The weekly clarion. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1863-1882, 1870-08-04
DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA.

The close proximity of the Subordinate
Lodges to each other. embraced within this
Grand Jurisdiction, and, the smallness of its
territorial limits, when compared with those
of the other Grand Bodies in this country,
render frequent Communications both easy
and practicable.
This Grand Body had no less than seven
Communications in 1869. Five special--one
Semi-Annual and one Annual.
At the Semi Annual Communication held
May 4th, 1869, M. W., Grand Master II. b
Donaldson in his Address calls the attention
of the Grand Lodge to section % of article
20 of the Constitution in which the ''claim
is broadly made" that jurisdiction over all
candidates for the degrees of Masonry ire
spective of the residence of such applicants,
is right which belongs TO the Lodges with
in the jurisdiction of this Grand Body, and
asks the Grand Lodge for "a final settle
ment" of this much vexed question,
The Grand Master desires a settlement of
this question not because he doubts the right
but because its exercise put that Grand
Lodge into position of antogonism" with
other and "sister Grand Lodges"
The whole question seems to be one SIM
ply of doubtful propriety, and to get rid of
the annoyance ofhaving this subject brought
TO the attention of the Grand Lodge every
year "a final settlement is recommended
This case reminds us of one recorded of a
certain judge who lived in a city, And
there was widow in that city who besought
him to redress her wrongs and sshe would
not for a while" 'But afterward he said
within himself though L fear not God, nor
regard man, yet because this widow troub-
teth me, will avenge her, lest by her con-
tlnued coming she 1cedFy me-"
Ii Is but due the Grand Master and the
Grand Lodge that they be heard for them
selves on this subject and therefore we clip
the following, viz:
@By assuming this position this Grand
Lodge ignores what is recognized az q set
tied point of Masonic Law, bv. II believe
every other Grand Lodge in our conntrv,
viz that ssno Lodge can extend its reSo-
graphical jurisdiction beyond the territorial
limits of its own Grand LODGE and even
though there be Subordinate Lodges i'm
other jurisdictions which in some cases fail
to conform TO this law, and Grand Lodges
which neglect to notice its Infringement on
the part Of their Suoordinates, yet our Grand
Lodge alone refuses TO recognize it as pos
sessfng any binding force upon its Subordi-
mates.
81 am aware that in taking this stand we
violate no ancient landmarks" And il may
De urged that, so long as we keep within THEIR
reqnlremenis, we have RIGHT to legislate in
regard 10 all such matters as we see fit and
that no other Grand Lodge. nor All other Grand
Lodges combined, shall dictate 10 us the course
TO be pursued in regard 90 any candidate who
our jurisdiction.
utgranting that we have as an IN dona,
dent Grand Lodge, this abstract riebt e +
well fer as to exercise it, when, as in this |
case it places us in a position antavonistir ~ |
our sister Grand Lodges? Is is welt to persist /
in sanctiohing course upon the part Of our |
Subordinate Lodges which has already pro-
duced hard feeling toward this Grand Lodge |
IN many OF it's sister Jurisdictions has called /
forth their earnest circumstances and frater- |
nal protests, and is tending to isolate us from |
them, and 70 distrub the fraternal and har-
monious intercourse which has heretofore ex-
listed between this and all other Grand Lodges |
BY receding from the position we now hold 1
y regard 10 applicants for the degrees Who'll