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REPORT OF THE COMMITTEE ON FOREIGN CORRESPONDENCE - Continued
A great work is yet to be accomplished in rearing the walls and completing the structure of the temple of humanity, and adorning it with the lights of science, the triumphs of art; cementing and strengthening with the plastic power of brotherly love, relief and truth, the foundations on which the social fabric of coming ages may securely rest, and illustrate, more perfectly than the fathers have done, the blessed fruits of faith, hope and charity.
At the commencement of this latter half of the nineteenth century, the Committee on Foreign Correspondence meet the Grand Lodge on this cherished annual convocation with May-day salutations ; amid the greetings of "Nature's gala day," the bursting of buds, the blushing of flowers and the song of the birds, the gifts of our common Father; and we bring you the salutations of our brother man. We invite you to share with us the fraternal greetings of many thousands, which flow to us from every part of our broad land. Since our last communication, we have reports from the Grand Lodges of New Hampshire, Vermont, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, Connecticut, New York, New Jersey, District of Columbia, Delaware, Maryland, Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia, Ohio, Tennessee, Mississippi, Indiana, Iowa, Illinois, Arkansas, Kentucky, Texas and California. We have also numerous letters, circulars and addresses, illustrating the principles and progress of Masonry, the whole forming a collection of some twenty-five hundred pages.
These reports and addresses exhibit a great share of talent, and furnish evidence of increasing prosperity in the Masonic jurisdictions they represent. At no period of the world's history, and in no country on which the sun ever shone, have the lights of Masonry been so widely and rapidly diffused, as in our own country within the last ten years. Every state in the Union has its Grand Lodge, and its increasing and prosperous subordinates, and in nearly all these jurisdictions harmony prevails, and the good work is steadily advancing, amid the cheers of skillful, happy craftsmen, and under the guidance of able overseers.
The exceptions to this general prosperity will require less of your attention, than in either of the reports submitted by your committee.
grand lodge of the state of new york.
In relation to the troubles in New York, we are happy to report that a reconciliation has been secured between that body which this and other Grand Lodges sustained as the only legitimate Grand Lodge of New York, and the St. John's Grand Lodge, whose history we reviewed in the last report.
Nearly at the same time with our last annual meeting, a circular was prepared by the Secretary of St. John's Grand Lodge, and sent to the Grand Lodges of the Union, endeavoring to vindicate the course of that body, and appealing from the censures bestowed upon them by the masonic fraternity. This document was received the 16th of May.
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At the annual communication of the Grand Lodge of New York, in June following, the M. W. G. M. John D. Willard, having retired from the chair which he had so ably filled, and resolutely maintained in the struggles of the previous year, offered the following resolution:
" Resolved, That a committee of five be appointed to receive any propositions, or suggestions that may be presented to them, by any member of this Grand Lodge, or others, with a view to the restoring of entire harmony of feeling to the whole fraternity in this state; and that the committee use their discretion as to laying the same before the Grand Lodge."
The resolution was adopted, and a committee was accordingly raised consisting of R. W. and Rev. Salem Towne, W. Bros. Lewis, Hatch, Dugan and Perry.
This Committee subsequently presented a report, with the following propositions :
" 1st. Recognition of lodges subordinate to St. John's Grand Lodge, as regular masonic lodges.
" 2d. That their members are lawful masons.
" 3d. That the lodges be put on the registry of the Grand Lodge of the State of New York.
" 4th. That each and every of such lodges may at any time, with their own consent, come under the jurisdiction of the Grand Lodge of the State of New York.
" 5th. That if the St. John's Grand Lodge shall, on or before the next June Communication, by a vote of their body decide to give up their organization as a Grand Lodge, and proffer themselves to the Grand Lodge of the State of New York, their Grand Officers and Fast Grand Officers shall be received and admitted as F. G. Officers of the Grand Lodge of the State of New York."
This report was accompanied by the following pledge on the part of Officers of the St. John's Grand Lodge, viz :
" We, the undersigned, pledge ourselves to carry the above propositions into effect, if adopted by the Grand Lodge of the State of New York.
Henry C. Attwood, G. M.
Daniel Sickels, J. G. W.
Robert Macoy, G. Sec.
