Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Ar00400
IT is high time that something definite were laid down as to the power of GRAND LODGE to deal with documents before it , without previous notice having been given of any intended motion . The present state of things is unsatisfactory in the extreme .
In order to prevent members of G . L . being taken by surprise , it is laid down at p . 20 of the Book of Constitutions , that a " General Committee , " ( ordinarily called " the Board of Masters , " ) shall meet before each G . L . and that all intended motions shall be communicated to them for their . information .
If this rule were adhered to , it is obvious that no motion could ever be made upon the reports of Boards , upon petitions and representations , or upon any communication whatever , except by the Masters of Lodges , who - alone , with those wearing the purple , are members of the General Committee , and hear these papers read , and
so all P . M . ' s and Wardens , and all Provincial representatives , would be practically unable to deal in G . L . with any document which was then for the first time brought before it . This would be so inconvenient , that it has always been customary to allow of motions being made upon any paper before G . L ., provided the paper itself had previously been communicated to the General Committee . An instance or two will suffice to show this .
In December 1856 , a communication was read from Lord NAAS involving the question of whether the Master of a Lodge had the right to refuse admission to a visiting Mason , if he considered him an improper character . There was considerable difference of opinion . upon this point , in G . L . ; and it was a question which might fairly demand a deliberate decisionand on which
, G . L . ought not to have been surprised into a vote without notice . And yet the GRAND REGISTRAR was permitted ¦ without any previous notice whatever , to move a resolution permitting a W . M . so to exclude whom he pleased . Again , in March last , on a petition being read from TASMANIAappealing against the arbitrary conduct of
, the P . G . M ., Lord PANMURE was permitted without any previous notice , to move a resolution approving of the conduct of that functionary . And at the last meeting of G . L ., an abusive attack was made upon ourselves , without any previous notice even at the Board of Mastersand sowithout any opportunity of defence
, , being afforded us : and a vote of confidence in the G . M . was then proposed , again without any notice whatever , —a proceeding highly calculated to " take the Brethren by surprise" ( to quote the words of the Book of Constitutions ) . Doubtless it was a sore temptation to the EXECUTIVE
to make up for the loss of their partridges , by having what we may term a " sitting " shot at us in G . L . ; but the proceeding was scarcely more constitutional than sportsmanlike . At the same meeting of G . L . at which these breaches of the law were allowed , certain letters were placed in the hands of the Brethren , purporting to be written "by the Grand Secretary to the Past P . G . M . of Quebec .
As these letters , which we print to-day , are known to have given great offence in Canada , and are , indeed , exceedingly vulgar and impertinent , Lord CARNARVON was anxious to take the opinion of G . L . upon them , as had been done without notice upon other documents , by Lord PANMURE and Bros . DOBIE and Sir L . CURTIS , previously . He was , however , refused permission by
the G . M . We are not surprised at this , though we must confess our inability to see the slightest distinction between the cases ; except , indeed , —which can of course have no influence with the G . M . or his advisers—that in one case the motion proceeded from a Brother below the Dais , in the other , from those upon it .
Ar00401
WE are happy to see that the PROVINCES are beginning to shew signs of vitality . Our Canadian brethren complain that "although they have been in theory governed by the GRAND LODGE of England , practically they have been under the
immediate controul of the M . W . GRAND MASTER , and a small body of London brethren . " This is perfectly true , and they have very properly adopted their only remedy—independent local organization . Are we content , however , to allow G . L . to be reduced to the avowed partisans of the G . M . and a score or two
of London masons ? If not , the Provinces must bestir themselves , must ascertain what they want , and put themselves to the trouble of attending four times a year in G . L ., however inconvenient such a course mav be .
The LODGE OF ECONOMY , No . 90 , Winchester , has set a good example in this respect , by subscribing towards the expenses of its representatives . If every Lodge within eighty miles of London would do the same , the existing abuses would be of short continuance . In the P . G . L . of WILTS ., w . e observe Br . BIGGS
directing attention to " our representative system . " His remarks are sensible , and worthy of being read , and we must express our earnest hope that when once the subject has been started , it will not be allowed to drop till something practical has been done . The first point surely is , for every Lodge within a few hours' distance
from London , to make arrangements for sending up one or two representatives to each G . L . ; and next , for the Provinces to insist upon voting for the G . M . and the Members of the Boards , without being taxed with their expenses to Freemasons' Hall ; that is , as Lord CARNARVON has suggestedby claiming their riht to vote
, g by ballot papers in then- respective Lodge rooms . Such papers to be verified , if need be , by the P . G . M . We are also glad to see that both in HAMPSHIRE and WILTSHIRE it has been determined that the interests of the Charities shall not be allowed to flag as heretofore . Nothing will be easier than to establish a Charities '
Committee in every Province , who should take charge of the subscriptions , and by a system of correspondence with each other , secure the election of Provincial candidates . But however much the friends of the Chari-
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Ar00400
IT is high time that something definite were laid down as to the power of GRAND LODGE to deal with documents before it , without previous notice having been given of any intended motion . The present state of things is unsatisfactory in the extreme .
