Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
How The National Society For Aid To The Sick And Wounded In War Was Founded.
ollows : — " It must , however , be stated here that early ^ in 1869 , the Chapter of the Order of St . John in England began a movement towai-ds the formation of an Aid Society , and that Captain Burgess and Mr . Furley were unremitting in their exertions to call attention to the subject . These gentlemen also , as representing the Order of St . John , which had been invited to send delegates , went to the Berlin Conference for the purpose of forwarding the work . "
Notes On American Freemasonry.
NOTES ON AMERICAN FREEMASONRY .
MICHIGAN . The Grand Master reports having constituted , himself or by proxy , twenty-two new lodges , granted thirteen dispensations for new lodges , and dedicated five new Masonic halls . Number of Lodges , 294 ; Members , 22 , 172 . MINNESOTA .
Fifty-six subordinate lodges were represented . The Grand Master says , in his short but practical address : — " The past Masonic year has been a prosperous one , and I congratulate you upon the peace and harmony which has prevailed in the subordinate lodges throughout this jurisdiction , . and they have rapidly increased in strength and numbers . No schisms or discussions have arisen to alienate one portion of the fraternity from the other , and nothing has occurred to require executive interference . "
And closes with tbe following good wishes : — " Long may this Grand Lodge prosper and flourish in renewed youth , strength , and usefulness , and long continue to teach and cultivate tbe great truths contained in the Great Light upon the altar . May we leave the hallowed scenes of this Grand Communication with renewed determination to study Masonry as a science , and practice its virtues as a sacred duty . May the same heavenly care be over you the coming year as in
the past . May you return to your homes in safety , encouraged to renewed exertions in behalf of Masonry and this Grand Lodge . " In relation to the Grand Orient of Prance the following resolutions were adopted : — " Resolved , That the Grand Lodge of Minnesota most earnestly protests against the action of the Grand Orient of
France in recognizing spurious lodges established within the jurisdiction of the Grand Lodge of Louisiana . " Resolved , That the Grand Orient of France is fraternally besought to reconsider and rescind its action in this matter . " Resolved , That the Grand Secretary be directed to forward copies of the proceedings containing these resolutions to the Grand Orient of France . " Resolved , That the subordinate lodges in this jurisdiction
be instructed to be particularly careful iu the examination of all visitors hailing from Louisiana , to admit none but those made iu regular lodges . " In the Quebec niattor , tho following resolution was passed : — " Eesolved , That this Grand Lodge , approving the sentiments upon the subject communicated to this body by our M . W . Grand Master , C . W . Nash , decline all fraternal intercourse with the Grand Lodge of Quebec until it shall have been recognised by the M . W . Grand Lodge of Canada . " Number of Lodges , S 3 .
MISSOURI . The Grand Master in his annual address , says : — " This is the semi-centennial communication of the Grand Lodge of Missouri . " Standing at tbe point which marks the division of a century in our Masonry , it would be interesting and instructive to look back to the beginning and note what progress has been made ; what results achieved in the labours of those who have gone before us . To do this , and to sketch tho lives of the men whose
names are historic in our annals , would be to evoke lessons of wisdom and virtue ; to make all wiser , happier , and better men and Masons . " He reports granting dispensations for thirty-seven new Lodges , and gracefully lays clown the gavel as follows : — ' * . . " The measure of my ambition is full ; nor wonld I if I could again stand in the way of promotion of others among us , whose
merits qualify them so worthily to wear the hig h honours which it is yours to bestow . And yet my ardent devotion to the great and pure principles of our ancient Order shall suffer no change by time . Tueir diffusion and ascendency among men shall be a cherished desire of my heart , till its pulsations are stilled in death—because they are pure , and true , and holy , alike honouring to God and beneficent to man . To you , members of the Grand Lodge of Missouriis confided a sacred trust—that of
, keeping and-transmitting these principles down to the generations to come , as you have received them through the generations of the past . Lot no landmark of our ancient regulations be removed or defaced . Commit this trust to the hands of men only who love our institutions , and whose morals and characters afford the guarantee of fidelity , sobriety , industry , and integrity . For the principles which they are to conserve and uphold are not abstractionsthey have practical relation to us
, and to our fellow-men in all the walks of human life . "Finally , brethron , may the peace which is the fruition of well-spent life in the end be yours , and late , very late in life , may each of you 'be transmitted from the fading honours of an earthly lodge to the mansion prepared for the faithful in another and better world . '"
In the conclusion of this report attention is called to a spreading evil and fungus growth upon tbe body of Masonry . "It has been our proud boast that Masonry was uninfluenced by the ' almighty dollar , ' hut in a majority of the cases submitted to us , we find ' almighty dollar , ' the corner-stone upon which these difficulties have been erected . Brotherly love , relief , and truth have been all sacrificed upon the altar of mammon ; aud Masonry , ennobling in all its teachings , has been prostituted by
