The Wilmingtonian., 1886-01-16
Compulsory ssembersh'

IONS for not applying for membership there
10; reasons that concern no one except
himself and are of a character that comes
not within the province of another to a
consider or determine. This modern. idea q
is founded upon false Interpretation OF
regulation to be found in "Anderson's Con- a
stitution." -,
This is not as some suppose "Landmark"
Init law which was adopted at or {
Immediately after the formation of the
..Grand Lodge of England" and Is Of no
more binding force thaa this rule, which
was observed at that time, viz. EVERY new |
brother at his making, is decently to ciodth
the lodge, that is, all the brethren present.
This was, no doubt good law at that time
out that it was only local regulation is
fact which no mason who will go TO tho
trouble to inform himself will doubt for
moment. Suppose that any Grand Lodge
were to enact the above as law? Can
imagination picture the flood Of questions
chat would pour in upon its executive, ask
lng for information upon this amb ious
term of the regulation, to decently cloath
the lodge, that is, all the brethren present,
vet such regulation would have all the
claims of antiquity and is as much of land
| mark as is the first referred to. There is in
the archives of the Lodge of Antiquity a
mauuscipt which contains the following
"That no Fellow go into the town by
night, except he have Fellow with him,
who may bear him record that he was in All
honest place." No sane man at this day
| would entertain the idea of incorporating
| either of the above among the regulations OF
Grand Lodge, though they have as high u
claim to recognition as such as has the old
law upon which is based the preposterous
assumption that Compulsory membership
is masouic, that reads as follows: mo set
or number of brethren shall withdraw, or
separate themselves from the lodge in which
, they were made brethren, or were afterwards
. admitted members, unless the lodge becomes
too numerous nor even then, without dis
! pensation from the Grand Master or his
8 deputy: and when they are thus separated,
n they must either Immediately join them
selves to such other lodge as they shall like
a best, with the unanimous consent OF that
other lodge to which thew go, or else they
must obtain Grand Masters warrant, or join
# in forming a new lodge" This was manda
tory but applied uuly to "set or number. .
d There is au old axiom in masonry that ever,
mason ought to belong to lodge. This i
" doubtless true, in the main, and AS this II
4 | only advisory and not mandatory our law
TX makers shorli not fail to recognize che trutl
ts that there are individual rights in masonr,
m that no body Of men, no matter how h'ghl
ps honored or distinguished may invade with
,s- out calling forth au earnest protest from til
he craft. Speculative Masonry" is volur
he tary association. There are no oonseripts i
: her a,mias.. men haxa- -ss~aassss ssli.aa=asa1.s
Is | into the service of this ancient institution
10. fn fact there has never been asingle instanc
lie bof any one having been regularly admitte
NJ to participate in the my steries of masonry
Z who had been-solicited so to do but on I'll
x contrary, the aspirant must, in his pettio
lt set forth the fact that act the is wholly volun
ell any upon his part and if admitted soou disco
er that the fraternity is composed OF men wi
le. of their own free will ard accord have bandt
In themselves together, actuated by desire e
as knowledge and sincere wish of becomir
A serviceable to their fellow creatures.
&C. matter to what degree the mason may attai
,he there is not in any of the precepts taught
me the principles inculcated, the idea that he
es. not in fact as he is in name, free All hi
az cannot think alike. We have no right
Mt sit in Judgment upon brothers. motive
zen The writer remembers an iustace of broth
ich who by his ability and worth had risen, ST
as by atep until he had attained the hghe
,eS honors of the craft, when suddenly he
came of the opinion, Enormously we tn nb
Of that he could no longer remain in fellowsl
I'D with his brethren, To his nearest friends
OF stated that his objections were purely 20
ent cientious ones, but standing upon his inhere
rights he, in courteous language, demand
the his dimit. This was denied because t
old obsolete regulation Of the Grand Lodge
emit England had found place in the regulatio
nds of the Grand Lodge holding jursiictio
in and though refused dimit he was Suspen
ed from membership thereby becoming
tba uon-affilate although not in the form a
;no manner by which he sought to withdri
the from the fraternity. That he hal chang
the his opinion Of the institution We concede
Lin Lutb W thiuSc ppNulJl Is ii CEilue
the deny aud respectfully ask upon what pretC
of justice could charges Of unmasouic CT
conduct be proven in this or any other C;
of either voluntary or involuntary nonaffil
il in tion and expulsion follow as penalty.
lus- masonry is to be dvested OF its vount;
the character,any ofits cardinal principles may
Iply eliminated by Grand Loage edict and q
Dme modern idea be made to supplant the fouu
NOR tions upon which our beautiful temple
yho erected. Until very recently the right
AVE dimit unquestioned has beeu couco d
lus- To punish for voluntary non afliliation is n
rect being discussed and finds some conve
tells Let this heresy obtain recognition and tn
Iun is no telling TO what length these in,prOl
four of masonry may 90 Let masonry reuou
iig. her distinctive. voluntary character aud sc
yi,b npou her walls will be written,
and Meme, meme tekel npharsin,"
IT., Thy days are numbered aud they are
''o tied
ard
be Grand opera House.
but On Wednesday and Thursday nights