Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Ar00100
T Grand Lodge of Emergency summoned for the 19 th of this month , in consequence of the alleged illegality of the adjourned G . L ., held on the 1 st of October , was presided over by the M . W . the G . M . in person , who was supported by a great number of past and present Grand Officers . The blue aprons mustered , likewise , in strong
force , and there was a considerable gathering of Brethren from the Provinces . The M . W . the G . M . having stated the reasons which induced him to overrule the decision of the last two G . L . ' s , and Acting G . M . ' s , and to declare that the power of adjournment did not exist in G . L ., called upon Col . Burlton ,
Past Prov . G . " . VI . for Bengal , to move the adoption of the Eeport of the Colonial Committee . Before this could be done , the Past Deputy Prov . G . M . for the Isle of Wight , claimed for G . L . as the supreme governing body of the craft , the right to decide on its own powers . The M . W . the G . M . however , refused to put
the motion . Col . Burlton then proceeded , protesting , first of all , against what he conceived to be an unconstitutional exercise of power on the part of the G . M ., and being threatened in
return with removal from G . L . The W . M . of the Enoch Lodge , No . 11 , proposed as an amendment to the Report , that the question had already been discussed in October . This , likewise , the G . M . refused to put . A . Past Prov . S . G . W . for Oxford next moved , that
G . L . should refuse to discuss any question so long as it was prohibited from deciding on its own privileges and authority , —a motion which shared the fate of its predecessors . All expression of opinion—except what was favourable to the G . M . ' s views—having been prohibited on the vital question of prerogative , G . L . was then permitted to
reaffirm the motions passed in October , after a last , spirited protest from Lord Carnarvon . The Dais opposed the two likely to be the most beneficial—the appointment of a Colonial Board of General Purposes , —and the circulation throug hout the Provinces of the business to be brought forward in G . L . They did not , however , venture to divide ,
except upon one question— "Whether the Annuity Fund should be put on the same footing with the other two Charities as regards the Charity Jewel . The Dais clustered together—true to their instincts—and were out-voted b y the blue aprons—true to theirs .
Ar00101
rnni ! independence of G . L . is , for the present , m 1 _ abeyance ; and after the strange scene which was lately enacted there , wo cannot own to much surprise . Logic has but a poor chance against an authority which condescends to no argument , and which is backed by unbounded pliability . The Book of Constitutions never contemplated
the contingency of a suppression of all discussion . "VVe cannot compliment the official speakers on their logic or their tact—their ingenuity either in proving the illegality of the October meeting , or in veiling , under plausible language , the arbitrary nature of the Grand Master ' s act , in annulling the decisions of two Grand Lodges , and of two
acting Grand Masters . 'In the first ease , they gravely urged that , because there were only four quarterly communications , therefore a G . L ., if adjourned at all , could only be adjourned to one of those four days in the year—forgetting that , independently of the self-evident absurdity inherent in this proposition , if it proved any thing , it proved too much , and
would bar the G . M . equally with the G . L . from adjourning a meeting . In the latter instance , they were hardly prudent in their open confession of faith in the G .. M . as a
SOVEREIGN LORD , an INDEPENDENT MONARCH , an UNCONTROLLABLE RULER . Grand Lodge is undeniably a patient assemblage ; but what with an absolute refusal on the part of the M . G . to put any motion distasteful or dangerous to himself —what with a Dais ( withsomehonourableexceptions ) inseparably banded together—what withantique masons , who , after
long ahsence from our deliberations , had been disentombed for the occasion—what with some thick-and-thin partisans , scattered through the body of the Lodge , adepts in cheering their friends , and hooting down their opponents , the generality of the Brethren , ignorant of their real superiority in numbers , were much in the position of our respected
countryman in the poem : " John Bull , bewildered by the scene , " Stares , wondering what the d—1 it can mean : " But as some hands applaud—a venal few" Bather than sleep , why John applauds it too . " On the side of the Dais was might—we cannot flatter
them by adding right—on the side of that great Constitutional Party which is fast growing into importance , was precedent , and the tenour , direct and indirect , of every law . From the precedent of April , 1854 , it is clear that the power of adjournment exists . Wherein then does the adjournment of April , 1854 , and that of October , 1856 , differ ?
