The New Orleans crescent. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1866-1869, 1869-03-21

tempts OF schlsmatlcs 0ugRt u pe conoomueu. a
LETTER addressed, on this occasion. BY the Grand
Master 10 Bro. Foulhouze, censured the latter Tor
having constituted himself. of his own authority,
the head of new Masonic power. Inis letter
was accompanied by copy OF the decree Of me
Grand College of Rites, dated February 4. 1859.
which struck from its Book OF Gold (hcre dorJ
Bro Foulbouze for refusing to obey the ABOVE
mentioned decree, and for replying 10 IL Dy
libellous publication an act which Is always
'contemptible in the estimation Of honorable men,
and is more especially odious when done 6y
Mason. The condemnation was complete. Nev'
ertbeless this Supreme Council has continued 70
exist, and is now seeking to establish with the
Grand Orient an official correspondence. to which
it seems to attach very great importance.
We hold that the Grand Orient OF France can
not decide the question of regularity or irregular
ify. which Is purely relative, between tnese Two
American Mason powers. II the Grand orient
believes that the name of Mssons belongs to the
applicants. that the manner In which they bear
that name, and the application whicn tney make
Of the principles of our Order enttie tnem 10 re-
ceive fayorsble response, DO one ought 70 see 10
that answer the decision of case which has not
been submitted to itby the two parties, and upon
which IL IL not competent TO decide. with THIS
reservation, do not hesitate to say that II cir
cumstances prove the existence Of this new power;
II il is not only an accomplished. but an accepted
fact; If. moreover, IL gives 10 the principles oil
Masonry an efficiency which they would not pos
SEES without it, friendly relations are permissible,
and even imperative.
Beside, since the report Of Bro. Rexes, events
Of paramount importance have occurred which
would. doubtless, have a very great influence
upon the mind of that brother, II be had again TO
express an opinion upon the relations 10 De es-
tablished between the Grand Orient and the Su-
preme Council Of the Independent State of Lousi-
ana.
In the first place. this Supreme Council was
recognized in 1857 [ls67?1 by the Grand Orient
of Italy, which appointed representative to IL;
In 1867 the Grand Orient Of Belgium did the same.
Moreover, when in the early part of 1867, the
Office of Grand Commander OF this Supreme
Council became vacant, Bro. Chassaignac was
invested with ii, and his first thought which was
promptly carried into execution, was TO make
Masonry serve the purpose of introducing into
the customs of the people ESQ refractory on that
point in the United States, even In the North)
that civil and political equality recently pro-
claimed between the white and colored races.
be called meeting OF his lodges and had re-
soutloD passed to open 10 future their temples
to the hasons OF the black race. This demon
stration occurred in the temple of the Lodge
LiJe1ri6 No. 9, at the East Of New Orleans, and
had an effect upon the outside world which re-
fleets honor upon Freemasonry. The Supreme
Council completed its works by granting char
ter 10 some colored men to open lodge under the
name of La Frdtef7aite, az New Orleans. and re-
Gently Bro. Leblanc de Marconay stated in an
article published in the Bulletin of the Grand
Orient April, 1858, that three other lodges had
been formed Of the like material in the same city.
In thus getting, this portion of the Masonic Or
der IN Louisiana followed the examples and prsc-
ticed the principles of French Masonry. As early
as February IA, 1886, the Grand Orient of France
granted charter to colored men TO establish
lode at Pointe-s. Pire. (Guadaloupe.) On the 18th
of August, 1866, the Council of the Order adopted
unanimously the proposition Of Bro. Fsuvety, re-
questpg the Grand Master to inform the Grand
Orient of Rio Janeiro " that the Grand Orient Of
France would be under the painful necessity Of
ceasing TO recognize the Mssons of Brazil as
such, and would discontinue all correspondence
with the Supreme Power that represented them,
If the Masons Of Brazil did not speedily protest
against slavery and undertake measures for its
abolition"
Finally, another satisfaction has been granted
to Masonic propriety, and should be mentioned in
this report By resolution dated June, 1867, the
Supreme Council of Louisiana condemned all the
pamphlets Of the ex.Bro., Foulhouze, and his ad
herents.
In consequence of the above considerations, we
have the honor, NJ. Ill. Grand Master, to recon-
mend that you give a favorable reception to the
application addressed TO the Grand Orient of
France by the Supreme Council Of Louisiana.
May this view Of the matter, which has nothing
hostile TO the Grand Lodge Of Louisians, nor to the
supreme Council AT Charleston, be appreciated
and imitated by our American brethren. The
great mission of Masonry is 10 establish peace
among men of all opinions, of ell nations and of all
races. This mission imposes upon us the duty of
demonstrating that difference of forms and Of rites
cannot produce discord In our midst.
Please accept, NJ. III. Grand Master, the re.
newed assurance of my respectful attachment.
A. HERMITTE, SD Deg.
Member of the Council of Order.
Approved, MELLISET. Grand Master of the
Masonic Order in France.
Orient of Paris, October IL, 1868.
Your committee consider IT altogether unnec.
essary TO crtcse the special pleading of the above
report or notice the errors 1t contains, as they are
apparent TO every brother conyerssnt with the
history Of Masonry in Louisiana. II is sufficient
that, notwithstanding the attempt to gloss over
facts the report not only admits that the called
"Supreme Council Of the A and A. 8. Rite, in and
for the sovereign and Independent State Of Louis.
lana !" IL a self created and self constituted body,
possessing no lawful authority but that in 1858
the Grand Orient declared It spurious and clan
destine, and expelled its chief. Nor would IL be
proper for your committee to discuss the motives
alleged in justification Of the present act Of hos
tility By the Grand Orient, as we cannot, as Ma
sons take any part in the political and socialistc
movements of the day. But, while we consider
il beneath the dignity Of this Grand Lodge to enter
into controversy, or indulge In recriminaton, with
the Grand Orient Ger the course II has pursued, it
is proper to state the principles which actuate and
govern this Grand Lodge:
]. The Grand Lodge of Louisiana claims the ex
elusive right to constitute and govern all lodges of
symbolic Freemasonry in the State. She does not
recognize, nor permit her subordinates to recog-
pze or hold Masonic intercourse with any clandes-
tire association claiming TO be Masonic, either In.
divduslly or collectively, and considers the recog
milton of any clsndestine body located Ia Louis
lana BY q foreign Masonic power a violation Of
Masonic comfy, an act Of open hostility against
her authority, and an infringement on her juris-
dictionsl rights.
2. The Grand Lodge OF Louisiana does not con-
fer the degree of Freemasonry. She intrusts the
making of Masons to her subordinate lodges, re-
curing that in this particular, they shall conform
to the requirements of the ancient constitutions OF
the fraternity viz That all initiates shall possess
the necessary physical qualifications. be free-born
ard of good report. So long as these landmarks
are respected and obeyed. the subordinate lodges
have the right to select their own material, and
the Grand Lodge has no power to dictate whom
or whom not they shall receive.
3. Granting the fullest liberty to all Masons I'M
der her jurisdiction TO enjoy as individuals, their
own opinions On the political and social questions
of the day-oniy enjoining upon them to be good
citizens. TO pay due allegiance to the Government,
and obey the laws under whose protection they
hve-the Grand Lodge, in its Masonic capacity,
. ss, nS S2gnizsnce OF such nressrvng Ma.
sonry pure and unsullied from all extraneous in
iuences, be they what they may; and 1t will ever
be her earnest endeavor 70 transmit 10 posterty
the principles Of orr institution ss spotless and IN
tarnlshed ss she received them from our fathers,
regardless of the ices within or foes without.
Recognizing these great principles as landmarks