Newspapers / Masonic Journal (Greensboro, N.C.) / Oct. 21, 1875, edition 1 / Page 6
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1 ,-i -I ; I r : ' i 1 '■'} I i ;; { . :! • j ^ 1 |. ^ I ' Ifll;': ' :: s, I i': ■■ ? ^ ■ i ■ I. - : 1 > l![h' piii iii;i ;- ] ••, i i'W:i,: 6 THE MASONIC^ JOURNAL “MOEE LIGHT.” What is Freemasonry ? This is tht) question put almost an in numerable number of times to every member of the fraternity who is suppos ed to be, either from his position in the craft, or his apportunities for study and observation, more fully posted on the end and aim of our ancient and honorable In stitution. From the profane world the question continually presents itself; they are very anxious to learn, ivhat is Free masonry. Freemasonry is a system of pure philanthropy, beneficence and be- n3Volence. Philanthropy, is the simple love of fellow-men, and may develop as variously in Institutions, as in fhe breasts of individuals. Every personal feeling which tends to create a zeal for the good of the species, and to benefit it either so cially, morally or physically, is pure pliilanthropy: and any Institution which instils into its votaries a love of their fellows, and a desire to be of service to them, may justly be termed a philan- thropical Institution. It is not always neccessary to ensure the execution of the good intentio'D. Beneficence, on the other hand, is active goodness, the con ferring of the benefit, without neccessari- Jy implying philanthropy; either in de sire or object. Instances are numerous in which men have been lavishly beneficent, from pure ly vain-glorious motives, without taking into account upon whom their bounty alighted, or to the private feelings that have been wounded by the public act. Benevolence, however, denotes the ut most kindness of feelings toward the ob jects of beneficence, and consults with careful tenderness the shrinking feelings of its recipients; never suffering a harsh, unfeeling world to gaze with rudeness upon the misfortunes o-f others. All these attributes o-f practical goodness to mankind, we ho-ld, are presented in a concentrated form in the one word Free masonry. It is philanthrophic because it is founded upon a love for the bumau family, and exerts itself to promoite their benefit to a greater extent than the cmtside world has ever imagined. It is l;enefi- cent, because its benefits are actual, sub stantial and properly timed; not theoret ical, frivilous, or fanciful, but are bestow- py which excludes none on account of nationality, language, or creed, and finds its members and beneficiaries in every part of the globe. In fact, to use the words of a German brother, “A Mason's country is the whole world, and between his compasses is con tained all that concerns mankind.” It is also alleged that our fraternity in its system of beneficence is less active and extensive than that of other Institu tions of later date, and of greater display. While we would not for a moment wish to disparage any attempts put forth which tend to the benefit of man, and which are operating around us, we may be calmly conscious that ours is the system w'hich obviates at once both the possibility of attack or defense. It is essenlially pn- vale: its beneficence is veiled by its benevolence; and its benevolence is sanc tified by its secrecy. Of Freemasonry we can p'-operly say that “its quality of mei- cy is not strained.” — N. Y. Square. Is Voting in the Lodge a Right of Membership ? GEO. FRANK GOULEY. od at the time whe.a their pre.'ence is de sired, silently and without acclaim. It is beuevoleiit, because its feelings and sentiments are fraternal in their manner; confidential in communication, and are characterized by that brotherly kindness, which makes them grateful to their recipient. Maso’iic charity be- I iiig obligatory to all its members, the position of the recipient is therefoie a common privilege, and all sense of humilating obligation is done away with ; Resolutions Of the Grand Lodge of N. C., adopted at the Annual session in Deo. last; The words " Ancient wwli of Masonry f were adopted as the title of the work of thisjurisdiction. That resolution No. 1, on page 30, Grand Lodge Proceedings of 1871, be re pealed, and that the following resolution be adopted : That any member of a Subordinate Lodge who shall apply for a dimit, it shall be granted him upon his producing the Secretary’s