Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1867-10-19
pIAxOVyC JURIsPRuDFNCF.


/ National Fi-ssnlus0n A recent num-
! Der Of the National Freen1GsOR contained
/ a decision ~ Grand Master Euglesby, Of
Vermont, that I" the granting Of a dis
! pensation acts as a dimit from their
/ respective Lodges Of those mentioned in
1 the dispensation, the Lodges from which
| they are Omitted retaining jurisdiction
50 far as TO enforce payment of dues"
We object TO this decision, and beg to
enter our protest against its being con
sideFed as Masonic law. We do not De-
Heve that the Grand Master can thus
sever the connection Of q Brother with
his Lodge. He may temporarily sus-
pend that membership, for good cause,
but he cannot absolutely terminate 10.
1t can only be done by the Lodge itself,
or by set Of the Grand Lodge. Suppose
the latter body does not approve Of the
dispensstion, and refuses to charter the
new Lodge, what becomes Of the original
petitioners? Are they restored to their
former membership, or do they become
unaffiliated Masons, subject to Ell the
pains and penalties imposed upon that
unfortunate class in some Jurisdictions
If their mem bership is dissolved, how
can the Lodge still collect dues from
them II they enjoy none of the BEN
efits, why should they be called upon to
paw for them? These are points upon
which we desire light.
The whole subject Of Lodges under dis
peusatiOn seems to be misunderstood in
some quarters, and we have been sur
prised from time TO time 81 the different
decisions in relation 10 them. Accord
ing to the opinions Of some, there is no
necessity Of applying to the Grand Lodge
for q charter, or OF going through the
trouble Of being constituted the dispeu-
sation IS sufficient, and under it the
Brethren named therein are released from
former membership, and cannot only
make Masons and bylaws, but they can
affiliate members, discipline them, elect
officers, aud in fseG do everything that
can be done by Lodges legally chartered
znd regularly constituted. This may be
modern Masonry, hut we do not believe
it to be ancient Masonry, such IS We love
and have been taught 70 veuerate-
Ia our Judgment a Lodge O. d. is at
least seven MasOns in good standing, one
Of them being q Past Master, who have,
under 3 warrant from a Grand Master,
been empowered to meet and make Ma
sons; and that IS all. Ifthey choose TO
make a code Of bylaws, they may DO so,
but they are not valid until approved by
the Grand Lodge: they cannot admit
Masens to nlembership, or discipline
them, for the simple reason that the
Grand Master cannot authorize them to
do so, and they are merely creatures Of /
his authority. The powers frequently
claimed fOr these bodies are powers only
conferred by the Grand Lodge in the
charters which they issue, and cannot be
derived from other sources.
As to the petitioners for a Lodge L. D., .
they remsin mem bers Of their respective !
Lodges until they have applied for and /
dimit by vote Of their Lodge. /
The fact that they ara named in the dis .
pensati0n, or in the charter issued by the /
Grand Lodge, does not release them from /
their former membership, and should not |
do so until the consent Of the Lodge it. /
self has been regularly obtained.
Any other doctrine viii surely work !
injury TO the FRATERNITY.