New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1896-08-02
NPECLAL or ENERGENT7

Masonic Editor New-York Tribune
Dear sir and brother: The Grand Lodge. at It's
convention in June last passed law forbdd''S
the lodges under its jurisdiction to initiate pass or
raise more than five candidates in any one DAY.
The causes which led TO the passage of this law
are well known In the minds of many there re-
mains this doubt Has the Grand Lodge gone
far enough" ! fear it has not.
The Master Of Phantom Lodge No 500. instead
Of calling four specials at ? $3.50 and $50 p. in
addition the stated at may now call the
brethren together for special every evening in
the week and beating all record breakers as usual
the mill grinds on. ". Bro. r. Eckless. of Phe-
10 his knowledge. declares that he will call
more Specials at all; henceforth his surplus Of
candidate is 10 other less busy lodges, with
the request 10 confer the degree. and the mill
grnds on. Although Of necessity. much slower,
something has been gained by the new law.
While the action 4 both these worthless is agair 81
with he letter thereof and of the two ways of break
ing the law The latter is surely to be preferred be-
cause some weak lodge that has work bu; rarely
may thus be assisted. But specials at which de-
grees are conferred. should not he permitted and
the the Grand Lodge amends the law to read
NO degree shall be conferred except stated
communication" the better 1t will be for the welfare
Of the order The Master proclaims the lodge closed
s uS deFna1 which
wonder If the Mason can he found who would con-
sids the sonferrlng OF qegre S case OF emergency
that when our legislators permitted the holding OF
seh de etre and s"h Ike requrng pTomp .!
action Of the lodge but never the comforting of
degree for which purpose men. who must support
their families, ought not 10 be called from their
sy0cations As a rule. Il j. no, the candidate who
Is In hurry, the contrary. II Is the Master who
Is hurryng tn candidates. fearful that his record
will remaif behind that Of his predecessor. who By
aid Of emergency meetings did wonders. Thus
should such meetings be denominated. and not spe-
Gals and | am sure the brethren would soon stop
emergency communications. called 10 confer de-
gree in their peculiar manner. Our present
specials are largely the primary cause of the APP
psling lcfeciOn IN our ranks. The love for Ma
sorry. or the othsr hand, the Indifference one
hin IN the lodge while receiving the degrees. II Is
Impossible in mos, cases to DO the work as well or
as impressively at special a. at the stated com
muncatiog
Conscientious and Jealous Masons. and these are
generally excellent workers. who have accepted
On Office. arrange their time ana aHairs as 10
he al liberty stated communications; these men
cannot be present al specials, ana their respective
ttations and places must thus be filled by some
tne else. These emergency officers. AS RUE nave
but faint notion OF the work they are attempt
Ing but when they candidly plead their ignorance
The Master treasures them: ION. II Is only Il spt-
cal; You will do all right" and the mill grnds on
OFTEN the Organist cannot attend, ana we Kho"
that there will be solcnnty No actor pays
well 20 empty benches. hence, on account OF the
very few who can attend specials the work Is gen
orally done IN slovcnly or perfunctory manner
and everybody including the recipient OF the "e-
gree. home disappointed.
NO the Grand Lodge did not 20 Tar enough. ilc'
uegrees be- conferred stated comElunicittlo'iss
and specials be called for real emergencies only l.
we number of men who join our ranks VIII diinh-
sh, the number Of unafiiliatcd Masons VIII 90 IKE
Wise. and that result IS much 10 be desired IRA
n.