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T fl E MASONIC J 0 U K N A L
THE MASONIC JOUENAL
SEMI-MONTHLY
GEEENSBOEO, N. 0.
E, A, WILSON, Editor & Ptoprietor.
TERMS:
1 copy One Year
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]y subscriptions, with the cash, will re
ceive the paper one year free of charge.
i'oI/ce.-^My Business Clerk, J, S. WILSON,
is autlioi*izt)d to reo.eivo and receip. for all money, and
trausfU tally other business of the Journal
4!.^ CorrespondeuLs desiring a reply must enclose a
Stamp for return Postage, and all matter desired to be
seen only by the Editor should be marked “Private’’
on the lower left-hand corner of theeuveloiie.
E, A. Wilson, Editor t£- Proprietor.
JOURNALISTIC.
Wanted,—We want active, reliable
.Agents in every county in the South to
canvass for the Joubnal, to whom a
liberal commission will be paia. An en
dorsement as to reliability, under seal of
the Lodge, is desired. An immediate
application will secure choice of territorv.
Send stamp for replan
The Louisville, Ky., Freemasons
subscribed $50 in one night’s sitting for
the yellow fever sufferers of Savannah.
Gen, L. V. Peaece, Past Grand Mas
ter of Ohio, died at his residence at Ak
ron, on Saturday, Nov. lllh, aged 75
years.
Omaha is getting dignified and now
wants a Masonic Temple, to cost $15,000.
This is all very good but then we vvoii-
der if they have an Orphan home ?
The Philadelphia Chronicle says
that during the six months ending Sat
urday, Nov. 11th, 125,850 visitors were
admitted to the Philadelphia Masonic
Temple.
Jas. L. Ridgely, Grand Secretary of
the Grand Lodge of the United States, I.
0. 0. F., is now seventy years old, and
has held his present official position since
1839. Few otEcers have been so faithful
to their duty as this venerable brother.'
The United Grand Lodge of England
has had but four Grand Masters since
1813 ; the Duke of Sussex for 29 years ;
the Ear! of Zetland; 26 years; the Mar
quis of Eipon, 4 years; and the Prince
of Wales, up to the present time, 2 year?.
The name of Daniel Coxe deserves
perpetual remembrance as being the first
Grand Master of Masons in America,
being placed in that honorable, and res
ponsible fiosition in the year 173C. In
1734 he was Associate Justice of the Su-
]ireme Court of New Jersey and died in
1739.
An exchange .says; “A piece of!
stone from the fo'undation of King Solo- I
mon’s Temple, and some salt from the
Dead Sea, were deposited in the corner
stone of a netv Masonic Temple to be
erected at Gold Hill, Nevada, at a cost
of $30,000.’’ Now, will the brother
please inform us if it was the piece of
stone, the salt, or the Masonic Temple
that cost the $30,000.
Piiiladelphia, it seems, will never
cease receiving Masonic honors, or at least
having those she has numerously brought
to light. It has some time since been an
established fact that American Freema
sonry had its birth in that oily in 1730,
and now another important fact has been
established,—ihut fifty out of the fifty six
signers of the Declaration of Independ
ence were members of the Masonic Or
der.
Secretaries are requested to act as
agents for the Journal in their Lodges,
and we will send them the paper gratis.
Subscription sheets furnished on applica
tion.
What has become of our valued con*
temporary, the Philadelphia Keystone ?
We have not seen a number of it for some
time past. It has endeared itself to us
and w'e feel loth to give it up.
The Messenger informs us that an en ■
tertainmeufc in Goldsboro last week, in
aid of the Orphan Asylum netted about
$60 for that Institution. We like all
such pleasurable entertainments that
bring something in return for that noble
charity.
Thanks to Brother Geo. Frank Gou-
ley, Grand Secretary of Missouri, for a
cony of the proceedings of bis Grand
Lodge held at St. Louis, Oot, 10th. Bro.
