What's In A Name ?

refers only to " The United Grand Lodge of England , and it is only by inference it can be concluded tho Grand Lodge in question is connected with Freemasonry . The earliest Constitutions after the Union are those of 1815 by William Williams ; in these our institution is

termed , on the title page , " The Ancient Fraternity of Free and Accepted Masons , " and in the body of the work , under " General Regulations , " it is termed " The United Grand Lodge of Antient , Free and Accepted Masons of England" ; ° this has been continued until now , and the

only difference in the Certificates issued by the English Grand Lodge is that they spell " ancient" with a " c " instead of a " t . " Why the title so solemnly adopted at the Union was departed from still requires explanation . H . J . W ., in Madras Masonio Review

Invasion Of Jurisdiction.

INVASION OF JURISDICTION .

ONE of tho most essential and best among the many lessons to be drawn from the symbols of Masonry may be found in the teachings of the " trowel , " an instrument to be used by Freemasons to spread the cement of brotherly love and affection ; that cement which , when

properly used , will unite all into one sacred baud , or society of friends and brothers , among whom no contention should ever exist , save that noble contention , or rather emulation , of who can best work and be 3 fc agree . This

sentiment , "A band of brothers among whom no contention should ever exist , " has been so often reiterated , and BO firmly impressed upon our minds , that we have come to accept it as a truism , an undisputed fact .

It is beautiful as a theory , and should be a fact undoubted and unquestioned . It constitutes the Fraternity of Masonry , and upon it more than anything else depends the usefulness and stability of the Institution . The Masonio use of the trowel has been taught every

member of our Order , and its application has been impressed upon their minds by tbe most solemn ceremonies . There are , we know , exceptions to all rules , and , unfortunately , unworthy members may be found ia every society , " black sheep in every flock . " Yet we are convinced that

among the Fraternity , as a whole , this idea is something more than an idle sentiment . It is a recognized fact , aud made , to a greater or less extent , the rule of life . There is a tie which binds Freemasons most closely together .

That tie is composed of- brotherly love aud affection . While individual members are cultivating this sentiment , and , as the years roll round , are more thoroughly applyiug the trowel and exemplifying the results of its use in daily life .

Yet we regret that too often when organized as a Lodge , which is but an integral portion , an individual branch of the one "universal family , this cement , is sometimes laid aside , and the use of the trowel , as between thcmsolves and their neighbours , to a large extent forgotten .

Mankind is by nature selfish . In the early age 3 of all the world ' s history , when the animal nature was in preponderance , following the natural law of evolution— " the survival of the fittest "—it was the strong aorainst the weak . But with the advancement of civilization and the cultivation

of the intellect , the moral nature of man came to the front . The common Brotherhood of man and hia equality became more and more recognised and acted upon . To disseminate this truth and make it practical in every day life

has been the chief mission of Masonry . Uniting as it does men of every country , sect , and opinion , it , founds every regulation upon the ono idea of brotherly love , and every where inculcates the broadest charity and toleration for tho opinions as well as the . failings of a brother .

This being the true principle of Masonry , that to which she requires a strict adherence on the part of all her followers , why should it not be made equally obligatory upon her Lodges and other organised associations in their relations each with the other ?

The Lodge is but the aggregate of the individual , governed by the same ends , but united only for their better dissemination . How often is this fact overlooked and forgotten . The

records of every Grand Lodge , and our own is not an except'Oa , will show that from this causa more or less trouble is continually arising among their constituents , causing illjfeeling , jealousies and unkindness between them ,

Invasion Of Jurisdiction.

extending sometimes to personalities among the members . The sonreo of such dissensions may be traced almost invariably to that innate selfishness which in the individual we are striving to overcome , but which is allowed full scope in the Lodge , and where no ono in particular is responsible .

Lodges in this jurisdiction are more and moro becoming acquainted each with the other , and by means of occasional visitations and the mingling together in schools of instruc tion , the Officers and members are becoming more social . They can visit and work with and foe each other . Eat ,

drink , and be merry together , but let ono of them unintentionally and ignorantly , by the least fraction , invade tho territorial jurisdiction of another , and how quick is tho " Old Adam " in their natures aroused . Their pockets are

touched , and , it may be , their dignity . The early lessons taught them as Masons are forgotten , and too often a spirit is manifested quite the opposite from that of brotherly love .

The question of jurisdiction is the moat fruitful if not the chief source of all the troubles and dissensions thus arising . In the early days of English Masonry , when the Lodges were few in number and somewhat scattered , all seemed to have concurrent jurisdiction ; arbitrary lines and

boundaries were unknown , but in later years , and particularly in this country , with the large and rapidly increasing number of Lodges , jurisdictional line 3 have been found to ba necessary , and that , too , for the sole purpose of better preserving harmony among the subordinates .

Perhaps no better regulation could be adopted than our own—one-half the distance in a straight line to the nearest Lodge . Next to this and one which would avoid this trouble would be to make concurrent jurisdiction between all Lodges . Yet if all were governed by these Masonio

principles , and in their intercourse and relation with each other were to exemplify that spirit of toleration , forbearance and courtesy which is expected from Masons individually , jurisdictional lines would probably be the best .

But when , at nearly every Aunual Communication ot the Grand Lodge , charges are preferred by one Lodge against another for an invasion of alleged rights in this respect , and when upon investigation it is found that a proper adjudication can only be had after a careful

measurement made by a Committee appointed for that purpose , or by a certificate from a county surveyor , then we find an illustration of our proposition in regard to Lodges and their liability to ignore the teachings of our

Order . At such times we are led to believe that the doing away with all dividing lines , the making concurrenD jurisdiction of the entire State , would be the better and only way to preserve harmouy .

It is a common saying that there are exceptions to all rules , yet Masonry , in her laws and regulations , is an exception from this . Tho laws of Masonry , based upon tho landmark- ! , aro absolute , nnd its regulations must be general , aud while thero can bo but one rule in regard to

jurisdictional limitations , tho pnvilego is given to constituent Lodges to make local arrangements providing between themselves for conenrrent jurisdiction or even for arbitrary lines . Were a true Masonic and fraternal spirit to actuate all Masons this could be easily accomplished , and that same

spirit would avoid most of these differences by mutual concession on the part of all . While general concurrent jurisdiction may not be practical or for the best good of the Fraternity generally , yet there are many cases where it might be applied and be for the bes , in trest of all

concerned . Lodges are sometimes lowed at a distance of from five to thirty miles , and oven uioi c , IVotn another . Persons residing considerably nearer the one , yet by reason of routes of travel and from other causes aro best known in tho other , and practically tho most convenient for them ,

yet are denied the privilego ot becoming Masons by this want of courtesy and strict adherehce to their so-called rights . We would make all such territory—that is all beyond a certain limit—concurrent , allowing the applicant to consult his own convenience in the choice of location .

In tho absence of such a regulation , we earnestly advise the inculcation of tho geuuiuo principles of Masoury—> charity and brotherly love . —Masonio Tidings .

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