the ' almighty dollar . ' "Misfortune overtakes a brother , and , instead of heaven-born charity , with its hand-maid , relief , voluntarily seeking him out and administering to his wants , he is left to seek this at the hand of a brother , who reluctantly says , ' 1 will assist you with my name if you will pledge me your Masonic honour that I shall not be the loser by this , ray charitable act . ' The brother makes the promise in good faithbut circumstances which he
, cannot control lengthen the time , and although he pays up every jot and tittle of what is due , these very charitable members of Lodges , wo will not say Masons , forthwith file charges of ' unmasonic conduct . ' Specifications— 'forfeiting his Masonic word . ' He is summarily tried suspended or expelled . " If this is Masonry we . are free to acknowledge that we have been totally ignorant of its teachings . We have been taught to look upon it as one of the greatest boons granted by God to
man , and wo still believe it be such , and these deviations from its precepts are the resuit of not properly studying and practically demonstrating its noble mission . " One of the first lessons we are taught in Masonry is to ' soothe the unhappy aud restore peace to the troubled mind' ; but instead of this we have seen , when n brother applies to another ( a merchant ) to let him have , for his family , the necessaries of life— -bread and meat—and when , by tho hard
hand of misfortune , he could not pay up , he was charged with not paying his Masonic debts and suspended . Is this Masonry ? Not one part , parcel , or precept of it . But the question is , how , and in what way can the Grand Lodge stop this fungus growth ? In the same way tho skilful surgeon saves the body and life of his patients , by cutting oil' the fungus , diseased limb , and when this Grand Lodge declares that , if its subordinates allow such , uumasonic actions by their members , it will cut off such
offending Lodges , and we think this will eradicate the evil . The following preamble and resolutions which were " unamimously elected : " " Whereas , the Grand Lodge of Missouri has for many years recognised the supreme control of the territory heretofore known as Canada , and is at present in fraternal correspondence with said Grand Lodge ; and " Whereas , the Graud Lodge of Missouri does not recognise
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
How The National Society For Aid To The Sick And Wounded In War Was Founded.
ollows : — " It must , however , be stated here that early ^ in 1869 , the Chapter of the Order of St . John in England began a movement towai-ds the formation of an Aid Society , and that Captain Burgess and Mr . Furley were unremitting in their exertions to call attention to the subject . These gentlemen also , as representing the Order of St . John , which had been invited to send delegates , went to the Berlin Conference for the purpose of forwarding the work . "
Notes On American Freemasonry.
NOTES ON AMERICAN FREEMASONRY .
MICHIGAN . The Grand Master reports having constituted , himself or by proxy , twenty-two new lodges , granted thirteen dispensations for new lodges , and dedicated five new Masonic halls . Number of Lodges , 294 ; Members , 22 , 172 . MINNESOTA .
Fifty-six subordinate lodges were represented . The Grand Master says , in his short but practical address : — " The past Masonic year has been a prosperous one , and I congratulate you upon the peace and harmony which has prevailed in the subordinate lodges throughout this jurisdiction , . and they have rapidly increased in strength and numbers . No schisms or discussions have arisen to alienate one portion of the fraternity from the other , and nothing has occurred to require executive interference . "
And closes with tbe following good wishes : — " Long may this Grand Lodge prosper and flourish in renewed youth , strength , and usefulness , and long continue to teach and cultivate tbe great truths contained in the Great Light upon the altar . May we leave the hallowed scenes of this Grand Communication with renewed determination to study Masonry as a science , and practice its virtues as a sacred duty . May the same heavenly care be over you the coming year as in
the past . May you return to your homes in safety , encouraged to renewed exertions in behalf of Masonry and this Grand Lodge . " In relation to the Grand Orient of Prance the following resolutions were adopted : — " Resolved , That the Grand Lodge of Minnesota most earnestly protests against the action of the Grand Orient of
France in recognizing spurious lodges established within the jurisdiction of the Grand Lodge of Louisiana . " Resolved , That the Grand Orient of France is fraternally besought to reconsider and rescind its action in this matter . " Resolved , That the Grand Secretary be directed to forward copies of the proceedings containing these resolutions to the Grand Orient of France . " Resolved , That the subordinate lodges in this jurisdiction
be instructed to be particularly careful iu the examination of all visitors hailing from Louisiana , to admit none but those made iu regular lodges . " In the Quebec niattor , tho following resolution was passed : — " Eesolved , That this Grand Lodge , approving the sentiments upon the subject communicated to this body by our M . W . Grand Master , C . W . Nash , decline all fraternal intercourse with the Grand Lodge of Quebec until it shall have been recognised by the M . W . Grand Lodge of Canada . " Number of Lodges , S 3 .
