~ORTH DAKOTA MASONIC GFiAND loDGE L1BFiAFiY

"History Repeats Itself"

OF INTEREST TO EVERY EASTERN STAR MEMBER The CODtrove~y that has arisen in the General Grand Chapter in recent years over the question of "extraneous degrees", has perhap6 performed a useful Ilervi~. for it has educated members of the Order as to the relations elCisting be­ tween the General Grand Chapter and the several Grand Chapters. and has MOused them to a sense of the dangtnl involved to the Eastern Star itself from the continued agitation uJXln this subject. It is an old adage that "history re­ peats i.tself," and never was the truth of this adage more thOlOughly eumplified than in the controversy upon this particulat question. It is everywhere recognized that the original degree, in Free Masonry consisted of the first three degrees. For many years they were the onJy degn!e!l known Of recognized by Master Masons, but as the years rolled OIl, new rhea and ceremonies were devised to which men became eligible by reason of their membership in the so-called Blue Lodge. Precisely as some rnemben of the Eastern Star have questioned the right of other organizations to make as a pre­ requisite of membership, membership in the Eastern Star. so, many prominent masons in years gone by have queationed the right of the so-allied "Yark" and "Scottish Rite" bodies to base their membe.rship on the Blue Lodge. It is impossible in the space of this brief pamphJet to give any of the very violent denunciations contained in Grand Lodge reports, and Grand Lodgr proceeding!! in this and other countries, against the Royal Aech, the Knight Temp!ars, and the various Scottish Rite bodiea at the time of, or shortly after their inception. The controversy that raged many years ago eeems strange in· deed to the masons of the present day, for these bodies are now generally rec­ ognized as Masonic. and no one seriously quer;tions the right of a Blue Lodgr mason to become identified with anyone of these other organizatioos. The denunciation that was visited upon masoDJll who presumed to become identified with the so-called "higher bodies" was at a later time visited upon those IDaSODS and their families and relatives who joined the Order of the Eastern Star. I will merely allude to a few of the utterances that may be fouud in Grand Lodge proceedings, to demonstrate the intensity of the feeling that existed against the organization in its early history, and the very radical steps taken to prevent it gaining a foothold in many of the etates throughout the Union. In ]871 the Grand Master of the Grand Lodge of Massachusetts, in his address to the Grand Lodge, cautioned the brethren about their joining the Order of the

Eastern Star in the following words: j "An attempt has been made to organize in Massachusett9 an order of what is termed 'Female Ma&Onry' under the designation of the 'Eastern Star.' Following the precedents established by two of my predecessors in office. I have decided that the Order is not a lwanch of the institution of Free Masonry, and that it has no connection with it, either in fann, i;ymbol, dogma or doctrine. Loo~es have been forbidden 2 to have any (.'Onnection with it, and have been inl!Itrueted to deny the use of their lodge rooms to this anomalous organization. It is (.'Ontrary to one of the great, fundamental landmarks of the Craft, and those who are seeking to propagate this Order, either in Massachusetts or else­ where, are acting in violation of their 6Qlemn obligations as masons; or, if true to their vows, they are practicing a mOl'lt contemptible im­ position upon tbose women whom they seduce into their lodges. They stand (.'Ondemned before the enlightened Craft either as traitors or as imposters. "No such organization as this can exist and Boorish without lower­ ing the higb standard of our institution, and debasing and corrupting the true source of masonic charity and masonic fellowship. Whatever may be the suc:ass of Female Masonry in other jurisdictions, let it not be said that the brotherhood of tIii8 Commonwealth have en(.'Ouraged it or given it a safe harbor within the confines of Massachusetts." In 1875. the Grand Master of WJSCODSin, in an add.ress to the Grand Lodge of that State, inserted a ropy of a drcuJar sent to the subordinate lodges, a por­ tion of whicb is herewith given, and his own starement with relation thereto: "Grand Lodge of F. and A. M. of Wisconsin, Office of the Grand