The Duties Of The Tyler.

Having arrived at what should be the general characteristics of a Tyler , let ns proceed to particulars . A Tyler should be a civil , courteous man . Those whom he habitually meets are his Brethren—his equals in Freemasonry , and often in official distinction his superiors .

He meets Pf sfc Masters of the Lodge he tylos , Masters and Past Masters of other Lodges , and others , strangers to him , who in tho first place presumably are Brethren , and may be persons of considerate Masonic dignity . All who approach tho Tyler , Masonicallv , should be treated by him

with respect and courtesy . All proper questions should bo properly answered . He occupies his place for the purpose of receiving the Brethren at the outer door , and passing their names within . Except under extraordinary circumstances , he shonld not presume to judge whether

the applicant for admission is entitled to it or not . It is his duty to present the names of all proper parties , to the Lodge . It is not his business to surmise or presume that the name will not be received , or that tbe Lodge will soon ' close , and ifc is nofc worth while to send it in , or thafc the

Lodge is too busy to consider it . All that is for tho Lodge . He performs his duty when he sends in the name , and this he should do in a polite manner , and as promptly as possible . The applicant is entitled to this consideration , and he should always receive it . A surly Tyler is a bane

to any Lodge , and injures it often morethan ifc is aware ; while "a conrteons Tyler is a credit to a Lodge , and performs the functions of his responsible office in a manner which will unfailingly reflect personal credit upon himself . His . . office is not an inferior one—there are no inferior offices in

Freemasonry . AU require to be performed skilfully , in order to render Masonic work and service what they are intended to be , ornaments to the Craffc . A Tyler should be a man of sonnd judgment . Sometimes it is necessary for him to say No , and he should know

when to say it . We can conceive of an applicant to whom No would be the best possible answer to his request to have his name sent in to the Lodge . Bufc the Tyler should bo mosfc careful never to err in this regard . When he says No , he says it for the Master , as well as for himself , and he shonld be snre that he is right .

A Tyler should be a man of promptitude , always having the Lodge ready to be opened " on time . " He should bo an orderly , tidy man , who understands the proprieties of life , and obeys them . He should keep the Lodge Room

neat aud clean , and air it well before the Lodge opens . This is of primary importance to the comfort of fche members , and is too often neglected . Fresh air makes a live Lodge , while an illy ventilated Lodge room may make a dead

one . A Tyler is a sentinel , and therefore in peril . He may be "killed with kindness . " Hia friends may invite him out too often for his welfare . The Tyler who is too popular is in danger . He , of all men , needs to say , " Save me from my friends , "—Keystone .

The Nebraska Squabble.

THE NEBRASKA SQUABBLE .

rpHE following criticisms are a few , of the many received , - *• from eminent Masons of this and foreign countries , on the Edict of Grand Master John J . Mercer and the Resolution of Nebraska Lodge , No . 1 : —

H . H . Ingersoll , Pasfc Grand Master of Masons , of the State of Tennessee , and one of the ablest lawyers in America ( and not a member of any Scottish Rite Faction ) , says as follows : —

KNOXVILLE , TENN ., 24 th Feb . 1890 . Alexander AtchinsonJEsq ., Master Nebraska Lodge , No . 1 , in abeyance , Omaha , Nebraska . DEAR SIR AND BROTHER , —I have youra of the 13 th inst ., with inclosures , inviting criticism of resolution for which your Lodge

Charter has been arrested : and I take pleasure at my earliest leisure in answering your questions as fco the tenour , legality and propriety t f the resolution . 1 . Is it based on Masonic law and usage and according to the teachings of ancient craft Masonry ? A complete and sufficient

answer is found to this question in the preamble and resolution of your own Grand Lodge , referred to in Edict No . 1 , and the resolution of your Lodge . Therein is a correct statement of the authority and jurisdiction of the Grand Lodge according to the teachings of ancient

Craffc MasonryJ : —1 . Tho three symbolic degrees of Masonry aro the only subjects of which the Grand Lodgo has jurisdiction . 2 . A Grand Lodge should not meddle with other subjects , nor interfere with tho notion of Masons in regard to degrees over which ifc has no control . These are fundamental truths in Masonry . They are part of our

The Nebraska Squabble.

