Masonic Persecution.—I.

he / ' replied the Bishop , "lam one myself , and I wish all the clergy were Masons . I wish they all belonged to the Craft , provided they would act up to its obligations , and fulfil its engagements . " What brother does not echo the words of that

distinguished American Jurist Lemuel Whitney , who at the age of eighty-two , with the shades of death gathering around him exclaimed , " I have been a Mason a long time ; I shall not live long ; I shall die a Mason . " Officers say they never find a good Mason a bad soldier .

Grand Lodge Of Iowa.—I.

GRAND LODGE OF IOWA . —I .

The important Grand Lodge of Iowa , one of the best worked in the Hnited States , sprang from authority granted by letters of dispensation from the Grand and Deputy Grand Masters of Missouri , the first dated 20 th November , 1840 ,

for a lodge at Desmonies ; the second dated 4 th February , 1811 , for a lodge at Blooming-ton ; the third dated 10 th October , 1842 , for a lodge at Dubuque . Upon the 2 nd January , 1844 , delee-ates from the three lodges met in convention

at Iowa City , when the necessary resolutions were adojDted , and on the 3 rd of the same month the Grand Lodge for the territory was proclaimed , Bro . Oliver Cock bein < r elected the first Grand

Master . The Grand Royal Arch Chapter was organised on the Sth June , 1854 ; the Grand Council of Boyal ancl Select Masters in 1 S 57 ; ancl the Grand Commandeiy of Knights Templars on the Gth June , 1864 .

The Grand Lodge has a compendious code of laws , in which the Constitutions of Freemasonry , its ( the G . L / s ) Constitution , by-laws , general regulations , digest of pi'oceclure in crimes and punishments , & c , are fully dealt with . A Ye

purpose in a few papers to notice this code . Sir William Blackstone , in writing- his connnentaries upon the law of England , commences with these words , " Law , in its most general and comprehensive sense , signifies a rule of action , and is

applied to all kinds of action , whether animate or inanimate , rational or irrational . " Thus a country is governed by the express enactments of the legislature , or by prescriptive manners and customs , which have become by universal observance

law . Masonic law may be divided into three heads .- —Those observances drawn from the landmarks , which rule the whole Fraternity ; those enactments made by the several Grand Lodges

for their own observance , and the guidance of daughter lodges ; ancl lastly , particular laws made by individual lodges for their own interior . Blackstone says that " the goodness of a custom depends upon its having been used time out of

mind ; or , in the solemnity of our legal phrase , time whereof the memory of man runneth not to the contrary . This it is that gives it its weight and authority . " All this in Masonry constitutes a landmark , and antiquity is its essence . But an

antique custom is not necessarily a landmark . It requires to have the cardinal virtue of truth , and it must form one of the pillars which support the whole fabric . Custom changes and resolves into a new form—Truth , never . The one depends

upon the convenience of the hour , the other exists amid all change . A landmark , therefore , constitutes our highest law . Bro . Mackey gives a list of twenty-five landmarks , two of which we can scarcely view as

such . To be a landmark it must be universally received . Thus we would be apt to class the twenty-five into two sets , the moveable and immoveable . The immoveable , because universally accepted as such , are : —1 , The modes of

recognition ; 2 , The three degrees ; 3 , The legend of the third degree ; 4 , Government of the Fraternity ; 5 , The Prerogatives of the Grand Master to preside over every assembly under his rule ; 6 , To grant dispensations for conferring degrees at

irregular times ; 7 , For opening and holding lodges ; and 8 , to make Masons at si ght . This last power is much misunderstood . The Grand Master cannot of himself initiate a profane ; he summons to his assistance six other Masons , opens

what is called an occasional lodge , and without any previous probation , on sight of the candidate , confers the degrees upon him , after which he dissolves the lodge and dismisses the brethren . This landmark , however , we would class properly as a

moveable , as in many countries it is not allowed . 9 , Masons must congregate as Masons in lodges ; 10 , The Government of the Craft ; 11 , Every lodge when congregated must be tiled ; 12 , Every Mason has the right to be represented at all

general meetings , and to instruct his representative ; 13 , The right of appeal ; 14 , The right of visit ; 15 , If unknown , upon examination ; 16 , Qualifications of candidates ; 17 , A belief in God ; 18 , The immortality of the soul ; 19 , The book of the law must be in every lodge ; 20 , Equality of Masons ; 21 , Secrecy ; 22 , Foundation of