ARMORIAL BEARINGS.-We have received from Bro. J. Covell, of Jay Bridge, Me., a photograph of a painting in the Hall of United Lodge No. 8, Brunswick, Me., with a "fac simile of the description of said painting." "The Armorial Bearings of the Ancient and Honorable Fraternity of Free and Accepted Masons, according to the old Institutions, were designed by a Jewish Rabbi in Holland, about the year 1500, and the only piece of Heraldry extant, where the Quarters, Supporters, Crest and Motto all allude to the same point. "The Quarters consist of a Man, an Ox, a Lion and an Eagle; these four animals, compounded together, constitute what is termed in Scripture a Cherubim-having the face of a Man; the wings of an Eagle; the back of a Lion; and the legs of an Ox. "The Crest is a representation of the Ark of the Covenant, containing the Sacred Relics of Mosaic Law. 66 66 The Motto, Kodes la Adonai,' signifies Holiness to the Lord. The host of Angels in the shape of Cherubic figures, are symbolically described as attending upon the Divine Majesty to execute his pleasures; they are represented in the shape of a Man, an Ox, a Lion, and an Eagle, which are supposed to be emblematical of the Angelic Nature; that of Man to signify their Benevolence and good will to the human species; the wings and parts of an Eagle, denote their celerity in executing the Divine commands; the parts of a Lion denote their Patience and Assiduity in fulfilling their Maker's will. "Thus we see that this piece of Heraldry represents God as All in All. It should be recollected that the object of building Solomon's Temple was to bring the idolatrous nations to a worship of the true and Living God, whose presence and protection over the Israelites was symbolically represented by the Ark of the Covenant, which was placed in the Sanctum Sanctorum, or Holy of Holies; and here the Jews of old put their trust in God. "The modern Masons of England use the Arms of the operative Mason, which consist of Three Castles in the centre, and two Bearers as Supporters, and which have no allusion whatever to the secret mystery of Masonry. MICHAEL ALEXANDER GAGE, P. M. of Lodge No. 20, of Free and Accepted Masons of England, according to the old Institutions. Liverpool, 19th March, Anno Dom. 1823, et Anno Lucis 5827." THE GRAND LODGE OF ILLINOIS. THIS body held its Annual Communication, at Springfield, in October last. The attendance was large and the proceedings harmonious. The Grand Master, I. A. W. Buck, during the year granted twenty-six dispensations for new Lodges. Respecting the ballot for the three degrees, he says: I confess that I was anxious, last year, to adopt the 51st section of the by-laws, in regard to balloting for the three degrees. I am now satisfied from one year's experience as Grand Master, that it does not answer the purpose intended. The following are the officers for the current year: IRA A. W. BUCK.... F. M. BLAIR.... A. J. KUYKENDALL. P. A. DORWIN. JOHN S. WINTER. Grand Master. Deputy Grand Master. Grand Secretary. Grand Chaplain. Grand Senior Deacon. Grand Junior Deacon. Grand Pursuivant. Grand Standard Bearer. . Grand Sword Bearer. session was the report of the Charters were granted for thirty-nine new Lodges. One of the main features of the Committee on Foreign Correspondence. It is a lengthy, able document, evidently prepared with great care. It is hardly to be expected that all its conclusions would meet our approbation, but taken as a whole, it is an able document on Masonic law. We shall lay a great portion of it before our readers. It was referred to a committee to report on next year. We quote from its pages: 66 NON-PAYMENT OF DUES. "That eminent Mason, Bro. Mackey, of South Carolina, takes the ground emphatically that no penalty in Masonry can be inflicted without charges, notice and trial. Such is the fair construction of our own by laws, as promulgated by M. W. G. M. Buck. The by-laws of the Grand Lodge of Ohio are imperative that every Brother who shall fail to pay his dues, as provided by the by-laws of his Lodge, shall be suspended; and, if not paid within a reasonable time thereafter, that he shall be expelled. The object of suspension seems to be, to give the offender reasonable time to repair his fault; the ultimatum is the highest penalty known in Masonry. Under this rule sixty-four were expelled in Ohio during the Masonic year of 1857-'58. "The Grand Master of Minnesota takes the position that all suspensions should operate alike, and that a suspension which permits a Brother to visit and adjoin any other Lodge is no suspension at all. That decision was tacitly concurred in by his Grand Lodge. 66 'Other Grand Lodges have similar rules, while others are far more lenient. Your committee take this position: That no Lodge or Grand Lodge can long prosper, where the finances are permitted to run at loose ends; and they regard with admiration the noble stand taken by our Grand Master, in his circular to the Lodges upon that subject. A very large proportion of the difficulties in the Lodges arise from this very cause. Your committee have never yet known the instance where a poor man was oppressed for his dues, while they have known repeated instances where those in affluent circumstances avoided or neglected the payment of their dues for years. This should not be so. Every Master Mason is bound, by obligations and covenants as strong as human language can frame them, to conform to and abide by the bylaws of his Lodge, and to support the constitution, laws and regulations of his Grand Lodge. The by-laws of every Lodge provide for the payment of dues at stated times, and those of the Grand Lodge for the payment of annual dues; and whoever intentionally violates these by-laws, also violates his solemn covenant and obligation as effectually as he may do by any overt act, and should be tried in due form for his offense, and is liable, under the general laws of Masonry, to