GRAND MASTER IN 1888

. •

NINETY-SIXTH ANNUAL ASSEMBLY AUGUST 29, 1 905.

AURORA GRATA CATHEDRAL - ... - BROOKLYN , N. Y . C.

MOST ILLUSTRIOUS IRVING L'HOM M EDIEU , GRAND MASTER.

Op¢ning Ex¢rcis¢s U11de1' Direction of J}fost Ill. FREDERICK KANTER, Past Grand Jl faster

I. 0"¢ftUr¢ Raymond TtrOMAS

2. Entrant¢ of Qrand mast¢r and Qrand Offlc¢rs N. Y. Grand Council Processional March , Organ and Orchestra J OHNSON

3. Salutation 4. Organ and Orcb¢Stra Sere?tade SCHUBERT

s. Op¢nlng of Qrand Council 6. Corn¢t Solo and Orcb¢Stra Embarrassment

7. Pray¢r Awr

G1{AND CHAPLAIN

s. Cborus Witb Orcb¢Stra A 1 R-America (Companions will rise and unite in singing)

My Country, 'tis of thee O ur fathers' God, to thee Swee< land of Liberty, Amhor of Liberty,

Of thee w e sing: To thee we sing. Land where my fathers died 1 Long may our land be bright Land of the Pilgrims' pride! With freedom's holy light From every mountain side Protect the h Cryptic R ite"

Let freedom ring. Great God our King.

9. Proclamation 1 o. Doxology

GRAND MARSHAL

11. ~on can

Re thou, 0 God, exalted high, And as thy glory fills the sky, So let it be on earth displayed, Till thou an here as there obeyed .

GRAND RE COR DER

Comp. JOHN M. KNAPP, Organist to the Grand Council.

Music BY CRAFTSMEN 'S ORCHESTRA

PROCEEDINGS OF THE

GRAND COUNCIL

OF

ROYAL AND SELECT MASTERS OF THE .

STATE OF NEW YORK

AUGUST 29, 1905

ALBANY

J, B. LYON COMPANY, PRINTERS

1905

A

NINETY-SIXTH ANNUAL ASSEMBLY

OF THE

Grand Council R. ·. & S. · .M. ·. OF THE ST ATE OF NEW YORK.

GRAND COUNCIL ROOM,

AURORA GRATA CATHEDRAL,

BROOKLYN, N. Y.

The Grand Council of Royal and Select Masters of the State

of New York, convened in Annual Assembly in the Aurora Grata

Cathedral, corner of Bedford avenue and Madison street, in the

city of Brooklyn, on Tuesday, August 29th, 1905, Anno Dep.

2905, at IO o'clock A. M.

4

PRESENT:

M ... Ill. .. IRVING L'HOMMEDIEU ..................... GRAND MASTER R. ·.Ill.·.CHARLES STEWART ................ GRAND DEPUTY MASTER R. .. Ill. .. FRED E. OGDEN.: ........................ GRAND P. C. OF W. R. .. Ill ... GEORGE A. NEWELL. ..................... GRAND TREASURER R. .. Ill. .. GEORGE v AN VLIET: ...................... GRAND RECORDER R. .. Ill ... WILLIAM H. ANDREWS ............ GRAND CAPT. OF THE G. R. .. Ill. .. FRANK M. ADEE .................... GRAND COND. OF THE c. R. .. Ill. .. CHARLES S. BUTLER ...................... GRAND LECTURER R. .. Ill. .. MORRIS S. MACKENZIE .................... GRAND MARSHAL R. ·.Ill. .. WILL L. LLOYD ..................... GRAND STANDARD BEARER R. ·.Ill. ·.HARWOOD DUDLEY ........................ GRAND STEWARD R. ·.Ill.· .and REV. WARREN C. HUBBARD ........... GRAND CHAPLAIN Ill. ·.S. H. ROBINSON .......... ·: ............. ACTING GRAND SENTINEL M. ·.Ill.· .A. OPPENHEIMER .............................. } R. ·.Ill. ·.J. HARRIS BALSTON... .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . TRUSTEES M. ·.Ill.· .JOHN P. DEAL ................................. .

Together with the Representatives of the following Councils:

COLUMBIAN ........... No. l

BROOKLYN . . . . . . . . . . . . " 4 ADELPHIC . . . . . . . . . . . . . " 7 CENTRAL CITY . . . . . . . " 13 BLOSS .................. " 14 BRUCE ................. " 15 SOUTHERN TIER . . . . . " r6 BUFF ALO . . . . . . . . . . . . . . " 17 DORIC .................. " 19 KEYSTONE . . . . . . . . . . . . " 20

DEWITT CLINTON.... " 22

PALMYRA . . . . . . . . . . . . . . " 26

KING SOLOMON ...... No. 31 JAMES TOWN . . . . . . . . . . " 32

OLEAN ................. " 33 HORNELLSVILLE . . . . . " 35 CRYPTIC . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . " 37 WASHINGTON......... " 52 CORNING . . . . . . . . . . . . . . " 5.3 PEEKSKILL . . . . . . . . . . . . " 55 PHCENIX ........... , . . . " 70 ALPH-OMEGA . . . . . . . . . " 71 JOHNSTOWN . . . . . . . . . . " 72

And permanent members as follows :

GEO. M. OSGOODBY, JOHN W. COBURN. R. C. CHRISTIANCE, ALEX. B. KING, GEORGE A. NEWELL, A. OPPENHEIMER.

PAST GRAND MASTERS.

FREDERICK KANTER; GEORGE McGOWN, JOHN P. DEAL, WILLARD S. BRADT, JOHN R. GARDNER.

;·

5

PAST THRICE ILLUSTRIOUS MASTERS.

HARRY ALTON RUS- CHARLES A. TONSOR. No. SELL ............ , ..... No. I WILLIAM DOWNES ... "

MARTIN Q. GOOD ..... " FRED. E. DAVIS ....... " GEORGE H. TOO PE .... " 2 GEO. E. W. STIVERS ... " CLARENCE A. SAN- J. HARRIS BALSTON .. "

FORD ................. " 2 GEORGE Z. BRETZ ..... " E. W. VAN VRANKEN. " 4 JAMES CHAMBERS ... " JOHN L. JUDGE ........ 4 ALFRED D. SLOUGH .. " WM. H. SUTTON ....... " 4 WILLARD S. GIBBONS. "

With Representatives from the following Grand Councils:

ALABAMA .......... Represented by Companion HUGH H. KENDALL ARKANSAS......... " " HIRAM A. MATfESON CANADA . . . . . .. . .. . GEo. McGowN CONNECTICUT . . . . WM. H. ANDREWS CALIFORNIA . . . . . . . THEO .. M. BARBER COLORADO......... CHARLES M. COLTON ENGLAND, WALES, &c. " GEo. M. OsGoonBY GEORGIA~.... . . . . . . JOHN w. COBURN ILLINOIS........... ,, EDM.UND c. NATION

INDIANA........... GEO. A. NEWELL INDIAN TERRITORY ALFRED B. PRICE IOWA .............. . KANSAS ........... . KENTUCKY ....... . LOUISIANA ....... . MAINE ............. , MARYLAND ....... . MASSACHUSETTS. MICHIGAN ........ . MISSISSIPPI ...... . MISSOURI ......... . MINNESOTA ... : .. .

"

"

WM. E. WOOLLARD JOHN BENNETT R. KENNETH BICKFORD

WILLIAM DOWNES JOHN J. MARTIN JOHN M. DIVEN MARK c. FINLEY JOHN L. BROTHERS ALEX. B. KING JOHN L. JUDGE

4 7 7 7 7 7 7 7

22

NORTH CAROLINA NEW BRUNSWICK. NEBRASKA ........ .

T. AUSTIN WILLIAMSON GEORGE H. TooPE

NEW HAMPSHIRE. NEW JERSEY ..... . OHIO .............. . OREGON .......... . PENNSYLVANIA .. . RHODE ISLAND .. . SCOTLAND ....... , . TENNESSEE ...... . VERMONT ......... . WISCONSIN ....... . WASHINGTON ... .

GEO. c. BISHOP w. P. KNAPP JAMES CHAMBERS A. OPPENHEIMER FRANK E. SMITH FREDERICK KANTER

HENRY CALHOUN R. C. CHRISTIANCE

J. HARRIS BALSTON

6

The Grand Council was opened in Ample Form as per program.

Letters of regret at their enforced absence from this Annual Assembly were received from M. · .Ill. ' .JORN N. MACOMB, Past Grand Master; R. ·.Ill.· .WILLIAM HOMAN, Representative Grand Council of Maine; R. ·.Ill.· .WILLIAM E. DUNCAN, Representa­tive Grand Council of Iowa.

A letter was received from M. ·.Ill.· .M. S. WooncocK, our representative near the Grand Council of Oregon, assuring us of the advancement made by the Cryptic Rite in that jurisdiction, and wishing us continued success.

As visitors M. · .E. · .Comp. · .HENRY D. HAMILTON, Grand High Priest of R. ·.A.· .M's.· .of the State of New York, was announced, received and welcomed to this Annual Assembly; M:.III.-.A. B. ANDREWS, JR., Grand Master Grand Council of North Carolina; and M. ·.Ill.· .GEORGE ScoTT, Past Grand Mas­ter of the Grand Council of New Jersey, also favored the Grand

· Council with their presence and were heartily welcomed by the Grand Master.

The Grand Master received and welcomed the Representatives of the several Grand Councils present, and tendered through them to the Grand Bodies they represent the fraternal greetings of the Grand Council of the State of New York.

On motion, all Companions, Select Masters in good standing, were invited to seats as visitors during this Annual Assembly of the Grand Council, except at such times as prohibited by the Constitution.

On motion, the reading of the minutes of the last Annual Assembly was dispensed with, the Representatives being fur­nished with printed copies thereof.

M. ·.Ill. · .IRVING L'HoMMEDIEU, Grand Master, then deliv­ered the following address : ·

)

7

GRAND MASTER'S ADDRESS. Illustrious Companions :-

Time in its duration has again arrived at that season of the year when it becomes the duty of the presiding officer of this Grand Council to. make written report of the events and transac­tions of the year that has elapsed. In making this report the spirit of brevity prompts me to be as concise as possible that the business of this annual assembly may be completed with profit and dispatch.

Primarily, organized freemasonry practiced the art of physical building; later it became a symbolic art, teaching the divine doc­trines of morality and the universal brotherhood of man. Dan­gerous tenets these for public profession in those ages of op­pression out of which the race has emerged, but the propaga­tion of those principles, by our craft and by certain religious sects, made civil and religious liberty possible, and made the set­tlement of this hemisphere certain, a colonization that has resulted in wonders stupendous. What if some centuries ago the actual freemasons did build some imposing edifices? Can their glory. be compared with the material .structure of the present civilization that is builded upon the everlasting foundation of the principles of symbolic masonry? Look about us! To-day we are met in a city of millions, the metropolis of a free nation - the greatest of earth, but for the adoption of the cardinal precepts of free­masonry this would not be; precepts which put into practice freeq the labor and the genius that has reared the labyrinth of aisles of masonry that marks the city of this assembly. We are in one of the greatest temples of masonry in the world, here to take advice together, and may the inspiration of the manifold achievelnents · of the past urge us to such practices as shal'I hasten the coming of the era when universal brotherhood shall be not only an ethical term but an accomplishment eternal.

Necrology. Since· we last convened in annual assembly Illustrious Com­

panion WILLIAM H. SIMS has died. For many years he has been in regular attendance upon the deliberations of the Grand Cciun-

8

cil, thus making him a personal friend and an acquaintance of us all. His loss is one that is keenly regretted. In Hornellsville, which was the scene of his masonic labors, he led a career of great benefit to the craft. He was a past presiding officer of his Lodge, Chapter, Council, and Commandery. He had served for several years as secretary of the Hornellsville Masonic Hall Asso­ciation. At the time of his death he was the Representative of

. the Grand Council of Kentucky near that of New York. His integrity and strength of character were of the highest masonic type, and in thus saying we pay his memory the highest tribute.

Our sympathy is extended to our sister jurisdictions for the losses they have sustained by death during the year. Official notices have been received as follows:

COLORADO.- CALVIN EDGAR REED, who served as Grand Master of that state during the year 1900-01, died at Denver on the 27th day of February, 1905.

CONNECTICUT.- Under date of March 6th, 1905, the Grand Master. of the Grand Couricil of. Connecticut announced with feelings of profound sorrow the death of Most Illustrious Com­panion EDWARD ERNEST WEST, who died at Meridan January 25th, 1905. Companion WEST served as Grand Master of the Grand Council of Connecticut during the year 1896.

INDIANA informs us of the death of Companion WILLIAM W. AusTIN, a Past Most Illustrious Grand Master of that jurisdic­tion, who died at Centerville April 25th, 1905.

low A.- Companion ALMON R. DEWEY, who had presided over the various masonic grand bodies of Iowa for a period of more than thirty years, died at Washington, Iowa, April 15th, 1905. He was one of the strong characters of the state, both in civil and fraternal life, and his loss is a severe one.

KANSAS.- Right Illustrious Companion JACOB D. RusH, Past Deputy Grand Master of the Grand Council of Kansas, died at San Diego October 26th, 1904.

KENTUCKY.- Companion WILLIAM RYAN, the Grand Treas­urer and Past Grand Master of the Grand Council, died in Louis­ville. November 13th, 1904.

... ,

9

MICHIGAN.- Past Grand Master BYRON C. HILL, who served as Grand Master m the. year I902, died in the city of Jackson April 15th, 1905.

MISSOURI.- Most Illustrious Companion THOMAS ELWOOD GARRETT, who served as Grand Master of the Cryptic Rite in that state in the year I867, died at St. Louis on the 29th day of June, I905.

NORTH CAROLINA mourns the loss of FERDINAND ULRICH, Deputy Illustrious Grand Master of their Grand Council, who died at Baltimore August 8th, I904.

NEBRASKA.- Past Grand Master ROBERT WILKINSON FURNAS, who served as Grand Master in 1877 until the Grand Council of that state surrendered control of the Cryptic Rite to the Grand Chapter in 1879, died in the city of Lincoln June 1st, 1905.

OREGON suffered the loss of their Grand Master, SEYMOUR CHIPMAN, who died at Corvallis December 15th, 1905.

·"Men drop so fast, 'ere life's mid-stage we tread, Few know so many friends alive as dead."

Visitations. In obedience to the provisions of the Constitution, I made the

following appointments for official visitations to the several subordinate Councils, as appears by the following circular:

GRAND COUNCIL ROYAL AND SELECT MASTERS

OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK.

MEDINA, N. Y., November rst, 1904. Circular No. r.

To the Officers of the Grand Council and to the Councils of Royal and Select Masters of the State of New York:

Companions :- In accordance with custom the Grand Officers are hereby designated to visit the Subordinate Councils as hereinbelow set forth:·

R. .. I. '.CHARLES STEWART, D. G. M., 1266 Fulton Street, Brooklyn, N. Y.

Bloss, No. 14 ....................................................... Troy De Witt Clinton, No. 22 ......................................... Albany Olean, No. 33 .................................................... Olean

IO

R:" .I. .. FRED E. OGDEN, G. P. c. OF W.,

Buffalo, N. Y. Southern Tier, No. 16 ............................................ Elmira Jam es town, No. 32 ........................................... Jamestown Washington, No. 52 ........................................... Whitehall

R. .. I. .. WILLIAM H. ANDREWS, G. c. OF G.,

6o Broadway, New York. Brooklyn, No. 4 ............................................... Brooklyn King Solomon, No. 31 ............................ : ........ Poughkeepsie Phcenix, No. 70 .......................................... Mount Vernon

R. .. I. .. FRANK M. ADEE, G. c. OF C.,

Saratoga Springs, N. Y. Bruce, No. 15 ................................................. Lockport Doric, No. I9 ................................................. Rochester Palmyra, No. 26 ......................................... : ...... Palmyra

R. .. I. .. CHARLES S. BUTLER, GRAND LECTURER,

680 Main Street, Buffalo, N. Y. Dunkirk, No. 25 ................................................ Dunkirk Hornellsville, No. 35 ....................................... Hornellsville

R. .. I. .. MORRIS s. MACKENZIE, GRAND MARSHAL,

550 Fulton Street, Troy, N. Y. Cryptic, No. 37 ........................................ Saratoga Springs Peekskill, No. 55 ............................................... Peekskill Johnstown, No. 72 ............................................ Johnstown

R. .. I. .. WILL L. LLOYD, GRAND STANDARD BEARER,

Albany, N. Y. Adelphic, No. 7 ...................................... '. ....... New York Buffalo, No. 17 .................................................. Buffalo Alph-Omega, No. 7I ............................................. Medina

R. .. I. .. HARWOOD DUDLEY, GRAND STEWARD,

Johnstown, N. Y. Central City, No. 13 ............................................ Syracuse Keystone, No. 20 ................................................ Buffalo Corning, No. 53 ................................................ Corning

R. .. I. .. AND REV. w ARREN S. HUBBARD, GRAND CHAPLAIN,

144 Halsey Street, Brooklyn, N. Y. Columbian, No. 1 ............................................ New York Union, No. 2 •....•....•..••..•........•••..•.•...•..•......•• New.York

·.)

II

Believing that great good is accomplished by the visitation of Subordi­nate Councils by Grand Officers, I urge all Thrice Illustrious Masters to correspond at once with the Official Visitor assigned to their Council, that no cause may be given for failure of a visitation.

I also expect that the Grand Officers will take such measures as will eventuate in· the visitation of every Council assigned to them, and that written reports of such visitation and of the condition of the Subordinate Councils be furnished to me on or before the first day of August next.

Fraternally yours,

Attest: IRVING L'HOMMEDIEU,

GEO. VAN VLIET, Grand Master. Grand Recorder.

(SEAL)

Right Illustrious CHARLES STEWART, Grand Deputy Master, owing to an accident in which he suffered an injury, was pre­vented from making his visitations, which is a matter of regret to the Councils to which he was assigned; but even though Com­panion STEW ART had not been able to keep these appointments, his record of official visits in the past would exonerate him from any charge of dereliction of duty.

Right Illustrious FRED E. OGDEN, Grand Principal Condudor of the work, made most of the :visitations assigned. to him, and moreover made many unofficial visits to other Councils which added life and interest to their proceedings.

Right Illustrious Companion WILLIAM H. ANDREWS, Grand Captaill of the Guard, reports that on April 8th, 1905, he visited Brooklyn Council, No. 4, and was greeted by a large and enthusi­astic attendance of members and visiting companions.

He found this Council enjoying a season of great prosperity, and that its officers were most admirably conducting its affairs.

On May 4th, 1905, he visited King Solomon Council, No. 31, at the city of Poughkeepsie, where the degrees were conferred on a class of candidates.. His comment was' that " the work was done. in a very finished and scholarly style. This Council has cause for congratulation in its presiding officer, Thrice Illustrious JOHN P. WILSON."

12

On June 21st, 1905, he visited Phcenix Council, No. 70, at the city of Mount Vernon, where he was greeted by a large attend­ance of the Companions of that Council and by delegations from Brooklyn Council, No. 4, and Adelphic Council, No. 7.

Companion ANDREWS reports that as the Grand Representative of the Grand Council of Connecticut near the Grand Council of New York he visited the former Grand Council at its eighty­seventh annual assembly held in the city of New Haven May rnth, 1905, where a most cordial reception was accorded him and he was privileged to witness their proceedings and to see the degrees exemplified before the Grand Council by the officers of Harmony Council, No. 8, of New Haven.

Right Illustrious FRANK M. ADEE, Grand Conductor of Coun­cil, visited Doric Council, No. 19, at Rochester May 22d, 1905, where he was tendered a reception at the Masonic Club and afterward was received by the Council, where he witnessed the conferring of the Royal and Select Masters degrees. The work was exceptionally fine and the Council in a flourishing condition.

May 24th he visited Bruce Council, No. 15, at Lockport, where he was greeted by a large attendance of the Companions and by the visiting Companions from Keystone Council, No. 20, of Buf­falo, indicating that the officers of that Council were taking an especial interest in its welfare.

Right Illustrious CHARLES S. BUTLER, Grand Lecturer, visited Dunkirk Council, No. 25, and installed the officers of that Council. He was accompanied by Most Illustrious Companion OPPEN­HEIMER, Right Illustrious Companion OGDEN, and by a delegation of Companions from Buffalo and Keystone Councils. He reports the Council in a healthy and fairly prosperous condition.

On the 14th of April, 1905, accompanied by four Companions from Buffalo and Keystone Councils, he made his official visit to Hornellsville Council, No. 35, where he spent the entire day instructing the officers in the ritual of the degrees, and in the evening, assisted by the visiting Companions from Buffalo, con-

. £erred the degrees upon a class of twelve.

'

13

Right Illustrious MORRIS S. MACKENZIE, Grand Marshal, re­ports that on March 8th, 1905, he visited Peekskill Council, No. 55, where he was joined by Most Illustrious Companion FREDERICK KANTER and was accorded' a most hospitable reception, there. being a large and flattering attendance. He found this ·Council in a flourishing condition and speaks highly of the fervency and zeal of the Companions.

On March uth, 1905, he visited Cryptic Council; No. 37, of Saratoga. The degrees of Royal and Select Masters were con­ferred in a faultless manner. Cryptic ·Council he found one of the strongest Councils of this State and its prospects bright for continued prosperity.

Right Illustrious WILL L. LLOYD, Grand' Standard Bearer, made all of the visitations assigned to him, namely: Adelphic, No. 7; Buffalo, No. 17; Alph-Omega, No. 71.

On the occasion of his visit to Adelphic Council he was ~ccom­panied by Past Grand Master JOHN J. MARTIN. Among the

. Companions present were Most Illustrious Companions VAN VLIET, COBURN, and KANTER.

On June 17th he visited Buffalo Council, being accompanied by Thrice Iilustrious EuGENE CRAWFORD and Illustrious Com­panion E. E. HINMAN, Deputy Master of De Witt Clinton Coun­cil. Among those present were Most Illustrious Companion ·OPPENHEIMER, Right Illustrious F. E. OGDEN, and Right Illus­trious C. S. BUTLER. He reports· all of the Councils visited in a flourishing and thriving condition, zealous in the cause of the ·Cryptic Rite.

Right Illustrious HARWOOD DUDLEY, Grand Steward, visited Keystone Cotincil, No. 20, May 16th, 1905, at which time the degrees of Royal and Select Masters were conferred in a finished and complete manner, the Council doing good work as usual, bestowing great credit upon the officers.

Right Illustrious and Reverend WARREN C. HUBBARD, Grand Chaplain, visited Columbian Council, No. 1, April ist, 1905, at which time he was greeted by a number of Grand Council officers

14

and by the Companions of the Council. The Council is in a healthy and prosperous condition, which speaks for the success of the rite of our jurisdiction.

GRAND REPRESENTATIVES.

The most cordial fraternal relations still continue to exist between this and the other Grand Councils, and in accordance with precedent during the past year the following representatives have been appointed and accredited:

APPOINTED.

December 22d, 1904, at the request of the G~and Master of Maine, I issued ~ commission of appointment to Illustrious CHARLES I. RIGGS as Grand Representative of this Grand Council

near that of Maine.

December 31st, 1904, at the request of the Grand Master of Kentucky, I appointed Illustrious Companion JOHN T. KINCAID, of Lexington, Kentucky, as the Representative of the Grand Council of New York near that of Kentucky.

ACCREDITED.

November 16th, 1904, I received and approved the commission. of Right Illustrious Companion WILLIAM H. ANDREWS, of New York city, as Grand Representative of the Grand Council of Con­

necticut.

July 15th, I90S, I received and approved the comm1ss10n of Iilustrious Companion JOHN L. JUDGE as representative of the Grand Council of North Carolina, this appointment being occa­sioned by the resignation of Illustrious Companion E. W. VAN VRANKEN.

August 29th, 1905, I received and approved the Commission of Right Illustrious Companion JonN BENNETT as Representative of the Grand Council of Kentucky.

15

KNIGHTS TEMPLAR CHARITY BALL.

This Grand Council was represented at the Charity Ball given by the several Commanderies of the city of New York and adjoin­ing towns on the evening of January 9th, 1905, in accordance with the pledge of Most Illustrious Grand Master JOHN R. GARDNER during his term of office. As it was inipossible for me to be present on that occasion, Most Illustrious Companion FREDERICK KANTER very kindly attended to the details of our representation at that event. There were present the Grand Marshal, the Grand Standard Bearer, and ten of the Companions of eminence in the Cryptic Rite.

