THE BUILDER APRIL 1918

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

EDITED BY BRO. GEORGE E. FRAZER
PRESIDENT, THE BOARD OF STEWARDS

CONTRIBUTING EDITORS

Wildey E. Atchison, Iowa 
Geo. W. Baird, District of Columbia. 
Joseph Barnett, California. 
John W. Barry, Iowa. 
Joe L. Carson, Virginia. 
Jos. W. Eggleston, Virginia. 
Henry R. Evans, District of Columbia. 
H.D. Funk, Minnesota.
F. B. Gault, Washington. 
Joseph C. Greenfield, Georgia.
Frederick W. Hamilton, Massachusetts. 
H. L. Haywood, Iowa. 
T. W. Hugo, Minnesota. 
M. M. Johnson, Massachusetts. 
John G. Keplinger, Illinois. 
Harold A. Kingsbury, Connecticut. 
Dr. Wm. F. Kuhn, Missouri. 
Julius H. McCollum, Connecticut. 
Dr. John Lewin McLeish, Ohio. 
Joseph W. Norwood, Kentucky.
Frank E. Noyes, Wisconsin.
John Pickard, Missouri.
C. M. Schenck, Colorado.
Francis W. Shepardson, Illinois.
Silas H. Shepherd, Wisconsin.
Oliver D. Street, Alabama.
H.W. Ticknor, Maryland. 
Denman S. Wagstaff, California. 
S. W. Williams, Tennessee.

(Contributions to this Monthly Department of Personal Opinion are
invited from each writer who has contributed one or mor 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 Question Box and Correspondence Column.)

QUESTION NO. 10--
Shall each American Grand Lodge establish representatives at each
Central and South American Grand Lodge as a means of promoting
Pan-American harmony? If so, shall such representatives be
residents of the foreign jurisdictions to which they are
accredited? If you do not favor the policy involved, please state
your conception of the attitude of American Masonry in bringing
about closer and more friendly relations between the nations of
North and South America.

Real Masonry in South America.

In your statement of the "next question for discussion" you have
touched me on a belligerent spot. For several years I have
advocated by all means in my power the extension of our
acquaintance with our South American brethren and I am glad you
have now taken it up, as my field was necessarily limited.

If American Masonry is not to be dubbed and declared the Masonic
Pharisee of the world and the hypocrite of the century it must get
out of its "holier-than-thou" attitude toward all other Masonic
peoples who, by racial or temperamental difference of make-up
differ in how they do in certain non-essential things.

I was told that it was almost impossible to get into touch with the
South American brethren--I had not the least difficulty in getting
in intimate and pleasant connection and correspondence with the
officers of three Grand Bodies. I did not try for any more. I found
the trouble was at this end. I found out this, that one Grand
Secretary returned a very fraternal letter with the request that it
be either written in English, or the charges for translation sent--
just think of it!

I found those I was fortunate enough to select for correspondents
to be very interesting and most anxious to become better
acquainted. They were very polite and courteous, very much more in
earnest than any other Masonic Bodies with whom I had ever been in
touch. Of course they do not do things as we do, but their
principles are the same, their ideas coincide, they are hungry for
sympathy and size up with us in their average with our average,
while their stars are of as great magnitude as any which shine over
us.

In my opinion, the first thing to do is for the Grand Lodges to
unite on an Ambassador to the Masons of South America--a big man,
a broad sympathetic Mason, an intelligent, courteous gentleman, an
experienced philosopher who is able to see things through the other
fellow's spectacles, and who, while well-versed in the acknowledged
universal principles of Universal Masonry, has forgotten the
verbiage of the ritualist and the technical silliness of the
Masonic lawyer. Send him down and I will guarantee that his report
will coincide with what I have written.
T. W. Hugo, Minnesota.

* * *
An Earnest Negative.
In reply to the question propounded for discussion in the Fraternal
Forum for this month I would emphatically say No !

The term "universality" has been misused almost universally. My
conception of its proper Masonic meaning is perhaps peculiar, but
I think, logical and correct. True, in a secondary sense it does
mean "in every clime a Mason may be found," but that has been
perverted to include organizations and men calling themselves
Masons who cannot properly be recognize as such. The primary and
principal meaning of universality is comprehensiveness. Our
Institution is more peculiar in this than in any other feature. It
includes all good things among men but is in no wise religious,
philosophical or political specifically.

Latin Masonry is its exact antithesis in this particular and also
in being, like the Church of Rome and the German (Prussian) Empire,
governed from above, and is not a Brotherhood. They are not of our
household, however worthy of our consideration otherwise. I would
as soon recognize the Odd Fellows or Knights of Pythias. These are
honorable and good organizations, but each is doing a specific
branch of good work and we cannot unite with them without narrowing
our limitless horizon. Far be it from us to criticize them for
their specific beneficial features or for antagonizing the
corruptions of the Church of Rome, but neither one is of our
mission.

