Clarksville weekly chronicle. [volume] (Clarksville, Tenn.) 1865-1867, 1866-12-05

In all cases Of physical disqualification, ad
here strictly TO the ancient landmarks O
the Order.
We also received q communication from
Liberty Lodge No. n, embodying q peti
ton for initiation from Jasper Nichol. Tn
| petition itself set forth the fact that the an
plicant had lost his left arm, and q recon-
mendation for dispensation to issue in hi
behalf, was signed by the three principa
officers of the Lodge.
Our reply to this application was pre-
cisely similar to the last.
These cases are o very small portion
OF the large number, which have been re
ferred to US, touching the physical qualifi
cations of candidates, and they are men
toned in this address, not so much for thu
decisions which we have rendered, as tt
show the Grand Lodge that there seems tc
be prevailing disposition on the part ol
many OF the Subordinate Lodges TO depart
from the ancient landmarks, and we fee
that We cannot too strongly urge upon the
brethren throughout this entire grand juris
dicton, q more strict observance Of the
ancient ussges and customs of the Frater-
| nifty; as intimated in one of the cases
cited, the impression seems to be fixed in
the minds of many of the brethren, that oul
institution has become purely speculative
and therefore that the necessity no longer
exists for maintaining its operative charac-
ter, to secure that perfection which was
required in ancient times We beg to re-
mind the brethren that the landmarks are
unchangeable, and that no innovations upon
the established usages and customs of the
Order can be allowed
A communication from Dukedom Lodge,
No. l69, requesting information as to the
number necessary to expel, was received
by US and Is mentioned with q view OF
securing some authoritative opinion from
the Grand Lodge. In the absence of such
an opinion we decided that two-thirds
vote was necessary.
We received communication from
Bro. Henry j. Lynn, w. NJ. of Hamilton
Lodge, No. 299, for our decision in the
following case A gentleman petitioned
Leila Scott Lodge, No. 2s9, for initiation,
and was rejected. After the lapse of twelve
months he petitioned Hamilton Lodge, No.
299, for initiation. When the petition came
up for action, member Of Leila Scott
Lodge, No. 2S9, entered protest, on the
ground that his Lodge had exclusive ju-
risdiction over the applicant, because he
had first applied to his Lodge. The brother
entering the protest, disclaimed any objec-
tons, as to the good character or moral
worth OF the applicant and simply raised
the question of jurisdiction
Our opinion In the case was as follows ::
"Where two or more Lodges have the
same jurisdiction, and the applicant is as
well known in one as the other, as In this
case, he has right to apply to either, at
his option, at the end of his probation"
We received Q communication from
Roach Lodge No. 1876, requesting an opin-
ion on the the following question: A gen
tleman Of Columbia, Tenn, petitioned
Columbia Lodge No. 81 for initiation, and
was rejected. After waiting the proper
time, the members Of this Lodge informed
him that the objection to his taking the
degree was removed. He then informed
them that he preferred Roach Lodge No.
1876, and petitioned accordingly. 10 this
the members of Columbia Lodge No. 81
objected, and the Master of NO. 1876 re-
ferred the matter TO US.
We decided that the applicant had the
right, under the circumstances, to select
bis Lodge, as the two Lodges had the
same Jurisdiction In support of these
two last opinions We cited '.Edicts and
Resolves, No. 8.
We wrote to Bro. Robert D. Holmes,
II. w. Grand Master of the State of New
York. August 10, 1865, calling bis atten-
tinn to the fact that q subordinate Lodge
In his Jurisdiction had conferred the three
symbolic Degrees on q resident of Ten
nessee, and that the Master of the Lodge
comforting the degrees knew that the ap-
plicant had been rejected in q Lodge in
this Jurisdiction, less than one year pre-
vious. N. w. Bro. Holmes wrote us
that he had placed the matter in the hands
of one of his District Grand Masters for
investigation. During this year we called
and left q communication on bis desk,
again calling his attention to the matter,
but up TO this good hour, We have heard
nothing from him. We present the above
facts, that you in your good judgment may
take such action in the matter rs you may
deem proper.
We sold the Grand Lodges interest in
the Lodge property at Raleigh Tenn, and
remitted the proceeds, with our statement
of the same, to Bro. Charles A. Fssier,
Grand Secretary, who will make proper
statement of same in his Annual Report.
We ask your approval OF the sale, be-
cause the property was abandoned for
Masouic purposes.
We authorized Collierville Lodge No.
l53 to resume labor, on the 18th day OF
October last, with instructions to make a
full report Of their condition and proceed
ings to the Grand Lodge at this comnu-
nication.
We received Q communication from the
N. w. Grand Master Of the District OF
Columbia, requesting the appointment of
r. W. Joseph w. Nairn, our representa-
tive near his Grand Lodge, which request
was cheerfully complied with.
We also received q communication from
tho Gran Oriente De Colon, Cuba, appoint
ing our Thrice Illustrious Brother Charles
A. Fuller their representative near our
Moss Worshipful Grand Lodge. We also
appointed our Illustrious Brother Juan M.
De Lores 80 degree our representative near
the Gran Oriente De Colon, Cuba.
We appointed Brother A. 3. Underwood
to dedicate the Hall of Bone Lodge No
s52, on the 23rd of Juno last. Also Brother
]. 8. Dickinson to dedicate the Hall OF
Morning Star Lodge No. 1876, and on the
same day we dedicated the Hall Of Wood
lawn Lodge No. 2ll.
We authorized South Memphis Lodge
No. IIs, TO confer the 3rd degree on Brother
Rodgers on his proficiency. We also
authorized Union Lodge No. l0i, to ballot
on the petition OF brother for the 3rd
degree at a special communication convened
for the purpose. And TO Dunham Lodge
No. $50, we gave the same authority.
We authorized Caledonia Lodge No. 96,
TO remove three miles from their former
place Of meeting, to McKenzie's Station
on the Memphis q Ohio Railroad, on &C
count of the untenable condition OF their
hall. We also authorized Hamburg Lodge
No. 220, to remove from Hamburg to
Pebble Hill Academy, in McNairy county,
distance of eight miles, because their
hall had been burned
II affords US great pleasure to state that
the committee appointed at the last annual
communication TO superintend the pubica-
ton of text book for the use Of Subordi-
nate Lodges Of this Grand Jurisdiction,
have with great care revised Tannehin' 9
Manual. We commend it to the brethren
generally and hope that they will supply
themselves with copies for their use. We
would also suggest to the brethren, the
advantage of subscribing for some one OF the
Masonic Journals Of the country. The
National Freemason, published at New York
city, and the Masonic Trowel, published at
Springfield, Illinois, are periodicals OF
great worth and would afford the brethren
much valuable information. The opinions
ON the usages and customs Of the Order at
at large, IS published in these papers, are
very correct. Much valuable information
as to the written Law Is also contained
in them, and they would frequently save