Master, Milwaukee, Wis., July 28, 1874 Circular to all the Subordinate Lodges: "Applications have been made to me for instructions and advice by several of the subordinate lodges which have received circulars signed--,------­ P.G. Lecturer, etc., and asking the use of their lodge rooms for the lecture upon so-called 'Adoptive Masonry', and for the illStitution of so-called Chapters of the (so-called) Eastern Star, this circular is issued for the guidance of the subordinate5. "Section 15 of Article XXI of the Cowltitution provides that,'-The conferring in any lodge of what is known as honorary or side degrees is strictly forbidden'. "At the Annual Communication held in 1872 the following standing order was adopted: 'Ordered, that no lodge room shall be used for any purpose other than for Masonic bodies and for IILaSOILic PUTposes'.-Proceedings of 1872, Page 51. "At the Annual Communication held in 1873 this standing order was amended by adding to it the 'WOrds, 'without a dispensation from the Grand Master'.­ Proceedings of 1873, page 21. "Under this constitutional provision and general order, the Grand Master after careful examination is of the opinion: ' "First. That the so-called degre.t;s_ of the Eastern Star are side degrees within the intent and meaning of the Constitution. 3 "SeamC-. That no lodge rooID5 can be used for any of the pilCpose:!I mentioned in the circular al!uded to, without a special dispensation in each case {COIq the Grand Master. "The Grand Master is also of the opinion that no Lodge and no Mason as such can properly have any connection with or give any countenance to the so­ called degrees above referred to; "Substantially the same action was taken, I find, by the Grand Master of Maasachusetts in 1871; and his action was unanimously approved by his Grand Lodge. He forbade the lodges to have any connection with it; instructed them to deny the Use of their halls to this allom.alous organization; decided that it had no connection with Free Masoory 'in (orm. symbol. dogma or doctrine', and that 'it is contrary to one of the great fundamental landmarks of the Craft'. The committee on his addres.<> reported qpon this subject: as follows: 'As an es­ tablished rule, this peculiar institution is (or men only; and until the time sbalI come when men shall cease to be men, and women shall in their stead become architects, builders, and artisans, let UB adhere to the maxim-We are unwilling to change the laws and usa~s of Free Masonry'. "If the term degree or degrees can properly be applied to the ceremonies practiced by these bodies, they are dearly and beyond dOUbt 'side degrees', and as-Buch are prohibited by the Constitution and by the standing reguJationB; and not the lodges merely as such but ~ members of them are prolubited from practicing them," In 1882, E. T. Carson, a Well-known and diligent masonic student of Ohio. in a letter to the Grand Lodge of Massachusetts, informed them that more than 30 years previous the Grand Lodge of Ohio had adopted a resolution "against the conferring of side degrees in Ohio, and that resolution kept out of Ohio all those masonic charlatans who peddled the Eastern Star, Heroine of Jericho, Master Masons Daughter, etc," These utterances indicate the intensity of feeling upon this subject by Master Masons. With the passage of time, however, this intensity of feeling disappeared. Some of the resolutions aIltagonistic to the Eagtem Star were re~ yoked, and in other instances apparently were wholly forgotten. In 1882 thc Grand Lodge of Massachusetts adopted an amendment to its ,Grand Constitution, which reads in par:t_as followll: "Now, therefore, it is hereby declared that any mason who is hereafter admitted in this jurisdicth-ao_into any other oroerB as Masonic, ---is acting UIUIla&lnicly, a:Itd fOr such conduct shall be liable to be expelled from all the rights and priVileges of Masonry, and shall be ineligible to membership or office in this Grand Lodge." Attention iii especially directed to the words, "as Masonic," in the fo~ 4 going amendment. As the E'.a5tem Star did not claim to be masonic, there was from and after that date no legal objection to masons joining the Order of the Eastern Star in that state. The action taken by Ma~c;achll~ttswas apparently followed by other juris­ dictions, and in those other jurisdictions, as the Eastern Star did not claim to be a masonic organization, its existenCt'! was subsequently permitted