The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1878-06-01
f. AND A. M.
New York State Grand Lodge Meets
on Tuesday.
ANNUAL COMMUNICATIONS.
Proposed Amendments to the Constltu-
ton To Be Discussed.

ton ! be discussed.
The Grand Lodge Of Free Masons OF the State OF New
York M W. Joseph J. Couch, OF Brooklyn, Grand
Aaster) will commence Its nnety-seventh annuai
communication Tuesday next the 4th inst, at Two
r. NJ, and will close about the same hour on Friday,
Ihe 7th inst The number OF lodges In the State 70
u.s. representing 49, 54 Mssons In good standing, and
II the number OF unafniated, l. g., men who belong
10 no lodge) we're counted the Free Masons In this
State would reach 600 Al least 700 OF these lodges
will be represented at the coming COMMUNICATION
zach BY one member, who win be either the Master,
pne OF the wardens proxy, duly elected and APP
proved. The Grand Officers and past grand officers
and members, including such Past masters as date
back their election Master to bsloro December,
lS49 will swell the number Of representatives to over
1000
OPENING EXERCISES
ST Cecils Lodge, No. sos OF this city. under the
leadership of the musical director. W. Edward Hop
kins Will present choice musical programme at the
opening. is usual on such occasions. Tae number
OF voices will be fifty. The organiss VIII be
the grand organst, George W. Morgan, and probably
Brolhers Pierce NJ. B. and others The sooists
include Brothers William Castle. OF the Hess English
Opera Troupe, and Theodore B. Perkins.
The business routine will include various amend
meuts to the constitution. The FIRST provides that
khe trustees the hall asylum fund (who instead
Df being the first live elective grand officers. as ior-
merry. selected from the rank and hle)
shall BIO members OF the Grand Lodge. These
cannot hold any Office in the Grand Lodge while
acting MS trustees, pG: Is considered proper that
they should voice therein order TO offer expa-
nations the manner OF fulfilling their duties or
to make motions, II they 80 wish, in relation to what
they may the best interest OF their trust
iran nj
tees ana tho time which they shall hold ofhco Tho
third amend mcnt provides for a small tax each
member in the Jurisdiction, by means OF which the
debt upon the hall will be gradually reduced and
finally exrrguished This may cause some debate
aud especially by the poorer lodges which Ind II
difficult enough 10 pay their annual dues and take
OF their widows and orphans as well as their
and needy brethren. The fourth amendment pro-
poses q change sho constitution, by which instead
OF two-thirds vote, majority only will be required
50 alter amend any OF the statutes OF the Grand
Lo1ge. Old Masonic juriss object 10 the adoption OF
shis anne ndment. one OF them says in this connec-
ton 1T an anne ndm e nj has sufficient equity
fayorably impress tho minds Of two-thirds OF the
voters then l of opinion that II will be infinitely
await further developments ana be warned 10
Ike haste slowly"
NEW LODGES.
The fifth amendments relates 10 the invasion OF the
Jurisdiction OF iodges forming new lodge. At
present tho recommendation OF all the lodges whose
Jurisdiction would be affected required, except In
clues. where majority only Is necessary; but II
there than one Masonic district therein then
majority the lodges The district 70 be affected IL
sufficient The amendment says:-
The rccomme OF lodge whose Jurisdiction may
be affected shall necessary when such body
s. sd ss @sS s : New
YORK and the northerumost limits OF the city OF Troy
The same authority says In relation to this:-
ssraking tuis AZ It stands why any
other river stream. brook or rivuiet might
wen be made the DIVIDING lino and thus The whole
theory "A
legislation. The Law now 10 that the jurisdiction or
lodge Dis halt way in every direction 10 the next
nearest lodge; but II 1t made law that u
n creek traversing that jurisdiction Gods II tnen We
sLal have 10 remodel our whole practice and break
up many old we'll established lodges to give their
territory to ana uatried ones. moments
fecton viii show that il is not just to break up old
lodge to establish neg one, aud therefore think
this mendment ought TO BIO defeated"
1he sixth amendment gives the right Of appeal as
poses unafiiate . member for non-psy ment of
after lone" year, instead Of Two" AZ At present
sKAFAkISG MxN
The eighth amenomenI subjects seaaring out
OF tho Unned States the same rules as
NONRESIDENT cannot be inisatsd IN any lodge without
consent vi the Grand LodEc under whose jurisdiction
ne resides. Az scaiaring men out OF the national SER
vice cannot control their place Of residences more
than those who are IN ~ this amendment nnds UGH
disiavor aad will meet with great opposition.
rhe ninth amendment proposes 70 transfer the duty
OF members joining IN petition for q lodge
the secretary OF The new lodge la this case Old
authority thinks n 10 complication, and that IL may
be as well 10 s.let well enough alone
rho tenth ameDdmeut provides that lodges shall not
expend any oil their receipts except tor Tie relief VI
the sick, the destitute needy burials paying
Ins eIs ven,h amendment makes an addition to tho
SUBDIVISION OF tins section reiatug vacancies IN
office. The section provides that vacancies only
occur-Frs by aeaih second, resignation OF anotner
than Master or warden third BY election aud install
laton OF holder TO nal another office the lodge;
fourth BY expulsion, suspension or removal
Office. IL Is proposed ~ add to the third subdivision,
s.but this shall apply 10 Master Warden, As u
Ia Already PROVIDED that neither Of these officers eau
resigp tney cannot accept another Office with
out resigning thai which they hold this anne ant
10 not favoraoy considered by many.
ne ior .nrss oays onv Ply 20
number OF days over that time during which tho
Grand Lodge may ST.
This document IN looked forward TO with much In
teresl. the address Is expected to various
questions OF interest, domestic and foreign, calmly
and Judiciousy.
HALL AND ASYLUM FUND
The trustees aud the regime will render their
reports will also the Grand secretary anu Treas
ursr Tns reports OF tho former viii DO Interesting
roKKIcs CORRESPONDENCE.
This. as II always -, VIII DO most interesting
matter brought Dsiore the Grand Lodge II is pre-.
scented in PRINT In pamphlet form Zone copy each
mempcr) and anything extraordinary viii be dis
cussed The brethren having charge OF it tins year
are N. w. John W. simons, Past Grand Master,
ence' and X. W. anu Rev. Philp MerkIe, Ph. ID,
vino attends 10 tho German portion The correspond.
lodges on this continent and thirteen IN Europe and
Is. In iacL . history Of Masonry throughout tho
world
The following STATISTICS Will DO ouud interesting:
Names Of Grand Lodges No. Lodges Ra1ed. Totai.
Alauama................. 23J 131 10 loo
Arkansas. -. ~. 700 lUb4J
California .........-...... iH5 Coz ii. @bJ
Colorado. ......... ........ ~ 100 l,JlI
Connectcul. .............. log 81 l4s76
Dakosa Territory ..........
Deiaware.... III bl H. 100
District oil Coiumbia....... ~ III x,b2J
Florida. % 100 =, lUt
Georgia. 800 s2l J,4U2