The Representatives of this Grand Council were received on that occasion with the honors due their distinction, and I am informed that the purpose for which this charity ball was given succeeded in all that was anticipated.

RECEPTION.

Most Illustrious Companion FREDERICK KANTER again demon­strated his personal friendship and his loyal activity by taking charge of the Grand Council representation at the reception given by Constantine Commandery, No. 48, Knights Templar, on the evening of February 14th, 1905, at whi'ch time the Grand Council officers were received through the line and accorded a most flat­tering reception.

WAIVER OF JURISDICTION.

Under date of December 12th, 1904; Adelphic Council asked me to request through the Most Illustrious SAMUEL G. RUDDER, Grand Master of New Jersey, a waiver of Jurisdiction over Royal Arch Companions GEORGE C. WILLIAMS, of Newark, New Jersey, and RICHARD HANKIN, of Passaic, New Jersey.

I communicated to that effect, and under date of January roth, 1905, was informed that Kane Council of Newark, New Jersey, had very courteously waived jurisdiction in both instances.

On March 24th, 1905, ·I conveyed to Most Illustrious GEORGE W. MORROW, Grand Master of New Jersey, the request

16

of Brooklyn Council, No. 4, for waiver of jurisdiction over Com­panion SAMUELL. OWENS, of Newark, New Jersey.

Under date of May 27th, 1905, I was informed that Kane Council had again extended its courtesies by waiving jurisdiction in this instance.

On May 26th, 1905, I transmitted to the Grand Master of New Jersey a waiver of jurisdiction over Companion GEORGE E. HAR­NEY, of Suffern, New York, which was granted by Peekskill Council, No. 55, in favor of Terry Council, No. 6, of Paterson, New Jersey.

This exchange of courtesies is an indication of the friendly relations that exist between the sister jurisdictions of New Jersey and New York.

GRAND TREASURER'S BOND.

The bond of the Grand Treasurer of this Grand Council in the amount of $2,000 was approved by me, and I certified to the adjustment of the Treasurer's account for the previous year. The bond is in the custody of the trustees.

DECISIONS.

December 8th, 1904, T.hrice Illustrious Enw ARD H. LISK, Mas­ter of Bloss Council, No. 14, propounded the following question : " Is it necessary to put the seal of the Council on the summons in order that the summons may be lawful and mandatory; or, 'in other words, is it a lawful summons without the seal of the Council?"

In my reply I was largely controlled by the practice of the Grand Chapter, inasmuch as our Constitution is silent upon the question, and I decided that a summons signed by the Thrice Illustrious Master, no matter whether the seal was attached or not, was lawful.

.>e)

17

UNION COUNCIL.

April 5th, 1905, I issued authority to Most IJlustrious Com­panion KANTER to convene Union Council in assembly and to take any action necessary to revive the Council.

This action was adopted at the request of Illustrious Com­panion GEORGE H. TooPE, a Past Master of Union Council. In accordance with the authority granted, a meeting of Union Coun­cil, No. 2, was held Tuesday evening, June 13th, 1905, at which time many of the Companions were present, officers were elected and installed, and renewed interest enthused in the work of the Council.

DISPENSATIONS.

During the year I have issued dispensations at the request of various Councils as follows :

October 8th, .1904.-To Buffalo Council, No. 17, to hold a special assembly on the evening of October 21st, 1904, to receive petitions, elect candidates, and to confer degrees.

November 26th, 1904.-To Brooklyn Council, No. 4, to hold a special assembly November 29th, 1904, for the purpose of elect­ing candidates and conferring degrees.

November 30th, 1904.-To Dewitt Clinton Council, No. 22, to hold a special assembly in the city of Hudson, New York, Decem­ber 8th, 1904, for the purpose of conferring degrees on candidates elected who reside in the vicinity of Hudson.

December 1st, 1904.-To Doric Council, No. 19, to hold its annual assembly on the evening of December 30th, 1904.

December 6th, 1904.-To Bruce Council, No. 15, to hold its annual assembly on the evening. of December 23d, 1904.

December 10th, 1904.-To Alph-Omega Council, No. 71, to hold a special assembly on the evening of December 12th, 1904, to receive petitions, ballot upon candidates, and to confer degrees on any candidates elected at said assembly.

February 24th, 1905.-To Central City Council, No .. 13, to hold a special assembly March 1st, 1905, with power to receive

18

and ballot upon petitions, to confer degrees, and transact any regular business.

April 14th, 1905.-To Bloss Council, No. 14, to hold its stated assembly on May 5th at the Masonic Temple at Schenec-· tady, New York.

May 23d, 1905.-To Bruce Council, No. 15, to hold a special assembly May 24th with power to receive petitions, ballot on the same and confer degrees, also to transact any regular business.

August 25th, 1905.-To Doric Council, No. 19, to receive petitions, ballot on candidates, and confer degrees at a special assembly to be held August 25th, 1905.

CONCLUSION.

In conclusion I must express my regret because of inability to have officially visited some of the Councils of this jurisdiction during my term of office; but, as you are well aware, my time

·has been commanded by other obligations. At this opportunity I desire to manifest my appreciation of the dignity conferred in entrusting to me the honor of this Grand Council as its chief officer, a distinction of which I am indeed proud.

To the associate Grand Officers are due your appreciation and my thankfulness for the interest and the zeal with which they

·have assumed and discharged the functions of their several positions.

Another year has been rounded out and passed into the shadows cf memory's realm, so the years will go and we, one ,by one, cease to meet here; but the work in which we are engaged will not die; others will take up the burden and bear it better than we. See that we carry the burden of responsible manhood bet­ter than our predecessors, and to that end permit me to announce that the work of the Ninety-sixth Annual Assembly of the Grand Council of Royal and Select Masters of the State of New York is in your keeping.

On motion, the address was referred to Companions HER­

BERT M. LovELL, JOHN C. BAUMER, and WARREN F. BASCOMB

~·

.I

for subdivision and reference of its several parts to appropriate committees.

The Grand Treasurer presented the following as his Annual Report, which was, on motion, received and referred to the Com-mittee on Finance and Accounts : ·

To THE GRAND. CouNcrL oF R. ·.AND S. · .M. ·. OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK.

Your Grand Treasurer presents the following as his annual report:

RECEIPTS.

August 30th, 1904, balance on hand ........................... . August 30th, 1904, from George Van Vliet, Grand Recorder .... . September 17th, 1904, from George Van Vliet, Grand Recorder .. September 20th, 1904, from George Van Vliet, Grand Recorder .. February 20th, 1905, from George Van Vliet, Grand Recorder .. . May 18th, 1905, from George Van Vliet, Grand Recorder ...... . August 26th, 1905, from George Van Vliet, Grand Recorder .... .

DISBURSEMENTS.

August 30th, 1904. Warrant N~. 818-Fred. Kanter .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $r6 oo

819-Fred. Kanter .. : .................. . 820-Frank H. Deal . : ................. . 821-Est. John F. Baldwin ............. . 822-Geo. A. Newell ................... . 82j-Geo. Van Vliet ................... . 824-Geo. Van Vliet ................... . 825-Jam es W. Scoggs ................. . 826-Masonic Standard ................ . 827-E. E. Curtis ...................... . 828-Grand Officers and Representatives. 829-John W. Coburn .................. . 830-Frank M. Adee ................... . 831-John M. Gardner ................. . 832-Trustees H. and A. Fund ..... .' ... .

September 21st, 1904. W an:ant No. 833-James Ryan & Son ............... .

October 27th, 1904. Trustees for deposit .............. .

s 2S 48 2S 23 7S

3 so 400 00

43 82 IO 00 so 00 60 40

588 92 7S 00

71 20 00

s 00

7 00

300 00

$286 54 2,054 00

31 so . I 00

87 50 6 00 3 so

20

November I Ith, 1904. Warrant No. 834-General Grand Council. ........... .

" " 835-Fred. E. Davis ................... . November 28th, 1904.

Warrant No. 836--C. G. Braxmar Co ................ . December 28th, 1gd4.

Warrant No. 837-Edward H. Lisk .................. . February 10th, 1905.

Warrant No. 838--Fred. Kanter .................... . February 20th, 1905.

Warrant No. 83g--Prudential Insurance Co .......... . May 5th, 1905.

Warrant No. 840-S. D. Affleck ..................... . July 13th, 1905.

Warrant No .. 841-Fred. Kanter .................... .

12 50 14 50

7 00

9 50

19 75

2 60 1,935 26

August 29th, 1905, balance on hand. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $534 78

I also report that I have in my possession Pass Book No. 83186 of the East River Savings Bank showing a deposit therein to the credit of the Grand Council Royal and Select Masters of the State of New York of $1,2ss.ss.

Fraternally submitted, GEORGE A. NEWELL,

Grand Treasurer. The Grand Recorder presented the following as his Annual

Report, which was, on motion, received and referred to the Com­mittee on Finance and Accounts : To THE GRAND CouNCIL ·oF R. ·.AND S. · .M. ·.

OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK. The receipts of the Grand Council for the current year have been as

follows: For dues, as acknowledged in printed proceedings of 1904 ...... $z,o86 So From Central City Council, No. 13, for balance of dues to Au-

gust 1st, 1904 ......... ·. · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · 87 so From Companions Chas. D. Ross, Lyman S. Linson, and Chas. E.

Hart for dues to Alph-Omega Council, No. 71, to the time the warrant was forfeited .................................... .

From attaching seals to certificates during the year ........... . 6 00 3 50

Total ......... : ............................ : . . . . . . . . . . $z,183 so

Amount in savings bank as per last report. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $409 09 Interest thereon to July I st, 19os ............ · .......... · · · · · . . 14 43

----Making the amount in bank July 1st, 19os. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $423 S2

..

21

Companions received and greeted during the year .. 389 " affiliated during the year. . . . . . . . . . . . . 7

restored during the year ...... : . . . . . . . 12

suspended during the year. . . . . . . . . . . . 75 dimitted during the year. . . . . . . . . . . . . 22 died during the year. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 56

153

Net increase .......... ·................... . . . . . . . . . . . . 255 Number in good standing as per last report ............ 4,86o

Making a registered membership of . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5,u5 Companions

Fraternally submitted,

GEO. VAN VLIET, Grand Recorder.

The Trustees of the Permanent Fund presented the following as their Annual Report :

To THE GRAND CouNCIL OF R. ·.AND S. · .M. ·. OF THE ·STATE OF NEW YORK.

Your Trustees submit the following report:

Balance on hand August 30th, 1904, as per last report. ........ . ·November 1st, 1904, received from Grand Treasurer ........... . Ji1ly 1st", 1905, interest on deposit .............. : ............... .

Which sum is on deposit in the East River Savings Bank.

Fraternally submitted,

JOHN P. DEAL, ~ J. HARRIS BALSTON, A. OPPENHEIMER, . ,

$912 71 300 00

42 84

$1,255 55

Trustees.

The Grand Master appointed the following committees:

CREDENTIALS AND RETURNS.

GEO. VAN VLIET, MARK D. WELSHER, HARRY B. LYON.

WARRANTS AND DISPENSATIONS.

JOHN H. CLARK, EUGENE CRAWFORD, WALTER E. GRIGGS.

22

CONSTITUTION AND LAWS.

MARK C. FINLEY, JOHN D. GOODWIN, WILLARD S. BRADT.

GRIEVANCES AND APPEALS.

EDWIN BUCHMAN, WM. S. RISELAY, WILLIS H. LEGGETT.

UNFINISHED BUSINESS.

RICHARD J. SECOR, PHILIP M. NAST, JR., REv. S. DWIGHT BUTLER.

NEXT PLACE OF MEETING,

H. W. GREENLAND, A. OPPENHEIMER, JOHN P. DEAL.

Ossian Lang on Finance Committee in place of Companion C. Victor Twiss.

By request, the Grand Master appointed

Companion CHARLES C. HUNT, Official Reporter.

The Special Committee on the Grand Master's Address pre­sented the following report, which was, on motion, received and their recommendations adopted :

To THE GRAND CouNCIL OF R. ·.AND S. · .M. ·. OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK.

The Special Committee to which was referred for subdivision, refer­ence, recommendation, and report, the address of the M. ·.Ill.· .Grand Mas­ter, respectfully submits the following recommendations:

Ist. That so much of said address as relates to the appointment of Grand Representatives to, and the accrediting of Grand Representatives from, Sister Grand Jurisdictions be approved.

2d. That so much of the same as relates to Waivers of Jurisdiction and the granting of Dispensations be approved.

3d. That so much thereof as relates to official visitations be approved, and that special approval be recorded of the Methodical System arranged and in vogue for these visitations.

4th. That the decisions of the Grand Master announced therein be re­ferred to the Committee on Constitution and Laws.

5th. That the report therein concerning the Grand Treasurer's bond be referred to· the Finance Committee.

('

·'

23

6th. That so much thereof as relates to the decease of Companions of the Cryptic Rite be referred to the Committee on Fraternal Dead.

7th. That all portions of said address not herein specifically mentioned be commended to the careful reading of the Companions of the Rite for the eloquent thoughts, for the pleasing expression, and for the exalted spirit of fraternity which inspires and pervades the whole.

Fraternally submitted,

HERBERT M. LOVELL,} JOHN C. BAUMER, WARREN F. BASCOM,

Committee.

The Committee on Credentials and Returns presented the fol­lowing report, which was, on motion, received and adopted :

To THE GRAND CouNcrL OF R. ·.AND S. · .M. ·.

OF THE STATE OF NEW, YORK.

Your Committee on Credentials and Returns reports that, in addition to the Grand Officers and Permanent Members of this Grand Council, the following Councils have made returns, paid dues, and their Representatives as designated below are entitled to seats in this Grand Council:

Columbian ................. No. 1 j John J. Dowers ............. Dep. M. ( Jam es Stewart .......... P. C. of W.

{

John D. Goodwin ........... T. I. M. 4 Wm. Bamber ............... Dep. M.

Tolleff Paulsen .......... P. C. of W. Brooklyn

Adelphic ............... : . . " 7 )\ CRhichard JL. Secor ........... TD. I. MM. . as. T. unt. . . . . . . . . . . . . . ep. .

Central City ............... " 13 Herbert W. Greenland ...... T. I. M. Bloss ........... "': .......... " 14 Edwin Buchman .......... . Bruce ..................... " 15 Mark D. Welsher ......... . Southern Tier . . . . . . . . . . . . . " 16 Herbert M. Lovell. ........ . Buffalo .................... " 17 John H. Clark ............ . Doi:ic . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . " 19 John C. Baumer ........... . Keystone .................. " 20 Wm. S. Riselay ........... .

\ Eugene Crawford . . . . . . . . . . " De Witt Clinton ..... · ...... " 22 f Charles L. Myers ....... P. C. of W.

, Wm. Boyd ....... Proxy for Dep. M.· Dunkirk ................... " 25 Harry B. Lyon ............. T. I. M. Palmyra ......... · . . . . . . . . . . " 26 Mark C. Finley. . . . . . . . . . . . . '' King Solomon ............. " 31 Rev. S. Wright Butler ... P. C. of W.

Jam es town .......... : . . . . . . " 32 Olean ..................... " 33 Hornellsville . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . " 35 Cryptic . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . " 37 Washington .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . " 52 Corning . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . " 53

Peekskill . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . " 55 1

I Phcenix .................... " 70 Alph-Omega .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . " 71

Johnstown . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . " 72 ~ {

Walter E. Griggs ........... T. I. M. E. H. Austin . ......... ·. . . . . " Philip M. Nast, Jr. . . . . . . . . . " Willis H. Leggett ............ Proxy Warren F. Bascomb ........ T. I. M. Charles E. Greenfield ......... Proxy George E. Briggs ........... T. I. M. W. P. Wessels .......... P. C. of W. Ossian Lang .............. T. I. M. · Geo. A. Newell............ " Harwood Dudley ......... . Geo. R. Collamer ........... Dep. M.

Fraternally submitted,

GEO. VAN VLIET, \ MARK D. WELSHER, Committee. HARRY B. LYON,

On motion, the Election of Officers for the ensuing year was made the special order for this afternoon's session at 2 :30 o'clock.

On motion, it was decided that when the Grand Council is called from labor to refreshment, it shall be until 2 o'clock, and that on reassembling, the session be continued until the business of the Grand Council is completed.

Companion JOHN W. ConuRN, from the Committee on Foreign .Correspondence, presented the report of said committee, which was, on motion, received and ordered printed with the Pro­ceedings.

The Grand Council was then called from labor to refreshment until 2 o'clock this afternoon.

')

TUESDAY, AUGUST 29TH, i905 - 2 o'clock P. M.

The Grand Council resumed its session.

Officers and Representatives ·as at the morning's session.

The minutes of this morning's session were read and approved.

The time as fixed by special order for the Election of Officers for the ensuing year having arrived, the Grand Master appointed as tellers Companions WILLIAM S. RISELAY and GEORGE E. W. STIVERS, when the Grand Council proceeded with the election with the following result:

Comp. IRVING L'HoMMEDIEU was re-elected Grand Master, but declined.

Comp. CHARLES STEWART, of Brooklyn ..... Elected Grand Master.

" FRED E. OGDEN, of Buffalo ......... " " _Deputy Master.

" WM. H. ANDREWS, of New York .... " " P. C. of W.

" GEO. A. NEWELL, of Medina ........ " " Treasurer.

" GEO. VAN VLIET, of New York ..... " " Recorder.

" FRANK M. ADEE, of Saratoga Springs " " Capt. of the G.

" MoRRIS S. MACKENZIE, of Troy .... " " Cond. of the C. " WILL L. LLOYD, of Albany ......... " " Marshal.

" HARWOOD DUDLEY, of Johnstown ... " " Standard Bearer.

" MARTIN Q. Goon, of New York .... " " Steward.

" DR. CHARLES S. BUTLER, of Buffalo. " " Lecturer.

" JOHN P. DE.AL, of Troy ............ " Trustee for 3 yrs.

The Grand Master elect appointed :

REv. WARREN C. HUBBARD ............................... Grand Chaplain T. ·.I.· .CHARLES TESON ................................... Grand Sentinel

And the following Standing Committees for the ensuing year:

FINANCE AND ACCOUNTS.

JOHN W. COBURN, JOHN D. GOODWIN, JOHN D. CA WEIN.

FOREIGN CORRESPONDENCE.

JOHN W. COBURN, MARK C. FINLEY, JOHN C. BAUMER.

FRATERNAL DEAD.

REV. WARREN C. HUBBARD, JOHN J. MARTIN, R. C. CHRISTIANCE.

26

LIBRARY.

GEO. VAN VLIET, JAMES CHAMBERS, MARK D. WELSHER, WM. H. ANDREWS, JOHN P. WILSON.

PRINTING.

GEO. VAN VLIET, EUGENE CRAWFORD, GEO. E. BRIGGS.

On motion, the Trustees were instructed to procure at the ex­pense of the Grand Council a bond for two thousand ($2,000) dollars on the Grand Treasurer of this Grand Council.

The Committee on "Next Place of Meeting" presented the following report, which was, on motion, received and their recom­mendation adopted:

To THE GRAND CouNCIL oF R. ·.AND S. · .M. ·. OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK.

Your committee respectfully reports and recommends, that the next An­nual Assembly of the Grand Council be held at the city of Troy on the last Tuesday in August (August 28th), 1906, at IO o'clock A.. M.

Fraternally submitted,

HERBERT W. GREENLAND, ) A. OPPENHEIMER, t Committee .

. JOHN P. DEAL, )

Companion H. w. GREENLAND offered the following amend­ments to the Constitution :

To amend.Section 21 of Article II., by substituting" June" for "Decem­ber," where the latter appears in the third line thereof, thereby making the fiscal year end in June instead of as at present in December; and if adopted by the Grand Co{mcil, the officers serving at the time to continue

·as such until the following June. Also, amend Section 31 of Article II, by substituting the followin·g:

"Each Council within this jurisdiction shall make an Annual Return to the Grand Council for the term ending June 30th in each and every year, on blanks provided for that purpose, and cause the same, together with the dues of the Council, to be transmitted to the Grand Recorder on or before July 15th of each year."

These amendments were, on motion, received and referred to the Committee on Constitution and Laws for report.

')

The Committee on Fraternal Dead presented the following re­port, which was, on motion, ·received and its recommendations adopted:

REPORT ON DECEASED MEMBERS.

To THE GRAND CouNCIL OF R. ·.AND· S. · .M. ·. OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK.

As one moves among the scenes of Nature in the glorious summer­time, viewing its beauties with eyes that never tire, drinking in its de­lights to the fulness of satisfaction, and reiterating again and again the heartfelt tributes of human appreciation of the fact that man made the city but God made the country, there seems to be no room for complaint, no cause for diss.atisfaction, no interruption possible, to hinder or to re­verse. Nature sings her wondrous song .to God, and humanity listens and learns, and then sings louder and more exultantly, but not so unsel­fishly, to that same Giver of every good and perfect gift. We take all that she displays before us in this sunlit season, with much appreciation, perhaps, but not so much real thankfulness, and live on through days of thoughtlessness, if not of riot. Plans are laid, visions are dreamed, with no thought of any interruption that would dare to present itself, when, lo! a morning summons clouds, the chill winds sweep the earth with rain ; plans are upset, visions blurred, interruptions have dared to present them·· selves, and we forget what we have enjoyed, fill the air with childish complaints and arrogant impudence, like the monuments of selfishness we are, and rail at N.ature for presuming to satisfy h<;!r own needs after bestowing her gifts and graces to gratify our desires. Thirsty, after days of uninterrupted sunshine, dusty, after the tread of many feet, careful of the flower children and the food of man which lie upon the nourishing bosom of Mother Earth, she summons the clouds, her sombre and heavily­laden attendants, and bids them slake her thirst, wash away her dust, revive the flagging life of that which sprang into being by the very travail of the patient soil, and through her tears smiles up into the face of her God. But humanity growls on and ceases not, until the sun shines again in the majesty of his golden glory. Humanity sees the change upon Na tu re's features; how green the grass, how grand the trees, how grate­ful the grain· and the flowers; but says no word of appreciation, utters no word of thanks. Yet great has been the gain which the clouds and the rain have brought, more glowing is Nature as she steps fo.rth from her bath; more striking is the beauty which lifts itself up upon the mount of its ·transfiguration, more stirring are the wondrous harmonies which rise upon the zephyr breeze, more closely does the earth nestle in the clasp of her loving and watchful Creator. Nature's life is more beau­tiful because the clouds and rain have visited the earth and blessed it., The ·summer days are the many days of human lives. The Father gives

them freely, beautifies them without stint, weighs infirmities against duties, and even selfishness against gratitude, until He sees forgetfulness to become dangerously near to stupor and complaints leavened with rebel-· lion's antagonism, and then sends the clouds of trouble, that the eyes of His creatures may be lifted toward Him, and the thoughts forced to recognize His authority and His power. They descend and surround," they force humanity to come from without and to enter within; and the errand they do a~d the message they bring wring tears, human rain­drops, from the eyes, and pours them upon hardened consciences and parched souls. Those clouds are dense and chill; they are black and heavy; they chant a solemn dirge as they toll the knell of death; they hear the cry of· anguish, mingled with the questionings of pain; they make no answer, and lift only after many days. But the sun will shine again upon as many as will to see it. Blessings forgotten, but still re­maining, brighten with a new radiance; reason calms the .turbulence of rebellion into the quiet of faith; and humanity goes to God with the outstretched hand of companionship, though the sob of separation is not yet quite stilled, nor the wound within the heart yet quite healed. But the smile of God is upon the soul, and the chords of the song of coming happi­ness are faintly heard as they are touched by the fingers of the angels.

There are gaps within our ranks which show where the clouds have been, and each gap means a rent in some home, a scar upon some hearts. Each Council knows its own loss, its own grief. The Grand Council in her official line has been left untouched; but she bends towards her sub­ordinate bodies like a mother towards her daughters, and speaks her word of solace tl\at shall testify to her sympathy and her "care of all the Councils."