or at least tolerated. From the quotations hereillbe[Of"e set forth from the ""arious reports of diBerent Grand Masters, it will be observed that the Chapters of the Order· of the Eastern Star were very generally excluded from Masonic Lodge rooms. In some instances this was due to the action of Grand Lodges, and i.n other in· stances to the action of various 5ubordii:J.atc lodges. Although this prejudi('e is gradually dying away, there still exists in eome communities a feeling that the Order of the E'.a5tern Star should not be pennitted to meet in the Masonic Lodge room, and in consequence the Eastern Star Chapters are still debarred. Older members of the Order can recall the tirnt: when the conditions to which I herein allude existed, and many masons now members of the Order, can recall the ridicule to which they were subjected at the bands of their brother masons by reason of their being identified with the order. The older members, however, have lived to see the time when these prejudices are largely disappearing. They have lived to see the day when the servioeJ> that the Order renders to the Masonic Fraternity are more generally appreciated. In view of this change in sentiment, the Eastern Star world, therefore, was greatly startled when the Grand Master of Pennsylvania issued the edict which forbade masons in that jurisdiction from being identified with the Order. Those ignOf"ant of masonic law and masonic history were greatly staetled to [earn that it was possible for a single individual thus to deprive thousands of men of a privilege which they had esteemed theirs according to masonic law and according to the spirit of American jnstitlitions. The writer is infonned, however, that the Grand Master of Pennsylvania merely re-affinned what had always been masonic law in his state. The masonic law of Pennsylvania. !lO I am ad'ised. always has been such, that no Master Mason could join any organization making as a prerequisite of membership, membe~p jn the Blue Lodge, unless such organization was rec­ ognized by the Grand Lodge. The law on_ this subject had been forgotten or ignored, just 35 it ha5 1:0«0 in other Grand Jurisdictions, and the Grand Master in issuing his edict, merely brought that,.,lllw into fOrce, and gave it new signifi­ cance and being. The damage tVrOught to the Order by the action of the Grand Master of Pennsylvania was not confined, however, to that state. It occasioned in many places a revival of the ok! feeling against the Order, and an agitation, happily Cor us, scattered and unorganized. 5 Unfortunately for us, about the same time that the Grand Master of Penn­ sylvania issued his edict, the MOBt Worthy Grand Patron of the General Grand Chapter issued a circular letter to the various Grand Chapters, advising them to adopt legislation that would either prevent any member of the Order holding office, if such member was identified with any organization making as a pre­ requisite oC memben;hip, membership in the Eastern Star, or making them liable to expulsion. The force, therefore, of any complaint that we might have had against the action of the Grand Master of Pennsytvania was minimized by reason oJ. the action of one of our own General Grand Officers. Another aspect of the General Grand Patron's eammunication, which per­ haps was lost upon him when he sent it broadcast throughout the country, was the indignation that it aroused amongst Master Masons quite generally. They pointed out that the Eastern Star 'Wai attempting to dictate to them as to what organizations they could become identified with, and that if the legislation re­ quested by the General Grand Patron was adopted by any Grand Chapter, and was strictly enforced, it might result in-the expulsion from the Order of very high Masonic officials. This was declared to be presumptuous, and those of us who had the interests or the Order at heart, fearing that some such consequence mlght result, hastened to assure those giving vent to this feeling that the General Grand Patron's letter was of no significance, as he had no power to issue an edict. and that even the General Grand Chapter itself was without constitutional authority to enact such legislation. We pointed out that such powers were con­ fined exclusively to the several Grand Chapters, and that the largest jurisdictions In the United States had already gone on rerord quite emphatically against the adoption of the General Grand