Evening star., 1901-10-21

| various Jurisdictions show that there have
| been organized since the last session forty
new bodies of the Rite and there has peen
since that session an increase in our num-
! Der of Perfect Elus of 1885, of our Princes
| of the Royal Secret 3,163. These figures In
dcate most gratifying growth. Much the
| greater proportion OF this unprecedented
| increase shown for the two years has taken
place within the past twelve months III IL
| is indicative of advancing prosperity in our
| order-and it assuredly is-then we are
prosperous far beyond anything within our
| experience as Supreme council 1T goes
without saying that the increase In members
means a corresponding betterment In our
| financial condition"
Applicants Should Be Scrutinized.
! He said it was proper to make an inquiry
| at this point. Has this increase been
ries in comforting the degrees, outstrip our
| which has gone into the building been per-
fectly sound and free from defect? If so,
1t is a most highly gratifying fact. We
should not permit our desire to grow, to
take in numbers, to get money In order to
pay for our temples, and for the accesso-
ries in comforting the degrees, outstrip our
better judgment as to the internal Qualih-
cations of those who seek admission within
our portals. Every applicant should be
| most carefully and cautiously scrutinized.
AS the Rite becomes more and more popu-
lar, persons with mercenary motives will
be found knocking at our doors. Great
popularity Win an INDIVIDUAL OF dH iHStl~
tuition is always fraught with danger. 1t
is oftentimes hard for us to say no when
we really feel that we should do SO. 1t has
been frequently said, and ii Is unmlstak-
ably true, that there is no conceivable
danger for our Rite from without but that
only from within can be sown the seeds
which may endanger the fabric, and har-
vest of disaster be reaped. We have wit
messed occasionally and will continue to
see efforts of charlatans and deceivers to
propagate what they term degrees of Ma
sonry, but they will all prove short-lived,
leaving behind them their dupes, to recall
their existence and execrate their memo
ries.
However, / believe we are at this time
unusually free Of the spurious in Masonry
who are endeavoring to peddle their worth
less wares 1t is true that semi-occasional-
ly some mountebank has appeared for a
day, to cheat confiding and thoughtless
persons or those who have hoped to get
something of value without paying a sound
price therefor; but these occurrences have
been rare, and have happened no oftener
than have appeared the cranks who are
masquerading under the mantle of religion
and, being Insignificant themselves, en-
deavor to make a sensation that they may
calling themselves Masons but who are
simply cheats and frauds, will always be
found traversing the land at least so long
as there are those who, being unable to get
the genuine article. are contented with the
counterfeit, and who are pleased for the
difference in dollars to take error for the
truth and dross for the true gold"
President McKinIey's Assassinatfon
In closing, the grand commander made
feeling allusion to the assassination of
President Mckinley.
There was no sort of excuse or justifca-
ton for the wanton and cruel deed" he
said. THE President was Mason, and in
this he was our brother. But. above and
| beyond this. he was our President AS Ma
sons we have nothing to do with matters
of state or politics, but as loyal citizens
profoundly In love with our government and
her free and liberal and peculiar institu-
tions, we can and do express our abhor-
renee of the detestable crime committed,
not only against the President who was
| so far from deserving IT, but against the
republic itself.
1.-The country was shocked by this deed
as probably it was never shocked before
| and It will be long ere there is a full re-
covery. In the meantime our hearts go
| out In deep, sincere and unmeasured SYM
pathy for the bereaved widow for the ir-
reparabie loss she. In common with our
whole country. has sustained.
Pure and Elevated Character.
Men OF all parties and professions hon.