THE BUILDER MARCH 1917

CORRESPONDENCE CIRCLE BULLETIN---No. 6

Edited by Bro. Robert I. Clegg, Caxton Building, Cleveland Ohio

THE BULLETIN COURSE OF MASONIC STUDY


Division I. Ceremonial Masonry. 
A. Lodge Foundations and Fundamentals. 
B. The Lodge and the Candidate. 
C. First steps. 
D. Second steps. 
E. Third steps.

Division II. Symbolical Masonry. 
A. Clothing. 
B. Working Tools. 
C. Furniture. 
D. Architecture. 
E. Geometry. 
F. Signs. 
G. Words. 
H. Grips.

Division III. Philosophical Masonry. 
A. Foundations. 
B. Virtues. 
C. Ethics. 
D. Religious Aspect. 
E. The Quest. 
F. Mysticism. 
G. The Secret Doctrine.

Division IV. Legislative Masonry. 
A. The Grand Lodge.
1. Ancient Constitutions.
2. Codes of Law.
3. Grand Lodge Practices.
4. Relationship to Constituent Lodges.
5. Official Duties and Prerogatives. 
B. The Constituent Lodge.
1. Organization.
2. Qualifications of Candidates.
3. Initiation, Passing and Raising.
4. Visitation.
5. Change of Membership. 

Division V. Historical Masonry. 
A. The Mysteries--Earliest Masonic Light. 
B. Study of Rites--Masonry in the Making. 
C. Contributions to Lodge Characteristics. 
D. National Masonry. 
E. Parallel Peculiarities in Lodge Study. 
F. Feminine Masonry. 
G. Masonic Alphabets. 
H. Historical Manuscripts of the Craft. 
I. Biographical Masonry. 
J. Philological Masonry--Study of Significant Words.

AN EXTENSION OF THE FIRST TWO SUBDIVISIONS OF CEREMONIAL MASONRY.

(This detailed subdivision is presented in order that Study Clubs
and Lodges undertaking to follow the "Bulletin Course" may see how
we have the subject mapped out in advance. As the work progresses
the remainder of the Outline will be similarly divided into groups
of subjects, and, as in this instance, some of the references to
Mackey's Encyclopedia will be included in the Outline itself. In
many cases these topics will not be directly discussed in any of
the articles presented; they are arranged for the convenience of
those who wish to prepare additional papers.)

A. The Work of a Lodge.
1. The Lodge--Foundations and Fundamentals.
a. Masonic Halls, and Temples.
b. Lodge Rooms.
c. Orientation.

2. "Laws, Rules and Regulations." (Being only a brief summary of
the authority which a Lodge has for being in existence, the
conferring of degrees, etc.)
a. Grand Lodge Constitutions and By-Laws.
b. Lodge By-Laws.
c. Codified Law. 
d. Landmarks.
e. Charter.
f. Dispensation.
g. Customs.

3. The Officers of a Lodge, and their Duties.
a. The Worshipful Master and his prerogatives.
b. The Senior and Junior Wardens.
c. The Secretary and Treasurer.
d. The Appointive Officers.
e. Past Masters, and other Past Officers.

4. Ceremonies of a Lodge.
a. Opening.
b. Closing.
c. Calling Off.
d. Calling On.
e. Due Form.
f. Dedications.
g. Installation.
h. Processions.
i. Refreshment.
j. Lodge Meetings.
(1) "Regular" -- "Stated."
(2) "Called" --"Special."

5. Recognition and Instruction.
a. "Esoteric" Masonry. 
b. "Exoteric" Masonry. 
c. Oral Instruction. 
d. Modes of Recognition. 
e. Tests and Test Oath. 
f. Monitors. 
g. Healing. 
h. Grand Honors. 
i. Impostors. 
j. Cowan.

B. The Lodge and the Candidate.
1. Proposing and Recommending. 
a. Petition for the Mysteries. 
b. Presentation of the Petition. 
c. Committee of Investigation. 
d. Residence of the Candidate.
2. Election of a Candidate. 
a. When it may be had. 
b. The Ballot. 
c. Black Balls, (cubes), and white balls. 
d. The Lodge record of the ballot.

