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Article PROVINCIAL GRAND LODGES ← Page 2 of 5 →
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Provincial Grand Lodges
Provincial Grand- Lodge is said to meet , to bear the whole expenditure of the day . The result of this system is that manj of the smaller Lodges—many towns—are altogether deprived of the opportunity of having the Provincial Grand Lodge held within their
district for fear of the expense ; or Lodges get involved in debt , which cripples them to an extent which destroys their vitality , or takes them four or five years to free themselves . It is clear that no private Lodge should be called upon to bear this expenditure , but that it should come out of a general fund to be contributed to by all the Lodges of the province , iiiider the provisions of the law , section 4 , p ; 51 of the Book of Constitutions—and to 5 which all Lodges would have to contribute according to their extent and importance .
Anotherpoint to which we would direct attention , is the allowing Masons of every rank and position to be present during the transaction of Provincial Grand Lodge business ; this is opposed alike to the practice of the Supreme Grand Lodge aiad to the Book of Constitutions , which specially declares that the Provincial Grand Lodge
is to consist of — ^ The actual and Past Provincial Grand Officers ,-whilst they remain subscribing members to a Lodge in the province , with the actual Provincial Grand Stewards , and the Masters , Past Masters , and Wardens , of all Lodges within the province . " That the gathering together a large body of the Brethren tends
to the encouragement of brotherly love and mutual good feeling between the members of the Craft resident in distant towns , there e & n be no doi ^ bt ; and we are sure no Brother below the rank entitling him to take part in the proceedings of Grand Lodge , would be deterred attending and taking part in the after proceedings of the day , because he was necessarily excluded from the Lodge-room
diiring the transaction of business . Another and very objectionable practice appears to be gaining ground , and we mention it now in order that it may be checked by the constituted authorities whilst yet in its infancy ; viz ., that of admitting ladies , and others of the uninitiated , into the Lodge-room at the conclusion of the business , and treating them to a lay sermon
or lecture on the principles and tenets of our Order , We are aware that we may be answered by some , that the jewels have been put away , and that the Master has vacated his chair prior to the members of the outer world being admitted . This may have been done in some instances , but what security have we that it has been done by all ; or that one innovation may not lead to another ,
until every barrier has been overthrown , and the Craft itself become nothing but a name . Par better that the matter should be grappled with at once , and the innovation altogether stayed , before it has gone too far ; and for this purpose we call upon Provincial Grand
Masters and their Deputies , throughout the kingdom , to refuse their sanction to any such proceedings for the future ; and the more especially should it be proposed ( as we have seen done ) to make col-
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Provincial Grand Lodges
Provincial Grand- Lodge is said to meet , to bear the whole expenditure of the day . The result of this system is that manj of the smaller Lodges—many towns—are altogether deprived of the opportunity of having the Provincial Grand Lodge held within their
district for fear of the expense ; or Lodges get involved in debt , which cripples them to an extent which destroys their vitality , or takes them four or five years to free themselves . It is clear that no private Lodge should be called upon to bear this expenditure , but that it should come out of a general fund to be contributed to by all the Lodges of the province , iiiider the provisions of the law , section 4 , p ; 51 of the Book of Constitutions—and to 5 which all Lodges would have to contribute according to their extent and importance .
Anotherpoint to which we would direct attention , is the allowing Masons of every rank and position to be present during the transaction of Provincial Grand Lodge business ; this is opposed alike to the practice of the Supreme Grand Lodge aiad to the Book of Constitutions , which specially declares that the Provincial Grand Lodge
is to consist of — ^ The actual and Past Provincial Grand Officers ,-whilst they remain subscribing members to a Lodge in the province , with the actual Provincial Grand Stewards , and the Masters , Past Masters , and Wardens , of all Lodges within the province . " That the gathering together a large body of the Brethren tends
to the encouragement of brotherly love and mutual good feeling between the members of the Craft resident in distant towns , there e & n be no doi ^ bt ; and we are sure no Brother below the rank entitling him to take part in the proceedings of Grand Lodge , would be deterred attending and taking part in the after proceedings of the day , because he was necessarily excluded from the Lodge-room
diiring the transaction of business . Another and very objectionable practice appears to be gaining ground , and we mention it now in order that it may be checked by the constituted authorities whilst yet in its infancy ; viz ., that of admitting ladies , and others of the uninitiated , into the Lodge-room at the conclusion of the business , and treating them to a lay sermon
or lecture on the principles and tenets of our Order , We are aware that we may be answered by some , that the jewels have been put away , and that the Master has vacated his chair prior to the members of the outer world being admitted . This may have been done in some instances , but what security have we that it has been done by all ; or that one innovation may not lead to another ,
until every barrier has been overthrown , and the Craft itself become nothing but a name . Par better that the matter should be grappled with at once , and the innovation altogether stayed , before it has gone too far ; and for this purpose we call upon Provincial Grand
Masters and their Deputies , throughout the kingdom , to refuse their sanction to any such proceedings for the future ; and the more especially should it be proposed ( as we have seen done ) to make col-