Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1909-02-08

| APPOINTED time for a communication
of the lodge which had persistently
refused to admit the man, the Grand
Master suddenly appeared to the
brethren and assumed the chair of the
presiding master whom he oustcd for
the time being. The then commanded
| that the candidate should be suitably
| prepared and brought before him,
which was done, none daring to raise
a protest against the unheard of ac-
ton of the Sovereign Grand Master,
which was wholly without precedent.
When the candidate was before him
he proceeded to make him Mason IN
cue form by laying upon him the va
rious obligations and otherwise per-
forming the ceremony OF the three
degrees in the abbreviated form that
has since been used IN the same way
by other Grand Masters upon the rare
occasions when this ceremony has
been performed.
This bold and hitherto unprecedent-
cd act was taken up by everybody
and much discussed, but there WAS
none to call the Grand Master to ac-
count, for Grand Masters are a law
unto themselves, each within his own
Grand jurisdiction and can do as they
please, with none to modest him or
make him afraid" After they had
considered it awhile the other Grand
lodges came to the conclusion that
perhaps this man had set them an eX-
ample they might use with profit
should occasion require it. And it has
been used not very frequently, but oc-
CT
has arisen. AS for instance wnen d
man who has been proposed and bal
lotted upon has been called away for
long sea voyage or otherwise
placed so it would be impossible for
him to receive the degrees in due and
ancient form.
At times like these some Grand Mas
tors have been called in and have con-
scented to make the candidate Mason
at sight 1t is very infrequent nowev-
err that man is picked up. VINO has
not made application or at least slgni-
fled his intention of doing so and taken
the first steps in that direction, and
made a Mason at sight. President
Roosevelt was made O Mason In the
lodge at Oyster Bay, after he became
President, but this lightning method
was not employed in his case. He APP
piled, was elected regular and then
was given the degrees in the usual way
that all regular Masons have gone and
without any exceptions being made on
account of his high position. Rear
Admiral Schley of the navy was also
given the degrees within a short time
and advanced through all of the other
bodies through the commandery, but
he had to go the same way they all
have TO go with the exception that In
his case dispensations were given to
receive application and ballot on the
same night and then to give him the
degrees Immediately upon being elect
ed to membership.
The only explanation or reason for
this unusual ceremony in the case OF
Mr.. Taft is that it would be necessary
for him to journey to Cincinnati every
time he had to take more degrees af
tr being admitted in the regular way,
and this might prove announcement, if
not impossible, in the case Of the
President of the United States, SO he
is to be given the Eat sight" process
instead of the regular due ana ancient
form of work. The fact that the cerc-
mony is to occur in the Scottish rite
hall signifies nothing except that no
other is large enough to hold the
crowd which is expected to be present
upon the occasion which will probably
be the only time any OF those who are
present will ever see the work done
in this mannr.