Excerpt from Proceedings of a Grand Annual Communication of the Grand Lodge of Virginia, 1864 When this terrible war was inaugurated against us by those who had theretofore professed to be our political friends and brethren, the most sanguine of us anticipated of the mass of our enemies only the usages of civilized nations when at war; from those whom we had recognized as brethren, bound together by the "Mystic tie," we had a right to expect the amenities which in time of war had always been practiced even by savage Masons. Our expectation has not been realized. So far as I am informed, with the rarest exceptions, the commonest dictates of humanity have been disregarded by Masons in the Federal army, navy and country, towards our unfortunate brethren who have been their prisoners of war. My opinion as to the course to be adopted by Virginia towards Grand Lodges and Masons of the United States is well known. I content myself now with inviting the careful consideration of the Grand Lodge to a re-examination of this subject, which will be brought to your attention in the report of your Grand Committee. A subject of most vital importance to the Craft is the loose manner in which Masons are made in the subordinate Lodges. To guard well "the portal" has been repeatedly enjoined by my distinguished predecessors, and required by the Grand Lodge. We cannot lose sight of the fact that our number is being alarmingly increased. Where so much work is done, I cannot forbear the expression of the fear that much is badly done. The Grand Lodge carefully revised the work committed it to the custody of its most enlightened members and the Grand Lecturer - yet we find, at a time when little or no instruction is asked or given, more work is being done in the Lodges which are actually at work than ever before in our history. I earnestly invoke the attention of the Grand Lodge to this matter, and in connection with it, to the permanent regulation upon the subject of "Emergency," which I suggest shall be re-modeled and so simplified as to bring it within the apprehension of all Masons in the jurisdiction. There is an apparent inconsistency between the report of the Committee as adopted and the resolution making the Grand Master sole judge of cases in which the dispensation shall be granted. My judgment is, the report of the Committee was wisely conceived, and its adoption a proper restriction upon the power of the Grand Master; but so numerous have been the applications from subordinate Lodges for the exercise of this power uniformly predicated upon a vote of being "a case of emergency" - that I take it for granted mine can scarcely be the accepted opinion of the Craft. About the Publisher Forgotten Books publishes hundreds of thousands of rare and classic books. Find more at www.forgottenbooks.com This book is a reproduction of an important historical work. Forgotten Books uses state-of-the-art technology to digitally reconstruct the work, preserving the original format whilst repairing imperfections present in the aged copy. In rare cases, an imperfection in the original, such as a blemish or missing page, may be replicated in our edition. We do, however, repair the vast majority of imperfections successfully; any imperfections that remain are intentionally left to preserve the state of such historical works.

Excerpt from Proceedings of a Grand Annual Communication of the Grand Lodge of Virginia, 1864 The M. W. Levi L Stevenson, P. G. M. Of Virginia, and F. B. Sexton, P. G. M. Of Texas, were introduced and saluted in Due Form. About the Publisher Forgotten Books publishes hundreds of thousands of rare and classic books. Find more at www.forgottenbooks.com This book is a reproduction of an important historical work. Forgotten Books uses state-of-the-art technology to digitally reconstruct the work, preserving the original format whilst repairing imperfections present in the aged copy. In rare cases, an imperfection in the original, such as a blemish or missing page, may be replicated in our edition. We do, however, repair the vast majority of imperfections successfully; any imperfections that remain are intentionally left to preserve the state of such historical works.

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Excerpt from Free Masonry and the War: Report of the Committee Under the Resolutions of 1862, Grand Lodge of Virginia Referring to the previous action of this Grand Lodge, and the previous reports of this Committee, and to the resolutions of this Grand Lodge, for all the history of our past action in relation to the Masonic bodies, and to the Masons of the United States, the Committee report: Since their last Report, the Committee have come into the possession of the Proceedings of the Grand Lodge of New York at its Grand Annual Communications in June, 1863, and in June, 1864; of the Grand Lodge of Maryland at its Annual Communication in November, 1863; and of the Grand Lodge of Wisconsin at its Grand Annual Communication in June, 1864. These Proceedings furnish proper Masonic evidence of the action of these Grand Lodges; and the extracts made by Committees of Correspondence from the proceedings of other Grand Lodges, furnish evidence of the spirit and action of the Grand Lodges from whose proceedings these extracts are made. From these sources of information, we are prepared to recommend action which we believe this Grand Lodge is bound, in justice to itself, and to the Masons under its care, to take at the present time. These proceedings and extracts show, that in many, if not all the Grand Lodges of the United States, we are stigmatized as traitors and rebels; and by the authority of Masonic bodies, Masons, as Masons, are urged to invade our country and destroy us; and reproaches and insults are heaped upon us. We therefore believe it is our duty to place on our records a vindication of our position, and the position of our country in the present conflict between the Confederate States and the United States. About the Publisher Forgotten Books publishes hundreds of thousands of rare and classic books. Find more at www.forgottenbooks.com This book is a reproduction of an important historical work. Forgotten Books uses state-of-the-art technology to digitally reconstruct the work, preserving the original format whilst repairing imperfections present in the aged copy. In rare cases, an imperfection in the original, such as a blemish or missing page, may be replicated in our edition. We do, however, repair the vast majority of imperfections successfully; any imperfections that remain are intentionally left to preserve the state of such historical works.

Excerpt from Free Masonry and the War: Report of the Committee Under the Resolutions of 1862, Grand Lodge of Virginia, in Reference to Our Relations as Masonic Bodies and as Masons, in the North and South, Growing Out of the Manner in Which the Present War Has Been Prosecuted Since their last Report, the Committee have come into the possession of the Proceedings of the Grand Lodge of New York at its Grand Annual Communications in June, 1863, and in June, 1864; of the Grand Lodge of Maryland at its Annual Communication in November, 1863; and of the Grand Lodge of Wisconsin at its Grand Annual Communication in June, 1864. About the Publisher Forgotten Books publishes hundreds of thousands of rare and classic books. Find more at www.forgottenbooks.com This book is a reproduction of an important historical work. Forgotten Books uses state-of-the-art technology to digitally reconstruct the work, preserving the original format whilst repairing imperfections present in the aged copy. In rare cases, an imperfection in the original, such as a blemish or missing page, may be replicated in our edition. We do, however, repair the vast majority of imperfections successfully; any imperfections that remain are intentionally left to preserve the state of such historical works.