3. The Degrees. 
a. Entered Apprentice, Fellow Craft and Master Mason. 
b. Initiation, in general. 
c. Ritual.
(1) Uniformity of.
(2) The "Webb-Preston Work" in America. 
d. Rites. 
e. Side-Degrees.

(A brief summary of the authority which a Lodge has for being in
existence, the conferring of degrees, etc. )

BY BROS. G.L,. SCHOONOVER AND R.I. CLEGG

WE have discussed the Lodge, from both the physical and spiritual
standpoints, and have traced a few of its roots down into the
barbaric human past, where fact loses itself in fiction, and only
here and there is a vestige of evidence left to guide us. We turn
now to a more practical phase of Masonic study-- a discussion of
the authority, precedent and custom which go to make up the
present-day procedure of the Masonic Lodge in its internal
workings.

It was Albert Pike who said "It is the Dead that govern. The Living
only obey. And if the soul sees, after death, what passes on this
earth, and watches over the welfare of those it loves, then must
its greatest happiness consist in seeing the current of its
beneficent influences widening out from age to age, as rivulets
widen into rivers, and aiding to shape the destinies of
individuals, families, states, the World; and its bitterest
punishment in seeing its evil influences causing mischief and
misery, and cursing and afflicting men, long after the frame it
dwelt in has become dust, and when both name and memory are
forgotten. We know not who among the Dead control our destinies.
What other men in the past have done, said, thought, makes the
great iron network of circumstance that environs and controls us
all. We would make or annul a particular contract; but the thoughts
of the dead Judges of England, living when their ashes have been
cold for centuries, stand between us and that which we would do,
and utterly forbid it. We would settle our estate in a particular
way; but the prohibition of an English Parliament, its uttered
thought when the first or second Edward reigned, comes echoing down
the long avenues of time, and tells us we shall not exercise the
power of disposition as we wish. We would gain a particular
advantage of another; and the thought of the old Roman lawyer who
died before Justinian annihilates the act, or makes the intention
ineffectual. This act, Moses forbids; that, Alfred. We would sell
our lands; but certain marks on perishable paper tells us that our
father or a remote ancestor ordered otherwise; and the arm of the
dead, emerging from the grave, with peremptory gesture prohibits
the alienation. . ." (1)

Thus it is in Masonry; the fundamentals of Masonic government have
been determined, the principles laid down. And by these
fundamentals the youngest Entered Apprentice, equally with the
oldest Nestor of the Fraternity, is and must be governed. It is
therefore needful, at the beginning of any Masonic study, that we
should briefly summarize the laws, rules and regulations which are
responsible for bringing a Lodge into existence, and to which it
looks for the authority to do its work.

We have, in the first instance, the Grand Lodge Constitutions, (2)
of each Grand Jurisdiction in the world. Elsewhere in this Course
of Study we shall consider the "Old Charges and Constitutions" (3)
upon which all Grand Lodge Constitutions are based. Each Grand
Jurisdiction, however, has its own fundamental Law, its
Constitution, in which its powers and limitations are clearly
defined, just as each state or Nation has its organic law in a
Constitution, or in declarations of governmental principles
occupying the same relation. As in most cases the Grand Lodges, in
publishing their Constitutions, (4) include the "Old Charges"
therewith, the student will have no difficulty in obtaining access.
to them. Almost without exception these volumes are supplied to all
Lodges. A single reading of them, in connection with the points
brought out in this paper, will suffice for the present.

In some Jurisdictions, Grand Lodge By-Laws have also been adopted,
and there are still other cases where the Decisions of Grand
Masters are published separately, and are available. Quite
generally, also, there is a Code of Law, which goes into details
regarding all the functions of both the Grand Lodge and the
Constituent Lodges. In some cases the decisions of Grand Masters
are periodically entered in these Codes as annotations, or comments
upon the particular sections of the Codified Law to which they
refer. The student must of necessity familiarize himself with the
particular manner in which his own Jurisdiction deals with these
problems, and as the work of investigation on his part proceeds, he
will find much of the underlying reason fol this or that law of
edict--a process involving much time and careful study. The series
of "Jurisprudence Studies" (5) appearing in THE BUILDER is directed
toward a comparative study of the various Jurisdictions, and he who
is interested in this sort of study will find a wealth of material
digested there.

