The Washington times., 1902-08-17

ends. Claiming to be military Order
based on army law, usage. and even the
articles oi war, let us follow the
same. Physically qualified and admitted
10 the army promotion may follow, re-
gardleess of the loss of a limb. Who
does not recall the fact that Gen. Dan
iel Sickles lost a leg and afterward be-
came q major general of the regular
army Gen. o. o. Howard lost an arm
and afterward received the same rank
and commanded the old Army of the
Tennessee, and so of many others we
could name. Let us lock less to 'physi-
cal qualifications and more TO the men
tai. moral. and social. and to the prac-
tice of the Christian virtues both in
and out of the asylum"
The Iowa correspondence committee
did not like the action of our Grand
Commander Galliher respecting dispen-
sations to ballot on the Schley petit
tion at special conclave. and said: 1t
was snobbery. Had the petitioner been
plain John Doe the dispensation would
not have been granted, nor asked for. The
recent haste of various Masonic bodies
to do homage to Spanish-American war
heroes bellies the primary teachings OF
Masonry and ranks toadyism as among
the prime virtues inculcated by the an
cient craft. We have not been SO
we 10 HOA So DtlitNC, NC Moulu
not so practice, but would meet upon
the level and require every tostulant
to travel the same road" Replying 10
this Sir Knight Walker says: mo high
erminded man or one more sincere in
all his dealings do we know than Past
Grand Commander Galliher. We do not
lbe!ieve that there was any thought of
doing anything outside the line of duty
when he asked for the dispensation for
Admiral Schley and the other candi-
date likewise vested with the orders.
We believed at the time that the power
exercised in granting the dispensation
was not vested in the Grand Master, and
so the Grand Master afterward ruled.
Our own Grand Commandery. in acting
upon the report OF the committee OF ju-
risprudence, disapproved of the dispen-
sation. Nevertheless, We know that the
then Grand Commander, Sir Knight Gal
liner, followed strictly in what he con-
ceived TO be the line of duty, and no
one who knows him would say that he
would manifest any fear or favor in the
performance of any trust, no matter how
sacred"
| Past Grand Commander De Lays, of
! Mississippi, in his report on correspon-
| dence does not hesitate to express his
opinion upon Grand Commander Ding
mans decision respecting physical quail
| ifications. He says: Grand Commander
lDingman made but three decisions, two OF
| them correct; the other, which was that
a candidate with a cork leg. but able to
kneel, is ineligible from the fact that
his appearance in the lines of a COM
mandery would necessarily mar the cor
rectness of its formation What a pity,
He then adds: The companion could not
take part in the escorts in the asylum
or be a participant in any parade be-
| fore the public etc. Horrible, We
would like to know what the Christian
religion and the practice OF the Chris
| tian virtues have TO do with military pa
rades or the correctness of formation
! of commandery lines. And yet these are
| the basis upon which the orders of
lnighthood stand and there can be no
warrant of law. having due regard for
| the mission of the institution, that bars
the door of the asylum against any COM
panion who has enough of his original
corposity to enable him to make himself
known as Templar. If we are hunting
perfection of form instead of excellence
OF life and character; if We are after
dudes instead of men: If legs outrank
brains and moral character and If we
propose 10 entirely ignore the pure
teachings of the order and make of 1t a
fancy military society. then. and in that
case, the decision was right and proper;
but IL we are trying to make men bet
ter. purer in heart and life, we will pay
less attention to legs than brains, and
the decision will be adjudged to be
wrong"
But this distinguished frater thinks,
despite the fact that our grand comman.
derry adopted the report of its commit
tee on Jurisprudence, in opposition to |
the Schley dispensation, that it may
have been in contravention of some fuI- |
minaticn OF the grand encampment and |
labeled law but it was eminently right, !
proper. and sensible"
Touching Grand Commander Ding |
mans decision relative to physical quail |
incatIons, the grand commander of Mon
tana says: The reasons assigned by |
the right eminent for holding ineligible |
d candidate with one cork leg do not ap- |
pear to us to have great force. Not all |
members are expected to parade. II the |
candidate was worthy and would make
valuable member we believe he should |
be accepted and assigned such duties as
he could perform.
The New Jersey report on correspond
ence speaks highly of the financial con-
diton OF the grand commandery OF the
District Of Columbia. saying: This GER
tainly is a most satisfactory showing,
and reflects great credit on those who
have the administratio of affairs in the
communicates We note that unpaid
dues does not appear among the assets.
1t is too much to hope there are none,
but we are glad to see that our Wash
ington frate-s do not count their money
before they get ii.
The Illinois report on correspondence
by Past Grand Commander James II.
Codding says:
THE WI tier of this report will always
carry the kindest remembrance of the
fraters of the city of Washington. He
had the honor to be present at the birth
of their grand commandery. and during
four years was privileged to enjoy the
wamest evidences of the unbounded hos
pitality of the knights Templars OF the
District of Columbia. In reading these
proceedings he is pleased to observe the
many familiar names yet among the liv-
ing. Long may they continue TO do honor
to their grand commandery."
Sir Knight Alexander, of the Virginia
committee on correspondence, thinks the
dispensation of the grand master to al
low Columbia Commandery to act upon
the petition of Admiral Schley at spe-
cial conclave was legal. AS to the pow
ers and prerogatiyes of the grand mas
ter he says: HE should be just what
his title denominates him-master. We
ara Glad wa cav hecnusa with fhe ever | .