, 1876-10-01
Important Proceedings and Interest
ing Legislation---The Order
Abroad.
Formation of the Degree Of Ruth...Notes
and Comments.
Masonic Notes in the Old and
the New World.
ODD-FEIIOWSHIP.

Of the Grand Lodge, changing the time Of its
annual meeting from the third to the first Mon
day in September, WAS indefinitely postponed.
Representative John B. Harmon, OF California,
Was elected to the Office Of Deputy Grand Sire
on the third ballot, he receiving IS votes to
Erie j. Leech, Of Iowa, 81, and Henry F. Carey,
OF Maryland. s.
The following officers we're elected unanimous
i: John ". Stokes, Of Pennsylvania, Grand
Sire; James L. Ridgely, Of Maryland, Grand
Secretary; Joshua Vansant, Of Maryland, Grand
Treasurer. The other officers Of the Grand Lodge
are: Theodore A. Ross, Of Maryland, Assistant
Grand Secretary; the Rev. j. ". Venable, OF
Kentucky, Grand Chaplain; John ". Smith, Of
Connecticut, Grand Marshal; John ". McQuid-
d., Of Indiana, Grand Guardian; John II. Hud-
son, Of Wisconsin, Grand Messenger.
REBEKAH DEGREE LODGES.
The Committee on this subject reported that
there is a general and increasing desire cx-
pressed for the more efficient working OF this
branch Of the Orders and recommended that the
degree be abbreviated in the lectures and
charges; ;thatdaughters Of Fifth Degree members
who have attained to the age Of is years be
eligib1e to membership in this degree: that all
members In good. standing shall have equal
rights in the lodge, and be eligible to Office in
the same degree; that the great object OF this
organization shall be mutual improvement, aid,
and sympathy in sickness and distress; that an
additional degree be adopted, to be called the
Degree OF Ruth, devoted to fidelity, and SO ar
ranged that the Degree Of Rebekah shall be a
necessary prerequisite to membership in the de-
gree, and the Degree of Ruth to be the highest
degree in this branch, and necessary qualitica-
tion for the two principal Offices in the lodge,
which report WIS laid on the table under the
rule, and subsequently action thereon was IT,
definitely postponed.
MILEAGE AND PER DIEM.
It WIS resolved that the officers and repre-
eentatiyes OF the Grand Lodge be allowed 20
per day for seven days. The total mileage and
per diem amounted to S16,3l9.60.
PUBLIC INSTALLATIONS.
It WIS decided that lodge should not close
that, the ordinary ceremonies being suspended,
the doors be opened and the installation pro-
ceeds After its completion the Grand Officers
retire, and then, all but members Ut the Order
being excluded, tie lodge closes in form. II the
Installation takes place elsewhere than in the
lodgc-room, there is no objection to declaring
recess, and then proceeding to the hall in which
the public ceremony is to take place, after which
the lodge should return to its room and close in
form. II, however, lodge should close before
installation, and then the e. h. should proceed
and install the officers, such installation though
irregular, would not be void. and the installed
officers would be the legal officers Of the lodge.
DECISIONS.
The Grand Lodge decided, in reference to an
appeal from the action Of the Grand Encamp-
ment of Ohio, that the vote whereby the by
laws Of subordinate lodges are amended can
not be reconsidercd.
4 Past-Grand who receives the R. P. D. after
his nomination and election as Grand Represent
ative is not eligible to the Office
The following was adopted: There is no 1aw
requiring the consent Of existing lodges to the
+hsr%+ h,7%
prudence dictates that others than the parties
Immediately interested should be consulted in
such cases, and that the circumstances should
be carefully Investigated. The multiplication
Of lodges beyond the needs of a community,
and its ability to sustain them properly, should
be discouraged.
In case Of division by the Congress of the
Cnited States of the Territory OF Dakota, the
arisdiction Of the Grand Lodge Of said Terri
Try will not thereby be impaired until further
leaslation by the G. L. u. s.
member has no right to vote on the night
Of D initiation.
Wen the constitution requires that vote
shall e taken By lodges, and that 4 two-thirds
Fote Is necessary, it means tTo-thirds of the
4eqGcs' nd not the representatives present.
Hhen ctitioners for the charter Of dormant
lougs are 'ot present at its resusc;tation, they
srG n1 I:ess:?red to membership, but must come
a eSI uEahd I.zgc = cannot inaugurate system Of
sIASh OF TUE ORDER ABROAD.
p,9aate rr4n rne Eaort Of the Committee on Core
;cresting extrak Is made:
We :eaa1t% eosnu% w1Ee marked ability, promptness,
ma lnaapndencf a.spn Of shch the foreign and domestic
M 1sen eondsctcde officers Of this Grand Body
ce our continued sne ~ ths;r IN no sma oe
NC congratulate tho OraIntesests Of the Order.
which, Notwithstanding seApon the prosperity
long continued depression in "a Of unusual and
business aau when all indusrrieT department OF
now reigm throughout our borderx,avs langnished;
our Order since its introduction {Aa mas atlendeo
der In the jurisdiction OF Australia hen Inc os-
labored and which at our last session seelp long
peratively to demand the presence Of IN,
commission. are at last happily removed. and'ai
the prompt action Of the Grand Secretary they arel
now in possession Of full and complete copies Of
the secret work, and that increased success and
ton. We report the successful Introduction OF our
Order in the metropolis Of the IL ther Country,
crnment 80 liberal, and among people so enlght-
ened, its success will only be equaled by that
which has attended onr own The introduction OF
our order into the Netherlands has been delayed
from causes which. to great degree, are beyond
the control Of the officers OF this Grand Body-the
translation Of the ritual into the Holland Language,
which must be effected before the Order can hope
to meet with either favor or success While your
Committee are well aware Of the opposition ex-
The Bohemian language, and although determined
efforts are being made to effect retrcnchment
in the expenses OF this Grand Body, are OF the
opinion that the rrevions policy Of this Grand
Lodge in promn1gnting its creed and cnlarging the
sphere OF its operations, evidenced by its intro
duction into Germany, Australia, England, Chill,
md other foreign Governments, and the great good
likely TO result from Its introduction into the Meth
rrlanda alike demand that the translation into the
Holland language be made At the earliest possible
moment and recommend that the Grand Lodge
make the necessary provision to curry it into ef-
feet. We recommend the approval OF the efforts
Of our Grand Secretary to cultivate friendly and
frnternal relations with kindred organizations
whose objects are the fraternizat{cn OF mankind.
and the practice Of brothery love and charity, and
1hat he be directed to furnish 70 the Supreme
Grand Lodge Of the Knights Of Pythias, copies Of
fhe revised Journal up to and including the pres
ept session.
CANDIDATES FOR MEMBERSHIP.
The Grand Lodge determined it to be inexpe-
d1ent to legislate upon the matter Of author1z-
fnp The withdrawal OF the petition Of q candidate
foF membership before the report OF the 1nVes-
tirating Committee Is made.
ILLEGAL INITIATES.
The decision of the Grand Sire, "that an In
dian presenting regular card, having the pass
q.oT1 ToTal md passing an examination, should be
nernitted to visit Loage; the fault is IN the
fndqe which initiated him" was reversed by the
Gard Lodge, on the ground that the eonstltu-
ton Of the 6. L. U. S. is explicit IN conhnlng
Membership in the Order to free white males.
md It has been decided, in conformity with this
hat