THE BUILDER JUNE 1925

Should a Grand Lodge Regulate Advancement to the Higher Degrees?
A Grand Masters' Symposium

SHOULD a Grand Lodge try to set a fixed time between a brother's
receiving the Third Degree and his going on to the Higher Bodies?
This question has been so much discussed, officially and
unofficially, during the past few years, that it has become one of
the live issues of the day. To give its readers some light on the
pulse of Masonic opinion concerning this problem THE BUILDER
addressed to each of the forty-nine Grand Masters of the country
the following letter:

"Should a Grand Lodge by law regulate the time to elapse between a
candidate's receiving his Third Degree and his petitioning for
membership in Royal Arch or Scottish Rite bodies? We shall greatly
appreciate your contributing to this important discussion something
concerning your own Grand Lodge's action (if it has taken action)
or your personal opinion, or both."

A sheaf of twenty-one representative replies is published herewith.

THE HIGHER DEGREES SHOULD NOT SERVE AS A REWARD

Any legislation of this nature would, in my opinion, indicate to
the candidate that the further degrees were highly desirable and
that they are a part of our Masonic work which he might hope to
attain by additional service and as a reward.

ANDREW FOULDS, JR., Grand Master, New Jersey.

THE LODGE HAS NO AUTHORITY

The Grand Lodge of South Carolina has taken no action on this
matter, nor has any discussion been held. In my opinion, the proper
place to handle such a regulation would be in the bodies concerned.
These bodies fix the pre-requisites for membership, and the lodge
has no authority over them.
C. K. CHREITZBERG, Grand Master, South Carolina.

WISCONSIN HAS TAKEN NO ACTION

Your favor of the 25th of March was duly received. In reply would
say that none of the Grand Bodies of Wisconsin have ever taken any
action or steps regulating the time to elapse between a candidate's
receiving his Third Degree and his petitioning for membership in
the Royal Arch or Scottish Rite bodies.

FRANK JOHNSON, Grand Master, Wisconsin.

KENTUCKY HAS TAKEN NO ACTION

I have yours of the 25th inst., and in reply will say that our
Grand Lodge has taken no action on this, nor has anything come
before it; though two years ago one of our Past Masters had a
resolution prepared, but died just before the Grand Lodge met. I
have heard incidentally that it is very likely that something of
that kind will come up at this meeting; however, I have no positive
knowledge of it at this time. Personally I have not given the
matter any thought and do not know whether there should be a law on
the subject or not.

H. M. GRUNDY, Grand Master, Kentucky.

NO ACTION HAS BEEN TAKEN IN ILLINOIS

In reply to the inquiry embodied in your favor of March 25, I wish
to state that in my opinion the extent to which the Royal Arch and
Scottish Rite bodies go in soliciting Masons for membership should
determine whether or not there should be a Grand Lodge by-law in
the particular state regulating the time which should elapse
between the raising of a member and his petitioning these other
bodies.

Up to the present time no action of this nature has been taken by
the Grand Lodge of Illinois.

RICHARD C. DAVENPORT, Grand Master, Illinois.

BELIEVES A YEAR SHOULD ELAPSE

In answer to your question I will say that our Grand Lodge has not
acted, but personally I think no Master Mason should petition for
any other degrees that are based on membership in the Blue Lodge
until he shall have passed a satisfactory examination and shall
have received a certificate of proficiency in his Blue Lodge
Degrees, provided this certificate shall not be issued until after
he has attended his own Blue Lodge regularly for at least twelve
months.

The act of attempting to evade these regulations should be
punishable by suspension.

CHAS. W. POLK, Grand Master, Tennessee.

GRAND LODGE HAS NO RIGHT TO MAKE SUCH LAWS

Answering your first question, permit me to say that the Grand
Lodge of Indiana has taken no action on the subject.

As to my opinion on this subject, I cannot see how a Grand Lodge
could pass a law preventing a Master Mason from doing anything as
long as he conducted himself as a man and a Mason. I think a Grand
Lodge would have as much right to say that a newly made Master
Mason could not join a church for one year after he was raised, as
to say he could not petition for membership in the Royal Arch or
Scottish Rite bodies. I cannot see how a Grand Lodge can assume
control of a Master Mason, except as to his general behavior,
unbecoming a Mason.

J. LEE DINWIDDIE, Grand Master, Indiana.

A YEAR IS REQUIRED IN NEW HAMPSHIRE

My Grand Master has asked me to reply to you for him as to your
inquiry of March 25.