Prominent upon a list of losses is inscribed that of Cryptic Council, No. 37, which mourns the taking hence, on February 20th, of Thrice Illus­trious Companion CHARLES H. STURGES, our Grand Representative of the Grand Council of Indian Territory. A most winning personality was his. Outside and above his Masonic usefulness shone the loveliness of a char­acter which won the deep affectio~ of those who were associated with him. There are nobler altitudes of attainment than learning or fame; stronger ties than power and pre-eminence. The ability to arouse a 1.ove that is lasting and a veneration that conquers self is the crowning victory of any life, no matter whether it moves among the high or the low, the rich or the poor. Our Thrice Illustrious Companion was the center of many men's devotion. His form towered above his Companions as they looked upon him in admiration; his face was the beautiful mirror of a man who breathed out purity, because he breathed in God. His Council mourns his loss, and mourns it deeply; his memory is full of the lustre of clean words and deeds ; his example beckons us all to follow closely

. after; his reward is with the Most High; his dwelling place is among the green pastures of the Good Shepherd.

' "

Next to receive our condolence is Bloss Council, No. 14, where, on May 26th, Thrice Illustrious JESSE B. ANTHONY went quickly into the royal presence of the King. He was well known in the Masonic world as Past Grand Master of the Grand Lodge of our State. Other Masonic bodies were proud of him, and so are we. There were sad days in his life, but not to embitter him; they rath'er the more deeply moved the well-springs of sympathy for others, as is evidenced by his attachment and devotion to the inmates of the Home at Utica. The idea of a cold charity that meant only an answer to poverty's cry was lost in the wel­coming atmosphere of a real home. It was like the greeting after a long and tedious journey; like the shelter of warmth from the cold pelting of a pitiless rain; like the hymn of peace after the tug and din of war; and in the midst of the greeting, the shelter, and the hymn, he stood, with kindly face and clinging hand-grasp - he -,-- JESSE B. ANTHONY. He had laid in his quiet bed of the long sleep, one of his Masonic family. He then turned his face toward those who yet lived, but on his way to the Home gave his seat of comfort to tottering old age whom his carriage . overtook, and in a few moments his own body fell to the bosom of Mother Earth; but his soul was kissed by the Father above into the welcome of that Home where there is no poverty nor age, no sighing or tears. God keep his memory green in the heart of every Mason of our State and in the keeping of our own Cryptic Rite.

May 19th, King Solomon Council, No. 31, mourned the loss of its Treasurer, Companion JOHN SCHWARTZ, who for many years had served it faithfully and gladly. Honest service is rarer than one thinks, and when united with a sacrifice of time and personal convenience shines with a divine light. The God whom we reverence serves His creatures day and night with neither fee nor reward. Those who follow after, in the performance of like duties, are His sons and daughters, indeed. They are revealing in their deeds the image in which they were created. And they who carry God to their brethren by the testimony of a willing ser­vice are themselves carried, by the gratitude of their brethren, .to the commendation of that God. God is the one great God; yet God will not forget.

There are others gone from among us, each with his own individual merits, each the cause of unfeigned grief in the hearts of his Companions in Council:

November 2d, 1904.- Companion WM. H. SMITH, of Keystone Council, No. 20.

November 30th, 1904.- Companion FRED. A. COLSON, of Buffalo Council, No. 17.

January 6th, 1905.- Right Illustrious WM. H. SIMS, of Hornellsville Council, No. 35, Representative of the Grand Council of Kentucky'.

January 7th, 1905.- Companion JOHN W. COLLINS, of Southern Tier Council, No. 16.

January 27th, i905.- Honest to the core, though staggered by heartless suspicion- Companion WAYLAND TRASK, of Brooklyn Council, No. 4.

February 11th, i905.- That rugged but staunch Companion, the Rev. CORNELIUS L. TwING, of the same Council. ·

February i6th, i905.- Companion WM. S. THOMPSON, of Adelphic Coun­cil, No. 7.

April 23d, i905.- Companion CLARENCE L. WooDARD, of Central City Council, No. i3.

April 24th, i905.- The brother of winning manner and beautiful face -Companion EDWARD A. STAHLBRODT, of Doric Council, No. i9.

And so we say, Good-bye! but not for long. The clouds will descend through another year, the rains will fall, the sun will have seemed to hide his face; gaps in Councils, rifts in homes, and rents in hearts will introduce the minor chords of sorrow into the midst of Life's sunshine. Some who listen to these words now will have their names on next year's record. Councils will wear the badge of mourning for their

. "month of days," yet life will not, cannot, be marred. The mounds in many churchyards will cover those who sleep for a little; yet the grass above wili still be green, the flowers will still wave their incense of per­fume, the birds will still sing the anthem of the morning, the trees will still nod their welcome to the day, and out of grief shall rise the un­changed love for those who. rest, the willing forgetfulness of their little faults, .the 1.U1wavering trust in the .God who knoweth best, and the sun will shine. Look gladly towards it ! for it is the symbol of the glory and the gladness of those for whom we, one day, wept, "Heaviness may endure for a night, but joy cometh in the morning."

The Committee requests the usual di?position of this report.

WM. E. WOOLLARD, l C "tt W. C. HUBBARD, f ommi ee.

The Committee on Warrants and Dispensations presented the following report, which was, on motion, received :

To THE GRAND C::ouNCIL OF R. ·.AND S. · .M. ·.

OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK.

Your Committee on Warrants and Dispensations respectfully reports that no Charters have been granted, and that there are no outstanding Dispensa­tions at the present time in this jurisdiction.

Fraternally submitted,

JOHN H. CLARK, ~ WALTER E. GRIGGS, . Committee. EUGENE CRAWFORD,

31

The Committee on Unfinished Business presented the following . report, which was, on motion, received:

To THE GRAND CouNCIL OF R. ·.AND S. · .M.

OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK.

The report of your Committee on Unfinished Business must necessarily be brief, as we are unable to find any business unfinished or incomplete.

Fraternally submitted,

R. ]. SECOR, } P. M. NAST, ]R. . Committee. S. WRIGHT BUTLER.

The Library Committee reported that they would soon have the copy for the reprint of our early proceedings ready for the printer.

The Committee on Constitution and Laws presented the follow­ing report, which was, on motion, received and their conclusions approved·:

To THE GRAND CouNCIL oF R. ·.AND S. · .M. ·.

OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK.

Your Committee on Constitution and Laws respectfully reports that the decision of the Grand Master on the following question, " Is it necessary to put the seal of the Council on a summons in order that it may, be law­ful and mandatory," wherein he says, "That a summons signed by the Thrice Illustrious Master, no matter whether the seal was attached or not, was lawful," is fully approved by your Committee.

We also report favorably on the proposed amendments to Sections 21

and 31 of Article II, thereby changing the fiscal year, and as the Consti­tution provides for their disposition, we suggest that they take the regular course and lay over for action until our next Assembly.

Fraternally submitted,

M. C. FINLEY, ~ : ; ' I W. S. BRADT, Committee. JOHN D. GOODWIN, •

32

The Committee on Grievances and Appeals presented the fol­lowing report, which was, on motion, received:

·To THE GRAND COUNCIL OF R. .. AND S ..• M ...

OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK.

Your Committee on Grievances and Appeals are pleased to report that r.o grievance has been brought to its notice, and that no appeal is pending, showing conclusively that harmony prevails in our jurisdiction.

Fraternally submitted,

EDWIN BUCHMAN, ! WILLIAM S. RISELAY, Committee. WILLIS H. LEGGETT,

The Committee on Finance and Accounts presented the follow­ing report, which was, on motion, received and their recommenda­tions adopted :

To THE GRAND CouNcrL oF R. ·.AND S. • .M. ·.

OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK.

Your Committee on Finance and Accounts reports that they have audited the accounts of the Grand Treasurer and Grand Recorder, finding them correct.

We recommend the payment of the following amounts:

Pay of Representatives at this Assembly ...................... . Salary of Grand Recorder for the. closing year ................ . Expenses of Grand Recorder's office, for printing notices, post-

age, etc ................................................... . Grand Sentinel, for services at this Assembly ................. . Masonic Standard, for Grand Council card for coming year ... . Entertainment of Representatives ............................ . Irving L'Hommedieu, Grand Master's expenses .............. . Apron for Grand Master elect ........................... ! .... . Grand Treasurer, for postage, etc., during the year ........... . John F. Baldwin Est., for printing notices of this Assembly .... . Fred'k Kanter, for music at this Assembly .................... . John W. Coburn, Chairman Committee on Foreign Correspond-

ence .................... ·· ... ·.················:········.··· Trustees H. and A. Fund, rent. of safe for one year ............ . Frank H. Deal, for legal services to Trustees ................. . Reyairs to Grand Marshal's baton ............................ .

$637 IO

400 00

3S 97 IO 00

so 00

76 so 20 00

rs 00

IO 00

4 2s 20 00

7S 00

s 00

60 00

2 so

33

We also recommend that the Committee on Printing be authorized to print 400 copies of the proceedings of this Assembly, and that the Grand Recorder draw a warrant for their cost.

That the Grand Recorder draw a warrant for the payment of the an­nual dues to the General Grand Council of R. and S. M. of the United States.

That about two hundred and fifty dollars be left in the Contingent Fund, and that the balance be deposited with the Trustees of the Permanent Fund.

That the Grand Council extend cordial thanks to Brooklyn Council, No. 4, R. and S. M., for the courtesies extended to the Grand Officers and Representatives.

That the Grand Council express its appreciation to M. ·.Ill.· .FREDERICK KANTER for the care and circumspection with which he organized the open­ing ceremonies and provided for the entertainment of this Grand Body.

We have carefully gone over the reports of the Trustees and find the sum therein named as on hand to be on deposit in the East River Savings Bank, as shown by the examination of the pass-book.

Fraternally submitted,

OSSIAN LANG, \ E. W. VAN VRANKEN, Committee. JOHN W. COBURN,

The officers elect and appointed (with the exception of the Grand Sentinel) for the ensuing year were duly installed by M:.Ill.·.lRvING L'HoMMEDIEu, as Installing Officer, assisted by M. ·.Ill.· .FREDERICK KANTER, as Grand Marsh.al.

For his efforts in spreading light and knowledge of the Cryptic Rite among the Companions of this jurisdiction, thereby increas­ing the interest therein, the thanks of the Grand Council were unanimously tei;idered our retiring Grand Master, IRVING L'HoM­MEDIEU.

No further business offering, these minutes were read and approved, and the Grand Council cl0sed in Ample Form.

c:;jr~ Grand Recorder.

34

RECEIPTS.

From Columbian Council, No. I ...... for dues to August 1st, 19os, $34 so 168 00 266 00 190 00 404 00 . 32 so

Brooklyn Council, No. 4 ...... . Adelphic Council, No. 7 ....... . Central City Council, No. 13 .. . Bloss Council, No. 14 ......... . Bruce Council, No. 15 ........ . Southern Tier Council, No. 16. Buffalo Council, No. 17 ....... . Doric Council, No. 19 ........ . Keystone ·Council, No. 20 ..... . DeWitt Clinton Council, No. 22,

Dunkirk Council, No. 2s . ..••••

Palmyra Council, No. 26 ...... . King Solomon Council, No. 31. Jamestown Council, No. 32 ... . Olean Council, No. 33 ........ . Hornellsville Council, No. 35 .. . Cryptic Council, No. 37 ....... . Washington Council, No. s2 .. .

Corning Council, No. S3 ...... . Peekskill Council, No. SS· .... . Phcehix Council, No. 70 ...... . Alph-Omega Council, No. 71 .. . Johnstown Council, No. 72 .... .

53 so 93 50

183 so

77 so 319 00

34 00 33 so 64 00

3S 00 IS 00

3S so 130 00 21 so 31 00

29 so 43 so 23 so 43 00

$2,361 00

,,

·•

')t) !' •)

OFFICERS, LOCATION AND DATE OF MEETINGS OF SUBORDINATE COUNCILS.

NAME 0 MASTER DEPUTY MASTER WHERE LOCATED

P. C. OF W. RECORDER DATE OF MEETINGS z CITY OR TOWN COUNTY -COLUMBIAN ......... 1 John D. Cawein John J. Dowers James Stewart Martin% Good New York New York rst Thursday, 2 p·m UNION .............. • J. Stewart Wilson James M. Auten Wm. H. Smith Charles . Light New York New York 2d Saturday BROOKLYN ...... ; ... 4/John D. Goodwin William Bamber Tollef Paulsen: Walter H. Young Brcokp;n Kings 2d Saturday AoELPHIC ........... 7 Richard J. Secor Charles T. Lunt Elias Whit'Wc John W. Coburn New ork New York ISt Saturday CENTRAL C1TY ...... q 1H. w_. Greenland Geo. B. Cat.hers Alonzo W;,. orth Frank Collins Syracuse Onondaga 1st Wednesday BLoss .••••.••••••.• 14,Edwtn Buchman M. F. Hemrngway A. W. H. ;:,pear Frank A. Andros Troy Rensselaer 1st Friday BRUCE .............. 1.• Mark D. Welsher Howe G. Corson W. C. Shapleigh Henry C. Hulshoff Lockport Niagara 4th Monday SOUTHERN T1ER. : • . 16 Herbert M. Lovell Alden Derby Henry Mander Chas. W. Ufford Rlmira Chemung 3d Monday V. BuFFALO ............ 17 John H. Clark Edgar C Neal Henry Post Wm. J. Donaldson Buffalo Erie 2d Thursday CJl

DoRIC., ..• , ..••••.. 19IJohn C. Baumer George E. Hatch Thomas G. Young John Alexander Rochester Monroe 2d and 4 th Mondays KEYSTONE'. ......... 20 William S. Riselay John D. Shanahan Fred A. Busch Geo. J.Volger Buffalo Erie 3d Tuesday DEWITT CLtmoN .. 22IEugenc Crawford Eugene E. Hinman Charles L. Myers J.E. Allanson Albany Albany 3d Thursday DUNKIRK ........... 25 Harry B. Lyon John A. Taylor Albert E. Nugent John Y. Bartlett Dunkirk Chautauqua 1st Wednesday PALMYRA, .......... 26

1Mark C. Finley Seiner E. Braman Samuel M. Sawyer George McGown Palmyra Wayne 2d Monday

K1NG So1.0MON ..... 31 John P. Wilson Albert E. Schwartz Rev. S. W. Butler Warren S. Herman Poughkeepsie Dutchess Monthly, call of M JAMESTOWN .•.. ;, ... 32 Walter E. Griggs Charles L. Horton Charles D. Wilson John B. Shaw Jamestown Chautauqua 2d Wednesday OLEAN ............. 33,E. H. Austin Joseph A. Smith W. L. Myrick A. A. Swarts Olean Cattaraugus 2d Wednesday HORNELLSVILLE ...... 35 Philip M. Nast, Jr. Joseph Erlich Geo. W. Brown Dow L. Sharp Hornellsville Steuben 2d Friday CvPTIC ............. 37 John Bennett F. A. Cook Chas. F. Flammer A. L. Churchill ~aratoga Spr's. Saratoga 2d & 4th Thursdays WASHINGON ...•.•... 521Warren F.Bascomb Ernest T. Horton DeWitt c. Smith Nathan E. Foote Whitehall Washington 2d Fridav CoRNING ....... ". .... 53 Warren J. Cheney Hugh H. Kendall Joseph C. Moore Geo. Hitchcock Corning Steuben 1st & 3d Thur>days PEKKSKILL .......... ss George E. Briggs Edgar L. Bullock Wilber F. Wessels Edward F. Hill Peekskill /Westchester 2d Monday PHCENJX ............ 70 Ossian Lang Jarvis W. Mason J. Porter Freeman Edgar T. Stewart Mt.Ver.&Yonk. Westchester 2d Monday ALPH-0MEGA ....... 71 George A. Newell A. Gardner Phillips Burt W. Frary Geo. H. Shattuck Medina Orleans 2d Wednesday JOHNSTOWN • ._ ....... 72,Harwood Dudley Geo. R. Collamer John G. Fcrres J, J. Buchanan Johnstown Fulton 2d· Wednesday

·····-·· --· .·-· -- ...... , ~·- -.

.,.;

ADDRESSES OF GRAND RECORDERS AND REPRESENTATIVES

GRAND RECORDERS ADDRESSES I REPRESENTATIVES TO I ADDRESSES I GRAND COUNCILS I REPRESENTATIVES FROM I ADDRESSES GRAND COUNCIL OF N. Y. " GRAND COUNCIL OF N, Y.

General Grand Council and Its Constituents of the United States Henry W. Mordhurst ..•.. I Fort Wayne, Indiana .................... , . , . . . Gen. Grand Council

Hugh H. Kendall........ Corning Alabama ii,;;;.· ii~~i>.st0,;ci·:::::::::: Thomas Abraham Davies. Ernest Le N. Foster ...... . James W. Boyd ..•.•..... W. A. Wollhln ........... . Alfred Wingate ....•..•.. Calvin W. Prather ....... . Rev. Joseph 8. Murrow .. . Wm. M. Shaver ..... , , .. . Richard Lambert ..•••.•.. Stephen Berry .....•...... Gustav A. Ertel . ........ . J. Gilman Waltll .......•.. Thos. Montgomery ....... . Robt. F. Stevenson ....... . Francis E. White ......... . Frank D. Woodbury ..... . G~o. Van Vliet ... : ...... . James C. Munda .••.• ; ... . Wm. E. Evans ..•..•....... Seth L. Pope ......•.•..... Zimmerman Davis ...... . W. A. Clendening ..••..... Henry H. Ross ........... . Edward R. Hare ........•.

James McCormick ....... . GiL W. Barnard ......•.••. H.B. Grant .............. . Charles A. Conover ...... . Frederic SpPed ... , ....... . John B. Bertholf ......•••. Frank A. Martenis ....... . William R. Greene.·, .... , W.W. Perry ...........•..

Little Rock San Francisco Denver Miami Macon Des Moines Indianapolis Atoka Topeka New Orleans Portland Baltimore Boston St. Paul Kansas City Omaha Concord 16 Eighth Ave., N. Y. City Wilmington Ch Ill co the Portland Charleston Nashville Burlington Tacoma

Hartford Masonic Temple, Chicago Loulsvllle Coldwater Vicksburg Jersey City South Bethlehem Providence Milwaukee

H A. Matteson . . . . . . . . . Dunkirk Arkansas Theo. M. Barber .. , . . . . . Syracuse Caltfornia Chas. 111. Colton. . . . . . . . . Rochester Colorado .......................... New York Florida John W. Coburn ..•..... New York Georgia Wm. E. Duncan ........ New York Iowa Geo. A. Newell......... Medina Indiana Alfred B. Price.......... New York Indian Territory Wm. E. Woollard ...•.. Albany Kansas R. Kenneth Bickford.... Buffalo Louisiana Wm. Homan ............ NAw York Maine William Downes ........ New York Maryland John J. Martin......... Albany Massachusetts Alex. B. King • . . . . . • • . . Troy Minnesota John L. Brothers . . .. . Buffalo Missouri Geo. H. Toope .• ......... New York Nebraska Geo. C. Bishop.......... Albany New Hampshire .......................... New York John L. Judge.......... Brooklyn North Carolina James Chambero.... .. . . New York Ohio A. Oppenheimer ...... , . Buffalo Oregon Geo. L. Kingston........ Buffalo South Carolina Henry Calhoun . . . . . . . . . Troy Tennessee Ralph C. Chrlstlance... Ithaca Vermont J Harris Halston .... , ... New York Washington

Independent Grand Councils Wm. H. Andrews....... New York Edward C. Nation •••••. Peekskill John Bennett . . . . . . . . . . Saratoga Sps. John M. DlvPn .. , . , . . . . . Elmira Mark c. Finley.......... Palmyra A. P. Knapp... . . • • . . . • . . Saratoga Sps. Frank E Smith..... • . . Lockport Frederick Kanter ....... New York Wm. Morgan Lee ... ... Poughkeepsie

Foreign Grand Councils

Connf'cticut Illinois Kentucky Mlcblgan Mississippi New Jersey Pennsylvania Rhode Island Wiscon~fn

.......................... J. H. Kennedy ......... . Charles Lord Field. .... . Jos. W. Mllson .•........ James A. Chamn .. .... . Wm. A. Wolihln .....•.. Wm. F. Cleveland ...••. Lucienne A. Foote ..... . ·························· Wm. M. Shaver ........ . Richard Lambert ...••.. Charles I. Riggs .....••.. James W. Bowers ..... . Wm. B. Lawrence ...... . Geo. W. Cooley ......••• Noah 111. GlvPn ......... . Francis E. White ....... . Henry P. Glidden ...••••

ii:s: ·iii:~;iiii; ::: ::: ::: :: : \Vm. M. Cunningham .. . Milton S. Woodstock .. . H.F. Miiier

Sulphur Rock San Franc lscu Canon City Milton Macon Harlan Crawfordsville

Topeka New Orleans Portland Baltimore Medford Minneapolis St. Louis Omaha Dover <.N

°' Wilmington Newark Corvallis Charleston

ii: ii~~i.:iiis:: :::: :: :: : : : : I Brattleboro Wm. H. Upton .......... Walla Walla

James S. Gould ..•...... John O'Neill .....•...... John T. Kincaid ........ . EmPrson M. Newell ... . Nolan Stewart ........ . John B. Bertholf ....... . Geo. C. Johnstone ....•. A. H. Cushman .... , .. . W. W. Dagett ........ .

Bridgeport Chicago Lexington Holly Jackson Jersey City Allegheny City Providence Oshkosh

Sidney J. Sanford ......... ! Barre, Ontario I George McGown .•..••.. I Palmyra I Canada I Daniel Spry .........•... , Toronto, Ont. Charles F. Matier.......... { MQ~ee~'li~~~i'o!1d~~. w~~~ George M. Osgoodby .... New York England.Wales, &o, Nathaniel G. Phillps .... London Robert Marshall.......... St. John, New Brunswick T. A. Williamson . . . . • . • Albany New Brunswick J. V. Ellis............... St. John

j 5 Marchmont Terr ace, Wiii' B kl. Scotland David B. Clark ......•... Roberts. Brown.......... Edinburgh iamSberer......... roo sn-

~·.

Permanent , Members

Past Masters of

37

of the Grand Council,

Subordinate Councils.

COLUMBIAN <;:ouNCIL, No. I.

William S. Patterson. Jam es H. Curtin. Geo. ·M. Osgoodby, by Peter Forrester. Harry Alton Russell. affiliation. Garvey Don~ldson. Martin Q. Good.

John S. King. Geo. H. Toope. L. K. Goldsmith.

Edward Cooper. Albert E. Leach. Geo. Nicholson. Samuel Bennett.

George Van Vliet. Horace. Metcalf. John W. Coburn. Wm. H. Andrews. Wm. Downes. Reno R. Billington. E. M. L. Ehlers.

Stiles M. Rust. Charles W. Snow.

Alexander B. King. Chas. Teson. William M. Peckham. Joseph A. Leggett.

Charles W. Palmer. Rollin B. Moore~

UNION CouNcIL, No. 2.

W. M. Postley. C. H. Sanford. Chas. ·E. Lansing.

Alex. Milligan. Samuel W. Wiley. Robert Neil.

BROOKLYN CouNCIL, I:i[o. 4.

Wm. Sherer. Lawrence Coffin, M. D. Adolph C. Wenzel. Charles Stewart. William H. Suttori. E. W. Van Vranken. Chas. G. Little, · Chas. A. Tonsor. John L. Judge.

AnELPHIC CouNCIL, No. 7.

Royal E. Deane. T. F. Russell. John R. Gardner. Fred E. Davis. J. Harris Balston. Edwin A. Quick, by af-Frederick Kanter. filiation. Wm. E. Duncan. Alfred D. Slough. James Chambers. C. Victor Twiss. George E. W. Stivers.

CENTRAL CITY COUNCIL, No. 13.

Edwin H. Brown. Abel G. Cook. Austin C. Wood. Theodore M. Barber.

BLoss CouNCIL, No. 14. ·

R. B. Stiles. John P. Deal. Arthur MacArthur. Henry Calhoun. Edward A. Webster. Morris S. MacKenzie. T. Campbell Co~lin. Edward H. Lisk.

BRUCE CouNCIL, No. 15.

Wm. J. Jackman. John McLaughlin, Jr. Frank E. Smith. Mark D. Welsher.

.-1

F. D. Ramsdell. David S. Door. S. D. Wadhams.

A. Oppenheimer. Gerard Mc Vicar. Wm. J. Donaldson. Cyrus K. Porter.

Henry M. Plant. John W. Merriam. Wm. H. Maston. Willard S. Bradt.

