, 1875-06-06
L. G. Mackey on the Early History Of
the Order.
Meeting ct the Grand Lodge Of Odd
Fellows OF Minnesota,
0bsnge Of Time Of Ledge Elections~-Ncw
Encampments.



hoanek Tuesday. One hundred and 6fty-dE
Lodges were represented. 1t WAS i much large
gathering than last year. The Grand Master
address IVES we1-psepayed document. 4 synop
sa il Eiven, more particularly OF that part upo'
the subject OF dancing in lodge ROOMS, nhtc]
oAased sucn , disturbance 1t Dubnqne fes
paoutts ago. In relation to this matter he said
During the sear have been called upon and hzv,
Esds several decisions, eonoe Of them reversing decis
ton1 hareto5orH made, and approved by this Gr2pt
Lodge, These decisions hArs been submitted 70 IL
Cour:tee on jurisprudence, and will be reported tt
xoa through that Committee. regret to BAY that
ii my dsasions prohibiting dancing in ths lodge
room n connection with festival, las occ-sionet
ST: tn and o1tsaae Of the fraternity than couls
have Elhhed-
This circumstances out 0. which th1s decision grew
vii statt br1c1y follows: Since the dedication O
TIA Fres Nssons' Hall in ths City ot Dubuque Feb
II, l8:l, which was closed with festival and dance
has boeu thu custom Of the craft to hold one Of or
assemblies annually, at which the wtyeH, daughters
rre.eat snd IN H. social ea.tes q suas
occasions, w1saout having the rsoprey Of such pro
seedlings e:ucd IN question.
During the past winter, the Bosrd Of Directors o,
ana Frte MaeoDs' H:n ALSO iatoa had In coatempla.
non the holding Of the usual annual festival, and
ea to M aqs seas aas
the Lodgc--ooH by brother and member Of one Of
sha Dubuque Lodges. ruled thst the protest having
beer uaae tnt daueA IL cc1reetiun with tie proposed
fe.va to be even under ths direction Of the Board
II tie Free Assons Hall Association, could not rate
pace II LIE 11&e-Fof11 TuuuE Was TtEE1Sed
with faro. by ts Board, by the brethren generally
In that city, hut the dance aud festival vers finally
do not desire to deny that much Ill feeling grew
out Of this matter. Statements sOzoswhat exaggerated
~ere unfortunately given to tho public through the
pres.. which tended ~ widen the difference By
slssever channel eaid publicity made is uncer-
lain; but it Was deeply regretted, not only by your
Grand Master but By the entire ts7tasn1ty Of Du-
hu4re.
! EN- most htpFy 70 state, however, that the whole
matter far myself snd the craft in Dubuque are
concerned, has been adjusted by tho uuartnoas
adoption ct resolution by the larg~rt and most
influential meeting Of FEeenasons ever had in the
Guy !netndinE the ssnels o. ths ercn!s1 which w4s
meeting the brethren d:sarpxei al intentional dis
hcnot to the perron Office Of the Grand Master in
previous aoa even in the issuing Of the circular
rnd a1scial-aad Ill intention Of appealing from the
dec;sIou Of the Grand Master to The Subordinate
Lodges. o. 70 rsneet upon hiu mot:rea W Tats aeton
sud wealeloed Vas the acion Of the Dubuque breth~
rsn cn this occane0 and harmony Was fully restored
eises closed With banquet. and - the brethren
turned to their homes I'll felt well {laaeed, and
joiced 1t the eesteme1t that had been effected But
the QUESTION Of dancing IN Loderoo1ra remains to BE-
decided DT vou.
Th- prctest anu my action thereon WAS based upon
The following resolution passed By tun Grand Lodge
Of Iowa in ls5s: <sotr<d, TIA: the Grand Lodge is
opposed TO the przetcs which has preraied 10
e1tens OF connecting dancing With Masonry, or using
hlls
Accompanying the address Was thu financial
report OF the Treasurer aud Secretary.
The Grand Masters financial report shows re-
ceipts, {2AL 90; disbursements, Sl55.55 leaving
balance unexpended Of $12s.75
Tho Grand T1easuro1's report shows receipts,
qI2, 662. 20 disbursements s12,407.27; Ic%ying
I bAlance on hand Of S255.23- The bond and
note account shows United States bonds On hand
ot $1o, $50 one note due IN 1876, for $500,
making total Of S1l, $50.
C.c -%1-SorN n4.N nS.f.
3L375 expenditures, 81. 1857 !; balance On hand,
g.
Nineteen new lodges we're instituted during
the year. Des Moincs v2a selected ior the
meeting next rear.
