THE BUILDER AUGUST 1917

THE FAITH THAT IS IN THEM---A FRATERNAL FORUM

Edited by BRO. GEO. E. FRAZER, President, The Board of Stewards

CONTRIBUTING EDITORS

Henry R. Evans, District of Columbia. 
Harold A. Kingsbury, Connecticut. 
Dr. Wm. F. Kuhn, Missouri.
Geo. W. Baird, District of Columbia
H.D. Funk, Minnesota
Frederick W. Hamilton, Massachusetts
Dr. John Lewin McLeish, Ohio.
Joseph W. Norwood, Kentucky.
Silas H. Sheperd, Wisconsin.
Jos. W. Eggleston, Virginia
M.M. Johnson, Massachusetts
John Pickard, Missouri
Silas H. Shepherd, Wisconsin. 
Oliver D. Street, Alabama. 
S. W. Williams, Tennessee.
Joe L. Carson, Virginia
T.W. Hugo, Minnesota
F.B. Gault, Washington
C.M. Schenck, Colorado

Contributions to this Monthly Department of Personal Opinion are
invited from each writer who has contributed one or more articles
to THE BUILDER. Subjects for discussion are selected as being alive
in the administration of Masonry today. Discussions of politics,
religious creeds or personal prejudices are avoided, the purpose of
the Department being to afford a vehicle for comparing the personal
opinions of leading Masonic students. The contributing editors
assume responsibility only for what each writes over his own
signature. Comment from our Members on the subjects discussed here
will be welcomed in the Correspondence column.

QUESTION NO. 4--


"Shall the several Grand Lodges issue charters to Military Lodges
during the period of the great war? If so, shall each jurisdiction
issue such charters as it pleases, or shall all the jurisdictions
informally agree that not more than one charter shall be issued for
each regiment in active service? If not, shall American Grand
Lodges permit their members to attend French and Belgian lodges
during the period of the war?"

A Father and His Mason Son.

The formation of Military Lodges should be encouraged in every
possible way. My son, a Mason, now in the Officers' Training School
qualifying himself for active military service, I feel as a father
and a lifelong Mason, should have the privileges and benefits of
the Order while in the army of his country. There should be an
agreement of some sort, formal or informal, among the Grand Lodges
standardizing as far as practical the issuance of these charters,
and the requirements or conditions under which such charters may be
granted and other exigencies that usually arise under Military
conditions. The whole matter ought to receive the immediate and
earnest attention of all Grand Lodges and provisions made for such
organizations and the attendance upon any and all true Masonic
Lodges wherever the soldiers and sailors of our country may be
called to follow our flag. As to whether a charter shall be issued
each regiment it seems to me that is a matter that depends upon the
membership in the regiment and the active interest in the Order and
in the Military provision for Masons. In some regiments there might
easily be more members than one Lodge would serve to advantage
while in other regiments there might be an insufficient number. But
that is a part of the detail that can easily be met as occasions
arise. 
F. B. Gault, Washington.

Grant Charters Where Requested. 

In my judgment it is expedient that Grand Lodges found Military
Lodges for each regiment in active service provided there be a
request from the members of the regiment for a charter. I think
permission to attend French and Belgian Lodges will develop the
international spirit. 
H. D. Funk, Minnesota.

* * *

Avoid Narrow Technicalities.

A Grand Lodge should issue Charters to Regiments or Men of War as
they see fit. Any agreed on restriction would be all right, but in
case a Regiment is raised by some particular state, the Grand Lodge
of that State should have jurisdiction. I would permit Masons to
visit wherever they could, and avoid any narrow technicalities.
It'll do them good and do good to the Lodge visited. 
T. W. Hugo, Minnesota.
* * *

French Masons Not Our Brothers.

The various Masonic Jurisdictions should informally agree that not
more than one charter shall be issued for each Regiment in active
service. American Freemasons can not attend Belgian and French
Lodges, because such Lodges are not recognized as legitimate. The
Grand Orients of France and Belgium have abolished belief in God as
a prerequisite to membership and cut out the Great Landmark
altogether. They are not strictly speaking Masonic bodies. 
H. R. Evans, Washington, D. C.

