The Masonic Book Club, Vol. 8A: Trestle-Board

The National Masonic Congress which met in Baltimore, Maryland on May 8, 1843 and remained in session for nine days is an important event in the history of Freemasonry in the United States. The professed purpose of the meeting was to bring about a uniformity of the Masonic ritual in the United States and to recommend to the Grand Lodges matters that would be beneficial to the Craft. What happened at the Congress is of general interest for a number of reasons. Since the ritual is transmitted orally and in the early days of the development of the Craft there were no written A4onitors, differences in the ritual from place to place is to be expected. The fact that the Congress was held is an indication that some members are of the belief that uniformity in the ritual is desirable. If nothing tangible was accomplished at the meeting, the Congress, at least, created an awareness of the problem and that prob ably something ought to be done about the matter. Prior and subsequent such conferences seem to indicate that no uniformity will ever be accomplished, however. The second matter considered by the Congress was the attempt to form a permanent national organization of all the Grand Lodges in the United States with meetings to be held each three years. Nothing came of this phase of the discussion because of the inherent fear that such a group would lead to the formation of a General Grand Lodge of the United States. Suggestions along this line have always been met with strong opposition.