Omaha daily bee., 1890-02-09
milton of what is known as Scottish rite de-

milton Of what is known as Scottish rite de-
grees as masonic.
That this was Il mistake. is evident from
the fact of the issue of this edict by the
grand master, in which, after rehearsing the
resolutions of the grand lodge he Officially
declares, and makes known. that the only
legitimate and lawfully constituted Masonic
authority of the Ancient and Accepted Scot
fish rite within the state of Nebraska, is that
of the southern jurisdiction of the United
States, presided over by Brother Albert
Pike; and that all others not acknowledging
allegiance to the said southern jurisdiction
are unlawful and clandestlne."
Is not this a felo de SEA- suicide.
L. The declaration that 1t will not '"enter
upon any discussion of the history, use or
legitimacy of any body claiming to confer
what is known as the Scottish rite degrees,
nor be committed TO the recognition of any
such, or 20 the recognition of any body con-
ferring ANY degrees over which this grand
lodge has no control, as being a part of an
cient craft Masonry" and then the discus
SION by the grand master IN the edict OF this
very subject. of the history and Legitimacy
OF these bodies claiming ITO confer what is
known as Scottish rite degrees" and finally
the recognition and declaration that the
body presided over by Brother Albert Pike
is the ''only legitimate and lawfully cousti.
tutcd Masonic authority of the Ancient and
Accepted rite within the state of Nebraska"
After citing the resolution of the grand
lodge he does consider the history of these
bodies as 10 which first occupied the terri.
tory of Nebraska, and recognizes the south
ern jurisdiction as the lawful Masonic
authority OF that rite.
And declares the other body called the
Cerneau rite, and indeed all other bodies ex.
cept the southern jurisdiction, unlawful and
clandestine.
What was his authority TO recognize either
as Masonic. This grand lodge refused TO
even discuss IL, refused to recognize either
boay as Masonic, refused to discuss the legit-
imacy Of either.
But AS before stated, criticism Of others is
not tine purpose of this writing, except in 80
far rs IL may servo to Illustrate the mental
fog into which we may run IL we permit our
selves 10 be drawn away from our legitimate
bearings.
And the grand master OF PENNSYLVANIA, in
Ills edict, commences:
Whereas, all bodies IN tho Masonic iuris-
diction of the Right Worshipfal Grand
Lodge of Free and Accepted Masons of
Pennsylvania, and Masonic Jurisdiction
thereunto belonging, appertaining to or con-
shutting or derived from the so-callei Ger
neau rite" have been authoritative ely ascer-
tanned and officially declared 10 be clan6es-
tine, and follows with an edict prohibiting
its members from becoming members of, or
continuing membership in the bodies of the
Cerneau rite, by whom 1t was so 'authori.
tativcly ascertalnedn and Officially de
clared" is not stated. Whether 1t could be
so ascertained ana declared by a grand lodge
will be considered hereafter.
The chief dliticulty in this question lies in
the declaration that a so-called rite, over
which the grand lodge has no control OF
jurisdiction, is clandestine or unlawful.
IL must De conceded that ii a body, by
whatever name called, should attempt TO
confer the degree of ancient craft Masonry,
or should declare that 1t does confer such
degrees, the grand lodge, having jurisdiction
over such degrees, should at once rightfully
declare such body TO be unlawful aud clan,
uestiue.
As far as ] am informed, neither of the
opposing bodies confer or claim to confer the
degrees of ancient craft Masonry, but while
grees, aud that they have lawful authority
not 10 exercise that authority, but 10 com
mence the conferring of their degrees upor
those only who have received the degrees
Of ancient craft Masonry in a symbols
lodge,
Now, il needs no argument to show thai
body is not Masonic, at least so far as tn,
grand lodge is concerned, because II confer
degrees only upon Masons.
That is simply a qualification OF a candl
date.
Indeed, so far as tho grand lodge is con
cerned, there is nothing Masonic exoep
what pertains to the first three degrees o
Masonry. IL can know nothing beyonl
these. IL cannot, therefore, recognize any
thing as Masonic except what relates
these degrees.
1t is a body of Free and Accepted Masons.
II 10 not a body OF the Ancient and Accepts
Scottish rite. II can no more have Masonl