New-York tribune., 1883-06-08
MASONIC DELIBERATIONS.
THE GRAND LODGES SESSION CLOSED.

THE GRAND LODGES SESSlON CLOoEo'
POINTS OF INTEREST RAISED BY COMMITTEE RE-
PoRTs-THg NEW OFFICERS INSTALLED.
The Grand Lodge of Free AID Accepted Masons
assembled promptly at 9 o'clock yesterday morn
inc. and az usual, the days work was preceded by
prayer by the Grand Chaplain. One
of the most important questions considered WAS
with regard to the jurisdiction of the Grand Lodge
of Pennsylvania. Charges had been preferred
against T. II. Tobias, of Shakespeare Lodge No.75O
that he had joined that lodge after having been re-
jected by a lodge in Pennsylvania which had not
consented to his act. The Pennsylvania lodge ac-
cordingly demanded that Mr.. Tobias be disciplined.
After trial Mr. Tobias was acquitted because it
was shown that he had stated IN his
application for membership that he had been re-
jected by the Pennsylvania lodge and that the sec
retary of Shakespeare Lodge, after repeated at
tempts had been unable to get any answer to his
letters upon the subject. An edict of non-inter-
course was issued by the Grand Master of Pennsyl-
vania on the statement that Shakespeare Lodge
had refused to discipline Mr. Tobias at the request
of the Pennsylvania Grand Lodge. The question
submitted to the committee was: Has the Grand
Lodge of any foreign jurisdiction, by Masonic law
and usage the right to discipline any individual or
subordinate lodge under the jurisdiction of the
Grand Lodge of the State of New
York; Past Grand Master Joseph j.
Couch for the Committee on Jurisprudence reported
that question of identity raised on the trial
but no conclusion had been reached and that por-
ton of the subject still remains undesided.
second trial was ordered, but the Grand Lodge of
Pennsylvania refused to deray the expenses of wit
nesses, because it claimed that the testimony taken
at the first trial could be used at the second Be-
fore the Grand Lodge of New-York had time to act
Al. o,I cd ~ apia
had issued edict of non-intercourse with Shake
speare Lodge. resolution was also adopted pro-
viding that no member of Shakespeare Lodge
should be admitted to lodge in Pennsylvania
The committee submitted resolution, which was
adopted that as soon as the Grand Lodge of Penn
sylyania withdrew its ediot of nonintercourse the
Grand Master should reopen the case The Grand
Master was empowered also to draw upon the
treasury of the Grand Lodge to defrav the neces-
sary expenses of the new trial. so that no injustice
might be done.
Another important subject discussed was what
is summonsf" Past Grand Master Couch for the
Committee on Jurisprudence, held that a summons
to be legal must be signed by the Master of the
lodge issuing 1t. His signature must be at
tested by the secretarys SIGNATURE and the
seal of the lodge must be affixed. The service Of
this document is much the same as the summons or
subpoena of a court of record. IL must be handed
the member in person or sent by mail to his last
known address. The Grand Lodge adopted reso-
luton embodylng these Vows.
The Grand Secretary read kilograms from the |
Grand Lodges of Iowa and Of Washington Terri;
fraternal greetings Grand Master flager accorded |
the Grand Honors to James Buckley Grand Treas |
erick II. Wright representative of the
Grand Grand Lodge Of Dakota, sidney +:
Walker of Canada. Walter P. Montague of
of Nevada. II has been found that the taking Of |
the vote of the Grand Lodge by ballot Is time
consuming. tedious piece OF work, and eI-Judge |
Dittenhoefer of q committee to which IL had been |
referred presented plan TO facilitate the matter
The resolution offered was not received with favor
however and It was not h ad2pi9d i & was voted fIS
SO 900 for the use OF the Grand Lodge during
the present session. The Librarian was given an |
appropriation of $500 for improving the library.
The Committee Constitution and Statutes re- |
ported that while any lodge had the power To ADOPT
bylaw requiring its secretary and treasurer 20
give bonds, nevertheless these bonds would be |
without value, unless tho lodge was duly incor-
porated body under State laws Proposed biennial |
sessions and the proposition TO fix the mlnimunt"
fee for initiation at $50 were rejected. John f. |
Collins offered a resolution appointing a committee
10 act with the Grand Lecturer lnreyIsng the work
and lectures which was adopted. IL was also voted
that the Masonic year end on April 80. This Will |
give ample time for the forwarding Of tho statistics
OF lodges TO the Grand Secretary before tho annu al
session of the Grand Lodge. General James
w. Hustled, Past Grand Master, offered as
an amendment 10 the constitution section
calling for the holding OF the annual sessions of the
Grand Lodge Of this state IN April. Inc session
Tuesday of April instead OF the first Tuesday OF
June as at present Under the rule this must lie
over one year before final action can be taken.
The Committee on Warrants recommended that
charters be issued TO Fortune and GogpOrt Lodges
and that Fordham Lodge be permitted 10 change its
name 20 that OF RoOme Lodge. The objection was
raised when the question first up that lodge
ought TO be named after any living man; but II
was said by the advocates Of the question that
the name Roome was a family one aud did
not necessarily refer 10 General Charles R0Omo,
president of the Manhattan Gas Company. On this
statement the resolution was adopted as was also
the recomme endation OF the committee. IL is we'll
known that IL was intended to honor General
Charles Roome, now seyenty-Ono years OF age TX
Judge Dittenhoefer was made a Commissioner OF
Appeal in the place OF William T. Woodruff and
Ralph +. Prime IN the place of Joseph yelling, of
Rochester.
The installation of grand officers was next in
order and Grand Master Flagler gave up the gavel
TO Past Grand Master Charles Roome, who had con-
sented 10 install the grand officers Prevons to his
installation the Grand Master-eeet, Joseph Edward
Simmons was conducted to the anteroOm and in
presence only of the Past Grand Masters duly
obligated and the degreelof Grand Master con-
ferred upon him. This rs secret and can only be-
conferred upon one who has been duly elected 10
preside over and govern Grand Lodge OF Free and
Accepted Masons After having been duly
made Grand Master, he was con-
Quoted to the altar and there obligated
in the presence of the whole Grand Lodge The |
installation of other Grand Officers followed in
turn The annual session then closed by
Grand Master Simmons.