* * *
Favors Visiting.

My opinion is opposed to the granting of charters to Military
Lodges during the period of the present war. The reasons which
appeal to me are the probabilities of the frequent shifting of
troops which would prevent continuity of officers or membership and
the difficulty of securing quarters where the requisite safeguards
might surround the work. I believe that most of the advantages
presumably sought might be obtained through fraternal associations
without the privileges and responsibilities of Lodge organization.
The idea of permitting the members of American Lodges to attend
Belgian and French Lodges during the period of the war appeals to
me strongly. Francis W. Shepardson, Illinois.

* * *

Three Positive "No" Votes.
1st. Shall the several Grand Lodges issue charters to Military
Lodges during the period of the great war ? No.

2nd. If not, shall American Lodges permit their members to attend
French and Belgian Lodges during the period of the war ? No.

Military Lodges may have been, and doubtless were, justifiable in
the English, Irish and Scottish regiments prior to and during the
Revolutionary war in this country and also during the war of 1812.
Such Lodges may also have been justifiable in the United States
Army during the Revolutionary war, the war of 1812, and, in a few
instances, during the Civil War, but conditions have changed. In
the periods mentioned Masonic Lodges were few, but today a Masonic
Lodge can be found in every hamlet and town in the United States.
The Masonic soldier, wherever stationed in this country, has the
privilege of Masonic visitation and fellowship; nothing of Masonic
privilege or interest can be added by having a Lodge of his own
connected with the Regiment. It is very questionable if the best
interests of Freemasonry can be conserved by organizing Military
Lodges.

The Grand Lodge of Missouri does not recognize the Grand Orient of
France, the Grand Lodge of France or the Grand Orient of Belgium;
hence a Freemason whose membership is in a Lodge under the
jurisdiction of the Grand Lodge of Missouri can not visit a Lodge
under the jurisdiction of the Grand Bodies above mentioned. Special
permits can not be given. 
Wm. F. Kuhn, Missouri.

* * *

Favors Clubs.
Military Lodges should not be chartered without providing that they
should initiate, pass or raise none but members of their own
commands, and that they should not hold meetings in foreign
territory of a recognized Grand Lodge without official permission.
Virginia permits dual or even multiple membership, so that the
members of a Military Lodge would not have to leave their home
Lodges.

Each Grand Lodge should act for itself as it sees fit. Any attempt
at concert of action would tend toward a surrender of that
independent sovereignty which can not be too jealously guarded.

As to permitting Masons to visit French or Belgian Lodges, that is
a matter for each Grand Lodge to settle for itself. There is a
difference between visiting foreign Lodges and permitting foreign
Masons to visit our Lodges.

My own idea is that instead of chartering Military Lodges it would
be better to permit Masonic clubs, not authorized to make Masons at
all. They would answer for all Masonic intercourse and raise no
questions. The plan seems to work well at many universities
already.

To sum up, I prefer clubs, along the lines of the Acacia
Fraternity, but would not object to Lodges, provided their
activities were restricted as above, and provided members were not
required to withdraw from their home Lodges. 
Jos. W. Eggleston, Virginia.

* * *

A Military Lodge of 1898.
I am heartily in favor of the charter of Military Lodges during the
period of the war. This was done in American army of the
Revolution, and is today being done by all of the belligerent
countries, with much success, and certainly each jurisdiction
should issue such charters as it pleases. Soldiers of each regiment
might not find it convenient to have the Grand Lodge back home hold
pow-wows when they do not know conditions, and unless we had a
National Grand Lodge or an Emergent Masonic Congress, I do not see
how the fifty Grand Lodges could decide upon one course of action.