After one has received the Master's Degree in New Hampshire, a year
must elapse before he may petition for degrees in a Royal Arch
Chapter or in the Scottish Rite.

This requirement has not been brought about by any action on the
part of the Grand Lodge, but was voluntarily made, without
suggestion, on the part of the Grand Chapter and the Scottish Rite
bodies.

It is an exhibition of their opinion rather than that of Grand
Lodge.

It seems to be working just as many of us felt it would, to the end
of making better material ultimately for them.

HARRY M. CHENEY, Grand Secretary, New Hampshire.

EDUCATION BETTER THAN AN EDICT

The subject of the regulation by Grand Lodge of the time which must
elapse between the third and subsequent degrees is one upon which
I have no very intelligent opinion to offer. The idea is new to us
in Vermont, and while I called the attention of the brethren to it
during my remarks at the various District

Meetings, I do not know that it has been discussed very much since
then. It is safe to say that Grand Lodge action in the matter is
very improbable. While there is too much solicitation of our newly
made brethren the situation has not reached the point where drastic
action is wise or necessary, as it evidently has been in other
fields. So for the present we shall work along the line of Masonic
education rather than edict, and keep closer watch of developments
along this line.

C. B. CROWELL, Grand Master, Vermont.

MONTANA HAS A LAW

Pursuant to the recommendation of G.M., C. J. McAllister, 1922-23,
the Grand Lodge of Montana, at its 1923 session, adopted the
following resolution, and it now appears in our 1924 Code, on page
101, as Article XIXa, as follows:

"Art. XIXa. Master Masons Not to Apply for Further Degrees Until
Certain Requirements Are Met. RESOLVED, That it shall be a Masonic
offense for any Master Mason raised in the jurisdiction of this
Grand Lodge to petition any Royal Arch Chapter or Scottish Rite
body in Montana, until one year shall have elapsed from the date of
his raising; or before he shall have passed successfully an
examination in the lecture of the Third Degree; or before he shall
have attended at least twelve meetings of his own or some other
lodge, unless excused for good cause by his lodge from such
attendance. (Adopted, 1923 Proceedings, p. 156.)"

I can assure you that I am heartily in accord with this section of
our Code. There is entirely too much of a tendency to become Masons
in name only.
H. L. HART, Grand Master, Montana.

"I WOULD SUBSTITUTE KNOWLEDGE OF MASONRY FOR ANY TIME PERIOD"

Replying to your letter of March 25, it seems to me there are two
ways you can look at this proposition:

First. That of the applicant desiring to secure Masonic degrees who
labors under the false impression that the more degrees he secures
the bigger Mason he is. For this impression both the York and
Scottish Rites are at least partly responsible because they solicit
Master Masons, leading them to infer at least that degrees are true
Masonic advancement.

Second. That of the welfare of the Rites as viewed by intelligent
and zealous members--zealous for the strength and stability of the
Rites, who take the position that degrees should be steps in
development of Masonic lives. To such is due the present regulation
of the Scottish Rite that only Master Masons of six months'
standing shall be eligible for membership in the Rite, the
supposition being that six months is the least time in which a
Master Mason may gain a comprehensive knowledge of Symbolic
Masonry. This, however, works out more in theory than in practice.

Personally, I would substitute knowledge of Symbolic Masonry for
any time period, as a condition of eligibility to Higher Degrees.
SAMUEL M. GOODYEAR, Grand Master, Pennsylvania.

BLUE LODGE HAS NO CONTROL IN THE MATTER

This Grand Jurisdiction had this question up before it and we
decided that the Blue Lodge did not have any control over
applicants making advancement to the so-called Higher Degrees.

It appears to me that Masonry being a progressive Science, and
Proficiency in the Speculative Art of the Craft being deemed a
pre-requisite as to advancement toward Higher Degrees founded upon
Symbolic Masonry, it should be a very essential factor to
advancement.

But, I do not see how a subordinate lodge could have any control
over its membership when they desire to make advancement to the
higher bodies of the York Rite or of the Scottish Rite. Therefore,
the higher bodies should require a higher degree of proficiency of
its applicants before permitting them to become members of their
bodies.

