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Article THE RIGHTS OF FREEMASONS. ← Page 2 of 2
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The Rights Of Freemasons.
The question next occurs—What number of black balls should prevent an Apprentice from passing to the second degree 1 I answer , the same number that ivould reject the application of a profane for initiation into the Order . And why should this uot be so 1 Are the qualifications which would be required of one applying , for the first time , for
admission to the degree of an Apprentice more than would subsequentl y be required of thc same person on his applying for a greater favour and a hi gher honour—that of beingadvanced to the second degree ? Or do thc requisitions which exist iu the earlier stages of Masonry become less and less with every step of the aspirant ' s 1 Yiewing
progress the question in this light—and , indeed , I know of no other iu whicli to view it—it seems to me to be perfectly evident that the peculiar constitution and princi ples of our Order will require unanimity in thc election of a profane for initiation , of au Apprentice for a Fellow Craft , and of a Fellow Craft for a Master Mason ; and that , while no Entered Apprentice
can be expelled from the Order , except by due course of trial , it is competent for the Lodge at any time , on a ballot , to refuse to advance him . to the second degree . But let it bo remembered that thc Lod ge which refuses to pass an . Apprentice on account of any objection to his moral character , or doubts of lii . s worthiness , is bound to give him the advantage of a trial , and at once to expel him , if guilty , or , if innocent , to advance him when otherwise qualified .
OP THE MUim OF FJEIJ-OW CUAl'TS . Iii ancient times there ivere undoubtedly many rights attached to the second degree which have now become obsolete or been repealed ; for formerly thc great body of the fraternity were Fellow Crafts , and , according to the old charges , even thc Grand Master might be elected from among
them . 'The Master and Wardens of subordinate Lodges always were . Thus wc are told that no brother can be Grand Master " unless he has been a Fellow Craft before his election , " and in the ancient manner of constituting a Lodge , contained in the Book of Constitution '"' , it is said that " the candidatesor the new Master and Wardensbeing yet
, , among the Fellow Crafts , the Grand Master shall ask his Deputy if he has examined them , " etc . But now that the great body of tlie fraternity consists of Master Masons , the prerogatives of Fellow Crafts are circumscribed within limits nearly as narrow as those of Entered Apprentices . While , howeverapprentices are not permitted to speak or votein
, , ancient times , and up , indeed , to a very late date , Fellow Crafts were entitled to take a part in any discussion in ivhich the Lodge , while open in the first or second degree , mig ht engage , but not to vote . This privilege is expressly stated by Preston as appertaining to a Fellow Craft in his charge to a candidate receiving that degree .
" As a Craftsman in our private assemblies , you may offer your sentiments and opinions on such subjects as arc re < nilarly introduced in the Lecture , under the superintendence of au experienced Master , who will , guard the landmark against encroachment , "f This privilege is not nowhowevergranted in this country
, , to Fellow Crafts . All , therefore , that has been said in tho preceding chapter of the rights of Entered Apprentices , will equall y apply , mutatis mutandis , to the rights of Fellow Crafts .
OF TltM KIGHTS OV MASTER MASON ' S . When a Mason has reached the third degree , he becomes entitled to all the rights ancl privileges of Ancient Craft Masonry . These rights are extensive ancl complicated , and , like his duties , which are equally as extensive , require a careful examination thoroughly to comprehend them . Four of
them , at least , arc ; of so much importance as to demand a distinct consideration . These are the rights of membership , of visitation , of relief , and of burial . To each I shall devote a separate section .
