The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1878-06-05
Opening of the Masonic Grand
Lodge of This State.
INTERESTING CEREMONIES.
Annual Address of the Grand
Master to the Graft.

their seats III tho East tneY Wero Icscivcu Win tho
private grand honors under the direction Of the
Grand Marshal The following past grand and other
officials wero prossot:-Jossph d. waus, John
l. Lewis. Isaac Phillips, james Jenkipson.
John W. slmons. Clinton r. Paige. Stephen
II. johnson. James Gibson, Christopher g.
Fox, Ellwood Il. Thornc, James w. Hustled
Robert Macoy. John r. Anderson, Daniel Sickles,
John W. Tunson. Levi n. Gano, George H. Cleaves.
Thomas r. LeCount John h. Burtis. Horace :. Tay-
lor, James f. Morrison. J. Edward Simmons. William
" King, Robert T. Hoy, Horace F. Curtis, George
Dickey william E. Thorne. William u. Fitch, stephen
L. Stillman, Joseph A. johnson, Samuel Q. Crane
Henry A. House. George n. Palmer, Charles NJ.
Brown, Luther H. Conkin, Richard n. Billings
John vandenberg, Jacob G. insurer, Truman g. pri,ch-
ord Henry A Childs, Charles E. Young. Alexander
Wentworth, c. Henry King, G. y. L. Avhonthal and
Antonio Gonzalez
programn Of musical and other exercises
then gone through with, tho musical portion being by
members OF ST. CcciIs Lodge. Tho odc ''Hai,
Masonry Divine" was sung by Brother George +.
Sargent a. baritone solo, with full After the
first proclamation tho urand Lodge was opened with
prayer Ivy r. w. and Rev. John G. Webster, Grand
Chaplain.
THE GRAND MASTERS ADDRESS.
When tho .sHaliclujah Chorus" had Doen played on
the organ by Brother James Pcarc the Grand Master
delivered his annual address, Aitor ailudng TO the
dead belonging 10 the jurisdicton OF Now York and
enumeTating tho lodges chartered during the year,
the Grand Master named she following representa-
tives to foreign Grand Lodgcs:-M W. Melbourne II.
TAFT, near Grand Lodge Of Quebec; R. W. Edward W.
Nightingale, near Grand1,odgo Of Scotland: n. W.
James Ponder, near Grand Lodge OF Delaware; M. w.
James Gibson, Grand Lodge Of scotland; W. Horace
s. Taylor, Grand Lodge OF New Hampshire: W. Cad
wallAder Evans, Grand Lodge Of Pennsylvania; r. w.
Joseph short, Jr.. Grand Lodge Of Indiana, and W.
He then spoke as foIIows:-HI learn, through our
representatives., that msap prehension exists TO
considerable extent IN somo Of the European grand
10 the reports OF our Committee on Foreign Corre-
spondence. submit therefore, for your considera-
ton, the statement:-rhas the reports OF tho Com
mittee on Foreigc Correspond sncs considered by
US matter OF Information only ;Shas the brethren
give W the opinions and acts Of grand lodges in
respondcnce with US, and also such individual COM
LEGATION Of these rspur,s ia our transa is solely
for the information oil the brcthrcn that IN merely
accepting and y 1.:s tspo 'no Gs.nd
contents; that, IN TACT, .hese reports canno. have
any Official or binding character, except whom tho
Grand Lodge shall give such forco and elect
70 tho whole or any portion thereof, BY
special resolution or othsr express enactment
OF lodge dues, the question often asked DO lodge
against such brother during the period Of
his unafiiauopt In 1876. the Grand Master gave m
affirmative deosion in these words dues con.
tinuc TO accrue against ham alter such unalliation"
This decision was approved BY the Grand Lodge, and
action. however, has not settled the matter. Tho
conflict Of opinion still continues, and Is widespread
Al tho communication Of the Grand Lodge
NO less than Ave proposed amendments 10 the consti
tuition received an affirmative vote and will come up
for final Ia the regular order Of business Two OF
these rolAIo the Of the hall um fund,
and consequent upon The act OF the Legislature max
ing material cnaDgvs IN the composition OF tho board
The third amendment provides Tor he continuance OF
what is known as tho entity cant tax" was passed
after an unusually full and thorough discussion II IL
ahafl q.
vide why for the payment Of the debt incurred
In tho erection OF our Masonic Temple, and Will main
tain the Of fraternity, tree from any pos
sble faint or bleoish, In connection with that undor
taking The fourth changes the constitutional pro-
sufcc place o the twQthird vote now required. In
addition TO the proposed changes In the constitution
amendments 10 tho statutes nave been regularly
offered aud laid over your consideration. One Of
thess demands special attention. IL Is this-"Nor
lm any Or o ay q IRE o.ss
the relief Of tho SICK destitute anu needy, tho
burial Of deceased brother or Tor me payment oil
SYMBOLISM AND GOVERNMENT.
