Omaha daily bee., 1889-09-01
The balance Of our stock Of James Means
$500 Calf Shoes,
1925
LARGE SIZES ONLY.

among the craft. and to make his infamy
still deeper and exhibit his depravity in a
still more revolving forms He arrests the
charter of one of the brightest and best
working lodges in this or any other jurisdlc-
tion-N ebraska lodge No. l, the oldest land
mark OF Masonry IN the state of Nebraska
where peace and harmony have always pre-
vailed; where we practice what we preach
brotherly love, relief and truth; where
Justice, equity and tolerance reign supreme,
notwithstanding the membership of that
lodge is composed Of members of all of the
different Scottish rite jurisdictions. There,
within its sacred precincts, the subject of
Scottish rite Masonry never entered
of Grand Master John ). Mercer, and strange
to say, Notwithstanding it was firebrand to
throw into that lodge, on account of the very
peculiar combination that existed regarding
membership in the different Scottish rite
jurisdictions, the edict was complied with in
every particular without remarks or COM
ment, showing that the government of the
lodge was what it should be.
Brethren why was that charter arrested2
Because, forsooth, the majority of the men,
bers of that lodge did not ana would never
pay homage and tribute to Albert Pike, of
the so-called Illegal southern jurisdiction of
Scottish rite Masonry; nothing, more or less,
than the issuance OF those resolutions which
are not only backed by the resolutions of our
grand lodge at it's last communication, but by
contain nothing but what every loyal ancient
craft Mason should endorse. IL was the
true sentiments of that lodge, expressed by
force of the edict.
When we became Master Masons we
obligated ourselves to no act, or to obedience
to any act, that would curtail our liberty of
conscience or would bind US hand and foot
to despotism, intolerance, or the machina-
tions of any man, even though he be for the
time grand master, or even to body Of
men, who through ignorance, perniciOus in
fiuences, or blind following may enact laws
that would prevent the free exercise of our
mental powers and intelligence in everything
within VIII at is prescribed by the laws of our
country.
Brother Master Masons, the question is.
what is the true inwardness of this whole
businessl Albert Pike, commander of the
so-called illegal southern jurisdiction of
Scottish rite masonary, claims the adherent
right to control and govern all degrees in
Missionary. He prints in full and sells the
ritual for the first three degrees and where
he is allowed to Go so, confers the first three
degrees in connection with his Scottish rite
system. Where grand lodges exist, to
"avoid predjudice and quarrels he refrains
from the exercise of his powers over the
first three degrees" but his secret constitu-
tous instruct his followers to thrust them
selves forward in official positions in the
subordinate and grand lodges of ancient
craft Missionary and thus control the first
three degrees OF symbolic Masonary, which
is equivalent 10 conrerring the degrees
themselves. On this basis, where Is ancient
craft Masonaryi So far as Nebraska Is con-
cerned, for the time at least, 1t is located in
bosom of the lllegitimate so-called southern
Jurisdiction OF Scottish rite Missionary with
Albert Pike for life, after whom his success
ors ad vltem would he imperial dIctators
over all forms OF Missionary.
To counteract such deep laid scheme
will demand the most careful aud deliberate
consideration on the part OF all loyal ancient
craft Masons.
Brethren, how could we enjoy a Masonic
monarchy in this republican form of free
government We say never! We were
made Masons because we were men, and we
all determined to maintain Masonry and man
hood by lawful resistance to usurpation and
outrage To concede anything different
from this would be subversive of freedom
of conscience, liberal institutions and free
government, and an admission that Masonry
was tyranleal, oppressive and unfit for free
and enlightened men. More anon.
MAsTBR MASON.