I want no "closer relations" with anything under God's blue sky
except Ancient Masonry. Disaster lies ahead of such "closer
relations" and if the mistaken movement goes far enough dissension
and schism are not far away.

I am sorry I have not a copy of our special report (Foreign
Correspondence Committee) adopted unanimously last week by our
Grand Lodge on a request for French recognition. Perhaps our Grand
Secretary would send it to you. It is along the above lines and
covers the ground more fully.

I do favor extending relief to French unrecognized Masons in
distress, and even those among German prisoners, on the ground that
"these generous principles should extend further. Every human being
has a claim upon our kind offices. Do good unto all, etc.," but I
would not affiliate with an organization which perverts Masonry or
which has not as its fundamental the Fatherhood of God and the
Brotherhood of Man, and is not a democracy.
Joseph W. Eggleston, Virginia.

* * *
Send Down a Delegation.
Unless we can find some more potent influence than that of
establishing representatives at Central and South American Grand
Lodges, I doubt if the Pan American Masonic harmony will find the
bonds of Brotherhood drawn much closer, or receive much benefit.

What, for instance, has the representative of the Grand Lodge of
Ireland near the Grand Lodge of Virginia, or the representative of
the Grand Lodge of Illinois near the Grand Lodge of Ireland, done
to promote such harmony? I ask because I know. (That's Irish.) The
offices of representatives near Grand Lodges, from my experience in
many jurisdictions, are usually handed out to the brethren worthy
of some preferment that will give them Grand Lodge rank, but not
active Grand Lodge office, and they are usually not expected, or
permitted, to "put in their oar" in Grand Lodge affairs.

No ! a delegation of prominent and properly accredited Masons will
do more in one Grand Visitation than a representative will
accomplish in a life-time.
Joe L. Carson, Virginia.

Favors Exchange of Representatives.
I have long been in favor of a proposal that each Grand Lodge
establish representatives at each Central and South American Grand
Lodge, as a means of helping Pan-American harmony, for the reason
that this has been advocated so continuously by our Latin American
Masonic brothers, and I know from their personal assurance that it
would accomplish the desired effect. Many of my correspondents are
Grand Lodge officers and Masonic leaders in the Central and South
American countries. They tell me that Freemasonry in their belief
is to be the strong cementing bond between the United States and
their countries. They do not seem to comprehend our attitude at
all. I have had suggestions that we American Masons co-operate with
them in establishing an international bureau of some sort for the
purpose of getting our countries better acquainted with each other.
These suggestions take various forms, from museums of South and
Central American products, to a central bureau something like that
of Switzerland. Mexicans have assured me that their Grand Lodges
appreciate for the most part Americans, and have a sympathetic
attitude toward us and that the distrust of Americans by Mexicans
is due to the exploitation of their country by great corporations.

From Brazil I was informed that the actual Grand Master of that
country was directly responsible with his brother Masons for
swinging that nation into line with America in this war. A member
of the Colombian Supreme Council is very much disgusted with his
own country as headquarters for German propaganda and wants to know
if we in America could not co-operate with the Masons there in a
campaign of education, and so on.

They all think that if the American Grand Lodges knew of the great
educational and charitable work of the South and Central American
Masons we would be only too glad to establish firm Masonic
relations with them, and they strongly state that in that event
they would be able to do tremendous work of conciliation.

Our Latin American brothers have abandoned all hope of getting in
touch with us at present and are planning an international
Federation of their own for May 25th.

I would favor the appointment as representative from American Grand
Lodges not only residents of foreign countries to which they are
accredited, but natives as well. I must say that I believe all this
will be impossible to accomplish unless our American jurisdictions
can refer the matter with power to act, to some central bureau such
as was suggested by Grand Master Curbelo of Cuba several years ago
and practically ignored by us.     
Joseph W. Norwood, Kentucky.

Is Latin Masonry Our Masonry?
In reply to the question "shall each American Grand Lodge establish
representatives at each South American and Central American Grand
Lodge as a means of promoting Pan-American Masonry," I beg leave to
say that I am in doubt as to the propriety of this movement.

In my sea-going days I visited many South and Central American
countries, but balked at attending most of their Lodges, though
frequently discussing the purposes of Masonry with individual
Masons with whom I became acquainted.

First of all I do not believe that Latin Masons understand Masonry
as we do. We all know that no nation has ever been able to change
its religion without taint of the preceding creed. The very bronze
effigy of Saint Peter, in the church of that name in Rome, is in
reality but a statue of Jupiter.