I do not believe American Grand Lodges will give specific permit to
members to attend French or Belgian Grand Lodges, but I see no
reason why this should not be done, even though the majority of our
jurisdictions do not recognize these foreign Masons. Only two
jurisdictions recognize the independent Grand Lodge of France, and
none of them recognize the regular French Grand Orient or French
Grand Lodge. Several do recognize Belgium though the great majority
do not, and neither does England. But by leaving it to the members
of Military Lodges to be chartered to decide for themselves what is
true Freemasonry according to the ancient landmarks, America will
have a chance to do a great deal in bringing about world solidarity
and better understanding between Masons.

I may mention that during the Spanish-American war my own state
chartered a Military Lodge which went to Cuba, and I think it is
largely in consequence that we recognize Cuba, Costa Rica, Porto
Rico and Peru.

Whenever Masons go into another country and really get into social
and business relations with the Masons of the country, experience
has shown that they are not so ready to believe all of the wild
tales told about foreign Masons coming from unreliable sources.

Louisiana has done good work and is still doing good work in
bringing about real relations with Masons scattered through South
America and not recognized by a great many jurisdictions in the
United States.

I would like to suggest that if we literally obey the landmarks
without regard to red tape imposed by the Grand Lodges and acted
upon on the spur of the moment without due investigation, there
seems to be no good reason why American Masons might not visit a
lodge not in fraternal relations with one of the American Grand
Lodges. This would seem reasonable, because the American Grand
Lodges are in relation with each other. Thus, if the Philippines,
Louisiana and New York have given fraternal recognition to San
Salvador, why should the rest of the country prohibit fraternal
visits? My own state for example (Kentucky), recognizes only
English speaking Masons, with the Latin jurisdictions mentioned
above, yet I do not conceive that I would violate my obligations
despite that fact, were I a member of a Military Lodge, or even
merely a traveler, should I visit a Belgian Lodge, because at least
eight other American lodges recognize Belgium. The same way with
Hungary, which is recognized by Alabama; Egypt, recognized by
Arizona; Portugal, recognized by Arkansas; Denmark, recognized by
Missouri and New York; Germany, recognized by a dozen states;
Greece, recognized by Arkansas and North Dakota; Holland,
recognized by eight jurisdictions; Italy, recognized by four
jurisdictions. I recently was introduced to a French Freemason by
one of our regular Masons and I had quite a pleasant chat, and the
Frenchman convinced me that Americans generally have been believing
a great many things about France that are not so. If we are
brothers in War, why not brothers in Masonry? 
J. W. Norwood, Kentucky.

Glorious History.
Military Lodges are almost as old as the institution of Masonry. In
America, following the example of the British, Lodges were to be
found in the Colonial troops and there is still to be found a
certain cave in Virginia where Washington met with his Lodge during
the period of the old French and Indian Wars. Robert Freke Gould in
his scholarly work on Military Lodges mentions ten as working in
the Army of the Revolution. The pioneer of these was St. John's
Regimental Lodge deriving its warrant from the Provincial Grand
Lodge of New York under date of July, 1775. Among the others was
"American Union" which "moved as a pillar of Light in New York,
Connecticut and New Jersey." Then there was Army Lodge No. 27 of
the Maryland line. This was warranted by the Provincial Grand Lodge
of Pennsylvania, in 1780. Washington Lodge numbered two hundred and
fifty brethren. All of these ten Lodges were actively at work
during the whole period of the protracted struggle for American
Independence and upon the rosters were such names as George
Washington, Major Generals Knox, Green, Moultrie, Putnam, Stirling,
Sullivan, Lincoln, St. Clair, Montgomery, Worcester, Wayne, Lee and
Pinckney. All of the Brigadier Generals were Masons except two.
Lafayette was raised in one of these Military Lodges by Washington
at Morristown, New Jersey. The gallant French Marquis stated
afterwards that he never fully enjoyed General Washington's
implicit confidence until after he became a Mason.

When the American Army went into Mexico two Military Lodges
accompanied the expedition. Of the Generals, Wm. J. Worth was a
Mason, as also John A. Quitman who after the occupation of Mexico
City became Military Governor. General Quitman was also Grand
Master of Mississippi.

