Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
America
£ If it be a farce why is it enduring ? Wmy is it that it now is what it was in the days of our Ancient Grand Master , Solomon ? and that the learned and good , the scientific and enterprising of every age , cherish and uphold it ? If , in reflecting upon the past history of our Order , we have occasion for complacency , we have every reason to be pleased with her present condition , and her future prospects . During the period throughout which it has been my honour to preside over this body not one single circumstance has occurred seriously to disturb the harmony of Masonry in Kentucky . This is a circumstance not lightly to be regarded , when we consider that the jurisdiction of the Grand Lodge extends over three hundred subordinate Lodges , dispersed through out the length and breadth of the - commonwealth , with an aggregate membership of over ten thousand . It is almost without a parallel in any similar association in the world ; and whilst the Masonic policy of not soliciting proselytes cannot be too seriously enjoined , it yet occasions me great pleasure to announce that initiations and advancements have progressed , and are progressing , to an extent which establishes , upon the surest footing , the rapid growth and steadfast progress of the Order in the intelligent apprehension and respect of the enlightened era of the world in which we live .
We cannot be insensible at this time to the unparalleled prosperity of our beloved country . Indeed , the great and happy constitution and laws of our common country are the surest guarantees of Masonic prosperity . Whilst the republic continues great , united , prosperous , and happy , our Order must and will flourish . God forbid that it should ever become necessary for Masons seriously to contemplate the other side of the picture , as a practical question .
It is a grateful sight to our eyes to look around us and survey the magnificent spectacle of universal plenty and improvement which inundates our rural possessions , and embellishes our cities and public places . The harvests have been bountiful beyond any previous year law and order prevail ; the general health has been happily exempted from wasting pestilence ; and uninterrupted amity with foreign nations has left the energies of our people free to cultivate the beneficent arts of peace .
KANSAS . We copy the following from the address of the M . W . G . M . of the Grand Lodge of Kansas , R . R . Bees , delivered at its annual communication in Octoher last : — - " Charity should teach us all to look with kind forgiving allowance upon what we may deem the foibles of our fellow men . All men are fallible ; the ablest , as well as the best of men have erred : then , while we may discuss in proper spirit
all the acts of others , be careful to avoid censoriousremark . Each Master of a Lodge is taught to suffer no innovation upon the landmarks of the Order . Masonry—or what we are taught to denominate ancient Craft Masonry—consists of three degrees—the E . A ., the F . C ., and Master Mason . Upon these w $ are to suffer no innovation ; he , therefore , who would attempt to graft upon the ancient stock hy adding new degrees , or to detract therefrom by changing old ones in any portion of their landmarks , has taken an important step , which may
result in fearful injury ; but the innocent embellishments of Masonry presented in appendant Orders , which touch no landmark of the Craft , can never be denominated innovations ; and though they may he termed degrees , yet while they stand upon an independent platform the ancient stalk has suffered nothing ; nor does it matter if their votaries shall choose to grant these favours only to the worthy Craftsmen of the mystic tie , for this can never make them Masonry ; and they who war upon appendices like these have lost the chivalry of ancient knight *
hood , and sought the field , Don Quixote-like , to fight with windmills . Then , while we guard with watchful care the pure old stalk from every innovation , we must maintain the prudence of our fathers , and let all sister Orders enjoy the same untrammeled independence with ourselves , and never take control or jurisdiction over matters which are neither part nor parcel of our Order . I deem it neither politic nor right to step aside from the great duties which have called us here to discuss the merits or demerits of some ceremonial Order termed an honorary degree , most probably intended by some zealous Mason as an outward decoration ,
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
America
£ If it be a farce why is it enduring ? Wmy is it that it now is what it was in the days of our Ancient Grand Master , Solomon ? and that the learned and good , the scientific and enterprising of every age , cherish and uphold it ? If , in reflecting upon the past history of our Order , we have occasion for complacency , we have every reason to be pleased with her present condition , and her future prospects . During the period throughout which it has been my honour to preside over this body not one single circumstance has occurred seriously to disturb the harmony of Masonry in Kentucky . This is a circumstance not lightly to be regarded , when we consider that the jurisdiction of the Grand Lodge extends over three hundred subordinate Lodges , dispersed through out the length and breadth of the - commonwealth , with an aggregate membership of over ten thousand . It is almost without a parallel in any similar association in the world ; and whilst the Masonic policy of not soliciting proselytes cannot be too seriously enjoined , it yet occasions me great pleasure to announce that initiations and advancements have progressed , and are progressing , to an extent which establishes , upon the surest footing , the rapid growth and steadfast progress of the Order in the intelligent apprehension and respect of the enlightened era of the world in which we live .
We cannot be insensible at this time to the unparalleled prosperity of our beloved country . Indeed , the great and happy constitution and laws of our common country are the surest guarantees of Masonic prosperity . Whilst the republic continues great , united , prosperous , and happy , our Order must and will flourish . God forbid that it should ever become necessary for Masons seriously to contemplate the other side of the picture , as a practical question .
It is a grateful sight to our eyes to look around us and survey the magnificent spectacle of universal plenty and improvement which inundates our rural possessions , and embellishes our cities and public places . The harvests have been bountiful beyond any previous year law and order prevail ; the general health has been happily exempted from wasting pestilence ; and uninterrupted amity with foreign nations has left the energies of our people free to cultivate the beneficent arts of peace .
KANSAS . We copy the following from the address of the M . W . G . M . of the Grand Lodge of Kansas , R . R . Bees , delivered at its annual communication in Octoher last : — - " Charity should teach us all to look with kind forgiving allowance upon what we may deem the foibles of our fellow men . All men are fallible ; the ablest , as well as the best of men have erred : then , while we may discuss in proper spirit
all the acts of others , be careful to avoid censoriousremark . Each Master of a Lodge is taught to suffer no innovation upon the landmarks of the Order . Masonry—or what we are taught to denominate ancient Craft Masonry—consists of three degrees—the E . A ., the F . C ., and Master Mason . Upon these w $ are to suffer no innovation ; he , therefore , who would attempt to graft upon the ancient stock hy adding new degrees , or to detract therefrom by changing old ones in any portion of their landmarks , has taken an important step , which may
result in fearful injury ; but the innocent embellishments of Masonry presented in appendant Orders , which touch no landmark of the Craft , can never be denominated innovations ; and though they may he termed degrees , yet while they stand upon an independent platform the ancient stalk has suffered nothing ; nor does it matter if their votaries shall choose to grant these favours only to the worthy Craftsmen of the mystic tie , for this can never make them Masonry ; and they who war upon appendices like these have lost the chivalry of ancient knight *
hood , and sought the field , Don Quixote-like , to fight with windmills . Then , while we guard with watchful care the pure old stalk from every innovation , we must maintain the prudence of our fathers , and let all sister Orders enjoy the same untrammeled independence with ourselves , and never take control or jurisdiction over matters which are neither part nor parcel of our Order . I deem it neither politic nor right to step aside from the great duties which have called us here to discuss the merits or demerits of some ceremonial Order termed an honorary degree , most probably intended by some zealous Mason as an outward decoration ,