Excerpt from Familiar Treatise on the Principles and Practice of Masonic Jurisprudence In presenting the following pages to the attention of the Fraternity, we are but repeating a thrice-told tale, and should, perhaps, apologize for attempting a topic which has already been so exhaustively treated by brethren learned in the law. Our title will, however, indicate our design, which is to bring the subject within the grasp of the Fraternity in general, and, by our method of treatment, to make it comprehensible to those who have heretofore deemed it too abstruse for the common intellect, and have therefore been satisfied to accept the decisions of any whom they might deem qualified to instruct them. The lamentable want of knowledge, in regard to the simplest principles of Masonic law, which prevails even among otherwise intelligent brethren, can only be fully known to those who, like the writer, have held official station in the Craft, and been called upon to answer the multitudinous questions that arise in the practice of lodges. A dozen different interrogatories are frequently propounded in relation to the same subject, all of which might be readily answered, were the questioners in possession of the fundamental principle on which it is based. To supply this principle, and to simplify its application, has been the object in view in our work; and to it we have brought the experience of a long and active participation in every branch of our institution, with an extended intercourse with Craftsmen from every portion of our own country and Europe. 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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The division of wrongs, by the writers on municipal law, into private and public, or civil injuries and crimes and misdemeanors, does not apply to the jurisprudence of Freemasonry. Here all wrongs are crimes, because they are a violation of the precepts of the institution; and an offense against an individual is punished, not so much because it is a breach of his private rights, as because it affects the well-being of the whole masonic community. In replying to the question, "what are masonic crimes?" by which is meant what crimes are punishable by the constituted authorities, our safest guide will be that fundamental law which is contained in the Old Charges. These give a concise, but succinct summary of the duties of a Mason, and, of course, whatever is a violation of any one of these duties will constitute a masonic crime, and the perpetrator will be amenable to masonic punishment. But before entering on the consideration of these penal offenses, it will be well that we should relieve the labor of the task, by inquiring what crimes or offenses are not supposed to come within the purview of masonic jurisprudence. Religion and politics are subjects which it is well known are stringently forbidden to be introduced into Masonry. And hence arises the doctrine, that Masonry will not take congnizance of religious or political offenses. Heresy, for instance, is not a masonic crime. Masons are obliged to use the words of the Old Charges, "to that religion in which all men agree, leaving their particular opinions to themselves;" and, therefore, as long as a Mason acknowledges his belief in the existence of one God, a lodge can take no action on his peculiar opinions, however heterodox they may be. In like manner, although all the most ancient and universally-received precepts of the institution inculcate obedience to the civil powers, and strictly forbid any mingling in plots or conspiracies against the peace and welfare of the nation, yet no offense against the state, which is simply political in its character, can be noticed by a lodge. On this important subject, the Old Charges are remarkably explicit. They say, putting perhaps the strongest case by way of exemplifying the principle, "that if a Brother should be a rebel against the State, he is not to be countenanced in his rebellion, however he may be pitied as an unhappy man; and, if convicted of no other crime, though the loyal Brotherhood must and ought to disown his rebellion, and give no umbrage or ground of political jealousy to the government for the time being, they cannot expel him from the lodge, and his relation to it remains indefeasible"