THE BUILDER APRIL 1918

CAN WE BUILD A REAL UNIVERSAL MASONRY?
BY BRO. JOSEPH W. NORWOOD, KENTUCKY

SOME HOPEFUL WORLD MOVEMENTS TENDING TO MASONIC SOLIDARITY

Some two years ago Brother Norwood established LIGHT as an
international Masonic Newspaper. Under his able edit direction a
staff of correspondents has been built up for the purpose of
obtaining first-hand information concerning Masonic activities in
all States and Countries. Through this channel Brother Norwood has
come in touch with the various Masonic systems and Rites throughout
the world, and has gathered from them something of their hopes and
aspirations, their national characteristics and their efforts in
their own Countries in behalf of the welfare of humanity.

This article is a review of Masonic activities throughout the world
at present, presenting a bird's-eye view of possibilities which
should be of real value to our American Masonic leaders. We express
no opinion as to the correctness of Brother Norwood's conclusions,
but present them for reflection and as a basis for discussion.

Editor

SOME years after I had been made a Mason, a member of another Lodge
introduced to me an Italian brother who desired to visit my Lodge.
I examined his diploma, questioned him closely, received the grip
and word and satisfied myself that he belonged to a regular Italian
Lodge.

But my own Grand Lodge had made it impossible for this Italian
Mason to visit or communicate with us Masonically. Reflection
convinced our Master, as it convinced me, that Freemasonry was
greater than Grand Lodge violations of "the ancient principles," so
we allowed this brother to visit us but did not advertise the fact.

This incident led to an investigation as to why Kentucky Masons
were forbidden to recognize Masons belonging to Lodges in Germany,
Norway, Denmark, Sweden, Holland, France, Belgium, Spain, Portugal,
Servia, Hungary, Mexico, Brazil, Argentine or any of a dozen or
more other jurisdictions whose members had been taught to believe
they were members of one universal family.

Further investigation developed the fact that while American
Masonic Grand Lodges generally recognize English-speaking Masonry
of all countries, they recognize no other; that there are really
three other great groups of Masonic jurisdictions, concerning which
our American Masonry knows practically nothing and seems to care
less. These are Latin-speaking, Teutonic, and Scandinavian Masonry.

Therefore it appeared as though myself and others had been misled
when, after initiation, we were told that we were then Master
Masons, and as such entitled to visit Lodges all over the world and
that Masonry which regards all men as brothers, was universal.

It took me some time to realize that Masonry, or rather the Spirit
of Masonry, and the Masonic Organization were two entirely
different things. The former is the only thing "universal" about
the "world brotherhood."

So when, two years or more ago, I determined to devote my entire
time and energy to the establishment of a medium through which
American and English speaking Masonry could keep constantly in
touch with the activities of the rest of the Masonic world,
regardless of the question of recognition or ritual, this question
of why German Masonry, for instance, was "regular" and recognized
in New York and quite the reverse in Kentucky, was naturally
uppermost in my mind.

THE BEGINNING OF DISINTEGRATION

Through correspondence and actual investigation, I learned a great
many things about that "why." Here are some of them:

Before the days of railroad, telegraph and cable, it was true that
a Freemason in an American Lodge could congratulate himself on
affiliation with an organization that recognized a brother Mason
the world over. This happy condition obtained practically
everywhere until after our Civil War.

The first rift in the lute was the severance of relations between
American and English Masonry on the one part and French Masonry on
the other. American Masonry severed relations with France over a
question of ritual and jurisdiction. France had recognized a
spurious Cerneau body in Louisiana* which had invaded the
jurisdiction of the Grand Lodge of that state. Years after France
discovered her mistake and withdrew the recognition. However the
harm had been done.

In the meanwhile English Masonry was horrified by the action of the
French Orient in reverting to the original English Charge, which
paid no attention to any religion save that in which all good men
are agreed, and in removing the Christian and all other Bibles from
the Masonic altar so there might be no contention among members as
to creed.