In order to prevent members of G . L . being taken by surprise , it is laid down at p . 20 of the Book of Constitutions , that a " General Committee , " ( ordinarily called " the Board of Masters , " ) shall meet before each G . L . and that all intended motions shall be communicated to them for their . information .
If this rule were adhered to , it is obvious that no motion could ever be made upon the reports of Boards , upon petitions and representations , or upon any communication whatever , except by the Masters of Lodges , who - alone , with those wearing the purple , are members of the General Committee , and hear these papers read , and
so all P . M . ' s and Wardens , and all Provincial representatives , would be practically unable to deal in G . L . with any document which was then for the first time brought before it . This would be so inconvenient , that it has always been customary to allow of motions being made upon any paper before G . L ., provided the paper itself had previously been communicated to the General Committee . An instance or two will suffice to show this .
In December 1856 , a communication was read from Lord NAAS involving the question of whether the Master of a Lodge had the right to refuse admission to a visiting Mason , if he considered him an improper character . There was considerable difference of opinion . upon this point , in G . L . ; and it was a question which might fairly demand a deliberate decisionand on which
, G . L . ought not to have been surprised into a vote without notice . And yet the GRAND REGISTRAR was permitted ¦ without any previous notice whatever , to move a resolution permitting a W . M . so to exclude whom he pleased . Again , in March last , on a petition being read from TASMANIAappealing against the arbitrary conduct of
, the P . G . M ., Lord PANMURE was permitted without any previous notice , to move a resolution approving of the conduct of that functionary . And at the last meeting of G . L ., an abusive attack was made upon ourselves , without any previous notice even at the Board of Mastersand sowithout any opportunity of defence
, , being afforded us : and a vote of confidence in the G . M . was then proposed , again without any notice whatever , —a proceeding highly calculated to " take the Brethren by surprise" ( to quote the words of the Book of Constitutions ) . Doubtless it was a sore temptation to the EXECUTIVE
to make up for the loss of their partridges , by having what we may term a " sitting " shot at us in G . L . ; but the proceeding was scarcely more constitutional than sportsmanlike . At the same meeting of G . L . at which these breaches of the law were allowed , certain letters were placed in the hands of the Brethren , purporting to be written "by the Grand Secretary to the Past P . G . M . of Quebec .
As these letters , which we print to-day , are known to have given great offence in Canada , and are , indeed , exceedingly vulgar and impertinent , Lord CARNARVON was anxious to take the opinion of G . L . upon them , as had been done without notice upon other documents , by Lord PANMURE and Bros . DOBIE and Sir L . CURTIS , previously . He was , however , refused permission by
the G . M . We are not surprised at this , though we must confess our inability to see the slightest distinction between the cases ; except , indeed , —which can of course have no influence with the G . M . or his advisers—that in one case the motion proceeded from a Brother below the Dais , in the other , from those upon it .
Ar00401
WE are happy to see that the PROVINCES are beginning to shew signs of vitality . Our Canadian brethren complain that "although they have been in theory governed by the GRAND LODGE of England , practically they have been under the
immediate controul of the M . W . GRAND MASTER , and a small body of London brethren . " This is perfectly true , and they have very properly adopted their only remedy—independent local organization . Are we content , however , to allow G . L . to be reduced to the avowed partisans of the G . M . and a score or two
of London masons ? If not , the Provinces must bestir themselves , must ascertain what they want , and put themselves to the trouble of attending four times a year in G . L ., however inconvenient such a course mav be .
The LODGE OF ECONOMY , No . 90 , Winchester , has set a good example in this respect , by subscribing towards the expenses of its representatives . If every Lodge within eighty miles of London would do the same , the existing abuses would be of short continuance . In the P . G . L . of WILTS ., w . e observe Br . BIGGS
directing attention to " our representative system . " His remarks are sensible , and worthy of being read , and we must express our earnest hope that when once the subject has been started , it will not be allowed to drop till something practical has been done . The first point surely is , for every Lodge within a few hours' distance
from London , to make arrangements for sending up one or two representatives to each G . L . ; and next , for the Provinces to insist upon voting for the G . M . and the Members of the Boards , without being taxed with their expenses to Freemasons' Hall ; that is , as Lord CARNARVON has suggestedby claiming their riht to vote
, g by ballot papers in then- respective Lodge rooms . Such papers to be verified , if need be , by the P . G . M . We are also glad to see that both in HAMPSHIRE and WILTSHIRE it has been determined that the interests of the Charities shall not be allowed to flag as heretofore . Nothing will be easier than to establish a Charities '
Committee in every Province , who should take charge of the subscriptions , and by a system of correspondence with each other , secure the election of Provincial candidates . But however much the friends of the Chari-