-
Articles/Ads
Article POPERY OR MASONRY. ← Page 2 of 3 Article POPERY OR MASONRY. Page 2 of 3 →
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Popery Or Masonry.
are the evils engendered . All this is the beginning and progress of what is meant by Popery ; which flourishes as vigorously under the zealous care of Brahmins ,
Grand Lamas and Bonzes , as in any of the Christian hierarchies or establishments of untutored barbarians . It cannot be denied that indications of this universal tendency can be detected in some of the developments taking place in Masonry at this time . It can be seen manifesting itself gradually in various forms—in none perhaps more distinctly than in advanced (?) doctrines in jurisprudence ,
beginning to grow up : some of them threatening the Craft with serious evil . Passing over some which are more conspicuous , let
ns take notice of a group of propositions in Masonic law or ethics , as yon may please to term them ; which appear to be finding favour in influential circles among the Fraternity ; and which are allied in their principles ,
and tend to enhance the mischief ot each other in cutting under and subverting the benignant rule of friendship , benevolence and justice . It is true that not all of them have attained a magnitude sufficient to occasion immediate and irreparable injury on a large scale ; but this
is the very reason why now is the proper time to fix attention on their presence and the consequent danger ; for if they pass their incipient stage , they cannot be remedied until they have run their course beyond the verge of disaster .
Among these is , first , the proposed doctrine that a newly formed Grand Lodge may rightfully call upon the Craft to coerce by pains and penalties the will of regular and older Lodges found within the territory
over which it claims jurisdiction—a subject of heated controversy at this time ; and portentous of much evil throughout the Masonic world . In the wake of this proposition ( when established ) necessarily follows that of the right of a particular Lodge to force membership in its own body against all Masons , members of other Lodges , who may be found
within the metes and bounds of it 8 territorial jurisdiction—this to be done by pains and penalties under Grand Lodge power . Third , the unnecessary and unjust claim of what is called " perpetual jurisdiction , " by which if any person has petitioned a Lodge for the degrees , and some
member or members have for any reason voted adversely , so that his petition has been rejected ; and he afterwards has removed to another region , and lived there
it may be twenty years , " under the tongue of good report , " no Lodge there can receive and act on his petition without a " waiver of jurisdiction " by the Lodge which had acted on his former application .
It will be best to mention no other instances here , as the above are fully enough for one short article . It is manifest , on close examination , that these all have a common tap root , and are but branches of the same stem . They all may be said to spring from that form
of dominion which attaches itself to the particular society or body corporate , and not so much to mere self . Jesuitism is a familiar and proper example of this spirit in a high state of development . But in its beginning it is not imbued with intent of craft and
fraud , as it afterwards comes to be—it is content with acquiring dominion by legal stratagems and adroit management ; but the domination it must have in some way ; and it finally becomes impatient of any restraints
based on the proper rights of others ; and ends in being not only despotic but demoralising and base , and so dangerous and destructive . Those who are animated with zeal for the cause , whatever it may be , often slide into zeal for the corporate institution which sustains it .
and finally labour for the extension and dominion of the latter , to the hindrance and disparagement of the former , until the cause is lost and the institution remains to work the very evils it was designed to overthrow . Now , as to the above mentioned propositions or
doctrines in Masonio jurisprudence , it is proper to say that they are upheld by Masons who are just and magnanimous—who are devoted to the highest principles of
morality , and who would scorn an act infringing on the rights of others , or tending in any way to bring reproach upon Masonry . Some , therefore , will say , What is the harm ? good men will not do wrong-, and
what better is wanted than to let good men have their way ? But the answer is that harm is one of the very things which good men have been doing all over the
Popery Or Masonry.
world at all times . It is undeniable truth that many of the most reprehensible encroachments on liberty and human rights , and especially on the rights of conscience ,
have grown to the proportions which made them impregnable , by means of the countenance and support of excellent and respected men . For this has been the misfortune of this world in all ages , that rulers , both
temporal and spiritual , of the highest moral sentiments , have used their consequent great influence in favour of policies , laws and observances which seemed on too little reflection well grounded ; yet which in truth
were fraught with the germs of insidious evils . In thousands of instances what were taken for newly perceived and desirable forms or aspects of truth , have turned Jout to be revivals of ancient fallacies but partly disclosed .
Doubtless there are among worthy and intelligent brethren conflicting opinions concerning each of the three
propositions above mentioned ; and some who favour one or two hold the other or others in aversion ' , so that only a limited number agree in support of all of them . What is intended here is not to discredit or
attack the intentions or conduct of any , but to invite attention to the departure from the prime law and order of Masonry , which is doubtless involved in each
and all of them ; for they each contain a germ of false philosophy and of false law , considered in the light of Masonry .