An applicant for either the Royal Arch Degrees or the Scottish
Rite, should be proficient in the three symbolic degrees of
Masonry. Advancement without a knowledge of this would bring upon
the higher bodies a membership whose knowledge would be so limited
that they would not be worth anything as a member of either, and
become parasites upon these fraternal institutions.
JAMES D. HAMRICK, Grand Master, Georgia.

ARIZONA IS TRYING OUT A LAW

The Grand Lodge of Arizona two years ago adopted a regulation
resolution which requires one year to elapse from the time the
candidates receive their Third Degree before they are permitted to
petition for membership in the Royal Arch or Scottish Rite bodies.
This action was taken owing to the fact that there seemed to be a
great desire on the part of many to become Shriners. Candidates
immediately upon receiving their Third Degree applied for
advancement in the Scottish Rite, which would qualify them to apply
to a Shrine. Complaint was made that these applicants upon
receiving the Shrine neglected and failed to give much attention
either to the Blue Lodge or the concordant, being satisfied with
the Shrine.

It was the general impression of many at our Grand Lodge session
that by thus doing, the real purposes and objects of Masonry were
being abolished to satisfy the whims of those who took this course.
We felt that they should be familiar with the work of the Blue
Lodge before they should advance.

The rule we have adopted is still in effect and an attempt was made
at the last Grand Lodge session to repeal it--the Scottish Rite
brethren being insistent upon this being done, but we concluded to
give it a trial for another year to see to what extent, if any, it
would effect the application for membership in these concordant
bodies. What action the Grand Lodge will take at its next session,
if an action is taken to replace this one, I cannot say.

CLEMENT H. COLMAN, Grand Master, Arizona.

GRAND CHAPTERS AND SUPREME COUNCILS SHOULD TAKE THE INITIATIVE

The Grand Lodge of the District of Columbia has taken no action on
the question of the length of time which should elapse between the
date a brother receives his Master Mason Degree and the date he may
apply for the degrees in Capitular or Scottish Rite Masonry.

As Grand Master, I have not given the subject intensive study, but
I am inclined to think this matter is one which should be left to
regulation by Grand Chapters and Supreme Councils. Experience
demonstrates that too rapid a progress up the Masonic ladder does
not produce the best quality of Masonry, yet it seems to me
unnecessary that Grand Lodges should act as keepers of the gates of
other Masonic bodies. I should welcome a ruling from the supreme
authorities in Capitular or Scottish Rite Masonry, that they would
not elect to their bodies Master Masons who had not attained a
certain age in Ancient Craft Masonry, but as a Thirty-third Degree
Scottish Rite Mason, and as a Past Grand High Priest, I should feel
that Grand Lodge was stepping beyond its province, though, of
course, not beyond its right, should it forbid Master Masons to
abide by the laws governing application to those bodies, whether
such laws permitted immediate or demand deferred application. The
college sets standards of education for admission which high school
graduates must reach. It seems unnecessary for high schools to set
standards by which its graduates could enter college. Ancient Craft
Masonry is not a primary school for the so-called "Higher" Degrees,
but as its degrees are pre-requisite for Capitular and Scottish
Rite Masonry, the comparison seems justifiable.
ROE FULKERSON, Grand Master, District of Columbia.

"STOP, LOOK AND LISTEN !"

The question you ask raises some doubt and much speculation. One
who has been privileged to receive the various degrees of the York
Rite and Scottish Rite, cannot discount their value. When we
reflect, however, that the Three Degrees as conferred by the lodges
under the jurisdiction of the Grand Lodge of Missouri may be said
to be Universal Masonry, admitting initiates through the portals of
Masonic lodges throughout the world, teaching great lessons and
having a great work to do, it would seem desirable that the member
of the lodge should be given an unhampered opportunity to study the
sublime beauty and purpose of the symbolism of the Three Degrees,
before being importuned to "take" other degrees.

Too often is it insinuated to the prospective candidate, by the
over-zealous, that it takes degrees to make him a Mason, or give
him Masonic standing. What we need is more loyalty to the lodge and
less talk about degrees. The profane as well as the members of the
lodge should be made to know that it is not the number of degrees
possessed that makes a Mason, but that it is the active performance
of the pure principles of right in one's home, religion, politics
and business dealings that distinguishes one as a real Mason.

It seems to me that when a candidate has received the Sublime
Degree of Master Mason, he should be required to "Stop, Look and
Listen," or "find himself" Masonically, before being allowed to
petition for the Royal Arch or Scottish Rite. I believe that if he
were required to wait one year after having passed his Proficiency
Examination in the Third Degree, we would add strength to our Order
in all its departments.