organic law . They control and bind nofc only individual Masons and subordinate Lodges ; bnt tbey set bounds to tho powers of Grand Lodges and Grand Masters . Outside their proper jurisdiction al * their nets are null and void . They have no force or effect on any one ; they compel no obedience , and are entitled to no respect . Craft Masonry does not interfere with onr freedom of thonght or action

beyond its obligation or teachings . We are free-masons , free to come or go , free to think or act , free to join or not to join any party order , rite or company not unlawful or immoral , and any other Masonic organization not technically clandestine . When we enter tlw fraternity we give np none of onr social liberty save only that which onr obligation and the moral laws require . We do not

expressly or impliedly agree or promise not to join any order or society , unless it is immoral . We may become Oddfellows , Grangers , Ancient Workmen , Knights of Honour , without let or hindrance ; and the Edict or Decree of a Grand Lodge or Grand Master are as impotent to i revent as the Pope's Bull against the comet . So too we may become Knights Templar or Scottish-Eiters , and

no one may forbid ns . We are Freemasons and freemen . And as we may join these bodies or not so we may choose whioh ones we will or will not join . They are not Masonio . They have nought to do with Freemasonry , do not attempt to interfere with it , nor confer its degrees . They are , therefore , not clandestine , and it is a vain thing , an idle threat for a Grand Lodge or Grand Master to declare

themselves so or to pronounce some lawful and others unlawful . These are matters beyond the limits of fcheir jurisdiction , over which they " have no control" ; and their decrees and edicts in regard to Cerneanism and Pikeism , as abstract pronnnoiamentos , are absurd and harmless . But when they attempt to give these orders the force of law and to punish Masons for not obeying them , then

what was absurd and harmless becomes usurpation and tyranny . The history of this tyranny iu some States during the past few years reminds us of the days of the Inquisition and the persecutions of the Stuarts . Loyal Lodges and blameless brethren have suffered the extreme penalty of Masonio law for refusing obedience to these lawless orders . " In abeyance " has to me a pathetic import for the

parent Lodge of Nebraska . 2 . Had your Lodge the right to pass the resolution and send it to sister Lodges ? Why not ? Is ifc matter forbidden ? Is ifc false ? Or is freedom of speech denied to Nebraska Masons ? Has the spirit of tyranny denied you the right to be heard in yonr own defence ? In America

that is conceded to the meanest ; criminal . Shall it be denied to a Lodgo of Free and Accepted Masons ? Self-preservation is the first law of nature , common to man and worm . Tbe life of your Lodge was threatened . Might , nofc right , menaced its character . You uttered a hailing cry to your sister Lodges . Who says you might nofc appeal to brethren . Is ifc possible

any Mason would deny this right ? If that be I ' reeinasonry , your charter is not worth preserving . 3 . Is there any thing in the resolution to whioh loyal Craffc Masons should not subscribe ? I have just finished a third and careful reading of the resolution that I might answer this question advisedly ; and I am bound to say

that I find nothing improper or un-Masonic iu it . And as an earnest , manly protest against usurpation I think it should command tho respect and approbation of every true Mason . "Resistance to tyrants is obedience to God and ifc matters not whether the tyrant is a Masonic or a Hoynl faster . Onr fathers proved their title aa freemen by giving their lives , their fortunes and their sacred honour ,

nnder tho leadership of onr brother George Washington , to the support of tho immortal declaration of independence of the usurpations of George III . We shall prove onr titles as Freemasons by protesting against and resisting to the Insfc the usurpations and tyranny of these titular Scottish dignitaries , who are fast establishing a new dynasty over

Ancient Free and Accepted Masons in some of tbe States of the Union . In Tennessee we tolerate no such assumptions in our Grand Lodge . In our Blue Lodge we are Freemasons and Freemasons only , and strive to see therein who can best work and best agree . Ohio has broken off fraternal relations with Tennessee because we do nofc recognise fche Royal Highness of their puissant Scottish

nobility . Believing in the sufficiency of Freemasonry for our Lodges , we have persisted , and shall continue to persist , in refraining from usurpation , and in confining the authority and action of our Grand Lodge to the three symbolic degrees of Masonry . Thus we have enjoyed and shall continue to maintain " peace and harmony" in all our borders . We have set our faces as flint against ; such heresies as

we see in these Scottish Rite edicts , and are glad to have the cooperation of New York and Connecticut . and other States in this struggle for liberty . Thus only can we preserve the landmarks of the Fraternity and the freedom of the Craft . The course of your Grand Master will bring only sorrow and calamity to Freemasons and Freemasonry . The supremacy of fche Scottish Rite is the subversion of- symbolic

Masonry . Every loyal Ancient Craffc Mason ought to stand by the faith of the fathers as expressed in your resolution , and protest against these innovations and usurpations that do now so mnch disturb onr peace and harmony . And especially onght all snch to resist the tyranny and persecutions of our brethren which are marring fche beauty , sapping the strength and ignoring the wisdom of Freemasonry and degrading it to fche low level of societies for gain and orders for profit .

Fraternally yours , HENRY G . INOERSOLL . Luke A . Lockwood , Past Grand Master of the State of Connecticut , and Chairman of the Committee on Jurisprudence , aud one of fche ablest lawyers and most prominent Masonic Jurists in America , ( and not a member of any Scottish Rite faction ) , says There can be no sufficient or any substantial argument made in