Fort Worth gazette. [volume] (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1891-1898, 1893-01-15

bers Of the order Only last year I was
informed by brother who was visiting
here from Il lodge az New Granada thnt
nc one time during his membership Of Il
lodge n Catholic priest was It's master.
Several years ago the grand lodge Of
Peru was called TO pass upon the elip-
bility OF priests TO become Mas0ns. The
question was decided In the affirmative,
the judgment afterward rcscinded and
the subject submitted 20 various lodges
in the country | have nos been iu-
formed of the final decigon.
I'M the state of New York there are be-
tween 200 aud 500 clcrgymon of the va
Iious Protestant denominations con
nected with Masonic lodges. audt
would guarantee that should priest be
come member of our order, he above
all classes Of men, would be especially
interested, and particular In attendance
at our meetings. lt was openly harg5d
some years ago, that Pope Plus IN had
been u Mason Tho charge was made
In the chamber of deputies, France de-
MED by somepnd aftcrward various state
ments were offered 10 corrobOrnte the
assertion Ii was alleged that while his
eminence was priest in South America
he became Free Mason, Such records
az we have, however, do not bear out
that allegation
A large number Of our public mon,
politicians IL you want 10 call them
such. are MasOns, aud this Is true, not
only of the United States. but other
countries II is sometimes charged that
Masons can use the order 10 advance
political schemes. This is not true; "A
moments reflection viii tell such
a critic that there are as many members
OF the fraternity ON one side of politics
as the other: 50 In that way Il IL not
possible TO advance the interests of any
particular party or body Of uen inter
ested In any governmental scheme. A
charming feature of Free Masonry
Is that every man gives his neighbor
credit for being honest and sincere in
his purposes as he knows he Is him
self; although a man outside the lodge
may vote and work against the election
of Il brother or against his particular par
~, yet, as a Mason this fact does not dis
turb their friendly relations.
The critics of our ancient order some
times say that within the ranks the feel
ing Of arstocracy IL developed and that
certain lodges are principally for the ben
eft Of the wealthy that cluhmen com
pose the majority of It's members.
In answer to this II may be said there
are certain forms of ceremonies that are
observed in Masonry as in other instltu-
tons, but the highest officer In station
when he crosses the threshold of the
lodge room Is no greater socially
than The humblest member who
attends it's meetings, member
may come TO u lodge attired IN full even
ing dress, but IL he goes there feeling that
be Is better than the humble mechanic In
plain ruiment, he is not really a Mason at
heart.
nc is said that the dues Of some lodges
are purposely made high so as 10 exclude
the poorer class of the members. That is
not true. There are many lodges that
may be considered aristOcrhtic, but they
an have as members the poor brother; he
rs not kept from such lodge on account
OF excessive dues The highest dues ex-
acted by any lodge IN this state Is SlOper
annrm. The dues range from 81 10 SO.
/ do not know OF any lodge where tire
dues are lower than 81 per annum, and
do not know one where they are higher
than $40 per annum.
Every state and territory has n grand
lodge which IL independent. There Is no
national federation Of all lodges. New
York state has the largest number Of
members Ohio, Illinois and Pennsylvania
are among the states having the largest
grand lodges in the Union.
Masonry Is growing last year, ia the
state Of New York, the number OF our iui-
tiations was over 5000 Allowing loss
bv death aud ether causes gave US a net
gain OF over 1000. Everywhere the
,,rowth of Masonry Is kept up; every
where there Is the same interest manifest
ed in It's ancient rites and mysteries.
| Aud why should this not be the case ?
| This is "A society whose main object Is
he ameliorati0n Of the condition 81 man
kind, n society that always builds up
and never tears down; a society that be-
| jieves men were put on this earth 20
! helm one another. remembering that we
| mss through this earthly existence but
/ once. the effort should BE- made 10 make
! h az pleasant for one another az possi-
| be This Is society where politics and
relioion are left outside Of It's meeting
ronms Mon meet each other in the
spirif OF good fellowship, aud there are
| 10 disturbing elements IN the shape Of