Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Ameeica.
AMEEIC A .
NEW JERSEY . GRAND LODGE OF ^ NBW JERSEY . We have before us a copy of the proceedings of the Grand Lodge of New Jersey , had at its annual communication in January last , for which our thanks are due to our kind friend and Brother , the able Grand Sec ., R . W . Joseph H . Hough . The communication was fully attended . The Grand Officers were all present , also five Past Grand Masters , two Past D eputy Grand . Masters , one Past Senior Grand Warden , twenty-four Past Masters , and thirty-six Lodges were
represented , eleven subordinates having no representation . We are thus particular in order to show how a large intelligent representation can overlook the most glaring faults , and suffer the landmarks of Freemasonry to be violated by the presiding officer without a word of dissent , Jmt on the contrary , by a re-election prove by their votes that they sanction these departures frora the ancient usages established by the fathers of olden time . The Grand Master , in his address states , " During the year I have granted ten dispensations to make Masons at sight / ' We had really thought the day had gone by for a practice which had its
origin in the imaginary power which it was at one time supposed vvas a prerogative of Grand Master but a critical examination of the subject , and a careful review M the history of Freemasonry , has shown that no such power is Vested in that officereven those who yet entertain the belief that a Grand Master has the power to make Masons , or cause them to be made " at sight , " no longer exercise it , showing by their acts that they believe it to be wrong . No intelligent Grand Master , however , at any time exercised this power by proxy or by delegating it to others , but caused them to be made in his presence .
The Grand Master of New Jersey , if we understand him , granted the dispensations to the Lodges named , the officers of which ., by virtue of the dispensations conferred the degrees of Masonry upon the persons without the usual probation , It is , we believe , an opinion generally entertained , and maybe considered as a fixed law in Masonry , that no case of emergency can arise , such as to render it necessary , for the benefit of Freemasonry , to dispense with the usual formulas of acting upon a petition in a regular way , by presentation to the Lodge , referring it to an investigating committee and a favourable ballot . We did not
expect , with the opportunities for acquiring Masonic information such as may be had at the present time , that any Grand Master would in the period of one year grant ten dispensations to make so many Masons " at sight , " or that the members of a Grand Lodge would approve of such a violation of the laws and usages of Freemasonry . The Grand Master also states that he granted a dispensation to a Lodge ¦ " to hold an election to fill the vacancy caused by the removal of the Master of said Lodge from the state . " Where was the Senior Warden—the Junior Warden ? Had they also left the state ? If not , had the Grand Master the right to set aside their solemn obligations ?
We have an extensive acquaintance among the Craft of New Jersey . We have seen the degrees of Masonry conferred in this jurisdiction equal to the best work we ever saw . We know that there many Masons in the state whose knowledge of Masonic Law and usage , and acquaintance with Masonic history is not surpassed by the best lights in any other jurisdiction . It is a knowledge of these facts which causes the above reflections , and we , in common with the Craft everywhere ,
cannot but regret that a Grand Master in the year 1858 departed so widely from the ancient landmarks of the Order . The Grand Lodge , upon the recommendation of the G-rand Master and the report of the committee to whom the address was referred , adopted a resolution to appoint a Grand Lecturer , with a salary of 600 dols , per annum . The Grand Lodge also appointed a committee ' " to collect
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Ameeica.
AMEEIC A .
NEW JERSEY . GRAND LODGE OF ^ NBW JERSEY . We have before us a copy of the proceedings of the Grand Lodge of New Jersey , had at its annual communication in January last , for which our thanks are due to our kind friend and Brother , the able Grand Sec ., R . W . Joseph H . Hough . The communication was fully attended . The Grand Officers were all present , also five Past Grand Masters , two Past D eputy Grand . Masters , one Past Senior Grand Warden , twenty-four Past Masters , and thirty-six Lodges were
represented , eleven subordinates having no representation . We are thus particular in order to show how a large intelligent representation can overlook the most glaring faults , and suffer the landmarks of Freemasonry to be violated by the presiding officer without a word of dissent , Jmt on the contrary , by a re-election prove by their votes that they sanction these departures frora the ancient usages established by the fathers of olden time . The Grand Master , in his address states , " During the year I have granted ten dispensations to make Masons at sight / ' We had really thought the day had gone by for a practice which had its
origin in the imaginary power which it was at one time supposed vvas a prerogative of Grand Master but a critical examination of the subject , and a careful review M the history of Freemasonry , has shown that no such power is Vested in that officereven those who yet entertain the belief that a Grand Master has the power to make Masons , or cause them to be made " at sight , " no longer exercise it , showing by their acts that they believe it to be wrong . No intelligent Grand Master , however , at any time exercised this power by proxy or by delegating it to others , but caused them to be made in his presence .
The Grand Master of New Jersey , if we understand him , granted the dispensations to the Lodges named , the officers of which ., by virtue of the dispensations conferred the degrees of Masonry upon the persons without the usual probation , It is , we believe , an opinion generally entertained , and maybe considered as a fixed law in Masonry , that no case of emergency can arise , such as to render it necessary , for the benefit of Freemasonry , to dispense with the usual formulas of acting upon a petition in a regular way , by presentation to the Lodge , referring it to an investigating committee and a favourable ballot . We did not
expect , with the opportunities for acquiring Masonic information such as may be had at the present time , that any Grand Master would in the period of one year grant ten dispensations to make so many Masons " at sight , " or that the members of a Grand Lodge would approve of such a violation of the laws and usages of Freemasonry . The Grand Master also states that he granted a dispensation to a Lodge ¦ " to hold an election to fill the vacancy caused by the removal of the Master of said Lodge from the state . " Where was the Senior Warden—the Junior Warden ? Had they also left the state ? If not , had the Grand Master the right to set aside their solemn obligations ?
We have an extensive acquaintance among the Craft of New Jersey . We have seen the degrees of Masonry conferred in this jurisdiction equal to the best work we ever saw . We know that there many Masons in the state whose knowledge of Masonic Law and usage , and acquaintance with Masonic history is not surpassed by the best lights in any other jurisdiction . It is a knowledge of these facts which causes the above reflections , and we , in common with the Craft everywhere ,
cannot but regret that a Grand Master in the year 1858 departed so widely from the ancient landmarks of the Order . The Grand Lodge , upon the recommendation of the G-rand Master and the report of the committee to whom the address was referred , adopted a resolution to appoint a Grand Lecturer , with a salary of 600 dols , per annum . The Grand Lodge also appointed a committee ' " to collect