1932 Proceedings - Grand Lodge of Missouri

Page 178

166

Proceedings of the

1932

this subject at all. Any Freemason who undertakes to publish any sort of paper or magazine in the interest of the Masonic Fraternity should be actuated by lofty motives that will inspire him to conform strictly to both the letter and spirit of the Masonic Law in this State. In the Grand Master's address of last year is found a recital of the dealings which he had during his administration with the editors of the Missouri Freemason and the Kansas City Freemason, both of whom he found it necessary to take to task on account of gross improprieties found in various issues of their respective papers. We are pleased to report that since our Grand Lodge meeting of last year, we have learned of no repetition of any such improprieties in the Missouri Freemason; but we regret to say that the editor of the Kansas City Freemason has persistently and defiantly disregarded the warning which had been given to him by the Grand 'Master last year, as well as warning given to him by the Grand Master this year. The Kansas City Freemason has issued various numbers, which have been crowded with material which should never have been published in a Masonic journal. A large portion of the paper has been taken up with the publication of propaganda of certain religious cults and certain political parties, and comments on the respective merits of such political parties, as well as recommendations of certain candidates for political offices. Announcements of meetings at which candidates for political offices would speak on Socialism, and quotations from the doctrines of Socialism and Communism are to be found in many issues of that paper. To the profane, the title of this paper indicates that it is an organ of the Masonic Fraternity in Kansas City, and, doubtless, many new members of the Fraternity, who are not informed on the subject, accept what is said in that paper as doctrines promulgated by the Fraternity in Kansas City, and what is said in the Missouri Freemason as doctrines promulgated by the Grand Lodge itself. These publications are purely private enterprises, in no way authorized or controlled by the Masonic Fraternity or any of its branches. The publication of such articles as those above referred to is grossly misleading, and should not be tolerated. If there is one thing which the Masonic Fraternity should carefully avoid, it is mixing in political or religious controversies. Warnings seem to have no effect upon the Kansas City Freemason. Its course of conduct must be stopped. We have concluded that it is best to propose, and we now propose, amendments to the By-Laws of this Grand Lodge as follows: "Amend Section 204 by striking out in the fifth line of the body of said Section the words 'journals or periodicals' and out of the seventh and eighth lines of the body of said iSection the words 'journal or periodical', and by adding at the close of said Section the following paragraph as a part of said Section, to-wit:


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