The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1855-09-09
Secession Among the 1Ias0ns.
TO THE EDITOR OF THE HERALD.

A paper styled "Manifesto Of Holland Lodge No. g."
appeared in the Herald Of August 20. Those not ac
quainted with the particulars may be deceived while
those Who have watched the Of this lodge but
be amused at this poor attempt at for rebel
ion.
They complain of the Grand Lodge for the years
1S4s 1S49 1868 and 1854 and yet let it be remembered
that they have waited until after the annual communi
cation june 1855 before they have taken this sep
and at that June communication attempt made
to any these alleged the acts Of 1sas
of the Clique" las the committee style large MAORI
ty Of the body hostile to the rights of the frater
nifty why did these brothers not act thenY If further
given 1854 why did they not then withdraw
Let the committee answer.
The Masonic fraternity in the United States, Canada,
England and the continent of Europe have been al
most unanimous in their decisions upon the right of a
Grand Lodge to alter its constitution by excluding Past
Masters, and making the body purely representative
This question: since 1si9 has been so thoroughly dis
sed and frequently decided that ii may be consid
cred as definitely settled and Holland Lodge No. 8, ac-
quiesced in that decision.
There can be no question of the right of the Grand
Lodge to abolish its quarterly meetings. The why
1t done is well known to the fraternity at large and
in all probability by the committee OF Holland Lodge.
The manner in which they allege reason, shows
that they doubt its TRUTH they do not know to the
trary
The allegation in the report Of this committee as to the
reversal by the Grand Lodge in annual of
the decision Of that body at its quarterly session. in the
of brother against whom charges had been pre-
erred is grossly incorrect and must be known to be
by members Of the body from which this committee
came, If not the committee ITSELF Let any read the
proceedings of the grand body the given In the
notice Of appeal and they viii that the party charged
had the trial before the committee been denied what
has been allowed to every defendant either in such
binary criminal cases, and that the most fragrant and
open violation Of all rules of evidence had occurred The
reversal by the Grand Lodge these grounds. IL
is natural that Holland Lodge should feel sensitive
this subject, of the committee that trial
member Of No. Let it be remembered that this all
done in 1854 and yet Holland Lodge remained until after
June 1855 As 10 the expenses OF the Grand Lodge an
examination of the reports Of its fiscal officers will show
such extravaganza and waste as Is imputed to 1t by
the committee. II this were why has not Holland
Lodge attempted TO correct the evily
Every must imagine that there is something other
than what has been stated by the committee the
Of their secession. There is real cause.-the committee
have given pretended one. The cause is known the
committee, and they might have saved themselves
great deal of trouble and taxation of their inventive
powers If they had stated the true
Was ii not threatened, nj the june communication
that If certain prominent member of Holland Lodge
not elected to certain high Office In the Grand Lodge
that ROLAND Lodge would secede? That person not
elected and the threat has been carried into execution
This Is the Of secession And how this to be
the causes existed as stated by them why would they
have overlooked them again to CRAFTY the ambition OF one
# their membersS Let be deceived this ques
tion-thoenly be who have not watched the
Of events for tie last few years. Let 1t also be known
that Part only OF Holland Lodge sympathze with the
committee-tha the remainder continue their allegiance
TO the Grand Lodge. YERifAS.