River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1878-11-28
God in Masonry.

III utA III hdSOHA "
John Catbie ia M address, az Crane
Masez, 10 lAe Gai Lodge OF Kansas
on the above subj et AIM:
In September, 1877 The Grand Orien'
Of Franco eliminated from It's coustitu
ton the cardinal perquisite OF MasonrJ
the belief in God and the Immortality
of souls. While he grand Lodge will be
always anxious 10 receive in the most
fraternal spirit he brethren of any lore
| ign Grand Lodge whose proceedings are
conducted aecosdingto the Ancient Land
marks Of the or er in which belief in
the Grand Arch tect is the first and most
| Important, it c'.nnot recognize as true
and genuine brethren any Initiated Lodges
which thus deny or ignore that belief
| On this vital question I cannot express
my views better than to adopt the IAN
guage OF an ancient Grand Master of q
sister jurisdiction: "lt is the entrance
into Free-masonry that should be especi-
ally and strictly guarded. Toe profane
| VINO seeks admission has before him
4 difficulties to meet. He hiss no right to
expe 4 that the way is 10 DO made easy {
| him when the landmarks are set Up for
| the protection Of the brethren The wis
| dom and experience Of ages have sane
1 Toned aud made unaltefable these land
marks, and it IS impossible that they can
| be modified 10 suit the wlIlm, caprices,
tastes, or imperfection of one who has no
companionsaip with the craft The
prosperity OF Ffeemasonary depends on
the strict cheerful obedience to the land
marks. If they are subordinate 10 the
wishes or IN appliance with the inter-
cst3 of those who are not of the Craft, the
foundation Of the fraternity will be no
stronger than the chaaginE opinions OF
men who have no association with the
Fraternity This il so absurd that ii
ought not to be spoken OF only TO show
he peril and ruin that must come il the
fundamental principles are dlsregarded
The Votld is filled with examples which
such causes have produced, and the pro.
lection Of our Institution from like tate
IS found in the fact that it ;eiects abs0l-
utelyand refuses to follow such exam pies
During the past year the Grand L ldges
at England, Ireland, Scotland, and Egy pt
have marked this action of the Grand
Orient Of France with their dsapproval
and severed their fraternal relations So
Lodge that has met in America during
tais time has dissolved its relations with
the Grand Orient OF France. The North
ern aud Southern Supreme Councils of the
A aud 5. Rite have also taken such
action l know this Grand Lodge will
stand faithfully by the ancient landmarks
of the Craft, and | trust it will
al'e such action promptly and
explicitly, but deliberately. as will
vindicate the integrity o the Craft. and
unite the Grand Lodge with every other
po yer in the Masonic world. No atheist
can DO 1nqde Hasoa, and IT follows thai
we can have no fellowship with atheists
and lrehgious libertinss."
A committee was appointed on this
part OF the address, who reported series
Of preamDles, and the following rrsolu
Ii ms, which were adopted.
Resoieed, That the Grand Lodge OF
Kansas views with surprise aud profound
regret the unwarranred action taken 10y
the Grand Orient Of France in eIiminat.
ing from her affirmation of Masonic
principles the solemn d, claration of q
sincere belief in Goa and the immortality
of the soul, such action being in direct
opposition to the fundamental principles
of Freem 2sonry as taught and believed
among u, and being in opposition TO the
Ancient charges ana Landmarks of the
fraternity.
Resolyed, That this Grand Lodge, in
consequence OF the late action of the
Gran Orient of France, does hereby re-
affirm the action heretofore had in the
severing OF all Masonic intercourse with
the salt Grand Orient of France.
Resoieed. That the Grand Lodge will
not recognize as true ard lawful Masons
any persons hailino from Lodges under
the Grand Orient Of France, ard all
Lodges in this jurisdiction are hereby
directed not To admit as visitors any such
persons.
In order for the uninitiated 10 fully
understand the meaning and purport Of
these resolutions, we will state that in
It'll the ancient grand lodge Of France,
declared extinct,w formally replaced by
a body called the Grand Orientof France,
bat continued to work separately until
jane, 1898, when it was solefanly moor
porated with the Grand Orient, which has
continued until the present time, though
II has been placed out OF communication
with many grand lodges from some cx-
traordinary deyiations from established
rules.
Several months ago the Grand Orient
of France solemnly resolved t at they
would no longer recognize the existence
of God in any Ma onc rites. Consider
ing thu Masonry is eminently a religious
institution, wholly uncertain (Cnristians
and Jews beiag members with equal priv
ileges), this Reputation OF the Deity
was so extraordinary that the grand
lodges of Scotland and England, and
some of the American lodges, took SINH
lar action.
Whether the great harm TO the craft
when the action OF the Grand Orient has
WORKED Will generally disrupt the Mason
ic brotherhood is corjectural. The ORR
ent has asked for secret convention of
the brethren in England, Scotland, Ire
land, and the United States, to meet in
Paris to consider the matter, but it is not
likely that the invitation will be accept
ed. It IS more likely that tire Grand
Orient will be reDudiated everywhere