The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1899-06-19
TWELVE PAGES.


Asst Saturday morning the Helena
l.. Independent printed what it de-
scribes as an open letter. ad-
dressed to Governor Smith and signed
"A Citizen" That is not an open letter
to answer that description a letter
must be open at both ends; it must
carry the open name of the writer as
well as of the person addressed. A COPY
of the letter reached the Standard office
last Saturday, with a request for its
publication Saturday morning. an ar
rangement which, of course was i'm
possible, in view of the fact that the
copy was received hours after Satur-
days Standard had gone to press. For
that matter, the gist ofathe letter can
be put in a paragraph.
The governors correspondent protests
because the grand lodge of Masons in
Montana has been invited to lay the
cornerstone of the new state house, on
the ground that the invitation is a. "vio-
lation of the common laws of fairness.
justice and equity" that it is against
the letter and spirit of our constitution
and that it violates the section of the
constitution of Montana which reads:
Nor shall any preference be given by
law to any religious denomination or
mode of worship
The argument in the letter of "a Citi-
zen"is that Masonry is a mode of wor-
ship" For its part, the Standard con-
feases to very small interest in the con-
tention raised by the letter of "A Citi-
zen.' Tt may be that the states compos-
ing the American Union have been
grossly violating their constitutions
from generation to generation; our no
fion is that Montana can stand it if the
rest of them can. This page of the
Standard isn't "up" on Masonry; the
forms and rituals and Insignia and
spirit of the order are attractive for
some people and not particularly enter
tanning for all of us. But, in this bust
mess of laying corner-stones, there are
presidents which are not the Masonic
fraternity's secret
! The Standard does not set itself I'D
TOR authority in this matter, yet our
present impression Is that the Masons
nave laid the cornerstone of about
every state-house in the United States.
There may be exceptions, although we
think not. 1t does not occur to us that
dts worth the trouble to look the case
up-essentially the fact is as lust
stated; and. with Washington taking
part in the ceremony, the Masons laid
the cornerstone of the national capi-
toll. The Masons have laid the corner
stone of many state institutions Of
learning; our impression is that they did
this in Montana. Whether, after all
said and done, this fraternity is sponsor
for a mode of worship or whether Its
cornerstone activities have been VIC
hating constitutions right along and
time out of mind, Is a question which
the Standard, being no Mason. doesn't
feel in any way disposed to discuss, for
the reason that we do not believe for
moment that any considerable number
of people in any community IN Montana
cares a fig about it ALL one way or the
other.
More interesting just now than the
discussion started by the letter of "A
Citizen" is the literature relating TO this
business of laying corner-stones. One
work on that subject quotes Tacitus.
who tells how the thing used to be done
in ancient days. There was, in Rome,
when important buildings received
their cornerstone, a procession of the
vesta1s who, with chaplets of flowers
encompassed the ground and conse-
Grated it by libations of living water"
When the Roman capitol was rebuilt
HHelvidius laid his hand upon the fillets
that adorned the foundation stone and
also the cords by which it was to he
drawn into place" Then the magis-
frates and priests and senators, the
Roman knights and a number of citi-
zens all acting with one effort and amid
demonstrations Of joy, laid hold of the