The purpose of this paper, however, is to bring to the beginner
merely a statement of these fundamental laws, to the end that he
may better understand the functions of his Masonic government, of
which he is himself an integral part.

Of course each Lodge has its own methods of procedure, dictated by
a set of By-Laws adopted for the regulation of its particular and
private affairs, usually in strict conformity with the basic laws
laid down by the Grand Lodge for the sake of uniformity. These
By-Laws of the Lodge should be studied in detail, in order that
each Member may know for himself the routine of affairs, and
conform thereto with an understanding of the common need.

We come now to a mention of a much-discussed feature of Masonic
fundamentals, known to us as "Landmarks." Definitions of a Landmark
have been widely divergent. (6) Probably no two writers have agreed
entirely. Mackey defines Landmarks (7) as "those ancient, and
therefore universal, customs of the Order, which either gradually
grew into operation as rules of action, or, if at once enacted by
any competent authority, were enacted at a period so remote, that
no account of their origin is to be found in the records of
history. Both the enactors and the time of the enactment have
passed away from the record, and the landmarks are therefore 'of
higher antiquity than memory or history can reach.'" Antiquity is
its essential element, and this, coupled with the belief that no
group of Masons, however eminent, or by whatever authority clothed,
could repeal it, gives to the term a very definite quality. In
spite of this, however, the authorities are not agreed upon any
definite list of the Landmarks of Masonry. (8) Mackey has
enumerated twenty-five, (9) and his list has the sanction of a
number of Grand Lodges, (10) yet other authorities consider that
many of those enumerated in his list lack the fundamental quality
which they consider essential, and restrict the list Still further.
The Landmarks, in spite of the haziness surrounding their
definition and authority, play an important part in Masonic
government, and will explain to the student as no other source of
authority will, the origin of and foundation for many of our modern
Masonic customs.

Landmarks are the characteristics of the Craft, those limits or
boundaries that make Masonry significant and different. Every Mason
is duly circumscribed by landmarks; directed by duty, warned by
law, guided by precept toward that haven of his hopes wherein the
weary find eternal rest. His conscience a continual spur to an
enlightened integrity he avoids vicious practices and pursues right
living, a citizen free to support all or any party or pal ties that
aim at beneficent public service. Instructed in the moral law,
bound rigidly by weighty claims to walk uprightly before God and
man, the true Mason labors zealously for these objects that unite
his brethren and will not willingly nor hastily, introduce among
them whatever may savor of strife. While he will urge liberty and
charity in all things doubtful or essential, yet first and last the
Freemason is for unity among the brethren in all things.

Customs, however, Masonically speaking, derive their authority from
other sources than the Landmarks. We shall find the roots of many
customs buried deep in symbolism, (11) and older by centuries than
any of the historical laws or regulations. And on the other hand,
comparative study of symbols and of rituals, too, so far as any
such have descended to us, show that the entire Masonic system is
a growth, having borrowed from the customs of successive
generations throughout its history. (12)

Initiation into all secret societies, ancient and modern, has
commonly been accompanied by ceremonies of impressive type. From
all times and from all peoples we draw most interesting
particulars. Curious as are the customs of the past they are
paralleled by the present. Compare the reception of the adult male
into the full measure of tribal life, and that of the grown girl
into society. The two have much in common. Ritual marks both. After
the ceremonial a stage is reached of most distinct nature, one not
again to be attained. Students consider it as having reference to
being born again; at the first birth to enter the world, at the
second to be born into full tribal or society activity. The "Coming
Out" as it is today known in certain social strata when young women
make their "debut" into society, is a survival of very old methods.
It marks the step by which transit is suddenly made from girlhood's
early youthful standing to the place of acknowledged maturity among
women. In the older countries she is presented at court and kisses
her sovereign's hand, her dresses are lengthened, her hair is put
up in a special style, jewelry is more freely worn, an
entertainment of some sort, a dance for example, is given in her
honor, and thus at a bound she passes the line of separation from
schoolroom restraint to whatever social distinction her especial
opportunities may afford.

