Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1881-06-17

were held In the months Of February and March,
when It was impossible for ME 10 attend. owing 10
the TACT thai the regular terms Of court IN Wndham
county were In session during those months.
Some Of the District Deputy Grand Masters called
no convention 50 far as | am advised.
In INV visits among the brethren, ! fpand much
10 comment, and but little 10 condemn. Work IS
well done, OF great uniformity throughout the
state AMI there Is very much less of that spirit Of
caviling opposition 10 the teachings of the Grand
Lecturer. than has been shown In former years
The general interest in the welfare and rosperi-
Is OF the Order manifested during the past three or
four years. has continued with an increase OF work
and better and healthier financial standing of the
several lodges oa the whole. / find Masonry
throughout the Stale quietly prosperous.
II ANYTHING there has been falling oil in the
Interest OF the three preceding years in the matter
OF district conventions. deem these of great i'm
portdnce, aud would strongly urge upon this
Grand Lodge the Importance OF selecting such of the
brethren TO seryeas District Deputy Grand Masters,
as are mol only tried and true Maspu- and fully
qualified to teach the ritual, but sue vii give
their time and attention 10 the duiics ui ihrir ONCE
There are many such in every District. Jealous.
wel-infDrmed Masons who VIII honor he position
and perform lis duties
District conventions are not Ony useful as a
means of instruction, bur also because Of the ac-
quilntances formed and the spirit Of emulation
maj II encouraged among the lodges.
FISA.cEs
| am sfa;iGel 10 he able to report that payments
OF arrearages have been made hy subordinate lodges
TO the Grand Lodge IN nearly every Instance where
the fact of such grrearage9 has b.rt; established
Some time since. wrote the Masters Of al lodges
appearing TO be In arrears, stating the years in
which no payments hal been credited them, AMI
requested immediate payment, or that they should
furnish proof of such payments having been made.
In several instances payments were promptly made,
and In others II Will he made early IN this session.
IN other cases proof mas been furnished Inc of pay
ment having been made for which the lodges have
received no credit such cases with the accom-
paaying evidence should be furnished TIT. Finance
Commute for investigation and report.
In several Instances felt compe,l..l III COM
pliance WIN me vote OF the Grand Lodge, of last
year, TO notify Lodges TO appear before the Grand
Lodge NJ this session. and show why the pen
atty provided by Art. :, o: the Grand Lodge bylaws
should not be enforced. Such notice was issued by
me on the 29ih day OF April last. in nine and
duly mailed TO the Masters of the Lodges. An ac-
encouragement OF the receipt Of these notices has
been received by me in all cases hut one. And in
all but two of these cases have received aSsuran-
ces that payments of all arrearageS Will be made q;
the present session. In cases where payment OF
arrearagos shall be made, would recommend that
no further action be taken, but where such pay
ments are not made, trust the Grand Lodge will
take such action as justice 10 the whole fraternity
shall demand. trust, however, that all DELINQUENT
Lodges may ere now have seen the necessity of
compliance with just requirement. and provide
for full satisfaction of all their dues. II this
be accomplished we may congratulate ourselves up
on successful settlement OF what AT time
threatened TO be n source ii serious disturbance.
Our financial standing is now Better than 1t has
been before in many years. And Il only remains
for the Grand Secretary TO keep correct debit and
credit accoun: with the several Lodges. AMI for
the Finance Committees 10 investigate and report
financial cntangemcnis
our present Grand Secretary has opened an ac-
count with the several Lodges and proposes to keep
such accounts as they should be kept, on strict
business principles And in this connection per-
NIT me 10 call your attention to the report of the
Grand Secretary, 10 be sIbRiited 10 you, and
which contains some valuable recommendations
which should receive your favorable consider alton.