ORESTES MITCHELL, Grand Master, Missouri.


IT DOES NOT CONCERN GRAND LODGE

Your communication of 25th ultimo received containing the following
questions and requesting a reply:

"Should a Grand Lodge by law regulate the time to elapse between a
candidate's receiving his Third Degree and his petitioning for
membership in Royal Arch or Scottish Rite bodies?"

Answering thereto would state that our Grand Lodge has taken no
action upon this question. There seems to be a perfect mania for
legislation both in Congress and forty-eight state legislatures and
very largely city councils suffer from this affliction, and from
reading the proceedings of some of Grand Lodges even they have not
escaped.

Symbolic Masonry is interested in the welfare and deportment of its
members. Beyond that it does not or should not care to go. It makes
no difference to Symbolic Masonry how much time elapses or, on the
other hand, whether he ever joins any of the York or Scottish Rite
bodies.

My contention is, if a brother Mason is in good standing, that is,
no charges preferred against him and is not in arrears for dues or
assessments, he should be free to go or to join anything so far as
the Grand Lodge is concerned that is not incompatible or subversive
of the principles of Freemasonry or good government. Therefore that
such restrictive legislation, paternalistic in its nature, is both
unwise and unnecessary.

Of course, it would be perfectly competent for any of the York or
Scottish Rite bodies to legislate upon this matter if they were
disposed to do so, but it would be a matter in which the Grand
Lodge would not be interested.

HENRY C. DEXTER, Grand Master, Rhode Island.

"DO NOT HINDER THE ASPIRANT FROM ADVANCING AS SOON AS HE WISHES"

In response to your request that I contribute an article from
Florida to the Grand Masters' Symposium dealing with the question
of requiring a newly raised Master Mason to serve a given length of
time, as such, before applying for admission into the Royal Arch or
Scottish Rite bodies, will say that this question has never been
officially discussed at any meeting of our Grand Lodge within our
memory.

Our laws provide for one month probationary period preceding the
conferring of each of the degrees but no other restrictions as to
time.

At our annual convocation of the Grand Chapter of Royal Arch
Masons, which was attended by the Inspector General of the Scottish
Rite bodies in Florida, a resolution was adopted by the Grand
Chapter and accepted by the Inspector General requiring an
applicant for the degrees, in either of the bodies, to serve at
least six months as a Master Mason. But this law remained in force
only one year when it was abrogated by the newly appointed Deputy
of the Rite and rescinded by the Chapter, hence we have but little
opportunity to judge its merits from our own experience.

There is no doubt but that the Grand Lodge would have ample
authority to adopt this restriction, but I would seriously question
the wisdom of such action, because we should be legislating a
pre-requisite upon the candidates for the York and Scottish Rites
which should properly be left for such- action as these bodies saw
fit to adopt. Might we not, with the same propriety, deny our
Master Masons the privilege of joining any organization within six
months from the time of their raising?

Would the beautiful admonitions, ceremonies and lectures of the
other bodies detract from the inspiring lessons presented in the
Symbolic Lodge? I say no. So do not hinder the aspirant from
advancing as soon as he wishes.
T. T. TODD, Grand Master, Florida.

WASHINGTON DEMANDS A ONE-YEAR INTERVAL

In answer to your question: "Should a Grand Lodge by law regulate
the time to elapse between a candidate's receiving his Third Degree
and his petitioning for membership in Royal Arch Scottish Rite
bodies?" I will say that at the last meeting of the Grand Lodge of
Washington the following resolution was passed: "Do you promise on
your honor that, until you have been a Master Mason for a period of
one year and have creditably passed an examination of proficiency
as a Master Mason, you will not petition for or accept membership
in any other organization which has membership in a Masonic lodge
as a pre-requisite ? " This law is more drastic than it would be if
stated as your question is.

Personally I am opposed to any legislation of this character. We as
"Blue Lodge Masons" do not recognize any other body in Masonry, so
why legislate for something that does not exist for us? By such
legislation we automatically recognize them.

Again I believe that this regulation should come from the Royal
Arch and the Scottish Rite bodies. I do not think that it makes any
difference whether a man takes six months or six years to take all
the degrees of Masonry. If he is going to make a good Mason and
work in the first Three Degrees then he will do so irrespective of
how many degrees he has taken, and in how short a time. If he is
not going to be a good "Blue Lodge Mason," then holding him back
for a year, or thereabouts, from taking the so-called Higher
Degrees, will not change him one jot. You cannot legislate a man
into being a good Mason.

