Grand Lodge Of Pennsylvania .

GRAND LODGE OF PENNSYLVANIA .

W"E have before us a bulky volume , containing an Abstract of the proceedings of the Grand Lodge of the Most Ancient and Honourable Fraternity of Free and Accepted Masons of Pennsylvania and Masonio Jurisdictions thereunto belonging , being Extracts from the Minutes

of its Emergent , Quarterly , and Annual Grand Communications for the year 1885 . The minutes are set out in copious detail , and comprise many matters of general interest to the Craft ; dealing with several appeals , in which it was

considered , and very justly , that had the charges brought forward been referred to a Committee to report as to their sufficiency , it is highly probable that they would never have reached Grand Lodge at all . In one particular case

a lengthy trial took place , in which forty-eight witnesses were examined , and 214 manuscript pages of testimony taken , with the attending personal friction and feeling ; all

of which the report sets forth " might have been avoided . " The charge alleged that a certain brother was not a suitable person for advancement ; but it was decided that there was not even the obscurest hint in the record that

his conduct , since he was made a Mason , had been in the least degree questionable . Therefore Grand Lodge had nothing before it but moral delinquencies , alleged to have occurred , not only before his initiation , but before his

petition was approved . The principle , therefore , was laid down that had the accused never become a Mason , the Craft could not have exercised the power of discipline over him ; and it is equally clear that they had no jurisdiction over a Mason for offences committed by him whilst

he was a profane , for Grand Lodge can only discipline a Mason for Masonic offences , and Masonic offences can only be committed by Masons . The decision goes on to say , " The immoral life of a profane is certainly no reproach to

Freemasonry , and consequently cannot be an offence against its laws , nor can it possibly become an offence should he afterwards be admitted as a member of the Fraternity . It is otherwise , however , with the immoral

life of a Mason , for then it becomes a Masonic offence , and falls under the jurisdiction of Masonic authority . " It was contended , however , that as the charge alleged that the accused was not under the tongue of good Masonic report ,

he was initiated in violation of the Landmark ; but Grand Lodge held that such a question could not be raised . If a Landmark were indeed violated , the Lodge was the offender , and not the accused ; and that was not the way

to reach the remedy . If a charge could be sustained , the accused would have to be punished , by either reprimand , suspension , or expulsion , all of which recognise the regularity of his initiation , and , as a consequence , rebut

the suggestion that a Landmark was violated in his making . If a Landmark were violated , the action of the Lodge was necessarily void , but that result could be ascertained in any other way than by proceeding directly

against the Lodge , for it must be manifest to every one that the integrity of the action of a Lodge cannot be impeached through an accusation against one of its members . The Lodge must have notice of the charge against it , and

opportunity to defend its action . Without indicating any opinion whether the Grand Lodge could investigate the action of a subordinate Lodge in determining that an applicant is under the tongue of good Masonic report , it is suggested that , should such a right be sustained , and

Grand Lodge Of Pennsylvania .

G . Lodge should adjudge that the applicant was not under the tongue of good Masonic report , the Grand Lodge might have an equal right to reverso the unfavourable action of

a Lodge m such a case , and order that the applicant be initiated . The committee appointed to inquire into the circumstances of the case , said it seemed clear that the Grand Lodge would be slow to inquire into the action of

a subordinate Lodgo in determining whether or not an applicant was under the tongue of good Masonic report , should it ever assert its right to do so . Upon this , tho appeal was dismissed .

At the Quarterly Communication , held at Philadelphia in Sept . last , a circular letter was received from the M . W . Grand Lodge of Virginia , announcing the death of R . W . Bro . John Francis Kegnault , Grand Treasurer , which was ordered to . be entered and filed ; as also was a letter from

the Grand Lodge of Colon and Cuba , announcing tho death of R . W . Bro . Aurelio Almeida , Grand Secretary . A proclamation and edict from tho Grand Lodge of Quebec , to the effect that all intercourse should cease with

any Lodge holding allegiance to any foreign Grand Lodgo , and meeting in that Province . Several Lodges which had been suspended for want of returns had made amends , and were revived . The number of Lodges in the

jurisdiction in the year ended 27 th December 1884 was 379 , and the total number of members 37 , 175 . A list of the Lodges , where held , and the times of meeting , are then

given , followed by an original , important , and deeply interesting Masonic document , connected with the early History of Freemasonry in Pennsylvania . Bro . Clifford P . MacCalla Grand Warden stated that it was the oldest

original Masonic Lodge Report in America , and that the original is now in the possession of C . T . Ingham , Esq ., of Atlantic City , New Jersey , who inherited it , among a

number of old papers of David Hall , for many years the partner in the printing business of Bro . Benjamin Franklin , in whose handwriting it appears to be throughout . It is signed by eleven brethren , all of whose names

appear in Liber B as members of St . John s Lodge . It reads as follows : —

Gentlemen of tbe Lodge , —The Committee you have been pleased to appoint to consider of the present State of the Lodge , and of tbe properest Methods to improve it , in obedience to your commands have met , and , after muoh and mature Deliberation , have come to the following Resolutions : —

1 . That since tbe excellent Science of Geometry and Architecture is so much recommended in onr ancient Constitutions , Masonry being first instituted with this Design , among others , to distinguish the trneand skilful Architect from unskilful Pretenders ; total Ignoranee of this Art is very unbecoming a Man who bears the worthy

Name and Character of MASON ; We therefore conclude , that it ia the Duty of every Member to make himself , in some Measure , acquainted therewith , as he would honour tho Society he belongs to , and conform to the Constitutions . 2 . That every Member may have an Opportunity of so doing , the

present Cash be laid out in the best Books of Architecture , suitable Mathematical Instruments , & c . 3 . That since the present whole Stock is not too large for that purpose , every Member indebted to the Lodge pay what i 3 from him respectively due on Monday night , tbe nineteenth Instant ,

that so the whole being ready by tbe 24 th ot June , may ba sent away by the first Opportunity . And that every one not paying that Night , be suspended till he do pay : For without Care be taken that Eules are punctually observed , no Society can be long upheld in good Order

and Regularity . 5 . That the use of the Balls be established in its full Force and Vigour ; and that no new Member be admitted against the will of any present Member ; becaase certainly more Regard ought to be tad in this way to a Brother who is already a Mason , than to any Perscn