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  • The Masonic Observer
  • June 20, 1857
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  • GRAND LODGE, JUNE 3rd, 1857.
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Ar00301

champ ions of Canada , have been chiefly found amongst her sons . We cannot but think that Oxford Masons , after the part which they have taken , and well and worthily maintained , before the face of the whole Craft , might with advantage to then - own consistency have paused

before they felicitated their guest upon " the advantages which have resulted from the exercise of your sound and considerate judgment during the many years that you have presided over the Society ; " or , while the defiances of Canadians and the indignant remonstrances of Mark Masons are ringing in our ears

, characterized the G . M . as one who would " consolidate that peace and union which should always distinguish the Society of Freemasons , and which , under your Lordship ' s salutary government , has been so liappily attained . ' " We are not insensible to the many excellencies of

our present G . M . ; we would be the first to pay every mark of respect to his hi gh office and character ; we believe that his advisers are far more to blame than he is for the lamentable misgovernment which has been so injurious to our character and prospects ; but we have always heard that a truthful discrimination lends

value to comphments , and prevents their becoming mere meaningless adulation , as little grateful to the recip ient as it is in good taste on the part of the donor . We believe the P . G . L . of Oxford , having never been consulted about the matter , is not responsible for the address from which we have quoted , and whichunless

, it be a piece of the most biting satire , would lead us to fear that the spirit of the immortal ' JEAMES , ' like some unholy phantom , is to be found lurking even amid the classic groves of the Isis .

Ar00300

WE commend to the attention , of our Brethren of the MARK Degree , the steps that have been , and are being , taken for the promotion of Mark Masonry in this country . The P . G . M . of QUEBEC tells us that the degree is "imperative on this side of the Atlantic , " and that the Independent G . L . has accordingly made no small amount of Masonic capital out of the refusal

of the G . L . of England to recognize it . We regretted that decision at the time , arising as it did from an ignorance of the first principles of Masonry , or , . as we call them , " ancient landmarks ; " and a consequent exaltation of second principles , or modern red-tapeism in their lace .

p There can be no question but that the Mark degree was anciently an inherent element in every R . A ., if not in every M . M . Lodge ; and just as any true Masons wherever met , constituted a lodge , without any warrant from a superior body , because there was anciently no superior bodto grant one ; sowherever there was a

y , chapter or a lodge , the Mark degree was conferred . Now however the degree has become isolated ; and the question arises , how are Mark Masters to perpetuate their Order ? Some Brethren are for going to the G . C . of Scotland

for a warrant . Some again , priding themselves upon a timo-iinmemorial existence , continue their independent working ; while others have obtained the sanction of a Scotch Chapter for doing in London what that Chapter would do for them if they were in Aberdeen . We foresee endless conflicts of Jurisdictions unless first principles are kept steadily in viewand red tape

, stoutly resisted . We can see no reason for asking from Scotland for authority to separate degrees which ought to be united , and which , anyhow , Scotland has no power to dissociate . If Mark Masons find themselves unable to work in a Craft Lodge , owing to the veto of the G . L . of Englandthey are at perfect liberty to

, work separately and to form Lodges wherever a sufficient number of Mark Masons can be assembled to do so . Or they may , if they jjlease , do as the four London Lodges did ill 1717 , meet together and constitute a united body under the name of a G . L . This latter course has been adopted by several influential and distinguished

Brethren , who have nominated Lord LEIGH their G . M . ; and we think it will be found to be of advantage to the degree that as many Lodges as possible should join ' this associated body . A powerful organisation will thus be formed at once national and comprehensive , which cannot fail to result in the extension and consolidation of Mark Masonry .

Grand Lodge, June 3rd, 1857.

GRAND LODGE , JUNE 3 rd , 1857 .

Published hj the authority of the M . W . the G . M . The Quarterly Communication was held on the 3 rd inst .: the M . W . G . if . the Earl of Zetland presiding ; supported by Bros . T . Hall , Prov . G . M . Cambridge , as D . 6 . M . ; Earl of Durham , S . G . W .: H . Fenwiek , M . P ., J . G W . ; Eev . J . E . Cox , G . Chap . ; I . Henderson , G . Eeg . ; W . Gray Clarke , G . Sec . ; P . Roxburgh , S . G . D . ; S . B . Wilson , J . G . D . ; W . Jennings , G- Dir . Cer . ; Tlios . Hatchings , G . S . B . ; C . G . Horsley , G . Org . ; VV . Farnfield , Asst . G . Sec . ; Joseph