The first is contrary to a vital principle of proper Masonic government , which is , that although every organised body claiming to be a lawful Lodge must be able to show that it is authorised by regular Masonic documents emanating from a recognised Grand Body ,
capable of conferring proper capacity and authority ; yet while its existence as a working Lodge must originate in that manner ; when it is once so clothed with the attributes of a regular Lodge , it is and must be of necessity
independent ot tne power ot any other body of Masons , grand or subordinate , except its own Grand Lodge ; so Jong as the latter may exist as a recognised body ; and it remains in allegiance thereto . In short a Lodge of Masons holding a charter under a living Grand Lodge , cannot be
compelled by any other Masonic authority whatever to change its allegiance ; and any attempt to coerce it by such other Grand Body is an assault , not only on the Masonic libertv of its members , but on their Grand Lodo-o : wrn'p . h w 7 —
* r ' O " — - " - has no right to cast them off , they being an integral part of itself ; and such an assault as would at once justify the latter in calling upon all the Grand Lodges of the world to
resent it , as an attack upon the common liberty and rights of those bodies , by such measures as in the common judgment would seem meet . And why not ? seeing that a
Grand Lodge with its subordinate or constituent Lodges , as you please to consider them , is like a tree with its branches and roots , which are all one ; so that you cannot injure either without injuring the tree ; so whether a particular
Lodge is a branch ( subordinate ) or a root ( constituent ) is no matter ; the Grand Lodge ( like the tree ) can neither lawfully abdicate government , nor abnegate the same over any constituent part without its consent ; and certainl y nobody else can interfere .
Any Grand Lodge instituted within the territory where any such chartered Lodge may exist , must take its jurisdiction subject to the incumbrance occasioned by the prior rights of the Lodge , which will hold its own inrisdintinn
half way to the next Lodge , or as may be agreed on ; and pursue its ordinary Masonic course as though nothing had happened ; although it might be better if the latter would elect to accept the new jurisdiction .
All who claim that the Lodges located in any state or other independent political division , in which no Grand Lodge may exist , can elect to unite and form a Grand Lodge of their own ; admit also thereby their right to elect
to stay as they are ; any other supposition dissipates the right of election . A proposition that a Lodge may elect to leave its Grand Lodge and accept allegiance in another ; but that at the same time it cannot elect to decline to do
so , is not even good nonsense ; and yet some Lodges must elect to go out and form a Grand Lodge before there can be such a body for other Lodges to elect to join . The
wholo process of forming a Grand Lodge is , therefore , a process of election ; and that is all there is of it . Take the second proposition , which includes forced affiliation of the members of one Lodge by another Lodge which is situated nearer . This being a similar state
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Popery Or Masonry.
are the evils engendered . All this is the beginning and progress of what is meant by Popery ; which flourishes as vigorously under the zealous care of Brahmins ,
Grand Lamas and Bonzes , as in any of the Christian hierarchies or establishments of untutored barbarians . It cannot be denied that indications of this universal tendency can be detected in some of the developments taking place in Masonry at this time . It can be seen manifesting itself gradually in various forms—in none perhaps more distinctly than in advanced (?) doctrines in jurisprudence ,
beginning to grow up : some of them threatening the Craft with serious evil . Passing over some which are more conspicuous , let
ns take notice of a group of propositions in Masonic law or ethics , as yon may please to term them ; which appear to be finding favour in influential circles among the Fraternity ; and which are allied in their principles ,
and tend to enhance the mischief ot each other in cutting under and subverting the benignant rule of friendship , benevolence and justice . It is true that not all of them have attained a magnitude sufficient to occasion immediate and irreparable injury on a large scale ; but this
is the very reason why now is the proper time to fix attention on their presence and the consequent danger ; for if they pass their incipient stage , they cannot be remedied until they have run their course beyond the verge of disaster .
Among these is , first , the proposed doctrine that a newly formed Grand Lodge may rightfully call upon the Craft to coerce by pains and penalties the will of regular and older Lodges found within the territory
over which it claims jurisdiction—a subject of heated controversy at this time ; and portentous of much evil throughout the Masonic world . In the wake of this proposition ( when established ) necessarily follows that of the right of a particular Lodge to force membership in its own body against all Masons , members of other Lodges , who may be found
within the metes and bounds of it 8 territorial jurisdiction—this to be done by pains and penalties under Grand Lodge power . Third , the unnecessary and unjust claim of what is called " perpetual jurisdiction , " by which if any person has petitioned a Lodge for the degrees , and some
member or members have for any reason voted adversely , so that his petition has been rejected ; and he afterwards has removed to another region , and lived there
it may be twenty years , " under the tongue of good report , " no Lodge there can receive and act on his petition without a " waiver of jurisdiction " by the Lodge which had acted on his former application .