Stephen M. Ratcliffe. John L. Brothers. E. A. Rockwood. Warren A. Woodson. Levi S. Gates.

SOUTHERN TIER, No. I6.

P. L. Hinman. J. A. Baty. J olm M. Diven.

Conrad Wehnes. Chas. L. Hart. De Witt C. Brown.

BuFFALO CouNCIL, No. I7.

Henry R. Clark. R. Kenneth Bickford. Charles E. Markham. Clark W. Rice. Wm. H. Cass. Geo. L. Kingston. John H. Clark.

DORIC CouNCIL, No. I9.

Samuel C. Pierce. A. D. McMaster. Harry J. Mulligan. Edward Schaefer.

Wm. Dempster. H. Jason Knapp.

Ezra M. Sparling. Edward Edwards. Charles M. Colton.

'KEYSTONE CouNcIL, No. 20.

John C. Gager. Fred. E. Ogden. Warren F. Chandler. Paul W. Bullard. !-I. McMichael. David W. Adams. Geo. Clinton. Robt. T. Walker.

Charles S. Butler. Earl N. Blood.

DEWITT CLINTON CouNCIL, No. 22.

Frank Chamberlain. Alfred A. Guthrie. Willard S. Gibbons. James W. Morange. John J. Martin. Edmund R. Willerton. Thomas J. Bishop. James B. McEwan.

William P. Durant. John N. Macomb.

Abner P. Kelsey.

C. E. Hequembourg. Hiram A. Matteson. Frank B. Barnard.

Jas. T. Hanrahan. Wm. H. Spawn. T. Austin Williamson. Geo. R. Hodgkins.

Geo. C. Bishop. Will L. Lloyd. William E. Woollard. Trafton H. Burgess.

ONTARIO -CouNcIL, No. 23.

Edward Kendall. J. Henry Smith. Orville F. Randolph. Henry R. Sill.

BINGHAMTON CouNcIL, No. 24. Fred W. Putman, M. D.

DuNKIRK CouNCIL, No. 25.

Benj. L. Harrison. Henry J. Gibbs, Jr. Byron Rathbun. John W. Ware. E. L. Clement. John Y. Bartlett. Horace C. Pentacost.

Mark C. Finley. George McGown.

Martin A. Lewis. Edward B. Cash.

Wm. Morgan Lee. Wm. B. Hull.

John B. Shaw.

J. A. Taylor. ]. K. Palmer. W. L. Myrick.

0. E. Elwell. J. H. Sprong. Wm. H. Sims. L. S. Boardman.

J. Marshall Col~ord. A. P. Knapp.

Norman Z. Baker.

Edward Clisdell. Truman S. Pritchard. George B. Hill. Jerome S. Billington.

John Halstead.

39

PALMYRA CouNCIL, No. 26.

John H. Coates. Alfred C. Hopkins. Edwin ·B. Anderson. S. Nelson Sawyer.

UTICA CouNcIL, No. 28. Henry C. Welton. Byron S. Frisbie. James V. Anthony.

G. C. Morehouse. James T. Thoirs.

KING SOLOMON. CouNCIL, No. 31.

Edgar M. Weeks. Derrick Brown. John P. Wilson, M. D. Willet Titus.

JAMESTOWN CouNcIL, No. 32.

Walter E. Griggs. David E. Merrill. Joseph Whitaker.

OLEAN CouNCIL, No. 33.

C. S. Hanks. Albert A. Swarts. M. Southeren. John Sloane. J. Arthur Corbin. Ed. F. Halliday. E. H. Austin.

HORNELLSVILLE COUNCIL, No. 35.

Wm. H. Prangen. H. T. Harris. Frank Donahue. W. L. Collins.

I. S. Lanning. B. B. Babcock. Geo. W. Brown.·

CRYPTIC CouNcIL, No. 37.

R. C. Fonda. Frank M. Adee. John Bennett.

WASHINGTON CouNCIL, No. 52.

Warren F. Bascom.

CORNING CouNCIL, No. 53.

John Comosh. Chas. E. Greenfield. Hugh H. Kendall. Elbert B. Seymour. Joseph C. Moore. Sherman E. Devore. Herbert C. Austin.

No. 55.

N. H. Freeland, M. D.

PEEKSKILL COUNCIL,

Edward F. Hill. Geo. E. Briggs.

Wm. R. Thorne. Edmund C. Nation.

R. C. Christiance. A. B. Force. A. B. Wood.

Ralph E. Prime. G. B. Balch. Gideon S. Pond. John E. Murphy.

George A. Newell.

Philip Keck. Harwood Dudley.

J olm McCarty.

ITHACA CouNCIL, No. 68.

George W. Melotte. H. M. Hibbard. A. H. Estey. Charles C. Garrett. H. L. Esterbrook. John Barnard.

PHCENix CouNCIL, No. 70.

Jam es H. Jenkins. Thos. R. Hodge. M. E. Close. Edgar T. Stewart. M. D. Getty. Edmund S. Middleton. Franklin T. Davis.

ALPH-0MEGA CouNcIL, No. 71.

Charles D. Ross. Irving L'Hommedieu. Isaac S. Signor.

JoHNSTOWN CouNCIL, No. 72. Frank Hanson. John G. Ferres. Fred L. Carroll.

GouvERNEUR CouNCIL, No. 73.

Daniel J. Whitney. Edward H. Neary. Charles McCarty.

4I

AT REST FROM THEIR LABORS.

Columbian, No. I. ... Comp. DAVID M. ANDREWS .... Died May 17th, 1905

" P. M. W. VERHOEVEN.. " Aug. 1st, 19ci4 Union, No. 2 ....... .

Brooklyn, No. 4 •....

" Adelphic, No. 7 ..... .

Central City, No. 13 ..

Bloss, No. 14 ....... .

Southern Tier, No. 16

" Buffalo, No. 17 ..... .

" Doric, No. r9 ....... .

Keystone, No. 2o ..•.

THOMAS CUNNINGHAM.

OSCAR G. AHLSTROM .. .

GEORGE A. ROWELL.' .. .

CORNELIUS L. TWING ..

CHARLES w. MORRIS .. .

FRANK BIRD ......... .

ROBERT BALLARD •.....

ROBERT C. McCLURE .. .

EDWARD 0. JOHNSON .. .

DANIEL W. CURTIS .•..

LEVI w. DODGE .....•.•

CLARENCE L. WOODWARD

E. c. T ALLCOTT ....... .

. J. T. HOLMES ......... .

c. BREWER ........ ···.· JOHN DUKE .......... .

WM. S. EARL ......... .

AARON KsENSKY ..... .

JOHN B. K_uNZ ....... .

GEO. c. HARTWELL .... .

JESSE B. ANTHONY ... .

" Oct.,

" May,

" Dec.

" Feb.

" Sept.,

" June " Aug.

" Oct.

" Oct.

" Oct.

" Nov.

" Sept.

" June

" July

" July

" Dec.

" Feb.

" Mar.

" April

" April

" May

1900

1905

25th, 1905

IIth, 1905

1904 . ioth, 1905

4th, 1904

16th, 1904

20th, IQ04

21st, 1904

20th, 1904

23d, 1905

20th, 1905

1st, 1905

4th, 1905

2d, 1904

25th, 1905

24th, 1905

16th, 1905

29th, 1905

26th, 1905

EZRA A. SLITER. . . . . . . " June 8th, 1905

CHARLES H. ANTHONY. " July 5th, 1905

SAMUEL B. HUBBELL .. .

BARNETT BAN CHER· ... .

FRED. A. COLSON ...... .

ELMER E. CHAMBERS .. .

THOMAS NEWTON .... .

CHARLES R. RICHARDS.

EDWARD A. STAHLBRODT

JoHN M. LOWDEN ...•.

JOHN W. HANNAN ....

RICHMOND H. BICKFORD

" Nov. " Mar. "·Nov. " Dec.

" July

" Sept.

" Feb.

" Mar.

" July

" Mar.

9th, 1904

4th, 1905

30th, 1904

26th, 1904

13th, 1905

29th, 1903

24th, 1905

21st, 1905

31st, 1905

2d, 1905

42

DeWitt Clinton, No. 22 H. L. w ASHBURN ...... " Sept. 7th, 1904

Z. A. DYER. ............ " Sept. 18th, 1904

J. L. R. DAVIS ......... " Nov. 1st, 19.04

RM. CHILD .......... " Dec. 26th, 1904

"· LEVI MOORE ........... " Dec. 30th, 1904

C. W. HIGGINS ........ " Jan. 28th, 1904

H. N. CHEEVER " May 16th, 1905 ........ w. T. BRODH~D ...... " Feb. 23d, 1902

H. w. GILES .......... " June 5th, 1005

FRED. B. HUBBARD ..... " July 9th, 1905

Dunkirk, No. 25 ..... AsA F. How ARD ....... " April 24th, 1905

Palmyra, No. 26 ..... SAMUEL w. SAWYER ... " Nov. 17th, 1904

King Solomon, No. 31 FRANK B. VANDYNE .. " Mar. 18th, 1905

JOHN SCHWARTZ " May 19th, 1905 ...... Hornellsville, No. 35. W. H. SIMS ........... " Jan, 6th, 1905

Cryptic, No. 37 ...... ANTOINE GAULIN " Feb. 1st, 19os .....

" CHARLES H. STURGES .. " Feb. 20th, 1905

Alph-Omega, No. 71. IRVING M. THOMPSON .. " Mar. 22d, 1905 i< JUSTUS E. DIDEMA ..... " July 10th, 1905

Johnstown, No. 72 ... JOHN J. BUCHANAN ... " Feb. 27th, 1905

DoNRo H. HEAGLE ..... " May nth, 1905

43

OFFICERS OF THE GRAND COUNCIL Elected and Appointed Aug. 29, J905.

CHARLES STEWART, 1266 Fulton St., B'klyn .. Grand Master. FRED. E. OGDEN, 41 W. Se~eca St., Buffalo... Deputy Master. WM. H. ANDREWS, 6o Broadway, N. Y. City.. P. C. of W. GEO. A. NEWELL, Medina.................... " "Treasurer. GEO. VAN VLIET, 16 Eighth Ave., N. Y. City.. Recorder. FRANK M. ADEE, Saratoga Springs . . . . . . . . . . C. of the G. MORRIS S. MAcKENZIE, Troy... . . . . . . . . . . . . . C. of the C. WILL L. LLOYD, Albany.... . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Marshal. HARWOOD DUDLEY, Johnstown............. '' Standard Bearer. MARTIN Q. GOOD, 233 E. 87th St.,.N. Y. City.. Steward. DR. CHAS. S. BUTLER, 680 Main St., Buffalo.. Lecturer. REv. W. C. HUBBARD, 144 Halsey St., B'klyn. . . Chaplain. CHARLES TESON, Troy.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Sentinel.

JOHN P. DEAL; Troy ............................. Trustee for 3 years. A. OPPENHEIMER, Buffalo ....................... Trustee for 2 years. ]. HARRIS BALSTON, Greenpoint .............. · ... Trustee for 1 year.

LIVING PAST GRAND MASTERS.

GEO. M. OSGOODBY, A. OPPENHEIMER, JOHN J. MARTIN, FRED'K KANTER, JOHN W. COBURN, JAMES B. McEWAN, JOHN L. BROTHERS, GEORGE. McGOW~, R. C. CHRISTIANCE, JOHN P. DEAL, ALEX. B. KING, WILLARD S. BRADT, GEO. A. NEWELL, JOHN R. GARDNER,

IRVING L'HOMMEDIEU.

APPENDIX. :

FOREIGN CORRESPONDENCE .

•

47

FOREIGN CORRESPONDENCE.

To Most Illustrious Irving L' H ommedieu, Grand Master, a:nd the Grand Council of Royal and Select Masters of the State of New York: · ·

The· Committee· on Correspondence submit their annual report. We have read the following thirty-one Journals of Transactions of the various Grand Councils received by us, and we select there­from such information and. extracts as we trust may prove of interest to you. Every Jurisdiction save one (the second largest) shows a gain in membership, and all evidence increasing interest and enthusiasm in the work.

Respectfully and fraternally submitted,

JOHN W. COBURN, } THOS. J. BISHOP, Committee. CHAS. M. COLTON,

Alabama .... Dec., 1894-1904* Massachusetts ... Dec., 1904 Arkansas ....... Nov., 1904* Michigan ....... Jan., 1905 California . . ..... Apr., 1905 Minnesota ....... Oct., i904 Colorado ....... Sept., 1904* Mississippi . . .... Feb., i905* Connecticut . . . .. May, 1905 :Missouri . . . ..... Apr., 1905 England and \.Vales, Nebraska ....... Dec., 1904

Mar., 1905* New Hampshire . May, 1904 Illinois ......... Oct., 1904 New Jersey ..... Mar., 1905 Indiana ......... Oct., 1904 North Carolina .. June, 1905* Indian Territory . Apr., 1905 Ohio . . . ........ Oct., i964 Kansas . . . ...... Feb., 1905 Oregon ......... Apr., t905* Kentucky ........ Oct., 1904 Pennsylvania . . .. Feb., 1965 Louisiana ... Feb., 1904-1905* Rhode Island .. Apr., 1902-1904 Maine .......... May, 1904 South Carolina . . Feb., 1905 Maine . . . ....... May, 1905 Tennessee ........ Jan., 1905 Maryland .. Nov., 1903-1904* Washington .... June, i904

* Does not print report on correspondence.

48

ALABAMA-1904. Through the courtesy of Grand Master BLOCH we have re­

ceived this journal. It is in a volume containing additionally the proceedings from 1894 to 1903, inclusive, not before printed; the Constitution ( 1892) ; memorial pages to M. ·.Ill: .BENJAMIN F. PoPE (1888-9), died July 23, 1900, and R.·'.Ill:.H. CLAY ARM­STRONG, Past Grand Master of Masons, Past Grand High Priest and Grand Secretary of the Grand Lodge and Grand Chapter and Grand Recorder of the Grand Council and of the Grand Commandery, died December 17, 1900; and is adorned with the portrait of M:.Ill.·.Companion BLOCH on its initial page. The sixty-seventh Annual Assembly was held in Montgomery, De­cember S; twenty-two members were present. All of their six Councils were represented, made returns, and with one exception had work, greeting seventy-four Companions; the membership is 357, an increase of fifty-one; receipts, $195.50; disbursements, $80. The Grand Master decided a petition for Council affiliation could be received and acted upon from a non-affiliat~ Royal Arch Mason, whose petition for membership was pending in the Chap­ter. He issued a number of dispensations to ballot out of statu­tory time, ,although he is opposed to such action, believing ap­plication for the degrees under ordinary circumstances should receive the same consideration and attention as required in other Masonic Bodies, and excuses it only, for the building up and placing Cryptic Masonry on a firm stand. \Vhy not abolish statutory time, confining election to (regular) stated assemblies? Under a literal construction of their constitution petitions can be received and ballot taken the same meeting, provided it be a stated one, which is the practice in New York. He recom­mended a revision of the constitution, printing the unpublished proceedings, a committee for exemplification of the ritualistic work, a Grand Chaplain, and a committee to prepare a report on correspondence. The decision and the recommendations, except­ing the last, were adopted by the Grand Council. Finances in­terfered with. the only non-concurret1ce.

Next Annual Assembly at Montgomery, December 4, 1905. M:.Ill.-.]ACOB D. BLOCH, Mobile, Grand Master; M.·.Ill:.GEORGE A. BEAUCHAMP, Montgomery, Grand Recorder.

~I

49

ARKANSAS - 1904.

Forty-second Annual Assembly in Little Rock, November 18. Twenty-two members were present. Seven of their fourteen Councils were represented. Only ten made returns, which show a membership of 328, being an increase of forty-two. Seven greeted a total of forty-six Companions. Receipts, $499-50; .dis­bursements, $402.50. The cause of Grand Master SrnDMORE's absence is foui1d in his address read by the Grand Recorder :

" I regret more than I can express that ill health prevents me " from being in attendance at your session. Very early after "the beginning of my term I was stricken with paralysis, which " impaired my speech and my locomotion to such an extent as to " render it impracticable for nie to fully discharge the duties of "my office, and which prevents me from being with. you to-day; "but I am with you in spirit and my heart and my interest are in "the ·cause of Cryptic Masonry."

A·new Council, Zabud, No. 36, at Hazen, was cl~arterecl, and Dannelly, No. 2I, at Fayetteville, non-active since I879, was resuscitated. Their two General Grand Council· Officers, Past Grand Masters HEMPSTEAD and THORNBURG, were received and welcomed befitting their rank. The death of " our " BEN STRASSER is noted and his name placed on a memorial page. The roll of Past Grand Elective Officers shows fourteen living Past Grand Masters, eight of whom were at the session. Twelve Grand Councils were represented, and again we note the ab­sence of our Grand Representative. The sincere sympathy of the body was given to the retiring Grand Master in his great affliction. A portrait of the Grand Master and illustrations of the Grand Lodge Hall of the Temple, and of the Grand Recorder in his office in the Temple, who is seated at his desk and appears to be figuring up the many compliments he received on the " Tri­ennial Souvenir Volume," are given.

Next Annual Session at Little Rock November 24, 1905. M. ·.Ill.· .NICK KIZER, Eureka Springs, Grand Master; R. '._p.', FAY HEMPSTEAD, Little Rock, Grand Recorder.

50

CALIFORNI~ - 1905.

Forty-fifth Annual Assembly in San Francisco April 17. Twenty-nine members were present. Every Grand Officer at his post. Sixteen Grand Jurisdictions responded at roll-call, New York by M. · .Ill. ' .CHARLES LORD FIELD. The roll of mem­bership by Councils shows fifteen bodies with a total membership of 1,812 on January 31, 1905, an increase of 154· Ten Councils were represented. A total of 193 Companions were greeted by eleven. Receipts, $1,165.58; disbursements, $898.47. The list of the three principal elected officers from organization gives twenty-three Past Grand Masters living, thirteen of whom were in attendance.

Grand Master SUTHERLAND, whose portrait greets us upon opening the Journal, gives the story of his labor in a concise and pleasing address. In the same line of thought regarding the mission of Grand Representatives as our Grand Master GARDNER, he suggests that as soon as practicable after the close of the session they· communicate to their several jurisdictions a short synopsis of the meeting,. naming the officers elected and any other information of interest, believing such action would prove beneficial to the representative system and be appreciated by the Grand Bodies receiving it. In closing his address he says :

" The beautiful and sublime teachings of the Cryptic degrees " are peculiarly fitting as the encl and summit of perfection in " Ancient Craft Masonry and appeal to the highest ideals of "human wisdom. If we acknowledge, as we must, that man is "a progressive being, we must also acknowledge that there are " heights to which he has not yet risen, and it is along the lines " of higher thought and human interests that we desire to direct " the minds of this great fraternity as well as the novitiate, and " we must not stop at any one degree, for the limit of his intelli­" gence is the only limit of our usefulness to our fellow-man."

He gave dispensations for two Councils which were granted charters during the session - Santa Cruz, No. 17, and Fresno, No. 18. The Masters of these Councils, upon invitation, ad­dressed the Assembly in eloquent and enthusiastic strain, receiv­ing hearty applause. The General Grand Council Ritual for the

51

Royal, .Select, and Super-excellent Masters' degrees was unani­mously adopted for use of the Councils.

Companion J. B. MERRITT not alone gives good service in mak­ing excellent reports on correspondence, but is also active in the advancement of the rite. lie believes the " stay-at-home " policy has been practiced at the expense of progress. He favors, their law not preventing, a suggestion ~f the Grand Master, the .Yisita­tion of any Council to a Chapter location within its jurisdiction for the purpose of increasing membership. He says, " From the "intimate connection and association with Royal Arch Masonry, " the Cryptic degrees should be at the convenient command of " every Royal Arch Mason," and such visitations, with para­phernalia and the conferring of the degrees in full form, he believes would result in a large increase in the membership and lead to the institution of many more bodies. His views received the unanimous approval of the Grand Council, and the matter was referred to the Committee on Jurisprudence for report thereon at the next Annual Assembly. Again we have from him a most interesting report on correspondence, giving twenty­seven pages and reviewing the labors of twenty-eight Grand Jurisdictions. It does not seem encouraging to him that, in ninety-five· years of life, New York should not show a greater membership. It must be borne in mind that in the earlier of those years the field of this body was practically in the city of New York, and in many of those years Masonry was very quiet in our State. We of to-day, noting the gradual increase of our membership .and the greater interest developing year by year in our aims and teachings among our Royal Arch Companions, are thereby greatly encouraged as to the future and not at all dis­couraged that age has not further advanced us. Even our learned Companions McGowN, ANDREWS, and VAN VLIET, after one of the secret sessions of our famous historical library committee, where they delve in ancient vaults among remains .of ancient archives and memories, upon removing their working ,robes and careworn looks, show no signs of discouragement, but are num­bered among the most enthusiastic progressionists. Companion MERRITT quotes quite .liberally from Grand Master GARDNER'S address, including a specimen from the " peculiarly eloquent

conclusion," thus giving to California a share of the pleasure our "JOHN R." gave us. The shock caused by his" it pained us to say Os-good-by ( e)" is only alleviated by the fact - it shows MERRITT in its building - a kind word for the writer is duly appreciated. The Grand Recorder issues the volume in hand­some and artistic purple and gold cover very similar to New York's.

Next Annual Assembly at San Francisco Ap_ril 16, 1906. M. · .Ill. '.EDUARD KEIL, San Francisco, Grand Master; R. · . Ill.· .THOMAS ABRAHAM DAVIES, San Francisco, Grand Re­corder; M. ·.Ill.· .JAMES BESTOR MERRITT, Correspondent.

COLORADO - 1904. • 0

Annual Assembly in Denver September 2I, Grand Master DEAN presiding, with twenty-six members. Of the ten Councils eight were represented; all made returns and paid dues. The latest addition to the roster was Tyrian, No. II, at Idaho Springs. The membership (August 3I) is 485, an increase of twenty-two. Forty-seven Companions were greeted in four Councils. Re­ceipts, $315.50; disbursements, $358.65.

Grand Recorder FOSTER reports the proceedings of. the Ninth Annual Assembly were issued within ten days of the close of the session. We also note from his report they are forming a library of Grand Council proceedings. The committee of visitation to the General Grand Council in the matter of their grievance re­_ported a satisfactory termination thereof. The Constitution was f(mended by giving the right to vote in Grand Council to the Past Masters of Councils. The feasibility of adopting .a Past Grand Master's J e;wel for presentation to the retiring Past Grand Masters was referred to a committee for report at the next session.

The usual roster of membership by Councils and of elective Grand Officers from organization, also the Constitution and By­laws, are given. Five of the nine Past Grand Masters named on the roster were in attendance. Fourteen Grand Representatives from sister jurisdictions answered at roll-call, New York silent.

Next Annual Session at Denver September 20, 1905. M. · ·. Ill.· .MYER S. RAFIELD, Colorado Springs, Grand Master; Ill.·.

53

ERNEST LE NEVE FosTER, Denver, Grand Recorder and Commit­tee on Foreign Correspondence.

CONNECTICUT - I905.

Eighty-seventh Annual Assembly in New Haven May IO, Grand Master FULLER presiding. Sixty-five members werl'! pres­ent, including seven Past Grand Masters. All of the twenty­three Councils were represented and made returns. Two hun­dred and eighty-two Companions were greeted in twenty of them. Membership is 4,240, an increase of 220. Receipts, $629.90; ex­penditures, $493.I3. Fourteen Grand Representatives were pres­ent, New York not among the number.

The officers of Harmony Council, No. 8, ·of New Haven, by invitation from the Grand Master, exemplified the degrees of Royal and Select Masters in an able and impressive manner " that met the· hearty approval of all present " and for which they re­ceived the thanks of the body, and also for a collation after the work which the Grand Council "called off" to enjoy. A recom­mendation of the Grand Master for a reprint of the records from I854 to I866, inclusive, which are aln1ost impossible to secure, was referred to a committee for report on the subject at the next Annual Assembly. The retiring Grand Master, whose portrait appears on the opening page, was presented with a Past Grand Master's J ewe!. Biographical sketches and portraits in memoriam are given of M. · .P. ·.Grand Master CHARLES A. JONES (I903), died October 27, I904, and M. · .P. ·.Grand Master EDWARD

. ERNEST WEST (I896), died January 25, I905. R. ·.Ill.' .WILLIAM H. ANDREWS,· our G. P. C. of W., and

Grand Representative from them, was present. The record i~ silent as to any talk on his part; however, knowing him from a few happy years of association, we are inclined to think he did. In addition to the usual rosters the Grand Recorder this year gives one of all the Grand Officers from the organization in I8r9.

