The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1899-01-12
NO NEGRO MASONRY
Stand Taken by North caro-
lima Grand Lodge.
RESOLUTIONS PASSED
THEY WITHDRAW FELLOWSHIP
FROM WASHINGTON GRAND
LODGE.
0 FlctRs ELECTED FIR NSJNS YEAR
The Grand Ledge Restores Fellowship WITH
the Grand Lodge Of ',ru New Para
pte-na!ia Will be Pu chased.
Session Closes To day.

SeSs'oH SIoSeS ~ UoJ'
The Grand Lodge of MasOns held three
sessions yesterday. They were the larg
est attended of any in its history an6
were of the most harmonious charac
ter.
The most important business was
transacted ut the afternoon and night
sessions.
Their closing session will be held this
morning.
At the afternoon session the matter OF
withdrawing fellowship from the Crane
Lodge of Washington was taken up. The
Committee on Jurisprudence, to whom
the matter was referred, presented their
report, which was adopted.
The committees report is very full and
able, but owing to space it is not given il
full
The committee refers to the action OF
the Grand Lodge of Washington recog-
ming the legitimacy of the masonry OF
negroes, who received their degrees
from colored lodges chartered by colored
Grand Lodges claiming to exist i'll the
States of Illinois and Florida.
The controversy of Grand Master Up
ton, of the Washington Grand Lodge,
over the question with the Grand Master
of New York is discussed in which the
Grand Master of Washington tries to
bolster up his position.
The reports states that the action of
the Grand Lodge of Washington was q
direct and fragrant violation of Ma
sonny"
On the propriety of the making of ne
gro Masons, the report reads:
The report states that the action of
brother. f. G. Reade. made on Decem-
Der 5. 1865. states the position of the
Grand Lodge of North Carolina clearly,
and Enthusiastically.
THE committee do not. in the abstract
question the proprety of making Ma
sons of negroes. Our ancient landmarks
are that he may he made Il Mason, but
must be able in all degrees-that is, free
born, worthy and well qualified. 1t is
not necessary that the candidate should
be white man. We teach that IN every
cline and among every people Masonry
existed.
Here in the South. while there is ne
prejudice against the negro as such, yet
there is such prejudice against assum-
ing the intimate relations of Masons, that
to admit them to our order would he, In
evitably. to destroy it. The in
PRODUCTION of negroes into cur lodges
would obEterate Masonry in the South.
''The main safeguard against the intro
duction of its members into the MasOn's
fraternity is to preserve with jealous care
the inviolability of the doctrine of exclu
sive Grand Lodge territorial jurisdic
tIon. If this bulwark shall be falsely sur
rendered tas it appears to your com
mittee. has been done by our brethren
in Washington, lodges working under
the authority of distant Grand bodies
who can have no means or guarding then
creatures from intrusion of the authori
ty, will spring up within every juris
diction, and the seeds of disruption ana
total ruin in the Masonic order will have
been sown.'
your committee. th refore, are Of tn,
opinion that so long ms the resolutions
of June. 1893. remain upon the records
of the Grand Lodge of Washington, tht
Masons in North Carolina can have nj
fraternal relations with the Grand Lodg,
of Washington, nor with the Masons in
its jurisdiction. We therefore respect
fully recommend the passage Of the fol
lowing resolution:
Resolved That the Grand Master OF
Masons in North Carolina he directed tc
notify the Grand Master Of Masons il
Washington that the Grand Lodge Of
North Carolina has suspended all fra
ternal relations and Masonic intercourse
with the Grand Lodge of Washington
that its representative near this
Grand Body be requested to withdraw rs
such representative. and the represents
tive of the Grand Lodge OF North Caro-
lima near the Grand Lodge of Washing
ton is requested to return his cred ntials
and is no longer empowered to repre-
sent the Grand Body near that jurisdic
ton.
Resolved further. That the Nortl
Carolina lodges are instructed not to adj
NIT to Masonic intercourse any MasoT
who is Il member of any lodge working
under the jurisdiction of the Crane
Lodge of Washington.
Resolved, further. That this step il
taken not in anger, but in sincere pain
and that the Masons in North Carolina
earnestly trust that the Grand Lodge oil
Washington may. in its discretion. Sc,
fit TO rescind their former action and tf
return to the ancient landmarks. which
in the opinion of the Masons of NORTH
Carolina, have been invaded.
Resolved, further, That the Secretary
of this Grand body transmit n certified
copy of these resolutions to the Grand
Secretary of the Grand Lodge of Wash
ington.
''FABIIJS TT. BUSBEE
ssxyyNI