to the donors for their kind regards and respect. But her appearance and manners clearly showed that her feelings could not be easily explained in words. "Her defence of Masonry on the occasion mentioned, was voluntary and wholly unexpected. She has no relative who is a Mason, that we have any knowledge of. Her good opinions of Masonry were formed from observing the deportment of some of her acquaintances and neighbors, who are members of Lodge No. 17. The effect of this one act will be for future good. Like the mountain stream, proceeding from the fountain of truth, it will rush onward and onward until it will gather many to search this Greater Light for God's will towards man," QUALIFICATIONS OF CANDIDATES FOR R. A. MASONRY. Dresden, Tenn., Nov. 17, 1847. BRO. C. W. MOORE: What think you of the resolution of the Grand Chapter of Tennessee, at its communication in 1846, debarring all Brethren from the privileges of the R. A. Degree, unless they shall have been Master Masons for twelve months, or have attained the age of twentyfive years? Is it not an infringement on the Ancient Constitutions or customs of the Order? We should like to hear from you through the Magazine, upon the subject, as we occidental Companions need more light. Companionably yours, C. P. B. The Grand Chapter, we entertain no doubt, had a right to pass the resolution in question, and may enforce the restriction by any means within its power. There is no uniform regulation or established usage on the subject. The requirement that a candidate for the Chapter must have been one year a Master Mason, is probably as ancient as any of the general regulations which have from time to time been adopted for the exclusive government of Royal Arch Chapters. It is recognised by the present Constitutions of the Grand Chapter of England, and we believe is consistent with most of the practice on the European continent. The age of the candidate, except that he shall have attained to his majority, is not deemed essential by our English Companions. This is, however, subjected to specific regulations, by several of the supreme bodies, having jurisdiction over the R. A. degree, in other parts of Europe; and the candidate is required to be of a certain age. The same is also true of the Master's, and of several of what are called the higher degrees. And there is no ancient constitutional objection to this course, if any Grand Chapter, or Grand Lodge, or other governing body, see fit to adopt it. 102 PHYSICAL QUALIFICATIONS OF CANDIDATES, ETC. The regulation is, that no person shall be admitted into Masonry before he has attained to his majority. This is the only restriction, as to the age of the candidate, which either the old Constitutions or the usages of the Order impose. And our correspondent will readily perceive, that, under the rule as here given, it is perfectly competent for the Grand Chapter of Tennessee to prescribe that, within its own jurisdiction, Brethren shall not be admitted to the Chapters until they have attained to the age of twenty five years. The rule does not make it obligatory on the Lodges to receive candidates at any particular age; but it does prohibit their receiving them at an earlier age than their majority. We have not examined the resolution by the Grand Chapter of Tennessee, for the reason that the proceedings of that body for 1846, are not conveniently at hand; and because it is not a matter about which our correspondent would be very likely to fall into error. PHYSICAL QUALIFICATIONS OF CANDIDATES. Cayuga, Miss., Dec. 1, 1847. COMP. MOORE,-Your readiness and willingness to answer such questions as will serve to enlighten your Brethren, and promote the interests of Masonry, together with the fact that I know of a case in point, influence me to ask your views as to the propriety of conferring the degrees of Masonry on an individual who cannot hear well, but who can, notwithstanding, hear distinctly the whisper of one with whom he has been in the habit of conversing much? Please shape this question so that you may answer it in a proper manner, and oblige, Yours, fraternally, H. J. HARRIS. We There cannot be, we think, any valid objection in the above case. fully comprehend our correspondent, and the point on which his doubts rest. If the candidate's hearing is as stated, it is, in our opinion, sufficient for all required purposes. S... C... S... G.. I.. G.. SOUTHERN JURISDICTION OF THE U. S. DEUS MEUMQUE JUS. Ar a special session of the Supreme Council of Sovereign Grand Inspectors General of the 33d Degree, for the Southern Jurisdiction of the U. States of America, our Illustrious Brother, JOHN A. QUITMAN, Rose+K-H, Sublime Prince of the Royal Secret, Major General in the Army of the United