We are fully satisfied that the G. G. Chapter has now fulfilled its mission; there is nothing she has to do, but what can be done more readily, and by far less expense, by the State Grand Chapters, and the sooner she dissolves her organization, and thereby relieves the Craft of the burden of her support, the better it will be for the harmony of the Craft generally. "Such too, is the thought of the Grand Chapter of Kentucky, in dissolving its connection with the G. G. Chapter: if it has ever accomplished any good for the Royal Craft, (which they very much doubt,) that it has accomplished its mission, and it is better that it dissolve. "The G. H. P. of Alabama, Comp. Clopton, says, in his Annual Address: Your Committee on For. Cor., at your last Convocation, discussed the ineffectual attempt of the General G. Chapter to attain uniformity of work. It is much to be regretted, that in this matter, which has been regarded by some, the primary design of its organization, the action should have been so inefficient. I forbear to make any comments upon such a course, except to remark, that it furnishes its opponents with an additional argument against its future existence. "We extract the following from the Report of the Select Committee of the G. Chapter of Ohio, as a summing up of our own opinions, which we have above expressed, not however committing ourselves to, but opposing any idea of rebellion against the authority of the G. G. Chapter: But your committee believe that, instead of patching up the General Grand Chapter, and making efforts to perpetuate its existence, this Grand Chapter will consult its own dignity and the benefit of Royal Arch Masonry in our State, by withdrawing whatever allegiance we may owe to, and severing any connection with the General Grand body: and your Committee think so for the following, among many other reasons: 1. It is a new feature in Masonic government, not recognized by, nor congenial with, the nature and spirit of Ancient Freemasonry. 2. It is of no use now, whatever it may have been at an earlier day. The object sought by its organization was uniformity; but the only uniformity it has introduced, is in the promulgation of degrees unknown to Masonry until near the close of the last century, and in requiring pre-requisites for the Royal Arch which were never exacted until then, and which are not essential to the full and proper development of every thing that is valuable in Masonry. 3. Its assumptions of power are dangerous in the extreme while it has declined to even hear a complaint from New York, it has undertaken to adjust one in Michigan on an ex parte statement; and not only declares that a Chapter working under a Charter from the Grand Chapter of Michigan is not a Royal Arch Chapter, but that the work it has done is no work at all, and its members are not Royal Arch Masons! Thus it is not only dangerous to the peace and prosperity of the Order, but to the very existence of our organization; what has been done in Michigan, may be done in Ohio. 4. We receive no return for the expenditure necessarily incurred by us in perpetuating our present relations with that body; and from the time we first unfortunately acknowledged its supremacy, to the present moment, your Committee are not aware that the General Grand Chapter has been of the slightest benefit to Royal Arch Masonry in Ohio-or elsewhere. "For these, and other reasons, your Committee present the following resolution for consideration and adoption, by the G. Chapter: Resolved, That in the opinion of this Grand Chapter, the G. G. Chapter should be dissolved, or that this Grand Chapter should take measures to obtain the consent of the General G. Chapter to its withdrawal from that jurisdiction, and that our delegates be and are hereby instructed to carry out these views. "All of which is respectfully submitted. WM. P. MELLEN, THE true Mason is content to labor during the hour of toil, assured that his compensation will be ample and certain. His ambition is to excel as a workman, and produce such specimens of his skill as will entitle him to the promised reward -to be useful, rather than to shine. WHAT IS MASONRY DOING? [From the Masonic Review.] But the question comes back,-what shall be the future of Masonry? Shall it be useful, beneficent, and glorious? or degraded, corrupting, and dangerous? Answer, ye Grand Masters, ye Grand Lodges, ye active Masters, ye men of intellectual and moral power who surround our altars, and ye who give tone and character to our masonic literature! Its destiny is in your keeping; its future will be what you make it; its achievements in coming years will be in proportion to the life-giving energy which you impart to it; and it will be a curse or a blessing to your children and children's children, as you may give tone to its spirit and direction to its efforts. It cannot be a mere negation; when its healthful streams shall stagnate, they will become corrupt; and when it ceases to do good, it will begin to do evil. It