The Cholos of Peru and the Peones of Chile will attend the mass of
the Church of Rome and, within an hour, devotedly bow in reverence
to the deities of their ancestors, without, in all probability,
knowing the difference. It is habit with them.

And so with Masonry. Many American Masons seem determined to
Christianize Masonry, while the Latins are segregating in their
Lodges apparently seeking relief from the oppression of the soi
disant Christianity in their Republics.

The writer is looking at the situation as fairly as possible and is
not influenced by hearsay or public opinion, but speaks from
personal experience.

The average Latin Mason balks at the Master's Degree as being
higher than the thirty-third degree, but for peace and harmony and
to secure the recognition of American and English-speaking Masons,
has separated the symbolic degrees and formed his sovereign Grand
Lodge which he believes, or at least hopes, will bridge the chasm.
But he has, beyond a doubt, a lingering belief that Scottish Rite
Masonry is "universal" Masonry. He often states this belief, and
has many good reasons for his statement.

There are many very superior men and Masons in the United States
who cannot be convinced that we should recognize any Grand Lodge of
Scottish Rite origin, and as the Latin nations rarely have a
Masonic origin other than the Scottish Rite, we can understand why
they regard that Rite as "universal Masonry."

I am making a life effort to reconcile international or "universal"
Masonry. The very lectures in the Entered Apprentice degree
instruct the candidate that "Masonry unites men of every country,
sect and opinion," and this is much better executed in English,
Scotch and Irish Lodges than in our own American Lodges.

In British Lodges visitors are admitted if they can prove
legitimacy in any Lodge not interdicted, while visitors to our
Lodges are frequently turned away if they come from a Lodge that
has not been formally recognized. You can find proof of this in the
decisions of Grand Masters in the Grand Lodge proceedings, year
after year.

I would like to ask the reader to place himself in the position of
a visitor thus turned down. What would he do, naturally? Only a few
years ago a prominent Mason asked my advice concerning the
eligibility of certain Argentine Masons, then in the city, to visit
our Lodges, as our Grand Lodge at that time had not formally
recognized Argentine. My view was that they were eligible--the
Argentine brethren, however, found the doors of the Scottish Rite
open to them, and a warm welcome awaiting them within, and did not
return to our symbolic Lodges.

This is my view of the situation, and my belief is that before we
can amicably, profitably and fraternally make the representative
system a success in the South and Central American countries we
must first make visitations, fraternalism and altruism possible.

We are but creatures of habit. What we learn in our early youth we
are certain to practice and soon it becomes a habit with us. This
is why the Church of Rome, in its wisdom, insists upon the
parochial schools, opposes public schools, and adopts babies, for
what the little creature absorbs in its tender years it will be
certain to retain.
George W. Baird, District of Columbia.

Teach Our Masonry to South America.
The Latin American seems to value his Masonry --to be proud of it.
We have some Latin Masons among us whose wives go to confession.
They are good fellows--good Masons, generally, as they see the
light--scoffers generally at church ceremonials. However, they love
to pray in their Lodges. The prayer rather ties them, as it were,
to the "old regime." Now in the balance of their Lodge work they
have quite a satisfactory substitute for church. This is
particularly true of those who belong to the Scottish Rite. As many
join as are able.

Grand Lodges they have, of course. How could they exist without the
right and title or opportunity to wear the lordly insignia their
Grand Lodges afford? How little the thing would amount to, were
they not privileged to hold stately, magnificent court, and in
grandiose fashion, sign their names to gorgeously "sealed"
documents for transmission to the Masonic world. There is a
condition existant there, which has developed into a misfortune. It
is the practice of the Scottish Rite in most of the South American
countries to confer within their temples and under their seal, all
the degrees of Masonry, from the first to the thirty second. This
is very unfortunate, inasmuch as their Rite substitutes a great
deal that is immaterial for our own satisfying, complete and
magnificent symbolism of the symbolic degrees.

Many of their novitiates stop at the Master's degree. I have
examined some of them--once by authority of our Grand Secretary.
They apparently know very little concerning symbolic Masonry. The
Scottish Rite practice has brought symbolic Masonry into some
disrepute among them. That Rite was to them, made to fit into the
niche vacated by the pot of incense.

Yet these peoples are endeavoring to be Masons through it all.
Western civilization, together with commercial connections with
this country, will help along. A new business system, wiping out
their universal practice and desire to make settlements but once a
year must be adopted before we shall be able to take the place of
Germany in their markets. We in California know something of the
Spanish "grandee" methods of business. There are exceptions of
course.

