Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1880-11-05
American Masonry.

II would nave anOrueu us the ut
most gratlEratiOp,' says the London
Fieemdso"' Chronicle of the 2lst nit,
" If the public information we have re-
ceived in respect OF American Free
masonry had enabled us to Withdraw
the statements ma-.e in all article bich
appeared in the first number Of this
jsurnal-that is. as far back as the 81
Of January, 1875. Therein We drew
attention to one Of the most notewor
thy characteristics of the craft in the
United States--namely, the tendency
which is there so conspicuous in the
direction of show in preference to suit
>tautial work. The remarks we've
questioned at the time by one whose
opinion in all things Masonic is en-
titled TO the very highest respect, and,
having experinced his fraternal rebuke,
We advisedly abstained from further
comment, III the firm belief that time
would show whether he or we were
laboring under a wrong impression.
The extract from Brother Cornelius
Mocre's Masonic publication we quo
ted in our leader Of fortnight since.
shows that the views we formerly ex
pressed have extortel from at least one
Of our most distinguished transatlantic
brethren certain sense of sympathy.
while letter which we published
last week from Brother HHghan bears
testimony to the fact that that brother,
who SO markedly dissented from our
earliest views, remaius OF the same
opinion as formerly. We are by no
means anxious to draw an unfriendly
or unfraternal distinction between En-
glish and American Freemasonry. 1t
is furthest from cur thoughts to say
one word which might in Tie least de-
gree cause the slightest annoyance to
our American brethren We know
full we'll how highly they appreciate
the descent OF their several grand lodges
from ours. We know how highly they
respect the British element in their
constitutions, and therefore, if we say
anything which may even seem to in
dictate u due respect for their views
about Masonry, we say it in all broth
crly kindness and from a wish that we
may help them to realize more nearly
the standard of what, 10 our humble
opinion, is truly Freemasonry.
In the leader referred to, which
appeared, as we have said in our FIRST
number, we spoke OF the great interest
taken by American brethren in costly
temples, and asked where we're the
benevolent institutions which received
their support. We have waited long
for an answer. and at length one of the
veterans OF American Freemasonry
has virtually Endorsed our views by
asking q somewhat similar question.
This, ut least, proves that there was
some ground for the remarks we made,
and that Brother Hughsn's hearty apol.
ogy for his American friends was not
only not uncsllel for, but that it has
possibly exercised a favorable eject in
bestirring them to an imitation Of the
Masonic work done in this country.
Brother Moore, MOI cover, bears us out
completely, and if he has not said all
he might have said there is no diff.
Guilty in supplementing it from sources
acce ssable to most brethren. When the
new Masonic Temple in New York was
consecrated there was grand process
sion of about ~ 900 brethren, and we
may be sure-for does not the memorial
volume indicate the fact that when
the Grand Temple in Philadelphia was
formally dedicated to the purposes OF
Freemasorry, there was an assem- blage
net far short OF that at New York in
point Of numbers. The moneys ex-
,.euied in the erection Of these stately
Masonic ed!tices amour, 10 very con-
siderable sum, and yet We i'll little
England have raised for the service Of
our three institutions as much. per-
haps, in the course of some three or
four years, as has been expended on one
Of them; and in saying this we have
not taken into account tho sum annu-
ally disbursed by the Grand Lodge in
the relief Of distressed brethren, or the
moneys raised in several of our prov
inces for local Masonic institutions or
for the purposes of casual benevolence.
Brother Hughan thinks that we, too,
have incurred heavy expenditure in re-
spect of our Masonic hall or halls. Let
the casual outsi Ter who has had pass
ing glimpse of our Freemasons' Hall
in Great Queen street say if, by the
widest stretch of the Imagination, such
q building conld possibly have G ,st any
thing like 81 800. OO0-that is, $500, 900
of our money-even if we include all
that has been expended on it in the
way of additions and renovations in
the course of the period that it has
been standing. Brother Hughan re-
marks that England is compact coun-
try, while the United States are of
vast extent. Is there grand lodge in
the States which can point with ex-
cusable pride to an established fund If
.c50,000, as can ours-a fund which is
never touched, as the dues received
from the daughter lodges are ample
to meet the ordinary demands of dis
tressed brethren for relief? We re-
joice that Brother Hughan has been
able to mention several cases Zen.
lucky in particular-where the cause
of Charity has been made q conspic-
nous feature in the Masonic practice
of the district. Yet, with every allow
ance for these, and having rendered
them the honor which is their due, we
incline to the maintenance of our old
view, which, be it remembered, was
made early. but not hastily and with
ont due knowledge, tl.at in the United
States. In spite of the openhandedness
of a mericans generally. and of Amer