[Valentine M’Clutchy, The Irish Agent by William Carleton]@TWC D-Link bookValentine M’Clutchy, The Irish Agent CHAPTER XVIII 19/31
I deem it right, however, to preface it by the greater portion of a short but significant Report, to which are prefixed the following memorable names:-- "'At a meeting of the Grand Orange Lodge of Ireland, November 29, 1798. Present:--Thomas Verner, Grand Master; J.C.Beresford, grand secretary; R.C.Smith, jun., deputy secretary; H.A.Woodward; J.S.
Rochfort; T. F.Knipe; Samuel Montgomery; Harding Giffard; William Richardson; John Fisher; William Corbett; W.G.Galway; Francis Gregory.
Harding Giffard and S.Montgomery, Esqrs., reported as follows:-- "'Having been honored by the Grand Lodge with instructions to revise and select a proper system of rules, for the government of Orange Lodges, we beg leave to make a report of our progress. "'We are happy in being able to say, that in our duty upon this occasion, we received the greatest assistance from the experience of the Grand Master of Ireland, and his Deputy Grand Secretary, who did us the honor of imparting to us their sentiments. "'Encouraged by their help, we have ventured very materially to alter the shape of the confused system which was referred to us preserving the spirit, and, as much as possible, the original words, except where we had to encounter gross violations of language and grammar. "'The general, plan of our proceeding has been this, we have thrown what are, in our opinion, very improperly called the six first general rules, into one plain short declaration of the sentiments of the body. "'Next in order we have given the qualifications of an Orangeman, selected from the Antrim regulations, and the rather, as it breathes a spirit of piety which cannot be too generally diffused throughout an institution, whose chief object, whatever political shape it may assume, is to preserve the Protestant Religion.
****** "'Samuel Montgomery, "'Henby Giffard.
'"Nov.
<<Back Index Next>> D-Link book Top TWC mobile books
|