Year: 1871

CLINTON, Miss, Sept. Is, ISL.


Bro. Potcer AS | am no smoker, keep
no pipe but as a substitute, nave on mana
a few old crucibles OF from one to two hun
dred wears. into one of which, at your
Recommendation, placed the Weed, you
sent me, when it straightway vanished into
smoke not having substance enough TO
stand the test.


The fact that the opinion of your learned
correspondent is very decided, Is certainly
a strong point as would also be the state
ment, that the usage of the word demlt was
founded and perpctuated in error-lf there
was any foundation for the assertion. On
what is it based? | merely refer to my
article on that word in No. 26. CLARION OF
18th June, where authority is given to show
that the word demn had been adopted and
used as the Masonic word. and that the word
dimit has never been used by Masonic wri-
ters and is not now recognized as Masonic
term by Masonic photographers.


The learned DIR. Anderson used it, As did
all Grand Lodges upon necessary occasions,
as long as the privilege OF Withdrawing
from membership was considered TO be
inherent in the member as his voluntary act,
the same as was that of his joining the Lodge.
Then the member deTHitted or voluntarily
laid down his office or gave up his member
shin. But, since the practice OF denying
this right to the member, by its prevalence.
has iHnOrdted upon the ancient inherent
right and custom. the member is debarred
from Withdrawing of his own free will and
accord, and if he gets out, he must be d.
mitted bu the Lodge, discharged, dismissed
from membership, with condition attached
to even that privilege which forces him to
Join another Lodge as soon as practicable,
even against bis olCR loii, or cut off By the act
of diBaission, not from the special privileges
of the LOdge for these he relinquishes of his
own accord, but from all the privileges of
masonry, in other words he is made sus-
pended Mason IcithOut a trial.


I will NOT here enlarge uDOn this subject,
but will merely say, that as it regards ma
sonry, it's ancient usages, customs and
landmarks, L am, what may be called an
Old Fogy, and cannot adopt or sanction
any change which consider would lnnoVate
upon ancient usage.


The learned DIR. Anderson used the word
demit as the proper masonic term invariably,
and never used the word dimit, and until
it can be established that he was of the Josh
Billings order and sought to pervert the
meaning of his language and thus to origi-
nate and propagate error, must be permit
ted to hold to my present opinion.


Through a proper medium | could pro-
duce eunquestiOnable authority to prove that
the right of withdrawing at will, without
let or hIndrance, is inherent in masonry,
and was practiced long before the present
system of Subordinate Lodges and member
ship was established. when the classes or
divisions of operative workmen formed the
compact or association for which Subordi-
nate Lodges have been substituted. But,
do not feel at liberty to speak with full
freedom on Masonic subjects through the
columns of political journal, even il suifi-
cient space could be allowed, yet, we are
induced to use them occasionally from the
fact, that Masonic patronage, l regret to
say, is not extended to purely Masonic
publications in a degree that will Justify
their being established among us, and to
meet the eyes of Masons, the matter must
be also spread before large class of politi-
cal and prOmiseuous readers perhaps to be
criticised by those who do not understand
the subject therefore feel no interest in the
matter. We should have journal of our
own devoted exclusively to masonry in
each Grand Jurisdiction, in which to discuss
Masonic subjects, which should be well
patroniZed and sustained by the Fraternity


GEO. II. GRAY, SR.