The English Masons cut off relations with France as a godless and
atheistic body. America had already severed connections and felt
justified in continuing the status quo because of this "terrible"
act. Gradually most of the world did likewise and France was
thereupon stigmatized the world over as "atheistic" despite its
denial and the fact that time and again it explained why a
Protestant Grand Master and Christian minister did this thing, and
that the Lodges upheld him.

HOW CAN WE EXPLAIN TO THE INITIATE?

It has taken just forty years of time, and this war, to bring us to
realize how far disintegration has gone. The craft as a whole is
just beginning to understand through an awakened press--through
being brought face to face with actual conditions as they exist
today, that the Spirit of Suspicion, of Intolerance, of
Provincialism, has been substituted for the Spirit of Brotherly
Love and Relief.

Here are some examples of facts and conditions that no amount of
sophistry or theology on the part of the orthodox can
satisfactorily explain to the newly made Mason who was led to the
door of our "Men's House" by a favorable opinion of our institution
gathered from the record of past glories and achievements.
Practically every Masonic jurisdiction in the world is recognized
by one or more American Grand Lodges --but not by all.

* At the Annual Communication of the Grand Lodge of Louisiana held
February 4, 5 and 6, 1918, fraternal relations were resumed with
the Grand Orient of France.


American Grand Lodges have no means of taking uniform action
concerning anything vital to the life and spirit of the craft.
There is neither uniformity of work, ritual nor action. What is
"good Masonry" in one state is so under suspicion in another that
without a catalog of regular Lodges, mere oral examination no
longer suffices to determine a brother's status as a Man and Mason.

Some states authorize cipher rituals, while others condemn them as
violations of the "ancient landmarks." There are innumerable lists
of "landmarks," scarcely two of them alike, and legislation is
based upon these supposed lists.

The doors have been thrown wide open to the invasion of various
clandestine bodies calling themselves Masonic, which absorb
material from other countries which we fail to "recognize." Yet we
complain of the invasion of our jurisdiction by these foreign Grand
Lodges when they establish their own regular language Lodges among
us to meet this very clandestinism, and thereby widen the breach.

Our foreign correspondence committees have largely been composed of
brethren who seemingly have a contempt for any language they cannot
read, and who have in some cases actually spent their official
lives discovering reasons why we should not recognize foreign
Masonry rather than reasons why we should.

In only too many cases of record, such committees depend upon like
committees in other states for their information concerning this
suspicious foreign Masonry. And while the blind are leading the
blind, they hearken to the alleged tales of Masonry in politics and
atheistic practices from the very persons and organizations whose
life work is to destroy Freemasonry and all its fruits. Naturally
information from such sources cannot be relied upon--but we have
been relying upon it without either examining our own shortcomings
or taking the trouble to give our brethren a hearing.

INTERNATIONAL EFFORTS FOR SOLIDARITY IN EUROPE

But there is another side to this picture that is distinctly
encouraging.

Some years ago, Past Grand Master Ed. Quartier La-Tente, of
Switzerland, established his International Masonic Bureau for
Masonic Affairs at Neuchatel. This Bureau began the laborious task
of gathering and disseminating first-hand information concerning
Freemasonry of all countries, rites and jurisdictions. It gained
the adherence of Latin and Teutonic Masonry and the respectful
interest of British, and some American, Grand Lodges before the war
temporarily suspended its activities.

Later, during the war, its work was approved by the Grand Lodge of
Switzerland and was resumed under the direction of Bro. La-Tente
and a committee of officers. It is now, besides gathering data,
conducting a Bureau for the exchange of Masonic and other prisoners
of war, for finding lost Masons and relieving various other
distresses.

But German Masonry, under the iron heel of autocracy had to sever
relations with the Bureau as well as with the Masons of enemy
countries and the entente cordiale between French and German, and
English and German Masonry which it was bringing about just before
the war has been disrupted for the time. Nevertheless this
International Bureau stands today with hands outstretched to all
bodies, urging solidarity of world Masonry.

