Interesting to Masons — question of invasion of Jurisdiction.
The
Washington correspondent of the Baltimore
Sun gives the following interesting account of a friendly disagreement between the
Grand Lodge of Masons of
Virginia and the
Grand Lodge of the District of Columbia.
We could have furnished the same facts several weeks ago, but abstained from giving them publicity because we supposed it to be a "family affair," which would not be trumpeted to the world.
As the
Sun has disclosed them, there can be no impropriety in re-publishing them for the benefit of the numerous Masons within
our "jurisdiction." The
Sun neglects to state the point clearly.
It was, that the
Grand Lodge of the
District granted a charter to a subordinate
Lodge of
Virginia — a proceeding which, so we are informed, is in direct violation of the usages and laws of Masonry.
We quote from the
Sun: ‘
"The installation meeting of the
Masonic Grand Lodge of the District of Columbia on Wednesday evening, being the anniversary of
St. John the Evangelist, was numerously attended, and the proceedings quite interesting.
It appears that, some time after the late war commenced, the
District Grand Lodge granted a dispensation to certain brethren of
Alexandria, Virginia, under the title of "Union Lodge," and for several months they worked harmoniously.
During the past year a continuance of the charter was refused, and the affairs of the
Union Lodge honorably closed.
At the November communication of the
District Grand Lodge, a committee, consisting of
R. W. Brothers French,
Donaldson and
Stevens, was appointed to visit the
Grand Lodge of
Virginia, at a meeting which subsequently took place in
Richmond, for the purpose of re-establishing fully all the fraternal relations which formerly existed between these two bodies.
The committee proceeded to the
Grand Lodge of
Virginia, were cordially received, and in due form welcomed.
A committee, consisting of
Messrs. J. R. Purdy,
L. B. Williams,
H. W. Thomas,
T. D. August and
T. F. Owens, were appointed by the
Virginia Grand Lodge to confer with the district committee.
On every other point except Union Lodge, matters were cheerfully concurred in. Here was a difficulty.
The Grand Lodge of
Virginia appreciated the brotherly feeling of the visiting committee, the proffered settlement of moneys was satisfactory, but in recognizing the brethren of late 'Union Lodge' the words 'when properly healed' were inserted.
This was objectionable to the
District committee, and of course leaves the matter of final adjustment open.
When the objectionable clause is removed, our Grand Officers are authorized to close up all minor matters as agreed upon."
’
G. A. Schwarzmann, Virginia, was appointed one of the
Grand Representatives.
