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  • The Freemasons' Monthly Magazine
  • Sept. 15, 1866
  • Page 4
  • FREEMASONRY IN THE UNITED STATES.
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The Freemasons' Monthly Magazine, Sept. 15, 1866: Page 4

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    Article FREEMASONRY IN THE UNITED STATES. ← Page 2 of 3 →
Page 4

Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.

Freemasonry In The United States.

antiquity of ages—still , like a lofty rock whose foundations were laid deep in the earth , towered above the storm of civil strife , the howling waves of discord beat in vain upon her elevated crest . Amid subsiding kingdoms ancl crumbling empires ,

our mystic brotherhood still stands , the great beacon light of ages , the friend of justice , the preserver of peace and humanity . " We are pleased to find that our transatlantic brethren are being roused to a sense of the vital

importance , to the welfare and honour of the Craft , attaching to the proper selection of candidates for admission into our Order . We have had frequent occasion , more especially latterly , in these pages , to dwell upon this

important subject and to entreat of brethren proposing candidates to make themselves thoroughly satisfied that those whom they propose are such as will reflect credit , and not discredit upon the Order . We have continued perseveringly to inculcate this caution even at the risk of being considered tedious .

The M . W ., our Grand Master has , as our readers are aware , issued a special caution in the shape of a circular upon the same subject , particular allusion to which Avas also made by the Grand Registrar at the last meeting of the Provincial Grand Lodge of

Berks and Bucks , and there is also the forcible address delivered some few months since upon the importance of this subject by our esteemed Bro . J . F . Spurr , P . M . of the Old Globe Lodge , Scarborough ivhich we have reprinted in the shape of

a slip and circulated freely amongst our lodges . It is therefore , we repeat , pleasing to find the Kentuckian Grand Master reciprocating Avith us on this side , and following in the path of our own Grand Master in cautioning brethren to use

increased vigilance in the direction indicated . We here quote the language of the Grand Master of Kentucky : —¦ " While our portals are thronged , every moon , with anxious petitioners ; praying admission to our

secret rites and honours , it behoves us to guard , like faithful sentinels , the sacred precincts , lest , instead of friends at eventide , some ivily foes should gain admission among the good ancl true .

" I must confess I am at a loss to determine whether the unparalleled pojDularity of our Institution at this time should be hailed as fraught with good , or whether it shall be regarded as ominous of evil . The initiations in this and many other jurisdictions far surpass those of any past year .

May not the wise ancl . prudent Craftsman ask , c shall ive look for a great and glorious Masonic millennium , or for a horrid Babylonish reign ?' Let us , therefore , be on the alert , and by a strict guard over the outward portal of the temple , secure

the admiration of the wise ancl good , thereby transmitting to future generations , on the solid basis of a pure code of morals , our glorious institution , unimpaired in vigour , the patron of universal benevolence . "

The following portion of the address ivhich relates to Freemasonry and political opinions , will be read ivith interest : — " There is another matter that has caused some trouble in a feiv lodges , during the past year . It

arises from political differences . Many brethren seem to have forgotten that Masonry does not conflict with political or religious sentiments . I have received not a feiv letters touching this subject . Some wish to know whether as Masons

they should celebrate the funeral obsequies of deceased members , who took service in the rebel cause . Others have asked , whether resolutions of condolence and respect should be adopted in such cases ; and whether the widows and orphans of

such deceased brothers are entitled to Masonic charities ? To all these inquiries my answer has been substantially : Brethren , let not politics be mentioned in your lodges , and know no difference in men because of political or religious distinctions . Masonry unites men of every country , sect , and

opinion , upon the broad basis of universal charity . Our Institution is not sectional , and our lodges should not be converted into courts martial . Alleged crimes against the civil government should be tried ancl punished only by the civil

authority . Masonry should take no part in civil strife , except to throw the broad mantle of Masonic charity over the faults of our brethren ; succour the needy , - apply the oil of consolation and the AA'ine of joy to the afflicted , especially to those of

our own household . At the " same time I called , the attention of those lodges to the following axtract from ' The Charges of a Freemason ' : — " A Mason is a peaceable subject to the civil powers , wherever he resides or works , and is never

to be concerned iu plots and conspiracies against the peace ancl welfare of the nation , nor to behave himself undutimlly to inferior magistrates , for as Masonry has beeu ahvays injured by war , bloodshed , and confusion , so ancient Kings and Princes have been much disposed to encourage the Crafts-

