Omaha daily bee., 1890-02-09

knowledge of the numerous secret societies
which in great variety surround us on every
hand.
BY what authority can a grand lodge de-
clare a body which it does not recognize as
Masonic, and which does not lntrude upon
the degrees of ancient craft Masonry or its
jurisdiction, unlawful or clandestine!
Let us see: unlawful is contrary to law or
in violation of law. But what law is meant?
Is it the law of the grand lodge or the law
of these bodies! We do not know of these
bodies except by hearsay, and If we did
know them what is that law to us! Are we
bound to recognize or obey itt Surely not.
1t can have no jurisdiction over us.
Does such law apply to ancient craft ma.
sonryl BY no means 1t can be enacted and
applied only by the body itself and enforced
only upon the subjects of its jurisdiction.
Do our laws bind the members of these
bodIesi Certainly not as such members. And
if the members of our body are also mem-
bers of the Ancient and Accepted Scottish
rite, our law operating in respect TO all
questions affecting the symbolic degrees
bind them, because they are within our jur-
lsdiction, being members OF our BODY ana so
subject to our laws.
So then. when we assert that anything is
Historically unlawful, we must mean that 1t
is contrary to or in violation of Masonic law.
And Masonic law, as this term is thus used
by US, means the law governing our institu-
ton.
And so with respect TO the term clandes-
tine. IL means as used IN Freemasonry
without lawful authority" But what
authority is here meantt
Can it mean any other authority than the
grand lodge, which has supreme Jurisdiction
over the subject matterl
Could we say that one of two DO lies was
clapdostine, within the meaning OF this well
known term used by Masons, because it has
no authority for Its existence, from a body
other than our " body, when neither OF
the bodies are within our laws or subject to
our jurisdictions
What right nave we To prohibit n member
of our lodge from joining any secret society.
the principles of which. and the practice of
which, are not in violation of the precepts of
ancient craft masonry.
Should 'the only Legitimate and lawfully
constituted Masonic authority OF the An
cient and Accepted Kite, presided over by
BROTHER Albert Pike" attempt to apply the
law TO that rite, o. even our own law. and
declare a grand lodge, or u lodge, or even
the humolest member of symbolic Masonry
clandestine, would it be recognized as law
full by any BODY or member of symbolic
! Masonry us VI any force or validity what
| evers
That every body is to be Judged or
acquitted or condemned, according to its
laws. IN
A crime committed in Nebraska is to be
Judged und punished, II at all, according to
the law of Nebraska.
A crime committed In Pennsylvania Is to
be Judged and punished, II at all, by the law
of Pennsylvania. 1t may happen that the
act unlawful in one state would not be law
full in the other. And the punishment in one
state might be different from that of the
other.
When, therefore, bodies or persons are de-
clared unlawful or clandestine by the grand
lodge, it means unlawful because of violation
OF the laws of the grand lodge, and claudes-
tine, because without authority of the grand
lodge.
But the grand lodge neither has nor makes
any law 10 govern any person other than its
own subjects.
If it should legislate or adjudicate fol-
other bodies II could not enforce obedience
III tho Cerneau rite Is clandestine or uu
lawful, with respect TO the grand lodge, il
must DO because il IS without authority o.
the grand lodge, or that its action is in viola
ton of its law
Has the grand lodge any law which thai
rite called Cerneau has violatedl
IL has no law but the government OF an'
cient craft masonery, its law, as to prior
right by reason Of prior occupancy, which
IS one OF the forms of the legal maxim, 'qu
prior est tempOre est iure,' appertains to III
own government. Another society coulC
not adopt another rule. 1t neither claim,
nor has other jurisdiction. And IL 1t has nj
other jurisdiction its laws, If passed, would
BIO ultra wires, and of no effect.
assume that II Is not proved that thi
Cerneau rite represents itself as conferrinj
the hrst three degrees. Ii " does, IL SHOULD
DO declared clandestne for that cause, an
not for some other cause.
Jurisdiction TO hear and determine tn