prompt amt efficient discharge of the duties of
the Office OF Grand Secretary Is Necessary 10 our
prosperity. And in order TO facilitate this some
changes In our existing regulations should be made
such as the Grand Secretary recommends in his re-
port. have examined the system of the Grand
Secretary, keeping his accounts and re0or..5 .,ni
Ind them 10 be corre", II al, .esper.=
risPESsATioSs
On the 81 day Of November, received petition
signed 10y the requisite number Of known and APP
proved Master Masons, residing in BrattIebOro
and vicinity, PRAYING that disrensa5n be granted
them Tor the formation =. new Lodge 10 he located
q, brs,t.eboro. This petIrion was accompanied by
the certificate of approval of the District Deputy
Grand Master for the Sth Masonic District, and 81
the two Lodges nearest the propose5 location Of
such new Lodge
made careful IEquIrf ana III ,esii gaiiGu into all
the circumstances relating 10 the petition, and the
causes leading 10 lis presentaton,andb became fully
convinced that the best Interests of Masonry In
Brattleboro and vicinity would he suhserved nv
granting the dlspensations asked fD,. And on the
JOth day OF November, forwarded such DISPENSE
ton 10 the petitioners. Since that time have
fully Informed myself rs 10 the WORTH. u .nis new
Lodge. And on Mc.,G.y e. sniLy last I visited it,
The t,oise IL well offlcered. does good work and
have no douht Will continue 10 do II charter Is
granted al This session. From my own observa-
ton and such information as am able to obtain, |
am OF the opinion that The granting of charter n
this case Will be of great benefit &c N,s5igy in thar
portion OF the SAFE.
Tie dispensa.ion viii be returned anil a charter
asked for az TINS communication. During the year
granted two dlspensations 10 Lodges, q receive
aud act upon petitions witha.. waiting .he time
prescribed bv the Ey;aws. IN each case reasons
which seemed so me 10 be sufficient for such ac-
ton. we're presented me. In both case required
n he MO ~
TO oil resident members, and a certificate OF such
notice TO he placed upon The Lodge records.
Dispensaiions were asked for in several other
presented for their allowance.
DISTRICT DEPUTY GgaxD ,,A-,r..
On the 2i uay Of sertember, received a letter
frorr Brother 4. u. Birnes District Deputy Grand
Master for the 81 Masonic District, rendering me
n resignation OF his commission for the reason that
he was about to remove from the jurisdiction. His
resignation was accepted by me, and Brother {. 4.
smith OF Bridgeport, Was appointed AMI commits
2icHeil IN MS pl:ce.
GRAND REPRESENTATIVE.
On the Recommendation OF VI. Ii. calvin W.
Prather. Grand Master OF Indiana, on the I'D day
OF November, appointed Brother Martin II. Rice,
Past Grand Master Of the Grand Lodge OF Indiana
Grand Representative of the Grand Lodge of Yer
mont near the Grand Lodge of Indiana Brother
Rice is a native OF Vermont and have no doubt
will look well 10 the lntere Is of his native State in
that jurisdiction. Atthe request OF the VI. W Grand
master ol Mississlppl appointed BFp'her Nm. r.
Douglass OF that State Grand Representative OF
Nermonilhear the Grand Lodge o. Mississippi. There
ere se;efrl vacancies in our Grand Representative
list which should he filled AZ once ! trus; that This
may he done during the coming year.
These appointments are matters OF courtesy tend
ing 10 more close and friendly relations with other
Grand Lodges.
DECISIONS.
have made hat two decisions during the past
year that were MT mere repetltlons OF former de-
csiOns, as reported in the digest of decisions or
references 10 the constitution and bylaws. VERY
many less questions Of Masonic law were submit
ted 10 me for decision daring the ye3r, than in any
other year o, my administration AMI a.. ~; two Of
these were answered by simple reference 10 the
bylaws or 10 the digest published III The proceed
ings of ISIS
Many of the Lodges are withou, any work on Ma
sonic law, or even the diges, Of our own laws. Al
though there Is great improy ement in this respect
yet II Is not As II should be- Our own digest to-
gether with some approved work on Masonic law
should be IN every Lodge room, and the officers Of
Masonic ritual. No Master of a lu,'. j. well
posted who Is not At least farIi!lgg thc tenCrt-
ed decisions of his own siaIe'
roEEIGy RELATIONS.
