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Literature.
Literature .
REVIEWS , Proceedings of the Grand Lodge of Iowa , of the Most Ancient and Mig ht Honourable Fraternity of Free and Accepted Masons , at its . several Annual Communications from A . L . 5854 to 5858 inclusive . Muscatine : . Reprinted by Order of Grand Lodge , 1858 .
AN examination of the massive volume before us has impressed us with a powerful conviction of the indefatigable energy which is characteristic of our American brethren . Here we have printed for circulation among the various Lodges and private Masons of the state of Iowa , a handsomely printed volume of more than s-2 ven hundred pages , containing the entire proceedings of the annual communications of the Grand Lodge of Iowa for the last
' four years . To our English ideas there appears at first sight something of parade and fuss in thus recording every trivial speech and in multiplying- copies of business correspondence which is frequently of a mere routine character ; but that there are great advantages derivable from this and similar proceedings does not admit of a doubt . The American talent for amplification of minutice is certainly strongly displayed , and among the registered
speeches and letters of so many men of . different degrees of ability there will be found of course a large amount of twaddle , or at least mediocrity , the poverty of whicli is counterbalanced however by the discovery here aud there of a vein of originality , or a sententious utterance embalmed in the numerous orations ' which stud these pages ; and which in several instances are worthy of preservation and hold out a brilliant example to brethren in
responsible posts upon our side of the water . English and Scottish brethren accustomed only to the labours of a quarterly communication of Grand Lodge ( with perhaps the occasional addition to their labours of an adjournment ) , will perhaps be surprised to read of a Grand Lodge such as that of the state of Iowa meeting in regular session of four days at a time , commencing their labours at eight in ihe morning , and ( with
intervals twice in the day of an hour and two hours ) continuing the work of Grand Lodge until ten at night . It is true that the time thus occupied is not all in what we should style " business" —many hours being passed in speechifying under the name of addresses
and charges—while those objects which aro generally with us supposed to be gained by an attendance at the Grand Stewards ' Lodge , or at any well constituted and accurately working Lodge of Instruction tire entered upon in the Grand Lodges over the wafer —possibly , we must say , pour passer le temps . Be that as it may , the fact of a body of the brethren meeting for so long a term in ' a country where commerce is supposed to be the primary object of existence
, shows an amount of devotion and self denial ( considering that time with Americans is emphatically money ) which may be taken as a silent reproach by many brethren here who , with all their professions of love for their Order , can seldom spare time to display their skill as Craftsmen . The business of each communication of course comprises tbe appointment of oflicers , and the auditing of accounts ; but in addition to these
well known duties , there is the reception of numerous voluminous reports upon all kinds of subjects from numerous committees , some of which would have been no great loss if they uad never been read in the Grand Lodge , much less printed afterwards . Many orations , as we before observed , are interspersed m the course of the proceedings—Cor the man in the States who cannot make a speech , cither of fustian or sense—is nobod and takes rank
y , accordingly ; and a Grand Master who billed to give an opening address of at least an hour ' s duration would at once be considered as wanting in a necessary "ift . and would speedil y become unpopular with the brethren . Aniong the mass of these speeches , here and there matter of interest occurs ; and a not unpleasing feature is the care taken to draw the attention to the merits and attainments of brethren who have passed from this
scene of toil to rest in the Grand Lodge above . It is not necessary that the deceased brother should have been a member ot the assembl y addressed , though that might attract more immediate sympathy ; but , happily for our Order , the universality of our brotherhood prevents any lack of brilliant examples , m our ranks , of virtue , perseverance , and scientific excellence thus we find BroJohn PSanford
; . . , M . W . G . M ., alluding to the death of the well known Dr . Kane , in the followng terms : — , ' ii * ?* ? ° exc'l , sive ' y causing a sense of sorrow to the fraternity in this state , but equally so to the brotherhood throughout the world , of which ¦ ne aie a part , M the death of our distinguished brother , Doctor E , K .
