The Wilmingtonian., 1885-02-21
MASONIC.
We Keep Moving.

We Keep Moving.
In the course of the very large correspond
ence passing through our hands in the course
of year we have occasion to note the chang
ing views of eminent Brethren on an infnity
of topics, some of which few years ago had |
almost the sanctity of landmarks.
While always strenuous upholder of the
cold ways" due regard for rational pro-
gress compels us to say that change is i'm
pending, and that the time is not far distant
when there will be accepted ideas, which, up
to very recent period it would have been
deemed heresy to combat or even to question.
That they are now seriously questioned is to
us not so much matter of qualification as is
the fact that logically ensues that the Breth-
rem are reading, thinking and inquiring more
than they did in the last generation, out of
which nearer. approach to common sense in
many things not touching the fundamental
principles OF the Craft may be looked for
aud when they arrive there will be roo m FOR
congratulation,
Among others we find tins from the Grand
Master, that in despite of the general law he
does not believe that the absence of the war.
rant IN any way mvalidates communication
of the Lodge; nor do we. He takes the same
ground as we do, that the fact of the charter
having been issued and the Lodge having
been constituted are matters of official record
which no one eau dispute, and therefore thu
legal existence of Lodge under these cir
cumstances is not, and cannot be matter of
dispute, nevertheless every candidate is in.
structed that before submitting to an exami-
nation he is entitled to examine the warrant
of the Lodge he proposes to visit Make it
so, and then tell us how many of a thousand
proposed visitors are competent to decide
upon the genuneness of the document pre-
sented as a warrant. 1t seems to us that be-
fore applying to a Lodge for the privilege of
admission the visitor should take the trouble
to inform himselfin advance ofits regularity,
and especially to be careful not to submit to
the formalities of an examination without
personal and logical knowledge of the Lodge
proposed 10 be visited, out of which comes
to us the idea that the absolute presence OF
the warrant to legalize a meeting of the
Lodge is an obsolete idea, which may be dis.
missed without injury to the Craft, just Tic
same as man may own his house without
confronting every visitor with his deed o.
possession OF a corporation may pursue it.
business without exhibiting to every custo.
mer its deed of Incorporation.
II may and will take time, but the ndi
cations are that the candid ates will cease t,
be instructed as they have been and that tn,
presence of the warrant will not be a sin,
. qua non to the regularity of Lodge NEE
a ing.
E Again, we find the opinion growing mos
' vigorously, that perpetual jurisdiction owe
: rejected Candidates is in its sere apd yeilog
y days, and that in the interests of fair play
d and in opp 'sition TO the one man rule, ther
t must be chan ge, the most prominent ide
: being that responsible limit should b
/ named at the expiration of which the rejcc
!, tion should be Of no further effect and til
new Lodge depend upon its own inq uries a
! to acceptation or rejection of a candi
r date.
e The idea that NJ lster Mason desiring t
n change his affliation must apply to the near
b est Lodge, or to some Lodge within tn
: immediate jurisdiction where he lives
n fading away like last years comet and will
soon be among the things tlrat have been
but are not, and its final disappearance wi.
certainly leave no regrets behind
4 Thus we work our way toward the light
aud thus while standing fast to the real in
q tention of the Fathers, we get nearer to sucl
system as will make darkness light, ant
Z crooked things straight.-M Y. Dispatch.