Grave Error.

Communication in June 1882 , overstepped the boundary of her legitimate jurisdiction , and not . only assumed to pass on . but to discriminate between , the Masonic titles of

bodies , of none of whose rites a Gr nd Lodge of Symbolic Masr > nrv can have any knowledge , and whose legislation in the premises has not been , and cannot be , enforced without danger of rebel linn .

Having since attracted kindred spirits all along the line , like an nvalanehe gathering force as it progresses , this centripetal speeiousness seems to have crystallized , in Illinois , into a well-defined double policy , viz ., First to sap

the foundations of the objective system of degrees by the subtle means of inoculated speech and literature , calculated to prejudice the minds of Master Masons , and secondly , to finally wipe out what is left , by Grand Lodge interdiction " through tho Masons of her obedience . "

If this has not become apparent to any of the Masons of Illinois , they have not been on the alert , and for snch it is certainly high time t ^ man the tower ; for it is the duty of

every one to participate in and take his full share of the responsibilities of the Craft . As nothing can be gained b y concealment on the ono band , or ignorance on the other , let us have li ght .

To this end it will be profitable to examine pertinent contributions to the Masonic press , pro and con , past and present ; and I would advise every one who has not already

done so , to explore with care the last report of the committee on correspondence to the Grand Lodge of Illinois .

Having taken exceptions , on the same grounds , to the report of the same author as committee on correspondence to the Grand Chapter of Royal Arch Masons of Illinois , at its last convocation , I have been reminded that I

misapprehended his position upon this question ; that instead of being connected with this crusade , he , in common with other eminent brothers high in rank , both in this and

other states , holds , " that the Grand Lodge should pass on the legitimacy of Symbolic Masonry only , and leave all others degrees and orders alone . " In short , to "let each Grand Body look strictly after its own business . "

A careful examination of the report to the Grand Lodge will show that the eminent brother , contrary to the usual course and to precedent , surrendered important parts thereof to other learned and influential brethren to treat

upon this question , one of whom was the able editor and publisher of this excellent journal , and two others of the most gifted Past Grand Masters of the Grand Lodge of Illinois , only one of whom , however , actually availed himself of the opportunity .

If it be discovered and pointed out that any but Bro . Brown of the Voice of Masonry took the ground above described and urged as that of the amiable brother of the committee and his ally , I will bo only too glad to

acknowledge my error , and humbly beg tbe brethren ' s pardon . I have found no peg uncovered whereon it was possible to hang ingenious sophism , first in proof of the assertion that nothing beyond the Lodge is entitled to the

Masonic name , except in so far as their membershi p is composed exclusively of Masons ; and second , in support of the theory of annihilation by edict , as indicated hereinbefore .

Somehow , I am unable to perceive , that the way to let these other Masonic Bodies alone , is to set their house on fire , and ask them to co-operate in putting it out , by feeding the flames with oil .

I am very willing to acknowledge , also that ray powers of discernment are not very acute , because I have been utterly unsuccessful in finding a solution of the reasons for all this " fuss and feathers , " and for these alliances of the

powerful and influential intellects , and for all this inoculated literature sent out broadcast among the Lodges on the princi ple that that is the modus operandi of passing on the legitimacy of Symbolic Masonry only , and of letting all other degrees and orders alone .

It may be , however , that my obtuse mind is incompetent to grasp the right construction of some of the passages involved , like the following : " It will be asked if a Grand

Lodge has not supervision over all the Masonry within its borders ? It certainl y has : it can , and should , , as we think , prohibit the employment of its rituals by an association of men , notwithstanding such association

embraces Maeons exclusively . It can interdict the Chapter Council , Commandery , or borliis of the Scottish Rite , from assuming any function of the Lodge , either directly or indirectly . We hope the reader will keep the foregoing

Grave Error.

in mind , for the day , if it comes , when the Lodge will demand its own . * * * The practice of employing the esoteric rituals , signs , grips , words and symbols of the Lodge is indefensible usurpation and groundwork of error and contention . * * #

The Grand Lodge has been too long remiss in dntv , in not interdicting those of their obediences from practising its rituals in other associations of Masons . * * * When , therefore , somethirg claiming to be Masonry crops

out in bodies which the Grand Lodge has not created , it is certain-that either such bodies aro teaching as Masonry something that is not Masonry , or that it is time for Masons who desire to be loyal to those solemnly assumed

engagements from which no Mason , or association of Masons , can absolve them , to ask themselves whether as members of such bodies they are making an unwarrantable use of the name , symbols , esoteric rituals , or modes of

recognition of the Craft . Upon an affirmative answer to this question rests the right and duty , and in the fact that their membership is composed of the Masons of its obedience , lies the power of the Grand Lodge to deal with the problem of psendo Masonry . "

I do sincerely hope others will see what I fail to compr-ehend , that the foregoing is evidence of a peaceable desire to let such Masonic bodies alone , and that the Grand Lodge is to confine itself to Symbolic Masonry

only . Some of these utterances seem to be puerile , and others as containing specious sophistry , but through them all peeps the germ of a mischievous error , to which I will recur hereafter . Speaking for the Chapter here , as one of

the bodies in question , it would seem from these quotations , as if it all at once was unduly encroaching upon the rights nnd prerogatives of the Lodge , or was making other use of things appertaining to Symbolic Masonry , upon which it

is founded , and of which the main part of its degrees is an integral part , the evidence for which can be furnished in a tyled Lodge or Chaptei' , than has been permitted for a century and a half without any complaint whatever .

The author of the last quotation will be recognized by its ear-marks as the same distinguished and able , but shifting brother who seems to command an infinite

resource of " tests , between which he is hovering , like the Irishman ' s flea , as occasion demands . His first , it will be remembered , was " The Ancient Charges of a Freemason , as the inexorable and unchangeable organic

standard , by which all that is claimed as Freemasonry must stand or fall , " but when he was challenged to point out therein the definition of our present triplex system of degrees of the Lodge , which he could not do , he abandoned

it without formal declaration , however , so as to still leave it available for repetition , on the principle presumably , that an " oft-told tale" must be true , and constructed "three essentials , " which he abandoned in turn , and in

like manner as his " organic " flatulency , when the main one of the three was exposed as a mutilation of the first great landmark of our Institution , entitled " God and Religion , " which is not only indivisible , but the printed part used must be construed by the primary and greatest of all .

If not puerile , how inconsistent is the statement that the Grand Lodge can " interdict the Chapter , Council , & c , from assuming any functions of the Lodge , either directly or indirectly . " While it is true , and while that undoubted

power and prerogative of the Grand Lodge has ever been not only acknowledged but vigorously supported by the class of Masons referred to , it is superfluous to throw the gauntlet until they or any of them undertake to do so , or

until there is some reasonable probability that they will so interfere . The functions of a Lodge are , to make its own by-laws , consistent with the general laws of Masonry , and to see them duly executed ; to confer the degrees of

Entered Apprentice , Fellow Craft and Master Mason , in a regular and constitutional manner , with business incidental thereto , and to the general management of a subordinate . Which of these functions has the Chapter assumed ? Or , which is it likely to assume ?

Turning to the report in question , and to the review of Massachusetts , we find lengthy quotations , on the Royal Arch degree , from Bro . Mackey , to be in answer to the following qnestion by the author of the review , " Now

what are the facts relating to the origin of the degree in question , and its subsequent relation to the Fraternit y ?" But most of them , as well as other statements , have been pronounced erroneous by celebrated historians of our time , among whom is the distinguished and well known Bro .