“The Freemasons' Monthly Magazine: 1866-09-15, Page 4” Masonic Periodicals Online, Library and Museum of Freemasonry, 11 June 2025, django:8000/periodicals/mmr/issues/mmr_15091866/page/4/.
  • List
  • Grid
Title Category Page
GEMS PROM BRO. LAWRENCE STERNE. Article 1
BRO. GOETHE'S PROFESSION OF FAITH. Article 2
FREEMASONRY IN THE UNITED STATES. Article 3
FREEMASONRY CONTRASTED WITH INTOLERANCE. Article 5
MASONIC NOTES AND QUERIES. Article 7
CORRESPONDENCE. Article 8
MASONIC RELIEF FUND. Article 8
THE BOYS' SCHOOL. Article 8
"MR, BROWN AT THE GIRLS' SCHOOL FESTIVAL. Article 9
Untitled Article 10
Untitled Article 10
MASONIC MEMS. Article 10
PROVINCIAL. Article 10
MARK MASONRY. Article 12
ANCIENT AND ACCEPTED RITE. Article 13
INDIA. Article 13
Untitled Article 13
REVIEWS. Article 14
THE UNKNOWN O. Article 16
Poetry. Article 16
PERSEVERANCE. Article 17
Untitled Article 17
THE WEEK. Article 17
TO CORRESPONDENTS. Article 20
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Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.

Freemasonry In The United States.

antiquity of ages—still , like a lofty rock whose foundations were laid deep in the earth , towered above the storm of civil strife , the howling waves of discord beat in vain upon her elevated crest . Amid subsiding kingdoms ancl crumbling empires ,

our mystic brotherhood still stands , the great beacon light of ages , the friend of justice , the preserver of peace and humanity . " We are pleased to find that our transatlantic brethren are being roused to a sense of the vital

importance , to the welfare and honour of the Craft , attaching to the proper selection of candidates for admission into our Order . We have had frequent occasion , more especially latterly , in these pages , to dwell upon this

important subject and to entreat of brethren proposing candidates to make themselves thoroughly satisfied that those whom they propose are such as will reflect credit , and not discredit upon the Order . We have continued perseveringly to inculcate this caution even at the risk of being considered tedious .

The M . W ., our Grand Master has , as our readers are aware , issued a special caution in the shape of a circular upon the same subject , particular allusion to which Avas also made by the Grand Registrar at the last meeting of the Provincial Grand Lodge of

Berks and Bucks , and there is also the forcible address delivered some few months since upon the importance of this subject by our esteemed Bro . J . F . Spurr , P . M . of the Old Globe Lodge , Scarborough ivhich we have reprinted in the shape of

a slip and circulated freely amongst our lodges . It is therefore , we repeat , pleasing to find the Kentuckian Grand Master reciprocating Avith us on this side , and following in the path of our own Grand Master in cautioning brethren to use

increased vigilance in the direction indicated . We here quote the language of the Grand Master of Kentucky : —¦ " While our portals are thronged , every moon , with anxious petitioners ; praying admission to our

secret rites and honours , it behoves us to guard , like faithful sentinels , the sacred precincts , lest , instead of friends at eventide , some ivily foes should gain admission among the good ancl true .

" I must confess I am at a loss to determine whether the unparalleled pojDularity of our Institution at this time should be hailed as fraught with good , or whether it shall be regarded as ominous of evil . The initiations in this and many other jurisdictions far surpass those of any past year .

May not the wise ancl . prudent Craftsman ask , c shall ive look for a great and glorious Masonic millennium , or for a horrid Babylonish reign ?' Let us , therefore , be on the alert , and by a strict guard over the outward portal of the temple , secure

the admiration of the wise ancl good , thereby transmitting to future generations , on the solid basis of a pure code of morals , our glorious institution , unimpaired in vigour , the patron of universal benevolence . "

The following portion of the address ivhich relates to Freemasonry and political opinions , will be read ivith interest : — " There is another matter that has caused some trouble in a feiv lodges , during the past year . It

arises from political differences . Many brethren seem to have forgotten that Masonry does not conflict with political or religious sentiments . I have received not a feiv letters touching this subject . Some wish to know whether as Masons

they should celebrate the funeral obsequies of deceased members , who took service in the rebel cause . Others have asked , whether resolutions of condolence and respect should be adopted in such cases ; and whether the widows and orphans of

such deceased brothers are entitled to Masonic charities ? To all these inquiries my answer has been substantially : Brethren , let not politics be mentioned in your lodges , and know no difference in men because of political or religious distinctions . Masonry unites men of every country , sect , and

opinion , upon the broad basis of universal charity . Our Institution is not sectional , and our lodges should not be converted into courts martial . Alleged crimes against the civil government should be tried ancl punished only by the civil

authority . Masonry should take no part in civil strife , except to throw the broad mantle of Masonic charity over the faults of our brethren ; succour the needy , - apply the oil of consolation and the AA'ine of joy to the afflicted , especially to those of

our own household . At the " same time I called , the attention of those lodges to the following axtract from ' The Charges of a Freemason ' : — " A Mason is a peaceable subject to the civil powers , wherever he resides or works , and is never

to be concerned iu plots and conspiracies against the peace ancl welfare of the nation , nor to behave himself undutimlly to inferior magistrates , for as Masonry has beeu ahvays injured by war , bloodshed , and confusion , so ancient Kings and Princes have been much disposed to encourage the Crafts-

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