To make a new man, from start to finish, out of our Southern
brother is almost too much to expect of Masonry in one generation.
A representative from each of our Grand Lodges to each of theirs
would be but a small leverage. It would be better to appoint one of
their own residents each time to such a place. After appointment,
bring him over here once a year at our expense. Teach him some
"Blue Lodge" Masonry in all its truth and simplicity. Teach him of
a Mason's relation to God and Government, and of the absolute
necessity of their separation from the control sought to be
exercised by Church--of a new baptism for his wife and children at
the font where liberty was baptised. So make an American Mason
(there is no North or South) out of a few of these delegates, turn
them loose among their native sons and daughters and time will tell
the story of a revolution for Liberty in spite of all--which shall
bring light out of darkness and salvation to an oppressed people.
Denman S. Wagstaff, California.

* *
We Differ Only as to Details.
My opinion is that an attitude of cordial and fraternal esteem
should be taken and maintained by the Masonic Bodies of North
America toward those of Central and South America. Sympathetic and
careful consideration should be given to the claims of regularity
of all of the Masonic organizations of our Southern neighbors and
we should establish fraternal relations and exchange
representatives with every one of them found to be practicing real
Freemasonry. It is in every way desirable that the great peoples of
North and South America should know each other better fraternally,
socially, politically and economically. By all means let us shake
hands with our South American brethren. Our great ideals are
identical however much we may differ on details.
O. D. Street, Alabama.

* * *

The 1918 Congress at Buenos Aires.

There is room and place for more Pan-Americanism and we must
prepare for a great commercial war with the despicable Huns after
the present carnage has passed into history, unless, as I sincerely
hope and pray, the fangs of the German rattlesnake may be so
thoroughly extirpated after America is through with the abnormal
monster, that Germany may occupy among the nations a place even
lesser than that of poor Belgium and Servia which she has ravaged
to the utmost.

As a first means of promoting a better understanding between the
Masonry of North America and that of Latin America, I would
recommend the sending of one or more accredited representatives of
one or more Grand jurisdictions of the United States, or of a
National Masonic Educational Society like ours, to the
International Masonic Congress to be held at Buenos Aires,
Argentina, May 25th, 1918. Such representatives might study the
aims and purports of this Congress, ascertain the dividing lines
which have hampered recognition of certain of our Latin American
brethren and report back their findings in such a manner as to
reach all of the Grand jurisdictions of this country.

I incline to the opinion of Sovereign Grand Commander Vicente
Biagini that our present status as regards our international
recognitions is "an impossible sociological consideration." The
germinal idea of the forthcoming International Latin American
Congress called by the Masons of the Argentine Republic
contemplate:

"1. Such fundamental studies as may arise for debate.

"2. Consideration of future action which may promote Pan-American
Masonry.

"3. Reception and consideration of any proposition from delegates.

"4. Ways and means of submitting propositions to the bodies
interested.

"5. Publications, communications and correspondence."

The way lies open to American Masonry to at least unofficially hear
their Latin American brethren upon their own ground. We can no
longer afford to shut ourselves behind a Chinese wall of exclusion.
We must weld the chains of Masonic universality stronger. Even as
new conditions have again brought up the old, old question of
devising a possible means for again according recognition to that
French Masonry which played so important a part in abolishing
feudalism in France, through its spread of the Masonic philosophy
and the slogan "Liberty, Equality, Fraternity," so now with an eye
to the future should we welcome the invitation of Latin American
Masons to at least talk the matter over. More can be accomplished
by having our representatives, even though unofficially, present at
such a representative Latin American gathering than reams of
well-elucidated arguments pro and con flooding our Masonic grist
mills from year to year.

The crying need of today is action--quick and spontaneous action
that may be provocative of results. After cementing the bonds of a
Pan-American recognition it will be time enough to call a European
International Masonic Congress upon the same lines and so achieve
ultimately the great need of the future--a real world Masonry.
John Lewin McLeish, Ohio.

* * *
A Canadian Opinion.
The question that you submit for discussion is one that from the
wording of it, is of interest to American Grand Lodges only. For
the sake of promoting international harmony in its broadest sense,
I would say that everything possible should be done in the way of
establishing friendly relations between different bodies of Masons.
This would involve, of course, a careful searching into the
antecedents of each of these foreign jurisdictions and generally
finding out everything possible about them.

My idea has always been that more friendly relations should be
established, if possible, not only with South America but with the
Masonic jurisdictions of the whole world. If we talk universal
Brotherhood we should act it as well, and this end can never be
accomplished by putting up artificial walls which, in some cases,
our neighbors cannot even look over.
P. E. Kellett, Manitoba.

