The Washington bee., 1896-08-29

SECRET ORDERS.
Relative to splits in Masonic circles
and legality of the same-First, what
has been done before can be done
again-the first grand lodge formed
in this world was the grand lodge OF
England which was formed in London,
A. d. I7I7. 1t was not long before
greed of office, unwillingneSs to obey
superiors, produced schism, new
grand lodge was formed at York IN
1925. In 1850 at London, third grand
lodge was formed. They took the
name of anCients and designated their
rivals moderns. In 1879 fourth grand
lodge grew out of quarrel in the old
lodge of antiquity of this last schism.
The celebrated William Preston was
the historian. Finally in 1873 they
blended together and formed the
United Grand Lodge Of England,
now the largest and most influential
body of Masons in the world. SO it will
be seen that our parents got to kicking
among themselves on the jump and
consequently the child has right to
follow its parents. Relative to splits
in New York they were of very simple
nature | will state that for want of
space, ETC., simply give synopsis.
In Germany for an illustration the
craft is so split that in Berlin there are
three grand lodges, and in Germany
proper, the total number is eight. Now
we will take the state of New York
with a membership to-day of about
81, 900 Masons. They had split which
occurred in 1928; then another which
occurred in 1887; in IS4e another
which was finally cemented in 1883.
Take the state of Pennsylvania for IL
lustration, for several years they had
two grand lodges, two grand chapters
and two grand CommandrieS. We
have also several cases of Comman-
dries being formed out of the thirty
two degrees ancient accepted rite; for
instances the grand commandry Of K
T. of New York. Then we have
case of certain grand commandry
Chartering a COnsistory of thirty-two
degrees A. NJ. S. R. made by bogus
Supreme Council into a commandry of
Knights Templar. Take the state Of
Virginia capitular masonry was intro
duCed into the state under the author
ity of deputy inspector general of the
A. A. S. r. | will state in conclusion
that | have illustrations to burn. More
later.
WASHINGTON, D. c.
To the Masonic fraternity of the Dis
trict of Columbia and the public in
general: l take this opportunity to re-
flute damaging report that has been
circulated around the city and country
about me. In the form of an edict,
emanating from the grand lodge of
Masons of the District of Columbia, of
which H. S. Smith go is the grand
master. After giving synopsis of fairy
tales, etc, he goes on to speak Of the
commission which l was summoned to
appear before. The one sided COM
s., S: R; Eo1A:3 Watts 330' 8 John I H Lee 3ao'
j. A. Johnson So, H. S. Smith go,
Ex-officio, all members of the Jackson
Supreme Council. The council that
preferred the charges through their
Secretary General, J. o. Bamfeld SO,
present grand Junior warden of the M.
w. G.. l.. You can see from this where
the one side comes in. They say that
| failed to appear. | appeared and
lllSd Illy pdpSIS, anu lnSy were SNUG
gled in order to protect a certain man.
Furthermore in order that you might
know how this faction feels towards
me, circulars went through the mail
under a one cent stamp. The same
was circulated through the city post Of
flee with view of hurting me in my
business. | was informed from reliable
sources that they had a movement to
have me dismissed from the post Of
flee, thereby in the event of the same
being successful it would cause my
wife and children to suffer. Now, l
ask the question Of fair-minded Ma
sons and my friends in general can you
or do you blame my friends and | in
forming new Masonic bodies in the
District of Columbia and under the
existing circumstances This is sim
ply synopsis. The great book which
will follow will explain the whole busi-
ness, and then you will see whether l
am right or wrong. l suppose that
this controversy would be confined to
Masons,. only but IN view Of the fact,
that the Jackson faction is informing
the public why take the right to do
the same. Deus, Meurnque.
DORSEY +. SEVILLE.
SPARKS-SYNOPSIS.
The NJ. w. G.. L. of Ancient, Free