, 1876-07-09
SECRET SOCIETIES,
Annual Meeting Of the Grand Council
Of the Red Cross---Colored
Masons and Their
Doings.
MASONIC.

States OF America assembled in the city of New
York, at Masonic Temple, ut their Second
Annual Convention, on Wednesday, the 2Gth Of
June. The following officers were elected for
the years 1861:
Sir c. l. stowcll, Rochester, Sovereign Grand
Master.
Sir c. F. Knapp, Pennsylvania, Deputy Grand
Sir ]. ). French, chicsgo, Sovereign Grand
Viceroy.
sirS. 6. Tucker, Worcester, First lieutenant
Sir J; H. Willard, 1ndiana, Grand Treasurer
General.
Sir 6; E. Meyer, Philadelphia, Grand Registrar
sirJ. I. Young, Philadelphia, Rt. Rev. P1elate.
Sir H.. D. Bean, Vermont, Grand High Chance1-
sirJ. Il. Drummond, Maine, Grand scneschal.
Str u. y. Drohan, New Jersey, Grand Prior.
Sir T. II. blades, Michigan, Grand Chamberlain.
Sir g. Z: boyden, Worcester, Grand Marshal
sirJ. W. Cook, Kentucky, GRIND Standard
Bearer.
Sir !. D. Williams, Elmira, n. y, Grand
Herald.
Sir II. c. Field, Providence, R. l., Grand Cap
tain Guards.
The Third Annual Convention Of the above
Order will be held Ia the City Of Rochester on
the third Wednesday In June, 1877.
CoLoRED MAsoSs.
The II. ". Grand Lodge for the State Of uli-
nois, 4. F. and A. 7. NJ, met In annual Grand
Communication at the city Of Decatur, Ill, June
90, 1876. The Grand Lodge was opened in ample
form by II. W. Benjamin F. Rogers, at O'Clock
p. III. large number Of members and repre-
sentatiyes were present, the session being, per-
haPs, the most interesting ever held By this
ance to the craft was transacted. 4 new con-
stitution was adopted, and the time Of holding
the annual sessions was changed from June to
October.
The following brethren were then duly
elected, and were Installed by 2. n. William L.
N. W, B. r. Rogers, OF Springfield, Grand Mas
r. ]. J. Bi1ce, Of Cairo, D. G. Master
r. W, 4. =. Moore, Of Chicago, y. G. Warden.
r. W., j. q. Washington, OF Gaiesburg, j, G..
r. W., j. h. D. Lee, OF Springfield, G. Treas
T. W, Jamea Il. Kelley, of Alton, G. secre~
Il. W., Isaac H. Kelley, of Alton, G. Lecturer.
The M. ". Grand Master was then pleased to
make the usual appointments, after which the
Grand Lodge vas closed in ample form to meet
in Chicago in October, 1877.
1.M.Bs-
The fifth annual meeting Of the Illinois Ma
sons' Benevolent Society was held in the City Of
Princeton, May II, 1876. There was good rep
resentation Of the members. After so1neroutinc
business had been disposed OF, the President of
the Society delivered an address, in which he
gave a summary Of the transactions of the
officers during the past year, from which We
condense the following: The total cash On hand
at date Of last report was S33,5l7.S3. The re-
ccipts, from all sources for the year, were $9l9-
2s9.12 The expenditures, for same time, are
embraced in the following items: Forty-hyc
nortuary warrants amounting to $1S9, 213S0;
paid to heirs Of John L: Davies, S1,250; securi-
tics, sal, $3.50; current expenses, SIS, 1924; in
retary. S319.5l. Total, SIS, ,S0645. The aver
age benefit to the heirs Of members of the first
division was 81 ,394.0 The largest benefit paid
was 81 G3425, and the smallest, II, 1885, 25. The
current expenses Of the Society for the year were
lows: Bonds and mortgages, $4,000; United
States bonds, including premium, $11,3397.50;
cash in hands of Treasurer, S16,515-40; cash in
hands Of Secretary, $31951; !; in course Of collcc-
tion in hands Of agents, S99S65; interest &C
So ~ rots s5e@56: ':E5 The ia5ties it s1S' afs
s4,G4.2a
The following view OF the colorcd-Masons
question Is contributed to the Voice Of Masonry
for July:
In our judgment, the proposed action Of Ohio is
utterly inadmassible; because,
L Il annihilates the doctrine Of exclusive juris-
diction.
2 It introduces into Masonry, for the first time,
= distinction founded on race.
good brethren seem to have ''lost their head' in
Of the discussion Of this question, and
have become undu1y excited over it. We even see
it stated in the Masonic prints, that the members
place it under the protection" Of the
supreme Council Of the 4. 4. Rite. It
may be that we are to have Masonic
- rrepressible conflict upon this question; but
We have abiding faith that however the foolish
less and passions Of men will contrive to destroy
Masonry, God will oyerrule all things for good and
ring the institution opt OF all its troubles based
1pon drmcr foundation, and more powerful than
sver before, to enlightcn md elevate mankind. t
;ertcd by enthusiasm on the one hand, or fear and
prejudice on the other from pursuing such course |
it shall be given to that justice and the
Welfare Of A{ASOnrv rcpufrc