Offic:ersideas on this subject. Can there be any doubt in the mind of any reasonable individual that if this legislation was, per­ chance, adopted by any Grand Chapter, with the result that a Grand Master, a Grand High Priest, or Grand Commander W3.8 expelled from the Order of the Eastern Star, that the organizations With which they were identified would retaliate? As I have pointed out above, it would only require the enforcement oC ex­ Jstlng legislation in many jurisdictions throughout the country to preventMaster Masons in those jurisdictions Crom becoming identified with the Order. It is to forestall any such injury,to the Order of the wtern Star, that 1 have taken up this subject so vigorously with the various Grand Chapters. Cn another pamphlet I have already direqed attention to the fact that the General Grand Chapter has no legal authority tl)~legislation, and [ have also directed attention to the methods used to pam B i'eolntion Cavoring the en.a.ctment oC such legislation by the different Grand ChaPtiln. It is significant that our largest: Grand Chapters, that include within their ranks a majority oC all mem­ bers of the Order, have already gone on record very emphatically against the 6 adoption of this legislation, and it is hoped the smaller jurisd:ctions will be governed by their example. A few only of the Grand Chapters have adopted any such legislation, and those few represent only a small minority of the total membership of the Order. but unfortunately their action jnjures the entire Order. The writer knows from personal conversation with many masons holding high official position in the country, and from letters that he has reret~, that the General Grand Chapter Officers, both of this administration, and of the preceding administration, have been warned that their agitation on this subject would unquestionably re-act upon the Order oC the Eastern Star. The situation in the minds of members of the Grand Chapter of Massachu­ setts became so serious in consequence-of the continuous agitation on the subject of "extraneous degrees" by the General Grand Chapter Officers, that when the latest communica#on of those officers on this subject came to their attention. a conference was called of all of the Past Grand Officers in attendance at our Grand Chapter session held in May last in the City of Springfield. So far as the writer. is aware, this is the fin;t instance that such a conference was ever held, and the largest number of Past Grand Officers were in attendance at that session that ever had attended any previous Grand Chapter meeting. The subject was discussed from all angles, and as a result-of that discussion_. a resolution was adopted denouncing the-agitation, and urging the Grand Offi­ cers to end the agitation forthwith before further damage resulted to the Order. Of the thirty-two Past Grand and Present Grand Officers who signed the resolu­ tion, only one was a member of the White Shrine of Jerusalem. The resolution was brought up at the Grand Chapter Se&&ion, and its purpose explained to the members. The presiding officer asked for a rising vote, and every one of the more than 900 delegates in attendance desired the adoption of the resolution and not a single jndi-vidual voted against it. A copy of this resolution may be found at the close oC thia article. When it is borne in mind that the Grand Lodge of Massachusetts is the senior Grand Lodge of the United States, tM.t the Grand Chapter of Massachu­ setts is likewise one of the oldest Grand Chapters in the country, this action has and should have great signi6cance. There were in attendance at the Grand Chapter session. many distinguished J11asons who have been highly honored by the Masonic Fraternity, and theyap­ preciated the menace to the Order of the Eaumt Star that would unquestionably resuJt by the adoption oC this legislation on "extraneous degrees" by any Grand Jurisdiction in the United States, and Cor that reason they urged that a copy of the resolution be sent to every General Grand Chapter Officer, and to every Grand Chapter in the world. Their action has been imitated by many Grand ChaptelB that have been in session since that time. 1 That the fears expressed in that resolution as to the encroachment of the General Grand Chapter on the rights and privilegeR of the several Grand ChapterB was not in the least imaginery, can be gleaned from the fact that when Brother McOanie1 as Most Worthy