SEC . I . —Of the Bight of Membership . —The whole spirit and tenor of the General Regulations , as well as the uniform usage of the Craft , sustain the doctrine , that when a Mason is initiated iu a Lodge , he has the right , by signing the bylaws , to become a member without the necessity of submitting to another ballot . In the Constitutions of the Grand Lodge of New Yorkthis princip le is asserted to be oue of
the-, ancient landmarks , aud is announced in the following words : — "Initiation makes a man a Mason ; but he must receive the Master ' s degree , and sign tlie by-laws , before he becomes a member of tho Lodge . " * If tlie doctrine be not exactly a landmark ( which I confess I am . not quite prepared to admit ) , it comes to us almost clothed with the authority of one , from
thc sanction of universal and uninterrupted usage . How long before he loses this right by a non-user , or neglect to avail himself of it , is , I presume , a question to be settled by local authority . A Lodge , or a Grand Lodge , may affix the period according to its discretion ; but thc general custom isto require a signature of the by-lawsand
, , a consequent enrolment in the Lodge , within three months after receiving thc third degree . Should a Mason neglect to avail himself of his privilege , he forfeits it ( unless , upon sufficient cause , he is excused by the Lodge ) , and must submit to a ballot . The reason for such a law is evident . If a Mason does
uot at once unite himself with the Lodge m which he was raised , but permits an extended period of time to elapse , there is no certainty that his character or habits may not have changed , and that he may uot have become , since his initiation , ui'iworthy of affiliation . Under tlie general law , it is therefore ' nccessarv that he should in such case submit
to the usual probation of one month , and an investigation ol his qualifications , by a committee , as well as a ballot by tho members . But there are other privileges also connected with this right of membership . A profane is required to apply for initiation to the Lodge nearest his place of residence , and , if
there rejected , can never in future apply to any other Lodge . But the rule is different with respect to the application of a Master Mason for membership . A Master Mason , is uot restricted in his privilege of application for membership within any geographical limits . All that is required of- him is that he should be an affiliated
Mason ; that is , that he should be a contributing member of a Lodge , without airy reference to its peculiar locality , whether near to or distant from his place of residence . The Old Charges simply prescribe that every Mason ought to belongto a Lodge . A Mason , therefore , strictly complies with this regulation when ho unites himself with any Lodge , thus
contributing to the support of the institution , and is then entitled to all the privileges of au affiliated Mason . A rejection of the application of a Master Mason for membership by a Lodge , docs not deprive him of tho right of applying to another . A . Mason is in " good standing " until deprived of that character by the action of some
competent Masonic authority ; ancl that action can only be by suspension or expulsion . . Rejection does not , therefore , affect tho " good standing" of Ihe applicant ; for in a rejection there is no legal form of trial , and consequently the rejected brother remains in . the same position after as before his rejection . He possesses thc same rights as before , unimpaired and undiminished ; and among these rights is that of applying for membership to any Lodge that ho may select .
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
The Rights Of Freemasons.
The question next occurs—What number of black balls should prevent an Apprentice from passing to the second degree 1 I answer , the same number that ivould reject the application of a profane for initiation into the Order . And why should this uot be so 1 Are the qualifications which would be required of one applying , for the first time , for
admission to the degree of an Apprentice more than would subsequentl y be required of thc same person on his applying for a greater favour and a hi gher honour—that of beingadvanced to the second degree ? Or do thc requisitions which exist iu the earlier stages of Masonry become less and less with every step of the aspirant ' s 1 Yiewing
progress the question in this light—and , indeed , I know of no other iu whicli to view it—it seems to me to be perfectly evident that the peculiar constitution and princi ples of our Order will require unanimity in thc election of a profane for initiation , of au Apprentice for a Fellow Craft , and of a Fellow Craft for a Master Mason ; and that , while no Entered Apprentice
can be expelled from the Order , except by due course of trial , it is competent for the Lodge at any time , on a ballot , to refuse to advance him . to the second degree . But let it bo remembered that thc Lod ge which refuses to pass an . Apprentice on account of any objection to his moral character , or doubts of lii . s worthiness , is bound to give him the advantage of a trial , and at once to expel him , if guilty , or , if innocent , to advance him when otherwise qualified .
OP THE MUim OF FJEIJ-OW CUAl'TS . Iii ancient times there ivere undoubtedly many rights attached to the second degree which have now become obsolete or been repealed ; for formerly thc great body of the fraternity were Fellow Crafts , and , according to the old charges , even thc Grand Master might be elected from among
them . 'The Master and Wardens of subordinate Lodges always were . Thus wc are told that no brother can be Grand Master " unless he has been a Fellow Craft before his election , " and in the ancient manner of constituting a Lodge , contained in the Book of Constitution '"' , it is said that " the candidatesor the new Master and Wardensbeing yet
, , among the Fellow Crafts , the Grand Master shall ask his Deputy if he has examined them , " etc . But now that the great body of tlie fraternity consists of Master Masons , the prerogatives of Fellow Crafts are circumscribed within limits nearly as narrow as those of Entered Apprentices . While , howeverapprentices are not permitted to speak or votein
, , ancient times , and up , indeed , to a very late date , Fellow Crafts were entitled to take a part in any discussion in ivhich the Lodge , while open in the first or second degree , mig ht engage , but not to vote . This privilege is expressly stated by Preston as appertaining to a Fellow Craft in his charge to a candidate receiving that degree .