M. · .P. ·.JOHN H. BARLOW (P. G. M.) gives his tenth annual report on correspondence, and, " without any inclination to sep~ arate the goats from the sheep, follows his usual .custom." We find thirty-nine pages of .very interesting review of the work of

.·:

54

twenty-nine Grand Councils, including his valuable table of sta­tistics. New York receives courteous attention, and Grand Mas­ter GARDNER is quoted. A kind reference to the writer, coming as it does from the distinguished veteran to the beginner, smooths the rugged road and is highly valued.

Next Annual Assembly at Hartford May 9, 1906. M. · .P. ·. CHARLES B. CHAPMAN, Norwich, Grand Master; R. '.Ill.' .. JAMES McCORMICK, Hartford, Grand Recorder; M. · .P. ·. JOHN H. BARLOW, Hartford, Committee on Correspondence.

ENGLAND AND WALES - 1905.

The annual meeting was held in Mark Masons' Hall, London, March 9, P. Grand P. C. of W., A. J. THOMAS presiding, with five of the Grand Officers, three Past Grand Officers, representa­tives of twelve Grand Councils (New York absent), and a number of Companions of Subordinate Councils. The Grand Recorder reports certificates issued to twenty-eight, making the total registered membership 1 ,079. He attributes the small in­crease to the overwhelming interest now being taken in the Craft Lodges. All of the Councils are holding their meetings regularly. Receipts, £62 13s; disbursements, £74 4s 2d. The returns show eighteen active bodies. •

M. ·.Ill. ·.RIGHT HoN. the EARL of Euston, Grand Master; R. ·.Ill.' .C. F. MATIER (P. D. G. M.), Mark Masons' Hall, Great Queen Street, London, W. C., Grand Recorder.

ILLINOIS - 1904.

Fifty-second Annual Assembly in Chicago October 26. Sev­enty-eight members were present. Thirty-nine of their fifty­four Councils were represented. Forty-two report a membership of 3,849, to which has been added since close of report 189, making a total of 4,038. Twenty-eight greeted 43 I Companions. Receipts, $1,335.25; expenditures, $884-44·

Grand Master HALLOWELL stated in his address his " aim was to be brief and to the point." He was - got it all in four pages. The roll-call of Grand Representatives was answered by twenty-five Jurisdictions; no ·response by New York. Look­ing toward an increase of revenue, the Grand Master was re-

I.

r

i I. I, I I ! !

I. ' ' l J

I:

I

i: , I i; '.

55

·quested to consult and report as to the advisability and means thereof at the next Annual Assembly. An amendment to change the time and place of annual meeting to when and where the body may from time to time designate,. instead of the clay before and piace of meeting of the Grand Chapter, as at present, was laid over till next year. The retiring Grand Master was presented with a Past Grand Master's Jewel. M.·.III.·.Companion vVARVELLE

presented his thirteenth consecutive annual report. In a bright, ·sparkling introduction he tells us : " Don't let the fact that it is the thirteenth affect you a particle. Thirteen is a lucky num­ber. You may have heard otherwise, but place no reliance on the gossip of the town. I tell you it is all right, and I would not deceive you even if I could." Under Iowa he gives an inter­·esting history of the establishment of the first three Councils of that Jurisdiction in 1855-56 by Illinois. That lamented dis-· tinguished leader in Masonry, dear Companion PARVIN, was the first Master of Cryptic Masonry there. These three Coun­cils in 1857 formed the original Grand Council, which later "merged" out of existence. New York (1903) receives about two pages of fraternal attention. The plan of " dependent mem­bership " which we adopted he says has ceased to become a

· . " fad," and he has no doubt it will come to them after the "Grand Chapter shall have paved the way." Regarding our recent departure in meeting elsewhere than in New York city: " The practice has resulted in much good wherever it has been followed, and would undoubtedly strengthen the Rite if it should •be observed in Illinois." On the prerequisite matter: " In many of the annual addresses I find the old wail of Commandery recognition, but here is an instance of what one man can do by sawing wood instead of howling." Then quoting Grand Master BRADT's report of. R. · .Ill. ' .Companion CoLTON's resolution in Monroe Commandery he ·says: "Now there is something prac­tical, and what the Master - of Doric Council did can be done by others in the Commanderies with which they are affiliated." Our friend has not a particularly exalted opinion of the Grand Representative system and occasionally discusses the " use and uselessness " of its members. Of the attempt to utilize them i~ . ·reporting lines, he says : '' The Grand Counc-il of Mississippi

56

has a few foreign ambassadors lying round and doing nothing. The Grand Master, P. M. SAVERY, thought he might utilize the bunch by requiring them to render reports of the condition of the principalities they respectively represent. By so doing the expense of a correspondence committee could be eliminated, and, while Mississippi is not at all stingy, still winter is coming on and fire-wood is dear, and it is well to practice little econo-· .mies. So SAVERY told the ambassadors to line up and tell all they knew about their Grand Councils, which was precious little, or he would recall their exequaturs. Some of them responded nobly, some did not. The Grand Council of Nebraska has also attempted this method of utilizing its corps of foreign diplomats, but the experiment is not a howling success. Michigan attempted .the same thing a few years ago, but it was a flat failure. I do not believe that any very satisfactory results can ever. be ob­tained from methods of this character, irrespective of the ability of the reporters. The entire field should be surveyed by one · person, who would then be prepared to generalize in matters· common to all jurisdictions, as well as particularize_ salient features. In other words, to get a report on correspondence you must have a committee for that purpose." Under the "Lone Star" he quotes very fully from an adverse report of a com­mittee of the Grand Chapter of Texas, 1903., upon a recommenda­tion of the Grand High Priest at the session of 1902 advocating the separation of the Council degrees from the Chapter and placing them with a Grand Council to be formed for their con­trol. From this report we learn a Grand Council of Royal and Select Masons was organized by three Councils in 1856. In 1864, with a constituency of twenty-one Councils, of which but four were represented, the Grand Body merged with the Grand Chapter, it having "proved an unnecessary and expensive or­ganization and to a great extent failed in the object of its crea­tion, the diffusion of light and information among the. Royal Craft;" The committee thought the merger was a wise act and believ.ed it wisdom to continue the Royal and Select Masons' degrees as during the past .two score years; and so reported. It was adopted by the Grand Chapter. The reviewer suggests a curtailed attachment of the degrees as representing a receptacle .

57

used by one of the leading industries of the day; in which case the faster the Grand Chapter moves the m~~e noise will be made by the Royal and Select Masons' degrees, which probably can result in the separation so desirable. He says : " N otwithstand­ing the assertions of the committee, the action seems ill-advised. The Capitular degrees are flourishing. A large and strong Grand Chapter exists. Masonry .in general seems in good con­dition, and while the Cryptic degrees might not attain the same importance as other branches of Masonry, they would undoubt­edly assume the same relative position with respect to the Chapter that they hold in other localities. What Texas needs is a Moses who will be able to lead the Rite from the house of bondage and into the light of freedom." A most friendly wel­come is given to the writer. The invitation of Illinois to the

· r6und table is gratefully accepted: a seat with VVARVELLE is to be in the sunshine.

The list of Grand Officers from organization gives twenty-four Past Grand Masters living, of whom sixteen were at the session: The pay-roll shows an allowance of th~ee dollars per diem to each of sixty members. The portrait of the Grand Master appears opposite the title page.

Next Annual Assembly at Chicago, October 25, 1905. M.' .Ill.· .CHARLES W. HOLLANDSWORTH, Canton, Grand Mas­ter; Ill.· .GrL. W. BARNARD, Chicago, Grand Recorder; M. ·. Ill. ' .GEORGE W. W ARVELLE, Chicago, Committee on Corre­spondence.

INDIANA- 1904.

Forty-ninth Annual Meeting in Indianapolis October 18-19. All the officers at their stations. Eighty-six members were present and fifty-four of their fifty-eight Councils were repre­sented. During the year ending January I, 1904, 590 Com­panions were greeted in forty-eight Councils, one of which gave ninety-two of this number, making the membership 3,765, an increase of 408. Counci!S given dispensation by the Grand Mas­ter were chartered, as Columbia:, No. 77, at Oakland City; North Judson, No. 78, and Elkhart, No. 79. Greenfield, No. 65, sur-

58

rendered its charter. Receipts, $z,229; disbursements, $1,936.16. Mileage and per diem, $785.04, was paid to eighty-one members.

Grand Master SCHUHMACHER issued an earnest common-sense letter to the Masters, urging personal effort on their part for the increase of their Council membership. In it he says: " The desire on the part of Royal Arch Masons to receive the Cryptic degrees is growing more apparent each clay. A small effort on the part of the Master never fails to enlist some of the unin­formed in his community into our fold. Success depends entirely upon the Master. He must take the initiative in all that is clone. You have accepted the highest office in the gift of your Council. It is your duty to dispense true Masonic light to the uninformed and increase the membership of your Council." While thank~ fol that the Angel of Death has passed by their official rank, he notes the loss of less fortunate sister Jurisdictions, ours in R. · . Ill. · .BEN STRASSER, to whom reference is also made by their Committee on Distinguished Dead of other Jurisdictions. We quote from his closing remarks : " I commend to my successor and to you the obligation which rests upon all for the continu­ance of the zealous labor in the secret vault which through all the past has brought us triumphant results. Inactivity and in­difference in fraternal affairs means inevitable retrogression and decay. On the other hand, constant vigilance and untiring labor means progression, glorious success, and diffusion of ines­timable blessings." Grand Recorder PRATHER states in his report "the statistical table will disclose a greater increase than ever before in the history of the Grand Council."

A codification of the Constitution, By-laws and General Regu­lations was adopted and ordered to be printed. The Committee on Observ<!nce of the Fiftieth Annual Assembly (next year), of which the incoming Grand Master is Chairman, recommended: A commemorative metallic souvenir badge; a banquet; formal addresses thereat, arranged for in advance ; toasts by Companions selected by the Toastmaster; , suitably eng-raved invitations to officers of all Grand Councils holding fraternal relations and to all Companions of their J urisdict~on ; and a committee with power to do it all. As a reward for their labor, the· recommencla-

59

tions were concurred in, and they were continued. as the com-· mittee asked for.

From an exquisitely worded report of a special committee on their own fraternal dead,, in memory of sixty-two of their Companions, we quote: " It is· ours to remember them with. gratitude and love. We would not forget them if we could. We remember them in all the gentleness of their spirit. We recall how they ministered to the profit of their Companions on every occasion. Through their zealous· labors the principles of Freemasonry have been fostered and strengthened. The fires of devotion have burned brighter on many a golden altar by reason of their faithful service. How they loved this grand old· Institution they served so faithfully and well! They ·pass away rich in the fruitage of lives well spent. Shall we not say that loyalty to Masonry intensified their aims, dignified· their pursuits and sweetened their natures? Their lives were not lived on· t11e mountain top of aloofness and selfishness, but down in the valley where shoulder to shpulder with their fellows they could. do the work that moves. the world upward to Goel."

The Grand Representatives of twenty-seven Jurisdictions. responded to a call of welcome, New York by M. ·.Ill.· .. LUCIEN A. FoOTE. The retiring Grand Master was decor.ated with a personal Grand Master's Jewel. The list of Grand Mas­ters from organization gives twenty-one Past Grand Masters. living and in membership, of whom nineteen were present.

" The Summer is Ended " is a text in use by a popular preacher upon his annual return from the· seashore (where he had ac­quired the habit of revamping his ancient sermons), and not yet in condition for the task of building in the new, R. · .P. ·. Companion MoRDHURST tells us, and gives this text of his rotund clerical acquaintance as a " starter," saying: "This writer, too, finds it rather difficult to settle down to the otherwise pleasant task of writing up our Sister Grand Councils. But· duty is with us always, and .the midnight lamp will be lighted from time to time until the proceedings of the following thirty Grand Councils have been fully reviewed in this his fifteenth report on· correspondence." No sermon follows, however, no r.evamping ;, but another clear-cut and valuable review with the usual ex-

6o

cellent table of Cryptic stati$tics of the United States. From the latter we find in thirty-three Grand Councils and ten Subor­dinates of the General Grand Council 692 enrolled Councils, 539 of which were represented at the annual sessions of the various Grand Bodies; 630 made annual returns; twenty-two were chartered; 5,058 Companions were greeted, 432 affiliated, 154 restored, 6 expelled, 776 suspended; 637 dimitted, 839 died, making membership 58,895, an increase of 3,334. Receipts, $23,634.60; expenditures, $20,408.79; assets, $29,518.4r. He gives New York (1903) over a page of kind attention. Noting the absence of a report from our Trustees of the Permanent Fund, he concludes we had some trouble with it. If we remem­ber aright," the Trustees made only an informal report, a change in the securities being under way and at that time not com­pleted. The granting of dispensations to hold special in lieu of_ stated meetings, which are to be omitted, would not be per­missible in Indiana, and tie believes it should be poor law any­where. Upon the attempt of some Grand Masters to get correspondence reports from the Grand Representatives annually in writing, he says under Mississippi ( 1904), "Some of the reports. submitted this year are really not as bad as might be expected," and under Nebraska ( 1903), "Another of those crazy­quilt reports on correspondence noted last year appears in the proceedings, wherein every Grand Representative reviews the Grand Council from which he is accredited. Some of these re­ports are not half bad, but the great trouble will be to get any one to read them, for they deal principally with the minufoe of detail of the proceedings long since discarded by the professional reviewer. For instance, no one cares to read, for it is taken for granted that ' Peace and harmony prevail in the Grand Juris- . diction ' and ' they are at peace with all other Grand J urisdic­tions, including this of ours.' Or, ' Agreeable to an ancient custom, the Grand Master reported that he had not accomplished as much as he had . expected.' Again,. ' The Committee on doings of Grand Officers in their report approved the sentiments expressed in the address of the Grand Master and reports of the Deputy Grand Master and the Principal Conductor of the \Vork.'" ,

'----------------------------~------------'

6r

All the Councils made returns and paid dues. Next Annual Assembly at Indianapolis October' 7, 1905. The·

Grand Master, M. ·.Ill.· .ROBERT B. WHITSETT, of Logansport, greets us by portrait upon opening the Journal. R. · .Ill. · .CAL­VIN W. PRATHER, Indianapolis, Grand Recorder; R.' .-P.- · .­HENRY W. MoRDHURST, Fort Wayne, Chairman Committee of Foreign Correspondence.

INDIAN TERRITORY - 1905.

Eleventh Annual Assembly in Oklahoma City, ·Okla. Ter., April 19, Grand Master EAGLETON presiding. His portrait and a biographical sketch are given, from which we learn he is a. Past Grand Master of Masons, Past Grand High Priest, and Grand Junior Warden of the Grand Commandery. Tw.enty

·members were present. Seven of the nine Councils were repre­sented and seven made returns. Grand Representatives of eleven Grand Councils reported. New York was not heard from. Six of their· ten Past Grand Masters were present. Re­ceipts, $113; expenditures, $170. The ninth Council, Tishomingo, No. 10, was chartered at this session.

By reason of an extended strike among the printers, with the delay and confusion arising therefrom, the printed journals of the Masonic bodies are not at all satisfactory to their Grand Secretary, Companion MURROW. In the case of the Grand Coun­cil some of tlie reports are incomplete and all the tables are omitted in printing. This prevents us from giving the amount of work and membership of the year. Regarding Companion Mm;mow's recent abdication for a time, and for cause, of the Recorder's throne, we quote from his address:

" Dear Companions: Two years ago you very kindly honored " me by an election to the highest position in the Grand Council, " that of Grand Master. ·It w;is your affection for your old "Companion that ·caused you to do this, and I have and ever " shall thank you with all my heart for this expression of your " esteem and affection. A year ago you re-elected me as Grand " Recorder, and I once. more make report of the doing of my " office the past year."

62

Companion KNEISLEY, the present Deputy Grand Master, as Committee on· Correspondence,. regrets their limited resources will not permit a full report of the proceedings received and· perus.ed. with pleasure. However, he presents a concise report and' giv:es a. number of extracts covering the means of advancing the cause. He favors our Grand Master GARDNER with the longest quotation, selecting the same from JonN R's concluding remarks.

Next Annual Assembly at Ada, Indian Territory, April 18, 1906. M. ·.WILLIAM H. EssEX, South McAlester, I. T., Grand Master; M. ·.Ill.· .JOSEPH S. MURROW, Atoka, I. T., Grand Recorder;

KANSAS - I904.

We. add to our report of last year the following tp.ken from . the printed journal of proceedings received since its writing: Thirty-seven members were present at the assembly, including eleven Past Grand Masters. Emporia Council, which forfeited its ·charter in I90I, was reorganized and chartered with the old number, seven, making ten Councils in all. Twenty-four Grand Councils responded to roll-call, New York by R. · .Ill. · .WIL-11IAM M. SHAVER.

Portraits with biographical sketches are given of the· retiring Grand Master and in memoriam of Past Grand Master M. · .Ill. · . WILLIAM D. THOMPSON ( 1886), died March 5; the Grand Treasurer, R. · .Ill. · PETER J. FREELING, in office since 1892, died June IO; and R. · .Ill. · .OTTO C. BEELER, the first Grand Re-corder ( I867-70 }, <;Jied June 28. -

Our Grand Representative, Grand Recorder SHAVER, gives his sixth annual report on correspondence in fifty-three pages re­viewing thirty jurisdictions. New York is highly favored by receiving nearly six of them. He ·notes with sore grief the· death,, since the close of their A·ssembly, of their Representative to us and says: "R. ·.Ill. · .BENJ Al\IIN STRASSER was at his post as usual - ' faithful until death.' He was a delightful char­acter and an enthusiastic Mason." Referring to R. · .Ill. · .Com­

. panion CoLTON's resolution adopted by Monroe Commandery,

to· the effect that Royal Arch Masons contemplating taking the orders should be requested to take the degrees of the Council. before· making appl'i'cation, as reported by Grand Master BRADT in 1903, he says: " It would not be a bad resolution to adopt in a: Chapter of Royal Arch Masons."

KANSAS - 1905.

Thirty-seventh Annual Assembly in Wichita February 13-14,.

Deputy Grand Master WEBB presiding. By reason of the severe cold weather and a snow-storm which had be.en raging for forty­eight hours, many Companions were detained and some were snow­bound, among them the Grand Master, whose train did. not arrive tili the morning after the .close of the session, which had been extended a day. Forty-seven members were present. Nine of their ten Councils were represented .. and all made returns and paid dues. Ninety-four Companions were greeted ·in six, one of them furnishing fifty-nine of the number. Membership 1,121,

an increase of ten. Receipts, $561.07; disbursements, $463.52. Twenty-one Grand Councils were represented, New. York by R. .. Ill. .. WILLIAM M. SHAVER.

In order to relieve the Committee on Necrology of much tm­necessary labor, a resolution was adopted stating it the sense of the Grand Council that the annual meetings of the Grand Bodies should be held at a season when climatic conditions would be_ more propitious. Although. the Grand Chapter ex­pressed about the same. idea, when the matter was brought before. the Grand Lodge, that body duly considered it and re­fused to change the elate. A proposition to reduce the minimum fee from fifteen to five dollars was rej ectecl by nearly a unani­mous. vote. Their General Grand Council officer, R. · .P. ·: ;EwARD W. WELLINGTON,, G. G. Conductor of the Council, was introduced and received befitting honor. An appropriation was made to give more needed protection to the Memorial Deposit and its bronze tablet on Pike's Peak. The list of elective Grand Officers frorn oganization shows fourteen Past Grand Master_s in membership, nine of whom were. in attendance. Por­trait and biograp}1ical story of the retiring Grand Master, M. · .

Ill.· .JOHN CALVIN POSTLETHWAITE, who has also presided over Grand Lodge, Grand Chapter and Grand Commandery, are given; also of R. .. Ill. .. JACOB D. rRusH, Past Deputy Grand Master, died October 26, 1904.

This time it is the seventh annual report on correspondence. from Companion SHAVER, and, as ever, most interesting and instructive, reviewing thirty-three Grai1d Jurisdictions. New York receives a due share of courteous attention. He quotes extendedly from Grand Master GARDNER'S address: " The his· torical reference from his introduction," " some excellent words as to the mission of Grand Representatives," and from " inter­estingly reported results of the official visitations." The warm welcome promised the writer last year is freely given, as are extremely kind words as to his work, which will be treasured remembrances. Although reference is made to the· death of "our" Companion, BEN STRASSER, in the Grand Master's ad­dress, t.he " Memorial Page " and elsewhere, we must give the earnest, heartfelt tribute from Companion SHAVER: "Loving reference was made to their deceased Grand Conductor of the Council, R. ·.Ill.~ .BENJAMIN STRASSER, of Albany, who was also the Grand Representative of Kansas near New York. We briefly noticed this death in our review of New York last year, although the sad event occurred about two weeks after the close of our 1904 Assembly. Our own Committee on Necrology have referred to this death in the.fr report, but we cannot refrain from a brief personal tribute. Although we never met Com­panion STRASSER, our official relations were so constant and so pleasant we felt as though we knew him intimately, and his death came as a personal bereavement. One of our earliest official acts as Grand Recorder of this Grand Council was to attest Companion STRASSER's first commission as our Grand Representative near the Grand Council. of New York,. and the correspondence thus opened never ceased until his death. Noth­ing of importance occurred in Cryptic circles in New York but we were promptly· notified of it, and he certainly magnified his office as Grand Representative and testified in numerous ways his appreciation of the honor bestowed. To this were added so many little tokens of personal remembrance. at various times

that we felt drawn into more than an official friendship. His numerous letters bore abundant testimony to his love for Masonry and his zeal in all Masonic- labor, especially in the Cryptic" Rite, and his efforts still closer to cement the fraternal ties between the Grand Councils, in both of which he was an officer, were so marked as to furnish in itself an unanswerable argument in favor of the Grand Representative system. His annual reports as Grand Representative, each year received and referred to our Grand Master, so thoroughly breathed the spirit of pure brother­hood as to be a benediction to the one who read them. Com­panion BENJAMIN STRASSER will always be enshrined in our memory as a model Grand Representative and Mason."

Referring to our remarks under General Grand Council, he is not " on " to the reference to the Honorary Past Grand Mas-

. ter and wonders if New York has one :who was " bumped " off the track by the legislation. No, Companion SHAVER, none " bumped." As in the two largest Masonic Grand J urisdictlons of the world, we have the title of Honorary Past Grand Master. We have given it to one we dearly love; one who has done much more for Masonry in New York than an active Past Grand Master whose name is on the sought for and fought for famous list of " permanents " as well as that of the Past General Grand Masters, and he gives but faint praise in so saying; one who spread the minutes of the Convention _at ·which the General Grand Council was formed;. and as the veteran warrior values the brevet title, the reward of merit bestowed upon him by his beloved country, so does our Masonic Veteran, our Grand Re­corder Veteran, vali1e his brevet rank given him in love and honor by New York. M. · .Ill. · .GEORGE V /\.N VLIET has never offered his name for enrollment on the General Grand Council list, nor does he desire it there. In his modesty he has not even ' pla.ced it upon our own list of Past Grand Masters.

Next _Annual Assembly at Topeka February r9, 1906. M. ·. Ill.· .CHARLES J. WEBB, Topeka, Grand Master; R. ·;Ill.', WILLIAM M. SHAVER, Topeka, Grand _Recorder and Chairman .of Committee on Correspondence.

' : ;

' '

: ' ; ' I I I :

l

; l

i '

i I

' I

66

KENTUCKY - I904.

Seventy-seventh Annual Assembly in Louisville October I7. Thirty-five members present. Of twenty-two Councils on the roll twelve were represented; fourteen made returns with mem­bership 943; .increase, sixty-nine; eighty-seven Companions were greeted in nine. Receipts, $292.25; disbursements, $389.20. New York was auly represented by M .. .Ill. .. WILLIAM RYAN, the Grand Treasurer. We are pained to note his death on No­vember I3, I904, not quite a month after the session. Our loss iu one who has served us twenty years draws us close to our Companions of Kentucky, and New York gives them heartfelt sympathy.

