The weekly clarion. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1863-1882, 1875-08-25
MASONIC DEPARTMENT.
FOREIGN CORRESPONDENCE.
By Bro. T. S. GATHRroHr, Car'ur Committe
MONTANA

l. u
The Grand Lodge of Montana met in
Annual Communication in Bozeman,
Oct. 9th, A. l.. 1914, NJ. W.. Sol.
Star, Grand Master, and r.. W.. Cor
nelius Hedges, Grand Secretary.
The address of the Grand Master is an
average paper of its kind. The craft is
reported prosperous. The destruction,
by fire, of the archives, records and Ii
brary Of the Grand Lodge is reported as
one of the events of the year.
The Grand Master submits case in
which a Subordinate Lodge had tried
and expelled brother in a very irregu-
lar and illegal manner The matter was
referred to them, but owing to resolu-
ton of the Grand Lodge, adopted last
year, forbidding the Grand Master to
interfere with the verdict of a subordin-
ate Lodge, no relief could be offered. In
considering the case this Committee on
Masonic Law and Jurisprudence made
the following report, which was adopted :
To the Grand Lodge of A. +. and A. u.
of Montana:
Your Committee on Jurisprudence, to
whom was referred that portion of the
| Grand Masters address referring to reso-
luton recorded on pages 40 and 90 OF
Proceedings of 1878, have had the same
under consideration, and believing, as we
do, that the Grand Master should be free
to exercise his power and prerogative,
guided by the lights Of the past and pres
ent of Masonry, and further believing,
as we do, that the subject of Grand Mas
ter's prerogatives is question that should
not be too hastily meddled with, and that
it is best to leave much to the discretion
Of one filling the position he does; We
would therefore recommend that the re
solution referred to by NJ. w. Bro. Star
| in his address be repealed-namely from
the words, Resolued, "That from trials
had, on page 40, to and including the
words "or reverse such action, on page
90 of said Proceedings and leave thai
whole subject Of Grand Masters prero
gative rs it was previous to the passage
Of said resolution.
The report on Foreign Correspondence
was presented by Bro. Cornelius Hedge;
and is good one. Mississippi receives
fraternal notice, and we are glad to SEE
that Bro Hedges has modified his views
of the Speight case and is now very liberia
in his expressions. Bro Hedges notice:
the report Of our Law Committee IN tha
case, in fraternal spirit, and in conclu
sion says:
AS an original principle of law anC
Justice, however, we firmly believe thai
where an appeal lies from the action of {
subordinate Lodge (and such appea
ought to be allowed in all cases., and OF
appeal the action of the Lodge is set aside
or overruled, the brothers membership
ought to be thereby revived or restored
No brothers membership ought to b,
lost or suspended by action that tn
Grand Lodge decides to be illegal or void
and any Constitution that permits such
injustice, in our opinion, is wrong. Tn
report of the committee, however, seem
temperate in tone, and no disposition ap
pears anywhere to do injustice to Bro
Speight. The discussion has evolved TIL
fact that other Grand Lodge Constitu
tons permit the same things, and ther
is little doubt that the prolonged discus
sion of this case will result in genera
good and better administration of iu;
tice.
The Grand Lodge presented P, G.
Master Boyce with handsome and va
liable silver set, and provided commit
tee to get up a testimonial for the retir
ing Grand Master.
Total receipts for dues..........$1, 905 @
Number of Lodges....-................ 1
&c " Members. ......... Sc
Ed. S. Stackpole was elected NJ.
W.. Grand Master.
Cornelius Hedges, r.. w. Gran
Secretary.