The Birmingham age-herald., 1909-02-17
MASONS AIT UPON
 NEGRO QUESTION Mississippi Grand Lodge Breaks Off With New Jersey NO NEGRO RETALIATION Because Negro Masonic Lodge In New Jersey Is In Affiiation With White
 Lodges Mississippi Bars
 New Jersey.
NO NEGRO RETALIATION

Meridian, Miss, February 16.-(Speeial) T am deeply impressed from my experi- ence and information that we should draw the line. No halting between opinions. We should or should not But if we open our lodge to a promiscuous mixing up, then we destroy Masonry. There is only one way to prevent it and that is to cut loose from the evil in whatever form We find it"
 These were the opening remarks of Grand Master Edwin J. Martin at the first business session of the grand lodge I of Mississippi this morning, when he reached that portion in his address touch ing upon the future of the order in Mississippi, and it's relation to the negro. Grand Master Martins declaration was received by the 1900 delegates and visitors first in silence for it took a moment for the body to grasp the full meaning of his words, but as he proceeded and an nounced that by the authority vested in him he had withdrawn all fraternal corre- spondence or utilization with the grand lodge of Masons of the state of New Jersey there was enthusiastic evidence of general approval.
 The differences between the Mississippi grand bodies and the New Jersey jurs- diction began August 9, 1908, when Grand Master Martin of Mississippi opened correspondence with Grand Master Will liam D. Wolfskeil of Elizabeth, N. J., asking if it was true that the New Jer- sey grand lodge affiliated with negroes.
 To this letter the grand master of New Jersey replied that there was negro lodge at Newark, Alpha No. 166, that was in good standing and that there
 
 tiel denying to the negro full recogni- ton as Masons.
 Upon receipt of Wolfskeil's letter Grand Master Martin took up the matter with Supreme Representative w. A. Roane at Ripley, Miss, and formal announcement of Mississppi's withdrawal from affilia- ton with the New Jersey grand bodies was made known today. Discussing the subject Grand Master Martin said
 Tn this matter I have done what l thought was to be for the best interests of the fraternity. l weighed the condi- tons and sought the advice of our most conservative and best advised brethren. They almost to man advised me to pursue the course ] have. In my opinion it is the only alternative. The negro in our land is unfit to assume the respon- abilities and obligations of Masonry. It is an open secret that virtue and morality, which are indispensable qualifications to membership, are foreign to the race. l felt 1t my duty as grand master of the Mississippi grand lodge to cut loose from any who would dare open the door of Masonry to a people whose standing for virtue is a mockery to civilization"
 The opening of the grand lodge preceded by public ceremonies at the courthouse auditorium. Mayor John w. 1 Parker welcomed the Masons on behalf of the municipality while Hon. A. B. Amis delivered the welcome address on behalf of the MasoHs of Meridian. Re sponses were made by Grand Master Mar tin of Meridian and Hon. T. U. Sisson of Winona. The exercises were inter- spersed with vocal and instrumental music.
 Following the reading of Grand Master Martins report. which was a volumnous document thoroughly covering the work of the Masons during his term of office, it was referred to various committees.
 The grand lodge selected Columbus as the next place of meeting, Gulfport be- ing beaten by six votes. Officers were elected as follows:
 Wiley H. Clifton, Aberdeen, grand mas ter, unanimously
 William Conner Hattiesburg, senior grand warden, unanimously, and John s. Brooks, Robinsonvile junior grand war den.
 The Rev. Robert A. Clark, pastor of the Methodist church at Okolona grand chap lain; B. V White, Meridian, unanimously reelected grand treasurer; Frederick Speed, Vicksburg, unanimously reelected grand secretary; Allen M. Hicks, Myrle- vile unanimously reelected grand lec- turer, and Julius Yaretzsky, Shuqualak, unanimously chosen grand tyler. o. L. Mckay, Meridian. was unanimously chos- en as trustee of the widows and orphans home at Meridian for five years.