Grand Master BARRETT, who condenses his address to but a few lines over a page, tells us, "There have been no evidences of activity in Cryptic Masonry during the past year," yet the· returns show one Council added twenty-eight Royal Arch Masons, two others fourteen each, and six more from one to thirteen each ; also a return to active life and usefulness of long dormant Kassidean, No. 25, at Hardinsburg. The Committee on Necrology make report on the death of Past Grand Master M. ·.Ill. · .JosHUA SouLE SMITH ( I892-93), which occurred June 20, I904. His portrait is given on Memorial page. M. ·. Ill. ' .JAMES W. HOPPER gives the report a fraternal correspond­·ence, which in preparing he aimed for greatest possible con­densation. He says : " It may be taken for granted that the Most Illustrious Grand Master made his annual address or report, which was either an able and eloquent or a business-like paper. The usual routine business may be taken for granted in each Jurisdiction without being specifically stated in every instance. So it has been the intention to mention matters of general cinterest only, without giving undue attention to details of minor importance." Yes, that's what most of us desire, but we don't always line up on the "minor importance." Under !owa, 1904, he gives question .for question to Companion CLEVELAND, who, reporting a vote · of thanks to the retiring Grand Master " for simply having done his duty," added, " funny, ain't it? " by, " Has Companion CLEVELAND never seen any Grand Master br

'!

' ii I ( f

,i

i I 1:

' ' :

other officer who fell short of tbeir duty? " Besides, a formal expression of approval of an officer's acts does not. cost much, and it is thought, down in Kentucky, to be rather a decent tliing to do. Very likely it will be repeated this year, even if it 1s "funny."

Well they did, courteous Kentucky, and Grand Recorder GRANT does it up in elegant style, as he did the vote referred lo in the first instance, and Past Grand Master MAYES, whom it was all about, and whose portrait is given on the initial page, looks it. · ·

Unfortunately New York does not receive attention. We 'pre­sume our proceedings at the writing had not reached them.

Next Annual Meeting at Louisville October 16, 1905. 'l\'1.'. Ill.' .JOSEPH H. EWALT, Paris, Grand Master; M. '.Ill.· .H. B. GR'ANT, Louisville, Grand Recorder; M.· .Ill:.H. B. GRANT, M. ·.Ill.· .J. W. HOPPER and M. ·.Ill.· .J. G. ORNDORFF, ·'Com­mittee on Correspondence.

LOUISIANA~ 1904.

Now that the Journal is at hand, we supplement our report of last year. Forty-ninth Annual Assembly at New Orleans February 4. Five of their seven Councils were represented. 'Twenty-four Companions were greeted. Membership, 308.; in­crease, 19. Receipts, $191.50; disbursements, $z49.50.

Grand Master JOHN S. ALFRED urges work for the material ·progress and permanent advancement· of the Rite, " laboring for that development which brings success and fame. Not the ;bubble fame, .born of the world in an idle momen~, t0 be the :sport of and disappear with the breeze that bears it, nor that fan;ie which makes the hero of to-day the jest ·Of .the mor.ro:w;, but that enduring fame .that brings no pang of remorse nor •sigh of vain regret. A fame once won, no condition of fortune or vicissitude of time can change or tarnish - the moral, fraternal elevation of our brother by impressing and practicing the great truth of mutual l'eliance, the true philanthropy "-Brotherhood. While attending the 'General Grand Council .among the "Men of Arkansaw " he examined a lexicon in use there and found only one word therein - "hospitality."

' I t ' i

' 1

' i

i

: ' ' r

i >

' ' i

' !

i i '

,

68

LOUISIANA- 1905.

Fiftieth Annual Assembly in New Orleans February 9. Five Councils were represented; seven made returns and paid dues; eighty Companions were greeted in six; increase, 88. Member­ship. January l, 1905, 392. Receipts, $z94; disbursements, $z78.75 .

. Gra11d Master LEVY gives warm tribute to the memory of · M. '.Ill. '.SAMUEL MANNING TODD ( 1865-67), who died Feb­ruary I. His labors in advancement of Masonry ~xtended over a period of fifty years, and a proof of his success was in the fact that every branch of the fraternity had called upon him to pr_eside over its Grand Body.

Cage Council, No. 18, at Natchitoches, and Calcasieu, No. 19, at Lake Charles, were chartered, making nine on the roll. Six of their nine Past Grand Masters were present. Eleven Grand Councils were represented. Grand Recorder LAMBERT, when not engaged with his main duty, divided his extra time between Georgia, New Jersey, Kentucky and ourselves in the Grand Representing line. The transactions of both ye,ars are in a well printed and neat appearing volume, which also contains the Constitution, rosters of membership by Councils, of elective

. officers since organization, and of Grand Representatives to and from their Grand Council, and register of Grand Recorders of the Cryptic world. M.: .Ill.· .Gus D. LEVY, of New Orleans, was again made Grand Master and R. ' .Ill. · .RICHARD LAM­.BERT Grand Secretary and Grand Recorder of Louisiana Ma­sonry, whom the Grand Council have got into the habit of electing to office for the last thirty-five years, was of course elected Grand Recorder.

Next Annual Assembly at New Orleans February 8, 1906.

MAINE - 1904.

In addition to our report of last year, we note from the journal of this session: Ninety-four members were present. All .the Grand Officers were at their stations. Sixteen Councils were represented. Fifteen of their seventeen Past Grand Mas-

ters were present. Receipts, $574; disbursements, $400.87. Twenty-seven Grand Councils were represented, New York by M .. .Ill. .. MARQUIS F. KING.

Grand Master LORD in his address. feelingly alludes to the death (March 29) of M. ·.Ill.· .ALGERNON MARTIN RoAK ( 1873-74). He also tells of the visit to the General Grand Coun­cil and has words 6f praise for their reception by the Companions of the "City of Roses." ·

Our Maine Companions evidently know when they have something extra, ai; they requested that the report on corre­spondence be furnished by the Grand Master elect. They wanted Compat1ion ALBRO E. CHASE for Grand Master, but did not relish the idea of parting with him in the Correspondent's chair, so they voted him both. He gives us· another of his excellent reports, reviewing twenty-eight Jurisdictions. New York is allotted three pages. In his conclusion we find a very interesting resume of action which has been taken on the pre­reqmstte question. He concludes this subject with: "So far as we read, then, this proposition has not been before the General Grand Council since its organization, nor before the Grand Encampment since 1886. The proposition has been placed before several of the Grand Commanderies and in Grand Coun­cils, with the jdea, probably, to get the matter before one or the other of the general bodies, but nothing has come out of this method of procedure. We do not propose to discuss the qi:1es­tion, and now suggest that fr~m our poin.t of view it would seem best that the Councils in all Jurisdictions should be either under a Grand Council which· should owe its allegiance to 'the General Grand Council. or 'should be an independent Grand Council. When this is done and the Cryptic Rite in the several Jurisdictions becomes a Masonic body recognized as such in that Jurisdiction, it may then be possible' to begin to agitate tJ1e ques­tion of prerequisition. There may be a· change in the belief of the. Grand Encampment as great as was the change from the having a ,petitioner for the Orders a non~affiliate Master Mason or· Chapter Mason to the having every Knight Templar a con­'tributing member of a lodge or chapter under a six months' notice."

MAINE-1905 ..

The Fifty-first Annual Assembly in Portland, May l All the Grand Officers were at their stations. Eighty-five Members were present, among the number eleven Past Grand Masters. Fourteen of sixteen Councils were represented; all made returns, paid dues, and had work, greeting 349 Companions; the mem­bership is 3,464, an increase of 274. Receipts, $493.91; disburse­ments, $391.90. Upon opening the Journal we meet the por­trait of our late Grand Representative M:.Ill.·.MARQUIS FAYETTE KING ( 1883), Past Grand Master of Masons, who died October 21, 1904; he is eulogized by the Grand Master in his address, and in special memorial, as also is M.·.Ill:.HoRACE HARMON BURBANK (1884-85), Past Grand Master of Maso1is, Past Grand High Priest, and Past Grand Commander, who died January 8, 1905.

Twenty-four Grand Councils were represented, New York by R.· .Ill:.CHARLES I. RIGGS. It is but a few years since, when serv­ing on the· Committee on Correspondence of another Grand Or­ganization outside of Masonry, Companion CHASE passed before the writer, as its Grand Master in Maine; the same energetic and careful work and the ability then displayed, we again meet with. Notwithstanding the many duties of the Chair he found time to prepare again the Annual Correspondence Report. It may be fancy, but we think it is just a little curtailed; however, as usually, good. New York has a page of fraternal review and Grand Master GARDNER is liberally quoted. There are thirty-three pages and thirty-six Jurisdictions are talked about.

Next Annual Assembly at Portland, May 2, 1906. M.·.Ill:. CHARLES B. ADAMS, Grand Master; R:.Ill.-.STEPHEN BERRY, Grand Recorder; M. ·.Ill.· .ALBRO E. CHASE, Chairman Committee on Correspondence. All of Portland.

MARYLAND - 1903-1904.

The Thirtieth and Thirty-first Annual Assemblies were held in Baltimore, the former November 18, 1903, with M. ·.Ill.·. C. C. ISAACS (in his third term) Grand Master, and the latter November 16, 1904, with M. '.Ill.· .]AMES F. ALLEN presiding.

71

Six Councils were represented on each occasion. One hundred and forty-five Companions were greeted in eight Councils out of eleven making returns. Membership is 827, an increase of ninety-one in two years. Receipts, 1903, $23 l .25; 1904, $224.98; expenditures, $302.52 and $z94.50. Grand Representatives of fourteen and eleven Grand Councils, respectively, were welcomed.

From the address of Grand Master ISAACS we learn our Grand Representative, M. ·.Ill.· .]AMES W. BOWERS, Grand Recorder,· met with a serious accident a short time previous to the Assem­bly and was in the Franklin Square Hospital and on the road to recovery. However, as he was absent at the 1904 Assembly, we fear his recovery was not as speedy as hoped for. New York gives most earnest sympathy to our distinguished Companion in affliction. Grand Master ISAACS refers to their visit at the Tri­ennial of 1903 at Little Rock and the hospitality of Arkansas. Also tells of the honor to them in the promotion of that royal ·Mason, Past Grand Master HENRY CLAY LARRABEE, to the posi­tion of General Grand Deputy Master. Speaking of the many plans tried and suggested for advancement, he says: "My expe­rience has taught me that the true and most feasible plan is, to first elect good efficient officers, Companions who know their duty and are willing to do it. No institution or society can suc­ceed with half-hearted people; we should make our assemblies both attractive and instructive, without which we cannot hope to have our Councils in such a condition as we would desire them."

Grand Master ALLEN notes the death of R. ·.Ill. ·.BEN. STRAS­SER of " Ours " and recommended that his name· be placed on the Memorial page, where it is enrolled. In his visitations he mentions his own Council, King Solomon, No. 13, which has the largest membership of the country Councils and " also enjoys the unique distinction of having more niembers-_than the Chapter located at the same place." No questions arose for decision and no dissensions were brought to his notice. He says: "Whether

· this arises from that 'Harmony which is the strength and sup­port of all institutions,' or from a want of interest, may ·be a question. At any rate, a little more of that ' Noble contention, or rather emulation, as to who can best work and best agree ' is

desirable." On the subject of advancement he says: " The most practkable method, in this Jurisdiction at least, seems to be a greater activity on the part of the officers of the Subordinate Councils and greater zeal in making known to Royal Arch Masons the importance and beauty of the Royal and Select de­grees, and finally greater devotion to the noble principles of our art and greater care to show forth those principles in our daily

·walk and conversation."

The Grand Lecturer both·years reports visits to every Council. The Committee on Correspondence reports the perusal of the Journals received as interesting and instructive, and tell us it would be great pleasure to comment upon them if finances would admit of the publication. We are longing for the increase of shekels, so that the brilliant, genial, and courteous General Grand Chapter Treasurer can give us the benefit of his views of the interest and instruction .

. Next Annual Assembly at Baltimore November 22, 1905. The· bi-yearly volume in the usual neat style in white, blue, and gold with portrait of Grand Master M. ·.Ill.· .JAMES F. ALLEN, of Rockville; M. ' .Ill. · .JAMES W. BOWERS, Grand Recorder; R. · . Ill.· .GusTAV A. EITEL, Acting Grand Recorder; R. ·.Ill.· .JOHN M. CARTER, Chairman Committee of Correspondence, all of Baltimore.

MASSACHUSETTS - 1904.

Annual Assembly in Boston, December 14. Forty-one offi-, cers and permanent members, including all the resident Past Grand Masters, were present. All the Councils made returns, paid dues, and conferred the degrees. Three hundred and fifty Companions were received. Membership 6,570, showing a de-

. crease of ninety-one, which is probably owing to the large num­ber of suspensions (129) and heavy death list (24) of the largest Council. Receipts, $2,196; disbursements, $1,756.67. The Trus­tees of the Funds have on hand $4,191.34.

Grand Master BARKER says: " We have had an anomalous experience in respect to our membership. Although the number affiliated during the year has been unusually large, the number

73

of members at the close of the year is nearly one hundred less than at its beginning, owing ~~tirely to the extraordinary num­ber of suspensions reported. Nearly one-half of these were due to the judicious pruning of the membership in a single Council, which, however, still remains ·the largest in the Jurisdiction. and prob.ably in the world. Until a few years ago the Council had no annual dues; a portion of its membership had become widely scattered and all trace of them lost. It now reports its present membership to be 'all present or accounted for.'" He calls at­tention to the financial policy of Councils, saying: "An unin­terrupted experience for more than a quarter of a century in official station in various Masonic bodies has convinced me that the dues of Subordinate Councils should be ample to meet all necessary fixed charges with a margin for purely charitable pur-1,1oses, so that the body should not be dependent for the orderly and creditable conduct of its affairs nor for the exercise of its charity upon the fees for the degrees. As a certain class of running expenses will usually vary with the volume of work, these might, perhaps with reason, be provided for out of the money advanced by initiates. The time is surely at hand when the financial concerns of the Subordinate Councils are to be of increasing importance and wfien a sound business policy, steadily pursued, will contribute more than ever before to the standing of the Rite in the communities, where Councils are located, a;; well as among the other Mason.ic bodies with which they are in contact.'' On his recommendation, an invitation was given to the General Grand Council to hold its Ninth Triennial in Boston (June I8, I9o6), and a Committee with the Grand Master as Chairman ordered, with full power to arrange for the reception and entertainment of that body.

Fourteen Grand Councils. were represented, New York by M. '.Ill.' .WILLIAM B. LAWRENCE, Grand Treasurer. R. · .P. •. J .. ALBERT BLAKE, General Grand Captain of the Guard, pre­sided at the election and installed the officers i.n his usual digni­fied and elegant manner. At a Special Assembly February I9, with thirty-six officers and perman~nt members and seventeen Councils represented, held for the purpose under a resolution

74

adopted at the 1903 annual, the Constitution was amended by adding a per capita tax of ten cents for increase of revenue. Special Assemblies were also held at Springfield February 22

and Boston Nov.ember II for exemplification of the work of the degrees, which was done in a thorough manner. A large number of interested Companions were present on each occasion. The Seventh Annual Report on Correspondence is from Grand. Re­corder WAITE, giving sixty-five pages of exceedingly interesting reading and reviewing thirty Jurisdictions. New York has due share of his courteous attention. He quotes extensively from Grand Master GARDNER'S address, giving over a page and a ha! f therefrom on the mission of the Grand Representative, and the greater portion of his conclusion which he calls "a picture of the possibilities that lie unfolded in the keeping of the lovers of Cryptic Masonry." A kind word for the writer is ail incentive to trial for better work. We quote some straightforward words from his conclusion as to the condition of the Rite as it appears to him in some of the Jurisdictions. They fit in many a niche: " It is impossible not to feel that too many weak and struggling Councils are created where little hope of their long existence is held out. The utter lack of oversight and supervision by Grand Officers is an element of their early cessation from work. Another element of weakness lie.s in the too rapid promotion of officers, both grand and subordinate, for the best interests of the Rite. Too great lack of business methods in the accounting properly to grand bodies by their subordinates prevents the former from keeping in close touch with the latter. Notwith­standing the impediments which lie in the way of "the greatest success and advancement of the Rite, it is encouraging to see and mark the steady gain that it is making all along the line." In arranging his report he removes some of the data usually given under the several headings of Jurisdictions, placing it in a: table in order to economize space and do away with the some­what monotonous paragraph under each. title. His table gives date of meeting, date of organization, number 0£ Councils, of members, the gain, loss, receipts, expenses, amount on hand, and date of reception of the journals of proceedings. This grouping of information is very valuable for comparison. M:' .

75

Ill. · .FORREST E. BARKER, Worcester (for the third term), Grand Master; R. · .Ill. ' .]. GILMAN WAITE, Masonic Temple, room 209,

Boston, Grand Recorder and Committee on Correspondence.

MICHIGAN - 1905.

Forty-seventh Annual Assembly in Detroit January 16. Eighty-eight members, including fifteen of nineteen resident Past Grand Masters, were present. Fifty-four of the fifty­eight Councils were represented. All made returns and paid dues. Five hundred and nine Companions were greeted in forty­seven of them, one giving 145 of the number. Membership December 27, 1904, was 5,498, not including 240 Emeritus, an increase of 381. Receipts, $1,684.50; expenditures, $1,26I.33.

Grand Master ALTON was detained ·by a belated train, arriving after roll-call. In 'his address on the subject of non-activity iri some of the Councils, he says: " The first cause in nearly all cases I find to rest with the Masters. If they fully realized the responsibilities resting upon them and added to that .realization enthusiasm, there would be a noted increase. in our number. * * * Another reason for these conditions, in my judgment, arises from the fact of a lack of knowledge among Royal Arch Masons, of what and who we ate. The Council should keep pace with the Chapter, that being the body upon whom we are dependent. The remedy also lies with the members. It is your duty, Companions, to present this information to uninformed brothers and to offer them a share in our teachings. Initiation in Masonry must be sought by .the profane, but, having been gained, it is your duty to lead t"he younger brother to further· light. Each and every one of you knows some Companion who would gladly receive these blessings if you would but present the subject to him in a proper manner, and it is your duty to him and to your Council to do so. * * * The success or failure of Cryptic Masonry does not depend upon legislation enacted once a year in this Grand Council, but upon the indi- · vidual efforts of .every member of the Craft."

The Grand Recorder tells tis : " The gain is fifty-nine larger than last year, which was nearly double that of the preceding

year, all of which goes to show ' which way the wind is blowing' and that interest 1n the Cryptic Rite is steadily increasing and should give us all renewed courage to redouble our efforts to promote the prosperity of the Rite." Companions, let us capture this courage; it will work just as well in New York as in Michigan.

Monroe Council, No. l, of Detroit increased its membership during the year to 816. Grand Lecturer LEWIS C. GOODRICH, under last year's directions, held five schools of instruction. His experience convinces. him something is needed to increase inter­est. He ·urges the holding of the regular meetings, with or without candidates; the procuring of suitable robes and para­phernalia, and rehearsing the work that the officers shall become proficient and thereby gain a reputation for such proficiency. His work as laid out last year is ordered continued at the same compensation and the same limit of its cost.

One hundred dollars was appropriated for the furnishing of a Grand Council room in the Michigan Masonic home, under the supervision of the Grand Council Representatives in the Board of Control. A compilation of the Constitution, By-laws, decisions, forms, ceremonies, etc., has been made and issued under· the title "Cryptic Manual/' and was declared official. While he does not appear on the record as opposing the adoption of the Manual, which had no more than been done, Past Grand Master KINGSLEY " entered a vigorous protest against " it, basing his kick upon the fact that after a vain search of its pages for light on a ceremony he was about to perform, he would be com­·pelled to improvise. He then launched forth in a beautiful talk, presenting the retiring Grand Master, on behalf of the Grand Council, " a beautiful Past Grand Master's Jewel," which was heartily responded to by the victim, notwithstanding .he had been "led astray " by the introductory reniarks. The gifted KINGS· LEV'S speech is not reported, yet from our experience in reading 1904 we know it was elegant and cannot blame. the Manual Committee in " giving up " any attempt to furnish him a form. An illustration of Michigan's official Past Grand Master's jewel is given facing the story.

..

..

77

We take a sentiment from the report of the Committee on Obituaries, R. ·.Ill.· .HORACE S. MAYNARD, Chairm_an, having eulogized the _distinguished and titled dead. They say: " But oh ! Companions, nearer and dearer to our hearts were the many who stood with us in the ranks, whom we have held by the hand, whose eyes have gazed into ours, whose lips have called us ' Brother,' but whose voices we shall hear no more forever, who have passed to the great unknown during the year, that never knew a title other than that of ' Select Master.' Their passing fills our hearts with grief and we mourn their deaths. Death has taken our Companions from us, but he has made his dark­ness beautiful with these beloved jewels."

Grand Recorder CONOVER furnishes his second repor! on cor­respondence in sixty-eight pages and thirty Jurisdictions. New York has a page· and a half of kind report. We are inclined io think he takes a little advantage of his duality to prod us a bit, for as the scribe, in. telling of their third position numerically, in mem­be:rship, he says, " New York has been trying to overtake us, but has not yet succeeded," and as the critic, in an opening clause of his report," In spite of the extraordinary effort put forth by New

·York, we in Michigan have our 'claws' on third place yet, and if the ratio of gains continues we need have no unnecessary alarm.'' Again, in referring to Grand Master GARDNER, " He made a grand effort to pull New Y orl<: ahead of the rest in membership and put special stress on that point, but they haven't touched Michigan yet, and we are not a bit frightened." No, my clear Companion CoNOVER, we know it, of course, there is neither fright nor alarm; however, it is happiness to hear you _say so, and we delight to hear the musical whistle once in awhile, for it assures us courage is still on hand; and yet - note that, Grand Recorders, yet...,..- and the yet of the claws clause, and again the ye_t in the last quotation. Do " coming e,;ents cast their shadows befc~re?"

Portraits are given of M. · .Ill. · .DALLAS D. ALTON ( 1904.), with biographical sketch, and in mem6riam of M.' .Ill.' .JOHN CLARK (r86r) and M:.I!l.·.SEAMAN L. DARK (r866) .

Next Annual Assembly at Saginaw May 14, 1906. M.-' .Ill.·. BAYARD A. CHURCH, St. Louis, Grand Master; R. ·'.Ill.·. CHARLES A. CONOVER, Coldwater, Grand Recorder and Corre­spondence Committee.

MINNESOTA - 1904.

Thirty-fifth Annual Assembly in St. Paul October IO. Twenty­nine members, including eleven Past Grand Masters, were pres­ent. All the Councils (seven) made returns and paid dues and were represented; fifty-one Companions were greeted in five of them. The membership is 772, an increase of thirty. Receipts, $250; expenditures, $228.73.

Grand Master LEE is not satisfied with the number in mem­bership. He says: " It should have been long since over the one thousand mark. The Cryptic degrees form with those of the Blue Lodge anq Chapter a trinity whose parts are so closely interwoven and interrelated that no man can rightfully be con­sidered a well inf~~med and fully equipped Mason without pos­sessing all these degrees. * *. * Why should we need to try to increase our membership by making those degrees pre­requisite? Rather let us endeavor to work them in i/O impressive, elaborate, and perfect a manner that we will draw to us all those who love Masonry for its own sake; these will come to us with true and squarely cut blocks to fit into the arches of our Crypt. * * * Our Subordinate Councils owe it to this Grand Council, and this boqy owes it to the General Grand Council, that in return for the honor conferred upon one of our esteemed Companions, that when General Grand Master. SWANSTROM re­linquishes his gavel he may be able to report a marked and healthy growth throughout this Jurisdiction. To accomplish this, we must do our whole duty to the Craft."

Representatives of twenty-three. Grand Councils were present. Our " GEORGE W." must have been out of town, as his name does not appear. M. ':P. ·.ANDREW P. SWANSTROM, General Grand Master, was present and welcomed as his position and loving hold upon his Companions call for. He ga~e an interesting address and installed the officers, in which he was assisted in

..

..