David Cochrane, G. L."
To this was appended the following resolution signed by the committee aforesaid:
" Resolved, That the Grand Lodge of the state of New York do agree to the foregoing propositions. "On motion, the report was accepted and the resolution unanimously adopted."
The circular which brings us this pleasant intelligence in regard to the overtures and action of the Grand Lodge and its committee, gives us also the final action of the St. John's Grand Lodge, which is as follows:
" Whereas, The Grand Lodge of the State of New York, under the Grand Mastership of M. W. Bro. William H. Milnor, did at their late annual communication, advance certain propositions, and pass resolutions, acknowledging the legality of the lodges under the jurisdiction of this Grand Lodge,
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thus ending the difficulty that has so long existed in the fraternity of this state: Therefore,
" Resolved, That the St. John's Grand Lodge hails, with the most unfeigned satisfaction, this action on the part of the Grand Lodge of the State of New York, and does hereby ratify and respond to the same.
"Resolved, That we cannot recognize the body claiming to be a Grand Lodge under the guidance of Mr. Isaac Phillips, as masons until they shall have been formerly healed by the M. W. G. Lodge of the State of New York.
"Resolved, That an ordinance be, and the same is hereby adopted, forbidding the lodges under this jurisdiction to receive as visitors or adjoining members, any masons hailing from the jurisdiction of Mr. Phillips, until they shall have complied with the conditions of the foregoing resolutions."
The Grand Lodge of Maine will share in the " satisfaction " expressed by both parties in view of the reconciliation thus effected, and delight to place on record their action in the premises as fully as it has formerly done the history of their estrangement.
" Behold how good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity."
Great would be our joy, could we record a similar reconciliation between the two bodies now claiming to be the Grand Lodge of the State of New York.
An effort was made at the time of the annual communication in June, by the committee above named, and a committee of five, appointed by the other body to agree upon terms of union; and several propositions were submitted by individuals of each committee, none of which secured the approbation of both committees, and they finally separated without anything being accomplished.
The body which we have recognized as the legitimate Grand Lodge published a circular in June, containing a list of more than twenty of our Grand Lodges, which had taken definite action in support of its authority as the Grand Lodge of the state. Ninety of the subordinate lodges were represented in its June communication. Some twenty new lodges had been established during the year; about thirty lodges were received from the St. John's Grand Lodge, and some lodges whose principal officers had been elected, and had accepted office in the other body had disapproved their conduct, chosen new officers, and they now adhere to the recognized Grand Lodge. The M. W. J. D. Willard having declined a re-election, M. W. William H. Milnor was elected in his place, and R. W. James W. Powell, G. S., in place of R. R. Boyd, who had been removed for mal-management of the financial affairs of the Grand Lodge.
The other body re-elected Isaac Phillips, G. M., James Herring, G. S., and John Horspool, G. T. Twenty-one lodges are reported as present by their representatives at the opening of this body. The address of the Grand Master and the report of the Committee on Foreign Correspondence, of which the Grand Secretary is chairman, breathe an unkind and unmasonic spirit, not only towards the legitimate Grand Lodge, but also towards the other Grand
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Lodges which have sustained it as such. Much of the language they employ is highly offensive, and adapted only to prejudice their cause. A just cause cannot need such vindication—an unjust one cannot profit by it. The Grand Master speaking of those who composed the legitimate Grand Lodge, says: " The sad spectacle was disclosed of a few members of the Grand Lodge, some of whom had been honored with the confidence of the body, as it proved, far, very far beyond their merits, conspiring together for the purpose of gratifying personal animosity for fancied grievances, by earnestly laboring to destroy the body which had warmed them into the only consequence they ever enjoyed in the community, and pursuing their malevolence, hesitated not, by falsehood, fraud, cunning and duplicity, to drag in with them many innocent, well meaning brethren, whom I doubt not and hope have long since found out that they have been the dupes of the false-hearted knaves, who by a degree of inattention resulting in a casualty had been permitted to steal into the order, and who have never known its objects nor cared to know its principles. Faithless to their obligations, traitors to the trust reposed in them, they would have descended still lower into the depths of baseness to have successfully consummated their iniquitous designs." p. 33.
