The weekly clarion. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1863-1882, 1875-08-18

the Grand Lodge Of California permit
one Mason to hang another in efigy,
and point the agrieved brother to legal
remedies, admitting by the disposition
of the case that wrong has been perpe-
trated? The origin of the strife is one
thing; the wrong inflicted is another.
With political opinions Masonry does not
interfere with the preparation of an
outrage on the good name or character
of brother the Lodge should interfere.
There are rules and amenities among
gentlemen for the proper discussion of all
differences. These must be observed and
respected. When, however, they are
disregarded and Masons resort to hang
ing in efigy and brute force towards
brethren, for any difference of opinion,
religious or political, they should be stop
ped.
In another case the Committee say:
Inability to pay a just debt, however
annoying it may be to the creditor, is not
a Masonic crime and, where no moral
turpitude is involved, should never be
made the basis of charges of unmasonic
conduct.
That is good law. Masonic Lodges
are not courts for the collection of debts.
The moral turpitude'' of business
transaction is all Masonry can consider.
There are several other matters of in
terest in the proceedings before Us, which
we reluctantly pass over, on account of
the restriction the Grand Lodge has
thrown around US.
We note that the Grand Lodge of Cal
ifornia is liberal with its officers
The Grand Secretary receives. SO 500
Assistant ,5OO
| Grand MASTER. .................... 200
The portrait of every retiring Grand
Master is painted at the expense of the
Fraternity and hung up in the hall. AT
the late communication Past Grand Mas
ter Pratt was surprised by receiving, as a
testimonial of the affection of his breth-
rem, a massive silver set, suitably in
scribed The NJ. w. brother conclu-
ded his reception speech as follows:
In the delicate thought which selected
this testimonial you have again renewed
my obligations to you. This massive
plate-solid, beautiful, chaste, and endur-
ing-is the best possible emblem of what
the true Masonic character ought to be.
1t will ever remind me of the deep Joy of
this hour; and, if all other influences
should fail, under all circumstances and
against all temptations, this alone should
be sufficient TO keep me ever in the path
of rectitude. lmperishable and unchange-
able as matter can be, and intended as Il
| recognition of services, it illustrates the
grand underlying idea Of Freemasonry-
that fidelity always brings its reward and
that the good which men do can alone
survive them A few years more at best
and all who are here to-day will have
passed away. But men will still toll and
build. Suns will still rise and set, and
the bounden but boundless sea will still
chafe against its shores. New constel-
lations will come from the remote regions
of space to shed their lustre here, and
pass on Obedient to heavens eternal law.
The wealth we may have accumulated
will be dissipated-the monuments we may
have reared will crumble and perish
our very names will be forgotten even by
our own kindred and descendants but
the good we may have done-the moral
influences we may have exerted-will go
down from age to age with unbroken and
accommodating power.
My brethren, there are fields of thought
and emotion in which self is lost and
silence becomes far more eloquent than
words. There are sentiments so pure,
so lofty, and so tender, that the effort to
clothe them in words, however gorgeous
and impressive such words may be, is
resented by the heart as an insult to its
holy aspirations. [ stand this moment
on the border Of that strange mysterious
realm. l dare not try to tell you what L
feel But Heaven knows, as [ trust you
do, how full of gratitude my heart is
not for this gift, munifcent and elegant
as it is-but for the kind regard and ten
der thought which prompted you to do
this act
But you must not suppose that, be-
cause my Official career Is ended and has
been thus crowned by you, am to re-
tire from the service of Freemasonry.
repeat that men are born for thought and
action, and, as Heaven gives me capacity
and opportunity, in any field, however
humble or exhalted it may be, my servi-
ces will ever be at your command; SO
that, at the arrival of that final hour when
| too must go down to solve the mighty
mystery which awaits us all, | may com
mand from you the further and final com
pliment-" he forgot nothing, but was
diligent and faithful to the last.
With this handsome extract we close
our review of California, pleased with
nearly all we have seen, and trust that
twenty-five years from to-day our breth-
rem may find as much cause to congratu-
late themselves as Bro. Titus discovc,.rs .;.,
ms eXeellen l- an" instructive address,
1G6Tge Clement Perkins was elected NJ. :.
W. Grand Master Bro. Abel, re-
elected r. w. Grand Secretary.