Omaha daily bee., 1889-08-11
He OBTAINED THE PASS WORD
Aud Then The Bee Man Secured His
Lodge Notes.
A GRAND MASTER ReeuKep
An Omaha Lodge Criticises the Action
of Grand Master Mercer on His
Support OF tho Southern Juris-
diction Scottish Rite.
Rebuked Grand Master Mercer.

Rebuked Grand Master Mercer.
A circular has been issued, addressed 10
the masters, wardens and brethren Of the
various lodges OF ancient craft masonry in
Nebraska, stating that at a regular meeting
of Nebraska lodge, No. l. A. +. & A. M,
held at the hall of said lodge in Omaha, Neb.,
on the 9th day of August, A. l.. $3.50, the
following resolution was unanimously
adopted;
Resolved. That we, the members of Ne
braska lodge, No. i, Ancient Free and Ac-
cepted Masons, in regular meeting assem-
bled, at our hall in Omaha, county. of Doug.
las and state of Nebraska, on
the 9th day Of Ausust, A. l.. $3.50;
recognize in edict No. l emanating from
Grand Master John L.. Mercer, an attempt to
introduce into the body OF masonry a for
lodge as being masonic or as being q part OF
ancient craft mnsonry; against which at.
tempt, we, ns ancient craft Masons, do most
earnestly and solemnly protest
We recognize in such edict an attempt OF
Grand Master John j. Mercer, in his official
capacity as such grand master, to recognize
as legitimate, the authority over the ancient
end accepted Scottish rite, claimed by the so.
called southern jurisdiction OF the United
States, presided over BY Albert Pike n
estiy and solemnly protest against such at
tempt as being in direct violation of the res
olution adopted by the grand lodge OF It's last
communication, wherein the grand lodge ex-
pressly declined to be committed to the rec
ignition of any such body.
Inasmuch as our grand lodge at its last
communication expressly declared itself u
sovereign body, recognizing and having
Jurisdiction over no other degrees than those
of entered apprentice, fellow craft and mas
ter mason" and in the same resolution de-
clined to enter upon any discussion OF the
history, use or legitimacy of any bodies
claiming to confer what Is known as Scottish
rite degrees, and declined to recognize such
bodies as masonic, or being a part OF ancient
craft masonry, we regard the action Of Grand
Master John j. Mercer In attempting to foiat
upon the fraternity OF ancient craft masonry
q recognition of O Scottish rite body IN DELI
ance of such express declarations. OF our
grand lodge, a base innovation, entirely for
eign to masonic law, tradition or usage, and
a usurpation Of power not known in Free
masonry, and not to countenanced by this
lodge.
The action of Grand Master John j.. Mercer
Is not only in defiance Of the expressed will
of our grand lodge, but is designed to i'm
pose upon ancient craft masonry new and
unwarranted qualifications; it plainly indl-
Gates a desire and intention on his part, so
far as he can use his position for that pur-
pose, to make membership in certain Scottish
rite bodies affect and determine the standing
and qualifications of ancient craft masons.
Abiding by the ancient charge that it is not IN
the power of any man or body of men to make
innovations in the body of masonry, we ex-
pressly deny the existence OF any authority
in our grand master to'impose upon masonry
any new qualifications. All the qualifica-
tions necessary to obtain admission and
recognition as q master mason are those
taught and exemplitied by the rituals and Sc
cret work adopted by our. grand lodge; and
we deem it the duty of every loyal ancient
craft mason to resist to the utmost this at
tempt to add to those qualifications any addi-
tional requirement..
If it is proper for a grand master to deter
mine for Masons to what Scottish rite bodies
they must not belong, 1t Is also proper for
him to require the Masons Of thus jurisdiction
to leave a particular church or to abandon
certain political parties, all of which we be-
| lieve to be contrary to the cardinal doctrines
and vital principles of ancient craft masonry.
We, the members Of Nebraska lodge No. l.,
the oldest landmark of Freemasonry in the
| state Of Nebraska, deem it our duty not only
| to protest against this attempted violation of
the expressed will of our grand lodge and
this attempt to make an innovation in the
body of masonry, but we deem II our further
duty to call this protest to the thoughtful at
tention of the craft in this state; and to that
end we direct that a copy of this resolution
| be sent to every lodge of master masons IN
| the state of Nebraska, with the request that
the same be given equal publicity, both by
reading and posting. with that accorded
| eaict No. of Grand Master John j. Mercer.
l Denver Is the nome, ana WOOD. watson SCo.
thu editors and proprietors of a new masonic
paper called The Craftsman. 1t is bright
| and newsy and gives evidence of ability on
the part of its editors. The. first number Is
| dated August 3, and it is announced to ap'
| pear every Saturday.
The Trestle Board says that at a late San
Francisco funeral the deceased was q
Hebrew. his widow a christian, the master
of the lodge a catholic, and the master OF
Rose Croix, eighteenth degree, a Hebrew
wearing the passion cross on his apron.
Truly, masonry is q leveller Of distinctions