MISSOURI . The Grand Master in his annual address , says : — " This is the semi-centennial communication of the Grand Lodge of Missouri . " Standing at tbe point which marks the division of a century in our Masonry , it would be interesting and instructive to look back to the beginning and note what progress has been made ; what results achieved in the labours of those who have gone before us . To do this , and to sketch tho lives of the men whose
names are historic in our annals , would be to evoke lessons of wisdom and virtue ; to make all wiser , happier , and better men and Masons . " He reports granting dispensations for thirty-seven new Lodges , and gracefully lays clown the gavel as follows : — ' * . . " The measure of my ambition is full ; nor wonld I if I could again stand in the way of promotion of others among us , whose
merits qualify them so worthily to wear the hig h honours which it is yours to bestow . And yet my ardent devotion to the great and pure principles of our ancient Order shall suffer no change by time . Tueir diffusion and ascendency among men shall be a cherished desire of my heart , till its pulsations are stilled in death—because they are pure , and true , and holy , alike honouring to God and beneficent to man . To you , members of the Grand Lodge of Missouriis confided a sacred trust—that of
, keeping and-transmitting these principles down to the generations to come , as you have received them through the generations of the past . Lot no landmark of our ancient regulations be removed or defaced . Commit this trust to the hands of men only who love our institutions , and whose morals and characters afford the guarantee of fidelity , sobriety , industry , and integrity . For the principles which they are to conserve and uphold are not abstractionsthey have practical relation to us
, and to our fellow-men in all the walks of human life . "Finally , brethron , may the peace which is the fruition of well-spent life in the end be yours , and late , very late in life , may each of you 'be transmitted from the fading honours of an earthly lodge to the mansion prepared for the faithful in another and better world . '"
In the conclusion of this report attention is called to a spreading evil and fungus growth upon tbe body of Masonry . "It has been our proud boast that Masonry was uninfluenced by the ' almighty dollar , ' hut in a majority of the cases submitted to us , we find ' almighty dollar , ' the corner-stone upon which these difficulties have been erected . Brotherly love , relief , and truth have been all sacrificed upon the altar of mammon ; aud Masonry , ennobling in all its teachings , has been prostituted by
the ' almighty dollar . ' "Misfortune overtakes a brother , and , instead of heaven-born charity , with its hand-maid , relief , voluntarily seeking him out and administering to his wants , he is left to seek this at the hand of a brother , who reluctantly says , ' 1 will assist you with my name if you will pledge me your Masonic honour that I shall not be the loser by this , ray charitable act . ' The brother makes the promise in good faithbut circumstances which he
, cannot control lengthen the time , and although he pays up every jot and tittle of what is due , these very charitable members of Lodges , wo will not say Masons , forthwith file charges of ' unmasonic conduct . ' Specifications— 'forfeiting his Masonic word . ' He is summarily tried suspended or expelled . " If this is Masonry we . are free to acknowledge that we have been totally ignorant of its teachings . We have been taught to look upon it as one of the greatest boons granted by God to
man , and wo still believe it be such , and these deviations from its precepts are the resuit of not properly studying and practically demonstrating its noble mission . " One of the first lessons we are taught in Masonry is to ' soothe the unhappy aud restore peace to the troubled mind' ; but instead of this we have seen , when n brother applies to another ( a merchant ) to let him have , for his family , the necessaries of life— -bread and meat—and when , by tho hard
hand of misfortune , he could not pay up , he was charged with not paying his Masonic debts and suspended . Is this Masonry ? Not one part , parcel , or precept of it . But the question is , how , and in what way can the Grand Lodge stop this fungus growth ? In the same way tho skilful surgeon saves the body and life of his patients , by cutting oil' the fungus , diseased limb , and when this Grand Lodge declares that , if its subordinates allow such , uumasonic actions by their members , it will cut off such
offending Lodges , and we think this will eradicate the evil . The following preamble and resolutions which were " unamimously elected : " " Whereas , the Grand Lodge of Missouri has for many years recognised the supreme control of the territory heretofore known as Canada , and is at present in fraternal correspondence with said Grand Lodge ; and " Whereas , the Graud Lodge of Missouri does not recognise