Omaha daily bee., 1889-08-05

the previous language, can only apply 20
symbolic Masonry, and by no authority has
he right to construe them as applying TO
Scottish Rite Masonry. Again, II they can
by any method be made TO apply to Scottish
Rite Masonry, the words "hrst lawfully con-
stituted authority have meaning. That
the so-called southern jurisdiction never had
lawful Masonic existence can be proven
beyond the possibility of doubt TO all hon
est readers of history There is abundant
evidence in our possession TO prove the so
called southern jurisdiction is Illegal, iilegit-
innate, even clandostinc, for Albert Pike
claims in his own words the right TO work
the first three degrees Of Masonry, has done
so, ana has in Mexico today Blue lodges
working under his authority aud paying
fealty to him. He has published and
printed the rituals of the first three degrees
and sold them to his Scottish Rite bodies
here in Nebraska, as his own words show in
his own published proceedings OF his SUI
preme council He has gone farther and de-
olarcd the bible not the rulo OF their faith, rs
read the following extract from his proceed
ings of lS10.' Appendix page 2l4, given in his
own words, viz "The bible is the only rule
and law of York Masonry, while we, without
requiring our brethren to reject it, do not ac-
cept it as our code" On pages 90 and 90 of
the southern jurisdiction transactions OF
October, 1884, section 4, Is the following:
EVERY lodge of perfection must have one
copy of the ritual of tho blue degrees with
the secret work. and may have four copies of
that work" Surely this is contrary to ell
Masonic law and is certainly clandestne.
The Southern Jurisdiction under Pike had,
pages 120 to 1923, $50 members. In
1884, pages so to 81, 79i members
He also says in his Transactions. October,
1854, page 20: II think it due TO our own
self-respect that we should advise the
brethren of our obedience not to seek any
where in our jurisdiction to have action
taken by the grand lodges in regard TO spu-
rious organizations claiming to be of our
rite" On page 53, Transactions of 1882
Pike says: II think II would be grave
error for persons OF our rite to encourage
such interference, even in our favor, by the
grand lodges. On the part of grand lodge
such action is extremely unsHise." 1t seems
that the grand master of Nebraska does not
agree with his grand commander and he has,
therefore, contrary to his teaching and con-
trary to the grand lodge of Nebraska, seen
fit TO issue his edict No. /, and in the face of
all history to decide what is legitimate Scot
tish Rite Masonry. France was the mother
of Scottish Rite Masonry, andifrom her ema-
mated all authority to work the rite in any
country on the globe.
This authority was never delegated to
Albert Pike nor any of his predecessors in
the United States of America His claim. to
work his rite. he gives on page 80 of his own
transactions, 1850, in the following words,
viz: "Our supreme council, proceeding upon
the principle that prescription is good foun
dation of title, in Masonry as we'll as else
where; that after q long lupse of years, the
undsturbed possession of jurisdiction and
authority, or the successful assertion and
maintenance OF il when disturbed, is sufficient
evidence of a good original title and dspenses
with the production of a paper title,
offers frankly to each the hand of amity."
Pike says, transactions 1860, page SS, "F'or
our rite was never intended to be a popular
rite. 1t was never meant that our temples
should be invaded by multitude; nor that
we should go out into the lanes and on all the
highways and invite and urge all whom we
meet to come in and partake of our mysteries.
The recipients of the higher degrees ought to
be select, a few in each place, discreetly
chosen. The initiate should be as the initiate
originally was. natural king and sp0ntaEe-
Gus plst for the erring multitude " The
object of the rituaiistic work of all Masonry
is to make good men better by the influence
of its beautiful forms and ceremonies, to
help to make this world temple At for the
abiding place of the grand architect of the
universe But Pike would make his rite an
aristocracy, he holding his position for life
and compelling his followers to pay tribute
to him. No element of discord has ever en-.
tered any of the lodges in Omaha until men,
bers of the southern jurisdiction began to
malign and persecute brethren who were
better informed on Scottish Rite Masonry,
and who, having received these degrees le-
Ultimately, propose to stand for their rights
even though the clandestine southern jurls-
dlcton, born in treason, nurtured in rebell-
ion ana fed on arstocracy. endeavors TO deal
a death blow in a dishonorable manner.
We point with pride to such men as Ger
meau, Lafayette, Dewitt Clinton and Salem
Town. who were the associates of Washing
ton, Franklin and host of other worthless
who have been leading factors in our history.
We received our authority legitimately
from France, the mother Of the rite, at a
time when France was in good Masonic
standing. AMI fifty years before Albert Pike
breathed into his council the breath of life
We propose to live up to the teachings of
Symbolic Masonry as expounded in our ritu-
alistic and secret work, and do not propose
that any man or body of men be permitted to
make innovations in Ancient Craft Masonry,
or introduce discordant elements into our
lodges to break up the peace and harmony of
the brethren. as the members of the south
ern jurisdiction in Iowa and Nebraska have
recently been doing in violation of their OBJ
legations as Masons. When men
can furnish no better arguments for
their cause than to malgn and
persecute honest, honorable brethren by
personal abuse and biillngsgate, it looks to
an outsider as though they had no case. We
court the fullest inquiry into our history and
legitimacy. and invite candid consideration
of our claims from anyone, even Albert Pike
himself.
"Truth wears no mask, bows at no human
shrine,
Seeks neither praise nor applause; she
only asks a hearing" SUNSHINE.