Mackey A G - Encylopedia of Freemasonry - The Grand Masonic ...

294 GENERAL
GENUFLECTION
Grand Encampment. The committee of the
Grand Lodge of New York, who mace this
recommendation, also presented the outlines
of a General Grand Constitution .
This instrument defines the jurisdiction of
the proposed General Grand Lodge as intended
to be "over all controversies and disputes
between the different Grand Lodges
which may become parties to the compact,
when such controversies are referred for decision
; and the decisions in all cases to be final
when concurred in by a majority of the Grand
Lodges present" ; but it disclaims all appeals
from State Grand Lodges or their subordinates
in matters relating to their own internal
affairs . It is evident that the friends of the
measure had abated much of their pretensions
since the year 1779, when they wanted a
Grand Lodge of America, "to preside over and
govern all other Lodges of whatsoever degree
or denomination licensed or to be licensed,
on the continent . '
The Grand Lodge of Rhode Island also submitted
the draft of a General Grand Constitution,
more extensive in its details than that
presented by New York, but substantially the
same in principle . The Grand Lodge of the
District of Columbia also concurred in the
proposition . The convention did not, however,
meet; for the idea of a Supreme Grand
Lodge was still an unpopular one with the
Craft . In January, 1850, Texas expressed the
general sentiment of the Fraternity when it
said : "The formation of a General Grand
Lodge will not accomplish the desired end .
The same feeling and spirit that now lead to
difficulties between the different Grand
Lodges would produce insubordination and
disobedience of the edicts of a General Grand
Lodge ."
But another attempt was to be made by its
friends to carry this favorite measure, and a
convention of delegates was held at Lexington,
Ky., in September, 1853, during the session
of the General Grand Chapter and Encampment
at that city . This convention did
little more than invite the meeting of a fuller
convention, whose delegates should be clothed
with more plenary powers, to assemble at
Washington in January, 1855 .
The proposed convention met at Washington,
and submitted a series of nine propositions
styled "Articles of Confederation ." The
gist of these articles is to be found in the
initial one, and is in these words : "All matters
of difficult which may hereafter arise in any
Grand Loge, or between two or more Grand
Lodges of the United States, which cannot by
their own action be satisfactorily adjusted or
disposed of, shall, if the importance of the case
or the common welfare of the Fraternity demand
it, be submitted, with accompanying
evidence and documents, to the several Grand
Lodges in their individual capacities ; and the
concurrent decision thereon of two-thirds of
the whole number, officially communicated
shall be held authoritative, binding, and final
on all parties concerned ."
The provisions of these articles were to be
considered as ratified, and were to take effect
as soon as they were approved by twenty
Grand Lodges of the United States . It is needless
to say that this approbation was never received,
and the proposed confederation failed
to assume a permanent form .
It will be perceived that the whole question
of a General Grand Lodge is here, at once and
in full, abandoned. The proposition was simply
for a confederated league, with scarcely a
shadow of power to enforce its decisions, with
no penal jurisdiction whatsoever, and with no
other authority than that which from time to
time, might be delegated to it by the voluntary
consent of the parties entering into the
confederation. If the plan had been adopted
the body would, in all probability, have died
in a few years of sheer debility. There was
no principle of vitality to keep it together .
But the friends of a General Grand Lodge
did not abandon the hope of effecting their
object, and in 1857 the Grand Lodge of Maine
issued a circular, urging the formation of a
General Grand Lodge at a convention to be
held at Chicago in September, 1859, during
the session of the General Grand Chapter and
General Grand Encampment at that city .
This call was generally and courteously responded
to ; the convention was held, but it
resulted in a failure . Other attempts have
been made by its friends to carry this measure,
but with no results .
Generalissimo. The second officer in a
Commandery of Knights Templar, and one
of its representatives in the Grand Commandery.
His duty is to receive and communicate
all orders, signs, and petitions ; to
assist the Eminent Commander, and, in his
absence, to preside over the Commandery .
His station is on the right of the Eminent
Commander, and his jewel is a square, surmounted
by a paschal lamb .
The use of the title in Templarism is of very
recent origin, and peculiar to America. No
such officer was known in the old Order . It is,
besides inappropriate to a subordinate officer,
being derived from the French generalissime,
and that from the Italian generalissimo, both
signifying a supreme commander. It has the
same meaning in English .
Gentleman Mason. In some of the old
lectures of the last century this title is used as
equivalent to Speculative Freemason. Thus
they had the following catechism :
"Q . What do you learn by being a Gentleman
Mason?
"A . Secrecy, Morality, and Good-Fellowship
.
"Q. What do you learn by being an Operative
Mason?
"A . Hew, Square, Mould stone, lay a
Level, and raise a Perpendicular ."
Hence we see that Gentleman Mason was in
contrast with Operative Mason .
Genuflection. Bending the knees has, in
all ages of the world, been considered as an
act of reverence and humility, and hence Pliny,
the Roman naturalist, observes, that "a certain
degree of religious reverence is attributed