It will be best to mention no other instances here , as the above are fully enough for one short article . It is manifest , on close examination , that these all have a common tap root , and are but branches of the same stem . They all may be said to spring from that form
of dominion which attaches itself to the particular society or body corporate , and not so much to mere self . Jesuitism is a familiar and proper example of this spirit in a high state of development . But in its beginning it is not imbued with intent of craft and
fraud , as it afterwards comes to be—it is content with acquiring dominion by legal stratagems and adroit management ; but the domination it must have in some way ; and it finally becomes impatient of any restraints
based on the proper rights of others ; and ends in being not only despotic but demoralising and base , and so dangerous and destructive . Those who are animated with zeal for the cause , whatever it may be , often slide into zeal for the corporate institution which sustains it .
and finally labour for the extension and dominion of the latter , to the hindrance and disparagement of the former , until the cause is lost and the institution remains to work the very evils it was designed to overthrow . Now , as to the above mentioned propositions or
doctrines in Masonio jurisprudence , it is proper to say that they are upheld by Masons who are just and magnanimous—who are devoted to the highest principles of
morality , and who would scorn an act infringing on the rights of others , or tending in any way to bring reproach upon Masonry . Some , therefore , will say , What is the harm ? good men will not do wrong-, and
what better is wanted than to let good men have their way ? But the answer is that harm is one of the very things which good men have been doing all over the
Popery Or Masonry.
world at all times . It is undeniable truth that many of the most reprehensible encroachments on liberty and human rights , and especially on the rights of conscience ,
have grown to the proportions which made them impregnable , by means of the countenance and support of excellent and respected men . For this has been the misfortune of this world in all ages , that rulers , both
temporal and spiritual , of the highest moral sentiments , have used their consequent great influence in favour of policies , laws and observances which seemed on too little reflection well grounded ; yet which in truth
were fraught with the germs of insidious evils . In thousands of instances what were taken for newly perceived and desirable forms or aspects of truth , have turned Jout to be revivals of ancient fallacies but partly disclosed .
Doubtless there are among worthy and intelligent brethren conflicting opinions concerning each of the three
propositions above mentioned ; and some who favour one or two hold the other or others in aversion ' , so that only a limited number agree in support of all of them . What is intended here is not to discredit or
attack the intentions or conduct of any , but to invite attention to the departure from the prime law and order of Masonry , which is doubtless involved in each
and all of them ; for they each contain a germ of false philosophy and of false law , considered in the light of Masonry .
The first is contrary to a vital principle of proper Masonic government , which is , that although every organised body claiming to be a lawful Lodge must be able to show that it is authorised by regular Masonic documents emanating from a recognised Grand Body ,
capable of conferring proper capacity and authority ; yet while its existence as a working Lodge must originate in that manner ; when it is once so clothed with the attributes of a regular Lodge , it is and must be of necessity
independent ot tne power ot any other body of Masons , grand or subordinate , except its own Grand Lodge ; so Jong as the latter may exist as a recognised body ; and it remains in allegiance thereto . In short a Lodge of Masons holding a charter under a living Grand Lodge , cannot be
compelled by any other Masonic authority whatever to change its allegiance ; and any attempt to coerce it by such other Grand Body is an assault , not only on the Masonic libertv of its members , but on their Grand Lodo-o : wrn'p . h w 7 —
* r ' O " — - " - has no right to cast them off , they being an integral part of itself ; and such an assault as would at once justify the latter in calling upon all the Grand Lodges of the world to
resent it , as an attack upon the common liberty and rights of those bodies , by such measures as in the common judgment would seem meet . And why not ? seeing that a
Grand Lodge with its subordinate or constituent Lodges , as you please to consider them , is like a tree with its branches and roots , which are all one ; so that you cannot injure either without injuring the tree ; so whether a particular
Lodge is a branch ( subordinate ) or a root ( constituent ) is no matter ; the Grand Lodge ( like the tree ) can neither lawfully abdicate government , nor abnegate the same over any constituent part without its consent ; and certainl y nobody else can interfere .
Any Grand Lodge instituted within the territory where any such chartered Lodge may exist , must take its jurisdiction subject to the incumbrance occasioned by the prior rights of the Lodge , which will hold its own inrisdintinn
half way to the next Lodge , or as may be agreed on ; and pursue its ordinary Masonic course as though nothing had happened ; although it might be better if the latter would elect to accept the new jurisdiction .
All who claim that the Lodges located in any state or other independent political division , in which no Grand Lodge may exist , can elect to unite and form a Grand Lodge of their own ; admit also thereby their right to elect
to stay as they are ; any other supposition dissipates the right of election . A proposition that a Lodge may elect to leave its Grand Lodge and accept allegiance in another ; but that at the same time it cannot elect to decline to do
so , is not even good nonsense ; and yet some Lodges must elect to go out and form a Grand Lodge before there can be such a body for other Lodges to elect to join . The
wholo process of forming a Grand Lodge is , therefore , a process of election ; and that is all there is of it . Take the second proposition , which includes forced affiliation of the members of one Lodge by another Lodge which is situated nearer . This being a similar state