The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1868-09-08
REFORM IN TREEaIASONRY.

Society of Germnn.American FreennsOps-
Proposed COnventiOn-pr0pOsiti0us Of Re-
form. 81 49,,
That the Germans are 'nation Of thnkers' is not
new saying, and while repeating 1t we may refer
to history in proof Of Its least partial truth There
is nothing so sacred, nothing so hallowed by the
regard and esteem Of mankind but the critical Ger.
man mind will dissect to investigate what right it
has at all to live and exist. To this national charac-
teristic Of the Germans for studiops and searching
inquiry, their love Of philosophical system and
strong tendency to progressive reform the world is
indebted for many and vast improvements which in
the course OF time have completely changed the
moral intellectual and physical condition Of man.
1t Is not necessary here to state how the philo-
sophie German mind has successfully advanced on
the path Of progressive civilization, for from the
printing press and the Reformation, to 60 back no
further to the present day. the footprints Of German
innovation met In almost every branch OF mental
and physical life.
No one can deny that among the German innmi-
grants to this country the same spirit the same
tendency has been steadily ut work, and has been
more than once felt In every avenue OF our life
political, social, scientific, as well as Industrial.
They are evidently and prominently to be classsd
with the ref0rmers, attacking everything they be-
lievo wrong and caring not the value Of FIG for the
with which most people look upon institu-
| age. The latest move they making is pro-
| posed reform in Freemasonry, an attempt to mo-
dcrnize and beralize the institution looping or all
medieval forms, and to conform Its ritual and
organization to the advanced ideas OF the age TO
effect this purpose circular was issued as
German American Freemasons,n for general con-
vention or delegates from all German lodges, to
meet IN this City on the l4th and 10th Of this MONTH
the reforms proposed The circular Is signed by the
Committee on Administration" composed OF the
following gentlemen:-Drs. j. J. Berran, H. Lassing
Seidel dc Macklewicz, and Messrs. H. thinner and j.
NJ. Borchard, all OF New York city, and Drs B. Bar
themes, OF Brooklyn and G. Weber, of Williams
burg. This document is quite lengthy and argumen-
tatve. 1t declares that originally the forms OF Ma
pie. yet noble and high aims Of the order but that
these forms were afterwards corrupted In France,
then still more so in the United states, until the true
system OF Masonry was lost In empty ceremonial in
piling up OF degrees, chapters and encampments,
having even princess among its dgnitaries and
abandoning the true brotherhood OF Its members
hc foundation stone OF the 0rdcrl for or less
monarchical and even desp0tic FORMS. They declare
done away with, while they are still cherished in the
United States. so that Masonry in this country s
RUas ~ an
Order from all these unmasonic encumbrances and
base 1t upon Its true foundationthe brotherhood Of
Its members this circular proposes the following,
which will be submitted to the coming convention
for debate and acton:.
and organized by seven Freemasons, is Ma
sonic lodge. No payment OF fee is required, nor
charter. U1n- ef
.. Every man admitted to the lodge is a Free.
mason.
g. Ihere shall be formed an Independent League
lUnaohaengi0er Fund Of Masonic Lodges in the
T. Each lodge is entitled to Join the League II it
declares adhesion to its laws ana acknowledges only
the three st. Johns degrees any Lodge may leave
the League at any time. .rt -3H
0. The League holds meetings from time TO time,
TO which each lodge belonging to it sends Delegates
fraternity and to the League shall be discussed.
Z. The place OF these meetings shall change; each
naming for the next meeting by majority vote OF
5. The number Of delegates will be fixed by the
Leagues the mode Of their election Is TO DO deter.
o. the League has legislative power only in so far
as the laws passed refer to the inner administration
of the League ITSELF has not to interfere with the
government and administration Of the local lodges.
10. on general matters relating to Masonry The
lodges in the interval from ono meeting OF the
League TO the next shall vote and Instruct their
delegates accordingly DIM s, majority Of the voting
Ii. At the head OF the League there shall be CON-
mittee elected by H. to execute the resolutions OF the
League, to facilitate the intercourse between the
local lodges and between them and others outside Of
the organization. They serve without pay. a.,
~. Each Lodge must deiray the expenses OF us
10. The amount OF necessary expenses for the ad.
ministraton Of the League shall be fixed by
majority vote at each meeting OF the League and
they shall be apportloned among the several lodges
belonging to the League according to the NUMBER OF
members In each at tue time.
IA. Every Freemason Is admitted to the sessions
Of the League.
From these fourteen principal points OF the pro-
posed reform In Freemasonry Ii will readily be seen
by all initiated what Innovations intended. Not
satisfied with describing all higher degrees than
that OF Master and coudnng themselves exclusively
TO tho system OF the old English or Blue lodges they
also PROPOSE In 80 far as their organization 10 con.
cerned, to abolish grand lodges their jursdictonal
system over local lodges, charters aud, In fact the
| whole Masonic machinery as hitherto known III the
~ Garta iptu lnpE n A
change, Ii 1t ever should be successful on a large
scale. "a ~, ..s- -,
| A QUEER FIsH.-The Calais (Nfe.) Adre,ttser de-
scrbes monster FISH recently caught near Eastpor.
IL Is thrtythree feet In length and about ten Ieet
from the tip Of one n to the tip OF the other across
the back. TIE spread OF the tall 10 over SIX ieon
About ten feet from the tail are two powerful le<s
about three feet In length with feet which resemble
those OF an elephant and enable 1t TO navigate the
nats and shon waters along shore In quest o., 1000
a. IL undoubtedly lives on marine herbage> II nas