I hold to the old Jeffersonian idea of states Rights, and I want to
allow the fullest freedom to the individual. We are too prone as
Grand Lodges to pass laws that interfere with the inherent rights
of the individual Mason. Such a law as the one above is an
encroachment upon those rights.

These are my own personal views and I am going to bring in a
recommendation at our next Grand Lodge meeting to rescind the law
passed last year.
ROBT. C. McCROSKEY, Grand Master, Washington.

"MASONIC KNOWLEDGE SHOULD BE THE BASIS FOR ADVANCEMENT

At the communication of our Grand Lodge in 1922 a resolution was
adopted declaring it to be the will of this Grand Lodge that no
Master Mason should apply for appendant degrees within a year from
the time of his receiving the Third Degree. Thereafter an agreement
was entered into between the Most Excellent Grand High Priest,
Grand Chapter, Royal Arch Masons of Oregon, and Most Worshipful P.
S. Malcolm, Past Grand Master and Inspector General of Oregon,
Ancient and Accepted Scottish Rite, Southern Jurisdiction, whereby
it was ordered by them that on and after June 1, 1923, no petition
from any Master Mason, raised within the period of one year prior
to the date of such petition, should be received by any Chapter of
Royal Arch Masons or Lodge of Perfection in Oregon, unless such
petition was accompanied by a certificate of proficiency, executed
in proper form, by the Worshipful Master of a duly and regularly
constituted Lodge of A. F. & A. M., and attested by the Secretary
of such lodge with the seal affixed.

At the communication of the Grand Lodge in 1924, a complete Masonic
Code was re-enacted. In this new Code it is provided that no
candidate is a full fledged Master Mason until he shall have been
instructed and passed an examination in open lodge in the
candidate's lecture of a Master Mason. All Master Masons are
required to sign the by-laws of their lodge. They are also now
required to pass the required examination before signing the
by-laws. A candidate is not entitled to receive a certificate of
proficiency until he shall have signed the by-laws. He is not
eligible, therefore, to receive any of the appendant degrees until
he shall have signed the by-laws and received his certificate. This
briefly states the action taken by the Grand Lodge of Oregon with
reference to the appendant degrees.

In my opinion this is a better way to treat the troublesome matter,
than to prescribe a definite length of time between receiving the
Third Degree and the right to petition for the appendant degrees.
Masonic knowledge should be the basis for advancement. One who is
deeply interested in Masonry, and is informing himself in Masonic
teachings, and is desirous of advancing, should not be restrained.
In my opinion, a desire to receive more light is a laudable
ambition. He should be encouraged in this rather than discouraged.
I am in sympathy with the desire to discourage the hasty journey
through the various orders for the mere purpose of wearing the fez
and the tiger claw. I would like to have a regulation requiring all
votaries of the appendant degrees to learn the work as they
advance. I would like to see every candidate who takes the
Capitular Degrees, and all other appendant degrees, be required to
learn a lecture in a similar way as the lectures of the symbolic
degrees are taught.

Masonic information and Masonic knowledge should be our goal rather
than a mere limitation of time.
OLIVER P. COSHOW, Grand Master, Oregon.

GRAND LODGE SHOULD NOT PASS SUCH LEGISLATION

In the matter under discussion the Grand Lodge of North Dakota has
not passed any time limit to a brother petitioning for membership
in the two bodies you name, except that a Master Mason must have
obtained a Certificate of Proficiency from his lodge before joining
either the Royal Arch or Scottish Rite bodies.

