SEMI-MONTHLY
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GREENSBORO, N. 0.
E, A. WILSON, Editor St Pio.prietor.
TERJIS:
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E. Editor c& Proprietor.
JOUEITALISTIC.
Wanted. —We want active, reliable
Accents in every county in the South to
canva.ss for the Journal, to whom a
liberal commission will be paid. An en
dorsement as to reliability, under seal of
the Lodge, is desired. An immediate
application will secure choice of territory.
Send stamp for reply.
Pay Up.—With this and the succeed
ing issues of the Jou.tNAL many of our
subscriptions fall due (and a number are
over due) and we send out bills request
ing renewal. Will not each brother
kindly heed the notice and promptly
remit us $1,50 for another year? We
are told on all sides, “We cannot do
without it.” We esteem this apprecia
tion of our labors and feet nerved for
renewed efforts to please ; but, brethren,
it is impossible for us to publish a paper
without money. Our means are very
limited, and everything ooncected with
the publication of the paper is strictly
cash, therefore we hope all will rightly
appreciate our motives and necessity
when we appeal to them to be prompt in
making their remittances for renewal,
tlememberj it is the cheapest strictly
Masonic paper published in the United
States—only §1,50 per year, postage
prepaid.
Officers of Lodges elect for the ensu
ing masonic- year ;
BALFOUR LODGE, 18S.
J. E. Walker,—W. M.
M. S. Robins,—S. W.
W. G. Hammer,—J. W.
-'\. M, Diffee,—Secretary.
M-'. J. Page,—Treasurer.
ROANOKE LODGE, 208.
kV. T. Whitfield,—W. M.
T. L. Plmry,—S. W.
W. R. Smith.—J. W.
il. Allen,—Treasurer.
W. H. Brown,—Secretary.
W
T).
WILLIAM G. HILL LODGE, 218'.
R. Cox—W. M.
E. Everett—S, W.
B. C. Manley—J. W.
Wm. Simpson—Treasurer.
W. P. Wetherell—Secretary.
substantial character, and treats of more
diflferent subjects in each number than
any other paper in America, The warm
est corner in the whole paper is that con
taining the “Saturday Night” chapters,
which, in the production of real happiness
and usefulness, is worth ter. times the
price of the paper. In fact, do you want
to know any thing on any subject? then
go to Pomeroy's Democrat, or write to Mr.
Pomeroy and you are sure of a valuable
opinion. Its politics is democratic, but
of such straight-forward, high toned
character that all may read it with pleas
ure and profit. Terms $2,20 per year
postage paid, Chicago, 111.
Pomeroy's Democrat.—This certain
ly ;s one of the great papers of the age,
and carries on its pages more of real
hard woi k and solid worth than any cf
the metropolitan weeklies that reach
this office. It is an eight page, fifty-six
column paper, nearly every column of
which is filled with choice reading of a
Masonic Popularity.
It is an observable fact that Freema
sonry is becoming too popular, and the
profane world is becoming as familiar
with our masonic vocabulai'y, both in the
definition and application, as aie many
Masons themselves. This was not al
ways so ; for we remember when a boy
th,at the names of Freemason and Lodge
carried with them such a great weight of
mysterious awe as made the young folks
bate their breath when passing that se
eluded building, and so quiet and unob
trusive were those brethren of the secret
tie that it was scarcely known who of the
community were of its membership. But
how changed Now, there is scarcely a
family in any community that is not rep
resented in some masonic Lodge. Then,
Masonry was unpopular because of its
unobtrusiveness and the little that was
known of it; but having permeated all
the better classes of society to such an
extent it has become the most popular
Order on the face of the globe, and old
and young have learned to look upon it
with the greatest favor and to speak of xt
in the highest praise. ‘
A very striking feature of its populari
ty is, that almost every society that has
sprung up in these latter days is dubbed
with the dignified and ancient term of
Lodge, thus borrowing prestige from our
ancient Institution. Of course, w-e ap
preciate all such special recognition of the
high dignity of the masonic nomencla
ture, and of the mystic vocabulary, &c.,
generally, but if those organizing these
new societies had a better knowledge of
our language and symbolisms we think
they would not be so lavish in their ap
propriation of those terms and symbols of
which the very use of them proves them
to be ignorant. We beg all such new
designers not to be so hasty in their mis
appropriations. Our venerable Institu
tion is hoary with age, but its existence
will prove oo-equ&l with its universality,
and they will never get even a quit claim,
much less a fee simple title to any of our
time worn property.
Again, while on this subject, we will
refe.v to the fact that Masonry is beoom-
] ing too popular, generally, for its own
j good, and the rush for admission into its
1 fold just now is greater than is to be de-
I .fired. Much of this rush is the result of
I mere curiosity, personal popularity or
: individual gain, all of which is the “bias
of mercenary motives” and should be
guarded against by the Lodges, as with
this flood tide of petitions much of the
above mentioned drift wood will be sure
to find its way to the door of the Order.
The recent war record of the Order in
this particular should be a sufficient warn
ing; as it is tenfold easier to take bad
material into the building than to get it
out when once there.
With these views of the case the un
initiated will excuse us if w'e do not
invite them to join us, or even if we seem
to look upon their applications with
distrust. These are rushing times, and
Masonry must guard with a jealous eye
ad material that is presented for our
myst 0 edifice. We enjoin this duty
upon all Masons, and those who have
taken the impres.sive Mark Master’s de
gree will need no other reminder.
Cryptic Masonry.