" As a Craftsman in our private assemblies , you may offer your sentiments and opinions on such subjects as arc re < nilarly introduced in the Lecture , under the superintendence of au experienced Master , who will , guard the landmark against encroachment , "f This privilege is not nowhowevergranted in this country
, , to Fellow Crafts . All , therefore , that has been said in tho preceding chapter of the rights of Entered Apprentices , will equall y apply , mutatis mutandis , to the rights of Fellow Crafts .
OF TltM KIGHTS OV MASTER MASON ' S . When a Mason has reached the third degree , he becomes entitled to all the rights ancl privileges of Ancient Craft Masonry . These rights are extensive ancl complicated , and , like his duties , which are equally as extensive , require a careful examination thoroughly to comprehend them . Four of
them , at least , arc ; of so much importance as to demand a distinct consideration . These are the rights of membership , of visitation , of relief , and of burial . To each I shall devote a separate section .
SEC . I . —Of the Bight of Membership . —The whole spirit and tenor of the General Regulations , as well as the uniform usage of the Craft , sustain the doctrine , that when a Mason is initiated iu a Lodge , he has the right , by signing the bylaws , to become a member without the necessity of submitting to another ballot . In the Constitutions of the Grand Lodge of New Yorkthis princip le is asserted to be oue of
the-, ancient landmarks , aud is announced in the following words : — "Initiation makes a man a Mason ; but he must receive the Master ' s degree , and sign tlie by-laws , before he becomes a member of tho Lodge . " * If tlie doctrine be not exactly a landmark ( which I confess I am . not quite prepared to admit ) , it comes to us almost clothed with the authority of one , from
thc sanction of universal and uninterrupted usage . How long before he loses this right by a non-user , or neglect to avail himself of it , is , I presume , a question to be settled by local authority . A Lodge , or a Grand Lodge , may affix the period according to its discretion ; but thc general custom isto require a signature of the by-lawsand
, , a consequent enrolment in the Lodge , within three months after receiving thc third degree . Should a Mason neglect to avail himself of his privilege , he forfeits it ( unless , upon sufficient cause , he is excused by the Lodge ) , and must submit to a ballot . The reason for such a law is evident . If a Mason does
uot at once unite himself with the Lodge m which he was raised , but permits an extended period of time to elapse , there is no certainty that his character or habits may not have changed , and that he may uot have become , since his initiation , ui'iworthy of affiliation . Under tlie general law , it is therefore ' nccessarv that he should in such case submit
to the usual probation of one month , and an investigation ol his qualifications , by a committee , as well as a ballot by tho members . But there are other privileges also connected with this right of membership . A profane is required to apply for initiation to the Lodge nearest his place of residence , and , if
there rejected , can never in future apply to any other Lodge . But the rule is different with respect to the application of a Master Mason for membership . A Master Mason , is uot restricted in his privilege of application for membership within any geographical limits . All that is required of- him is that he should be an affiliated
Mason ; that is , that he should be a contributing member of a Lodge , without airy reference to its peculiar locality , whether near to or distant from his place of residence . The Old Charges simply prescribe that every Mason ought to belongto a Lodge . A Mason , therefore , strictly complies with this regulation when ho unites himself with any Lodge , thus
contributing to the support of the institution , and is then entitled to all the privileges of au affiliated Mason . A rejection of the application of a Master Mason for membership by a Lodge , docs not deprive him of tho right of applying to another . A . Mason is in " good standing " until deprived of that character by the action of some
competent Masonic authority ; ancl that action can only be by suspension or expulsion . . Rejection does not , therefore , affect tho " good standing" of Ihe applicant ; for in a rejection there is no legal form of trial , and consequently the rejected brother remains in . the same position after as before his rejection . He possesses thc same rights as before , unimpaired and undiminished ; and among these rights is that of applying for membership to any Lodge that ho may select .