Gouley was unable to attend the Grand
Communication, through sickness, but
the minutes were faithfully kept by Bro.
David Goodfellow, as they will amply at
test.
During the past year much has been
done. Seven new Lodges have been
chartered, making a total of 490 ; mem
bership 23,739—an increase of 917.
Xenophon Ryland is the Grand Mas
ter, Geo, Frank Gouley, Grand Secretary,
with 50 D. D. Grand Masters.
The Grand Lodge.
On next Tuesday the 90th Regular
Communscation of the Grand Lodge of
Nonh Cai oliria will commence in Ral
eigh. This will be an important session
in many respects, and it is anticipated
*bat the Representation from the Lodges
will be full. We believe that it is a con
ceded fact that a more intelligent body
of men is not to be found in the State
than those comprising the Grand Lodge
of Masons, and certainly a more zealous
and hard working set'than they cannot
be congregated
Foremost among the business that will
engage the Grand Lodge will be that of
the Orphan work. The past year has
been one of great financial trial to the
Institution, and the children have been
barely able to subsist on the means sup
plied, while tile Superintendent has been
compelled to decline many applications
for admission and to out down the num
ber already in the Asylum;—and yet it
was hard to get along. We hope the
Grand Lodge will he able to adopt some
plan more practical and itScient than
the uncertain and insuffici'ent ones de
pended upon heretofore. Notwithstand
ing the large majority of the parents of
the children that are fostered there are
not Masons, so long as the Grand Lodge
owns and runs the Institution - we, as
Masons, must depend upon ourselves
more, and the general public less, for its
proper support. To this end we have re
peatedly expressed our opinions, as also
have various correspondents, and we
now appeal to the Grand Lodge for sub
stantial action for sufficient an.t perman
ent support. We are ready to co-oper
ate in any plan that t’ney may adopt,
and we believe the Masons of the State
will. We feel that the fir.ure hope of
this noble Institution depends upon the
action of the present Grand Lodge.
Other important subjects will ha pre
sented, calling for wise and prudent leg
islation, and looking to the prosperitv of
the Order. Let every committee be de
liberate in forming conclusions, as in the
main the action of the Grand Lodge is
governed by such recommendations.
And finally, if the pet scheme or plans
of some does not receive the endorsement
of the Grand Lodge, and falls through, let
each, as Masons, feel that the greatest
good IS designed by all—that all actions
are prompted by conscientious motives.
The Conference.
The North Carolina Conference of the
M. E. Church, South, met in this city on
last Wednesday, the 29th inst.. Bishop
H. H Kavanaugh, aged 71 years, presi
ding. The Conference is largely attend'
ed, and the houses of the citizens are
thrown open to the members and lay
delegates with a hospitality and cordial
ity for which Greensboro is proverbial.
There are about one hundred and thirty
ministers and fifty lay delegates of the
Conference here, and several visitors and
fraternal messengers, from other Bodies.
Much business has been and is being
transacted and all, thus far, has moved
on smoothly and pleasantly. On Thurs
day (Thanksgiving day) the Bishop de
livered an able discourse on the goodness
of God to his creatures as revealed in all
His wondrous works and dealings with
his creatures. It was a wonderful ser
mon, replete with a pui.i and elevated
sentiment and a spiritual influence that
was warmly appreciated by all who heard
it.
This is chiefly a business meeting at
which all the various interests of the
church aie considered and oared for, and
from which the ministers are returned to
their former charges oi as.signed to new
ones by the Bishop. Upon this matter
there is always much concern as by it
ofttimes many flattering hopes are blight
ed.
The Methodist itinerancy is a hard
life, and generally but poorly paid, and
truly it requires a brave heart to engage
in it; but there is a mutual feeling of
confidence and affection between these
noble men and their people and the whole
membership within the bounds of the
Conference are on tiptoe of expectancy
as to who will be their pastors in the
several charges during the coming year.
Trifles.
