Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1868-08-23
MASONIC INTELLIGENCE.

We have received the proceedings OF
the Grand Lodge of Iowa at its Twenty
Fifth Grand Annual Communication,
held at Desmoines, Tuesday, June ID,
Al 5S6S, A. A. D. 1868.
NJ. W. Reuben Nickel, G and Mas
ter: R.. W. Theodore S. Parvin,
Grand Secretary.
The Grand Master concludes his ad-
dress as follows:
d" In conclusion, desire to repeat the
timely admonition uttered by my prede-
cessor. that the Masonic Order was
never more prosperous, and Imay add,
never more popular, than at the present
time. and hence it Is the more necessary
for US. while we endeavor to unite with
US as many good men as possible, to ex-
ercise the utmost caution that we do not
omen our doors indiscriminately to all
who NAV knock for admission; for the
popularity of Masonry serves as an IN
ducement for bad, designing men to seek
admission.
Let Us remember that at the present
time our every word and act are closely
scrutinized by most active, vigilant and
earnest enemies Of Masonry, anxious for
even a straw on which 10 base their
wicked, slanderous prosecutions. Our
best defense and protection against
their attacks is to purify our Order by
purging our Lodges of the unworthy
and carefully guarding the outer door,
90 that none but those whose daily lives
are q guarantee of honor and upright
ness can gain admission. The nlotlUss
of each applicant should be closely scru-
tinted and his character and standing
carefully investigated. 1t Is not enough
that no one knows any evil Of him. He
should possess positive and affirmative
qualities Of goodness and influence, such
as tend to raise him in the scale Of life.
The external qualifications of world
II wealth or honor should never be
considered for moment, when the in
ternal qualifications Of mind and heart,
Of truth, honesty and uprightness be
fore God and man are wanting. The
destiny of our institution rests entirely
in the hands Of the Fraternity itself, and
we have more to fear from our own en-
rors within than from the attacks Of
those without. Let Us then awaken TO
a jealous spirit of watchfulness, Of union
and Of harmony among ourselves, and
more earnestly exemplify the beautiful
tenets of our profession, by practieing
out Of the Lodge those lessons Of virtue
and morality taught within II.
When accepted the high trust to
which your Generous suhrsges called me
one wear ago, [ did so reluctantly, and
with many misgivings as to my ability to
perform in an acceptable manner the du
ties that would devolve upon me as the
head of the Masonic fraternity in this
Jurisdiction. l have endeayored to the
extent Of my abilities to perform my
whole duty. and although l am not vain
enough 10 hatter myself with the hope
that / have not committed some errors
vet | do claim to have been governed by
an honest and sincere desire to promote
the interests Of Masonry by every proper
and legitimate means at my command. |
Although am not insensible to the high |
honor Of being called to preside over so
large and intelligent body as the Grand |
Lodge of Iowa, yet it was an honor to
which my ambition never aspired, and |
can say in truth, that in surrendering to
Won the authority delegated TO me as
YOUR Masonic chief, do it with infinitely
more pleasure and satisfaction to myself
than when | assumed the trust.
" Permit me also, my brethren, to re-
turn YOU my heartfelt thanks for that
uniform kindness and courtesy which has
everywhere been extended to me, and for
pour kind indulgence and forbearance
With my many shortcomings.
May the pure genius Of Freemason-
v control your deliberations, diffuse har-
nony and fraternal affection, and pre-
-ent all improper and unseemly strife,
md may this meeting be to each and all
productive Of great and lasting good.
The following decisions were rendered
" grand Master Nickel during the year
.S67-S:
l. Query.-Can a brother be mem
yer Of two Lodges at the same time?
Aaslcer.-NO.
2. Q-Can brother without demit
rom a regular Lodge be an officer Of
lodge Z. D.? II
4. No. Section eighteen Grand Lodge !
BYLAWS requires that each brother f
igning petition for the formation of a f
ew Lodge shall be in possession of a t
egular demit, etc, which fact must be G
ertifed to by the Lodge recommending 5
be petition.
3. GA Mason is suspended by e
.odge in another State for unmasonic 5
onduct, viz: intemperance. Subse- v
uently the Lodge suspending him, for t
1me cause, becomes extinct. The sus- 4
ended Mason moves into this State and Il
thin the jurisdiction Of our Lodge, and s.
as resided here several years, conduct
q himself ereditably so far as we know. l
-e now desires to be admitted to men, ii
ership in our Lodge. How can it be A
one if at all ? Can we receive his petit r,
on and admit him as though he had Fl
ever been made Msson?" b
Ale is suspended Mason, and z