For a number of years International Masonic Congresses have been
held by European continental Masonry in Switzerland, Holland and
France, and these have done much to bring about something of unity
of thought and action. The latest of these Congresses met last June
in Paris, with French, Spanish, Portuguese, Italian, Servian,
Belgian and some other scattering bodies represented, and drew up
a Peace Program strikingly similar to that later advocated by
President Wilson and the Allied governments in this war. This
program represented only the Masonic opinion of that Congress, but
was officially communicated to all governments as a suggestion--a
pattern.

The French Grand Orient, Dr. Magelhaes Lima, recently Grand Master
of Portugal, and the late Dr. Miguel Morayta, Grand Master of
Spain, were strong advocates of a Latin-Masonic Union in Europe and
their work has borne fruit within the past two years in bringing
about a virtual solidarity of Latin Masonry on the continent. One
of the splendid accomplishments of this propaganda has been the
settlement of differences between the rival Masonic Grand Bodies of
Italy, and their recent union (last November) under Grand Master
Ernesto Nathan. The actual organization of a Latin Union, however,
has not yet been accomplished but is anticipated as the first step
toward a greater sympathy and solidarity with other racial Masonic
groups after the war.

EFFORTS OF LATIN AMERICA

A similar series of International Masonic Congresses has been held
in South America for the Latin Masons of the central and southern
portions of this continent, generally in Brazil or Argentina. And
a like project for a Latin-Masonic Union of American Masons is
under way and will be discussed at the next Congress to be held in
Buenos Aires, May 25, this year.

Few of the American Grand Lodges recognize any of these American
Latin bodies save Costa Rica, Cuba and Porto Rico, all in the West
Indies. Peru is recognized by a few jurisdictions because about
twenty years ago there was some agitation there over removing the
Bible from the altar, which the Grand Lodge refused to do, thereby
winning the recognition of a few American Grand Lodges as a
"reward."

Louisiana has made somewhat of a specialty in first-hand
investigation and because of her Latin sympathies and understanding
of Latin Masonry, has gone further than any other American Grand
Lodge in recognition of Masonry in Central and South America.

Massachusetts within the last two years has recognized the Grand
Lodge of Panama after investigation by a special committee and
because of an amiable disposition to agree upon jurisdiction in the
Panama Canal Zone.

But the largest and most energetic Masonic jurisdictions remain a
closed door to American Masonry, largely through indifference and
ignorance.

THE 40,000 MASONS OF BRAZIL

Brazil, for example, the most powerful of South American bodies, is
doing Masonic work of which no American Grand Lodge would be
ashamed and which indeed none of them have equaled. Yet it is
"unrecognized."

Brazil not only supports its Masonic widows and orphans in much the
same fashion as do the Grand Lodges of the United States, but in
the midst of hostile environments-conducts night and day schools
for young and old regardless of creed or politics; devotes large
sums to its own and other charities and relief work; makes its
Masonic Temples homes and places of refuge for the distressed, and
carries into the savage wilds of that immense country the spirit of
progress and civilization as no other human force can do or has
done.

It was the direct interposition of Brazilian Masonry, through its
actual Grand Master, Dr. Nilro Pecahna, now Minister of foreign
affairs, that nipped in the bud the efforts of Imperial Germany to
swing Brazil, and with her all South and Central America, into line
against the United States when it declared war on Germany.

Dr. Pecahna and his Masonic brothers have done more to educate our
Latin-American neighbors in an understanding of that American
brotherhood which the United States wishes to evolve through the
Pan American Congress, than any other association of thinkers on
this hemisphere. And from Brazil, Argentina, Colombia, Venezuela
and other South and Central American Countries, Freemasons are
constantly writing to LIGHT advocating closer union and the
cementing of, not only fraternal, but social and commercial,
relations.

Of this Latin Masonry, Cuba is best known to America as it is
generally recognized because of our close contact with its people
during the Spanish-American war.