Grand Patron, org3IliZl'rl the Grand Chapter of Quebec, he caused them tv insert in their coDstitution the following words: "This Grand Chapter declares ils allegiance to the General Grand Chapter, Order of the Eastern Stilr. It wiU use only the Ritual, Signet and Labyrinth promulgated by the General Grand Chapter and will conform to its Constitution and Laws and will make an annual assess­ ment of two cents per capita for thesupportof LheGeneral Grand Chap­ ter. if requested by that body to do BO." This is in direct violation of the spirit with which the General Grand Chap­ ter was organi7-ed. If other Grand Chapters are formed with a similar provision in their constitution, it crea.tfs a nucleus in the General Grand Chapter that caJ:l. be controlled by C..eneral Grand ClJ.apter Officers to do their bidding and secure amendments to the Constitution, and ~n the ritual itself, deopite the protest of the most inRuentiaJ and lartest Grand Jurisdictioru; now identified with that body. A further danger to the Order exists in the fact that several masonic bodies are subject to the law as declared by the Grand Bodies with which the sub­ oc-dinate bodies are identillerl. Tlius by way of illustration,-Scottish Rite Masons of the Northern Masonic Jurisdiction are governed by the Supreme Council, and are obliged to obey the laws promulgated by them. Fifteen of the Northern Sta~ are identified with that Jurisdiction. Those same fifteen states contain the largest Graa.d ChaPh!r8 of the Order of the Eastern Star. In those states there are 33d degree masoru; who are identified with the Order of the Eastern Star, and the White Shrine of Jerusalem. Does anyone imagine that if the legislation proposed by the ~ral Grand Officen; was adopted, with the result that aome 33d degree mason ofprominence was expeUed from the Order of the Eastern Star. that' the Supreme Council would look upon such action with indifference? If that Council should.forbid Scouhh Rite Masoru; from becoming identified with the Order of the Eastern Star, it would of course deal a death blow to the Order in the above ~tioned fifteen states, becAuse no mason would wish to jain'an organization that had thus corne under the ban of the leading Jt1aS(IDS of the United States. The writer does not of roune ~te that any such action would be taken, but he uses this by way of muatration th-indicate the dangero{ the situation, and the natural indignation that would be a~'lIIed amongst mason$ of high standing. As I stated at the outset, "history repeats itself." The agitation now being conducted by General Grand Chapter Officers against the White Shrine was in times past conducted by the Grand Lodge Offi~rs agai.nst the so-caUed "higher I Masonic degrees," and then subgequently was directed against the Order of the Eastern Stat. With the passage of time. however, wise counsels have prevailed, and all of this legislation by the Masonic Fratmnity has either been forgotten or repealed. I earnestly hope that the same good judgment displayed by the Masonic Brethren, and which time has demonstrated, was for the best interest of that Fraternity, will likewise be displayed by the.Qnler of the Eastern Star, and that this hostile legislation will not be enacted or will be forgotten, and thus indeed history will repeat itself. GUY ANDREWS HAM, Pas' Grafld PaJrrm of Manadtw~.

MASSACHUSETIS DECLARATION AND RESOLUTION The Grand Chapter, Order of the Eastern Star of Massachusetts, observes with much concern an attempt upon the part of the officers of the General Grand Chapter to extend the jurisdiction of the last-named body beyond the limits prescribed by the General Grand Constitntion. When the General Grand Chapter was organized, the several Grand Chapters who became membel'5 of that body, acknowledged the right of the General Grand Chapter to have exclusive jurisdictioil over all mattel'5 affecting the ritual, the right to organize chapters in jurisdictions having no Grand Chapter, and such disputes as might arise between the several Grand Chapters. This is the very limit 01 authority conceded by the Grarttf' Chapters, and this Grand Chapter 01 Massachusetts desires to reaffinn the statement appearing in its Grand Con­ stitution, that it is supreme in all 'matters pertaining to its internal affairs, and that it has the sole right to superintend and'govern all Chapters of the Order of the Eastern Star within its jurisdiction. We observe likewise with much concern, the enactment 01 legislation in some masonic jurisdictions forbidding masons to become identified with the Order of the Eastern Star, and in some in~ces, demanding their withdrawal from the Order. This legislation has beeri:''2ftacted, we are advised, because of the interference 01 members of the Eastern Star in the affairs of various masonic bodies. We can appreciate that masons and officials of masonic organiMtions would very naturally resent such interference by persons not identified with their organization. 