The weekly clarion. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1863-1882, 1870-06-30

partment, conducted by Bro. Charles T.
Murphy, craftsman who yields the pen
with ease and force, as his able Reports
on Foreign Correspondence, to our Grand
Lodge, abundantly testify. The Masons
of Mississippi, 50 long without mediums
for the discussion of topics peculiar to
the craft, have now at least two where
their contributions will be welcome and
meet with due confederation.
The Publication of Names Of
Members.
Our comments on the recommendation
of the Foreign Correspondence Commit
tee of the Grand Lodge of Louisiana,
that the publication of the names of mem
bers of Lodges in the Grand Lodge Re
ports, involved "a considerable expense
which is comparatively useless" and our
suggestion that economy could be more
judiciously practised in another di-
rection, have called forth a lengthy, but
fraternal criticism from our Durant CO
temporary, Bro. Chas. t. Murphy. He
gives us column and half as brief OF
his views upon the subject. Of the
Grand Lodges in the United States,
twenty-five publish in full the returns OF
Subordinate Lodges, eighteen do not SC
publish, and one merely notes the
changes in membership in each Lodge.
Opinion is, therefore, about equally divi-
ded on the subject, and it is do wonder
that Mississippi doctors should differ. The
subject was brought before the Grand
Lodge of Mississippi in January, 1859,
by the recommendation of Grand Secre-
tary Porter that the publication of names
be discontinued. A committee reported
adversely, and the Grand Lodge, almost
unanimously, adopted the committed
report.
We are decided in our opinion that the
practice of the Grand Lodge of Missis-
sippi, in this regard, should not be eds
pensed with" simply because Foreign
Correspondence Committees desire more
space in which to spread themselves. A
case in point We have just received the
Proceedings of the Grand Lodge of Flor
ida, for communication of January last.
The proceedings proper, with statistical
table, occupy "a pages of the pamphlet.
The report of the Foreign Correspon-
dence Committee occupy 'linety-siT pages,
and this, too, with the testimony of the
writer thereof that he performed his task
with all possible ''brevity." We have nc
doubt it was because of the length of this
report that Bro. Taylor offered reso
luton, which was adopted, providing
''that the list of Lodge members be no
hereafter embraced in the pamphlet pro
ceedings, but that a requisite number o
lists be printed separately"
We do not wish to be understood al
opposing the usage, now universal, of re
ports by Committees on Foreign Cores
pondence. We believe they are essential
to knowledge of what is transporting il
other jurisdictions, and even the most in
differently prepared of them contain more
or less information of value to the Craft.
But we do think that of late years these
Committees indulge in entirely too much
latitude, and assume altogether too much
authority. Instead of contenting them
selves with noting what other Crane
Bodies are doing, they give their opinions
and decisions ON Masonic Law and Juris
prudence with an air and authority tina
set Grand Masters and Standing Commit
tees in the shade. The reports are usu
ally prepared by one member of Com
mittee of three, and the chairman of tn
several Grand Lodge Committees consti
tute a sort of Mutual Admiration Society
In which each strives to excel in giving
first-rate notice of the other. Besides
these reports because Of their great length
are seldom read before the Grand Lodge
are therefore seldom adopted, and the.
go out entitled to just such respect, AM
no more, a. should be accorded to tn
intelligent brethren usually appointed o.
those committees.
Scarcely week passes that we are no
applied to, as a Grand Secretary, for Ger
tifcates as to when and in what Lodge il
Mississippi the writer's were made Masons
Fortunately, the Returns of our Subordi
nate Lodges for the last half century ar
before us in convenient shape, giving al
the data desired. We might particular
lie in fifty instance during our short ex
perience wherein the utility of such a re
cord has proved both interesting and val
liable. These records are now peculiar,
valuable from the fact that during tn
war the books and papers of man,
Lodges were destroyed.
The Returns of 271 Lodges occupy 16(
pages of the last volume Of the Crane
Lodge proceedings published. The aver
age cost of publishing the return of eacl
Lodge is about 50 40. 1t is for the
Lodges to determine whether or not thi:
is wise expenditure, and we sincerely
hope that the matter win be thoroughly
considered between this and the next
meeting of the Grand Lodge.
Grand Orient of France.
The followincr clear and concise rano,.,