Grand Master Curbelo of Cuba is a most ardent advocate of the
Latin-Masonic Union and in his enthusiasm a year ago addressed all
the North American Grand Lodges suggesting that there be a
Federation of the Masonry of both North and South America, to be
expressed through a friendly Congress. No attention was paid his
fraternal suggestion save by the Grand Lodge of Michigan which
flatly refused to consider it!

AMERICANIZING THE PHILIPPINES

In the Philippines American Masonry established itself immediately
after the Spanish-American War and later erected a Grand Lodge,
wholly American in character and utterly unable to fraternize with
the native Filipino and Spanish Masons under the jurisdiction of
the Spanish Grand Orient.

The serious positions of Masons in those islands where but recently
the church and State were united, and Freemasons were shot to death
for the crime of being Freemasons, made some action imperative. And
within the past year the American Grand Lodge has solved this
problem by taking into its bosom twenty eight of these Spanish
Lodges and chartering others, so that in a single day the
Philippines were unified. One of the recent additions to regular
Philippine Masonry is Brother Emilio Aguinaldo, former leader of
his people against Spanish rule and then against the misunderstood
Americans.

Under wise and skillful leaders our brethren of the Philippines
have planted Masonry in the very Temple of Heaven in Peking, China;
in Japan and other places in the Orient, carrying with them the
true spirit of Liberty through love and co-operation and stilling
the turbulent unrest of ignorance through education.

THE MASONIC OSTRICH OF MEXICO

In Mexico, the sad spectacle of a split in the Valle de Mexico
during the revolution has brought the York Grand Lodge, purely
American in character, into almost general recognition in place of
the original Grand Lodge. It is greatly to be regretted that the
American brethren, in their efforts to prove their regularity, have
constantly denied the existence of any other Masonry in Mexico save
their own, for despite their denials some ten Mexican native Grand
Lodges continue to flourish, including the Valle de Mexico. These
are mostly in fraternal relation and co-operation with Central and
South American Masonry who have found it difficult to understand
why their American brothers withdrew sympathy from them in time of
need.

So here again is an opportunity for readjustment and understanding
that may afford the York Grand Lodge organization the chance to
accomplish what the Philippine Grand Lodge did, when passions and
prejudices have been overcome. For by the returns furnished LIGHT
from these native Mexican Lodges their membership is two to three
times that of the York Grand Lodge.

FOUR RACIAL GROUPS

1. Taking a bird's-eye view of Freemasonry outside the pale of
present American recognition we find Teutonic Masonry (Germany and
Austria-Hungary) voluntarily cut off from English-speaking and
Latin Masonry. But they still maintain relations with Scandinavian
Masonry (Norway, Sweden and Denmark) in which two Kings are Grand
Masters and the most learned men of the country are leaders as well
as students.

These three neutral countries are the great peace center of Europe
so far as Germany is concerned, and here are centered the hopes of
the German people for peace. It was the king of Sweden, Grand
Master of Masons, who surrendered half his kingdom rather than "see
brother slay brother" and from the Nobel Prize Awards to the
encouragement of all peace propaganda, the Spirit of Freemasonry is
nowhere more powerful than in Scandinavia, recognized by all the
world save some American jurisdictions.

2. Latin Masonry in Europe and Latin Masonry in America have common
ideals and aims and are now virtually consolidated. The European
Masonic Congresses are frequently attended by American Masons of
Latin jurisdictions.

3. English-speaking Masonry is generally recognized by America and
in turn recognizes many jurisdictions not generally recognized by
America, such as Egypt.

This being so, could not a Master's touch bring them all together
for united effort in rebuilding the world after this war?

I believe that it can--and that it will!

America can supply that Master touch. Will she do it?

AMERICA MUST BRING MASONIC WORLD TOGETHER

There are the elements of a great renaissance for world Freemasonry
in America today.

The "get together" movement has not only unified Italian Masonry
but that of Argentine within recent months.