receipt that he has paid all Lodge dues, if there be no charges against him; Provided, That any Mason who thus becomes non-affiliated, by his action distinctly releases all members of Lodges from any and all Masonic ties between himself and them, letaining no Masonic right except that of petitioning any Lodge for membership. That Art. IV of Anderson’s Constitu tion, which we consider the highest writ ten authority on Masonry, fully defines the ancient law and usage on this subject, to-wit: “Only candidates may know that no mastei should take an apprentice un less he has sufficient employment for him, and unless he be a perfect youth, having no maim or defect in his body that may render him incapable of learning the art, &c.” That a Lodge cannot appeal from an acquittal, nor allow a spiteful accuser to use its name and machinery to gratify his malice. That the dues from Subordinate Lodges to this Grand Lodge shall be fifty cents per capita annually for each member re ported. I That when a Lodge has forfeited its I Charter and sent its records to the Grand ‘ Secretaiy, the former members of such Some years ago there was introduced into the system of Masonic government of subordinate bodies, a by-law like the following : “No member in arrears for dues for the space of months shall have the right to vote.” Exactly where such law was first start ed, and by whom, it would be difficult to state, but that it got into the lodges and spread by degrees, by one lodge copying the laws of another, until it finally at tracted the attention of Grand Lodges, etc., there is no question. That it ever got any considerable foothold without being at once c? ushed out, can only be ac counted for on the well-known fact that Grand Bodies are slow to move in such matters, unless their attention is directly called toward them. Not one committee on by-laws in a dozen, appointed during annual ses.sions, ever has the lime or in clination to read all the matter submitted to it, and the result is that the subordi nate body goes ahead with all its errors under the honest supposition that they have been “confirmed.” In jurisdictions, however, where the subject has received attention, such a law has been declared unconstitutional, null and void, for the reason that it is an infringement of the vested rights of membership and a depri 1 vation of the same without even the for- ' mality of a trial .K member in arrears ‘ may be so from good and just cause, if i he has an opportunity to explain, and as J every member is supposed to be in good standing in his lodge when not under ! charges, he cannot be deprived of a part | of his rights without the destruction of ; them all. It would be just as legal to ! say the Wardens cannot occupy their! stations if they are three months in ar rears, or to have a law that the Master i cannot preside if he is twelve months be hind hand, or that a member cannot visit ! his lodge, as well as to say he cannot vote. | The 1 aws of every well regulated juris- j diction provide that no member shall be ! deprived of any of his rights, except by the award of his brethren. If he can pay and will not, then try and punish him for disobedience, and until he is found guilty and the punishment awarded, he is still A MEMBER. If he Wants lo pay and can not, and the brethren are satisfied of that fact, then let them remit his dues, or grant further time. In either case, he is I i still A MEMBER, entitled to enjoy all the i ; rights, immunities and privileges belong- | ing to such membership, and he cannot constitutionally, or in equity, be deprived of them by the simple fact of arrearages. ZTis indebtedne.ss is one thing, and his right to vote is another. Let all Grand Lodges declare such e.r parte laws uncon stitutional.— Yoiccof Ma&onTy. New Advertisements. B E ONE NIGHT ONLY. N B O W HAL SATl'RDAY, OCT. 33ml, 1875. 4th Annual 'J'our of MRS. JAS. MAAS' Burlesque Opera & Specialty Trcupr, LARGEST TROHPE TRAVELING/ The Great 'Victorelli Eros, (.lOIIN AND WTIJ.IAM.) THE greatest GYMNASTS, Ml’Sj. CAL CLOWNS AND BURLESQUE ARTISTS OF THE AGE. Win pnsilively appear rain i rsliiiic. Even- lugs Performance coiicliuliiig tie liurlcs-qu- opera of BAUBE BLUE.' witli New' Scenery, Wardiobi s, apj oiiilnienis, Ac, Mrs. Maas w ill (Iciiiite a Percent age of Nighi- ly Receipts to Charitable Purioiesiu lie State of North Carolina. Her Percentage Jioiiation Last Season to tlu- Oxford Orphan Asylum Amounted to overAlOO “iVltJ^VtCTORELI.r, .J.