The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1871-05-03

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"A quorum of shares being, present o,
represented, the meeting proceeded to bust.
ness. st,st,ef, 4{,..sS Is II - 55r i. g5eg
aSe a. s. PRESIDENTS REPORT. Z g.. -.
The report Of William b. Isaacs. ESD,
president of the association, was then read
1t commences with a brief and interesting
Tesunt of the operations Of the association
from The 7th of May, 1853, to the end OF
says: 80 80. To John Robin ;McD Daniel ESQ.,,
are we Indebted for .sF lssass.7s:sf !
a, 1, THE INCEPTION OF TIE IDEA -
OF erecting in the city of Richmond 4 build.
ing worthy to be- owned and managed By
the very highly respectable order Of Free
Masons. A proposition coming from such
q source received very courteous considera-
ton at the hands Of the fraternity In this
city, but did not, assume tangible form
and shape until the session of the Grand
Lodge OF Virginia, held In December, 1851.
During that session q. preamble and series
OF resolutions were adopted appointing q
special committee of nine to. petition for
and obtain charter. To the untiring zeal,
energy, aud personal influence; of the very
distinguished and erudite Mason named
above. and who was chairman of the special
committee, the charter was granted, and
on the 10th of March, 1858; the Masonic
Temple Association of Virginia became
BODY PoLITIc AND CORPORATE. AZ
The Board of Trustees named in the act
Of incorporation, consisting of John Robin
Mcdaniel, Richard o.. .Haskins, VIM. B.
Isaacs, John D. Wexford, sPowhatan b.
Starke, Leopold G.. p. Cowper, Wm. II.
Hartman, and Edward III. Gill, held their
first meeting on the 7th of May, 1858, and
organized by the election Of John r. Nc
Daniel president, John Dove secretary, and
Chas. w. Purcell treasurer. Under their
efficient administration active measures
were taken, and prosecuted with much
yigor, towards the accomplishment of the
desired object. = -
'.i.ss LOT PURCHASED. -
On the 18th of April, 1859, they succeed
ed in making a purchase of the very yalua-
BILE and eligible lot Of ground situated on
the corner of Main and 9th streets for the
round sum of $50, 0Q0-one.half payable in
cash, the residue In, three equal annual in
stalments of 5000 each, bearing interest at
the rate Of 6 per cent. per annum. The af-
fairs of the association looked so prosper
GUS and flattering as 10 induce the Board of
Trustees on the 9Th of April, 1860, to adj
vertise for plans and specifications for q
building, covering the whole front on Main
street by 100 feet on 9th street, to be five
stories high-the first story Is feet, the Sc
cond IS feet, the third 20 feet, the fourth 16
feet. The first and second stories were to
be for public use, and the others for
Masonic purposes: In conformity to instruc-
tions, advertisements were inserted in the
Richmond papers offering rewards for the
best plans, and circulars embracing the
same general purposes were issued to such
architects at home and abroad as made ap-
plication for them. On the 18th of October
following the trustees held special meet
ing, and the plans submitted-three in
number-Were duly and very critically ex-
amined, but none of them being accompa-
MED by specifications or estimates of cost
they were placed in the custody of a men,
Der of the board TO be held by him in
allegiance. Being placed in the office of
the present president, they remained there
securely until the eyer-memorable Sd of
April, 1865, when they were brought forth
dalism which characterized the mob of that
day, they were ruthlessly and wantonly de-
stroyed. ....,. :. -1.z,,,sS. =
DURING THE WAR. ;r
But few meetings of the Board were held
from the 18th OF October, 1860, until the
close of the war, and no business worthy
of special mention appears to have been
transacted. In the year 1862 The legatees
of the Blairs' estate refused to receive
money on account Of the debt due them,
and consequently the accumulatfons of the
next three years were lost to the associl-
ton. leaving it in debt at the close of the
war. In the meantime many and various
changes had taken place in the member
ship Of the Board OF Trustees. The first
meeting held ----- 4
SUBSEQUENT TO THE WAR T.
was on the 11th of December, 1866. at
which were present Messrs. Jas. FL Grant,
X. o. HaskIns, Thos. f. Owens, JAS. A.
Scott, w. B. Isaacs, and the secretary and
treasurer. At that meeting the board was
called upon to accept the resignation of its
very distinguished president, John L.. Me-
Daniel, and James Ii. Grant was elected to
fill the vacancy. The legatees of the Blairs'
estate becoming, perhaps justly, clamorous
for the balance due them, it was necessary
to take some prompt and efficient measure
to meet their demand, and rather than have
our property emasculated of its fair pro-
portions by sale Of a portion of the lot,
appeals were made to the various Masonic
grand bodies, which promptly responded
through their respective finance commit
tees, and with the contributions thus OPP
portunely made, added to receipts from
other sources, the board was enabled to
pay the balance due, and on the 18th day Of
October, 1869, the title to the property was
perfected. ss.as.s
THE. RAvAGEs OF DEATH. /
h Death has been busy in our midst We
mourn the loss of many valuable members.
It ia becoming in us to bear a tribute OF
affection to the memory of W. I'll. Hartman,
Edward 81. Gill, Richard 0. Haskins, Pow
hatan B. Starke, and James FL. Grant, all of
whom performed their portion Of the Iabors
us members of the Board, and bore uncom-
pIainingly the burdens and heat OF the day.
CHANGES IN THE BOARD. 49,.
In February last, continues Dir. Isaacs,
il became necessary, in consequence ol.Va-
cancies, to fill and reorganize che Board.
resigned the position of treasurer, which l
had held for brief period, and was COM
plimented with that of president. AT that
meeting it was deemed expedient to ask
from the Legislature, thenin session, SUM-
dry amendments to the charter of the asso-
ton. They were readily granted, and are
herewith submitted to the association for
your ratification and adoption. =:
FINANCIAL.
A condensed statement is then presented
of the affairs Of the association as they
stood OIL the 1st of November last: 49,
Assets valued ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS. $50 92S 81
Capital sock paid In ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS. 81 s25 TO
Surplus. .$22 1872 60
From " hich deduct chs accrued interest s'ysE
due the stockholders from the date OF '.sz-'-
their respective payments 10 November
l. @losi ~
Surplus -................ -. 1852 50
Being Just, Invisible surplus over and
above the capital stock and interest ac- -
crned thereon equal to 10 per cent on !;
sha a.iaina Guhscrinttnu but ss this