In Masonry as in other things what
are considered trifles are of more moment
than at first is snypposed. If many
things that are treated as trifles were
looked into more closely and attended
to more carefully, not only individuals
but whole Lodges would be better off
than they are.
We hear complaint on all sides of de
ficiency in work, careless attendance
upon the meetings, rusty officers, &c.,
&o , and what is the cause? Cannot all
these errors and evils to a great extent
be traced to a too carele.ss inattention to
what is inaccurately called trifles?
It is but a trifle that the Tyler fails to
keep a register for visitors, and yet in
onr extensive visits among the Lodges
this year we have visite.l only two
Lodges that keeps such a book ;—and
yet the law expressly says it shall be
done.
It is but a trifle to see dirt and fi th,
chairs and spittoons, aprons and regalias,
lying arourid the Lodge room in promis
cuous confusion, and yet how cheerless
to visit such a hall. But th
such is too often the case. We once had
an old brother refuse to attend Lode
with us because he had forgotten to shave
before leading home; remembering that
it is unmasonic to appear in the Lodgei
an untidy phght. Oh, for a multitude ef
just such brothers I
It is but a trifle that the Junior Dea-
omits half his duties or the Senior h
ignorant of his; the Master can prompt
them, or if need be can perform their
duties for them—its ortly a trifle
However small these things may jp.
pear, it is a notable fact that the Lodge
whose Master is both exact and exactif
is sure to be bright and prosperous and
with plenty of work to do and members
predent to do it. It is not safe for
committee to excuse themselves from
making a report at the appointed time
on the ground that they can do so at the
next meeting.
Let every officer Icnowhw, duties, and
perform them in a lively, vigorous man
ner, and not as if he was going to sleep
over what he is saying. No wonder that
so many lose all interest long before thev
have received all the degrees. This and
that trifle has been omitted until the
whole life and beauty has leaked ont of
the ceremonies and the candidate has
become a listless tool in the hands of an
equally listless Lodge.
Wake up, brethren, on these matters.
Give proper attention to every detail.
Keep your halls neat and comfortable
regalia clean, and everything in place
and in order and then it will be a pleas-
ure to attend your meetings. Give at
tention to your work—to details—and
let every one perform his part properly
and fully, and you wiU soon see new life
infused into your Lodge.
give up
for such
ere are many
kept in just such condition; and no
wonder the brethren are loth to
their cheerful evening firesides
a place as this.
It is but a trifle to use the same aprons
for months without introducing them to
the acquaintance of the laundress, but
Consistency.
A woman, of Wliiteliall, Vt., has wo
ven. since the year 1865 up to .Sep: ember, 18-
70. 11,954 yards of rag carpet, and most oftlie
time has done her own litwsework.”—Ur.
It is said that “Consistency is a Jewel,’"
and the above paragraph clearly slows
it; and this is but one of tlie thousands
that are going the rounds of thepress
every day. If there is a class ofipersoiis
on the Globe to whom we would take off
our hat in the most humble respect, it is
the noble, industrious class of whom the
above is a fitting representative, and yet
what is the real verdict of “society” in
such cases ? Notwithstan-diing the fulsome
laudations that follow them thiocgli the
press, what is the real status of respect
that these industrious andskillfel mat
rons enjoy through their labor ? Judging
by years of observatieo, we venture that
nine tenths of those wko go into, raptures
over these paragraphs and scream ont
their sharp pointed “ohs !” cf approba
tion are among the first to snub, these
industrious toilers, and turn their beads
to avoid recognition when passing them
on the streeis.
This is, indeed, a sad commentary on
society, but it is nevertheless as r.rue as it
is sad. And this false estimate of honest
labor has done more to corrupt society
am!
and practically ruin our young men
women, than anything else. They must
learn that true respectability is based
upon a proper industrial education and
its unremitting practice. Let them be
taught that whatever is honest is hoBor-
able, and that idleness is disreputable,
rather than labor.
Let our people begin this great reform,
and see to it that they pi-operly “dignify
labor” by performing their full share in
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