am g:athei to be able - state that the matters
OF difference between the Ancient and Honorable
Grand Lodge OF Scotland, and our esteemed neigh
Dor, the Grand Lodge of Quebec, have been haEplly
adjusted, by the Withdrawal! of all caiI., of nriS-
dlction the part OF she Grand Lodge OF Scotland
over lodges located within the Province OF Quebec,
WiIll l1it ttFfitufN, hereto
fore yielding allegiance 10 The Grand Lodge of Scot
land, having declared their allegiance 10 The Grand
Lodge OF Quebec. b. tins act, the Grand Lodge of
Scotland has gracefully recognized the force OF the
conceded laws Of this continent governing the ter
ritoria jurisdiction OF Grand Lodges. And the
Grand Lodge OF Quebec now stands independent in
fact with none 10 dispute her authority ever The
territory embraced within that Province.
In view OF such happy ending OF this difficulty.
thlsGrani oice should al It's present session for
may revoke the edci ol non-intercourse passed al
its last session.
soon after the close of ,ho session Of last wear,
my attention was called 10 Inc fact thar the Grand
odge OF NcrGun! had Not formally recognized"
the Grand Lodge OF New Mexgo. | had supposed
that this act OF courtesy was extended 10 our new
sister Grand Lodge soon alter It's organization, but
upon examination OF the records, found that such
was not the fact The fault Is largely my own, for
which desire to make my humble acknowledge
menti. The Grand Lodge of New Mexico was or
gained in 1877, and has since received frucrnal
cognltion from very nearly MI the Grant lodges
on this continent. submit he evidence OF It's or
ganiZatiua herewith, anil recommend that this
otaTt Lodge, accord Its recognition OF The Grand
Lodge OF New Mexico, and cordially welcome that
Grand Lodge as Il member of The Great Common
wealth of Grand Jurisdictions on an equal footing
with all other Grand Lodges, and a. beng eut,rleI
TO the allegiance OF all lodges within lis jurlsdc
tion.
THIS act Of fraternal courtesy NAV b9 lstG bat
feel assui ed Will be no less he.i;y.
Before adopting resolution 'reCoguiZng the
Grand Lodge of New Mexico. II is well that We I'M
derstand fully the consequences of such act. TINS
Grand Lodge was formed Of lodges all or nearly all
Lodge Of Missouri sufficient ngmbsr Of these
lodges jGinel IN the formation of the new Grand
Lodge. Two Or three OF them, however. dldinOt Join
IN that act, but have since continued 10 weld ale
glance 10 the Girand Lodge ui Missouri. The Grand
Lodge OF Missouri was one Of the iirsl 10 extend
TO the new Grand Lodge lis iralernal recognition.
Notwithstanding that fact She sui INSISTS upon
her right TO exercise lErlsictlCn Cnd control over
lodges located within The territorial jurisdiction OF
New Mexico. being the lodges which did nCy loin
III the formation OF the Few Grand Lodge and
owing 10 this fact. ami 10 disputes 10 questions
Ofright arising herefrnn ctlcis OF nOn-ntercourse
between these two Grand Jurisdictions. each with
the other, are now IN force.
The position OF Vermont upon questions OF
territorial rights and Jurisdictions Is well settled.
IL the Graud Lodge OF New Mexico was legally
organized, and Is ent tied 10 recognition Grand
Lodge, then She Is entitled To- rccrynitish. with al
the rights. powers and dGiies OF sovereign Grand
Lodge, having supreme authority over al Masonic
odfes located wukn her territorial Jurisdiction
We cannot recognize body as Grand Lodge
which Is entitled to hu- divided authority over It's
own territory. Grand Lodge must have NIL the al
tributes of Grand Lodge sovereignty, In order that
II NAV have right 10 demand recognition al the
hands OF other trand Lodges. trust. how ever.
that the Grand Lodges OF MiSsugrl Will very soon
recognize The existence and force OF THIS princi-
pie OF Masonic law 50 universally rccnUtIXsI aud
hall III I'm, ri.-lu lgr.tu Ig.t,