Daily union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1865-1866, 1865-12-10
Meeting orDistipgu,shed Mason,


The Charleston Courier, of the Goth, has
the following account of the meeting of the
Supreme Council of Masonry, lately con-
vened in that city:
The Supreme Coucil of Sovereign Grand
Inspectors General of the Thirty-third and
last degree of Masonry, Ancient and Accep-
ted Rite, assembled in the city of Charleston
during the last week. ILL., Bro General
Albert Pike, of Arkansas, presided as Sovcr-
eign Grand Commander; Ill Bro. \. T.S.
PiersOn, of Minnesota, rs Lieut. enant Grand
Commander and Ill. Bro. A. G. Maclly, of
South Carolina, as Secretary General, with a
considerable number of distinguished Ma
sons from every part of the United States.
This high body of distinguished Masons
did much work, their meetings having been
suspended during the war. Among other
things of interest to the craft we may notice
that they appoint Ill. Bro. Col Tai p. Shat
fer, Special Deputy for Europe, and elected
the following persons Honorary members of
their Council:
His Majesty Charles XIV, King of Sweden
and Norway.
His Royal Highness Oscar, Crown Prince
of Sweden and Norway.
His Majesty Christian TX, King Of Den
mark.
His Royal Highness Constantine Nicola
vich, Grande Duke of Russia.
lllustrious Brother Henry BUST was elect
cd Treasurer General in place of Achille lie
Prince, deceased.
The Supreme Council adjourned late Sat
urday night, after beng in session several
days, to continue their session On the third
Monday of March nett, 1866, at the City of
Washington, d. c.
The profane world, as Masons call them,
are perhaps not aware hat this is the Moth
er CourGi' CT ali the Supreme Councils of the
world. II 'ompri7cs among the members
some of the most distinguished men of this
country and Europe.
General Pike occupies the position Of the
Supreme Grand Commander Of the Council,
and from its convocation delivered a most
erudite and eloquent address, reviewing the
condition of the Masonic Order throughout
the United States and in Europe
We make the following extract from the
opening address:
Illustrious Brethren and Sovereign Grand Com
manders:
At the close of the great harvest of that
pitiless reaper, Death, and, while having
paused through mere WEAKNESS he rests, We
assemble, from States widely distant from
each other, and not long since mad with all
the direiul passions of civil war, to kreel to-
gether once more around the altar of Scottish
Masonry, to lament the dead and TO labor for
the benefit of society, our country and hui
mansty.
During four terrible years our Temples
have been for the most part deserted, the
ashes of the fires upon our affairs have been
cold, and the brethren have met each other
rs enemies, or ceased to commune with each
other. Isolated in most of our States from
the outer world, We have had no correspon-
dence with foreign bodies. No attempt has
been made to enlarge the borders of the An
cient Accepted Scottish Rite. Our subordi-
nate bodies ceased to meet. The Veil of the
Temple has indeed been rent in twain, our
working tools were broken, and our columns
lay overthrow and PROSTATE.
In war, when hell legislates for humanity
and all the horrible influences that can de-
base and demoralize men are busily at work,
Masonry can do little even TO soften the
horrors and temper the hatreds Of strife
that she was powerless TO avert. In some
quarters, indeed, her laws were sought to be
trampled under foot, and Masonic privileges
20 be denied to those whom their breth-
ren thought it Masonic piety to brand as
rebels. They forgot that when States
were arrayed against States, in an open war
Of gigantic proportions, Masonic charity re-
quired them TO believe that their brethren
who fought for political independence, how
ever much they might be in error. were sin
cerely and honestly obeying their convic-
tons of duty without any If the moral guilt
Of treason; and they forgot that, in holding
them 10 have forfeited their rights az Ma
sons, they, themselves, were led by the pas
sions TO violate their Masonic obligations.
But these were not permitted to make Ma
sonry, and least OF all, Scottish Masonry, a
party TO the civil war waged between States.
They compromised themselves alone, and
the fire and smoke of the battles scorched
not her garments. They earned the condem-
nation and contempt of the world Of Mason
~, but Masonry itself go acted as TO be en-
titled to honor and admiration.
With peace, the opportunity for useful Ia
Dor returns 10 the Ancient and Accented
Scottish Rite. We shall soon be prepared
10 extend il throughout our jurisdiction
and | trust that before three more wears
elapse il will number its inmates bv thou
sands, and Its lodges and higher bodies be
found in every State.