The weekly clarion. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1863-1882, 1871-05-18
The Subject OF Honorary 5Henr-
bersIliP.''

JACKSON, Miss, May Is, 1871.
TO the H.. Priest, Hing and Scribe and Com
panions Of Jackson r.. AZ, Chapter, No. 6.
Your Committee appoiasfed at the last
stated Convocation to consider the subject
of Honorary Membership, and to suggest
who, If any, should be entitled to such dis
tinction, beg leave to report:
LIST, That upon a careful examination of
the Consultation and Regulations OF the
Grand Chapter, we find no provision author
izing any Chapter to constitute any com
paniOn an honorary" member. See. 26 of
Permanent Rules and Regulations requires
that every subordinate Chapter in this iu-
risdiction shall contribute to the Grand
Chapter five dollars for each EXaltation, and
one dollar per annum for each member"
And Sec. II, Bylaws for the. government
of Subordinate chapters, provides that
''eueYy member shall pay an annual contri-
button of - dollars at the stated meet
ing next preceding the annual meeting for
the election of officers, or at fhe election, and
before the election is held
The placing of a companion on what is
termed the honorary" list, or the remission
of the dues to Companion because ofhis in
ability to pay the usual contribution, does
not exempt the Chapter from any part of
its pecuniary obligation to the Grand
Chapter. Hence, if honorary members are
not only relieved from the active duties of
the Chapter. but are also exempt from the
usual contributions, they become a tax upon
tue Quiet OOulDdillOncs W at lCdSJ luC GAltub
of the dues RENTED. Freemasonary isl or
should be, no respecter of persons in the
discharge of the mutual duties and
obligations of the craft. Age.
experience, high moral worth and in
tellectual accomplishments will ALWAYS COM
mand respect, and often secure advance
ment. AS we meet upon the level, so should
we be equal in assuming the burthens and
receiving the benefits of our noble Institu-
ton. Glasses or professions should not he
in, ON Or6ar Sb0
have drones or dead beats among the
workmen. All should be required to come
up to he test of the overseer's square. and
when wages are due, let each receive his
penny alike.
1t is the practice is some Chapters, and in
other Masonic Bodies to not only confer the
degrees gratuitouSly on ministers of the
gospel, but also to exempt them from the
payment of annual dues. One observation
iustifieS the comment that in most instances
this dead-head arrangement constitutes the
chief inducements for joining the Chapter
and we have also observed that an article
obtained so cheaply is not priced as of
much value.
Bro. Mitchell, in his Digest of Masonic
Laws, on the subject of comforting degrees
on ministers free of charge, says: = We
were for long time in favor of giving min
listers the degrees. free of charge, and we
are now, upon principle, as much opposed to
il. We now think they should be REQUIRED
to take stock IN the concern. and did we belong
10 Lodge in the act of making bylaws, we
think we could offer some good reasons for
our present opinion. They ought to nav
the fee demanded of others.n
Past Grend Master Hubbard of the Grand
Encampment of the United States, says:
Past experience has convinced the Older
Sir Knights generally, that it is impolitic to
confer the Orders upon Ministers of the
Gospel, In preference TO others, free of
charge.
Another distinguished authority. saws
that no Companion who has the ability
should be exempt or excused from the pay
ment of any capitatiOn tax that may be inn
posed by the Grand Chapter.
Sec. 90 OF Rules and Regulations of the
Grand Lodge of Mississippi, saws that NO
Mason can be member of two Lodges in
this jurisdiction, at the same time EXCEPT
as an honorary member: but Bro. Mitchell
says that there can be no doubt the holding
OF membership in two or more Lodges at
the same time, is a violation of usage as
old as the establishment of subordinate
Lodges; and, at this day, it is, he SAYS al
most universally agreed that no one can
hold membership in two or more Lodges at
the same time.
see any good reason or authority for crea-
ting aclass Of, Companions to be perpetually
known as :. honorary members" and we re-
commend literal, and not an evasive conn
pliance with Sec. ii, Bylaws, which saws
mat no candidate shall receive any degree In
Masonry IN this Chapter, except he pay for
the same IN advance, in cash." The remis-
sion Of the fees Immediately after the de-
grees are conferred II contrary TO the letter
and spirit Of the law. There are thousands
OF Master Maeons, OF good moral character.
and zealous and intelligent as craftsmen
who are restrained from advancing into the
higher orders OF Masonry, because or their