The prominent Masons participating in our Civil War were as
distinguished as those of Revolutionary days. On the Masonic Roster
were George B. McClellan, Winfleld Scott Hancock, N. P. Banks, John
A. McClernand, John A. Logan, George E. Pickett, Robert E.
Patterson. Benjamin F. Butler, Robert Anderson, Thomas H. Benton,
and others. There were Field Lodges in both Union and Confederate
Armies. Says Gould: "The experience of that great conflict was
decidedly unfavorable to their utility. The practice was to issue
dispensations. When regiments in which they were held were mustered
out, or their individual membership retired to civil life, the
lodges ceased to exist." More than one hundred dispensations for
Military Lodges were granted during the Civil War. The Grand Lodge
of Indiana granted as many as thirty-three of these.

During our War with Spain in 1898 formal dispensations for Military
Lodges were granted by the Grand Lodge of Kentucky and the Grand
Lodge of North Dakota. Some of our most prominent Masons of that
day were President William McKinley, General Nelson A. Miles,
General Russell A. Alger, General William R. Schafter, and Admiral
Schley.

In the light of our past experience, there is every reason for
American Grand Lodges to charter Military Lodges during the present
war. Of course the number should be limited.

At the present writing, all indications strongly point to long
participation by the United States in the Strife of the Nations.
France sustained the greater part of the initial fighting while her
ally Great Britain was "getting ready" for the fray. The French
Army has suffered so severely, been so depleted, that her Reserves
of 1918, mere lads of seventeen, have been called to the tricolor.
Not for many months may France hope to sustain her hard-won front
unaided. All that gallant men could do to drive the barbarian from
her terrain, Soldiers of France have done, and the best blood of
the Nation as many times before in history has been sacrificed to
the Prussian steel.

To the youth of America, our first Conscripts of 1917, has fallen
the great privilege of filling the breach and holding the battle
line won foot by foot by the Old Guard of France. To our own Boys
in Khaki falls the honor of sustaining the American Flag first
planted on foreign soil at Vimy Ridge. And not until the united
American and British Armies have forced the barbarous, Huns back
upon their own accursed terrain, meted out to them in full portion
the utter ruin, the havoc and the desolation they carried into
Belgium and France--not until the flags of the Allies are borne in
triumph Unter den Linden to float from the Kaiser's Kennel--can
Peace come to the world, unless the unexpected should happen and
that is quite improbable.

With several years' sojourn upon foreign soil tolerably sure, there
will be many dreary weeks and months in the trenches. What more or
better calculated to sustain our soldier's souls through the ennui
and monotony of camp life, than the Light of Masonry, the meeting
of brethren in a regimental lodge? To many sorely tried heart the
Five Points of Fellowship will prove an open sesame. There will be
an outlet to many inner confidences only to be imparted "upon the
Square."

As to issuance of charters it would be unwise for Grand Lodges to
issue such indiscriminately. Rather an agreement between the
several jurisdictions limiting their dispensations to one for each
regiment, and in some cases one for each division as circumstances
indicate.

It would be a distinct step ahead for our Grand Jurisdictions to
permit the brethren under their control to visit French and Belgian
Lodges. After the dark days of stress the craftsmen of these two
countries have had to endure, it would be perfectly Good Masonry to
accord these foreign brethren full and free recognition.
International relations are now permanently changed. There is now
less need for a fraternal line of demarcation. Masonry like other
Constructive World Forces, must soon meet many demands for Charity
Best results will follow the extending of the Universality of our
Institution. Our overseas brethren look wistfully to America for
fraternal help and recognition. Upon our answer depends the whole
future of Continental Masonry. Let American Masons offer the same
fraternal and moral support to the craftsmen of France and Belgium
as our Administration has accorded these respective Nations.
Masonry must align its forces, gather in its own the world over, if
it would meet the new problems presented and exert the full measure
of its illimitable wealth and resources. Let us in fact as well as
in numbers become the most powerful constructive force in all the
world. Attainment of this ideal will make ours a Power to be
reckoned with, render quite impossible any such bete noir through
which the world is passing at this moment. Could Masonry today
align the craftsmen in a thunderous protestation against War, not
even William and his myriad myrmidons would dare say them NAY.