its highest penalties. "6 PREROGATIVES OF GRAND MASTERS. "After quoting an extract from the Maryland Report on Foreign Correspondence, maintaining the powers and prerogatives of Grand Masters, Bro. Abell, of the California Committee, says: We have no sympathy with this belief in the unapproachable supremacy, the irresponsible absolutism of Grand Masters;' and in his notice of our report last year, he assumes that the committee and this Grand Lodge The favored an appeal from the decision of the Grand Master. Louisiana Committee quote the remarks of Bro. Abell in 1858 upon that subject, and dissent from the doctrine of inherent rights' of Grand Masters, and quote Bro. Mackey and Bro. Pike as being doubtful upon the subject, and Bro. Tucker as being in favor of an appeal at all times. "Bro. Fuller, of the Tennessee Committee, quotes remarks from Bro. Abell in 1858 upon that subject, and concurs as follows: In this we concur, and have so expressed our opinions on previous occasions. The idea that a presiding officer of a Grand Lodge-an officer of its own creation-thereby becomes possessed of wisdom to such a degree as to make his decisions infallible, seems to us to be supremely ridiculous. If the constitution of any particular Grand Lodge recognizes the principle of 'no appeal from the decision of the Grand Master,' in that jurisdiction the point need not be controverted; but in other jurisdictions, where there is no express provision in the fundamental law to that effect, we consider an appeal' to be not only allowable, but an inherent right' that may be exercised. "To this view of the subject, Bro. O'Sullivan, of the able Committee on Foreign Correspondence in Missouri, very emphatically objects. After alluding to the Louisiana report noticed above, he remarks: Your committee deem this strange doctrine, and if fully recognized, would reduce our Grand Lodges to the level of mere political organizations, and our Grand Masters to an equality with the temporary chairman of those bodies. It is a well-established historical fact, that, for the last thousand years at least, Grand Masters occasionally existed independent of Grand Lodge organizations, such as we of the present day understand them to be. It is also a fact, that Grand Masters were not always elected by the Masons in their general assemblies, but were sometimes appointed by the King; and such Grand Masters and their successors were clothed with extraordinary powers. They could, whenever they deemed the general welfare of the great body of Masons required, convene all the Masons in their jurisdiction, and preside in their general assemblies. This was done, not because of any special law, but because it was a part of the prerogatives of the Grand Master. * The general assemblies or convocations of Masons, as we before remarked, were held at the pleasure of the Grand Master, and, when convened, the Grand Master presided over their deliberations, not by courtesy but by right. He appointed all the subordinate officers, for his greater convenience, and to assist him in the proper discharge of his duties. The assembly or convocation was governed by the old charges and such regulations as were made from time to time, as circumstances demanded, and he caused them to be read in general assembly, so that none might pretend ignorance, he being equally bound with the humblest 'prentice to obey them. * "Bro. Hollenbeck, of the Vermont Committee, in noticing our proceedings of last year, takes the same position, and states the true doctrine, as they understand it, to be, that, under the ancient landmarks of the Order as the rule and guide of his acts, the Master is absolute in the East, and no appeal can be taken from his decision.' He says further: The disposition to popularize and soften down the distinguishing features of ancient Free Masonry to suit the whims and caprices of this progressive age, we protest against, and we can conceive of no effect which will more certainly follow a cause than that of anarchy and confusion among the Craftsmen at work upon the temple, from destroying the controlling power of the Master Builder. Say it is despotism, and characterize it as despotic power, if you please; it is yet a despotism whose ruling principle is love, and which, in the lapse of ages, has infringed no Brother's rights, and trampled on no Masonic law.' "In 1850, the Grand Lodge of Maryland held it to be wrong to admit an appeal, even by 'courtesy,' alleging that after a while it would be urged as a precedent, and made the ground of a right to appeal. "Most of the Grand Lodges in the United States have decided that there is no appeal from the decision of the Grand Master, and, as this Grand Lodge has been quoted as favoring that doctrine, it may be well to examine our own position and the law upon the subject, and settle the matter now. "Up to 1855, it had been the practice in this Grand Lodge to invite the Masters and Wardens of Lodges U. D. to take seats and vote in the Grand Lodge, so soon as charters had been voted to them. "On the second day of the Grand Communication that year, the Grand Secretary proceeded with the call of Lodges upon the election of Grand Master, until the new Lodges were reached, when the Grand Master peremptorily suspended the ballot, and refused to take the votes of the new Lodges. Some conversation ensued in regard to taking an appeal from his decision, but the Grand Master utterly refused to entertain such a motion. A great many remarks were made, when the Grand Master, in his place, with consummate ability, stated the law, and gave his reasons at length, and the Grand Lodge most cheerfully acquiesced in his decision. "The following year, 1856, in the matter brought before the Grand Lodge by Mr. Thomas Shirley, an appeal was taken from the decision of Grand Master Hibbard, and put to vote, and the Grand Master sustained. When this appeal was pending, objections were made to |