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Article PRESENT STATE OF AFFAIRS . ← Page 5 of 7 →
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Present State Of Affairs .
and of none effect ! The satisfaction of the Grand Master at this ruling was too apparent to escape notice ; and the third Brother , who had never during the previous proceedings once opened his mouth , was about to hear the malignant sentence confirmed , when he rose , approached the covenant , p laced his hands on the Sacred Volume , and boldly addressed the Grand Master on the enormity of the
injustice about to be practised . It is probable the Grand Master felt the force of his argument—it would have been well for Masonry had he acted upon it . Although " Felix trembled , " yet on the retirement of the Brother , the sentence was speedily confirmed ! And this is " a court of
honour !" Let us now inquire what would have been the conduct of a high-minded Grand Master . Would he have presided at a tribunal where the proceedings implicated his own honour ?—would he not rather have left his character in the
care of the great body over which he presided ? We fearlessly state , that in the " profane world" such would have been the course ; and why was it otherwise in this case ? He could direct an act of oblivion against the principal , but could sanction , nay , direct , through his legal (!) adviser ,
that by the paltry subterfuge of a flaw in the appeal , the sentence should be confirmed against another , himself sitting as judge in his own case ! In common law the judge would lean to the defendant , and the lav / would be interpreted in his favour . In Masonry the judge reverses the order of things , hugs the non-Masonic law , and pounces upon the victim .
This momentary victory would have failed but for the absence of a great number of Grand Lodge , who were at Epsom races ,- —sufficient to have carried a majority the other way , notwithstanding the " whipping-in" of Lords and Commons , There were those present on this occaT
sion who during their year of office could not find time nor inclination to perform their duty ; yet could find both to commit an offence against common decency . Will they
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Present State Of Affairs .
and of none effect ! The satisfaction of the Grand Master at this ruling was too apparent to escape notice ; and the third Brother , who had never during the previous proceedings once opened his mouth , was about to hear the malignant sentence confirmed , when he rose , approached the covenant , p laced his hands on the Sacred Volume , and boldly addressed the Grand Master on the enormity of the
injustice about to be practised . It is probable the Grand Master felt the force of his argument—it would have been well for Masonry had he acted upon it . Although " Felix trembled , " yet on the retirement of the Brother , the sentence was speedily confirmed ! And this is " a court of
honour !" Let us now inquire what would have been the conduct of a high-minded Grand Master . Would he have presided at a tribunal where the proceedings implicated his own honour ?—would he not rather have left his character in the
care of the great body over which he presided ? We fearlessly state , that in the " profane world" such would have been the course ; and why was it otherwise in this case ? He could direct an act of oblivion against the principal , but could sanction , nay , direct , through his legal (!) adviser ,
that by the paltry subterfuge of a flaw in the appeal , the sentence should be confirmed against another , himself sitting as judge in his own case ! In common law the judge would lean to the defendant , and the lav / would be interpreted in his favour . In Masonry the judge reverses the order of things , hugs the non-Masonic law , and pounces upon the victim .
This momentary victory would have failed but for the absence of a great number of Grand Lodge , who were at Epsom races ,- —sufficient to have carried a majority the other way , notwithstanding the " whipping-in" of Lords and Commons , There were those present on this occaT
sion who during their year of office could not find time nor inclination to perform their duty ; yet could find both to commit an offence against common decency . Will they