The Rhode-Island Republican. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1809-1841, 1819-04-07
sr. JOHNS LODGE, NO. 4.


esnUenea az NsYpors on Friday, March isM,
"a. Il. 55i9
THE Committee appointed on the l4ih
n day OF January last, made the following
Report -
Your Committee beg leave to report in
confor miy TO tho directions given them oo
The IAN Jan. A. l.. 5sl9 by ST. Johns Lodge,
No |, 10 Newport, they communicated 10
the Grand Master of the Grand Lodge 10
Providence, the resolutions oil THIS Lp6ge OF
that date, aud that they have not received
from said Grand Master any answer TO their
communication, but have since seen publish.
cd In the newspapers printed IN Providence.
"a, the doings of the Grand Lodge, at tbeIt
Quarterly communicsticn) certain strictures
and remarks upon many Of the officers and
members belonging TO The lodge IN this town,
which in tho opinion o! your committee are
not entitled TO an answer ;--as IL is not with
IN their province, nor, the province OF Ma.
sons, to descend SO low aud vulgar abuse, or
base rectimination. Your commit,ce, how
ever, are oil opinion, that il is owing more 10
me ignorance Of Jacts, in a maJ,'ny oi the
members Of the Grand Loogs, who arteul-
ed at their last Quarterly communication,
than TO their malicious and unmasonic pro-
pensities, that their doiDgs were OF such
cast and character as the piece referred 10,
prove them to be for rational men will
hereaftes Judge whetSer he Lodge In this
town has not giveD ~ The Grand Locge,
iair opport. Diiy tn eyonerate itseit aud the
characters Of Its members, from the disgrace
which must attach 70 ,nem Tor adopting >uch
a hasty and unwarran,abc cou'se OF conduct
Your committee are iuDy persuaded, ina. toe
members who attended ht meetings. 1T ,he
Grand Lodge holden in Nov and Feb last
were dis equitable part Of the q and Lodge.
Charity at least compeis them to believe
this.--For should the fact be otherwise, they
are uoab!s to assign any jusuhable cause Tor
the abu,ive language which has been lavish
ed upon The Member OF THIS Lodge, or Tor
the attempt on the part OF the Crane Lodge
TO claim property that did not beieng 10 II.
--Whot but malice could impel the Grand
Lodge 10 expel, aud 10 decla,e 10 The world
as expelled the sficers and memoers OF an
inde prn ndenl Lodge In This town, over whom
the & aud Lodge nd no conl oI, and could
exercise no , wer! 'vha' bu, dsstardly bssc-
ness could induce the NJ 10 accuse the Lodge
in this town, of roDbng pc, own Hall, OF
their owa Jewels, their oaon furniture, and
their own reoords, book and papers! when
the Grand Lodg; 10 Providence KIN W, or at
sny rate some of lis members ought 10 Know
that the books, papers, records add property
of the Lodge 10 this town, have been IN our
possession from the year 5749 delivered from
one treasurer o 400 be-, from time 10 time
b. commuters ap 'oipted that purpose,
f ON tia, period 10 he preseot ume - lha'
as long ago as the year 4765, one ot your
D.. Rr
o., and had a, that une somc oi the same
p opeTiy, which We arc now accused OF nav
,nE pufiotn, u.--The Master and b ethrcn
Of the Lodge 10 this town, are accused of
pnoo,oiog j wells belonging 10 the Grand
Lodsc which tie Lo tge IN ,nis town bought
with heir own fund.-, and which the Grand
Lodge never nd except On loan, when they
had no, properly to purchase Jewels ior
themselves.
Your Committee are at loss TO lind by
wnat authority JoHN CAKLILE, Grand Mas.
ter oi the Grand Lodge, with other, entered
the Hall Of tho Lodge IN this fowns Presi-
dod over a pretended Election OF Members
of another Lodge, md inducted menbers ot
St Paul's Lodge in o ,ehces sitting them Of
fce,s Of St. Johns Lodge your committee
sro also unable TO discover, on what authority
the G,end Lodge could say hat ST. Johns
Lodge in Newport were bound 10y the awa'ds
and determination Of the Grand Lodge,
when the powers of ,he Grand Lodge are
limited by, and derived from the grant OF the
Lodge in this town; nd tho Lodge IN this
town has reserved "a themselves, and had
right to exercise, G and Lodge powers fro
the wear $3.50 10 the present period.
Wherefore your committee, 10 consideration
of tho premises snj without at this time
going further into de,ail, recommended the
adoption Of the following resolutions, viz -
RESOLVED, That in IS much as there arc
now pending between ST. Johns Lodge No.
!. in Newport and spurious Lodge OF which
John L. BOSS, is pre-, .aded Master, sondsy
suits at law in the Courts IN this County, IN
relation to which the Grand Lodge in the o.
p,nion of your ommittee, have endeavoured
to Influence public opinion, that the good
people of this State, and particularly oi this
County, be requested to suspend their opin'
,ons in relation to said suits at Law, until d
lair end impartial investigation has been had
on the merits OF the same.