Kane , who departed this life on tbo sixteenth of February last , in the city of Havana , Cuba . The mention of that uauie , which history has made immortal , and whose glory will grow brighter as time flows on towards the illimitable ocean of eternity , awakens feelings of responsibility which repress every attempt at eulogy . The disiiosition to pronounce encomiums must yield to sorrow , and , iu fact , grief with us is the most befitting eulogy , —much less shall I attempt to pom-tray the incidents of
his life , which were so closely crowded into its brief period . This I leave to those whose genius , like his , will enable them to fix upon au accomplishment the impress of im mortality , for of this kind must be the only labour which posterity will receive and cherish . But Doctor Kane was a brother ; he was a Mason , who in all the achievements that go to make up the sum of his glory , illustrated the highest qualities which could adorn his profession as such . In this light it is appropriate for us to pause within these sacred walls and yield sad homage to his
memory . " In this expression of sorrow for the early death of a brother so distinguished in the annals of science and philanthropy , we but mingle our emotions with millions of men in all lands ; for it was his high privilege to employ his genius and his energies for the good of the whole world . Whether in the polished and noble circles of Europe , amid the arid sands of Africa , under tbe burning sun of Asia , or battling with the elements in the icebound regions of Ameri a , that quality ofhis heart , and those capacities of mind which impelled him to sacrifice everything
for the good of his fellow- men , blazed forth in characters of living light , and new constitute for us a guide in the path of duty , and a great example in the pursuits of life . " Brother Kane was a man of commanding intellect , of inflexible energy , and a true and industrious votary of science . He possessed the wisdom and virtue wdiich make a great and enduring character , without offices , emoluments , or military renown . He lived in an age unparalleled in the annals of the world for splendour and brilliancy of its talents and
worth—for the profoundness of its philosophy and the magnificence of its oratory—yet so long as the millions of orbs which deck the polar night with their glittering beams shall mingle their radiance with the eternal glaciers of the Polar sea , so long shall his name be known and honoured in the schools of science and philosophy . " Doctor Kane honoured the institution of Masonry in his heart . He appreciated its tendency to perfect the Christian virtues in man , and loved it . He felt that it contributed to the preservation of the exalted
rights ancl liberties of human nature , and cultivated it . He knew that it was preeminently an institution of friendship and social benevolence , and carried it with him to the ends of the earth . " He exhibited the virtues and graces so "beautifully typified by the numerous emblems of our Craft , and having marked bis path with glory , he approached death ' s narrow isthmus with fiz-m and dauntless step , aud from thence his great and impetuous spirit , which had sought through life to discern the mysteries of God ' s universe , took a nobler flight . "
An oration deserving of special note is one by our very worthy [ brother ancl esteemed contributor , Bro . Bob Morris , Grand Master of Kentucky , who last year enli ghtened the brethren cf Iowa , in Grand Lodge assembled , with an address on the principles and history of the Order , fraught with information and sparkling with happy illustration and poetic diction , which well earned the compliments and votes of thanks which were tendered
to the speaker on its conclusion . A subject of great interest is the assembling of a National American Masonic Convention at Washington , in 1855 , for the purpose _ of forming a General Grand Lodge of America or federative head . The Grand Lodges of the various states are , we are told , divided in opinion as to the necessity ancl expediency of this movement , the majority ( among whicli ' is Iowa ) being opposed to it . The
opponents consider that this would be a work of supererogation , since unity of interest at present exists among the Grand Lodges of the United States , ancl mutual confidence prevails . The Appendices to the volume contain a great deal of interesting information , ancl will repay examination . A code of Masonic law , generally adopted in America , is not without its value , though many of its provisions are we hope seldom called into action . We
are sorry a few pages further on to stumble over a list of " expulsions" and " suspensions , "—the former numbering eig hty-five and the latter more than a hundred delinquents . Surely there must be something rotten hero , or there must have been au undue exercise of severity . Among other subjects of interest to brethren we find lists of all the various conclaves , encampments , and consistories of the hi gher
degrees in the United States . There is also a list of foreign Grand Lodges , with their rulers and secretaries ; we trust the correctness of this return is not to be judged of by what we find under the head of "England , " where one "Daniel Clarke" is given as the Grand Secretary—otherwise the list will be hardly of much use in correspondence . Turning , however , from minor faults , we can fairly say that great praise is due to the secretaries and committees to whom the getting up of this elaborate book has been entrusted ; a few years
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Literature.
