Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1867-11-23

/ Sphyhx is half buried In the sands thai
the ages have hesped around 1t.
The more we popularize MAsoHry, the
less it is Masonry. We are too eager tC
tell the world all about, it, Masonic
newspapers must have continual sup.
ply ofinteresting reading and these and
lexicoDs leave little that the profsne
may not learn Of what Masons gen.
orally imagine to be their secrets. The
popularizing Of the Order, and the divul-
cation Of its ceremonial by discussions
and descriptions and references to the
ancient writers on ths.mystsries, viii in
the end ruin Blue Masonry altogether.
It pretends to be what it is not; and
does net know whatitis. Its eulogists
praise it without stint for exeelleneies
aud sublimities that it does not possess ;
and are blind to the mysterious secrets
that are all around them, aud unknown
because the symbols are dumb and can
not explain themselves. We crave
approval too much, and too much seek
to commend the Order TO the public. 1t
is even ingenuously proclaimed that it
is not Secret Order, in any true sense
Of the word as If it were no more than q
Temperance Society or an Order of Red
Men; and as if Secresy were 3 crime.
We trumpet forth the good deeds of Ma
sons, and their ordinary observance in
war Of their obligations, with a marked
craving for notoriety and applause, that
has become ridiculous and almost nau-
seous. It is time to end all that.
bd@We have some time since been
asked for an opinion on this question.
A. has been initiated and passed in a
Lodge of which B. is a member, in b s
absence. B., learuingit, ands absent,
sends the Lodge written protest against
the raising of A, in consequence OF an
unsettled difficulty between them. This
protest is spread upon the record. After
that, and it not being withdrawn, can A.
be ballotted for? Is it correct to hold
that B. must attend and vote in the neg
ative upon the question taken by ballot,
or it will be had in his absence, when A.
may perhaps be elected? We have an
swered as follows: ..H.-. "a.
The Regulations Of I72l provides that
no one could be entered Brother in any
particular Lodge, or admitted member
thereof, ''withoat the unanimous consent
of all the members Of that Lodge then
present when the candidate is proposed,
and their consent is formally asked by
the Master; and they are to signify their
consent or dissent in their own prudent
way, either virtually or in form, but with
unanimity." .Is.
And the reason given for this is, be-
cause the members Of a particular Lodge
arc the best judges of it; and If frae-
dous member should be imposed on
them, it might spoil their harmony or
hinder their freedom; OF even break or
disperse the Lodge; which ought to be
avoided by all good and true brethren"
A Lodge therefore, it may be broadly
laid down, cannot take advantage Of the
absence of a good brother, who, it is
known, would vote against particular
candidate if he were present, to elect that
person, and thus perhaps throw aside
and lose a Brother already one of them
selves, to gain q newmember. It would
spoil the harmony Of their Lodge, and
they might break or disperse. Enemies,
who perhaps will not speak to each other,
cannot meet in the same Lodge as
Brethren. 1t would be an abominable
mockery; and certainly no Lodge is at
liberty to receive one who is strenuousIy
objected to by a Brother. II, therefore,
a Brother is constrained to be absent
from the Lodge when a ballot is to be
taken, he may leave his dissent in
writing. He has the right to make it
known ain his own prudent way"
II a Brother were to rise in
epen Lodge, and declare that
he would not consent to the admission
of q proposed candidate, it would be
uEElGbs ctLbLlOug " L0hO a bdiiObs
That dissent rejects the candidate. A
Brother may, if he chooses, express his
dissent in that way. He has a right to
dissent secretly; but heis not compellable
to do 80.
We think it quite clear, therefore, that
no one can be elected, and it is not proper
to take ballot, if and 50 long as for
NAL protest is on file against permitting
the party to be entered a Brother. The
whole purpose of the ballot is to know if
any one dissents. If that is already
known, to take a vote is useless. Com
mon sense teaches this and Masonic
law is not altogether independent Of
common sense. Such notions as that
there must be ballot notwithstanding
an adverse report by Committee; and
that although candidate asks to with
draw his petition, informing the Lodge
that he does not want to become a men,
Der of it, there must nevertheless be a
balIof saau, tn us maze Duerilities