Masonry is universal in its character, and knows no distinction of nation or of religion.  Although each state or kingdom has its distinct Grand Lodge, this is simply for purposes of convenience in carrying out the principles of uniformity and subordination, which should prevail throughout the masonic system.  The jurisdiction of these bodies is entirely of a masonic character, and is exercised only over the members of the Order who have voluntarily contracted their allegiance.  It cannot affect the profane, who are, of course, beyond its pale.  It is true, that as soon as a candidate applies to a lodge for initiation, he begins to come within the scope of masonic law.  He has to submit to a prescribed formula of application and entrance, long before he becomes a member of the Order.  But as this formula is universal in its operation, affecting candidates who are to receive it and lodges which are to enforce it in all places, it must have been derived from some universal authority.  The manner, therefore, in which a candidate is to be admitted, and the preliminary qualifications which are requisite, are prescribed by the landmarks, the general usage, and the ancient constitutions of the Order.  And as they have directed the mode how, they might also have prescribed the place where, a man should be made a Mason.  But they have done no such thing.  We cannot, after the most diligent search, find any constitutional regulation of the craft, which refers to the initiation of non-residents.  The subject has been left untouched; and as the ancient and universally acknowledged authorities of Masonry have neglected to legislate on the subject, it is now too late for any modern and local authority, like that of a Grand Lodge, to do so.

A Grand Lodge may, it is true, forbid—­as Missouri, South Carolina, Georgia, and several other Grand Lodges have done—­the initiation of non-residents, within its own jurisdiction, because this is a local law enacted by a local authority; but it cannot travel beyond its own territory, and prescribe the same rule to another Grand Lodge, which may not, in fact, be willing to adopt it.

The conclusions, then, at which we arrive no this subject are these:  The ancient constitutions have prescribed no regulation on the subject of the initiation of non-residents; it is, therefore, optional with every Grand Lodge, whether it will or will not suffer such candidates to be made within its own jurisdiction; the making, where it is permitted, is legal, and the candidate so made becomes a regular Mason, and is entitled to the right of visitation.

What, then, is the remedy, where a person of bad character, and having, in the language of the Grand Lodge of Maryland, “a distrust of his acceptance” at home, goes abroad and receives the degrees of Masonry?  No one will deny that such a state of things is productive of great evil to the craft.  Fortunately, the remedy is simple and easily applied.  Let the lodge, into whose jurisdiction he has returned, exercise its power of discipline, and if his character and conduct deserve the punishment, let him be expelled from the Order.  If he is unworthy of remaining in the Order, he should be removed from it at once; but if he is worthy of continuing in it, there certainly can be no objection to his making use of his right to visit.