^S. II. IIOPKIXS, Manager. Ageiil. EVERETT SMITH, Life & Fire Insurance Agent, Greensboro, N. C. Reprcse.-.ts the Mktkoi'oi.j’iaj; LiFEifNri York, the inaugurator of tlie two most popiil: •and equitable plans of Life Insurance, THE RESERVE ENDOWMENT and THE RESERVE DIVIDEND PLANS. Every pledge of this company is plainly w r/tlehout, and the lull res| onsihilil v ol tl’i- Company and assured dellned, the Poi.uv oftlie Mktkopoli'I'An sIk itld l,e lead (il‘olin/m any other Unmpuny i.t acccjiiea'. Oliserve the following Original and Clmiai- teristic Provisions of litis Company : Its days of grace, from one month to six, di - termined by tlie age of the Policy. Its coiiti-'iianoe fn inoiie insured pcriotl In another without inerea>e of iireiniimt. Us Reserve Diviilend Piimi considered ns a deposit at an interest lor the payment of fu ture I rcmiiims. Its S|)ccific Guarantees of Dividends and Surrender Value, Its Inoonleslahle Clause, operatingfroi.i 11.v payment, of tlie first tiremiuin. The amount explie.tly stated to he PAID IN DEA'lMt. The amount cxplieitly stated to be PAID IN J.IFE. -\lso represents several First-Class Fire ('em- pa-lies, in whieli risks wiil be written on all classes ofinsurahle property, aiieloii the niest favoralile teniis. Three Masoms, at lea.st we hear they and there is no obligation shared by the . x j fraternity which does not partake of this ' '"ilh another Lodge, advantageous character. ; ^ petjt>omug for a Dispensation for a ; ^re such, wiihout the fear of Grand Ma,s- It has oftea been said that the claims of : sal I Bell, or the Grand Lodge of Arkansas Freemasonry to the attributes of general ;t ’leir having iormerly | ignorantly, we must philanthropy are unfounded and false,; ® to sue i o ge which shall be ^ presume, have been making Masons inasmuch as it benefits, whatever they be, ! ^ ecretary on receipt j Crittenden county, Arkansas, accrue c-nly to its own members. ° ^ shown by such records to be owing by them to their former Lodoe. We acknowledge the above to be the' case, and find our authority for upholding the fraternity in the practice of the same, ill Floly Writ, “-Do good to all men. Lot i especially to those of the household of faith;” not meaning-, however, the pro feasors of any peculiar religious creed, for the Masonic fiaternity embne e all who bow to a Supreme Being, and render homage to the 6. A. 0. T. U. No Instit’.’.tion yet established in the world would be capable of doing good to the people of the entire universe, but th.it one nearest approaches philanlhro- EUGEXE ECKEL, Druggist and Pharmacist, Green.suouo.N. C. Personal attention to conipoiiiutiiig I’rte scriiitions at all hours—day or night. 3—3 The Chinese and Cinti.sTi.yNiTY.— We have the heathen at our doors in a double sense, and the experiment of the effect of Christianity upon them is an in teresting one. The Rev. Charles N. FI in They as serted that their object was to get enough good citizens to take the degrees to secure enough Masons to petition for a new Lodge near where they lived. Unfortu nately some good citizens, believing in' their .assumed power and right, have paid their money and are progressing in the art. Three have taken all the degrees CHARLES I). YATES, Bookseller & Stationer, and dealer in MUSIC and FANCY ARTI(/LE.S. Gheenshouo, N, C. 2-3T on*^th'p’‘* there are 2,000 Chinese pertaining to a Lodge, and five more are on tho 1 «!tcific coiist uiidsr chnstifin iiiflu'- rv»n fU/x* . . a i .i t ence. He says the converts are frugal ' ' - sudden light has fallen yet liberal. “They will roast a wliole them, and they are now waiting to hog for dinner, and then ‘sell off’ what “t^e way to be saved.”—Jeme/. remains, b«naii,se it is cheaper, and then go to the mission at nigh.t and give liber- Thirty-seven convicts have been sent ally to relieve a brother or help spread from the Penitentiarv to Old Fori, the gospel. Philadelphia .Record. work on the Western "^Railroad. STEELE A DENNY, Manufacturers of Doors, Blinds, Sash, Mouldings to and Dealers in ALL KINDS OF LUMBER. Otiice S. STEELE, corner .East Markets!-; GltEENSr.ORO, N. C. C.Fsix,, 2—3 Terms
Masonic Journal (Greensboro, N.C.)
Standardized title groups preceding, succeeding, and alternate titles together.
Oct. 21, 1875, edition 1
6
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