The Arcana of Freemasonry (1915) - The Masonic Trowel

26 THE ARCANA OF FREEMASONRY
desirous that the strictest union should subsist
between the Grand Lodge of England and Scot-
land, and in proof thereof elected the Prince of
Wales Grand Master of Scotland. Lord Moira
further stated that when the Scottish Brethren ex-
pressed a hope
that the differences between the
English Masons would be speedily settled, he
replied that after the rejection of the propositions
of the Grand Lodge by the " Ancients " three
years before, it could not now, consistently with
its honour, make any further advances, but would
always be open to accept the mediation of the
Grand Lodge of Scotland if it should think proper
to interfere. Two years afterwards the Grand
Lodge of Ireland approved the declaration of their
Scottish Brethren, and pledged itself
"
not to
countenance or receive as a Brother any person
standing under the interdict of the Grand Lodge
of England for Masonic transgression." In April,
1809, the Grand Lodge agreed in opinion with
the Committee of Charity
that "it is not neces-
sary any longer for to continue in force those
measures which were resorted to in or about the
year 1789 respecting irregular Masons, and do
therefore enjoin the several Lodges to revert to
the ancient landmarks of the Society." This was
accepted as a step
towards the much desired union.
Still, more than four years elapsed before it was
achieved ; and then it came about as the result