The weekly clarion. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1863-1882, 1870-01-13
The Strongest Tie that Binds VIA
SOmFy.


The following question has a signifi-
canoe which is worthy of consideration by
members of the Fraternity, and although
some may have other ideas on the matter
we give what in our opinion appears to be
the views of many eminent men who have
Travelled the whole of the Masonic road
II have taken all the degrees in the
York Rite, and some degrees in other
Rites. If summoned by two bodies at
the same time (say my Lodge and my
Chapter, or my Lodge and some branch
Of the Ancient, Accepted or Primitive
Rites, which body has like prior claim,
providing there is no personal reason for
making choice?
The proviso appended to the query has,
in our opinion, nothing to do with the
question; because in a matter of duty
their should be no choice. In Ancient
Craft Masonry there were no such divis-
ions as Chapters, etc., the Lodges being
all in all. Many Masons in those days
died without ever being elected Masters
of Lodges, and therefore did not receive
the Masters degree, and some died with
out reaching the (. @. degree-it being
then matter of time for newly initia-
ted member to reach that point which
now he can arrive at in about SIX weeks,
if he be capable of understanding and
acquiring the lessons taught him as he adj
vances. The II. A. degree was not then
conferred upon any who had not been
elected to the dignity and honor of being
q Master of Lodge, and has passed be-
yond it; consequently this degree was al
most exclusive and not within the reach
of the majority of the Craft, as but few
were found capable of filling the highest
offices in Lodge, and which should only
be held by men of intelligence and ability.
The fraternal bond was therefore confined
exclusively to the Lodges in the symbolic
degrees of which the candidate was taught
his duty as a Mason. The candidate is
even now made Mason in the E. A. de-
gree, and is therefore only perfected in
the f. G. and nj. degrees. At one time
all the business of the Lodge was transae-
ted in the e. A. degree, and still is in
some countries, if we are rightly inform
ed; and as this degree is the root from
which the other degrees spring, they there
fore are merely branches of the great pa
rent tree, the trunk of which is completed
in the NJ. degree, in which, in this juris-
diction, the candidate becomes a full
member of his Lodge. Taking all these
facts into consideration, it certainly APP
pears evident that the Lodge must have
the prior claim, as the parent of the
whole brotherhood.
In this article we do not intend to decry
or depreciate the upper degrees of Free
masonry; for in them are taught some
sublime and important truths, and the
teachings convey to the mind of the truly
speculative Mason lessons of deep and
lasting import, if properly applied. But
when it comes 20 the duty of Obeying a
summons, it appears to us that the Lodge
has the first call upon the services of the
brother, no matter how many degrees he
may have taken in the other branches of
the Masonic tree. As the individual mem
Der advances, he has new ties to bind him
to those with whom he becomes thus as
ISOLATED; but these new ties do not, nor
should they have the power to loosen the
hold of those which formerly bound him
in love and fellowship. The color repre-
scented by the term edible Lodge Mason
ny" (Which by the way is an improper as
well as inelegant term for Symbolic Ma
sonry) means friendship; and if zeal for
the higher degrees is to destroy the
friendship" acquired in the symbolic,
then its mission is an evil one, and true
Masons should avoid them. The higher
degrees have, however, no such object
They are intended to bind the links of
love stronger around the brother, extend
his sphere Of usefulness; and perfect him
as a man for those duties which a. e incum-
bent upon him in his relations with God
his neighbor and himself The sublime
lessons of Faith, Hope and Charity are
taught in the Lodge, and are the great
fundamental principles which should bind
Masons together into one common bond of
union. The badge of Mason 'the en-
blem of innocence" is given to the candi-
date in the first of the symbolic
degrees, and no matter how high the
brother may rise in the Order, the same
badge is buried with him, even if he be
the Grand Master himself So much are
the symbolic degrees revered that to at
tain the higher branches the candidate
must have received the first three degrees
in duly constituted Lodge; and when
he fails in his duty to the Lodge, and suf-
fers expulsion, he loses all his rights and
privileges acquired in the upper degrees
no matter even should he belong to the
Supreme Council itself, until properly re-
stored in the symbolic degrees. Conse-
quently, with these facts before the Fra
ernity, it may be safely asserted that the
Lodge has the prior claim to the services
of the brother whenever two different
bodies summon him at the same time
New York Courier.