New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1896-05-17
,ASONIC DEPARTMENT
.-.,rn nv THE GRAND LIBRARIAN or THE
avn LODGE OF THE STATE OF NETWORK.
,,,,r I,IyI or TION.


on1,ation is an admitted crying evil ana
,or which no adequate, thorough ana erect
es ~. hos been found, and the unafiiliated
'.n stll stalks through the land, perchance
,.,,ro his Masonic rings and charms ana
.o nc a real Mason. 1t IL clearly ana SELL
rs.nu,,v unjust that the drones should stahu
'''. 1--we, and an equal footing with the honey
I'D workers and that the man who con-
.,.s nothing to the support of Masonry
49,. in money. time nor labor should be al
70 enjoy its privileges without let or
,-.,cs There are many causes for this evil.
n". .., M, few if any remedies. The first great
".' a, the evil of machine-made Masons-the
" through the degrees. the cheapening
,,..o,rv the lowering its dignity, the feeling
80. prevails and the anxiety Of some Masters
VEN 1'Ir,o record breakers; they look for num-
"a the result Is large numbers of un-
afiates ,orou.
GA m fault with a man who dresses we'll
.,.., extensively. but We DO expect 10 find that
49,. man also wears clean linen-that is. dresses
~, ,ron ,he foundation UP. We find no fault
Las brother who pays more attention to the
l..,,.r or 10 the commandery than he does TO
A.. ,oses but we do expect him to keep In good
lending In his lodge while sporting his Templar
..o,m II man thinks he can choose the
,.a, IN which TO retain membership ne travels
:, ,,,v pretence for the world-at-large and the
,...,,sn assume that the Sir Knight is a Master
w..,, and when he even voluntarily unaffiliates
hnsY from his lodge he is rot a member in
.,A standing not an acknowledge Master
v.son. II he must dispense with some Of his
LOT
first. dismantle from the top down. not from
,bs bottom up. The real. the true-hearted Ma
son will keep UP his lodge utilization first the
uber Joins the great army of the unafIiliates.
Another cause is the demands made upon the
brethren for the many funds, for the many
vaccinations the dinners, the affairs enter
tanments and other similar demands constantly
cropping up. which in some lodges is overdone,
and tc one who belongs TO all the various
branches of the craft this becomes a bore, bur-
densome to the poor and nuisance to the flcn'
OF course, the greatest cause OF unafhHauon Is
the great preponderance of human nature among
Masons Some are disappointed in Masonry De
cause there is no money in its some leave on ac-
count Of unsatisfied ambition. others did not nhd
lie real secret of the philosophers stone in our
ceremonies, others leave because they cannot see
OF appreciate the beauty of our service or OF our
sssepionies II is above them. and the mistake
wa oiginally made by the proposer. Some join the
fraternity for some specific purpose-politics.
business or what not-and when that purpose Is
accomplished they leave again ana become VII 1
ahiates Still another cause has come under
cur notice, though happily this Is rare-the harsh
treatment Of some secretaries. Where Drother
$ not personally known 1t is the duty OF every
faster, Of every secretary and even OF every
rother to ascertain the status Of member
efore rashly unaffiliating him. No lodge should
rop good worthy brother without first being
ully satisfied, not OF his inability but OF his
n-i1l tn in lei fpln n 10
)dge. II he is worthy and can't pay. keep him
n the roll for the good he can do. The above
re some Of the causes Of unaffiliates. Now,
that about the remedy?
We have pelted them with roses. with kind
vords and paper pellets? Why not try brickbats
nd paving stones? The Grand Lodge of this
tate very wisely permits brother who pays his
ues and voluntarily leaves his lodge one year
o find another Masonic nome After that he is
ot admitted in any lodge, while one who is un-
Inflated for n. p. ID. is out the moment the
avel sounds upon the decision, and is not ad
nitted or recognized in the fraternity. This law
vorks well and should become general. Let the
lat 90 forth that we must have members in good
tanding In our ranks, that We want Masons
o do our work, Masons through and through.
rue soldiers Of the craft. who can be trusted and
eed upon at all times. No maudlin sentl-
mentality Of having travelled the same road"
md taken the same obligation" The unafiil-
ated has violated his obligation to the craft
fence Is unworthy Of our consideration; he proved
ecreant to the trust imposed in him, has been
ase to the craft; let him go. but let him go In a
say that no brother will touch him while outside
}. the pale Of Masonry. The unaffiliated deserves
no consideration whatever. has no rights" ex-
'ept the right CT petition, sacred to every Amer
can citizen, and when he petitions your lodge for
reinstatement look we'll into the cause OF his ac-
ilon but hold out the friendly and brotherly
nand and receive him back into the fold with
open arms In the army and navy the buttons
se .orn from the delinquent or deserter; we can
not lake away from the unafiiliated his Masonic
xxiho"ledge but can refuse to acknowledge
nm as Mason shut our doors in his face and
Eo,nt 10 him unworthy of our confidence.
as l aim back II found worthy. treat him with
''a'empt II he persists in remaining out.