The weekly clarion. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1863-1882, 1866-09-27
state Publishing House and the Grand
Secretary OF the t.Tand Lodge

Secretary Of the t.Tand Lodge.
II We find in the Mississippian of yes
terday the following card;
/ Mr. Rallors--In an editorial nfthe Clarion
Of this date, under the head Of State Pub
fishing House" after strongly imphe'
censure of the Grand Secretary of the Grams
Chapter Of Mississippi, and ia connection
Herewith, l find the following language, to
wit:
.'In like manner, We have reason o. believ,
that the proceedings of the last session o
the Grand Lodge, together with the Unitorn
Constitution aud Bylaws, and perhaps
other matters, are being printed out of th'
State"
This. construed, to intimate, If not posi-
/ lively to assert that, have contracted q
have said printing done ont of the state, Sc
far as they (the Editorsl have reason t.
believe
confess much surprise at this Ian guoge
for Col. shannon, the Editor, aud Colonel
| Power, Associate Editor, of that paper, both
well kRor the fact that did not carry any
Of the matter alluded to IN said article out
of this State to have printed, know
that contracted with your Office 10 do the
lob They know. too that told them more
| than once, that whilst / was instructed to
have the work done where it could be exc
cuted cheapest and best, / was opposed 90
carrying it beyond the limits of the State,
Knowing these facts rs these gentlemen
did, repeat that am mnch surprised at
their ntimatiOn in regard to my preterriug
New York to Mississippi Publishers
Respectfully,
D. 7. PORTER,
Grand Secretary Grand Lodge Miss,
JACKSON, Miss, Sept. 18th, lotai.
We have no desire to do injustice
to the Grand Secretary, and cheerfully
give his letter the benefit Of our circu-
lation. But with his permission we
propose to ask few questions that
we conceive pertinent to the matters
alluded to in our article to which he
refers.
l. Does not tire Grand Secretary
know that what we stated is fact,
that the Grand Lodge proceedings are
being printed oat Of tie Stale
2. Was he not aware that the work
would be done ont Of tie State when
he made the contract referred to2
3. Did he not have an offer to print
fifteen hundred copies of the Grand
Lodge proceedings, on fine book pa
per, containing as much matter to the
page as the last printed proceedings,
with bronzed covers, DC, for four
dollars and fifty cents per page, the
work to be done in the State and
completed in three months, and did he
not contract to pay more, per page
and if he did not contract
to pay more, will not express
charges from Boston or wherever the
work is being printed cost more than
the offer mentioned ?
There are special reasons why this
work should be done in the State, or
at least convenient to the Grand Sec
rotary. The proof should be carefully
read by that officer, so that mistakes
in the names of members of the craft,
and other errors should be avoided
Besides to have it done in New York
or Boston is tax on the Lodges and
Chapters of this State for the benefit
of Northern Publishing Houses, and
will not, in our opinion meet the ap
probation of either the Grand Lodge
or Grand Chapter.
We question very much If State
can be found North or South, where
the Grand Lodge or Grand Chapter
have had to go out of the State to have
such work executed. Certainly there
are dozen offices in Mississippi where
the work could have been done well
and promptly for the same money that
we suppose has been sent to Northern
houses. Even if there was
not so much tinsel about it, palmer
Job done in the State, would have
given more satisfaction to the fra
ternity ar-H.
That the contract was made through |
the Mississppian office, does not affect
the question. We suppose no one
would have taken the liberty to send
the manuscripts Of the Grand Seere-
tary out Of the State without his con-
sent. If such is the fact the response
bility rests with him.
Since writing the above, we have re-
ceived from a prominent member of
the craft, and a Past Grand Officer,
who resides in the Northern part of the
State the following note which explains
itself: -l a slt .'.-
t s-1ttelu -8ta a CFor the Clarion.
Having no Masonic journal now,
which we can communicate, l
ask small space in your paper to
make an inquiry.
The Grand Lodge was held the third |
in January. BY the first of
April, the proceedings we've prepared
for the press. We would say time |
long enough in all conscience.
Six months have nearly elapsed, and
no minutes yet Ha- rna l. E
We simply make the inquiry, and we
make it publicly, when may the fra
ternity exDect the minutes! These |