79

elegant form by M. ·.Ill. ' .DWIGHT M. BALDWIN. A committee was appointed to submit to the next Assembly a new or revised Constitution, form of By-laws for Councils, and Digest of Laws and Decisions. The death of R. ·.Ill.· BEN. STRASSER is referred to in the Grand Master's address, by the Committee on Necrology, and his name is on the Memorial page. Grand Recorder MONT­GOMERY submits his fourteenth report on· correspondence in forty-two pages of thirty Grand Councils. New York has four of its pages of courteous review with extended quotations. A p·ortrait of the retiring Grand Master faces the title page.

Next Annual Assembly at St. Paul October 8, 1905. M. ·.Ill.'. CHARLES J. BEVAN, Minneapolis, Grand Master; R. '.Ill.·. THOMAS MONTGOMERY, St. Paul, Grand Recorder and Chairman Committee on Correspondence.

MISSISSIPPI - 1905.

Fiftieth Annual Assembly in Jackson February 21-22, Deputy Grand Master JOHN S. COBB presiding. Fifty members were present, including both their Past Grand Masters. Thirty-one of forty-three Councils were represented and twenty-nine made · returns. One hundred and twenty-five Companions were greeted. Membership is I,439, an increase of fifty-four. Receipts, $823; expenditures, $616.37. Eighteen Grand Cou{\cils were repre­sented, including New York. After opening and before pro­ceeding with business a unanimous message "of affectionate sympathy and condolence " was sent to their beloved Grand Mas­ter in his affliction.

In opening1 his address Grand Master SAVERY says: "I greet you on this, the Semi-Centennial Anniversary of the organization . of the first Grand Council of Royal and Select Masters of Misc sissippi - not as I had ardently hoped and wished for, but from a bed of sickness and a heart full of sorrow." He recommends the adoption, in addition to their own, of the General Grand Council ritual, leaving it optional with the Councils which they shall use. It was so ordered by the Grand Council.

80

In the Grand Representative Correspondence scheme New York was " it" with no second in sight. We quote:

"Companion NoLAN STEWART, Representative of the Grand " Council of New· York, has sent in his report for that J urisdic­" tion, but no other Companion so far has been heard from, '' which prompts the suggestion that possibly there is a necessity "for an early revision of the list of Grand Representatives from " other Grand Councils to this Grand Council and that the com­" missions be given to Companions with a higher appreciation "of the honor which such a commission confers."

Upon the conclusion of the installation, which he had just per­formed, M. · .Ill. · .FREDERIC SPEED addressed the Companions on the absence of the Grand Master. We quote Grand Recorder FREDERIC SPEED'S report of it:

"Companion SPEED, concluding the ceremony, expressed the " sentiments of love and sympathy which went out from the " hearts of all the Companions toward the Grand Master of "the Grand Council, Companion PHINEAS M. SAVERY, in this " his hour of deepest affliction, when death has robbed him of " the companion of his bosom for fifty years, and he himself " lay upon a bed of sickness and said it seemed as if there had " been no Grand Council in the absence of the central figure " around which it revolved and toward whom they all looked " with implicit confidence for guidance. He said that but for

' "Companion SAVERY's endeavors the Royal and Select degrees " would in all probability be still reposing ' within the bosom " of the Chapters,' and that it was to his faithfulness and zeal " that we owe our present degree of prosperity. May our Father " which is in heaven throw around him the sheltering arms of " His love and ever be a shield and defense against every stormy " wind that blows to him, and long preserve him in strength " and usefulness to the Craft he has served so long and well."

This year's portrait is M. ·.Ill.· .WILLIAM RICHARDS (1889).

Next Annual Assembly at Brookhaven upon the Grand Mas­ter's selection of the day.· M. · .Ill. · .PHINEAS M. SAVERY, Tupelo, Grand .Master; M. ' .Ill. ' .FREDERIC SPEED, Vicksburg, Grand Recorder.

·•

•

8r

MISSOURI--:--- 1905.

Fortieth Annual Assembly at St. Louis April 25. Forty-one members were present, including eleven Past Grand Masters. Of fourteen Councils, ten were represented; all made returns and paid dues; eleven had work, greeting 192 Companions. Membership December 31, 1904, was 1,231, an increase of 145; receipts, $1,016; disbursements, $514.50.

Grand Master CARSON was enabled through the special effor'ts of Past Grand Master STEVENSON, Grand Lecturer, to revive Zabud Council, No. 25, at Springfield, dormant since 1899. He

. called attention to the fact, that in 1899 a jewel had been voted to Past Grand Master ALLAN McDowELL ( 1872), which had not yet been presented to him, and recommended that it now be done. He thinks the time opportune that· each Past Grand Master should be furnished with a jewel: "These need not be of great intrinsic value, but they carry with them, to these officers, an expression of our love and esteem, and as the years roll by, they become sweet reminders of the past, and connecting links with the present."

The Grand Council . ordered the jewel for the Past Grand Master named to be procured; also that a jewel shall be given to each retiring Grand Master at the expiration of his term; and each year three additional to the Past Grand Masters until all shall be decorated, beginning with the juniors. Past Grand Master VvM. F. KUHN, with the assistance of Past Grand Master FRED. A. KAGE, installed the officers. The Doctor, who is famed for his courtesy, elegant style, and eloquent speech, so impressed the newly-elected Grand Master in the ceremony that he was re~ warded by him 'with the Chairmanship of the Committee on Visit­ing Companions. Lucky and happy will be the visitors at next session. Biographical sketches and portraits are given of the re­tiring Grand Master GIBBON WILLIAM CARSON (1904), Grand Captain General of the Grand Commandery, and in memoriam of Past Grand Master WILLIAM RIDGEWAY PENICK (1877), Past Grand Master of Masons, Past Grand High Priest, and Past Deputy Grand Commander. Companion MAYO, ·Correspondent,

has reformed; has switched off from his double-distilled reports of the last two years, and gives us again individual jurisdictional review. It seems Grand Council finances are healthier, and he can do it. We get thirty pages and thirty-two jurisdictions, with his usual and valuable table " Statistics of Cryptic Free Masonry," up to date. New York has fraternal notice. We are compli­mented on our elaborate opening exercises, and he says Grand Master GARDNER'S address is "clothed in beautiful language, somewhat literary and historical, all interesting and instructive."

The writer is indebted to the M. '.P. ·.Companion for welcome and kind words of commendation. He bids us " au revoir," as he is now about to retire from his labors " in this field of the moral vineyard," and introduces his successor as "no tyro" and as one who " is quite well known in some fields of Masonic work as a bright, attractive, entertaining talker and ritualist."

Next Annual Assembly at Kansas City, April 24, 1906. R. ·. Ill:.MARTIN T. BALSLEY, Joplin, Grand Master; Comp. ROBT. F. STEVENSON ( P. G. M.), Kansas City, Grand Recorder; P. · .G. '. M. ·.WM. F. KUHN, Kansas City, Correspondent.

NEBRASKA - 1904.

Twenty-fifth Annual Assembly in Omaha, December 14. Dep­uty Grand Master ANDERSON presiding. Thirty-five members were present, including eight Past Grand Masters. Fourteen of the nineteen Councils and one U. D. were represented; eleven made returns; ten had work, greeting 118 Companions. Mem-

. bership October 31, 1904, 845, an increase of 108. Receipts, $449; expenditures, $424.50.

Representatives from nineteen Grand Councils were present, New York in the person of the Grand Recorder.

Grand Master TRUESDALE was unable to be present on account of serious illness in his family. His address was read by the presiding officer. In it we find a thought of the future: "Apply­" ing the rule of percentage, we find that in the thirty-two years "we have been organized, we have six times as many Councils "as then, and in thirty-two years we will have six times as many

•

it

"as now, or in round numbers one hundred and twenty Councils' "in the jurisdiction. Companions, let us resolve that this shall "not be an overdrawn prediction of your present Grand Master." He is not like unto some others for he tells us: " It is not un­" usual for the retiring Grand Master to express regret at not " having accomplished all that he hoped to do when called to " preside over the interests of Cryptic Masonry in the State; in '' my own case, however, I can truthfully say that in undertaking " to follow in the steps of my illustrious predecessors, I have ac­" complished all that could have been expected of me by the Com­~' panions who placed me in the responsible and honorable posi­" tion, or all that I determined that I would do."

In one of his visitations the Council greeted thirty-four Com­panions, among whom was a seventy-four-year-old Royal Arch Mason, who said tci him : " I have been a Mason forty-nine years, "and I have b~en without a goodly amount of Masonic knowledge "these many years, because I did not sooner make entrance to " the Ninth Arch."

Three Coun~ils U. D. were continued. Two hundred and fifty dollars was appropriated to the Masonic Home in .response to the one recommendation of the Grand Master " that the Grand " Council be no longer unrepresented in the work of its mainte­,, nance."

The report on Correspondence is from the Grand Representa­tives of twenty-one jurisdictions. Thirteen failed to report, many claiming non-reception of their proceedings. New York has a good report, as would be expected at the hands of R:.III.-. FRANCIS E. WHITE.

Next Annual Assembly at Omaha, December 13, 1905. M:.Ill:. GUSTAVE ANDERSON, Omaha, Grand Master; R. '.Ill.· .FRANCIS E. WHITE, Omaha, Grand Recorder.

NEW HAMPSHIRE..:_ 1904.

Forty-third Annual Assembly held in Concord, May 16. Forty­two members present, including a full corps of officers and nine Past Grand Masters. All of their fourteen Councils were repre-

sented, made returns, paid dues, and with one exception had work, greeting 171 Companions. Membership April 15, 1904, was 1,787, an increase of eighty-five. Receipts, $637.75; expendi­tures, $593·79·

Sixteen Grand Councils were represented, but we were not there. However M:.Ill.-.Comp. GLIDDEN was present at a Special Session in Rochester, June 19, called for the purpose of constituting Orient Council, No. 14. On this occasion were a couple of interesting episodes : The presentation of a handsome gavel to the new Council by Companion AMASA- HARRINGTO,~, the. able and affable Recorder of Orient Council, Somerville, Mass., and after closing, a banquet.

The Councils were assigned to the Grand Officers of the Ninth Arch for official visitation; reports of visitation to all are ren~ dered. A revision of the Constitution is to be submitted at the next Annual Assembly.

Grand Master JOSEPH BRODIE SMITH has his portrait placed on the line; received the thanks of the body not only for his faithful work as Grand Master, but also as Deputy. Grand Master and Grand Principal Conductor of Work; was re-elected, which honor he declined, and was decorated with a Past Grand Master Jewel.

Twenty-five dollars is to be expended annually by the Grand Recorder for publications for the Masonic Library.

All the Past Grand Masters present were escorted to the Chair and were presented with Aprons, in accordance with last year's resolution.

M.·.Ill:.GEORGE HENRY EVERETT (1891-92) died April 28.

·M.-.Ill:.FRANK DANA WooDBURY submits his Fourth Ahnual Report on Correspondence of forty-nine pages of very interesting reading, reviewing thirty Jurisdictions. New York receives full and courteous attention with liberal quotation in five pages.

There was an episode also at the close of this Assembly -supper - it seems they recur with all assemblies;_ rather a tasty finish, serving to cut short premature speeches, and an incentive tc keep business from dragging.

"

85

The Forty-fourth Annual was called for :May 15, 1905, at Concord.

M. ·.Ill.· .HARRY MORRISON CHENEY, Lebanon, Grand Master; M.·.Ill:.FRANK D. vVOODBURY, Concord, Grand Recorder and Chairman Committee on Foreign Correspondence.

NEW JERSEY -1905.

Forty-seventh Annual Assembly in Trenton, March 21, Grand Master RuDDEROW presiding, with twenty-four members present, including fourteen Past Grand Masters. Five of their seven Councils were represented; all made returns and paid dues; six had work, greeting seventy-one Companions. Membership, 676, a gain of fifty-one. Receipts, $168.75; disbursements, $203.18.

Fifteen Grand Councils were represented, New York with style and dignity by the courteous Grand Recorder. . Our loss of R.·.Ill:.Comp. STRASSER is noted in the Grand Master's address, and his name is inserted on the Memorial page. · M. ·.Ill.' .HIRAM E. DEATS, Chairman, presented the report of

Committee on Correspondence, a concise, well-written document of thirty pages, reviewing thirty-six Jurisdictions, one of which is given to us in courteous terms, Grand Master GARDNER being freely quoted. Illinois is particularly favored with three and one­half pages on account of vV ARVELLE, whom he quotes numerously, and recognizes bis ability, saying: " He does not give much in "the way of statistics, but what is far better, when the Chairman " of the Committee is competent, as in this case, very interesting " comment" on the doings."

The genial Deputy Grand Master, who, as Master of Warren Council of Jersey City, always made a visit thereto delightful both in the Council Chamber and at the following exquisitely de.­signed and built banquet, as a reward for his faithful and able service, was made Grand Master. M:.Ill.·.JoHN B. BERTHOLF~ of Jersey City, is again Grand Recorder.

NORTH CAROLINA- 1905.

The proceedings of this jurisdiction, we understand, are in course of publication, but fear they will not be issued oefore the

86

closing of our report. Grand Master A. B. ANDREWS, JR., who was in attendance at our recent annual, courteously granted· our request for a few notes of their session. As it is not within our ability to equal them we submit his memorandum:

"The Grand Council of North Carolina met at- Asheville; " N. C., on June 6, 1905, with all the Grand Officers present " excepting Deputy Grand Master, Grand Conductor of the " Council, and Grand Steward. The station of the Deputy Grand "Master had been vacated by the death of FERDINAND ULRICH, "who died July, 1904, very shortly after his election as Grand "Commander of the State of North Carolina. All of the five "chartered Councils were represented, also quite a number of "the Grand Councils, New York, however, being absent. The "Grand Master's address dealt entirely with local matters. He " had made no visitations to Councils other than his own, owing " to press of business, and he reported no decisions. The report " of the Grand Recorder showed that all five Councils had made " returns and paid dues. About thirty-five Companions were "greeted during the year, the larger part being in one Council. "The total membership approximates 210. The revenue this " year was larger than heretofore owing to change from the plan " of each Council paying fifteen dollars annually to that of pay­,, ing fifty cents per capita of its membership and one dollar fee " for each ·companion greeted. Among the disbursements re­" ported by the Grand Treasurer was an item of a payment on " account to the Grand Recorder for salary, the Grand Council " being several years in arrears to that Grand Officer for his " small annual compensation. During a recess of the Grand " Council the degrees of Royal and Select Masters were con­" £erred by Enoch Council, No. 5, upon a class of twenty-six " candidates, fifteen of whom, residing in and around Asheville, " received <limits and immediately petitioned the Grand Council " for a restoration of the charter of Ionic Council, No. 6, which " was granted. Among the officers for the ensui_ng year are: "A. B. ANDREWS, of Raleigh, Grand Master; JAMES C. Mu Nos,

"of Wilmington, Grand Recorder (both re-elected), and }AMES "SouTHGATE, of Durham, Chairman of Committee on ·Foreign

•

" Correspondence (reappointed). " Charlotte on Wednesday after "(9th), 1906."

Next Annual Assembly at the second Tuesday in _May

M. ',.Ill.' .Companion ANDREWS has been a visitor to our Grand Council at its annual sessions for a number of years,. and his geniality and enthusiasm in the cause have won a host of friends here to himself and North Carolina, over which Grand Council he so ably presides now for the fourth term.

OHIO- 1904.

Seventy-fifth Annual Assembly in Columbus, October 4. One hundred and nineteen members were present, including all the Grand Officers and fifteen of their sixteen resident Past Grand Masters. Fifty-seven of the fifty-eight chartered Councils and two of three U. D. were represented. All made returns and sixty 11ad ·work, greeting 954 Companions. Membership, October 4, 1904, was 7,590, an increase of 763. Receipts, $4,406.50; dis­bursements, $4,218.37.

As usual the officers and representatives were escorted from the hotel to the Masonic Temple, this time by a delegation of the Companions of Columbus Council, No. 8. An eloquent and courteous welcoming address was given by Past Grand Master EDWIN MORRELL on behalf of the Columbus Companions.

M ... Ill:.A. B. ANDREWS, ]R., Grand Master of North Carolina Cryptic Masons, was a visitor and was received with due honor. Deputy Grand Master WILLIAMS introduced Companions M.·.W:. JOSEPH M. GOODSPEED, Past Grand Master of Masons; M. ·.Ex.·. OWEN B. HANNAN, Grand High Priest; R:.Ex ... Lours P. ScnAus, Deputy Grand High Priest and Deputy Grand Master _of the Grand Lodge; Past Grand High Priests M ... Ex:. WM. M. CUNNINGHAM, M.-.Ex:.]ACOB H. BROMWELL, Grand Secretary of the Grand Lodge, and M:.Ex.".BRENTON D. BABCOCK; R:.Ex.-. ED°vVIN HAGENB.UCH, Grand Secretary of the Grand Chapter and Past Grand Commander; R:.Em.'.WILLIAM T. McLEAN, and R.-.Em:.RoBERT V. HAMPSON, who were courteously received and made welcome to the East, and like courtesy was given the

88

iritrodi1ctor as Past Grand Master of Masons and Past Grand Higl). Priest.

Ohio's officer in the General Grand Council, the· genial R:.P.·. GRAFF M. ACKLIN, G. · .G. · .P. · .C. · .W., · was received with honor due his rank, as also was M.·.P:.ORESTES A. B. SENTER, Past General Grand Master, who surrounded himself with a halo of glory by another of his brilliant speeches in response, and also on behalf of the distinguished visitors.

In his charge to the visiting Grand Officers, who are inspectors of the work, condition, and conduct of affairs of the subordinate Councils, Grand Master LANE states: " The fact that this Grand " Jurisdiction now leads the Cryptic Rite column of the world is

. " a just cause for rejoicing, not so much that we have overtaken " and passed another Grand Council· that has held the place for '' so many years ·With honor to itself and the fraternity at' large, " as the knowledge it affords of the zeai and devotion displayed "by our Companions who participated in the labors of the Secret " Vault which brought about this result; and I would urge upon " all a continuance of this activity in the work, so that we may "maintain the position with cr~dit, and enjo); the honor as long " as possible." Upon the subject of suspension for non-payment of dues he seeks some plan for the reduction of this continued drain on their membership; "he is convinced that if Recorders '' will adopt the plan of sending out notices when payment is due, " it will at least save the forgetful ones and add materially to the "final figures on the balance sheet of the Grand Recorder."

Undoubtedly notices.or bills of dues should be sent to the mem­bers, and to the delinquents at least one additional reminder will in many cases receive response, but there are some forgetters to whom reminders are useless, till the summons to show cause reaches them, or some personal friend to save them from suspen-. · sion interests himself in their behalf and that of the Council. He gives us a little anecdote illustrative of this forgetfulness: "I "was present at an assembly, a short time ago, when two n'lem-" bers approached the Recorder's desk to pay their dues, each of "them brought forth a dollar to settle the bill, when to their sur-" prise the Recorder informed them that one owed three and the

~

I

J I

I I

•

89

"other four dollars, that· seven dollars· would balance both ac­" counts. They balanced and took their seats among the faithful, "and went into a brown study over the fleetness with which years "pass over the head of a craftsman who forgets to pay his dues '" at the proper time, or in their mind, charge the Recorder with " computing time by some lightning system of his own. The in­" Ciclent caused others who were present to inquire how they " stood, all ·of which goes to prove that mal).y such suspensions "are clue to forgetfulness." .

Another matter he touches on is the holding of the regular meetings; while as a rule their Councils follow this course, some have contracted the habit of meeting only when there. is work of

·the degrees .. He says: " Nothing short of a flood or fire should ·· prevent holding regular assemblies at the time named in the "by-laws. What would we think of a merchant who only opened " up his place of business when he felt like it, or when customers "appeared, and then complained of poor business? Compare his "chances of success against a competitor who opened regularly. " There would be but one outcome to such a course. Failure in " one case and success in the other. It is much the same. in our '' work, and I would admonish subordinate Councils that have •; been conducting their business in this way to change at once."

He made a number of visits, among, them one to Warren, No. 58, a Council that but a few years since, a weak and struggling body, , is now ninth in position, due to new life from placing Companions in office who could and would work for its interests. · He is very enthusiastic over this, the greatest event in Cryptic Masonry he had attended in his. twenty years of labor. It was the night of official inspection, the degrees were conferred on twenty-two can­didates, the work being perfection; a delegation was·present from a distance of sixty mile.s; six of the Grand Officers were there, and enthusiasm reigned. A sumptuous banquet, in beautifully· decorated apartments and with fine orchestral features followed; and a witty and e~tertaining speech from the wife of the Master was arnong the number of toast responses. One hundred and two fair ones were co-partakers. The pleasures of the feast garnered they repaired to the opera-house, and there under the sway of

90

Terpsichore and the subtle and entrancing strains of Strauss and other celebrities, was Ossa on Pelion piled to reach the heights of happiness, till tired Nature called a halt.

To these functions went 102·ecstatic Cryptics and twenty-three, not so much so, lined up part of the time, unhappy lookers on who were not as uplifted as the Grand Master, for upon an inspection of the fine portrait on the opening page we surmise M:.lll:.]oHN F. LANE was of the 102. ·

We retire from this interesting address with the quotation of ringing words and good advice: " While the outlook to-day is " brighter than ever before in the annals of this Jurisdiction, we " must recollect that this condition of the Rite is the result of " many years of earnest and constant labor; that it was not "brought about by any sudden awakening of interest or sentiment, " and as one by one they gradually came to the front in the past, so " must others follow in the same order in the future. We cannot "expect every Council to show an increase each year, for the tide "ebbs and flows in fraternity as in nature, and we have every " reason to look forward with confidence to the ultimate pros­" perity of every subordinate Council in this Jurisdiction. I would "suggest to members of all Councils the benefit of judicious mis­" sionary work among eligible and desirable Companions, many " of whom have been led to believe that the Capitular degrees " complete Ancient Craft Masonry, and without investigation pass "on to the Commandery. To whisper good counsel. in the ear " of such Companions, and advise them that the thrilling events " enacted in the third and seventh were further detailed and ex­" plained in the work of the Council, would be simply performing " a duty we owe to the craft. Aside from this laudable effort we " ask nothing. Cryptic Masonry has long since passed the stage " of possibility, each year finds it more firmly established, and the "ranks are filled with a free will and accord membership."

R:.Ill:.]ACOB H.- BROMWELL, Trustee of the Ohio Masonic Home for the Grand Council, gave a particularly interesting re­port, accompanied by the annual reports of the officers of that institution, whose work is carried on by the Grand Lodge, Grand Chapter, Grand Council, Grand Commandery, and the Scottish

91

Rite. "From the Superintendent and Secretary's report, we learn they have 149 residents; 61 men, 36 women, and 26 each, boys and girls, an increase of 17 over last year. The total receipts were $50,608.28; disbursements, $33,328.45, of which $27,187.88 was for maintenance~ There is now $40,683.54 in the Endowment Fund. He also gives a historical sketch of the Home from its inception in I888. The Grand Council contributed $500 to the Expense and $1,500 to the Endowment Funds at this assembly.

Fostoria Council and Machette Council, at Greenville, were granted Charters, and Ohio, at Ironton, was continued U. D.

The Committee on Obituaries report our loss in the death of R.·.III.·.Companiol1 STRASSER.

Companion S. STACKER WILLIAMS, Past Grand Master of Masons, died April 3, I904. He was an able, earnest, and faith­ful worker for over forty years in Masonry, and for eighteen years was Chairman of Committee on Correspondence of the Grand Council. We first met and served . with our dear Com­panion at the I886 Assembly of the General Grand· Council, and found in him a genial and lovable friend, and emphasize the w~rds of his biographer, M:.IIl.·.NELSON WILLIAMS, "devoted in his friendship, had a generous heart, and quick sympath,ies." An excellent portrait is with the sketch.

The pay-roll is $836.80 mileage and per diem ($3) to eighty-two members. As usual a jewel was ordered for the retiring Grand Master. Thirty Grand Councils were represented. New York by M:.Ill.-.WM. M. CUNNINGHAM, who also as Chain~an of Committee on Correspondence presents another of his excellent reports, using sixty pages and reviewing thirty~one Grand Bodies, in which New York has three pages of fraternal attention. " The " efficient work of the Grand Recorder is apparent throughout the " handsome volume of proceedings,'' is the compliment our GEO. VAN VLIET receives this year. Here is his introductory; it is too good to cut : " The outlook for Cryptic Masonry is growing "brighter in every Gran,d Jurisdiction in which its beautiful and " most important Grades are worked with that degree of enthusi­." asm to which they are so justly entitled. The absence of the pre­" requisite feature to further advancement, so long deplored, and

92

"in many instances, in mournful cadences, is more than offset "by the select character of its membership. The true votaries " of Free Masonry are not among those who would use its De­" grees merely as stepping stones to a Grade that would give " them an opportunity to pose in public in the showy dress to " which their ambition only aspires - and the absence of all such " from its Arches is no loss to Cryptic Masonry. The fact that "the gain in membership in the Councils of the Unite'd States "has been for the past twenty years more than I,ooo each year, " should inspire every Royal and Select Master with renewed zeal " in the propagation of the Rite."

