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E. H. ADDINGTON

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38 OUTLINE OF THE RISK AND PROGRESS<br />

Grand Lodge in a summary manner, which were approved. A communication<br />

was received from Harmony Lodge No. 26, inclosing a copy of the<br />

resolutions adopted by it in reference to the French Rite lodges, which were<br />

declared satisfactory by an unanimous vote, and the Grand Secretary ordered<br />

to send a copy to each of the French Rite lodges. A vote of thanks was<br />

tendered to the Grand Master for his services in restoring harmony to the<br />

craft, which was carried unanimously, "the hall resounding with applause<br />

and triple batteries." After the Grand Master had acknowledged the honor<br />

conferred upon him, and the excitement had subsided, Alexander Philips<br />

offered a resolution requiring the Grand Secretary to notify all the lodges<br />

in the jurisdiction what lodges were recognized by the Grand Lodge, which<br />

was laid over to the next meeting.<br />

At the quarterly communication of December 17, 1831, communications<br />

were received from the French Rite lodges Polar Star No. 4263 and Les<br />

Amis Reunis No. 7787 announcing their reconciliation with Harmony<br />

Lodge No. 26. Les Amis Reunis Lodge also requested to be informed by<br />

the Grand Lodge whether it recognized the lodges of the French Rite, sitting<br />

in New Orleans, as regular lodges. This question brought up the resolution<br />

offered by Alexander Philips at the previous meeting, when an amendment<br />

was proposed and adopted by which the Grand Lodge recognized as regular<br />

the following lodges:<br />

French Bite—Polar Star No. 4263, Triple Bienfaisance No. 7319, and<br />

Les Amis Reunis No. 7787.<br />

Scotch Bite—Les Trinosophes No. 1; La Libe"rale No. 2, and Polar Star<br />

No. 4263.<br />

By the adoption of this resolution the reconciliation of the contending<br />

factions was perfected and fraternal intercourse restored—the ensuing<br />

Feast of St. John the Evangelist being celebrated with great pomp and<br />

rejoicing in all the lodges. Those members of Harmony Lodge No. 26 who<br />

still retained their prejudices against the French Rite, and viewed with<br />

disapprobation the compromise that had been effected, were too weak in<br />

number and influence to make successful opposition and silently<br />

acquiesced.* The war upon the French Rite had given birth to a new party,<br />

which profiting by the dissensions of the rival cliques drew support from<br />

both, and thus obtained the control of the Grand Lodge. The prize had<br />

been long coveted; and its possession, so easily acquired, determined<br />

the adoption of measures by which the power it conferred upon the Consistorial<br />

party could only be wrested from them by a revolution.<br />

On the 6th of March, 1831, a committee, consisting of Auguste Douce, A.<br />

W. Pichot and H. R. Denis, was apponited to prepare a new code of<br />

General Regulations.f If any progress had been made in preparing the<br />

code previous to the recognition of the French and Scotch Rite lodges, that<br />

portion of the work was abandoned and a new code framed. It was presented<br />

by the Deputy Grand Master, Auguste Douce, June 30, 1832, and<br />

was finally adopted on the 15th of October following, after having been<br />

discussed, article by article, at seven sessions of the Grand Lodge. The<br />

new General Regulations were ordered to go into effect on December 1,<br />

1852; the Grand Master was authorized to have them translated into<br />

English and printed,! and the Grand Secretary ordered to' send a copy to<br />

•Triple Bienfaisance Lodge No. T319 took no notice of the ^solutions adopted by<br />

Harmony Lodge No. 26 until after the Grand Lodge 'had recognized the French Bite lodges,<br />

and then it fraternized with Harmony Lodge. That there was opposition in Harmony<br />

Lodge 'to the adoption of the resolution is evident from the vote having been taken by<br />

ballot, and it was not unanimous.<br />

fAuguste Douce was a cabinet-maker; A. W, Pichot and H. B. Denis were lawyers.<br />

JGfand Master John H. Holland was a native of Windham, Connecticut. Daring<br />

the debates on the adoption of the General Regulations he translated the French text for<br />

the benefit of the English speaking members of the Grand Lodge. But it is incredible<br />

that he should have been the author of the printed translation, which in many instances<br />

fails to give the sense of the French text, and its orthography and grammar would<br />

disgrace e. school-boy ten years old.

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