States, was elected to fill a vacancy in this Supreme Council, and was duly and formally inaugurated a Sov. Gr. Insp. General of the 33d. All Consistories, Councils, Chapters and Lodges under this jurisdiction, are hereby ordered to obey and respect him accordingly. By order. A. G. MACKEY, R. +, K-H, S. P. R. S., S. G. I. G. 33d, Sec. Gen. H-E-, South. Juris. U. S. A. MASONIC HONORS PAID IN CHARLESTON, S. C., TO GENERALS QUITMAN AND SHIELDS, U.S. A. INFORMATION having been received of the expected arrival of Brig. Gen. SHIELDS, U. S. A., in Charleston, S. C., on his way to Washington, and the Fraternity being desirous of paying a tribute of respect to so distinguished a Brother and one so intimately connected by his military station as Commander of the Brigade to which the South Carolina regiment was attached, with the travelling Lodge in that regiment, a special communication of the Grand Lodge was convened on Thursday Evening, 16th Dec. A. L. 5847, when the following Resolutions were unanimously adopted: Whereas, this Grand Lodge has learned with great pleasure, that Brigadier General SHIELDS is expected soon to visit this city, and as it is our desire to evince the esteem in which our distinguished Brother is held by the Masonic Fraternity of this State, as the gallant leader of the Palmetto Regiment, in which there is a Travelling Lodge working under a Warrant of Constitution from this Grand Lodge, therefore 1. Resolved, That a Committee of Seven Members, to consist of the Grand Officers and the junior Past Grand Master, be appointed to wait on Bro. SHIELDS on his arrival and give him a fraternal welcome, tendering to him the hospitalities of this Grand Lodge and of the Fraternity in this city. 2. Resolved, That should Bro. SHIELDS find it convenient to accept the invitation, the Grand Master be respectfully requested to convoke the Grand Lodge for the purpose of receiving him in ancient form while in session, and that a Masonic Banquet be provided under the direction of a Committee of Arrangements, to consist of one Brother from each Lodge in the city. Gen. SHIELDS arrived on Monday the 20th, and the Committee having waited on him, obtained his consent to meet the Grand Lodge on the evening of the 23d. On Wednesday, Maj. Gen. QUITMAN arrived in the city, and as he was not only a distinguished Mason, the Past Grand Master of the Grand Lodge of Mississippi, but had also been in command of the South Carolina Regiment on its first arrival in Mexico, and subsequently the Major General of the Division to which that regiment was attached, the Committee waited on him and invited him to participate in the pleasures of the intended festival, which invitation he at once accepted. On Thursday evening 23d December, the communication of the Grand Lodge was holden, and there was present a larger concourse of the Brethren than we have ever before seen congregated together in this city. At 7 o'clock the Grand Lodge was opened in Ample Form by the Most Worshipful Grand Master, C. M. Furman, who, in a few remarks, explained to the Brethren the object for which the Grand Lodge had been convened. At 8 o'clock the Grand Pursuivant announced the committee, consisting of A. E. Miller, Rt. W. Deputy Grand Master and J. C. Norris, M. W. Past Grand Master, with the following visitors; M. W. David Johnson, Past Grand Master of South Carolina, M. W. J. A. Quitman, Past Grand Master of Mississippi, and W. James Shields, Past Master of Washington Lodge, No. 21, District of Columbia. On entering the Grand Lodge room they were received with the Private Grand Honors of Masonry, and escorted to the post of Honor, where the M. W. Grand Master made the following address to Brothers Quitman and Shields: In the name of the Grand Lodge of South Carolina, and of the Members of the Masonic Fraternity here present, I welcome you among us. Your Masonic Brethren, in common with our fellow-citizens generally, highly appreciate the services you have rendered to our common country. They with pleasure embrace an opportunity to give expression to their feelings. Indeed, in recognizing you as Brethren, they find an additional motive for rejoicing in your success. The Masonic Institution, it is true, is devoted to the cultivation of those virtues which find their more common exercise amid the occurrences of ordinary life, and may seem hostile to the military profession. But nature has stamped upon the human mind the principle of self-defence, and under the influence of that principle, Masons may go forth to battle when the voice of their country summons them to the conflict. In the stern strife of battle, when life is pitted against life, the voice of mercy is stilled; but who can say that the asperities of war are