Next Annual Assembly at Springfield, October 3, I905. M.·. Ill:.NELSON ·WILLIAMS, Hamilton, Grand Master; R. '.Ill.' .WIL­LIAM E. Ev ANS, Chillicothe, Grand Recorder; M.·.Ill:.WM. M. CUNNINGHAM, Chairman Committee on Foreign Correspondence.

OREGON - I905.

Twentieth Annual Asseinbly in Eugene, April I2. Thirteen members were present, including four Past Grand Masters. Four of the five Councils were represented. All of them and one· · U. D. made returns; two only had work, greeting thirty-one Com­panions. Membership is 289, an increase of thirty-six. Receipts, $I27; disbursements, $82.65.

Deputy and Acting Grand Master DEERING opens his report armouncing the death of Grand Master SEYMOUR CHIPMAN on December I5, I904, paying a fitting tribute to their lost and loved one. He adds thereto: " Free Masonry owes her influence to " the humble, patient workers, who, like our Companion CHIP­" MAN, do well the little things in the field of their immediate " duty, and carry the grand principle of fraternity into their "every-day lives. Fidelity in small things is at the base of every " great achievement. The real strength in Masonry lies not in " numbers, but in absolute, unswerving fidelity to its principles ';and teachings."

He makes a strong plea for the omission of the name of a Com­panion in distress from record in the minutes who is the recipient

93

of relief for dues or otherwise. The proposition that it " should "not be read in Council or made known to any member," .how­ever, is, we think, rather broader than he· intended, and would open a door leading to abuse, or at least give dissatisfaction by injudicious action perhaps on the part of the unknown dispenser of the funds.

A second proposition, that increase of membership should be gained by vesting the authority in the proper officers, to waive the fees for the degrees, when, in their judgment, the Council would be benefited, with the self-suggested question: "Would " it not be for the best interests of Masonry if all fees for degrees " were abolished and a person admitted for what he was, rather " than what he was worth?" together with the previous one were conservatively disposed of on report of the Committee on Doings of Grand Officers : " vVhile we approve the sentiments in our " Grand Master's address recommending that when Masonic re­" lief is granted, that strict care should be exercised not to pub­!' lish the fact, and believe that such is the rule generally followed "by Masonic bodies, it is difficult, however, to understand how " we can dispense charity without the fact becoming known to " some extent. Further, that while we concur in the wish to. in­" crease the membership in this Jurisdiction, yet in the matter of "the payment of fees for the degrees, we are not able to see how " we can dispense with them, as it affords us the financial Ii fe "which keeps us in existence."

Grand Representatives from six Jurisdictions were received and welcomed, New York in the person of M:.Ill.·.M. S. Woon­cocK, from whom emanated the ·pleasing letter r.ead at our last Anuual Assembly by M.· .Ill:.A. OPPENHEIMER, Oregon's Grand Representative to us. A Charter was granted to the Council U. D. as Hiram, No. 7, at Eugene.

Next Annual Assembly at McMinnville, April II, I906. M.·.Ill:.O. A. DEERING, Portland, Grand Master; R. ·.Ill.' .SETH L. · PorE, Portland, Grand Recorder and Committee on Corre­spondence.

94

PENNSYLVANIA - 1905.

Fifty-ninth Annual Assembly in Altoona, February 28. Fifty members were present, including nine Past Grand Masters. Eigh­teen of the twenty-four Councils were represented; all of them made returns and paid dues, and all but one had work, greeting 509 Companions; three of them furnishing respectively 97, 93, and 85 of the number. Membership is 3,049, an increase of 449. Receipts, $1,676.60; disbursements, $1,401.95.

The nine District Deputy Grand Masters make report of all the Councils assigned to them. Grand Master McCoLLUM made ten visits, and at a Special Assembly of the Grand Council in Scranton, November 18, 1904, reconstituted Scranton Council, No. 44, whose warrant was vacated in 1898, with twenty-nine members, which, on the evening of the same day, acted on twenty-nine petitions and greeted fifteen Companions. '

Among the appropriations we note one of $25 to the Masonic Home of Pennsylvania, of which the Grand Recorder was recently appointed the Grand Council Representative to fill a vacancy: Companion MARTENIS seems to have the faculty of falling into a lot of good things, as he held no less than a half dozen positions otttside of the main one. Perhaps the secret is given by the Grand Master who said of him: "His knowledge of Masonic law, and " willingness to give his time and attention whenever called upon "or when opportunity presented, his genial, happy faculty of " smoothing over the difficult places, has laid me under many and " lasting obligations and has endeared him to your Grand Master " as I am sure it has done to many others."

Two hundred and six dollars and forty-eight cents mileage and per diem ( $4) for this Session was allotted to fourteen officers and Past Grand Masters.

The Committee on Testimonial to Grand Master FINNEY of last year performed the duty so acceptably that two of them were retained to do it this year for Grand Master M

0

cCoLLUM. The death of our R:.Ill.·.Companion STRASSER was reported. Past Grand Master FRANCIS, at. the evening Session, delivered

an address commemorative of the semi-centennial of the organi-

95

zation of the Grand Council, under invitation given at the last Annual Assembly, and received the thanks of the Companions for his " masterly " discourse. So interesting is it, and attractive from beginning to finish, it is almost impossible to quote 'it ill part; however we cannot refrain from a couple of selections: "The date of July 4, 1776, the time when our forefathers claimed "the right of these United States of America to a place in the "world's family of nations, will always be cherished and honored " as the most glorious day in our political calendar - the birth '! of the Republic. A similar sentiment, born of our love for "Cryptic Free Masonry, has led us at this time to celebrate and "mark as a conspicuous event in our history the Fiftieth Anni­" versary of the birth of this Grand Council of Royal and Select " Master Masons, which, strictly speaking, occurred December "30, 1854. * * * I am pained to observe a movement in " progress among the Craft to undermine the foundations on " which our fathers reared the glorious structure of Free "Masonry. There are some who teach that the birthplace of " Free Masonry was not on the soil of Palestine, sacred alike to "Jew and Gentile, but on the marshy banks of the River of Egypt "Take Hamlet from the play of Hamlet and what is left? Blot "out Jerusalem, the Temple, and the Sacred Scriptures from Free "Masonry and what remains? Was Egypt the cradle of the " Craft? Egypt! the -land denounced in Scripture as the basest " of the kingdoms? Egypt! that groaned for ages under the iron " hand of caste? Egypt! whose pyramids, temples, and tombs are ""but the mighty monuments of a despotism that_ deemed the lives " of millions as only fit to feed the vanity of a king and the super­" stition of a priest. Egypt! whose symbols of Deity were birds, " bugs, bulls, crocodiles, cats, dogs, and snakes. How could the "genius of Free Masonry live for a m&ment in such an atmo­" sphere of tyranny and degradation? Perish the thought! Shall "we hurl King Solomon from his throne and place thereon the "hawk-headed Osiris? Shall we cast from our altars the Sacred " Scriptures and put in their place Egypt's Book of the Dea~? "Say rather, ' If I forget thee, 0 Jerusalem, let my right hand " forget her cunning, and may my tongue cleave to the roof of my

"-mouth.' Remember the debt of gratitude the world owes the " Hebrew race. Greece honored Phcenicia as the mother of ~er ,; alphabet, but the Phcenician alphabet was the child of a Hebrew. " To the Hebrew race we owe not only our letters, but our laws, "our literature, our religion, and our Free Masonry. All juris­" prudence rests on the. foundation of the Ten Commandments, "and the beginnings of authentic· history are. in the. Book of "Genesis. We have reason to believe that the earliest Greek " poets and the w.isest Greek philosophers, even Plato himself, " drew their inspiration from the Hebrew Scriptures. When a " few wretched. huts alon·e arose from the Seven Hills of Rome " and Greece still wore the garments of barbarism, the glorious "Temple of King Solomon glittered in the sunlight, and Jeru­" salem rejoiced in the golden age of her history. I am proud to " think that our Masonic tree sprang, not from the slimy shores "of the Nile, but from that sacred mount where dwelt for ages "' the oracles,of God. Companions, hold fast the traditions of Free " Masonry and treasure them in your hearts, ever cherishing them " as a sacred heritage from our fathers, the glorious gift of the ';ages past."

Thirteen Grand Councils were present by representation, New York by Past Grand Master GEORGE C. JOHNSTONE, an active and efficient worker for the prosperity of Pennsylvania, now filling the offic.e of District Deputy Grand Master for the Second Visitation District.

Again we have a fine report on correspondence; it takes in forty-six pages and tells about thirty-seven Grand Jurisdictions. This time it' is from Past Grand Master MARTENIS, who was ap­pointed to the Chairmanship to fill a vacancy. He gives New York two full pages of

0 kind review and compliments us in " the

" book, printing, arrangement, and cuts are works of art, and " there is no better work in that line that comes to our notice." He quotes Grand Master GARDNER, giving his " mission of a "Grand Representative" and extensively from his "conclusion." In ending he tells us it is his first report, and that as he grows older he expects to do better, and hopes his present effort will be appreciated. It is, and we are preparing ourselves for a banquet

''

•

97

in the future, as the offered coilation is so good. The handsome portrait greeting us with whole-souled welcome, as we open the Journal, belongs to the retiring Grand Master, DAVID 0. Mc~ COLLUM. There is one about midway, facing the report of the Doings Committee, with pleasant and genial expression, rat!ier overcast with a look of determination, as if he did not like to differ with the Grand Master, b.ut it must be done, in not approv­ing of a dispensation to elect a Deputy Master to fill a vacancy caused by that officer having been elected to the Recordership, holding that their Constitution provided that elective officers shall continue in office one year, or until their successors respectively be elected and installed; also that no member of a Council shall hold more than one office at one and the same time. This was, however, only one disapproval, and they gave eight approvals and lots of commendation. It is of Past Grand Master CHARLES CARY

· ( 1897), Chairman of Committee on Doings of Grand Officers. Another at the close of the semi-centennial address· is of Past Grand 1\faster CHARLES KING FRANCIS ( 1887), and shows the scholar and student, in deep thought, with a slight shadow resting thereon, probably caused by the act that aroused his indignation, as expressed in our last quotation of his address.

Next Annual Assembly at New Castle, February 27, 1906. M:.P.·.GEORGE ALBERT GORGAS, Harrisburg, Grand Master; M.·.P:.FRANK W. MARTENIS, South Bethlehem, Grand Recorder and Chairman Committee on Foreign Correspondence.

RHODE ISLAND - 1902-1903-1904.

The Forty-second, Forty-third, and F~rty-fourth Annual As­semblies were held in Providence respectively on April 8, April 14, and April 12, with thirty, thirty-seven, and thirty-one members present, including sev'en Past Grand M~sters upon each occasion. Four the first year and three the last two years out of five Councils were represented. All made returns. Four had work the first and second year and all in 1904, greeting 90, l 16, awl 140 Companions. The increase in membership was 52, 81, and l 10, the present membership being l,723. Receipts were $258, $197.39, and $250.36; expenditures, $255.09, $110.55, and $97.90 .

Ten, eleven, and thirteen Grand Representatives were present: M.:.Ill:.ALBERT H. CUSHMAN from New York was away from the 1902 Session, but was present at the remaining two. Grand Master WILLIAMS presided at the election and installed the officers of all the Councils in his year of service, and had witnessed the conferring of degrees in all but one body. In commending the work in its manner of performance he remarks: "Too much can­" not be said as to the necessity of our conferring the degrees of " Free Masonry in a manner which will impress the novitiate " with the true significance of the lessons which they are intended "to teach, and our care should always be to prevent anything "that would in any way cause offense to the most sensitive can­" didate. It is especially important that we do not lose sight of " this thought in the conferring of the S. · .E. · .M.' .degree, and " that we do not permit ourselves to allow the entertainment of " the members to take the place of the proper instruction of the . "candidate."

Grand Master GILLEN says: "Our membership has gradually " and constantly grown, though not as rapidly as the importance " of our Order has warranted, and we shall look 'forward with "pleasure for the time to come when the Commanderies will se­" lect their membership only from Council members. This would " give an impetus and inspiration to Cryptic Masonry and place " it upon that high plane of usefulness to which its beauty, sub­" limity, and impressiveness so justly entitle it."

We sincerely hope ere the accepted time "the scales of doubt "and darkness" shall fall from our Companion's eyes, and that he shall realize the Cryptic Rite is already on that plane and has been for some time. Why take so much pleasure in looking for what would most likely prove an undesirable condition? Royal Arch Masonry is the grand field for our work as well as that of the Templar. Many Christian Warriors are so ener­getically engaged in knightly warfare and pilgrimage as to be of little use in the "noble and glorious work of rebuilding." and would not be willing workers with us. Uninterested members in our Crypts are not desirable; better far, the few earnest workers, who naturally attract to companionship those of lil~e nature,

•

99

making the vault ring with the musical sound of the busy trowel of enthusiasm. Our labor appeals to the builder, to the studious searcher, and to him who will enjoy the close communion of kindred spirits. Such a band of Companions, ever "brightening " the chain of friendship," proclaiming the ever-living principles of fraternity, of manhood, is indeed "all powerful."

Grand Master KNIGHT reports eleven visits, having presided at the elections, and installed the Officers of all the· Councils. A condensed but most interesting report on correspondence 'is given by Rev. Dr. RUGG, Grand Chaplain: A general statement of conditions in the General Grand Council and its constituents and in the (so-called) Independent Grand Councils among which is Rhode Island. He says: "As regards the interest and pros­" perity of Cryptic Masonry, it can hardly be questioned but that " these may be safeguared as well by Independent Grand Councils " as by Grand Councils supported by the authority of the General " Grand Council. There is, however, a bit of sentiment in the " matter; and then, as we provide for a national organization in " Capitular Masonry and in Templary, why should we not do the "same in the Cryptic Rite?" As Companion KUHN, of Missouri, not inaptly puts the case: "In union there is strength and es­" tablishment; in isolation there may be lonesomeness." Under the state of the Rite, to justify his optimistic expression, he makes several-quotations, one from M.·.P:.Companion OsGOODBY in New York's 1903 Journal.. Of the Rite he says: " It is stronger " in every respect than it was a few years ago. There is more " unity of thought and action among its members than ever be­"' fore, and certainly a corresponding. increase of zeal in main­" taining and promoting the interests of this Branch of York " Masonry." A few words from his story of its importance: " Intrinsically the Cryptic Rite has much to commend it to the " intelligence and moral sense of brethren familiar with primary " Masonic teaching. Its references t ,. historic personages are both " interesting and suggestive; its forms and ceremonies take on " many impressive features; while the ethics which pervade the " whole system are of such a character as to entitle it to respect. " It has legend and symbolism which appeal to· the imagination

IOO

"and the conscience, and its history and traditions traverse the "lh1es of Free Masonry at numerous points. It is a link in the " Masonic Chain. It is an essential part of a complete system, "* * * to analyze, harmonize, and use the entire system, to "preserve the degrees, to teach the truths - there must be the "organization. The Council is essential for the -Rite. What " can be better than to stand by the organization and plan for its "growth· and increased usefulness? But we may· not expect "this branch of the ancient system to draw the multitude after '; it. It can never be as prominent nor as popular as are certain "Spectacular Orders." Under Essentials and Accessories, we quote: " There are certain things which hold foremost place " in the Masonic System; these cannot be set aside nor ignored "without peril to the institution. There are other functions and " objects, however, which properly belong to Masonic life and ex­" pression, but which ought always to be regarded as holding "only a secondary place. The essential elements that attach to "and are identified with Free Masonry are certain great moral "truths pertaining to the conduct of life. The being and rule "of Jehovah, man's accountability, his progress toward intel­" lectual and moral enlightenment, are the principal things taught " and illustrated in Lodge, Chapter, and Council. Free Masonry "meets man on this high plane. Its essential and highest life " is thus expressed and its principa1 obligations are thus set forth. " But there are accessories in the Masonic System. These in­" elude lessons of science and secular wisdom, material advantage "and mutual helpfulness, social benefits, and many privileges " and results ·that go naturally with the good-fellowship which " Masonry provides, and give zest to the life of every true Crafts­'' man. Recognize these forces and results, but do not put them " into the first place. They are accessories, not essentials. Free "Masonry does not exist .that it may provide banquets and " parades - that it may entertain and amuse its own members " and others outside its lines - that it may quicken social feeling "and so dispense light and cheer; but rather does it exist for a "higher, nobler purpose, to teach men - to train them - to help "them live at their best and be of service to their brethren and " to the world at large. The foundation stones of the Masonic

. 0

.I.

•

IOI

" Institution are Brotherly Love, Relief, and Truth." He con­cludes with: "A Council will have prosperity if zealous brethren " manage its affairs and give direction to its work. * * * "Carlyle's Gospel of Work is, perhaps, the best prescription for " all of us - in Masonry and in life. It is the summons o{ nature " and of Goel. ' Be no longer a chaos, but a world.' Produce " something, do something, give the utm~st thou hast in thee for "the cause, the institution, for the glory of God and the service "of thy brother man. ·whatsoever thy hand findeth to do, do it " with thy whole might; so shalt thou be blessed in word and in "deed; and have place in the ranks of those faithful workers who " help the world to better things."

We note the loss of M:.Ill.·.Enwrn BAKER (I88I-82), Grand Secretary of the Grand Lodge for twenty-nine years, died May 15, I90I, and M.·.Ill:.STILLMAN WHITE (I87I-72) Past Grand Master of Masons, died April 3, I903. This year, 1904, is the printing year and Grand Recorder GREENE sends out the trans­actions of the three years in a neat and well printed volume. It has portraits and biographical sketches of Grand Masters ~1:.Ill.·.S. PENROSE WILLIAMS ( 1901), who was called to the Grand Secretaryship of the Grand Lodge within a month of his promotion to the chair in the Grand Council; M:.Ill.·.CuARLES Aucus'rus GILLEN (1902) and M.·.Ill:.GEORGE CooKE KNIGHT ( 1903). It als.o contains rosters of Councils and their Officers; Perman~nt Members of the Grand Council; and of the elective Grand Officers from its formation.

The 1905 Annual Session was called for April II, at Provi­dence. M.·.Ill:.\i\TILI.IAM H. ScoTT, Providence, Grand Master; :R. ·.IlJ.·.\VrLLIAM R. GREENE, Providence, Grand Recorder; R:.Ill: HENRY \V. RucG, Providence, Committee on Correspond­ence.

SOUTH CAROLINA- I905.

Forty-sixth Annual Assembly in Charleston February 14. Nineteen members were present. Five of their six Councils were represented. 'The six made returns and paid clues. Seventeen Companions were greeted in three of them. The membership is 206, an increase of ten. Receipts, $129.50; expenditures, $108.72 .

102

Grand Master JAMES R. JOHNSON congratulates the Grarid Council upon meeting with unbroken ranks - ~'our number com­plete." As other jurisdictions are not all so fortunate he joins with the bereaved in mourning the loss of their loved ones, noting ours i~ the death of Companion STRASSER. He calls atten.tion to the aprons in the bill of dress of the General Grand Council, and recommends the change from the black triangle bordered by reel, they now wear, which recommendation was adopted. A report on correspondence he strongly urged and had requested the Grand Recorder to prepare was arranged for. One of the dor­mant Councils, vVynne, No. 4, at Anderson, was revived during the year. As might be expected, there is a good report on cor­respondence by the Grand Recorder of twenty-two pages covering twenty-four Grand Jurisdictions. It is greatly to our loss that New York does not receive attention. The rect;ption of our pro­ceedings is not noted, which is not easily understood, for our veteran Grand Recorder VAN VLIET is very careful in mailing copies to all Grand Jurisdictions. Grand Representatives from sixteen Grand Councils were welcomed, New York not among ili~. •

Next Annual Session at Charleston February 13, 1906. M. · . Ill. · .F. E. HARRISON, Abbeville, Grand Master; R. ·.Ill. · .ZIM­MERMAN DAVIS, Charleston, Grand Recorder and Correspondent.

TENNESSEE - 1905.

Fifty-fifth Annual Assembly in Nashville, January 23. All the Grand Officers in place. Thirty-seven members were present, ·including twelve Past Grand Masters. Fourteen · of fifteen Councils were represented; all made returns; only six had· work, greeting 47 Companions. The membership is . 532, an increase of forty. Receipts, $251; disbursements, $280.88.

Grai1d Master GOODLETT made but one official visit. The Com-1i1ittee on Jurisprudence which looks after affairs in general regrets his inability to do more, but forgive him, saying: "Realizing that in "the depths of bis heart the disappointment was as great to him­,, self as to his Companions of the subordinate Councils." In a list of appropriations arc the usual twenty-five dollars to the Masonic

-------- ------- -------

'·

D

( ·,

•

. ,---------------------------------,

Library Association and fifty dollars to the Endowment Fund of the Widows' and Orphans' Ho1~e. Sixteen Grand Councils were represented, New York by M ... Ill:.JoHN -B. GARRETT. Nineteen Royal Arch Companions were e_lected and the degrees were conferred upon them, in accordance with the resolution adopted at the I904 Annual Assembly. Past Grand Master ANGEL S. MYERS (I887),Past Grand High Priest and Past Deputy Grand Master of the Grand Lodge, died February 9, I904. Past Grand Master FLENNIKEN gives a short but effective report on corre­spondence of ten pages and nineteen J urisclictions, New York, 1903-04; passing in review. Sure! Companion FLENNIKEN your presnme is correct - and as one good turn deserves another, don't be deceived by the other printer si1bstituting IRVING M. HoMMENDIEN for Grand Master IRVING L'HoMMEDIEU, nor for­get that when he puts forth VAN VLIN'r he means VAN VLIET, which is the style of our Grand Recorder.

Next Annual Assembly at Nashviile, January 29, I906. The portrait of the Grand Master, M:.Ill.·.vVrLLIAM A. SMITH of Columbia is the initial page. R:.Ill.·.W1LLIAM A. CLENDENING, Nashville, Grand Recorder; M:.Ill.·.M. F. FLENNIKEN, Knox­ville, Committee on Correspondence.

WASHINGTON - 1904.

Ninth Annual Assembly in Seattle, June 23. Every Officer at his post. Eight Past Grand Masters (all excepting the two honorary) were there; in all twenty-four members were present. Six of the seven Councils were represented; all made returns and paid clues; four had work, greeting eighty-nine Companions. The membership is 556, an increase of roo. Receipts, $246; expendi­tures, $I84.09.

Grand Master \VEYMOUTH at the request of Companions in Tacoma, Seattle, and Spokane, changed the elate of meeting from the thirteenth of the month in view of the cleclication of the new Masonic Temple at Tacoma on the earlier elate. Acknowledging that there might be no authority for his ·action, he believed the cir­cumstances warranted him in assuming -the responsibility. He

issued a dispensation for a council at Vancouver, which, in the absence of a report from that body, was continued. Seventeen Grand Representatives were introduced and received with appro­priate honor. vVe do not find Judge UPTON'S name among them, consequently New York was not represented. R:.Ill.-.Companion HARE gives the report on correspondence, rather brief, as he owns up, but it conveys quite a deal of information; only seven­teen pages are used and thirty-one Jurisdictions are reviewed. New York has a due share of attention: He says our " proceed­" in gs are embellished with two handsome portraits." We re­ciprocate, only more so for they have five of them. M:.Ill.·. FRANK P. WEYMOUTH (1904), the distinguished appearing Grand Recorder; Past Grand Treasurer, DAVID L. DEMAREST; M.·.Ill:.\VrLLIAM H. UPTON (Hon.) and M.'.Ill. ·.WALTER L. DARBY (Hon.).

The 1905 Session was ordered for June 20, at Bellingham. M.·.Ill:.J. EDMUND CATES, Tacoma, Grand Master; R.' .Ill.'. EDw ARD R. HARE, Tacoma, Grand Recorder and Correspondence Committee .

....