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

J
ton the same was held, before he can be
allowed to affiliate or be recognized Ma
sonically.
4. Q-Is desertion from the military
service of the United States a Masonic
crime which should subject brother
guilty thereof to trial and discipline by
his LODGE
Al think not. The offense of de-
sertion is one that is punishable by mil
itary law before a military tribunal,
and savors of a political nature, with
which We, as Nasoas, have nothing to
do.
5. Q-Can Lodge be legally opened
and work done in the absence of the
Worshipful Master and both Wardens
A.-No. a Lodge opened in the alb
sence of the WOrshipful Master and both
Wardens would be elandestine, and all
work done therein be illegal and abso-
lutely void.
g. Q-Does the jurisdiction of our
Lodge extend beyond the State line and
half way to the nearest Lodge in the ad-
joining State (Minnesota), or only to the
State line?
At extends only to the State line,
especially as the adjoining State has a
Grand Lodge of its own. No Lodge has
the right to receive petitions for the mys-
teries of Masonry from persons residing
within the jurisdiction Of another Grand
Lodge. The last clause of part first, sec
ton seventeen of the Grand Lodge By
Laws reads as follows: Nor shall pc
tition for the mysteries Of Masonry be
received from any person who has
not resided one year under the Jurisdic-
ton of this Grand Lodge"
:. Q-Can charges be preferred in a
subordinate Lodge against a former Wor-
shipful Master, for ofenses committed
while he was Worshipful Master of said
Lodge, and he be tried and disciplined
therefor?
Ayes, provided the acts complained
of were for gross unmasonic conduct and
not of an official character For his
official acts he is responsible to the
Grand Lodge, when he may be arraigned
and tried for his official misconduct but
when brother who has been hOnored by
an election to the responsible position
of Worshipful Master of a Lodge so far
forgets himself and the duty he owes to
the Craft in general, and that Lodge in
particular, that has thus honOred him, as
to be guilty of gross unmasOnic conduct
during his term of Office, he can and
should receive such discipline as the ma
ture of the ofense would seem to merit
and the good Of Masonry" may de-
mand.
8. "a brother was suspended for
unmasonie conduct and appealed to the
Grand Lodge, where, II is claimed, the
action of the subordinate Lodge was re-
versed, and the suspended brother re-
stored to all the rights and privileges Of
Masonry, including membership in his
Lodge. There is no transcript or eertii-
cate from the Grand Secretary fled or
returned to the subordinate Lodge, show
ing what action was had in the Grand
Lodge; neither has there been time for
US to receive copy of the Grand
Lodge proceedings. The suspended
brother applied to visit the Lodge, when
another brother objected to his admis-
sion, for the reason that the Lodge had
no lawful information Of the action Of
the Grand Lodge in the premises, and Of
the brothers reinstatement. The Nor-
shipful Master decided that the mere re-
port from parties who had attended the
sessions Of the Grand Lodge was not
sufficient, but that he must have some
official notice of the brother being re-
stored before he could be admitted, and
declined to admit him at that time. Was
the Worshipful Master justified in re-
fusing to admit the brother2
Al think he was right under the
circumstances of the case, as shown by
the facts presented. The records of his
Lodge showed that the brother had been
regularly suspended, and before admit
ting him to visit the Lodge he should
have proper Masonic knowledge or in
formation that such sentence of suspen-
sion had been reversed, and the brother
restored to all his Masonic rights and
privileges. This could, and perhaps
should have been obtained by the appel
liant, in the form Of a transcript or GER
tihcate from the Grand Secretary, under
the seal Of the Grand Lodge, showing
what action was taken by the Grand
Lodge in that particular case, so that 1t
might be made matter Of record IN the
subordinate Lodge. This course seems
to me to be not only reasonable, but one
that is required for the safety Of the
Lodge, and inAicts no injury upon the
other party.
9. "a Fellow Craft applying for
is rejected. Is his good
in the Lodge affected thereby ?
No; and he may renew his APP
pication at any subsequent stated com
10. Gan Lodge hold its cOmmu-
alternately at another village
within its jurisdiction under the same
charter?
A.-Certainly not, unless specially /
authorized by the charter under which /
it is held, or by special action of the
Grand Lodge.
II. @. Is it necessary for the WOr
shipful Master Of a Lodge L. D. to /
receive the SO called Past Masters de- I
gree ?
A.-No.
y. Q-Must the officers of Lodge
c. D. be installed before acting?
A.-No.
Is. Q-There is a man here who de-
Tres to be "made a Mason" He is so
much esteemed and respected that he is
certain to be elected if his petition is
presented to the Lodge. But heis hair
ipped, so that strangers do not readily
understand him when he talks. There
re no other objections. Is it proper to
make him a Mason?
Al he can speak his words intel
igibly, and his articulation is sufficient
' distinct, so that he may be able to
lake himself known and approve him
elf Mason, it would be proper other
rise not.
IA. Q-The Bylaws Of our Lodge
rovide that the Tyler and Secretary
hall receive each fifty cents a night
II their services. Has the Worship :
Il Master a right to entertain mo- !
n, 20 ,,a,, than one dollar per niOht ,