The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1896-02-20

Lodge No. IS, and Brother L. ". Bick
nell. a member OF that lodge charge
with un-Masonic conduct. Pursuant L
| instructions, after having carefully ex
amined the papers in the case, / wen
10 Wichita and visited the lodge at tn
stated communication Of July %, 1895
After talking with the worshipful mas
ter, wordens and bretheren, 1 found b!
| a ballot taken that it was the unanin
Gus desire of the lodge that the cas-.
have a re-trial. This opinion coincidinG
with my own, I recommended and TIT
lodge decided 70 draw up new charge!
| and specifica tons cite the brother tC
appear and proceed with the trial regu
| larly and that I was to return and ST
to hear the case. Accordingly on Octo'
| Der %. after notice from the secretary,
| visited SunfoWsr Lodge No. Sc, and pre-.
| sided al the trial of the case. which had
| been set down for that date after due
| process, as shown by the records. Both
| the lodge and Brother Bicknen were
| represented by council; both written
and parole evidence was introduced and
| the arguments being concluded, the
lodge vas purged and proceeded to con-
| slider the case, with the result that all
members present (fourteen) voted 70
find the defendant guilty Of the specifi-
cations and guilty Of the charge and on
the question Of punishment by expul-
sion, all voted in the affirmative.
Those retiring, having been recalled
by the authority of your commission
aforesaid I pronounced the sentence of
expulsion on Brother L. w. BickneIl;
ana 10 other business appearing the
lodge was closed in form.
"Fraternally submitted.
"P. NJ. HOSINGTON."
DECISIONS.
!. II is unlawful for the craft 10 lay
the corner stone of an opera house. au-
ditorium, or any building TO be erected
by an individual or corporation for the
purpose Of gain. Such ceremonies
should be confined exclusively TO public
buildings, religious, educational and
chart able institutions.
?. A lodge should not pass resolutions
censuriDg the acts of any individual or
organization, or take any masonic no
tice Of the acts of the prOfane.
3. A brother who has taken either the
first or second degree, but is unable 10
prove himself or be lawfully vouched
for, cannot be advanced, neither can he
be reinstated.
4. A lodge 10 whom warrant of con-
stitutiOn has been granted cannot COM
mence work until regularity constituted
and the officers named in the warrant
duly installed by the grand master, or
some present Of past master duly au-
thorized by him.
>. All the officers of the lodge must
be elected from the mebership thereof,
except the tyler, who may be q member
of another lodge and no one can be en-
ployed or be appointed TO perform the
general duties pertaining to the office
a na a Of q Ir.r1-
thereof
6. A lodge cannot enforce the coilec-
ton of dues in advance.
Z. Where a member of lodge is found
guilty of an Offense against the body
OF Masonry, or pleads guilty thereto,
and the lodge fails to follow such con-
viction or plea by such punishment as is
provided by law, and said lodge subse-
quently has its charter revoked because
Of such failure to punish, such member
so convicted is not purged of his guilt. |
and he is not entitled TO a certificate OF |
good standing from the grand lodge.
3. The committee on investiga ton on |
all petitions received by a lodge. shall |
make an oral report and no record shall
De made, either on the petition or with |
he proceedings. indicating the nature |
If such report
WORK.
During my tour among the lodges I |
witnessed the comforting Of all the de- |
srees and am pleased to report that all |
he lodges visited, with one execution.
ire endesvoring to render the work ac-
;urately and in strict conformity to /
hat adopted by this grand lodge. there |
~ obeying the constitution and obliga- |
ions taken. The one exception men |
Toned is one Of the largest lodges in |
ne state, and one which has earned en-
liable reputa ton for fine ritualisitic eff
ectS. "his lodge, while aiming to give |
ne language of the ritual correctly. de-
arts from the eSta blished floor move
nents and instructions of the work in
cry many particulars, and iniects into
ne work many features which. while |
undoubtedly adding to the drama tic
fleet of degree and making il most
eautlful, has not particle of warrant
authority in the work in my possess
ion. This grand lodge has spent much
me and money in attempting to secure
Uniformity of work in the lodges
throughout the jurisdiction, and IL each
odge should be permitted to incorpor-
tie its own peculiar ideas as to work.
IL this time and money would have
cen spent in vain. Freemasonry has
Xisted from time immemorial because
0 innovations upon its usages, Gus
pms and landmarks have been permit
20 and strict compliance with the con-
rttution. laws, rules and edicts of the
rand lodge should be required from all
5 constituents.
BEGGING CIRCULARS.
l received number OF requests from
'dges for my permission TO send out
egging circulars to the several lodges
this grand jurisdiction for help for
arlous purposes. such as building a
all TO pay off a mortgage" or ere
Ell Of brother" 1 invariably declined ,
give my approval for these purposes
the ground that l did not consider
a wise plan to go begging among
ster lodges for help unless it was !.
me extremely urgent case that the
cal lodge, with the assistance of the
rand lodge, could not remove. Am
ware that II has been done by some of
y predecessors. but l do not believe
10 ne Tor the best interest of the order =
encourage this manner of appealing
Y help outside Of the lodge. '
MASONIC HOME.
II Ne are 10 judge from the tone Of
uca Of the correspondence received r
ON the officers and members OF our
nS'ljuent lodges during the year, we
.-ieVe The most important question to
me up at this time is that Of the Ma
Me home After years Of careful in
Stlgation and consideration the grand
dSe NJ the annual communicated
rec years ago. began in earnest the |
eatest work committed to its care a
al OF providing home for the helm 6
IS brothers, their widows and orphans :
le result OF that is that in two wears
p memhers OF the craft in this iuris-
r--on paid in an amount which. added |
mat contributed from other sources.
''t q sum aFaiianle for that purpose