Obituary. Ar a general convocation of the Jackson Council, Jackson Royal Arch Chapter, and Pearl and Silas Brown Lodges, held at the Masonic Hall, in the city of Jackson, Miss., on Monday afternoon, Sept. 13, 1847, on the occasion of the death of their worthy and esteemed Brother and Companion, the Rey. Dr. H. LEAVEL: On motion of Bro. Charles Scott, it was Resolved, That Bro. Hutchinson, on the part of the Jackson Royal Arch Chapter, be called to take the chair, assisted by Bro. Thornton, on the part of the Council, and Brs. Palmer and Baine, on the part of Pearl and Silas Brown Lodges. On motion of Br. Scott, it was Resolved, That Br. James Smith act as the Secretary of this special convoca tion. The chairman of the meeting, Br. A. Hutchinson, addressed the assembled Brethren in an eloquent and feeling manner upon the cause and object of this general assemblage of the Masonic fraternity of Jackson: whereupon, Br. Scott offered the following resolutions, which were unanimously adopted: Resolved, That while we cherish the recollection of the many virtues of our deceased Brother and Companion, we sincerely deplore his loss to our Fraternity, to his family, to the church, and the country. "We have seen and felt the daily beauty" of his life and conversation. In his generous charities and warm affections was displayed the wisdom of holiness. His free and familiar spirit gave a charm to the manners of a practical christian, while his pious enthusiasm, untiring energies, and bright intellect, were worthy of his heavenly vocation. But he has been called from labor to refreshment." His house was finished. He laid its sure foundation in the blood of the Lamb: and ere he died, its Cape-stone was brought forthwith shouting and praise." Resolved, That we tenderly sympathise with his afflicted family and friends. Resolved, That our Hall be hung in mourning for nine successive days. Resolved, That a committee of three be appointed to correspond with his family, and enclose to them a copy of these resolutions, and cause them also to be published. The chairman named on the committee proposed, Brs. Scott, Palmer and Dixon; and, on motion, the chairman was added. The convocation was then adjourned. A. HUTCHINSON, JAMES SMITH, Secretary. EXPULSION. Huntsville, Mo., Sept. 16, 1817. BR. C. W. MOORE:-At a special meeting of Huntsville Lodge, No. 30, of Free and Accepted Masons, it was unanimously Resolved, That Dr. John B. Alexander, formerly of Hawsville Lodge, No. 115, Kentucky, be, and he is hereby expelled from all the privileges of Freemasonry, for gross unmasonic conduct. Resolved, That the Secretary of this Lodge be required to furnish a copy of the same to Br. C. W. Moore, for publication in the Freemasons' Magazine. J. C. SHAEFER, Secretary. MASONIC CHIT CHAT. Br. F. L. Jacoby is our authorized agent for the Magazine at Clarkesville, and vicinity, Pike county, Missouri. The previous letter spoken of by Br. J., we think could not have reached us. We are entirely ignorant of the matters to which he refers, and, of course, they could have had no influence with us. His inquiries shall receive attention next month. When at Columbus, in September, we addressed a note in answer to inquiries from a respected correspondent at Indianapolis, which, we presume, has been received. On our return home we found the first letter, but having answered the second, which reached us at Columbus, we have deemed that sufficient. The corner-stone of the Washington Monument was laid in New York, last month, with imposing public ceremonies. The Grand Lodge of New York was invited to be present, but declined, for the reason that a similar invitation had been given and accepted by the irregular Grand Lodge in that city. We have occupied so much space with the proceedings of the General Grand Bodies at Columbus, that several articles prepared for the present number, are necessarily deferred until next month. The same cause has also prevented the usual variety of mat ter. Delinquent agents and others will greatly oblige us by settling up their arrearages for the Magazine, without further unnecessary delay. We urge a compliance with this request as a matter of right and justice, and on the square. The idea of a General Grand Lodge originated with, and was first promulgated by, the Grand Lodge of Pennsylvania, on the 13th Jan., 1780; at which time that body, by a unanimous vote, nominated GEORGE WASHINGTON for Grand Master of Masons throughout the United States. RECOMMENDATION OF THE MAGAZINE.At the last annual communication of the Gr. Lodge of New Hampshire, on motion of Br. Daniel Balch, it was unanimously Resolved, That this Grand Lodge recommend to the members of the Lodges under its jurisdiction, the taking of Br. CHARLES W. MOORE'S FREEMASONS' MAGAZINE,' as a work well calculated to support the true principles of our Institution."" We acknowledge the receipt of a copy of the proceedings had at the organization of the Grand Encampment of Kentucky, on the 5th of October. The organization was authorized by the Gen. Grand Encampment, on the 17th Sept. This is commendably prompt. Br. Shennick, of Zanesville, Ohio, is informed that the circular, containing two dollars and the names of two new subscribers, sent by him on the 15th Aug., was duly received, and the back numbers of the Magazine forwarded. New AGENTS.