Speaking of the action of other Grand Lodges in reference to the circular which he says was prepared " in a masterly manner " by the G. S. and " sanctioned by the united approval of the Grand Officers" and which he represents as "exhibiting evidence beyond the reach of cavil of the righteousness of our cause," he says : " It will be remarked that this address to the Grand Lodges was to sustain us in our course against the machinations of our enemies, and not an appeal to decide for us any question or matter out of which it became necessary at the last annual communication to pursue prompt measures to take from the hands of unfaithful officers the power of further injuring the Grand Lodge. This Grand Lodge has for itself decided the question, and its rights and powers are sufficiently clear to attend to its own affairs; and an appeal to other Grand Lodges to sustain us should not be deemed as an intention of submitting our proceedings for their adjudication; if it be their pleasure not to sustain us, they have the power to do so. Beyond this their sentiments or interference becomes officious, unauthorized and offensive. It is, however, to be regretted that certain Grand Lodges, without waiting for our address and statement in relation to the revolutionary attempts of a portion of our members to modernize the Grand Lodge, should have even at the pressing personal solicitations of the chief revolutionist and his satellites, so far have forgotten common courtesy, nay, decency, as to judge the matter on an ex parte statement of the discomforted conspirators ; yet it is hoped that the error into which they have fallen will not be persisted in when convinced, as they should be by this time, of the great injustice they have done the only legitimate masonic authority of the state. Should, however, a disposition be not speedily manifested by those Grand Lodges of retracing their steps and rendering us the respect to which we are
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entitled, it will, however painful, be necessary for the Grand Lodge in the preservation of its dignity to refuse all intercourse with such bodies, and to exclude masons of their jurisdiction from the admission into our lodges and from enjoyment of the customary benefits and privileges. I hope the Grand Lodge will not close without investing its Grand Officers with power to issue an edict to the lodges to this effect, if another month passes without the Grand Lodges alluded to making amends for their unkind treatment.
The Committee on Foreign Correspondence in their report, copy with approbation the page devoted to the troubles in New York in our report for 1849, and then say: " Had the Grand Lodge of Maine adhered to the prudent and brotherly advice of their committee, it would unquestionably have been regarded by the fraternity of this state generally; though we apprehend not by all, for we have reason to believe that those who set out with the design of destroying the rights of the Fast Masters of this state would not have been willing to abandon their favorite measures at the fraternal suggestion of the brethren of the Grand Lodge of Maine any sooner than of their own immediate associates in this state. But unfortunately the Grand Lodge of Maine did not stop until they had made themselves partisans by resolutions adopted at a special meeting on the 22d of January, 1850, giving aid and comfort to the destroyers of our peace and harmony, and thereby rendering the fraternal advice of their committee the more difficult of accomplishment. The Grand Lodge of Maine was probably influenced to take the course of action which they did by the singular and, as we think, one-sided report of the committee of the Grand Lodge of Massachusetts, rendered on the 12th of September, 1849, some six weeks in advance of the publication of our '" explanation and vindication "' of the course which we had been compelled to take in preservation of the integrity of the Grand Lodge of New York and the rights of its members." p. 62.
Speaking of the Grand Lodge of Alabama they say: " The M. W. Grand Master did us the injustice to quote almost at full length the scandalous report of the ' Coliseum party' of the fraternity in the state, **** to which report he united a part of the Massachusetts report on which we have presented some remarks."
Of the Grand Lodge of Florida they say that the Grand Master " abuses our narrative explanation and vindication in terms unfit to be repeated." In regard to the Committee of Correspondence of the same Grand Lodge they say: " After venting upon us some further abuse, similar to that found in the address of the Grand Master Brown, (who was also one of the committee), they most earnestly and affectionately call upon every individual brother in our sister state of New York, whatever may be his position, to learn to subdue his passions, to discard all prejudice, all bitterness, all feeling, and in this matter invoke the aid of our Great Grand Master to aid in seeking the truth and especially to follow out the things that make for peace. We will follow this good brotherly advice, and commend it also to
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the hearts of our liberal and prudent brethren of the Florida Committee, who certainly have in this matter not paid much regard to our feelings nor to the things that make for peace." p. 70. Of the Grand Lodge of Texas, the committee say:
"They have been mystified by a cunningly devised fable, liberal in exciting epithets to create prejudice, which, if they had critically examined, they might and would have found sufficiently contradictory in its parts to have aroused their suspicions of its credibility. But, in their desire to strike at the wrongdoers, they have mistaken the parties, and have made themselves partisans of the unjust in an unholy warfare. Instead of inculcating the masonic principles of truth, justice, honor and honesty, they appear to have entirely forgotten the sacred mission of our order by adding fuel to the fire of discord."