Literature .
REVIEWS , Proceedings of the Grand Lodge of Iowa , of the Most Ancient and Mig ht Honourable Fraternity of Free and Accepted Masons , at its . several Annual Communications from A . L . 5854 to 5858 inclusive . Muscatine : . Reprinted by Order of Grand Lodge , 1858 .
AN examination of the massive volume before us has impressed us with a powerful conviction of the indefatigable energy which is characteristic of our American brethren . Here we have printed for circulation among the various Lodges and private Masons of the state of Iowa , a handsomely printed volume of more than s-2 ven hundred pages , containing the entire proceedings of the annual communications of the Grand Lodge of Iowa for the last
' four years . To our English ideas there appears at first sight something of parade and fuss in thus recording every trivial speech and in multiplying- copies of business correspondence which is frequently of a mere routine character ; but that there are great advantages derivable from this and similar proceedings does not admit of a doubt . The American talent for amplification of minutice is certainly strongly displayed , and among the registered
speeches and letters of so many men of . different degrees of ability there will be found of course a large amount of twaddle , or at least mediocrity , the poverty of whicli is counterbalanced however by the discovery here aud there of a vein of originality , or a sententious utterance embalmed in the numerous orations ' which stud these pages ; and which in several instances are worthy of preservation and hold out a brilliant example to brethren in
responsible posts upon our side of the water . English and Scottish brethren accustomed only to the labours of a quarterly communication of Grand Lodge ( with perhaps the occasional addition to their labours of an adjournment ) , will perhaps be surprised to read of a Grand Lodge such as that of the state of Iowa meeting in regular session of four days at a time , commencing their labours at eight in ihe morning , and ( with
intervals twice in the day of an hour and two hours ) continuing the work of Grand Lodge until ten at night . It is true that the time thus occupied is not all in what we should style " business" —many hours being passed in speechifying under the name of addresses
and charges—while those objects which aro generally with us supposed to be gained by an attendance at the Grand Stewards ' Lodge , or at any well constituted and accurately working Lodge of Instruction tire entered upon in the Grand Lodges over the wafer —possibly , we must say , pour passer le temps . Be that as it may , the fact of a body of the brethren meeting for so long a term in ' a country where commerce is supposed to be the primary object of existence
, shows an amount of devotion and self denial ( considering that time with Americans is emphatically money ) which may be taken as a silent reproach by many brethren here who , with all their professions of love for their Order , can seldom spare time to display their skill as Craftsmen . The business of each communication of course comprises tbe appointment of oflicers , and the auditing of accounts ; but in addition to these
well known duties , there is the reception of numerous voluminous reports upon all kinds of subjects from numerous committees , some of which would have been no great loss if they uad never been read in the Grand Lodge , much less printed afterwards . Many orations , as we before observed , are interspersed m the course of the proceedings—Cor the man in the States who cannot make a speech , cither of fustian or sense—is nobod and takes rank
y , accordingly ; and a Grand Master who billed to give an opening address of at least an hour ' s duration would at once be considered as wanting in a necessary "ift . and would speedil y become unpopular with the brethren . Aniong the mass of these speeches , here and there matter of interest occurs ; and a not unpleasing feature is the care taken to draw the attention to the merits and attainments of brethren who have passed from this
scene of toil to rest in the Grand Lodge above . It is not necessary that the deceased brother should have been a member ot the assembl y addressed , though that might attract more immediate sympathy ; but , happily for our Order , the universality of our brotherhood prevents any lack of brilliant examples , m our ranks , of virtue , perseverance , and scientific excellence thus we find BroJohn PSanford
; . . , M . W . G . M ., alluding to the death of the well known Dr . Kane , in the followng terms : — , ' ii * ?* ? ° exc'l , sive ' y causing a sense of sorrow to the fraternity in this state , but equally so to the brotherhood throughout the world , of which ¦ ne aie a part , M the death of our distinguished brother , Doctor E , K .