Beo. j. L. Power, Gr.md Recorder of
the Grand Council, R. & S, M., of Mi.ssis-
sippi, under instruction of that Body has
issued a circular inviting attention to a
report of a commit tee, rscommending the
abandonment of Grand and supordinate
Councils and attaching the cryptic degrees
to the Chapters, This action grew out of
a recommendation of the M. I. Grand
Master in his annual address, bearing
on this subject, and which if it can be ac
oomplished we heartily endorse. In our
sister State of Virginia, and perhaps one
other, we have a sutFicient precedent as
to the successful working of these degrees
with the Chapter, and we agree with
Comp. Walter that it should be the one de
sire of Masons to get back to the primi
tive beauty and form of the degrees.
We hope our Grand Bodies will give due
attention to this subject. Here is what
Comp Walter says on -,he subject:
“The Royal Arch Degree, stripped of
most of its real beauties by the severance
of the Roval .and Select Degrees from it,
prove.s of but little attraction to its recip
ient. Dissatisfied with the Exalting De
gree, he seeks no farther advancement in
Ancient Freemasonry, and without any
knowledge of the .eal beauty and value
of our Degrees, hastens to the more at
tractive, but. perhaps, not less beautiful
and in struotive Degrees of the Encamp
ment. The result is that many Royal
Arch Masons are such in name only, pos
sessing the form but destitute of the spir
it of the Degree, The evil is a serious
one. What shall be the remedy? I can
but repeat, in part, what I said in closing
my address a year ago. In my opinion,
the crying evil of our Order is the split
ting ofd.igrees and the multiplication of
Grand Bodies. Had I the power I would
blot out every Council and Grand Conn
cil in ezistenoe as independent organiza
tions. I would yield the Past Master’s
Degree to the Grand Lodge, where it
properly belongs, as an honorary Degree,
and would blend the Most Excellent Mas
ter with the Master's and the Royal and
Select Master with the Royal Arch, mak
ing it the Royal Degree it should, be, and
giving to it its ancient form and beauty.
I would create Grand Chapters that would
work this and the Mark Degree alone.
I would cut down the Reports of Proceed
ings, and Committees of Foreign Corres
pondence, and would no longer tolerate
our many Grand Bodies to eat up the
substance and waste the charity funds of
our order, and from this saving would
erect some grand charity that would
gladden the hearts of the helpless orphans
and destitute widows, and that would
challenge the respect and win the admi
ration of mankind. This change of ritual
and organization cannot, however be
done by this Grand Council alone, nor do
I recommend it. It cannot be effected
by the joint action of the several Grand
Bodie.s of any number of States, bat they
may .advise, and could thus probably, se
cure some grand convocation of the Cryp
tic and Capitular Grand Bodies of all
countries, that might produce uniformity
ol work, recall the Ancient Charges and
Regulations, and make the Mason of ev
ery clime and nation confer the same De
gree end speak the same Masonic lan
guage.—”
PROCEEDINGS OF THE
Grand Lodge of North Carolina.
The ninetieth session of the Grand
Lodge of North C-irolina met at its Hall
in the city of Raleigh, on Tuesday, Dec.
5th, at 7 o’clock, p. m. Present,
M.’. W.'. Geo. W. Blount,—^G. M.
R.’. W.'. FI. H. Munson,—S. G. W.
R.’. W.’. Sam’l H, Rountree,—J. y/f
pro tern.
R.‘. W.'. Wm. E. Anderson,—Gr. Treas
R.-. W.-. D. W. Bain,—Gr. Secretary,
and all the appointed officers and about
two hundred Representatives.
Grand Master Blount read his annual
address, which was referred to the ap
propriate committees.
D. W. Bain, Grand Secretary, and W
E. Anderson, Grand Treasurer, read theii
reports which were appropriately referr
ed.
Geo. Badger Harris submitted a
lengthy report on Foreign Correspond
ence, reviewing the proceedings of other
Masonic Grand Bodies.
The Grand Lodge was then called
from labor to refreshment until to-morroir
at 10 o’clock, A. M.
SECOND DAY.
The Grand Lodge was called from re
freshment to labor and proceedings of
last, evening’s session read and approved.
An invitation from Prof. Hobgood to
visit the Baptist Female Seminary wa»
read and accepted,
Bro. John Nichols invited the Grand
Lodge to visit the North Carolina Insti
tution for the Deaf, Dumb and Blind,
which was accepted with thanks.
W. R. Cox, Jno. Nichols, Z. M. Pas*
chall, F. H. Glover, and John Q. Jack*
son were appointed a special committet
on the Orphan Asylum.
A resolution in favor of Mt. Mourne
Lodge, No. 347, which was burned, was
passed.
A resolution in favor of Pleasant Hill
Lodge, No. 168, rsmitting dues for the
years of 1875-76, and restoring charter,
passed.
A resolution in favor of Clinton Lodgs,
No. 124. passed.
The committee on unfinished businesi
made their report, which was adopted.
T. S. Kenan, R. W. Best and M. S. Da
vis were appointed a special committea
on appeals.
CommuteeNo. 1 on charters and dis
pensations made their report.—Adopte'l.
AFTERNOON SESSION.
A communication from the Grand Mas
ter of Odd-Fellows, feelingly alluding te
the orphan interest, was read and receiv
ed with thanks.
The committee on appeals made their
report.—Adopted.
The committee on propositions and
grievances reported. Adopted.
Committee on charters ami dispensa
tions reported.—Adopted, and charters
granted to Durham, Moravian, Eunc,
Dellaplane and Double Shoals Lodges.
Committee on suspensions and expul
sions reported.—Adopted,
Resolutions relative to jurisprudence
were read and appropriately referred.
NIGHT SESSION.
The committee on Orphan Asylusa
made their report, which was recommit
ted and made the special order for lOi
o’clock to-morrow morning.
J. H. Mills offered a resolution of in
struction to the Grand Master relative to
the property at Ashville.—Adopted.
H. F. Grainger made a statement con-