9 So far as we are aware, our mem.bef8 have conducted themselves properly in this respect in this Grand Jurisdiction. We desire to caution our mem.ben, howe...er, that such interlerence mU!t ne...er occur, and that if individual memben of the Eastem Star should attempt to concern themselves about the affaiNi of masonic Ixxlies with which they were not affiliated, such members would be subject to the penalties of this Order, and we would not hesitate to discipline meml::erB guilty of such offeni!le9, w&en thoee offenses ~ called to our attention. We regret also to observe, aIld call the attention of our members, to the fact, that there is an agitation in some places and amongst some m3BQDS to follow the action of the Grand Lodge of Pennsylvania. We re-affirm it to be the desire of this organization to bring comfort, assistance, and relief to the families of Master Masons, when necessity relJuires, and we feel confident that the mem­ bers of the masonic fraternity in Massachusetts will appreciate that our desire is to be of sen'ice in that L'lpk.ndid work, and in no way to encroach upon the functions of that splendid fraternity. While we regret that masonic authorities in some jurisdictions have deemed it necessary to pass the above Jegi&lation, we regret especially to observe, that the officers of the General Grand Chapter, and the General Grand Chapter itself, have afforded a precedent and a justification for their action. The Eastern Star bases its membership upon membership in the masonic fraternity. There are tiOIIle orden! that lilrewise make as a prerequisite for mem~ bership in such orders, Eastem Star affiliation. The agitation cooducted by General Grand Chapter officers to -secure legislation hostile to such orders is an unwarranted usurpation of authority upon their part, and their advice that legislation be enacted to expel members of such orders simply becaU!~ they make Eas~m Star affiliation a prerequisite for membership, affords the masonic fraternity a precedent and exCUBe f~'aemanding a complete severance of masonic affiliation with t.he Ordet' of the Eastern Star. Believing, therefore, that the attempted encrQ3.chrnent of the General Grand Chapter upon the rights of the se...eral Grand Chapters is unwarranted and unconstitutional, desiring to ~ our unquestioned authority over all matters pertaining to our internaJ affairs, and the sole right to govern the chap-. ters within our jurisdiction; and knowing that the agitation now being conducted by the General Grand Chapter- retaltw., to the so-called "extraneous degrees" is injuring us in the eye3 of the masonic f~t'nity, we hereby record our emphatic protest against this agitation so long condutted by General Grand Chapter officers, and urge them in the strongest manner possible, to end that agitation forthwith. 10 RESOLVED, that a copy of this dec1a~on be forwarded to the officers of the General Grand Chapter ~d to the Gra.n4Secretary of each Grand Chapter. MELIS!I.A COOK, P.G.M. Ii. D. SISSOR, P.G.P. NA'IllAXlEL W. FA.U.A.II., P.G.P. .P. A. ]KllGUSOlf, P.G.P. ISADQU FOIlBBS, P.G.M. ;ALBEJl.T A. TBWIA.!i, P.G.P. FlU.lfK A. NoYEs, P.G.P. EDWUf R. DAVIS, P.G.P. KAmElUlfE A. HAu., P.G.Y. """"CBAIlLES W. KInDEll. P.G.P. EJ'J'IE F. KllfG, P.G.M. "MAUDE E. WIUGBT. P.G.M. CHARLES A. WATTS, P.G.P. EMILY ELDUDGE. P.G.M. LEOlfA F. GoWDY, P.G.M. "fOLA F. FISK, P.G.M. EsTaEIl A. PARDIl. P.G.V. WINFIELD F. VAN OXKmI, P.G.P. GUY A. lLuI. P.G.P. LILLIAN GIlOVEIl WALSH, P.G.M. EI..u.. B. FUJlCB, P.G.M. ~ICE E. WALLACK, P.G.M. SoPBIE]. FoWL&, P.G.M. --LOUISE CllAns, P.G.M. IvA E. BIlOlinf. P.G.M. VIOLA F. PxTmE, G.M. Cou.IlD A. Cusm::RG, P.G.IlI. GEOXGE A. MOSHEIl, G.P. EVA C. Arrm, P.G.M. ]AlfE GlU.V PAYUNT, A.G.M. EDrm R. Avu.y, P.G.IlI. CLESSOH S. COIlTlS, A.G.P. ADOPTED UNANIMOUSLY BY THE <;;RAND CHAPTER OF MASSA­ CHUSETTS, MAY 11, 1923.

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