We have our Grand Masters' Conventions, Grand Secretaries' Guild,
and various state Past Grand Masters', Masonic Veterans', Masters'
and Wardens' Associations which have brought about a general desire
in the rank and file of the craft for united action.

But we have no general advisory body such as England's United Grand
Lodge which guides the destinies of as many (or more) "Provincial
and District Grand Lodges" as we have State Grand Lodges. Or the
Grosser Logenbund of Germany with its eight independent Grand
Lodges and Rites working in absolute harmony. Or the national Grand
Orients and Councils of Latin countries which unify the work and
studies of otherwise conflicting Rites.

Yet we have the International Masonic Relief Board of the United
States and Canada, including Cuba and Costa Rica to which all but
one or two of our Grand Lodges adhere.

We have the Masonic War Relief Association which all our American
Grand Lodges are now supporting and which extends its aid to our
Brother Masons of other countries regardless of questions of
recognition and Grand Lodge legislation.

We have our National Masonic Research Society whose researches and
labors are now encouraged and applauded by all jurisdictions.

We have our George Washington Masonic National Memorial Association
whose worthy purpose of preserving to posterity the true record of
how and by whom the American ideal of Freedom, Equality and
Brotherhood was given expression in the building of this Republic
as a great Temple of Humanity, has received almost universal
approbation.

Are these four great National activities of American Masonry not
the forerunners of still greater works of co-operation and unity?
Are they not expressions of the craft desire for united and virile
action? May they not become the foundation of some such plan for
united action, for Grand Lodge co-operation in all the branches of
Masonic endeavor, as crystallized in Bro. George L. Schoonover's
proposal for a National Council for Masonic Defense ?

SOME SIGNS OF THE TIMES
Those to whom such ideas do not appeal would do well to reflect
upon "the signs of the times" showing the temper and desire of the
craft at large, outside books of ancient history and beyond the
meaningless beauties of oratory concerning patriotism and democracy
and brotherhood so convincingly expressed by after dinner speakers
and Grand Masters at cornerstone layings.

These brethren have so long been accustomed to tell us what
Freemasons accomplished in the Revolution, what they did in
humanity's battles for freedom and education, how they stand like
the rock of Gibraltar for the spirit of Americanism, for the public
schools, for religious toleration and for this, that or the other
thing of the past, that they have perhaps not realized how
sincerely their hearers believe it all to be true and demand the
same action of Freemasonry today as they are told it took in the
past.

Such glorious speeches as fill the days of every Grand Lodge
communication, every Masonic banquet or cornerstone laying, may be
delivered by their owners in part payment for the honors bestowed
upon them. But they either mean much or nothing.

If Freemasonry really champions universal brotherhood, it is the
duty of all Freemasons to work unceasingly for that ideal and all
that it implies.

The Great War has brought us at last face to face with a singular
phenomenon in American Masonry.

No set of men on this earth have so gladly and so willingly rushed
to lay down their fortunes and their lives if need be, that the
whole world may henceforth be free--rid of autocratic rule and the
divine right of individuals to say what the rest of mankind shall
say, do and think.

In the columns of Masonic news for the past year, since America has
been in this war, we find such little human touches as the first
American killed in action abroad, a Freemason; a Grand Master of
Scottish Rite Masonry giving up his law practice and with his
brother going to Paris with the Y.M.C.A. workers only to have his
heart so wrung by the tragedies left on that land in the bloody
path of military autocracy that he and his brother felt they must
get into the trenches where they are now fighting the battle of
humanity as simple privates; a Grand Orator raising a company of
soldiers among his brethren and offering them to his government for
the great sacrifice.

I have heard the burning words of brother Masons in khaki, both
officers and privates, when they were bidding good-bye to all they
held dear, in the full expectation of laying down their lives for
their brothers across the seas; have read the solemn, earnest
exhortations of French, English and American Masons serving their
country at home and at the front. I know the exalted spirit of
these men of the rank and file. They are laying down their lives
and giving their all for brotherhood. Have they not a right to
demand of us and of our Grand Lodges that we make their dreams come
true in fact as well as in theory ?

