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

4 nEt H4lH8loUs Wnhtu GOu
sists in the tack of ennobling and concil-
latlng mankind, and advancing the hap
piness OF man and the victory of the
good principle throughout the world, this
want of success is obviously due, In the
: main, to the imperfect organization Oi
the Graft as q whole.
"Freemasonry is universal, and all the
Lodges and FreemasOns spread all over
the world constitute but 0ns Lodge" This
sublime thought, which clearly and
markedly expresses the fundamental
idea Of our federation, has not yet been
realized ~ - 49,
To the first of all Grand Lodges, the
Grand Lodge of England, the Craft is
doubtless greatly indebted and thank
fully acknowledges its great and mani
fold merits; yet, IL is not 70 be denied
that this Grand Lodge has neglected suf-
ficiently to guard in every direction the
unity of the institution. The natural
consequences Of this is, that while spread
ing and developing itself In different
communities, the Graft very soon as
sumed variety Of forms and laws, nay
changed its very character to certain
extent, by reason Of local circumstances
and special requirements, as wellss own
ing the influence Of the spiritOf the day.
In the course Of the last century cen-
trifugal tendencies came up, which led
to a splitting up OF the whole, and the
Isolation Of the Individual Grand Lodges,
to each Of which province, confined
within geographical and political bound,
aries, was allotted. To this decentrali-
zation the fact is due, that at the present
day the different Grand Lodges follow
different systems and pursue different
objects, IS regards constitution and doc
trine, rituals and practices, and that
there exists hardly any but very loose
connection amongst them.
1t is the object aud the duty OF the
Masonic Craft to be federation, allied
with mankind for the good Of mankind /;
but such federation il cannot be truly
and fully as long as its unity remains
merely ideal, produced, as it has been
| hitherto, by the mutual spirit of fcater-
! nifty and the connecting link OF a few
/ forms OF worship cOmmOa 10 all, as long
as this unity does not recline in the face
of the outer world, in proper platform
and adequate representation by means
OF joint federal law and joint institu-
/ tions.
| The association Of German Freema-
sons, animated BY the desire to realize
/ aggregation designed to promote unita-
rian tendencies in freedom and love, q
/ rational organization of the Graft and its
development in conformity with spirit
| and the ideas Of the time, has been seri-
| ously engaged, for several years past, in
working out the project Of 3 general con-
stitution, and at its annual meeting at
| Worms, on the Sth and 9th Of June last,
it has adopted the draft Of such q cOnsti-
tuition. The undersigned officers of the
association have been deputed 70 submit
this fundamental Law 10 your kind exam
ination, and propose its adoption to you,
hOnOTed and beloved Brethren. It cannot
escape your notice that this platform,
starting from actual facts, and aiming at
nothing but what is attainsble, with due
regard to the historical development Of
the Order, is designed to bring about
unity in things essential only, bat in
everything else adhere throughout to the
Masonic principles Of liberty, equality
and fraternity, of locEl self government
and general worship, and that it may
consequently be safely adopted by every
Grand Lodge.
We need not dwell upon the desirable
ity Of the establishment Of international
Masonic congresses aud the foundation
Of a Board OF Management PertU0E-
1gsd1JsschUSsl, or universal Grand
Lodge for the whole federation, and it is
results the fraternity and mankind at
large mig bt derive from the foundation
Of such institutions. However bold this
idea may appear. its realization belongs
no more to the province Of mere phantas-
mas, by reason of the vast development
of the means Of communication between
ell eOuntries-natiOns being thus brought
nearer TO one another, and the idea al
luded to having already received its in
csrnatiOu by international exhibitions OF
industry. What could be done for the /
advancement OF material interests, may 1
and must be no less practicable for the
promotion Of the intellectual and moral /
interests OF mankind The one thing
neodiUl is that every individual and 1
every corporate body evinOe firm good /
will, as due to this great and good cause, 4
that every one set about 20 work cour- /
ageOusly and without prejudice, and that I
pefsOnsi inclinstions aud opinions be
freely waived in the interest of the whole. |
Seeing that the influence Of the Lodges
has been beneficial hitherto, and that,
wherever they worked in the proper an
linus, they fostered and promoted mo-
fality, brOtherly love, ana the good Of
mankind at large, this viii evidently be I
the case 20 a much greater extent il the
individual links Of the chain Of the Or
der be drawn closer together, if they i'm
prove their institutions, breathe the .
breath of new life into the Masonic body,
keep pace with the progress Of the CEN
tury, and work throughout upon one
plan and in one spirit.
In the confident expectation that you,
IGNORED and beloved Brethren, will gladly
and freaiy join US in our endeavOr TO
bring about internal and external unity
and rational organization OF the Graft, /
and thereWithsl a. new era Of prosperity
to Masonry, we earnestly entreat you to
adopt the annexed fundamental law -
(GrundgesetZ), which is drawn up in the
spirit and upon the ground Of the an
cient charges" and to foster and pro-
mote all aspirations calculated to estab-
lish an international tie amongst all
Lodges and all Masons of the world.
IN this hope we hereby send you the
greeting Of the initiated.
Respectfully ana aifeltiOnately yours,
By order Of the Association OfGeTIaau MasOus.
The Directors
DIR. RUDOLPH SFNDEL, of Leipzig, President
REISHARD KAsP, af Elberdeld, Vice Presi-
deut.
! q. FTSpEL, Of Leipzig, Secretary and
ketlse cf tEe s. Archives.
DIR. CARL NAS D-rFS Of Berlin
IiEINHICH WILHEiAf r o. sCTE, Of Barmen.
nT#Eu Trrrar r.srHs sgrrH