Kane , who departed this life on tbo sixteenth of February last , in the city of Havana , Cuba . The mention of that uauie , which history has made immortal , and whose glory will grow brighter as time flows on towards the illimitable ocean of eternity , awakens feelings of responsibility which repress every attempt at eulogy . The disiiosition to pronounce encomiums must yield to sorrow , and , iu fact , grief with us is the most befitting eulogy , —much less shall I attempt to pom-tray the incidents of
his life , which were so closely crowded into its brief period . This I leave to those whose genius , like his , will enable them to fix upon au accomplishment the impress of im mortality , for of this kind must be the only labour which posterity will receive and cherish . But Doctor Kane was a brother ; he was a Mason , who in all the achievements that go to make up the sum of his glory , illustrated the highest qualities which could adorn his profession as such . In this light it is appropriate for us to pause within these sacred walls and yield sad homage to his
memory . " In this expression of sorrow for the early death of a brother so distinguished in the annals of science and philanthropy , we but mingle our emotions with millions of men in all lands ; for it was his high privilege to employ his genius and his energies for the good of the whole world . Whether in the polished and noble circles of Europe , amid the arid sands of Africa , under tbe burning sun of Asia , or battling with the elements in the icebound regions of Ameri a , that quality ofhis heart , and those capacities of mind which impelled him to sacrifice everything
for the good of his fellow- men , blazed forth in characters of living light , and new constitute for us a guide in the path of duty , and a great example in the pursuits of life . " Brother Kane was a man of commanding intellect , of inflexible energy , and a true and industrious votary of science . He possessed the wisdom and virtue wdiich make a great and enduring character , without offices , emoluments , or military renown . He lived in an age unparalleled in the annals of the world for splendour and brilliancy of its talents and
worth—for the profoundness of its philosophy and the magnificence of its oratory—yet so long as the millions of orbs which deck the polar night with their glittering beams shall mingle their radiance with the eternal glaciers of the Polar sea , so long shall his name be known and honoured in the schools of science and philosophy . " Doctor Kane honoured the institution of Masonry in his heart . He appreciated its tendency to perfect the Christian virtues in man , and loved it . He felt that it contributed to the preservation of the exalted
rights ancl liberties of human nature , and cultivated it . He knew that it was preeminently an institution of friendship and social benevolence , and carried it with him to the ends of the earth . " He exhibited the virtues and graces so "beautifully typified by the numerous emblems of our Craft , and having marked bis path with glory , he approached death ' s narrow isthmus with fiz-m and dauntless step , aud from thence his great and impetuous spirit , which had sought through life to discern the mysteries of God ' s universe , took a nobler flight . "
An oration deserving of special note is one by our very worthy [ brother ancl esteemed contributor , Bro . Bob Morris , Grand Master of Kentucky , who last year enli ghtened the brethren cf Iowa , in Grand Lodge assembled , with an address on the principles and history of the Order , fraught with information and sparkling with happy illustration and poetic diction , which well earned the compliments and votes of thanks which were tendered
to the speaker on its conclusion . A subject of great interest is the assembling of a National American Masonic Convention at Washington , in 1855 , for the purpose _ of forming a General Grand Lodge of America or federative head . The Grand Lodges of the various states are , we are told , divided in opinion as to the necessity ancl expediency of this movement , the majority ( among whicli ' is Iowa ) being opposed to it . The
opponents consider that this would be a work of supererogation , since unity of interest at present exists among the Grand Lodges of the United States , ancl mutual confidence prevails . The Appendices to the volume contain a great deal of interesting information , ancl will repay examination . A code of Masonic law , generally adopted in America , is not without its value , though many of its provisions are we hope seldom called into action . We
are sorry a few pages further on to stumble over a list of " expulsions" and " suspensions , "—the former numbering eig hty-five and the latter more than a hundred delinquents . Surely there must be something rotten hero , or there must have been au undue exercise of severity . Among other subjects of interest to brethren we find lists of all the various conclaves , encampments , and consistories of the hi gher
degrees in the United States . There is also a list of foreign Grand Lodges , with their rulers and secretaries ; we trust the correctness of this return is not to be judged of by what we find under the head of "England , " where one "Daniel Clarke" is given as the Grand Secretary—otherwise the list will be hardly of much use in correspondence . Turning , however , from minor faults , we can fairly say that great praise is due to the secretaries and committees to whom the getting up of this elaborate book has been entrusted ; a few years