Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1867-10-05
MAsONIC LAW.

I
PHYSICAL QUALIFICATIONS There
is scarcely any question made that can
didates must come at least within the
! rule in our constitution indeed some
! Grand Lodges maintain the ancient rule
Of physical perfection.
! But the question, whether an +. A. or
F. c. becoming subsequently, manned can
| he advanced or not, has been decided
differently by different Grand Lodges.
! And the division ofOpinion is so nearly
/ even that we cannot tell which side has
! the preponderanee. In New York, Ohio
and other jurisdictions, it is held,
| that the prohibition extends only tn the
| first degree, and that an L. A. or +. C..
under such circumstances is entitled to
| advancement. In other jurisdictions 1t
is held that the prohibition extends to
| e1erl degree. The Grand Lodge Of Louis
lana came near revoking the charter Of
a Lodge for advancing an E. A. who had
! been manned.
| We confess that we are somewhat in s
state of doubt ourselves, even after read
I ing the arguments on both sides.
The cid rule has been relaxed because
the reason for il has ceased. Since We
ceased to be an operative institution, the
original reason for such a rule has ceased
to exist. And, as We remarked last year,
If there was nothing further, the rule
might entirely cease 10 operate. But the
system was adapted to that rule, and it
must be observed so far as the system re-
quires it, and the limit is found in the
provision Of our Constitution.
The rule was iH terms applied only to
the first degree. II the three degrees
were three different institutions, we
4 a-gssF - Ia in
cluded them all. But inasmuch as in
ancient times the body Of the craft were
+. A. :, snd the other degrees were sim
ply designed for those Of greater skill and
knowledge, or for purposes Of govern
ment, there wss no need OF applying the
rule 10 them, Sud it was not 80 applied.
But ss the result Of the change of the
institution from an operative 10 a Spscu-
Eqtirc character, the body Of the Craft
are Master Masons. But this change in
wolves no additional physical qualifica-
ti0us. which an +. A. must possess before
be can be advanced. But this change
and the result we have alluded 10 DO in
volve a change in the character and pur-
pose Of the two higher degrees. Before
the change sn T. A had Il voice in the
legislation Of the Crsft; now that is
transferred to Master MasOns alone. And
8 candidate does not now become fully
what an +. A. then was, until be is 3
Master Mason.
It conceded By 81, that il Master
Mason becomes maimeG, be loses none Of
his rights as such. Whether be can
conform to requirements or not, h6 is
still 8 Mason, and entitled as such to all
to which the most perfect OF his brethren
are entitled. He may by his misfortune
not he able to prove bis rights, when
among strangers. But when proved, his
rights are acknowledged.
Ia the same manner We say an +, A.
is a Mason, and though he may after
wards become manned. be is entitled to
all the rights Of any +. A. Under our
present system, An +. A. is entitled to
advancement. If he is manned, he
NAV. on account of his misfortune, not
realize Eu the benefits he would if per-
feet but still, be can realize as many as
If be had not become manned till after
he wss advanced.
Considering, therefore, that a Mason
bv becoming msimed loses no rights, and
that an 3. A. or f. c. is q Mason, We
think the doctrine that the prohibition
in letter and spirit is limited to being
made Mason, Is correct
The question whether an E.. A., who
has LOST sn arm after being made Master,
could nevertheless be passed and raised,
was submitted, during the war, to M.
w. f. II. English, g.. n. OF Arkan-
sas and ourselt We held tiist the pro-
vision requiring 8 candidate TO be pestact
10 all his limbs applied only to profane
seeking initiation, and that the loss Of
limb after initiation did not preclude 8
Bro. from advancing. We still think
that this decision was correct We can
not see any principle on which the Pr0-
vision can be extended to subsequent
steps, when it does not in terms apply to
them. These are not within the letter
Of the statute, and there is no equity to
bring them within. DisqaRiiheatlons
are never extended by implications 20
cases to which they do not expressly ap- |
NV