I have heard this subject discussed both pro and con in this and in
many other Grand Jurisdictions. My personal opinion is that no
Grand Lodge should pass legislation regulating the time to elapse
between a candidate's receiving his Third Degree and his
petitioning for membership in the two bodies named provided said
Master Mason has not passed an examination of proficiency in the
lectures of the three symbolic degrees. If a Master Mason believes
that he will receive further or clearer light in Masonry by taking
further degrees, that such additional degrees will give him a
better understanding and conception of Masonry, I can see no good
reason for denying him that privilege. Masons desire to learn
something of the purposes of life and how best to live in order to
conform to the Divine Plan of the G. A. O. T. U. Many will say that
this will be found in the three symbolic degrees if the Master
Mason will look and search for it. True --but how many do make a
search for it there! We know it takes less effort to learn by means
of oral instruction and degrees than by self imposed study and
reading. So, I firmly believe, if a Master Mason can obtain more
light in the purpose of life, in the manner of living for the good
of himself, his neighbor and his God, in impressions of the future
life and in the aim of the Divine Plan, he should be allowed to
follow his inclination in seeking it in further degrees. He may not
find that which he seeks but some degree in one of these other
bodies may in a manner give him the true insight and meaning of
Masonry which he has not received in the three symbolic degrees,
thereby making him a better man and a better Mason, of great good
to his brethren, his neighbors and his community, thus in his life
exemplifying practical and spiritual Masonry. It is an illusion
that Masons taking the degrees in these recognized bodies without
a time limit after the Third Degree will hurt the lodge.

I know that Grand Lodges have passed laws regulating the time to
elapse before joining these orders, but I have no sympathy with
their reasoning. Masons should not be prohibited from joining
recognized Masonic organizations which make them better Masons,
better men and thereby better citizens of this great, wonderful and
opportunity-giving country.

THEODORE S. HENRY, Grand Master, North Dakota.

SIX MONTHS SHOULD ELAPSE

The Grand Lodge of Louisiana has no law or regulation fixing the
time that should elapse between the Master's Degree and the
application for a higher body in Masonry.

My personal opinion in the matter is that there should be no
minimum time limit placed upon the candidate who has just received
his Master's Degree and who desires to make application for the
Royal Arch or the Scottish Rite. If the candidate of his own free
will and accord, and without any solicitation on the part of
others, desires to apply for the Royal Arch or the Scottish Rite
Degrees, he should be permitted to do so without the intervention
of any specific period of time whatever. However, his right or
freedom to petition for the degrees voluntarily and without
solicitation should be kept entirely separate and apart from the
right of a member of the Royal Arch or the Scottish Rite to solicit
applications for the Royal Arch or Scottish Rite from Master
Masons. Nothing so wounds the pride of a Master Mason of moderate
or small financial resources as to have some member of the Royal
Arch or the Scottish Rite or some other Masonic body approach him
on the night that he receives his Master's Degree with the
statement that conveys to the neophyte the impression that he has
received but very little of what there is in Masonry--that unless
he wants to live ill ignorance he must apply for and take or
receive the other degrees, which every Master Mason is supposed to
do unless he is a pauper or a cheap-skate who does not show the
proper appreciation of Masonry. Such statements to such Master
Masons have a tendency to lessen his ardor, zeal, interest in and
love for the Fraternity. For that reason, in my opinion, members of
other Masonic bodies than the Blue Lodge should not be permitted to
seek applications from Blue Lodge Masons within a period of at
least six months from the date that the prospect received his
Master's Degree. This can easily be ascertained by the first
question that the proselyte asks the Mason: "How long have you been
a Master Mason?" If the answer is to the effect that six months
have elapsed, he could then proceed with his solicitation of the
application; otherwise he should not broach the subject in any way
to his prospect under penalty of being reprimanded for so doing.

Since the average Mason has had so much of the beautiful philosophy
of Masonry unfolded to him in the Blue Lodge, and been informed of
the various and manifold duties of a Master Mason, all during the
usual period of not more than three hours, since these lessons and
the philosophy of Masonry must be studied and repeated by him and
to him after he has had the Third Degree conferred upon him, there
should be at least six months for the Blue Lodge to have the
undivided attention, as it were, of the neophyte. And if members of
other rites would put forth more effort toward helping and
encouraging this neophyte to go to all Blue Lodge meetings
possible, with a view to making a better Mason of him, then it
would be much easier for then at the end of six months, or some
such time, to secure his application for the other Masonic bodies.

Under no circumstances should my remarks be interpreted as an
improper disregard for the other degrees in Masonry, both York and
Scottish Rites, for some of the most beautiful lessons, some of the
most beneficial philosophy, and some of the most practical
applications of Masonry are there unfolded. And my sincere desire
is that every worthy human who is eligible would take all of the
work. But I think that not only the Blue Lodge, but all other
Masonic bodies would be materially benefitted by allowing at least
six months to elapse before applications could be solicited from a
Master Mason, though I wish everyone of them would voluntarily
apply much earlier.

H. B. CONNER, Grand Master, Louisiana.

