Show MASONS FACE TWO ISSUES Scottish Rites of North i and South Differ On Policy By CHARLES FORREST Special Correspondent of The Tho Tb Standard Examiner Copyright 1923 NEW YORK Oct t A 6 A sharp difference r nc of opinion has h- ha arisen between Scottish Rite Pit Masons ot of the North and South over the th tT- tT tra traditional Mason rree pol Icy pol Icy of ot holding aloof aloot as a an Z ration from political issues lui Masons i of the th south theIr northern brothe broth- broth e era r think have hav been ben going In lit too much of ot late lat for or politics politic In emu emil emulation mu I lation of European masonry free The Th northern group croup already Ie i taking steps tep to counteract the th ten ten- tendency tendency dency or at least leut to make mak cle clear r that they thy ore are ar not participants participant or of orIn ofin orIn In sympathy with It although just how tar fAr the th southern group Is pro pre prepared pre prepared pared to go BO will not bo be clear until after aCter the th meeting of the th supreme council of the th southern jurisdiction jurisdiction tion Lion In Washington October 11 H to 20 The Th Issue luu appears appear to have hav arisen I IThe primo primarily over o the th Ster Ster ling hag bill providing for a federal deportment department of education but It Is not at all certain that the th Ku ICu Klux KlAn which Is I becoming a na- na national na national political Issue Is not also al 01 0 Involved OPPOSED BY BT CATHOLICS The Tho Th Scottish Rite Rif Mason of ot the southern jurisdiction for tor some months have hav been ben warmly espousing espousing ing the th Towner Sterling bill which is 15 bitterly opposed by Catholics Catholic on the tho ground that It alms aims sovere blows at the th 1 parochial schools system ys-tm ys tOrn tem While their support has been mainly Informal to date dato dat word re- re recently recently r was wa borne born to the th northern Jurisdiction th that t the th southern jur- jur jurIsdiction jurisdiction jur jurisdiction wax was expected at ot Its meet meet- Inc mt-Inc In lag In Washington to declare re for for- formally for formally mally for tr the th bill The Th supreme council of ot the tho northern jurisdiction which met mether here recently took prompt actIon on the report with a resolution de- de declaring de declaring claring daring itself unalterably opposed to any participation by Masonry as an organization In politieS politics STATEMENT STATE ISSUED The rhe Tl supreme council the th reso reso- reso resolution resolution lution re rends reads 1 affirms Its unswervIng InK lag Ing to the th fundamental purpose and ond principle of Free FreeM FreeMasonry FreeMasonry M Masonry It that pur- pur purpose purpose pos pur-pos pose to be b Improvement and strengthening of the of the individual man mOon and through the Individual of the th community It believes that this purpose I Is Isto 1 to be b attained by la laing a broad basis of principle upon men of every race rac country sect and opinion mav may unite unit rather than by setting up II a a restricted platform upon only which those tho of certain rac races creeds creed and opinions can as- as assem assemble as assemble sem ble Delle that good end nd nd wise men can be b trusted to act weiland well wll and It considers It the th duty ot of the fraternity to Impress upon its Ite members the th principles principle of personal and nd personal responsibility to enlighten them as a to those things thine wh ch make mak for hu- hu humn hu humin m min welfare and to Inspire them th with that feeling of charity or orwell wishIng well to toward ard all mankind which will v move th them m to translate tra le and conviction Into ae- ae ac tion WU T WIT tr l 1 M TE Tn To that end nd It teaches and stan stands s for the th worship of God for truth and justice justic liberty and en- en enlightenment enlightenment en fraternity and char char- charIty charIty charity ity In principle rather than In programs PrInciples Principle Ui united d meal men programs pro rami divide them Men may agree on In principles without agree agree- lag upon their application tion to some Bome ome specific problem Nothing can bo ho more mor Import Import- Important important Important ant than the th preservation of the thees essential and ond permanent sympathy and nd unity of puro purposes es of thoo thoe who are unable to agree as a to the tho th wis- wis wisest wis wisest est eat action under support and tern tem fm conditions It Is la of ot the tho e es- es essence seno es-seno sence of ot Free Masonry that this unity I Is preserved Believing this thi this supreme council affirms its continued ad- ad ad adherence to that ancient and lip lip- ap approved pro proc proved c rule rul of it if Free Fr Masonry In InA InAm A America merlon which s forbids the th discus discus- discussion discussion sion elon within doors doon of creeds politics or other topics topic apt to ex- ex cx-cito cx cito personal animosities I D TO UNITY U It It further affirms It Its conviction conviction tion that It Is not only contrary to the fundamental principles of o rree Masonry but exceedingly ly danger danger- dangerous ou ous to the th unity strength tr neth useful useful- usefulness useful lies ness heal and welfare of o time the th order for masonic bodies In their official capacity to take tak formal action or attempt to exercise pressure or In- In Influence In fluence for lor or or against t i legislative project or proposal or orIn orin orIn In any way woy to attempt to Influence magistrates and officials whether I or not members of o the tho th fraternity In the th performance of their dutIes Explaining the resolution Rob Rob- Robert Robert ert srI A grand erand general of ot the th supreme council In Inthe inthe the north said sald to the tho th writer riter We W Wo are ar constantly beIng urged to take tak sides aides aide on this thi Issue or that At our meeting n here her we w cd a request that a oad he be b per per- permitted permitted per permitted to send 1 an n orator to address us with smith Ith the h view of Inducing us u to take tak II a stand on the th question of government ownership own r Naturally w to 0 could not grant frant rant such euch uch a request r quest The Th Stel UnK ling hag bill Is Just another case cas In point Perhaps P Ku Iu become an Important political is Is- Is suo and VOl w mv certainly cannot take takeS taka S a stand eland tand on that Mr MI Shirr said ld he h had ad re- re received received r many letters l from Masons Mon MonIn In n the th south asking pOintedlY whether the th northern jurisdiction had taken an onti-kian onti stand These letters were w r Inspired by the tact fact that a minister who was wu II a aMason aMason Mason ason preaching before betor delegates d l nl to the th supreme council here her for forthe forth the tho annu annual 1 meeting Inveigled a against lawless groups croup In the th land IlInd He He H did not mention the th l klan lan specifically Mr Er said ald but It wae v instantly assumed a that he meant the th klan lIe II might have havo meant nt bootleggers but my south frn era correspondents did not think he be did Asked A k d whether thero then was wae wa any Rny of ot opinion between b northern and end southern outturn Masons Mason f sone SI SIo ato to o the th propriety of ot klan member member- membership ship Mr replied Thor Thero Is 1 nothing in Masonry to prevent membership In any ony other law abid ln ing organization Some Gom members of t the th Scottish h Rite RIt In n the tho th north See are much opposed to the th klan how however vor because the th Ku Iu I represent Masonry ae ac a tacit sup sup- supporters up porters portera of ot their 1 There here is Ie I nothing a Mason likes so ee little u as a a dc deception of this sort eort |