The Opelousas journal. [volume] (Opelousas, La.) 1868-1878, 1871-11-18
Impartiality i'm the Lodge.

we suppose lt is humans, because
it is SO common for men to show par
TALLY between the rich and, poor
the great and the small-the strong
and the weak. This feeling, how
ever, should have no place in a ma
sonic lodge. On her chequered foer
stands Justice like adamant, facing
the burning prejudices of our nature
and demands in the name of God
and the brotherhood, perfect and
absolute impartiality. It. is a crime
against the principles of the institu-
ton to bend the laws in favor of the
= influential, and yet to execute them
against the humble and helpless.
We have been present sometimes
when we thought this wrong was
committed while the list of edelin,
quents7 was being called off, by see
ing how certain parties wereexcused,
and others held to a strict account.
Our. sympathies are instinctively
with the poor and humble brother,
who, toiling through the year is
hardly able to make ends meet, yet,
who stints himself to meet his obi
cations, because he loves the princi-
pies of the institution, and whose
hand is ever open to the poor and
needy. When we see him in the ar
rears, we 60 through the calendar of
his slim income and the many de-
mands on it. If he is a sober and
honest craftsman, we want to see
him excused, if he asks it, and if he
fails to get his notice, give him fur
tller time. We love to see n lodge
appreciate such cases and act manly
on them, and not deal any more Sc
verely with them than with Bro.
Dives, "who has probably forgot
ten" that he is probably under obi
cations to the fraternity. We can
not always judge by appearances
either. Sitting one evening in the
lodge, we noticed q brother whose
outward appearance, both of person
and dress, suggested to us that
there is a man who certainly, does
not understand masonry beyond the
idea of an aid association" We
made up our mind to test the case.
When opportunity offered, we took
aseat beside him, and as the work
on the degree progressed, we watched
his face as it Lit up when fine lessons
were correctly and well expressed,
and saw him frown when they were
mangled. We could hear him cor
recting the officers in half audible
tone. A case came up for charity in
behalf of a widow and her children.
Her husband had never known want
lin fact, had been very well off du-
ring life--but through u long sick
ness and disastrous circumstances,
all was lost except a little, which
was soon consumed after his death.
His wife had never done any work,
and was therefore doubly helpless.
A member heard of it and brought
in her claim. A certain other mem
Der of the Pharisee sort, 0 s and
opposed the appropriation with sun
dry remarks, among which he said
that the widow by hard work could
support herself, and further, that if
her husband had acted prudently,
he could have left her well off, Sc.
We could see the blood boiling up
i'm the veins of the humble brother
beside lis, and as soon as the other
was through, he, in a very few prac-
tical words; settled the case. He
said no widow should be held res
ponsible for the imprudence of her
husband, and it was no crime others
that she had been bornrich and had
learned no occupation, and that the
little children were wards of the
lodge, to be looked after by the
brethren, and for one he would vote
all that was necessary, &c. The
vote was taken and the appropria-
tion carried unanimously, and the
widow and children provided for
without even knowing how it came
about.
There was the exemplifcation of
a Masonic heart under a masonic
education triumphing over all the
prejudices of class, and demonstra-
ting that grand impartiality which
should ever reign in a masonic lodge.
Tt shows also that we cannot always,
Judge the human heart and mind by
outward appearances, for here was a
brother whose, exterior was u~nfayOr-
able for him, yet he showed1a keen
sense Of honor and masonic magnan-
unity, as we'll as a thorough knowl-
edge of the work and lectures.
A NEW .DECIsIoN.-In the st.
Louis Freemason we find. a decision
reported by the Grand Master of
Missouri, SO unlike anythingwe have
ever seen, we copy it,
"a lodge has q membership of
about sixty, forty of whom are in.
arrears fordEesoyer one year. Many
of the number are able, but indispo-
sed to pay. The small minority of.
the lodge are tired of carrying the
burden ofnon members,
and paying Grand Lodge dues for
them. Charges are regularly prefer
red against the delinquents, and the
trials of all are setfort the same night.
The twenty constituting brethren
fear that the forty delinquents will
out vote them, as under our law all
voters in a lodge until they are
suspended or expelled by a two-thirds
IL FL mi