-Ichabod G. Jordan, Great Falls, N. H.; Thomas L. Tullock, Portsmouth, N. H.; A. McCammon, Pittsburg, Penn.; A. Death, Cincinnati, Ohio; John J. Thompson, Wheeling, Va.: Robert Russell, Buffalo, N. Y.; John H. Caffey, Lowndesboro', Ala. A large number of letters, pamphlets, addresses, and other matters, have accumulated on our desk during our absence, all of which shall receive attention, as we can find time and room. At the last communication of the G. Lodge of New Hampshire, it was Resolved, That the expulsion of Timothy Paul, by St. John's Lodge, No. 1, be confirmed, and that the fact be published in Moore's Masonic Magazine. Br. A. J. Rushner, of Houston, Texas, G. Sec. G. Lodge, is our authorised agent for the Magazine and Trestle-Board, for the above State. Br. Wm. Q. Sewell, at Decatur, Ala., is informed that his subscription is paid to the close of the 7th vol. The inquiry of our correspondent at Bloomington, shall be attended to next month. POWERS OF LODGES UNDER DISPENSATION. SUSPENDING OF LODGES.-INITIATION OF MINORS. Clarkesville, Mo., Aug. 31, 1847. BR. MOORE:-You will oblige us of the West, by giving your views on the following questions: 1. If an individual is initiated, passed and raised, in a Lodge under Dispensation, and immediately removes into the jurisdiction of another Grand Lodge, without demitting from his Lodge, and said Lodge afterwards acts so as to gain the displeasure of the power creating it, and the members thereof are declared suspended-how does the individual stand towards the Fraternity? And, if he is one of the suspended, and desires to remain as one of the faithful, how should he proceed to reinstate himself? 2. If an individual is initiated under the French rite, (say in Canada,) at the age of eighteen, and leaves without any knowledge of the work, so that in a few years he nearly forgets how he was dealt with or what he saw-how should he proceed, if he desires to learn York Masonry? Yours, &c., J. F. L. JACOBY. 1. Dispensations are usually granted by the Grand Master, during the recess of the Grand Lodge, on the petition of not less than seven Master Masons; and are generally made returnable at the ensuing annual communication of the Grand Lodge. They authorize the petitioners to "form and open a Lodge, after the manner of ancient free and accepted Masons, and therein to admit and make Freemasons." This we conceive to be the full extent of the powers delegated to, or which can be legally exercised by, Lodges working under Dispensation. They are Lodges in abeyance, and not in reality. Their presiding officers are not entitled to the rank of Past Masters of Lodges, nor are they privileged with a vote as representatives in the Grand Lodge. Neither have such Lodges the right of electing their officers, or of changing them, except by permission of the creating power. They are in a state of probation, preparatory to being invested with the full powers and privileges of Lodges. They differ from Lodges working under Charters, not only to the extent already named, but in that they have no power to perpetuate themselves. They cannot add to the number of their members; neither can they fill vacancies, should their original number be diminished below the constitutional requirement, except by special permission from the competent authority. An essential difference between them and chartered Lodges is, that Charters are granted to the petitioners, and their successors; while Dispensations run to the petitioners only. In the latter case, the petitioners alone are known to the Grand Lodge, and they only are responsible for the acts of the body they represent. Their initiates are not returned to the Grand Lodge as members; for, not having been constituted, the Lodge possesses no power to admit members. The members of it are themselves a mere association working "after the manner" of a Lodge, and not in the full capacity of a Lodge. They are, therefore, required to return their initiates for just what they are, and nothing more, viz: initiates. members of a Lodge, in the It is a rule at common law, This view of the powers of Lodges under Dispensation being correct, it follows