Notes On American Freemasonry.

only by petition , reference , and a unanimous ballot , like any other unaffiliated Mason . The Secretary ' s certificate , frequently called a dimit , is but the evidence of the fact that the Lodge has voted to dismiss the brother from membership .

KANSAS . In his annual address the Grand Master stated that sixteen new Lodges had been constituted within the past year . Also that nine new Lodges have been opened

by dispensations since the last meeting . £ Ax- -. A- * & He also states that " The work exemplified before the Grand Lodge at its last Annual Communication by the Board of Custodians , has been

taught in various parts of the State with good success , and has reason to hope that before the next meeting of this Grand Body , every Lodge in the State will use the same identical ritual , and the long-sought and cherished object of the

Fraternity of Kansas will have been accomplished , viz : uniformity of work . " He urges upon the Fraternity the importance of having safe and convenient halls in which to meet . In some instances Lodges are still using

rooms utterly unsuitable for conferring degrees ; and it is to be hoped they will take immediate stops to provide themselves with halls where they can work without endangering the secrets of the Order .

He states that the question of the jurisdiction of Lodges over z-ejected candidates seems to be disturbing the harmony of the Order , and every year demonstrates more clearly to his mind the necessity of a uniform rule and practice

throughout the United States . Several instances have come to his knowledge whore citizens of this Slate , while temporarily sojourning within the jurisdiction of a Sister Grand Lodge have been made Masons by a subordinate Lodge ; and in one

instance a gentleman residing in this State , who had been rejected as a candidate for the degrees of Masonry by a Lodge under the jurisdiction of this Grand Lodge , after an absence of about two months returned home , having been made a

Master Mason in Lafayette Lodge , No . 10 , Michigan ; and that too , as he informs the brethren here , by Dispensation from the Grand Master of that State . * * * The Grand Master holds the correct rule to be that a candidate rejected in

another State cannot legally be made Mason in this State without the assent of the proper authorities where the rejection occurred . According to some of the Constitutions no Lodge could "initiate into the mysteries of the Craft any

person whomsoever , without being satisfied , by test or otherwise , that the candidate has not made application to any other Loclge and been z-ejected . " " Before the . candidate for the mysteries of Masonry is admitted into the Lodge he should

satisfy the brethren , by a declaration made on his honour as a man , that he has never made application to . any other Lodgeor the degrees of Masonry and been rejected ; or , if z-ejected the consent of the Lodge so rejecting should

always be obtained before the degrees are conferred . " * * * In another portion of his address he remarks , " That Masonry supposes the

candidates for its honors to be in some degree intelligent , and requires them , ( if meanwhile to be true men , ) to extend intelligence steadily while within an earthly Lodge . In other words Masoniy is knowledge ; not only of rituals but of

science , physical , political and vnoz-al ; and demands a fair share of every brother ' s time for its mastery . Without such attainment , no man can expect to fulfil his duties to his fellow men , or his Maker . Let the young brother mai'k tnis ,

and each day set apart a portion of time for that thorough self-culture everywhere inculcated in our instructions , and so vital to the perfection expected of him who has thoughtfully entered upon a Masonic life . He will find , let me assuz-e him ,

work enough for his earlier yeai's , enough for his mature manhood—yes woz'k enough till his last sand has run . " *****

Amongst the decisions of the Grand Master we find the following : " When charges have been preferred against a brother for unmasonic conduct , those charges cannot be withdrawn , except by unanimous

consent of the Lodge . " '' During the session of the Grand Lodge the following resolution was offered and rejected : —' Resolved , That when a brother has been ti-ied for unmasonic conduct by the Lodge having

jurisdiction , and acquitted , there can be no appeal to this Grand Lodge which would subject the brother to a second trial on the same charges . " On motion the salary of the Grand Secretary for the ensuing Masonic year was fixed at 350 dols l