Our only complaint against French Masonry has been the removal of
the Great Light from its altars. For this there were reasons as
every Masonic scholar knows. Many times the kaleidoscopic changes
in French Politics placed Masonry under the ban. There were
haphazard meetings of the craft in lodge rooms previously prepared
for police raids and their sequelae, uncompromising persecution.
Many of the regular fittings of the lodge were absent in these
hastily improvised quarters, where personal safety was a
prerequisite. Continental Masonry, especially among the Latins,
more particularly among the French, has ofttimes been face to face
with serious situations. On such occasions our Institution has had
to fight for its very life. By the same token, Latin and French
Masonry has been driven to play politics if it would live, and due
allowance must be made for a quondam departure from certain old
landmarks, under such circumstances.

Because nowadays we Masons do not as prior to 1717 openly specify
Christianity "or the religion of the country in which we live" as
a primary requirement of membership, makes most of us none the less
good Christians. By the same argument, because France does not
necessarily require a declaration of faith in the G.A.O.T.U. from
a petitioner for degrees, does not necessarily make all French
Masons Atheists.

The time will never be more fitting for American and English Masons
to heal their continental brethren, Masonically. If needs must, to
facilitate matters we can close our eyes to a technical departure
from the landmarks. If we would extend our power for good, we must
draw to us our own throughout the world. Let us draw upon our
Masonic Charity and accord full and free recognition to the Masons
of France and Masons of Belgium who have won the right of
recognition ;n the long fight for Liberty. Ours to remember We are
Masons All--All for One, One for All.

Every energy of a world-united Masonry will soon be needed to
repair damages done, succor our halt and maimed brethren, and cast
our bread upon the waters for the widows and the orphans. Once
united under the Great Lights of Liberty and Masonry which are
synonymous, any recurrence of a cataclysm like that through which
we are passing will be impossible. 
John Lewin McLeish, Ohio.

******

Three "Yes" Votes.

Shall the several Grand Lodges issue charters to Military Lodges
during the period of the great war? Yes.

If so, shall each jurisdiction issue such charters as it pleases?
Yes.

If not, shall American Grand Lodges permit their members to attend
French and Belgian lodges during the period of the war? Yes. 
C. M. Schenck, Colorado.

***


Grand Lodge Action Necessary.
I favor the granting of charters to Military Lodges for the
duration of the war. I would not say restrict the number allowed
each regiment to a single Lodge, but only one Grand Lodge should
grant charters for the same regiment.

If regiments are organized by States, then the Grand Lodge of that
particular State should have exclusive jurisdiction of that
regiment, unless it or its Grand Master declines to charter
Military Lodges. In that case, any adjoining Grand Lodge should be
at liberty to act. These details could be easily arranged by
correspondence of the Grand Masters or by a Grand Masters'
Conference.

Your last question whether American Grand Lodges should permit
their members to visit French and Belgian lodges during the war is
a large one. It opens up the whole vexed question of "recognition."
I can not say that, with the present Lights before me, I favor it,
though I should be delighted to see a complete understanding among
American, French and Belgian Masons.

It will doubtless be found that Grand Masters are powerless to act
in most jurisdictions in the matter of chartering Military Lodges
or in authorizing fraternal visitation of French and Belgian
Lodges, and that Grand Lodge action will be necessary. 
O. D. Street, Alabama.

******

Let Masonry Bind the Allies.
This is an exceedingly interesting question! If our Military
brethren demand the "Comforts" of Masonry in their Regiments why
should they be denied? The matter of territorial jurisdiction need
not stand in the way; to my mind this is the one and only
objection.

Each Grand Lodge should grant charters to Regiments hailing from
their Jurisdiction, making a ruling that only men of that Regiment
should be initiated.

