The weekly clarion. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1863-1882, 1875-09-22
An Orphans Home and EdMcn-
IiOnaI Institution.

At the session of the Grand Lodge il
1874, the following memorial from Ha
zlehurst Lodge, No. %, was presented fol
the consideration of the Grand Lodge:
The undersigned committee, appointed
by Hazlehurst Lodge, No. 25, to memo
rialize your Honorable Grand Body to
take into early consideration the great
and important subject Of establishing an
Orphan Asylum and Institution Of Learn
ing for the poor and destitute orphans OF
this Jurisdiction, would respectfully re-
present to your Honorable Grand Body,
that we are spending large sum of mo-
ney annually without accomplishing any
corresponding good results; half a cen
fury having passed since the Grand
Lodge was organized, and We cannot
point to single benefit or institution
that has been tostered or established by
it.
Your committee would most respect
fully ask your Honorable Grand Body
to take some steps in this direction, and
provide a suitable place for the poor and
destitute orphans of our State, who are
now crying for bread and help, and who
are growing up in ignorance and vice.
We would most respectfully suggest
that your Honorable body appoint suit
able committee to take this important
subject into consideration, and devise
ways and means to carry out the prayer
of your memOrialists, and build up an
institution that future generations will
point to with pleasure and pride, when
thousands will rise up and bless you.
4
ferred to special committee of three to
report to the Grand Lodge, in 1875, but
it appears that the appointment of the
committee was overlooked, and the me-
mortal now remains upon the record as
unfinished business. We think it wOlld
be perfectly in order for Grand Master
Barley to appoint the committee during
the recess of Grand Lodge, and let re-
port be submitted at the next annual
communication.
We refer to this subject now, for two
reasons-frst, because it has been sug-
gested that the memorial of Hazlehurst
Lodge has not been treated with due
consideration by the Grand Lodge; and
secondly, because We approve the PROPOSE
ton, and believe that the way is now clear
for the initiatory steps to be taken in
a project so commendable. In reference
to the first reason assigned, we are well
grounded in the opinion that there was
no intention on the part of the Grand
Master presiding when the memorial was
introduced, or his successor, or the Grand
Lodge, to ignore the memorial. The
failure to appoint the committee was a
mere oversight, and may be charged to
the hurried manner in which the bust
ness of Grand Bodies is usually dis
patched.
We would be very proud to see the
Grand Lodge favorably consider this me-
mortal, and at once take steps to estab-
lish such an institution as is indicated.
1t would be an easy task for three hun
dred Lodges and twelve thousand Masons
to found and endow a home and school
for the poor and destitute children of the
craft. 1t is being done by the fraternity
in other States, andwhy not in Mississip-
pi? The Home, at Lauderdale, toward
the support of which the Lodges contribu
ted literally, has accomplished its mission
and closed its doors. Now, let the Ma
sons Of Mississippi establish Home I'M
der their exclusive control, and for the