The h1rt business before tho Lodge Wednes-
day the election OF odlcers, which resulted ~
follows:
q. Il. Bothert, Keokrk, H. g.. RI; c.H.
Shaw, Musc1t1uo4 S. g. "; Alfred Wfugate,
Rivertor. ]. G. VI; William L. Cotton, De.
G. Secretary.
TIE appointed ofdco.s are:
J. n. Wllson, Newton, D. G. II. J. s. An |
de1son, De Witt, G. Chaplain; B. r. Sherman, |
ve1Iv, s G. D.; y. F. Storey. Council Bluffs, J.
G. D.; Tbeo Schriener, Mt Pleasant, Grand |
Tiler; J. l. Bowie, Centrevlle, G. Marshal D.
G. BARLEY Sac City, S. 6. S. !; l.. IT. AeElaeHr,
Alton. J: G. s.; f. Young Epworth, G. S. B.;
Joha s. Ee1 Montrose, G. P; ". B. L2ngridse,
1usoatiue D. 6. 8.
On Thursday the dancing question w4s dis
posed Of By the Grand Lodge, aftes long dis
cusslou, occupying half day, by the follcw-
ing 1esclaton BY vote Of 193 to Sc:
Gesoteed That hs1ls erected and dediaated to the
pur II Masonry only bo used for pur-
poses other than F7~e~N3sonry by ana with the
t:aous eoasant Of the Lodge os1lins and occupying
buca hail.
The following resolutions weEs also adopted: !
Essapea That the Gs.ad Master tssae his edjcs to
ts NssteEs Of tbs several Lodges, INSTRUCT
order Of the Grand Lodge X it, last session, md mako
Rt xilhin SIX months OF The date of this order and
upun failure Of eaid Lodge to comply With this order
Resolved That from aad after this date this Grand
Lodes will not pay mileage to the representatives from
Rscpta That the Grand Mater, betors The close Of
his session, appoint committee mileage for the
aaxt Grand Annual Correction Of this Grand Lodge
table Of distances from the various subordinate
odgus to Des Moiues by the route travelled
oags to the nearest railroad station, or tho Toute
11y taken to reach Des Aoucs. and that mileage be
asd II the Grand Annual Conrocation in accord
nos Herewith. instead Of belng computed by the
anut:tee during the session. now the rule 6
Aess{eed, That the committee appointed to frame
~ constitution and bylaws for the soverunen. Of
biz grand and subordinate lolgeA be required to | o
aee4 in Iowa City On the cal Of the Grzud Master,
I'D continue IN session until the work assigned them
hAI kaye been completed. That the mileage and per
aen Of the members Of the committee be paid BY the
sand Treasurer upon the oEder Of Grand Master At
ee1e1 BY tho Grand Secretary.
RNEAI : It il understood shat thero are Maaonf, =
no, outaddA Of the Lodge deny through el:her j.
9ETdh want Of dscezuI1ent ot the symbolic and Il
iocl teaching OF Masonry. ddused in I'll and every
ae os It's ritnals the existence Of God therefore,
Esotred That It shall 10 tho duty Of the subord el
s&s lodges 10 make inquiry into each and erery such
novn cAss to cause them to publicly :nharow such p
:ntuents prefer charges agxtnst and expa them ii
On the rights and benefits Of Masonry. Q.
esortd That hereafter mileage shall b pAd to tt
eo1y representatives unless their proxies made to 81
AZ that the representative IL nenbe1 Of the lodge tt
! IL appointed u represent
The following question Was referred to tho =
ommittee On Jn1isp1udeuce: ~ a.
Doe the resolution in regard Masonic balls debsr h
e from leaxing E1fd hAl8 to other societies except
unanimous consent? | er
It VAS ordered that lodge has no right to h
optorllAte money for any other purpose than vi
sose prescribed BY the bylaws. te
1be Grand Secretary made the following ap- &c
olntmeuts to the Board Of Revision l, Rut- o. o.
dee Lea: 2, II. B. Laugridge: 3, E. A. Gull an
sst 1, IT. T. Lucas; s, J. H. Hartsock 6, W. To-
Law, Alternate. II, G. Leighton 7, q. J. B. ri,
umIn'ngs Alternate, c. 3. Osborne s, II. 4. er1
owe; 8, ]. 4 Henderson, Alternate, D. c. tn
sslv. CD
After transaction Of private business, tho as .s
oose vas called of, until next year, 70 meet in wl
es Moines. o.
NEW yonKs s 4EANp MASTER. f9.
1ne New York Herald gives tho following p!a
.e'ch Of n. II. Elwood Fnglethorne, the PEI
tAna Master ct New York. whoAe jurisdiction ~ ~