In this way a Regiment on foreign service becomes its own
territorial jurisdiction, and if the needs of the service call for
more than one Lodge, let the charter be applied for with the
knowledge and consent of the others. The courtesy of visiting and
receiving visitors should be extended and encouraged between Grand
Jurisdictions which are in fraternal recognition, of which each
Lodge could be kept advised. If this Great War is going to bind
America and her Allies closer together, why should not Masonry be
one of the bonds ? Freemasonry owes its existence largely to the
Military Lodges of the Revolutionary period; the trowel and the
sword are old companions, and future generations may again bless
their union. J. L. Carson, Virginia.

* * *
Closer Relations Needed.
I see no reason why the several Grand Lodges should not issue
charters to Military Lodges during the period of the great war.
Such action has been common in past wars and seems to have been
productive of excellent results.

It seems to me that it would not be possible, with our lack of
general organization, to arrange for anything like a parceling out
of the regiments among the several Grand Lodges. In my judgment
each Grand Lodge, or Grand Master, would have to use its own
judgment in action upon petitions for dispensations or warrants.

I do not see how our American Grand Lodges can consistently permit
their members to visit the French Lodges, as unfortunately the
English, and I believe most of the American Lodges, are not in
relation with French Masonry. I sincerely hope that out of this war
will come a closer relation between the American and English Masons
and their Brothers on the Continent. 
Frederick W. Hamilton, Massachusetts.

History Justifies It.
It is my opinion that should the need of Military Lodges arise it
should be met by the several Grand Lodges. The need of more than
one Lodge in a regiment would hardly occur, and caution should be
used not to exceed the actual need.

History affords ample justification for the granting of charters to
Military Lodges, and where granted with due consideration of the
need and carefulness in the choice of its Master and Wardens and
with the understanding that it must use the utmost care in not
interfering with the Masonic jurisdiction where it may be
stationed, would promote the practice of Masonic principles when
they were most needed and at a time when Masons are removed from
the refining influences of home with watchful mother, affectionate
sister or loving wife and daughters. Even though the several Grand
Lodges permitted their members to visit the French and Belgian
Lodges, (which, until a broader conception of Freemasonry is more
generally diffused, is of doubtful accomplishment), the failure of
Americans to understand the language spoken would make it a real
symbolic Masonry; very fine for the Masonic student but hardly
filling the requirement of the soldier.

There may have been cases which made it questionable as to the
advisability of chartering Military Lodges, but there have also
been cases where there was an abuse of Masonic principles in
regular lodges. A Military Lodge composed of just and upright
Masons, zealous to uphold the principles and practice the virtues
of Freemasonry, and fulfilling their duty to their country by
offering their lives, can reflect nothing but credit on our
time-honored Craft; while denying them the privilege would be an
unnecessary hardship, and many a brother would feel that should he
die in a distant land, even the last rites of Masonry would not be
given him.

The Masonry of the heart as well as the head tells us to grant the
worthy soldier brethren charters when the need is sufficient. 
Silas H. Shepherd, Wisconsin.
* *

Let This War Free Masonry.
It is very trite to say that this great war is changing the face of
the world, but it is a deeply true saying. No age has seen such a
religious revival as has swept France since 1914; no age has seen
such industrial progress as England has accomplished in her
factories since 1914; no age has seen such patriotism as Belgium
has evidenced since 1914; no age has seen one hundred millions of
human beings grasp liberty as has Russia since 1914. The cost has
been, and for months will yet be, most terrible. The cost demands
results. This is the time for Masons to live Masonry or else
Masonry becomes an outworn ritualism. Our petty territorial
jealousies must not prevent our brothers in the trenches from a
full enjoyment of the solaces of the Craft. Blind misunderstandings
must not separate us from our heroic brother Masons of France. This
is the hour for American Masonry ! Rising in the beauty of vital
truth she must free Masonry from outworn barriers. Let us give full
recognition to Masonry in Belgium, in France, yes, and in Germany.
The Square and Compass should know no restrictions that will divide
the allies of democracy. The Grand Masters of American Masonry have
the responsibility and the opportunity; American Freemasons look to
them for epoch making leadership. We do not dare to fail this hour.
George E. Frazer, Illinois.