So it is in all lands that a ceremonial has bounded as a landmark
the passage between ignorance, darkness and immaturity, and that of
enlightenment of the intellect, illumination and acceptance among
the elect. Think of the ceremony of Baptism and Confirmation among
modern churches. Consider the Rite of Circumcision among the Jews.
Read over the several references to the ancient mysteries to be
found in Mackey's Encyclopedia--a list is to be found on page 4 of
Part 3 of the Correspondence Circle Bulletin.

This also is worth careful study: Among some tribes of Southeastern
Australia, when the boys are assembled for their formal initiation
into manly positions and responsibilities, there is presented to
them an old man dressed in bark fiber and who lies down in a place
representing an open grave. He is then covered with earth and twigs
or branches, lightly but freely, and effectually concealing him
from the spectators. The person so buried holds in his hand a small
bush which extends upward and projects through and above the loose
mass of earth lying upon the body. Other similar bushes are stuck
into the ground round about. The candidates are then brought to the
edge of the grave and a song is sung. As the singing continues, the
bush held by the buried man begins to quiver and gradually is
shaken the more vigorously, freeing the man bit by bit. At last he
frees himself, starts up and springs forth from the grave.

Organization of the first Grand Lodge of which we possess the
particulars, the one Grand Lodge dating back a couple of centuries
this very year, was a union of operative and speculative lodges,
the Grand Master selected from the one type of lodge and the Grand
Wardens chosen from the other. A study of the earlier Grand Masters
shows one obvious fact: the brethren soon became accustomed to the
election of the most prominent persons obtainable. Titled
personages are freely found in the list of Grand Masters of the two
Grand Lodges which early in the last century became the United
Grand Lodge of England. If the circumstance proved the readiness of
the fraternity to prefer men of rank for official distinction it
also demonstrates that such men found something worth while within
the Craft to attract them.

Peculiarly illuminating is a study of the prerogative of the Grand
Master. (13) Although listed by Mackey as one of the Landmarks of
Masonry, it is so skilfully and at the same time definitely
interwoven with the Masonic system, as to make any summary of the
"laws, rules and regulations" of the Fraternity incomplete without
giving it special mention. Take for example the dissemination of
Masonry. It is accomplished by the formation, in one locality after
another, of new Lodges. And when a new Lodge is to be formed, it is
peculiarly the province of the then Grand Master of the particular
Jurisdiction in which the ambitious group of Masons reside, to
inquire into the conditions of the community, the character of the
Brethren desiring to form the new Lodge, and the probabilities of
its ultimate success. Convinced of the favorableness of the
surroundings, he issues a Dispensation (14) to the Brethren, by
name, (they having previously signified their choice of working
officers) and empowers them to meet as a Lodge, confer degrees,
etc., performing all the functions of a Lodge as such. By this, and
by no other means, has the dissemination of Masonry throughout the
greater portion of the world progressed. And not until the Lodge
has gone to work, and has proven its devotion to the cause of
Masonry, and laid the foundation for substantial success, is the
Grand Lodge consulted in the matter. Having proven itself worthy,
the Lodge is then, after a proper accounting of its doings, granted
a Charter, is so that it becomes entitled to a name and number, and
a place on the roll of "regular and well governed Lodges" of that
Jurisdiction. It, in turn, becomes amenable to the Grand Lodge
Constitution (with all the inherent powers of a Constituent Lodge
to participate in changing that Constitution within the limits
prescribed by the "Landmarks"), subjects itself to the Codified Law
and the Customs of Masonry, and sets up its altar of devotion to
our principles.