not mitigated under the influence of Masonic principles, or that the obligation taken at every Masonic altar, of charity for all mankind, though more especially for a Brother Mason, has not extended a softening influence over the conduct of modern warfare. As illustrating this influence, well may we point, Brethren, to the conduct of the soldiers under your command--no rapine, outrage or conflagration have stained your triumphs. It is not only as Masons that we now greet you. We recognize in you the commanders who led the sons of our soil through a career of victory, which we feel has even elevated the character of our honored State. The light reflected from your bright example has illumed the path over which they rushed to honor and renown. The true soldier will dare, whenever his commander will lead, and at Churubusco and Chapultepec our sons found leaders, to follow whom was honor. Among this band of citizen soldiers our Institution had many sons, and in common with many natural parents among our citizens, we have to lament the loss of brave spirits upon the plains and before the fortresses of Mexico. The gallant Butler, their chief, and Dickinson, worthy to be his second, have fallen in the very arms of victory. The tear, however, which we would shed at their loss, is checked by our exultation at their renown. But I forbear to speak of them to those who witnessed their actions and who saw them die. Brethren, we congratulate you upon the success which followed your footsteps during the arduous campaign through which you have just passed. Your actions have added to the reputation of our great country, and I but echo the sentiment which has been pronounced by our people from Maine to Mexico-that your names are enrolled among those of her most valued sons. Again, I welcome you within these walls. The following Ode was then sung by Br. Sloman, the Brethren uniting in full chorus: Hail Masonry divine, Glory of ages shine;' Long may'st thou reign! Great fabrics still arise, No art with thee can share, Hiram, the architect, How they should build ; The Grand Secretary, Bro. A. G. Mackey, then rose, and having alluded to the desire of the Grand Lodge to place upon its records some official memorial of the happy concurrence of fortuitous events which had brought together in that sacred asylum, this evening, two distinguished visitors, both of them gallant defenders of their country-both of them zealous Masons, and one of them the twice honored presiding officer of the Grand Lodge of a neighboring State-and both of them intimately connected, as Commanders of the South-Carolina Volunteers, with the Brethren, who in that regiment were working under a travelling warrant from this Grand Lodge, moved "That Brothers J. A. Quitman and James Shields be elected Honorary Members of this Grand Lodge, and that the Grand Secretary be directed to transmit to these distinguished Brethren diplomas with the signature of the Grand Master and Grand Seal of the Grand Lodge attached." This resolution was seconded by Bro. A. G. Miller, the R. W. Deputy Grand Master, and unanimously adopted. Brother Quitman then rose and expressed his deep sense of the honor just conferred upon him. He stated that since his Masonic infancy he had been always taught to look up with reverence to the Masonic light which burned on the altars in this State. He had always been a working Mason and since his life of war in Mexico he had had still more occasion to love the Order and respect its principles. He related several anecdotes and among others stated that his heart was never more filled with tender emotions than when on his arrival at Vera Cruz from the City of Mexico he was invited to be present at a meeting of a Lodge whose warrant of Constitution had been granted by the Grand Lodge of Mississippi. After other interesting remarks he concluded by thanking the Grand Lodge for admitting him, in this complimentary manner, into its household. Bro. Shields also thanked the Grand Lodge for the honor conferred upon him. He stated that although war was antagonistic to all the principles of Freemasonry, and although he, a General in the service of the United States, was, as a Mason, in favor of universal peace, yet there were circumstances in which war for the defence of our country, liberty and rights, was strictly in accordance with all the duties and obligations of the Mason. It was, he said, not until he was placed in the battle field and saw and partook of the fierce conflict of man with man, that he was able to appreciate the benign principles of that Order which humanized and civilized the human heart, and softened even the harsh features of war. Past Grand Master Johnson then briefly addressed the Brethren, and said he |