that the individual referred to by our correspondent, was not a member of the Lodge, notwithstanding that his name may have been recorded as such. It was not possible, therefore, for him to demit; that is, to withdraw his membership. Of course, he could not be affected by any action of the Grand Lodge in relation to the members, namely, the Brethren holding the Dispensation. In other words, the act suspending them, did not, in our view of the case, affect his standing as a Mason. But we object to the suspending of the manner stated, as an irregular proceeding. that no man is to be adjudged guilty until an opportunity has been afforded him to be heard in his own defence; and that rule is against all law, and repugnant to common sense and humanity, which condemns and punishes an innocent man for the misdemeanors of his fellows. And yet, in ninetynine cases in every hundred, this would be the inevitable effect of a vote suspending a Lodge, in the sense in which our correspondent employs the term. But to our understanding of the law and the practice, the phrase implies only the arrest of the Charter of the Lodge. It is at all times competent for the Grand Master to arrest the Charter of a Lodge, and thereby suspend its operations, until the complaint can be brought before the Grand Lodge for adjudication; and it is equally competent for him to suspend a part or the whole of the members of a Lodge. But in doing so, he must have some regard for the rules of justice. It might do for him to say to the Master, "Sir, by virtue of my authority as Grand Master, I suspend your Lodge, and summons you to appear before the Grand Lodge, at its next regular communication, to show cause why your Charter should not be revoked;" because the Master is the legal representative of the Lodge, and may be lawfully held to answer for the irregularity of its proceedings. But he is not the representative of the members in their individual capacity, nor can they be individually arrested or punished through him. It would not, therefore, be sufficient for the Grand Master to say to the Master of the Lodge, "Sir, I suspend your members, and summons them to appear before the Grand Lodge ;" because each member is alone responsible for his own acts, and cannot be held to answer for the misdeeds of another. If a member has committed an offence of sufficient magnitude to justify the proceeding, the only proper course is to serve him, personally, or to leave at his place of residence, a copy of the charges against him, with a summons to appear at the proper time and place, to make his answer; and, if need be, a notice of suspension, until his case has been adjudicated and determined. We know of no other way in which Brethren can be legally arraigned or suspended, except in extreme cases, when the Grand Master may suspend viva voce. 2. The second inquiry of our correspondent opens a wide field for discussion. We shall, however, restrict our answer to a few brief remarks. The initiation of minors is prohibited by the ancient Constitutions; and in our judgment, a disregard of this prohibition is hazardous to the interests. and security of the Order. Such a practice would vitiate and destroy the regularity of a York Lodge, and mark its initiates as irregular, if not positively clandestine. It is, however, a practice authorised by the Constitutions of the French, Scotch, and other modern rites; and Brethren made under those Constitutions, are not refused admission as visitors in York Lodges. But if this settles the question as to the recognition of Brethren made in those rites, it does not warrant the initiation of minors in York Lodges, nor would it justify any participation in their initiation by Masons. acknowledging the authority of the old Constitutions. From the preceding remarks and conclusions, it follows, that if we acknowledge and receive Brethren who have been made in the French rite and under the Scotch Constitution, the fact that the individual in question. was initiated at eighteen years of age, cannot be urged as a bar to his admission into our Lodges as a visitor. If, as our correspondent suggests, he has forgotten so much that he cannot prove himself to be a Mason, it is his misfortune. A Lodge would not be at liberty to receive him on any less testimony than it would require of another visitor from a foreign country. If he cannot furnish this testimony-if he cannot prove himself to be a Mason-he cannot be admitted or recognised. We have said that Brethren made in the French rite, are not refused admission into the York Lodges. This is true, so far as we are informed, except, perhaps, as to the Lodges in Philadelphia, which, we believe, require that visitors shall hail from Lodges working under the York Consti |