The Grand Lodge of Michigan, they say,
" Have been altogether misled by erroneous reports and statements of facts and opinions which have been circulated in that state relating to the course which this Grand Lodge has found it necessary to pursue in support of its integrity and original organization. On a former occasion we took great interest in the affairs of that Grand Lodge, and spared no trouble to set the fraternity there at peace with the masonic world, which we were happy to see accomplished, but some of them have ever since seized every opportunity to carp and cavil at us for our fraternal good-will towards our brethren in that state, and while that unkindly spirit dominates in Michigan, we are inclined to the opinion it would be ' love's labor lost' to attempt even to point out their errors."
After dealing thus with individual Grand Lodges, the committee add:
" Before closing this report, we feel it incumbent on us to say that we can conceive of no sufficient reasons which should induce us to suffer in silence the wrongs which have been done us by certain Grand Officers and committees of our sister Grand Lodges and by the constructions of a portion of the masonic periodicals of the day. That they were in the first instance taken by surprise and overwhelmed with astonishment at the exaggerated and wilfully mendacious reports which were rapidly and extensively poured over this country by a set of men who call themselves masons, we might readily believe—and for that cause excuse—but we can find no excuse for the coarse, vulgar and abusive language which some of these have liberally indulged in, while retailing the slanders of the men whose hypocrisy and Jesuitism had no other resource than to delude our friends, after a vain endeavor to deprive a majority of the active members of our Grand Lodge of their rights therein."
We have suffered this body, claiming to be the Grand Lodge of New York, thus far to speak their own sentiments in their own language, for various reasons. Extended comment by us cannot be necessary. Is it possible that any of the injuries they allege to have been inflicted upon them by others can compare with the injuries thus inflicted by their own hands ? It is difficult to say which is most obnoxious, the harsh language they thus employ in reference to the Grand Lodges of the Union, or the singular assumption of the Grand Master that " their address was not to be deemed as an intention of submitting their proceedings for the adjustment of other Grand Lodges " but only " to sustain them in their course," and that if the pleasure of the lodges is not to sustain them " beyond this, their sentiments of interference being officious, unauthorized and offensive"
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Could a more deliberate offence be committed than to submit such a document for their consideration to the Grand Lodges of the world, assailing with unsparing condemnation their brethren of the Grand Lodge of New York after such a conflict as their own address sets forth, and yet seal the lips of all who would not sustain them in their course ? If the Grand Lodge of Maine had entertained any doubt of the propriety of their action in the premises as detailed in the reports of 1849 and 1850, we could no longer be in doubt after reading the proceedings of this body in New York for the last year. It is painful to regard it a matter of duty to spread upon our pages such sentiments and language and proceedings of men claiming to be masons, and demanding that we should regard them as the head of the order and the authorized expounders of masonic law in a sister state, even when it is done for the purpose of disowning and rebuking the spirit which prompts it; but we would cherish the hope that it may operate as a salutary caution to all who may be liable to similar exhibitions of human infirmity. We will even hope it may be useful to the offending party, and that they will consent to listen to the reproofs of sister lodges which have so generally disapproved their course. Will they not reconsider their course and make the effort to suppress the excitement which must have given rise to such language and deportment as we have thus freely censured ? Masonry needs not such language or defence—she recoils from such advocates and must forever disown them if such courses are not abandoned. The unanimity and force of the general voice of the Grand Lodges of the Union in repudiating this body as a Grand Lodge, and the thoroughness of investigation and power of argument by which its course of action and reasoning has been examined and condemned, furnish a remarkable illustration of the energy and talent and high moral tone which control the masonic institution of the country. Not one of the Grand Lodges of the Union has justified its course or recognized it as a Grand Lodge. The Grand Lodge of Mississippi does not justify the legitimate Grand Lodge in disfranchising the Past Masters, but undertakes to show that it had not a right to adopt the resolutions which changed the constitution to that end. Still she sustains that body as the only Grand Lodge of New York. Most of the Grand Lodges still entertain the hope that a reconciliation will yet be effected between the two bodies, and harmony restored in that noble state. The Grand Lodge of Maine is not behind the most zealous of her sisters in this hope, and this is the apology of your committee for devoting so much time and effort to this painful subject.