What a travesty on Freemasonry that we lay down our lives for
Masonic ideals and yet haggle over petty questions of jurisdiction
and recognition and regularity--matters of opinion separating
brothers who have sworn a brotherhood that disregards opinion and
rests upon love and knowledge alone !

We can be brothers in arms and die for each other. But we cannot be
Masons and live for each other. Separated in life, united in death.

RECOGNIZING FRANCE AGAIN

How the real Spirit of Freemasonry swept aside as chaff all passion
and, prejudice of the past, all puerile legislation and red tape of
criticism, and brought only Masonic love to the front in this great
world crisis, will forever go down in deathless story of
Freemasonry in New York, California, Kentucky, Texas, Utah, Rhode
Island, Louisiana, and probably other states to follow, when
posterity writes the history of these times and how those states
made it possible for their soldier Masons to meet their French,
Belgian and Servian brothers upon the Masonic level as well as in
the trench. No matter if dogmatic religion once more climbs into
the saddle after the war, the story of the present can never die.

When Texas recognized France, fully 75 per cent. of the delegates
to that Grand Lodge had sons or grandsons in the Army or Navy of
the United States. The great ideal of brotherhood came home to them
as it did to their forefathers who placed the five points of
fellowship star on the Texan flag and laid down their lives for the
freedom of the present generation. Those men pledged every dollar
and every drop of their blood in this war for human liberty and
their worthy successors have done precisely the same thing in a
resolution that will go ringing down the ages with those other
great Masonic documents, the Declaration of Independence and the
Social Compact.

When Kentucky recognized France she was decidedly not carried away
in a whirlwind of emotion and sentiment. She appointed an official
committee to gather first-hand data concerning all the Freemasonry
in the world so that she might calmly and deliberately investigate
for herself and find cause, if any exists, why the entire Masonic
world cannot recognize itself. It will possibly take two years to
complete these statistics and so arrange them that they may be
intelligently compared and analyzed. In the meanwhile Kentucky
Masons occupy the most enviable position in the American
brotherhood, for they are free to fraternize with their brothers in
every country in the world.

Massachusetts, Manitoba, Louisiana, Florida and other states are
seriously debating similar investigations. The spirit of Fraternity
will no longer be denied nor will it longer hearken to the dry,
dead voices of rumor and the gossip of its enemies.

WHY NOT A MASONIC CONGRESS IN AMERICA?

Brethren, America stands on the threshold of a New Age for this old
world and American Freemasonry looks through the portals and finds
the hands and voices and eyes of the new generation to be turned
toward us, imploring our love, our sympathy, our leadership. Shall
we be recreant to our trust?

A single Masonic Congress of American Masonry will mobilize a
mighty army nearly 2,000,000 strong in the United States which can
make the revival of Freemasonry of two hundred years ago seem like
an infant's effort in comparison. We are rightfully leaders of the
constructive forces that must be utilized to rebuild the ravages of
war.

Were the 1,851,972 American Freemasons to unite upon any one plan
of action the 944,639 other Masons in the world would gladly join
with us. As shattered Europe looks to America today for its
salvation, so do our brother Masons look for us to lead the way to
the work on the new Temple.

We are the greatest Fraternal nation in the world. Here are the
statistics of world Masonry January 1 of this year:

Australia and New Zealand ................69,353
Africa.....................................2,450
Central America...........................18,893
Canada ..................................114,402
Europe (including colonial) .............693,869
South America ............................55,672

Total outside U.S....................... 944,639

Almost a million more Masons in this country than in all the rest
of the world! And yet we have only a little more than 4,000 Lodges
the advantage, for in foreign countries where Masonry has to
struggle for its very existence against forces from which we are
happily free, it is quality rather than quantity for which they
strive. Therein lies safety.

