , or Provincial Grand Chapter , may hear and determine all subjects of Masonic complaint or irregularity respecting Chapters or Companions in their district , and for that purpose may summon the Office-hearers or
Companions of any of these Chapters to appear before him or it , and to produce the charter and books of the Chapter , and may proceed to admonition , fine , or suspension , unless the party thinking himself aggrieved brings the matter by appeal before the Supreme Chapter . " The " Commission" to a Provincial
Grand Superintendent invests him with authority to " superintend the interests of the Holy Royal Arch Degree " . . . " hy visiting personally the Chapters holding charters of us , and cultivating that intercourse and fellowship with them and other similar institutions of our exalted Order , which may be calculated to promote and extend the general good thereof . "
Now we never disputed Dr . Arnott ' s right to call for the books of any Chapter ; and had he gone himself to Ayr , or summoned any of the Office-hearers of No . SO to appear before him and produce the books , his proceedings would have been en regie , and there could have Been no objection . But it is quite a different thing to send down a third party to seize the
books in the absence of the . First Principal , under threats of suspension ( and iu addition to the Provincial Grand Scribe E . 's letter . Dr . Arnott admits in his answers that he would have suspended Companion Good had the books been refused ) without previous warning—and when there was no complaint of
any kind against the Chapter . The Supreme Chapter neither could nor would have done such a thing . They have more respect for the " laws by which all have agreed to he governed . "
2 . The secona reason for dissent advanced by the Committee is that Dr . Arnott , by virtue of remit from the Supreme Chapter , had , independently of his being Provincial Grand Superintendent , full power to obtain " such information as he deemed necessary , and in the manner he thought would best tend to the good of the Order "
. " We answer—Companion Arnott was asked by Supreme Chapter to report" as to the statements in the petition" from private Companions as to the disjunction and erection of Ayrshire into a province—not to seize upon the books of any Chapter . ( See Beporter forlS 61-62 ) . And as showing the indecent
haste of the Doctor ' s proceedings , it is worthy of notice that the seizure complained against took place , as we have been informed , several days before the extract minute was sent to him containing the remit and his authority to report ! 3 . The Committee object to Grand Committee
having entertained the petition and complaint against Dr . Arnott until he had reported to Supreme Chapter on the petition for disjunction . We answer this objection by saying that the peti-
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 " decisions" of Supreme Chapter and Supreme Committee are next taken up and analyzed by the Glasg-ow Committee in their own way . The manner in which Grand Chapter disposed of the famous "Minute" which Companions D . Murray Lyon and George Good had the audacity to
" sign , " comes in for special attention , no less than three pai-agraphs being devoted to the consideration of it . It seems to be the unpardonable sin of Supreme Chapter that they refused , at the most urgent and reiterated request of Dr . Arnott , to deprive of Ro 3 al Arch privileges the representatives of those who had adopted the obnoxious Minute .
The Committee say " they cannot pretend to understand " how " the Supreme Committee considered it ( the Minute ) without also considering it required severe animadversion and reprehension . " The " reason why" is very obvious . Both the Minute and the letter which provoked it were considered , and the unanimous opinion of Supreme Grand Chapter was
, that the reckless statements made by Dr . Arnott as to falsifying hooks iu a great measure excused the strong language of the Minute . In Grand Chapter , the Dr . pleaded hard and earnestly for the punishment of Companions Good and Lyon—suspension for twelve months would satisfhim—grant thatand he
y , would waive all other claims . But the Supreme Chapter were inexorable , and unanimously agreed , " that it is incompetent to suspend any Companion without a formal petition and complaint , and in the manner proposed . " Again , in noticing the proceedings at the special
meeting of Grand Chapter , it is stated by the Committee that Supreme Chapter decided the first m'oposition in Dr . Arnott's circular , calling the meeting in the affirmative , and therefore that their subsequent decisions were illogical . The Doctor's proposition was in these words : — " To consider whetherwhen a
, remit is made by the Supreme Chapter to a Companion , to report on any sxibject , he is prevented from taking such steps as ought to be taken by the Supreme Chapter itself , to procure the information he may deem necessary . " Grand Chapter did not confirm that proposition ; they only conceded that a reporter
had the powers claimed when his actings were " consistent with the laws of the Supreme Chapter . " ( See our report of " Decisions " in MAG-AZOTE of 26 th -Tnlv A
The Committee give six "REASONS" in justification of the rebellious movement they and their constituents have inaugurated . They demur to the " findings . " 1 . Because , by virtue of Sees . 4 and 12 of Cap . 10 of Supreme Chapter Laws , and also by the terms of
commission to Provincial Grand Superintendent , a Provincial Grand Chapter or Provincial Grand Superintendeut are entitled to call for the books of Subordinate Chapters at any time , and in any manner . We have read the Laws quoted in- support of the
above reason , as also the Commission , neither of which can be construed into any said meaning as that attached to it by the Glasgow Committee . Sec . 4 < of Cap . 10 gives Provincial Grand Superintendents the power to appoint certain Provincial Grand
The Threatened Secession From The Supreme Grand Royal Arch Chapter Of Scotland. No. Iii.
Office-bearers , and to "hold Provincial Grand Chapters whenever he shall think it expedient . " "He is also empowered to visit the several subordinate Chapters in the district , to see that the laws and regulations of the Supreme Chapter are observed , to inquire into irregularities , aud to report from time to time to the Supreme Chapter . "
Sec . 12 of the same Chapter , says : — " A Provincial Grand Superintendent , or Provincial Grand Chapter , may hear and determine all subjects of Masonic complaint or irregularity respecting Chapters or Companions in their district , and for that purpose may summon the Office-hearers or
Companions of any of these Chapters to appear before him or it , and to produce the charter and books of the Chapter , and may proceed to admonition , fine , or suspension , unless the party thinking himself aggrieved brings the matter by appeal before the Supreme Chapter . " The " Commission" to a Provincial
Grand Superintendent invests him with authority to " superintend the interests of the Holy Royal Arch Degree " . . . " hy visiting personally the Chapters holding charters of us , and cultivating that intercourse and fellowship with them and other similar institutions of our exalted Order , which may be calculated to promote and extend the general good thereof . "
Now we never disputed Dr . Arnott ' s right to call for the books of any Chapter ; and had he gone himself to Ayr , or summoned any of the Office-hearers of No . SO to appear before him and produce the books , his proceedings would have been en regie , and there could have Been no objection . But it is quite a different thing to send down a third party to seize the
books in the absence of the . First Principal , under threats of suspension ( and iu addition to the Provincial Grand Scribe E . 's letter . Dr . Arnott admits in his answers that he would have suspended Companion Good had the books been refused ) without previous warning—and when there was no complaint of
any kind against the Chapter . The Supreme Chapter neither could nor would have done such a thing . They have more respect for the " laws by which all have agreed to he governed . "
2 . The secona reason for dissent advanced by the Committee is that Dr . Arnott , by virtue of remit from the Supreme Chapter , had , independently of his being Provincial Grand Superintendent , full power to obtain " such information as he deemed necessary , and in the manner he thought would best tend to the good of the Order "
. " We answer—Companion Arnott was asked by Supreme Chapter to report" as to the statements in the petition" from private Companions as to the disjunction and erection of Ayrshire into a province—not to seize upon the books of any Chapter . ( See Beporter forlS 61-62 ) . And as showing the indecent
haste of the Doctor ' s proceedings , it is worthy of notice that the seizure complained against took place , as we have been informed , several days before the extract minute was sent to him containing the remit and his authority to report ! 3 . The Committee object to Grand Committee
having entertained the petition and complaint against Dr . Arnott until he had reported to Supreme Chapter on the petition for disjunction . We answer this objection by saying that the peti-