'.At the outset " is important To discriminate be-
tween Masonic symbolism and Masonic government;
ideal relations OF the lodge the Master ana
the Grand Master IN the and their actual relations
aud the other; between the landmarks, legends and
statutes and general ulations that belong TO tho
olDer. Make shis discrmi nation clear and distinct,
Eliminate from the problem all that pertains 10 SYM
wri,,on low. In our theory Of Masonic governments
solely from OF the governed, and that such
consent Is given 10 the terms and provisions OF tho
written constitution, which thus becuInss the
fundamental law. We are now prepared In
tcIlgcnty to advise brethren anxious 10
Kuow the law that thoY need not bcfog their minds
with vague and uncertain specriatioDs about anccnt
lsnamarks Tor these belong 10 another department OF
Masonic rescarcn tnat there Is NO occasion to search
any iaw decision made prior 10 June, 1916, Tor
all such have been repeated that II rs useless 10
petition the Grand Master Tor dispensatlons 10 sot
aside the law unless Itself gives lhe power,
entire law Of TINS Jurisdiction is comprised IN our
pressn, constitution, ana sucn Grand Lodge
Ms have been passed since its adoption and in con-
0rmty with its provisions aud, lurthcr thai the true
ntent oi all this revision Is 10 promote more perfect
ana general Understanding oil cur rules ana rceuia
t0ns, 70 enable the brethren hroughout tho Stso
conduct their airs IN accordance WIN established
laws w,nout the necessity Of constantly alpyingto
the Grand Master Tor preliminary decisions or special
dispensasons Our laws nave NO sanction ol physical
fore Thor execution depends solely upon the loyal
sentiment oil the craft
Some years ago We severed our connection with the
Grand orient OF France STAGE then strange Reports
have reached Us, IRON time 10 Tine oi departures
from the traditions and customs oil DER raernHy un-
I'll nnay the Information comes that they now pro-
less TO practice Masonry tnat ignores Inc existence
oil God This raises the question whether such rite
iruthfuly DO aenomlnaied Masonic. In prompt
reply 70 this question let us iron tho abundant ma.
terii al hand take, Tor example, The iam ar symbol
OF tho burnlng Dush with It's Impressive Story us ro
lated in tue Uio Hebrew BiDle In simplicity oi latin
Que inlerprets Tho record literally anolu.r linsr-
sntiy constituted, secs ~ u beautiful metaphor,
which tho imsg, nation expands 70 cosmicai proper
nils the tree tops tho eastern hills with nsme oil
glory wnclher the pastoral or cosmicai interpreta
ton be adopted tho lesson u tue same la either
there Is present 10 the inasnaton an impenetraoie
sery, ana out OF that 10 tho revcrsntis
bsnolder. there comes tho voice OF tod.
TnE ACTIVITIES OF rHs PRESENT.
'Let Us now move without pause along tnc pathway
oil maus journey through the ages and mngie Tor a
moment IN the wonderful activities Of The present
time With The geoioglst essay 10 trace tho hand
wrnag Of time IN Tue composition OF tne earth; wo
penetrate tbs and ry guess the secrets Of tho
.Ud Red Sandstone ana he Granite Rock. We turn
our eyes heavvnward aud through the telescope seek
to explore Tho nunity VI stellar space ThrouKn tho
microscope wc proons the vision In an opposite d.
rectoD, ana srvs 10 comprehend the universe ~ tho
molccuic. Win tue specuosccpe we ansiyze the
molten contents OF tho erucbc, aud determine Inc
component paris OF ineanoescent suns aud STARE Wo
speculate upon various theories Of light and heat the
correlation OF physical forces ana the origin Of
species. Then We foiiow the application OIL science
TO the arts; recall the famous boast IN the nary
tale, that giraIe should be put around tho earn
IN ory minutes, and io In this mstter-offact aye,
inc leIrxIann uerorns lhe lenl IN many seconds: