Reply To Bro. Jacob Norton.

tho Grand Orient of France , and having authority over Symb lio Masonry in tlut country . ; If such is the case , I have unintentionally visited a body with whose functions nnd authority , so far as Symbolic Masonry is conoeriied , I was ignorant , and I therofore disown any intention to act

contrary to any duty I owe my Grand Lodge . I can conscientiously say that I havo beheld wis . b regret the effect upon Symbolio Masonry which tho dissensions of rival Scottish Rite orgnnibations have occasioned , and have , therefore , determined to do nil in my power towards preset ving that harmony and fr . ili rnal

feeling which Masonry inoalca'es ; und in furtherance of t ' . is purpose I have fully determined to sever my connection with tho A . and A . Scottish rite at tie earliest period possible , and to devote my time to Symbolic Masonry . Sovpral pleasant interviews with you , tho Grand Master of

Masons ef Maryland , have strengchoned this determination , and mado me more than over desirous to reliovo you of a pressure which , I am well aware , has been brought from many sources . to induce you to interfere , iu your official capacity , iu a matter which yon havo always considered to bo foreign to Symbolio Masonry , and which you honestly desired to exclude from the Grand Lodge of Maryland .

Very truly and fraternally , FERDINAND J . ' S . GORGAS . " Wheronpon Bro . E . T . Suhultz , addressing tho Mo . it Worshipful Grand Master , said : "If I have co . r . etly understood tho rending of the communication

of Bro . Gorgas , ho admits having visited a body or chamber of the Grand Orient of France during his visit to Paris Inst year , but Bays ho was under tho impression thnt it was a Scottish Rite body , and had no connection with tho Symbolic Masonry of tho Grand Oriont Ascertaining , however , that tho body visited is a part of tho system

of tho Gr . ind Orient of Franc . " , nnd that he thus violatod tho standing resolution of 1870 of this Grand Lodge , ho now disclaims any intention of having done so knowingly or wilfully . " It appears to mo , Most Worshipful , this tlisolaimor Bhonld be accepted , and therefore , with a view of ending , so far at least as

this jm isdiction is cnncerncl , nn nnhappy controversy that has existed among the Craft for some years past , I beg loavo to offer the following ; " Resolved—That the communication of Bro . F . J . S . Gorgns ,

address . d to the Most Worshipful Mastor , and by him reforred to this Grand Lodge , be nceivod iu the spit it in which it is offered , and thnt tho explanations and acknowledgments therein contained be , aud they arc hereby accepted as satisfactory for an offence unwittingly committed against this Grand Lodgo . "

iJrotner Woiiaiiy , Omud GcoMtnry , nfrnwd the following preamble and resolution ? , which wero unanimously adopted : "Whereas , the Grand L : dg 9 of Maryland adopted , May 1870 , the following Standing Resolutions :

" Resolved—That until the Grand Orient of France shall withdraw its rec gnition of thc so-called Supreme Council of the A . and A . S . Rile , of tho Sovereign and Independent Stato of Louisiana , all fiaternal relati . in nnd correspondence between that Graud Orient nnd this Grand Lodge be , and tho samo are hereby suspondod .

" Making tho restoration of f mfcernal relations with tho Grand Lodge conditional upon the withdrawal of its recognition of the socalled Supremo Council of the A . and A . S . Rite of the Sovereign and Independent Stato of Louisiana , niul " Whereas , The Grand Orient of Franco has eliminated from its

Constitution the unmo of Deity—the belief in and recognition of whom , from Timo Immemorial , has been a fundamental principlo of Freemasonry , as also a most oseenlial prerequisite for any one who desires to enttr bur portals ; therefore , in order to be more empbatio

in the severance of onr relations with tho Grand Orient of France , "Resolved—That all Masonic communications . and intercourse by tho Freemasons of Maryland with the Grand Orient of France , its subordinates , or any Mason who owes allegiance thereto , is hereby prohibited by this Grand Lodge . "

' This is vindication enough for me , and all intelligent loyal Masons must so regard it . If Bro . Norton , and others who have assailed my integrity , would read and analyse the current events in Masonry , they will most clearly and easily perceive that

I acted wisely , cautiously , and conservatively ; and that all of Bro . Norton ' s attack was indecorous and widely outside of tho morals and ethics of Freemasonry : admitting that " Mr . Peckham was wise in his day and generation , " " He has taken time bv the forelock . " .

" There are but two things for the members of Cerneauism Rite to do , either to ignore Gorgas , or to be subject to a Masonic trial in a Blue Lodge . " *** ## . ## " The law reads that no person shall be recognised as a Freemason who doubts or ignores the existence of a Supreme being . "

" Certainly the recognition by Gorgas of the Grand Orient of France , where no such belief is required , is in direct violation of the law . " Par yarenthese , Bro . Norton evidently writes without

knowing or recollecting what are really the res geske , for I find him discussing in his said letter ( of 19 th Oct . ) what Anderson laid down as the fundamental law of Masonry , or rather attacks tho Grand Lodge of England , viz .: —

Reply To Bro. Jacob Norton.

<; Why the Grand Lodge of England may discard Anderson ' s laws , and why the Grand Orient of France may not . " His paragraph from Anderson , with tb . 3 disquisition

thereon about religion are , when tiken tn conjunction with what is law , illogical , and exhibit ignorance of what really constitutes the American basis of MaBonry ; or what is the keystone thereof .

11 needs no reply from me , beyond saying that he , being a Hebrew ( who must believe in Jehovah ) , must well know and realise , that any act approaching to Atheism , Agnosticism , or Beaso )> , to which the Grand Orient hns

descended , will not and canuot , tven under his dictation , bo acceptable to American Mtuons or to any others who follow , not only Anderson , but also thoso who preceded him or Desasuliers .

Neither is it proper for him to traduce them ( Brother .- )) as he please ? , or become a free . lance , and attack , ud nauseum , and that a Jewish Mason should not vvrito . that " the said pious American Worshipful Mastors are neither men of honour nor gentlemen . "

I , if correctly informed , believo that Bro . Norton hns never gone beyond the Master ' s degree , and I hold that he is not the man to attack , slandor , or , detract from thoso who have deemed it proper to affiliato with tho degrees beyond , even up to the 33 rd in Scottish Rite Masonry .

I , for one , would bo pleased to see , why or wherefore , ho is or has beon so vehemently opposed to all degrees beyond tho Third . Are all who have dono so silly birds , easily caught with chaff ? Lastly , I remark that the allegation Bro . Norton makes

" that I am not in good standing is a gross libel , and that I am not , and never was , " a peddler of degrees . " My present standing in Lodge , Chapter and Masonic Knights Templar and Veterans , at the present writing , is irreproachable , and possibly boyond that of Bro . Norton ' s .

I am and havo been a member of tho Craft for forty years —a Past Master of Ionic Lodge , No . , 486 , Past Treasurer of Zerubbabol Chapter , No . 147 ; Member of Adclphi Council R . and S . Masters , No . 7 ; Past Commander aud

Present , Treasurer of Ivanhoo Commandery , K . T . No . 3 G , and a member of tho Masonic Voterans' Association . All being of this City . It is a question whether Bro . Norton is at this date an activo member of any Body in Masonry .

In conclusion , I venture to adviso him to cease in tho future ; and not use his pen to detract from tho character of'a Masonic Brother . NEW YORK CITY , U . S ., 14 th December 1889 .

The Masonic Elections.

THE MASONIC ELECTIONS .

WE aro now in tho midst of the season when occurs . the crucial test of tho year to tho Craft , that of the Masonic Elections . Universal suffrage is the law in our Lodges , and other Masonic bodies—every member hns

a vote ; and ( he character of Freemaso ' nry as an orgnnisa . tion next year , its prosperity or adversity , will largely depend upon the wisdom with which the Brethren and Companions now select their rulers .

It is true of any government , that no matter how excellent its constitution and laVs may be , it is their administration which determines their , practical character . With ignorance , or incompetence , or presumption , or

venality to interpret and execute them , they aro for the time being lowered to the lovel of those who administer them . A government is never better than its governors . The case is somewhat , although fortunatey not altogether

the same in Freemasonry . Still it is true that , tho efficiency and the prosperity of a Lodge or Chapter , and tho ability to make thoroughly good Masons , depends in large measure upon the wisdom and ability of tho

Worshipful Master or Most Excollent High Priest . A good ruling officer makes a good Masonic body . Ho is tho pattern after which tho majority copy . His example is contagious . Hence , an inattentive Officer , or one who is an indifferent

worker , or who displays no enthusiasm in the performar ce of his duties , soon makes an indifferent Lodge or Chapter , soon . thins out the attendance , soon brings even the better

class of members down to the level of himself . If all this be true , how important it is that at this season the very best material should he selected to preside in the chair of King Solomon .