Such, in brief, are the salient features of the relationship of a
Lodge to the other Lodges of the world. By these general rules we
determine the "regularity" of a Lodge, wherever it may be located:
its allegiance to the Grand Master and Grand Lodge which gave it
birth, and the regular ancestors of that Grand Lodge, being the
distinguishing characteristics which entitle its members to
recognition by other Masons who trace their origin along similar
paths to the same source.

REFERENCES.
1. Albert Pike, Morals and Dogma, P.
2. Usually published with the Code.
3. If not found in your Grand Lodge Code, consult some of the
Reprints of the Old Charges of 1723. Also N. M. R. S. Reproduction
of the Roberts Constitutions of 1722 introduction by J. F. Newton
being a discussion of the Old Charges as a whole.
4. See above under 2.
5. Commencing in the January, 1917, issue of THE BUILDER.
6. For list of Landmarks, see Shepherd Article, Vol. I, pp. 183 and
187, THE BUILDER.
7. Mackey's Encyclopedia, P. 421 et seq.
8. Findel's List, Vol. I, THE BUILDER, P. 40.
T.S. Parvin's List, Vol. I, THE BUILDER, P.38.
Chetwode Crawley's List, Vol. II, THE BUILDER, P. 217.
9. Encyclopedia, P. 422 et seq.
10. See 6 above.
11. Correspondence Circle Bulletin No. 2, accompanying Nov., 1916,
BUILDER.
12. Ibid.
13. Prerogatives -- L.A. McConnell, Vol. II THE BUILDER, 
14. Mackey's Encyclopedia.
15. Ibid.

PARTICULAR REFERENCES ON LANDMARKS.

Adherence of the Irish Craft and the "Ancients" to:--J. L. Carson.
Vol. II, THE BUILDER, P. 7.
With respect to Physical Qualifications--Geo. W. Warvelle.
Vol. II, THE BUILDER, P. 17.
Making a Mason at Sight--Wildey E. Atchison.
Vol. II, THE BUILDER, P. 47.
The, Spirit of the Landmarks--H. R. Evans.
Vol. II, THE BUILDER, P. 207.
Also "The Mother Lodge" (poem)--Kipling.
Non-Christian Candidates--Roscoe Pound and Massachusetts Committee.
Vol. II, THE BUILDER, P. 302.
Belief in a Supreme Being--Melvin M. Johnson.
Vol. II, THE BUILDER, P. 368. 
References to "Laws, Rules and Regulations" found in Mackey's
Encyclopedia.
a. Grand Lodge Constitutions and By-Laws.
Grand Lodge.
b. Lodge By-Laws.
By-Laws.
c. Codified Law.
Laws of Masonry.
Legislation.
d. Landmarks.
e. Charter.
Chartered Lodge.
Constitution of a Lodge.
Regular. 
f. Dispensation.
Lodge. 
g. Customs.
Parliamentary Law.


THE MASTER

"And I, if I be lifted up . . will draw all men unto me."
--John 12-32.

The day was done, the work complete,
When he gathered the well used tools,
And rapidly walked down Nazareth's street,
Toward Kishon's gleaming pools.
"What Apprentice passed," a Pharisee asked.
"What, know you not," spake one
Who had watched the youth as he passed,--
"Why, 'twas Jesus, the Carpenter's Son."

On another day down the street he fared
Past Jerusalem's turrets and towers,
The work was leveled and plumbed and squared,
Brim-full were the shining hours.
"What Craftsman passed," asked a Sadducee
Who stood in a wayside khan.
A beggar replied, "Can you not see ?
Why, 'twas Christ, the Son of Man."

Stately and spacious in every part
Soared the Temple toward the sun,--
The columned temple of perfect art,
Of a life that was finished and run. 
A Cross stood darkly against the sky, 
Like a stain it shadowed the sod. 
"What Master passed," asked one standing by, 
"Why, 'twas Christ, the Son of God."
F. S. Thompson, Past Grand Orator,
Grand Lodge of Washington.

More sufferings have been inflicted by good men, from good motives,
than by all the tyrants that have ever lived.--Lord Macaulay.


