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  • Dec. 20, 1858
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The Masonic Observer, Dec. 20, 1858: Page 4

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Ar00400

floor of G . L . Failing this however , he will probably be exposed to the impertinent attacks of the official press , whose latest feat in this line , has , we observe , been au insolent sneer at the nationality of a late most highly respected officer of the Craft , for having the presumption to refuse to allow G . L . to stultify itself rather more than usual , at the nod of the G . M . ' s present advisers .

Of necessity theu , those who are anxious for fair discussion and honest deliberation in G . L ., must associate together , in order to arrive at something like a mutual understanding upon the various questions that are to come before them , as well as secure to themselves the protection of mutual support .

We believe that the time has come when independent members of G . L . must think and act for themselves , indifferent to the attacks of the Executive , or of thenorgan . We believe that concerted action will tend most effectually to break up the present system of clique government , and we have therefore given it , and shall

continue to give it , our cordial support . At the same time we must express our conviction that nothing but mischief can ensue from the introduction of questions of Masonic policy at tbe banquets . The Constitutions provide for their discussion in Lodge ( p . 63 , sec . 24 ) , but at the former , they are as much out of place as is the " sickly sycophancy " to which the Executive , past and present , is usually treated .

Ar00401

" TUSTITIA" is a meteor of epistolary polemics J who coruscates in the atmosphere of the newly organized magazine .. He professes himself anxious to return to Masonic harmony . Let us see how he sets about it . — " The time for anything approaching to false delicacy is gone by . "— " The day of temporizing is past . "— " The Brethren must gird their loins for the

up combat , " & c . ; such are some of the most pacific forms of expression of which " Justitia ' s" pen is capable . Such are the challenges he flings down to those independent opponents of jobbery and clique whom the inagazine thinks fit to nickname the " Observer party . " The Observer in returnbegs to assure its calumniator

, , that it is ready to take up his gage ; that it is prepared to enter the lists for the maintenance of Masonic liberty , and that it will not permit honest gentlemen , without protest , to be victimized by libel and scurrility . If , as is occasionally hinted , " Justitia" is versed in courts of lawhe must ere now have experienced the mortification

, of discovering that the tactics of brow-beating and intimidation , entail not unfrequently tbe discomfiture of their employer . It being now allowed by the chiefs of the Executive , that the Canadian differences had their origin in the apathy and insolence with which their statements of

grievances were received in this country , we need hardly dwell on the service of those brethren , by whose ability and zeal the slothful officials were called to account for their misdoings . The severance then prophesied , has come to pass ; and it is nothing new that the prophets of

evil , however true their words , should be treated with contumely and insult . Among others , Bro . the Earl of CARNARVON was fearless and forward in the denunciation of abuse and wrong . He courted and must have expected his fate . But while the merits of that high-minded and talented young nobleman have earned for him respect and

admiration in society at large , and distinction at the hands of the Queen ' s advisers , we shall not condescend to plead his defence against those slanderers of his fair fame whose flatteries could not bribe him from the path of honesty , and whose present outpourings of vilification are only calculated to sully the pages of the Masonic

press , and to waken the contempt of all right-thinking men . ' Nor will we refer at length to the circumstances under which a feeling of self-respect drove him from G . L . at the last quarterly communication ; we would rather do Bro . HAVEBS the justice to hope that unscrupulous as are his speecheshe is occasionally visited by

, feelings of more refined taste and of regret for their utterance . It is fortunate that our impression of to day gives to our readers together with "Justitia ' s" letter to the Magazine ( for this tissue of-spiteful absurdity shall have all the publicity its author can desire ) the few

observations of Lord Carnarvon which have tended to stir the . gall of that short-sighted and illogical scribe . Couchedin terms of respect towards the M . W . G . M . and breathing a spirit of conciliation both to the Canadians and to their old opponents on the dais , the noble brother ' s

speech offers indeed in its grace a wide contrast to the compositions ol the " Justitia" school : we now propose to see how far his expressed sentiments justify his accuser in the assertion that he " lent the prestige of his name to a discreditable course . " It being a conclusion common , we presume , at last both to the chamions of Canadian rihts and to the

p g advocates for Canadian oppression that the new united G . L . there must be recognized by ours , but one question of the vexed subject remained , viz : as to tbe manner in which such recognition might be effected , with a due regard to our duty towards ourselves , our dependences , and our allies . There were two courses to be pursued :

the notice of motion of the Rev . Bro . Portal would have been fair towards G . L . and dignified towards Canada : the other , pursued by the M . W . G . M . "is inconsistent ( we quote the P . G . Reg . ) with the dignity of the G . L . of England , or with the respectability of that of Canada . " Not being in the secrets of the administrationwe do

, not enjoy , as we ought perhaps , the point of the satire to which Bro . Dobie subjects himself at the hands of the Magazine . "We think" says their leading article of the 8 th , " that he of all men will do wisely in observing a discreet silence , especially on the subjectof the Canadas . " How far this rebuke may have been merited we will

leave to be settled by those with whom the P . G . Reg , was then acting ; but if such misconduct is to condemn to silence all who shared its responsibility , to what sufferings is not G . L . foredoomed , deprived as it will be of the sweet counsel of so many who are wont to

“The Masonic Observer: 1858-12-20, Page 4” Masonic Periodicals Online, Library and Museum of Freemasonry, 25 May 2025, django:8000/periodicals/mob/issues/mob_20121858/page/4/.
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Mark Masonry. Article 14
THE REPORT OF THE BOARD OF GENERAL PURPOSES. Article 16
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HALF YEARLY MEETING OF MARK MASTERS . Article 32
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Ar00400

floor of G . L . Failing this however , he will probably be exposed to the impertinent attacks of the official press , whose latest feat in this line , has , we observe , been au insolent sneer at the nationality of a late most highly respected officer of the Craft , for having the presumption to refuse to allow G . L . to stultify itself rather more than usual , at the nod of the G . M . ' s present advisers .