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Ar00100
T Grand Lodge of Emergency summoned for the 19 th of this month , in consequence of the alleged illegality of the adjourned G . L ., held on the 1 st of October , was presided over by the M . W . the G . M . in person , who was supported by a great number of past and present Grand Officers . The blue aprons mustered , likewise , in strong
force , and there was a considerable gathering of Brethren from the Provinces . The M . W . the G . M . having stated the reasons which induced him to overrule the decision of the last two G . L . ' s , and Acting G . M . ' s , and to declare that the power of adjournment did not exist in G . L ., called upon Col . Burlton ,
Past Prov . G . " . VI . for Bengal , to move the adoption of the Eeport of the Colonial Committee . Before this could be done , the Past Deputy Prov . G . M . for the Isle of Wight , claimed for G . L . as the supreme governing body of the craft , the right to decide on its own powers . The M . W . the G . M . however , refused to put
the motion . Col . Burlton then proceeded , protesting , first of all , against what he conceived to be an unconstitutional exercise of power on the part of the G . M ., and being threatened in
return with removal from G . L . The W . M . of the Enoch Lodge , No . 11 , proposed as an amendment to the Report , that the question had already been discussed in October . This , likewise , the G . M . refused to put . A . Past Prov . S . G . W . for Oxford next moved , that
G . L . should refuse to discuss any question so long as it was prohibited from deciding on its own privileges and authority , —a motion which shared the fate of its predecessors . All expression of opinion—except what was favourable to the G . M . ' s views—having been prohibited on the vital question of prerogative , G . L . was then permitted to
reaffirm the motions passed in October , after a last , spirited protest from Lord Carnarvon . The Dais opposed the two likely to be the most beneficial—the appointment of a Colonial Board of General Purposes , —and the circulation throug hout the Provinces of the business to be brought forward in G . L . They did not , however , venture to divide ,
except upon one question— "Whether the Annuity Fund should be put on the same footing with the other two Charities as regards the Charity Jewel . The Dais clustered together—true to their instincts—and were out-voted b y the blue aprons—true to theirs .
Ar00101
rnni ! independence of G . L . is , for the present , m 1 _ abeyance ; and after the strange scene which was lately enacted there , wo cannot own to much surprise . Logic has but a poor chance against an authority which condescends to no argument , and which is backed by unbounded pliability . The Book of Constitutions never contemplated
the contingency of a suppression of all discussion . "VVe cannot compliment the official speakers on their logic or their tact—their ingenuity either in proving the illegality of the October meeting , or in veiling , under plausible language , the arbitrary nature of the Grand Master ' s act , in annulling the decisions of two Grand Lodges , and of two
acting Grand Masters . 'In the first ease , they gravely urged that , because there were only four quarterly communications , therefore a G . L ., if adjourned at all , could only be adjourned to one of those four days in the year—forgetting that , independently of the self-evident absurdity inherent in this proposition , if it proved any thing , it proved too much , and
would bar the G . M . equally with the G . L . from adjourning a meeting . In the latter instance , they were hardly prudent in their open confession of faith in the G .. M . as a
SOVEREIGN LORD , an INDEPENDENT MONARCH , an UNCONTROLLABLE RULER . Grand Lodge is undeniably a patient assemblage ; but what with an absolute refusal on the part of the M . G . to put any motion distasteful or dangerous to himself —what with a Dais ( withsomehonourableexceptions ) inseparably banded together—what withantique masons , who , after
long ahsence from our deliberations , had been disentombed for the occasion—what with some thick-and-thin partisans , scattered through the body of the Lodge , adepts in cheering their friends , and hooting down their opponents , the generality of the Brethren , ignorant of their real superiority in numbers , were much in the position of our respected
countryman in the poem : " John Bull , bewildered by the scene , " Stares , wondering what the d—1 it can mean : " But as some hands applaud—a venal few" Bather than sleep , why John applauds it too . " On the side of the Dais was might—we cannot flatter
them by adding right—on the side of that great Constitutional Party which is fast growing into importance , was precedent , and the tenour , direct and indirect , of every law . From the precedent of April , 1854 , it is clear that the power of adjournment exists . Wherein then does the adjournment of April , 1854 , and that of October , 1856 , differ ?