Is "Making Masons At Sight" A Grand Master's Prerogative ?

hini-soH' unworthy of the obedience and subjection of the Lodges , he shall be treated in a way and manner to be arrrpednpon in a new Regulation . " Having disposed of Dr . Mackey ' s notion of ancient landmarks , I will next consider his sixth landmark , in

which he refers to the power of a Grand Master to dispense with the law requiring a month's notice to he criven to the members of a Lodge before a candidate can be initiated therein . That is , however , providing the Officers

of the Lodge petition the Grand Master for snch dispensation . Bnt the following , Section VI ., will show that no dispensation of the Grand Master can compel a Lodge to elect either a candidate or a member ; here is the law .

" But no man shall bo entered a brother in any particular Lodge , or admitted as a member thereof , without the unanimous consent of all the members of that Lodge then present when the candidate is proposed , and their consent formally asked by the Master . * * * Nor is this inherent

privilege subject to dispensation . " Having shown that a Grand Master has no inherent rights ; that his so-called " prerogatives" are dependent upon the will and pleasure of the Grand Lodgo , and that the Grand Master is as amenable to the laws laid down in

the Constitution as any other Mason , for the information of the reader I will add that " occasional Lodges " were held in England only five times , viz .: one in 1731 , one in 1737 , two in 1766 , and one in 1787 : that is ninety seven

years ago . Since 1787 no occasional Lodge was held there , and I will further add , that about eight or nine years ago , while riding from Liverpool to London , I read in a newspaper that on the previous night the English Grand Master had initiated one of his own brothers in the Prince of

Wales Lodge , aud that among the Grand Lodge dignitaries present was Bro . Hervey , the Grand Secretary . On the following day I paid my respects to Bro . Hervey , when in the course of conversation on the above event , I said , " So

it seems you have discarded the notice of the Grand Master ' s right to make Masons at sight . " Brother Hervey replied , "' Occasional Lodges' were always illegal ; they onght never to have been hold , and they never will be held as * ain . "

Knowledge Of Ritual.

KNOWLEDGE OF RITUAL .

THE address of Grand Master Cable , delivered at the Sixteenth Annual Communication of the Grand Lodge of Alabama , is well worth reproduction . Our esteemed brother spoke as follows : — While a correct knowledge of onr ceremonies , and a familiarity with the Ritual of the different degrees is of the greatest importance , yet it is onr least and easiest dnty to discharge . That which we call work , my brethren , is not the work of our membership , bnt is the itiorife of the Lodge only . Onr individual work in its broad , comprehensive , and true sense , is in the interest and progress of humanity in every relation of life . To thi 3 toorfc every Mason has dedicated

himself , and pledged his best endeavours ; becanse Masonry has the world as its field of operation , and humanity the subject of its interest and care j including not only the temporal welfare , but the eternal happiness , of mankind . My information leads me to fear that the work of the Lodge is , with most of us , the only duty

discharged ; and with the Masters and Wardens of the subordinate Lodges , the only duty taught the initiate ; wholly neglecting the great and eternal truths taught by the Bymbols of the different degrees . We too often forget , brethren , that the candidate for admission comes asking for that light which Masonry has to give ,

and too often leaves the Lodge room with the faintest conception , if any at all , of that true light which Masonry would inculcate . How many Masters and Wardens are there present here to-day , who full y comprehend what true light in Masonry means ! How many impress the initiate with the important fact , that prayer is an

essential element in Masonry ; and , I may well ask , how mnny inform themselves of any of the great moral truths tanght by the symbols of oar fraternity ; nnd content themselves with a mere familiarit y with onr Ritual ? If then , my brethren , those in authority are not able to teach , how can we expect tho membership to become

more zealous in tho observance and discharge of their dnties and obligations ! The want of this knowledge upon the part of our Officers , prevents its being taught tho membership ; and the want of it on the part of onr initiates , causes them to tolerate , if not to indulge in , acts of immorality , which , in somo instances , is a disgraco to the fraternity . Too many of us feel that in becoming Musons we secure personal aid , assistance , and protection ; assuming no dnties to perlorm , or work to do , in the advancement of the great canso of humanity .