The proceedings of the legitimate Grand Lodge of New York exhibit a great degree of talent and energy on the part of that body, and so far as we can discover, a great degree of candor and magnamity in the treatment of her opponents. The report of the Committee on Correspondence is a remarkable document, exhibiting unusual talent and great familiarity with the history, established principles and usages of the masonic fraternity. It is a
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thesaurus of masonic intelligence, and is worthy of careful preservation and reference in regard to the controverted points in masonic usage. The committee of the Grand Lodge of the District of Columbia say of it: "Your committee have read this document with great satisfaction and regret that time will not permit their making large and varied extracts from a document of exceeding interest and power. They have never met with proceedings of a Grand Lodge possessing more interest, and have never seen a report from a sister committee, which so minutely referred to everything of interest in the proceedings of each Grand Lodge, and which so frankly, forcibly and fully expresses the views of its author on every contested point, and enforces them when opposed to the views of others with authority and arguments of such potency."
No mention is made of the Grand Lodge of Maine in this report, or of its published proceedings; and as the other body does refer to them we have reason to conclude that our report fell into the wrong hands.
grand lodge of New Jersey.
In our last report the committee placed on record the fact that Past Grand Officers of the Grand Lodge of New Jersey were present in the Phillips Grand Lodge, and assisted in the installation of its officers, and not only so but even volunteering the sanction and approbation of that Grand Lodge in this revolutionary proceeding. It appears also that Past Officers of that Grand Lodge have officiated in the installation of the officers of St. John's Grand Lodge, thus officially interfering as partisans in the New York controversies. This course is condemned by the Grand Lodge of New Jersey. Their report says, " your committee hold it to be sound doctrine that the Grand Lodge of one state has no legal right to open and establish a Grand Lodge in any other state in opposition to a legal Grand Lodge existing in that state." *
* * * Again, "now your committee presume that Past Grand Officers possess no higher powers than the Grand Lodges to which they belong; and we cannot but conclude that if such interference is unmasonic in Grand Lodges, it is much more so, if possible, in Grand Officers acting of their own motion, and without any show of authority."
This language is just and gives evidence that our sister Grand Lodge is not to be placed in a false position by unauthorized acts of her Past Officers.
grand LODGE OF LOUISIANA.
From Louisiana we have no report of the annual communication of either body claiming to be the Grand Lodge of that state. We are gratified to learn from other sources that a reconciliation has been effected and the two bodies united under one organization. Some of the Grand Lodges whose reports have most recently appeared have mentioned with gratification this recon-
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ciliation as effected in a manner worthy the masonic institution and just to the parties. A circular from the M. W. Grand Master of the Grand Lodge under its present organization informs us that an appeal has been made by the Treasurer of the Grand Lodge under its former organization to the civil tribunal of that state, denying the legality of the new organization and demanding that an injunction be issued upon the proceedings of that body and that he may be restored to his office and to the rights which he claims have been invaded by the re-organization of that body. A notice to the officers of the Grand Lodge in accordance with this appeal has been given. We regret to learn that the trials of our Louisiana brethren are not yet ended, and most ardently desire that they may soon experience a happy deliverance and be able to resume their work in the most successful manner.
grand lodge of maryland.
A kind and praiseworthy act of the Grand Lodge of Maryland deserves to be recorded. The Committee of Correspondence, while reviewing and disapproving the course of the St. John's Grand Lodge and also the body styled the Phillips Grand Lodge, say:
"It is impossible for this Grand Lodge to recognize the St. John's Grand Lodge. * * * * * *
" We are free to admit that their case is a hard one; that they have been hardly and unfairly dealt with; but we can afford them no remedy further than to give them our advice and counsel. That is to ask the Grand Lodge of New York (we mean of the one of which M. W. J D. Willard is Grand Master, as that is the only one recognized by any other Grand Lodge in the U. S.) to re-open their case, and grant them a fair and impartial trial. If the Grand Lodge shall find that these lodges were oppressed and arbitrarily dealt with, that they will remit the punishment inflicted on them, and restore them to good standing, and take their lodges under her protection, on fair and liberal principles.
