The Pascagoula democrat-star. (Pascagoula, Miss.) 1878-1920, 1888-07-13
Ghe Remnrrsf-SM
MAsoNs AND SALOONS.
A Refractory Masonic. Lodge Has
Its Charter Arrested.

Clarion Ledger.
The action of the Masonic Grand
Lodge, at its session in Columbus,
on The saloon question, has been
published at length in these col
nmns; also an explanatory state
ment by Judge Speed, who is high
authority IN matters Of Masonic
; law and Jurisprudence. The sub
ject, il will be remembered, came.
I'D IN the Grand Lodge on the que
nv of a subordinate, us The keep
ing of a liquor saloon unmasomc
conGucty" The Law Committee,
consisting of Messrs. b. L. Kim
brough, j. N. Stone and John Y.
hurry, answered in the Affirmative,
in an argument Of considerable
length, which was approved by the
Grand Lodge. But some OF the
craft being in doubt as 10 the mean
ing ofthe declaration that Hodges
mag not hereafter initiate or admit
TO membership saloon keepers, etc,
Grand Master Evans decided Ethat4
the new statute, in letter and sp!r-
it, meant that lodges shall not mi,
tldte, etc. When this deliYerance.
Of the Grand Master was read IN.
Mississippi Lodge, No. So, at Rod
ney, it was referred TO a committee
TO "consider, approve or disap
prove the decision of the Grand.
LODGE The committee reported
is'said decision to be subyerSiye
of ancient landmarks;N that "tlre.
Grand Lodge has no power to pass.
an GpOSt fdCto law and that Eve
decline to recognize the same as
bindingUpon u.s." The committees
report was adopted by unanimous
vote, and the worthy Master of the
Lodge, Mr.. J. A. Limerick. in trans
hitting 1t to the Grand Master.
took occasion to say that "the ac-
ton was not taken in the interest
of saloon keepers, but as a respect
full protest against all attempts to
violate ancient landmarks,o etc.
He fnrthur expressed the opinion
that "thiS is an age of fanaticism,
and this frenzy has not only invad-
ed our courts Of law, our church
courts, our social circles, but Is try
ing TO force an entrance into our
Ancient Order"
To all this Grand Master Evans
made a very courteous but very
pointed response, in which he leX-
pressed Surprise that any Lodge
under jurisdiction of the Grand
Lodge of Mississippi should assume
u position so utterly untenable y
that at is not competent for a sub
ordinate Lodge to resolve itselfinto
acourt of inquiry upon an enact
ment of the Grand Lodge, and de.
clare it Illegal and of no effect ;"
and that the action Of the Lodge
entalled upon him the discharge of
a duty which he would fain escape,
"did not the authority and dignity
of the Grand Lodge demand the
exercise of discipline for such de-
liberate defiance and contempt for
Tits laws" The Grand Master.
therefore, directed District Deputy
Key TO proceed to Rodney and de.
mand the charter of Mississippi
Lodge No. Sc, and forbid the Lodge
ito transact any further business
tuatil his edict shall be revoked
'Ihe charter was promptly surren,
dered, and is now in possession OF
the Grand Lodge.
The officers of the Lodge lave
addressed a circular to "her sistel
Lodges" setting forth their griey
ance, and give notice that they viii
appeal to the next Annual Com
muhication of the Grand Lodg'
whetherlhe higher law shah pre-
vail or otherwise.
Rodney Lodgels one of tue old
est in the jurisdiction, and If
members are among the most zeal
GUS and Intelligent of The craft
but in this instance their zeal sap
pears to have out-rUii their discrc.
lion. 1t was their right and Ihei
privilege TO protest, and to Civ
notice Of their intention to appea
TO the next session of the Gran,
Lodge; but in declining to recoe
nize the action Of The Grand edsl
as binding upon thenL tiey assum
ed an attitude Of defiance tolawiu
authority that logicallyinvited Oh
action taken by the Grand Mastei
II the brethren desire the sympf
thy of their "sister Lodges" in thi
controversy, they must see tina
the Lodges cannot consider TN
case as coming from a Lodge; nc
will the Grand Lodge be likely {
review its action on an appeal fror
the brethren who decline 10 recoG
nize The binding force of its deliy
rance OIL any question.
The action of Grand Master Ey
ans will necessarily come unde
review at peXt Annual COmmun.
cation, and will doubtless be on
of the most interesting topics tina
will come before the Grand Lodg
when it shall meet al Meridian il
February next.
Cincinnati is the place for on