Jt is said that when despotism and superstition reigned everywhere , and seemed invincible , if not immortal , Blasonry was invented , avoid persecution , aud the doctrines taught have been transmitted "Y our secret mode of initiation , and , retaining its ancient symbols ,

Knowledge Of Ritual.

it displays its banuer m every civilized country , upou which is written in letters of livintr light its great principlos . While it teaches the crreat truths concerning the nature and existence * of one Supreme Deify , and tho existence and immortality of tho soul , yet it is not a religions sect , but from all sects it forms ono vast fraternal association , based upon a code of morals whioh is

the sure foundation of all religions . To serve onr God , onr ooantry , and all mankind , is the noblest destiny of man . This duty Masonry not only teaches but commands , and tho Masters and Wardens of the subordinate Lodgo who fail to impress this fact upon tho initiate , neyleet thi-ir most important duty , and tho Lodge fails to come np to tho full measure of its usefulness . Immorality among our

membership , results from a want of a proper appreciation of tho morality of our fraternity , and this want of appreciation grow 3 out of a failure to sufficiently inform ourselves upon this subject . If Masonry WM simply an a 33 ooiation for mutual pecuniary relief , it would long since have ceased to exist . Its command to love one another—to share each others pains and sorrows , as well as joys

and pleasures—to afford each other mutual assistance and support in all the relations of life—to respect the opinions and guard and protect the reparation of a brother , and throw the vail of oharity over his rvirs and shortcomings , and , above all , its firm belief iu the existen . o of a God and His Providence , as well as the immortality of the sonl , has preserved and protected its existence as au

association , and will continue to do so , as long as mankind shall inhabit the earth . Than , my brethren , let me urge you to learn more of its moral precepts , and practise its virtues more , so that the standard of Masonio character may be elevated , the sphere of its influence enlarged , and its great moral teachings made more popular , and therefore more observed among tho brethren .

Franklin's Handwriting.

FRANKLIN'S HANDWRITING .

WE have recently noted two errors on this subject , in connection with the Philadelphia St . John ' s Lodge Ledger , of 1731-8 . The Philadephia Times , in a brief paragraph , stated that the whole of this Lodge Ledger is

in the handwriting of Dr . Benjamin Franklin ; while Bro . Jacob Norton , in the Boston Masonic Truth , of 2 nd of June inst ., says that none of it is in Franklin ' s handwriting . BOTH ARE IN ERROR . We quote the falsehood contained in Masonic Truth , as follows : —

A paragraph wa 3 copied in the Boston Post from a Philadelphia paper ( the Times ) , stating that a Masonic record was discovered in Philadelphia , of between 1731 and 1738 , all in the handwriting of Benjamin Franklin ; and the said paragraph has since been reprinted in the Herald and in the Advertizer , & c . Now , the truth is , that not a word in the said record was written by Franklin .

The facts are these : The St . John ' s Lodge Ledger of 1731-8 , is , very evidently , in the handwriting of four different secretaries . We have examined it carefully and critically , with the following result . * The first Secretary wrote the record from June to December 1731 , the second

Secretary , from December 1731 , to December 1733 , the third Secretary , from December 1733 , to Jane 1735 , and the fourth Secretary , from June 1735 , to June 1738 . We are of opinion that any expert , familiar with Franklin ' s handwriting , will decide that the fourth Secretary ' s work

was by the pen of Benjamin Franklin . Several skilled experts have examined the record , and this is their opinion . If Bro . Jacob Norton will look at the Phototype copy of ten pages of this Ledger , sent by Bro . Conrad B . Day , Grand Master of Pennsylvania , to the Grand Lodge of

Massachusetts , and now preserved in the Grand Lodge Library at Boston ( a copy was also sent to Bro . Sereno D . Nickerson , Recording Grand Secretary ) , we are convinced he will be of this opinion also . So both the Times and Bro . Norton in the Masonic Truth , are in error , and the truth is as we have stated . —Keystone .

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