" From other sources we have learned that the late schismatics have applied to St. John's Grand Lodge for re-instatement. Let them be to you as heathens and sinners, until they come into the fold from which they have strayed. Enter into no entangling alliances, which will openly tend to retard your own safety. Get yourself into the true fold, and then you can have the sweetest and best revenge, by trying to restore to good standing some of those who were the chief instruments of your degradation. This is the advice we offer in all sincerity and truth; this we deem to be your best and the proper course; and believe it will be effectual in restoring you to your proper position.
" Notwithstanding the remarks in the ' Gazette ' nearly all the Grand Lodges in the Union have taken their stand, as it relates to the St. John's Grand Lodge and the Phillips Grand Lodge: and from that position there can be no retrocession. Even should the Grand Lodge of New York, of which J. D. Willard is Grand Master, become extinct, it would be vacant territory, and be filled up by lodges deriving their charters from other states. Nor could charters be granted to persons acknowledging either St. John's or Phillips Grand Lodges; but to such as adhere to the Willard Grand Lodge or migrate from the jurisdiction of other Grand Lodges."
The committee closed their report with the following resolutions : "Resolved, That it be recommended to the Grand Lodge of New York
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recognized by this Grand Lodge to take into favorable consideration the case of St. John's Grand Lodge on proper application of that body: to deal with them in a spirit of justice tempered with mercy, and for the promotion of the best interests of Masonry as to them it shall appear.
" Resolved, That the Grand Secretary of this Grand Lodge furnish the action of this Grand Lodge in this case to Robert Macoy of New York."
This action of Maryland took place May 14th, and reached the Grand Lodge in New York, June 4th. Similar action had been taken by the Grand Lodge of Connecticut, and the influence of these fraternal appeals is distinctly acknowledged as having had an important bearing on the parties in securing the reconciliation on the 11th of June, to which we have already referred. "A word fitly spoken, how good is it!"
We rejoice that such words were spoken by Maryland and other Grand Lodges, and that they have found so prompt a response in the action of the New York Grand Lodge-It was suitable that the results so happy should be commemorated as it was on the festival of St. John the Evangelist, as proposed in the following circular, addressed to this Grand Lodge:
"New York, Nov. 27, a. l. 5850.
"R. W. Sir and Brother:
" The committee appointed to make arrangements to celebrate the union of the brethren under the jurisdiction of St. John's Grand Lodge with the Grand Lodge of the State of New York, have the most unqualified and heartfelt pleasure in announcing that this joyful and greatly desired event will be consummated on St. John's day, the 27th of December next.
"The committee earnestly request the presence of your M. W. Grand Lodge, and the members of her subordinate bodies, to participate in the celebration on this auspicious occasion.
"The R. W. Grand Secretary would greatly oblige the committee, by extending invitations to the lodges within the jurisdiction of your Grand Lodge, and returning an answer at the earliest practicable period.
" At a meeting of the committee appointed to make arrangements for a dinner, in connection with the masonic festival, to commemorate the union of the brethren heretofore hailing under St. John's Grand Lodge with the M. W. Grand Lodge of the State of New York, it was on motion,
"Resolved, That the pleasure of the company of the first six Grand Officers of each Grand Lodge, throughout the United States and Canada, be requested to dinner at 5 o'clock p. m., on the 27th prox., at Tripler Hall, Broadway.
" In pursuance of the above resolution, you will please, on behalf of the committee, extend this invitation to the first six Grand Officers of your Grand Lodge, and oblige
" Yours fraternally,
" George E. Marshall, Wm. H. Underhill,
Charles W. Willets, Joseph C. Pinckney,
G. R. Beekman, Oscar Coles, N. N. Halsted, J. D. Evans,
James W. Powell, Simeon Abrams. Committee."
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