The Hawaiian star. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu]) 1893-1912, 1906-01-26
THE HAWAIIAN TANGLE
CONTINUED from page stx.)

jurisdictions where they obtained their
charters, respectively, but when it came
to the formation of new lodges, no
grand lodge except those within the
United States had the right to grant
dispensation for such a purpose. Prior
to the revolution the grand lodges of
England, Ireland Scotland, France and
Hamburg, issued charters for lodges
within the colonies. Since that time
they have undertaken to do so but
seldom, and whenever any of them has
attempted it, it has been resented by
the grand bodies of America. SO far
as 1 know no Grand Lodge within the
United States has ever sought to es-
tablish a subordinate within the do
minion of the kingdom of Great Britain
or any of her dependencies, and we be-
lieve that whenever any country comes
under the American flag and becomes
American soil, that thereafter no for
eign grand body should grant dispense
tons or seek to establish lodges there
in. If the grand lodge of Scotland
can charter a loGge on the island of
Maui, which belongs to the United
States, it can charter other lodges in
Honolulu and elsewhere in he Ha-
waiian islands, and With equal prop
riety, it could be done in the Territory
of Alaska.
This has never been allowed or at
tempted without protest. While the
facts were not exactly the same and
probably no case can be found exactly
similar to this, as the Territory of Ha-
wall, owing to it's situation in mid ocean
is in many respects unique, still it is
American territory, and the Masonic
law which would apply to any other
American territory will apply to it;
and in reference to a case which arose
in New York in the early fifties, where
the grand lodge of Hamburg was seek
ing to invade the right of the Grand
Lodge of New York, by establishing
lodges there our own Grand Lodge in
1851, at it's second communication in
sympathy with the Grand Lodge of
New York, expressed itself by resolu-
ton on this subject as follows:
Resolved, That this grand lodge can
give no countenance or support to the
pretention of the Grand Lodge of Ham
burg or any other foreign grand lodge,
to a right to grant charters for lodges
i'm any of the territOy of the United
States of America
So far as l can find this resolution
has never been changed or modified,
and its language is just as applicable
to territory subsequently acquired, as
that which then existed.
With the law thus declared, or at
least the sentiment of our Grand Lodge
thus expressed in its early history and
never altered, 1 feel it to be my duty
to hold that Hawaiian lodge, No. q,
should not request Maui lodge to con-
fer the degrees, or either of them on
Bro. Smiddy, nor should it render a
similar service for Maui lodge at its
request.
1t is not necessary fer me to go full
length in deciding your qu stiOns. l
have no desire to interrupt the pleasant
personal relations now existing amog
the Brethren of Hawaii, as disclosed by
your letter, nor to prevent them from
making fraternal visits back and forth
between the lodges under this jurisdic-
ton and those under any other. 1 con-
fine myself at present to prohibiting the
interchange of cOurtesies as to confer
ing degrees between the two lodges I'M
der our jurisdiction on the ore hand and
Maui lodge on the other, and leave it
to our grand lodge at its next annual
communication to say whether l have
done right in this respect and also to
say what the relatians shall be be tween
the members Of this jurisdiction and
the members of Maui lodge, and to pass
upon the regularity and legitimacy of
Maui lodge if it sees fit to do so.
Yours truly and fraternally,
GEORGE w. HUNTER.
Grand Master of Masons in the State
of California.