Of necessity theu , those who are anxious for fair discussion and honest deliberation in G . L ., must associate together , in order to arrive at something like a mutual understanding upon the various questions that are to come before them , as well as secure to themselves the protection of mutual support .

We believe that the time has come when independent members of G . L . must think and act for themselves , indifferent to the attacks of the Executive , or of thenorgan . We believe that concerted action will tend most effectually to break up the present system of clique government , and we have therefore given it , and shall

continue to give it , our cordial support . At the same time we must express our conviction that nothing but mischief can ensue from the introduction of questions of Masonic policy at tbe banquets . The Constitutions provide for their discussion in Lodge ( p . 63 , sec . 24 ) , but at the former , they are as much out of place as is the " sickly sycophancy " to which the Executive , past and present , is usually treated .

Ar00401

" TUSTITIA" is a meteor of epistolary polemics J who coruscates in the atmosphere of the newly organized magazine .. He professes himself anxious to return to Masonic harmony . Let us see how he sets about it . — " The time for anything approaching to false delicacy is gone by . "— " The day of temporizing is past . "— " The Brethren must gird their loins for the

up combat , " & c . ; such are some of the most pacific forms of expression of which " Justitia ' s" pen is capable . Such are the challenges he flings down to those independent opponents of jobbery and clique whom the inagazine thinks fit to nickname the " Observer party . " The Observer in returnbegs to assure its calumniator

, , that it is ready to take up his gage ; that it is prepared to enter the lists for the maintenance of Masonic liberty , and that it will not permit honest gentlemen , without protest , to be victimized by libel and scurrility . If , as is occasionally hinted , " Justitia" is versed in courts of lawhe must ere now have experienced the mortification

, of discovering that the tactics of brow-beating and intimidation , entail not unfrequently tbe discomfiture of their employer . It being now allowed by the chiefs of the Executive , that the Canadian differences had their origin in the apathy and insolence with which their statements of

grievances were received in this country , we need hardly dwell on the service of those brethren , by whose ability and zeal the slothful officials were called to account for their misdoings . The severance then prophesied , has come to pass ; and it is nothing new that the prophets of

evil , however true their words , should be treated with contumely and insult . Among others , Bro . the Earl of CARNARVON was fearless and forward in the denunciation of abuse and wrong . He courted and must have expected his fate . But while the merits of that high-minded and talented young nobleman have earned for him respect and

admiration in society at large , and distinction at the hands of the Queen ' s advisers , we shall not condescend to plead his defence against those slanderers of his fair fame whose flatteries could not bribe him from the path of honesty , and whose present outpourings of vilification are only calculated to sully the pages of the Masonic

press , and to waken the contempt of all right-thinking men . ' Nor will we refer at length to the circumstances under which a feeling of self-respect drove him from G . L . at the last quarterly communication ; we would rather do Bro . HAVEBS the justice to hope that unscrupulous as are his speecheshe is occasionally visited by

, feelings of more refined taste and of regret for their utterance . It is fortunate that our impression of to day gives to our readers together with "Justitia ' s" letter to the Magazine ( for this tissue of-spiteful absurdity shall have all the publicity its author can desire ) the few

observations of Lord Carnarvon which have tended to stir the . gall of that short-sighted and illogical scribe . Couchedin terms of respect towards the M . W . G . M . and breathing a spirit of conciliation both to the Canadians and to their old opponents on the dais , the noble brother ' s

speech offers indeed in its grace a wide contrast to the compositions ol the " Justitia" school : we now propose to see how far his expressed sentiments justify his accuser in the assertion that he " lent the prestige of his name to a discreditable course . " It being a conclusion common , we presume , at last both to the chamions of Canadian rihts and to the

p g advocates for Canadian oppression that the new united G . L . there must be recognized by ours , but one question of the vexed subject remained , viz : as to tbe manner in which such recognition might be effected , with a due regard to our duty towards ourselves , our dependences , and our allies . There were two courses to be pursued :

the notice of motion of the Rev . Bro . Portal would have been fair towards G . L . and dignified towards Canada : the other , pursued by the M . W . G . M . "is inconsistent ( we quote the P . G . Reg . ) with the dignity of the G . L . of England , or with the respectability of that of Canada . " Not being in the secrets of the administrationwe do

, not enjoy , as we ought perhaps , the point of the satire to which Bro . Dobie subjects himself at the hands of the Magazine . "We think" says their leading article of the 8 th , " that he of all men will do wisely in observing a discreet silence , especially on the subjectof the Canadas . " How far this rebuke may have been merited we will

leave to be settled by those with whom the P . G . Reg , was then acting ; but if such misconduct is to condemn to silence all who shared its responsibility , to what sufferings is not G . L . foredoomed , deprived as it will be of the sweet counsel of so many who are wont to

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