Smith , G . P . ; with several P . G . M . sj Past Grand Officers ; & c , Sc . Grand Lodge having boon opened in ample form—the Minutes of the Quarterly Communication of March 4 th were read , upon which V . W . Bro . HENDERSON , G . K ., proposed , that so much of them as enacted that no person not being a Brother should be allowed to bo present at any of the Masonic Festivals be not confirmed . It was on all hands allowed , that the Grand Stewards discharged their duties in a most excellent manner ; and he therefore was at a loss to see what occasion there was for the introduction of the rule referred to , which would have the effect of interfering with their arrangements . In addition to their providing the banquet at the Grand Festival on a most liberal scale , they also furnished the Brethren with

a musical entertainment ; but if the Grand Lodge were now to confirm the law laid down in the minutes , the effect of it would be to prevent them from doing so . In these remarks , he referred only to the Grand Festival , for there was nothing strictly Masonic in the Charity Festivals , with the exception of the circumstance that the Brethren who attended them appeared in Masonic clothing . All these entertainments were witnessed—not only by those who never could be Masons , the ladies , —but also by waiters who were not Masons . W . Bro . SLIGHT had great pleasure in seconding the motion . It

was perfectly clear to his mind , that the proposed alteration in the law could only refer to the Grand Festival , as the entertainments in support of the separate charities were not strictly speaking Masonic meetings . As regarded the Grand Festival , the Grand Stewards were bound to see that the regulations laid down by the M . W . the G . M . for its management were fully carried out . Having lately served the office of Grand Steward , he " ( Bro . Slight ) must say that he saw in them nothing to bear out the proposal , that no person who was not a Mason should be allowed to sit down at any of their Masonic banquets . If it had been the desire of the G . M . that all non-Masons should be excluded , the regulations to which he referred would have expressly stated so . The worthy Brother , who on the occasion of the last quarterly communication proposed the resolution which now appeared

“The Masonic Observer: 1857-06-20, Page 3” Masonic Periodicals Online, Library and Museum of Freemasonry, 23 May 2025, django:8000/periodicals/mob/issues/mob_20061857/page/3/.
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Title Category Page
Untitled Article 1
Untitled Article 1
Untitled Article 2
Untitled Article 2
Untitled Article 3
GRAND LODGE, JUNE 3rd, 1857. Article 3
THE EARL OF CARNARVON AT STONEHOUSE. Article 7
THE M. W. THE G. M. AT OXFORD. Article 8
INSTALLATION OF THE EARL OF CARNARVON AS W. M. OF THE WESTMINSTER AND KEYSTONE LODGE , No. 10. Article 10
MEETING OF MARK MASTERS. Article 13
GRAND MARK LODGE OF ENGLAND. Article 15
THE CANADIAN MOVEMENT. Article 15
REPORT FROM THE P. G. M. OF QUEBEC TO THE M. W. THE G. M. Article 17
Colonial. Article 18
Correspondence. Article 18
Untitled Article 19
FREEMASONS' BOYS' SCHOOL. Article 20
OXFORD FOOD AND OXFORD FLATTERY. Article 20
NOTES AND QUERIES. Article 20
Untitled Ad 20
Untitled Ad 20
Untitled Ad 20
Untitled Ad 20
Untitled Ad 20
Untitled Article 20
Untitled Article 20
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Ar00301

champ ions of Canada , have been chiefly found amongst her sons . We cannot but think that Oxford Masons , after the part which they have taken , and well and worthily maintained , before the face of the whole Craft , might with advantage to then - own consistency have paused

before they felicitated their guest upon " the advantages which have resulted from the exercise of your sound and considerate judgment during the many years that you have presided over the Society ; " or , while the defiances of Canadians and the indignant remonstrances of Mark Masons are ringing in our ears

, characterized the G . M . as one who would " consolidate that peace and union which should always distinguish the Society of Freemasons , and which , under your Lordship ' s salutary government , has been so liappily attained . ' " We are not insensible to the many excellencies of

our present G . M . ; we would be the first to pay every mark of respect to his hi gh office and character ; we believe that his advisers are far more to blame than he is for the lamentable misgovernment which has been so injurious to our character and prospects ; but we have always heard that a truthful discrimination lends

value to comphments , and prevents their becoming mere meaningless adulation , as little grateful to the recip ient as it is in good taste on the part of the donor . We believe the P . G . L . of Oxford , having never been consulted about the matter , is not responsible for the address from which we have quoted , and whichunless

, it be a piece of the most biting satire , would lead us to fear that the spirit of the immortal ' JEAMES , ' like some unholy phantom , is to be found lurking even amid the classic groves of the Isis .

Ar00300

WE commend to the attention , of our Brethren of the MARK Degree , the steps that have been , and are being , taken for the promotion of Mark Masonry in this country . The P . G . M . of QUEBEC tells us that the degree is "imperative on this side of the Atlantic , " and that the Independent G . L . has accordingly made no small amount of Masonic capital out of the refusal

of the G . L . of England to recognize it . We regretted that decision at the time , arising as it did from an ignorance of the first principles of Masonry , or , . as we call them , " ancient landmarks ; " and a consequent exaltation of second principles , or modern red-tapeism in their lace .

p There can be no question but that the Mark degree was anciently an inherent element in every R . A ., if not in every M . M . Lodge ; and just as any true Masons wherever met , constituted a lodge , without any warrant from a superior body , because there was anciently no superior bodto grant one ; sowherever there was a

y , chapter or a lodge , the Mark degree was conferred . Now however the degree has become isolated ; and the question arises , how are Mark Masters to perpetuate their Order ? Some Brethren are for going to the G . C . of Scotland

for a warrant . Some again , priding themselves upon a timo-iinmemorial existence , continue their independent working ; while others have obtained the sanction of a Scotch Chapter for doing in London what that Chapter would do for them if they were in Aberdeen . We foresee endless conflicts of Jurisdictions unless first principles are kept steadily in viewand red tape

, stoutly resisted . We can see no reason for asking from Scotland for authority to separate degrees which ought to be united , and which , anyhow , Scotland has no power to dissociate . If Mark Masons find themselves unable to work in a Craft Lodge , owing to the veto of the G . L . of Englandthey are at perfect liberty to

, work separately and to form Lodges wherever a sufficient number of Mark Masons can be assembled to do so . Or they may , if they jjlease , do as the four London Lodges did ill 1717 , meet together and constitute a united body under the name of a G . L . This latter course has been adopted by several influential and distinguished

Brethren , who have nominated Lord LEIGH their G . M . ; and we think it will be found to be of advantage to the degree that as many Lodges as possible should join ' this associated body . A powerful organisation will thus be formed at once national and comprehensive , which cannot fail to result in the extension and consolidation of Mark Masonry .

Grand Lodge, June 3rd, 1857.

GRAND LODGE , JUNE 3 rd , 1857 .

Published hj the authority of the M . W . the G . M . The Quarterly Communication was held on the 3 rd inst .: the M . W . G . if . the Earl of Zetland presiding ; supported by Bros . T . Hall , Prov . G . M . Cambridge , as D . 6 . M . ; Earl of Durham , S . G . W .: H . Fenwiek , M . P ., J . G W . ; Eev . J . E . Cox , G . Chap . ; I . Henderson , G . Eeg . ; W . Gray Clarke , G . Sec . ; P . Roxburgh , S . G . D . ; S . B . Wilson , J . G . D . ; W . Jennings , G- Dir . Cer . ; Tlios . Hatchings , G . S . B . ; C . G . Horsley , G . Org . ; VV . Farnfield , Asst . G . Sec . ; Joseph

Smith , G . P . ; with several P . G . M . sj Past Grand Officers ; & c , Sc . Grand Lodge having boon opened in ample form—the Minutes of the Quarterly Communication of March 4 th were read , upon which V . W . Bro . HENDERSON , G . K ., proposed , that so much of them as enacted that no person not being a Brother should be allowed to bo present at any of the Masonic Festivals be not confirmed . It was on all hands allowed , that the Grand Stewards discharged their duties in a most excellent manner ; and he therefore was at a loss to see what occasion there was for the introduction of the rule referred to , which would have the effect of interfering with their arrangements . In addition to their providing the banquet at the Grand Festival on a most liberal scale , they also furnished the Brethren with

a musical entertainment ; but if the Grand Lodge were now to confirm the law laid down in the minutes , the effect of it would be to prevent them from doing so . In these remarks , he referred only to the Grand Festival , for there was nothing strictly Masonic in the Charity Festivals , with the exception of the circumstance that the Brethren who attended them appeared in Masonic clothing . All these entertainments were witnessed—not only by those who never could be Masons , the ladies , —but also by waiters who were not Masons . W . Bro . SLIGHT had great pleasure in seconding the motion . It

was perfectly clear to his mind , that the proposed alteration in the law could only refer to the Grand Festival , as the entertainments in support of the separate charities were not strictly speaking Masonic meetings . As regarded the Grand Festival , the Grand Stewards were bound to see that the regulations laid down by the M . W . the G . M . for its management were fully carried out . Having lately served the office of Grand Steward , he " ( Bro . Slight ) must say that he saw in them nothing to bear out the proposal , that no person who was not a Mason should be allowed to sit down at any of their Masonic banquets . If it had been the desire of the G . M . that all non-Masons should be excluded , the regulations to which he referred would have expressly stated so . The worthy Brother , who on the occasion of the last quarterly communication proposed the resolution which now appeared

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