I . W. GRAND LOlMiK ^licitnt, /ice, Mb ^cttptei SElasons, A i/ro \

elation like ours, must and ought to be very great, and powerfully,
iffect its destiny. Wise and prudent counsels alone will lead to good results
—all others will be destructive in their tendencies."
reference to the granting of dispensations to take the degrees, the
ad Master says:
I deem it my duty to call the earnest attention of the Grand Lodge to
ipinion, I fear too general, and which is sometimes carried nut in prao-
It seems to me that tho regulation requiring the lapse of one month
iterveno before action is had upon petitions for initiation or advanceit
ought to bo rigidly enforced. I have had, though announcing here at
last meeting of tho Grand Lodge, my fixed determination not to grant
lensatibns, unless in cases of most manifest emergency, very numerous
ligations for such dispensations. Some of them stated no reason at ail
—some of them asked an abrogation of the rale entirely, by requesting an
open dispensation to be filled up at pleasure, and some of thorn were based
upon what I conceived to bo a violation of Masonic propriety. As some of
these may again occur, I will state them. They said that the applicant had
resided long in their vicinity—was a gentleman of good character, and had
lately determined to go California, or some other distant section of the country,
upon a business excursion, or for purposes of settlement, and before he
went was desirous of receiving the degrees of Masonry. Wow, I am slow to
impute improper motives to men, but it struck me very forcibly that such a
man would come awkwardly to a Lodge seeking admission and declaring
that he was uninfluenced by motives of self-interest, but prompted by a desire
to assist in th* great design of the institution, arising from a favorable
opinion, long conceived or maintained, of its excellence. I thought, probably,
that ho was waiting until he saw how Masonry would be directly beneficial
to himself, in his contemplated journeyings, or, if indeed a higher moti
.-e induced nation, long delayed, be would be rather unskilled to be sent out
at a missionary. Such applications, entertaining tho views I did, I could not
g i U t . "
In all of -which your committee most heartily concur. He concludes by
« Under the umbrageous branches of our tree of liberty, planted in the
ft rlilo soil of this western continent, and watered by the blood of our fathers,
i wise counsels are written upon every leaf, we have enjoyed, in freedom
peace, the pursuit of oar own happiness, according to the dictates of
inclinations, as a right inalienable, and above th* power of all, exi
th* laws we make ourselves, and our responsibility to the ultimate triof
th* August Majesty who presides over tho Universe. But this is
i case with many of oar Order in other lands, where tyrant* haughtily
th* sceptre of dominion. Our brethren so situated deserve and should
receive our kindest sympathies, and affectionate regard, expressed as occasion
warrant, in no unmeaning phraseology. Let it be ours so to rear in
•city, beauty, magnif<strong>ice</strong>nce, and strength, the great pillars of intelligence
and virtu* which support our system, thai perpetuity and perfection