is a fearful responsibility that rests on us in this behalf. We have voluntarily put on an armor, in which we may do glorious battle with moral and social evil; or, failing to use it for such purpose, it will crush the wearers! We may project, through coming years, along the pathway of Masonry, a light to guide her to usefulness and renown. We may clothe her in robes of charity, and arm her with instrumentalities for good, and make her an "angel of light" to suffering and down-trodden humanity; or we may make her a reproach and a by-word-hated and detested! Which shall we do? How shall we affect the future of Masonry for good, and wield its power for the common benefit of humanity? How shall we make Masonry useful, honored, glorious, the cement of society, the bond of the Union, the support of goodness, a blessing to all? The present is a utilitarian age; usefulness is the criterion by which every thing is judged; and that which does not commend itself to popular favor by proof of its being a benefit, in some respect, cannot long survive. And this is as true of Masonry as of every other organization or enterprise. It is too late in the world's history to maintain Masonry for mere amusement, or to make venerable ladies stare and children wonder. Masonry must be practical, if it would be popular; it must have vitality-energy; it must do something, and the results of its labors must commend it, not to its members only, but to society at large. All must be convinced that it is good in itself, and beneficial to man, or its members will grow lukewarm in its cause, and the public will leave it to die of utter neglect. There are at present vast numbers of Masons, scattered everywhere over the land, and the responsibility of the Order is in proportion to the number of its members. With such numbers-such means-such influence-such elements of power, society at large will expect corresponding fruits. As water stagnates if it does not move, so Masonry will lose its vitality if it is not in action: something must be accomplished, or paralysis will ensue from inactivity. With from two to three hundred thousand members in the United States, what is Masonry doing? What have we done to enlighten and elevate humanity-to cultivate the mind and improve the heart? What are we doing to disseminate knowledge among ourselves—masonic knowledge? With all our numbers, and all our means, is society at large any better for our organization? We cannot live for ourselves alone, connected as we are with those around us; "every human being has a claim upon us," is the language of our charges; shall we respond to those claims, or suffer the penalty which nature inflicts for disobedience? TRUTH.-The name of God must be taken in Freemasonry as symbolical of truth, and then the search for it will be nothing else but the search after truth, the true end and aim of the masonic science. The subordinate names are the subordinate modifications of truth, but the ineffable tetragrammaton will be the sublimity and perfection of Divine Truth. This is what all are, or should be, seeking for. GRAND LODGE OF THE THREE GLOBES. We take the following from the report of the Committee on Foreign Correspondence of the Grand Lodge of Kentucky, in regard to the Grand Lodge of the Three Globes, of Prussia: "A list of all the Lodges under that jurisdiction, being 91 in number, is given, with an account of the situation, doings and prospects of each, which affords matter of much interest, and we would gladly transfer it to these pages, but can only indulge ourselves in this privilege as to the first and last. 'The Union Lodge' No. 1, located at Berlin, is the oldest Daughter Lodge, and celebrated its centennial anniversary on the 19th of December, 1854, at which there was a large attendance of the brethren and dignitaries of the Order. There had been sixteen entered, and twenty-five passed during the year. To the Star of John Lodge,' No. 91, located at Zielenzig, is the last on the registry. Its labors, in which brethren from far and near have participated, have been characterized in word and deed by the true Masonic spirit. Speeches on subjects of interest to the Craft have been often made. The finances are in a prosperous condition; the poor have been essentially aided in many respects, especially have soups been divided among them, and on Christmas twelve poor children were newly clad and otherwise aided.' 6 "A Communication of the Grand Lodge was opened on the 1st of March, 1855, by the M. W. Bro. Messerschmidt, Grand Master. The protocol before us presents the following subjects as having occupied the attention of that body at its then present session: "1. An address from the Grand Masters and Deputy Grand Masters of the three Grand Lodges, presented in the name of the whole brotherhood, to his Royal Highness the Most Serene Protector, on the 2nd of February previous, which was received and replied to by him with kindness, cordiality, and most fraternal tokens of reciprocal regard. |