The Rutland daily globe. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1873-1877, 1874-07-29
CHI 3utland 9aily Glohe.
WEDNESDAY. JULY 90, 1874
MASONIC COLUMN.
Annual Dues.

were no Lodges in the sense in which we
now use the term,-no Lodges regularly
organized under the warrant or charter of
a supreme Masonic authority. The breth-
rem, cor a sufficient number thereof" met
occasionally, by agreement, in occasional"
lodges and made Masons or performed
other required Masonic rites and then dis
persed, perhaps never to meet again. AT
that time lodges, with a definite member
ship, did not and could not exist.
But when the increasing number of Ma
sons and the necessities of masonry had
| compelled the organization of Grand
Lodge to regulate and govern the craft, the
formation of particular" or regular lodges
also became necessity. With regular
chartered lodges and their regular meetings
came the further necessity of place OF
meeting, and of officers to take charge OF
that place and to keep it clean and in order
for business and work. The regular and
definite membership of regular lodges in
volved also the transaction of business and
the keeping of records and accounts.
Masonic charity, which, then as now,
was a distinguishing feature of the craft,
was practiced wholly by individuals as their
ability might permit; but with organized
lodges, composed of charitable Masons,
naturally came the organization of charity
- that is, while the individual duty and
practice of charity was neither discontin-
ued nor lessened, it was soon discovered
that, by the power of organization, much
could be accomplished in this direction,
which individual effort could not reach.
All these charges involved expense. A
lodge-room or place of meeting required
money for its purchase or rcnt-the care of
the ROOM its furniture and jewels, the
keeping of its records and accounts, and
the accumulation of lodge fund for char
table uses, all yequirea money This for
a WHILE was obtained by voluntary contr-
buttons. 1t was soon found, however, that
this plan did not work well. and total
change was inaugurated in Masonic fnan-
cal policy. A fee was now charged for
degrees, which, hitherto, had been conferred
on the worthy without money and without
price. Article VII, of the ancient consti-
tutons, adopted st. Johns day, June oath,
l72l, clearly states the obligation, in this
respect, which was imposed on every "en-
tered" mason. These fees however, were
sacredly kept and used as charity fund.
But in the course of time, experience
demonstrated, that 'fees' were an irregular
and unreliable source of income to the
lodge. Masonry, like religion, has always
had its seasons of revival, when 'work'
and fees abound and its seasons of indif-
ference when initiates and revenue are
scarce. Necessity compelled the adoption
of yet another financial measure that would
give to the lodge reliable and steady IN
come and this was found in the system Of
annual dues.
This briei sketch of the origin of "dues'
has been given to show, that, though no'
part of ancient Masonry, the membership
tax has grown legitimately out of its ne
cessities. To prevent abuses and injustice
in variety of forms, Grand Lodges uni
formly recognize the right of all constitu
ent lodges to exercise an exclusive contro
over this question, to fix the amount o
dues and the mode of payment; but Crane
J Lodge law and disciplinary power are al
ways ready to mantaia the justice of the
tax and to sustain the lodge rules that en-
force, on its atiiliates, their obligation t(
| pay their proper share of the expenses of the
lodge whose privileges and benefits they
enjoy and hope to receive.
OF late years, the membership tax or an
nual dues has been Il cause of infinite trou
) BILE and vexaton to lodges and grant
lodges-it is supposed to be the Legitimate
parent of naturalization and of a larg.
brood of lesser evils. These need not b,
recapitulated here Many ideas have beef
advanced and schemes proposed by which
it was hoped to raise the necessary revenu,
and at the same time avoid the evils ant
the troubles of the old system
Corner stone Ceremonies at Chicago
BY invitation of the secretary ofthe treas
ury of the United States, the NJ. w. Crane
Master of Masons in Illinois, on June 24tl
ult, est Johns day. laid, with Masonic
ceremonies, the cornerstone of the new
building, now in process of erection by tho
government in Chicago, to be used as
custom house. post office and federal cour
house.
Great preparations were made, by tn
citizens of Chicago, to give eclat to the da,
and the occasion. The weather was fine
the attendance large, and the display i'm
posing.
We have not the space to do justice t.
the details, even CT the Masonic features
of the occasion. Nor is it necessary to at
tempt it-for all, to whom such details are
interesting, have undoubtedly obtained
from the daily press, much fuller account
than we can possibly give.
1t is sufficient for us to say, that the Ma
sonic part of the programme was executed
in Masonic style that was truly admir-
able.
We condense from the Chicago Tribune
r account, of the more noticeable features O
/. the procession, the following
l In the subdivision of the procession, tn
T place of honor was awarded to the Masoni
e order, as the cornerstone ceremonies wer
s to be conducted in accordance with thei
ritual. Thistrrangement gave rise to som
dissatisfaction on the part of several loca
military organizations, who consequently
s refused to take part in the exercises
e Therefore, the distinguishing feature o
n the procession was Masonic. and not mill
: tary. This state of things added to, rathe
9 than detracted from, the appearance of tn