Because of the recognition by some of the wisest of our national
statesmen that America was built upon Brotherhood and is indeed the
greatest fraternal nation in the world, our fraternal forces are
even now being utilized quietly and effectively to weld our peoples
into presenting a united front in this war that has astounded and
mystified our enemies who imagined a free republic would crumble to
bits in a conflict of creeds, politics and races at such a test as
this.

HOW OUR FRATERNAL FORCES ARE BEING MOBILIZED BY UNCLE SAM

Food Commissioner Herbert Hoover was the first to avail himself of
this powerful constructive agency by calling together a congress of
all the national heads of our many fraternal organizations. There
were no national heads or representatives of united American
Masonry. Some Grand Masters of states attended and many individual
Masons.

But there were national heads of the two Scottish Rite
jurisdictions, of Knights Templar, of Royal Arch Masons and Cryptic
Masonry. And there were national heads of every other organization
from the Woodmen and Foresters to the Knights of Columbus.

A great Mason was chosen chairman of that Fraternal Congress, Bro.
George Fleming Moore, the Grand Commander of the Scottish Rite of
the Southern Jurisdiction, whose power extends throughout the
Pacific and into China and Japan.

The same Congress has since been called upon by other departments
of our government, notably the Secretary of the Treasury in
connection with the Liberty Bond campaigns and the Secretary of War
in the settlement of questions arising from the first limitations
set by him upon War Recreation work in army cantonments.

PLAN FOR IMMEDIATE ACTION

Considering the foregoing may I briefly outline how easily American
Freemasonry may today meet the expectations of the craft and of the
world by assuming its rightful leadership in the work of
reconstruction?

Let there be an immediate conference of all State Grand Masters,
called upon their own authority and volition, to consider uniform
recommendations to their Grand Lodges for the erection of a
National Masonic Council of Defense or any other advisory body or
Congress they may see fit to approve without disturbing the sacred
independence of their Grand bodies.

Bro. Schoonover has already drawn a design upon the trestleboard*
worthy of deep consideration, and indeed it has been considered by
the recent Grand Masters' convention in Washington during December.
But that body has no power to act nor would it have power to take
any other action now save to agree among themselves as to what they
would suggest to their Grand Lodges.

Then let them call Emergent Communications of their Grand Lodges
and place before them the facts and recommendations. There would be
no need to await the Annual Communications. There is need for
action now and at once!

If the Grand Lodges should decide upon immediate action,
representatives could at once be elected to the National Advisory
Council, or whatever the Congress might be called should they or a
considerable portion of them approve. Three Masons make a Lodge we
are told, and surely even three Grand Lodges could establish this
Council of Co-operation.

Should the Grand Lodges prefer to spend additional time in inquiry
they could send representatives to a National Congress to meet as
soon as all the Grand Lodges had been given a chance to consider
the matter, with power to act. These could then thresh out the
details of the National Council.

Or the Grand Lodges that immediately approved could erect the
National Council and the others could talk about it in a Congress
until they were satisfied to enter the Federation.

Once the National Council was ready for business, the four great
National bodies first mentioned, the National Masonic Research
Society, the George Washington Masonic National Memorial
Association, the War Relief Association and the Masonic Relief
Association, could be called into co-operation either as integral
parts of the Council or as friendly helpers. In

* See pages four and five Correspondence Circle Bulletin section of
THE BUILDER for March, 1918.


time the world would know that when the National Council spoke it
reflected the united voice of American Freemasonry without in any
manner binding any Grand Lodge to assent longer than that Grand
Lodge voluntarily gave its support to the Council.

In this manner the national activities of American Masonry would be
harmonious and consistent. The Grand Lodges would be relieved of a
financial burden by the consolidation of these activities under one
head. And best of all it would pave the way for a universal
adjustment of all International Masonic relations, by consulting
with similar Congresses, Federations and Councils of other
countries and racial groups.

Then indeed would dawn the day prophesied by Tolstoi, Hugo,
Tennyson and others when there will be a "parliament of man and the
federation of the world."
