The Wilmingtonian., 1886-01-16


sons for not applying for membership there
in reasons that concern no one except
himself and are of a character that comes l
not within the province uf another 10
consider or determine. This modern. idea I
is founded upon false Interpretation of a $
regulation to be found in "Anderson's Con-
stitution.'' -,
This is not as some suppose "Landmark''
but a law which was adopted at or
Immediately after the formation of the
.,Grand Lodge of England" and Is OF no
more binding force than this rule, which
was observed at that time, viz. EVERY new
brother at his making, is decently to cloam
the lodge, that is, all the brethren present.
This was, no doubt good law at that time
but that it was only a local regulation is
fact which no mason who will 20 to tho
trouble to inform himself will doubt for a
moment. Suppose that any Grand Lodge
were to enact the above as a law? Can
imagination picture the flood OF questions
that would pour in upon its executive, ask
| ing for information upon this amb ious |
term of the regulation, to decently cloath
l the lodge, that is, all the brethren present,
1 vet such regulation would have all the
claims of antiquity and is as much of a land
mark as is the first referred to. There is in
the archives of the Lodge of Antiquity
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 au
| honest place." No sane man at this day
, would entertain the idea of Incorporating
either of the above among the regulations OF
a 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 masonic, that reads as follows mo set
| or number of brethren shall withdraw, or
q separate themselves from the lodge in which
A they were made brethren, or were afterwards
q admitted members, unless the lodge becomes
n too numerous nor even then, without dis
d pensation from the Grand Master or his
-s deputy and when they are thus separated,
N they must either Immediately join them
l. selves to such other lodge as they shall like
"a best, with the unanimous consent OF tina
other lodge to which thev go, or else thu.
r. must obtain Grand Masters warrant, or joii
of in forming new lodge" This was manda
a tory but applied only to a "set or number.
III There is an old axiom in masonry that ever
mason ought to belong to lodge. This
nv doubtless true in the main, and as this
IT. only advisory and not mandatory our law
nix makers should not fail to recognize the trnt
its that there are iadigidaal rights in niasonr
am that no body Of men, no matter how h'ghl
,ps honored or distinguished may invade. witt
es- out calling forth au earnest protest from Il
tbe craft. "Speculative Masonry" is volul
the tary association. There are no conseripts
1n her a,mias. man hasa--assuassS ass.
is into the service Of this ancient institution
le. in fact there has never been asingle instanl
BILE bof any one having been regularly admittt
anT | to participate in tho mysteries Of masonr
4 who had beer, solicited so to do but on ii
ex- contrary, the aspirant must, in his petite
ht- set forth the fact that act the is wholly yolur
,el- any upon his part and if admitted soon disco
er that the fl aternity is composed of men W
ne. of their own free will and accord have band
un- themselves together, actuated by desire
as knowledge and sincere wish of becomi
A seryiceable to their fellow creatures.
lee. matter to what degree the mason may alta
the there is not in any of the precepts taught
me the principles inculcated, the idea that he
tes. not in fact as he is in name, free All IN
ng cannon thlnk aiike. we nave no right
snt. sit in judgment upon a brothers. motiv
zen Inc writer remembers an iustace of a brotl
itch who by his ability and worth had risen, ST
as by step, until he had attained the high
oes honors of the craft, when suddenly he
came of the opinion, Enormously we th nj
) Of that he could no longer remain in fellowsl
aLd with his brethren. To his nearest friends
OF stated that his objections were purely Z,
sent cientious ones, but standing upon his inher
rights he, in courteous language, demand
the his dimit. This was denied because
old oosoie'e teRulaV'oh oi inc efahu Louse
.apt England had found place in the regulate
inds of the Grand Lndge holding jurisficti,
+ in and though refused dimit he was Suspel
ed from membership thereby becoming
tbe non-afiiiate although not in the form q
ting manner py "n'ch nc soush' 70 "ltaui
ths from the fraternity. That he had cham
the his opinion Of the institution We concede
iliar .h"' u cuanse aa up'urr" Is crime
the deIy and respectfully ask upon what pret
of justice could charges Of unmasouic C
conduct be proven in this or any other C
Of either voluntary or involuntary nonaffi
,i in tion and expulsion follow as a penalty.
llus masonry is to be divested Of its vount
the character,any ofits cardinal principles ma,
noly eliminated by Grand Loage edict and
,ome modern idea be made to supplantthe fout
lmor tions upon which our beautiful temple
who erected. Until very recently the right
have dtmit unquestOned has been concot
Illus To punish torvountary non afiiliation is
ire,t being discussed and finds some conye
tells Let this heresy obtain recognition and Il
Nun is no telling to what length these inlprC
four Of masonry may go Let masonry reuou
,iig her distinctive, voluntary character aud s
with npou her walls will be written,
and Meme, meme teke npharsin,'
,.r,, Thy days are numbered and they are
ded.
lard ...-
. be Grand Opera House.
but On Wednesday and Thursday nights