New-York tribune., 1883-06-04
NEW-YORK FREE MASONS.
ANNUAL MEETING OF THE GRAND LODGE,
EVENTS OF THE PAST YEAR-sUGGEsrED AMEND
MENTs TO THE CONSTITUTION.

The annual session of the Grand LouBe OF fiee
and Accepted Masons of the State OF New-iork 10
begin tomorrow afternoon at O'Clock. Inc grand
Iodce ia composed of nearly 1000 members en-
bracing representatives of nearly SUI subordinate
lodges and 200 grand officers, past and present.
The coming annual session is looked forward to
with unusual interest. 1T follows year
of remarkable harmony" said Grand Sec
retary f.. NJ l.. Ehlers to re-.
porter of THE TRIBUNE yesterday.i =" All
through the State, Masonic affairs have attracted
the attention of the members of the craft. There
were in good standing at the end OF the last
Masonic year MAY 1, 1882, 72,311 members OF
lodges Major William H. Co-sa, the assistant
grand secretary has been preparing a full tabu-
lated statement of the actual condition OF the craft
in this State The returns from all but seven lodges
had been received yesterday They show that the
approximate number of Masons in this State on
May L. 1883, was $4,000.
"Tbe past year, continued the grand secretary.
d" has been marked by great activity. The number
of restorations has been large. The number of men,
bers who have been unaffhated has been smaller
than for many years The receipts for the past year
foot up Ss5 O92 10. Only one lodge has surren-
dered its charter-Mount Williams, of Port Jervis.
The grand master has granted two dlspensations
for the formation of new lodges. viz: Fortune
Lodge, of North Collins, aud Gosport Lodge OF
Gosport, Niagara County.
In the course of the year there have been many
notable events in which the grand lodge has taken
part officially One of the first was the laying OF
the cornerstone of the soldiers monument In
Buffalo. on July 4, 1882. which was also
attended by the 9TH Regiment ~ q. B. n. I.
Stewart L. Woodford delivered the Grafton and
Grand Master Flagler conducted the ceremonies
Later he took part in the institution OF Niagara
ur1 IN hot
sion pleasant incident occurred showing the influ
ence of Pree Masonry in helping on the era of good
feeling between the sections of the country not long
ago at war with each other. A. an opportunc time
several members of the order called
upon Mr.. Flagler and announced that they
were a committee from Of the Confederate
regiments that had captured the flag and coors OF
the New-York volunteer regiment In which Grand
Master Flagler had been an officer. They unrolled
the old flag and in impressive words returned the
emblem to the representatives of the regiment from
which Il had been captured The grand master and
his staff also participated tho celebration of the
landing of William Penn at Philadelphia and the
chartering Of that city, and the event has been re-
corded in the archives of the fraternity of the En-
pire State For two months the grand master was
Obliged 10 be absent in the South account of the
failure Of his health Deputy Grand Master j.
tives and duties of the head OF the
order In the Lutheran Cemetery. on Long
Island. beautiful plot has been purchased by the
German Masonic lodges The object IN to have a
suitable place where any sojourning or destitute
Mason may receive the rites of honorable burial IN
stead of being consigned TO Potters Field The cor
ner-stone OF a beautiful monument for this plot was
laid in October. 1881. by the lato Francis De
Malignon, the then district deputy grand master.
A short time ago this monument was completed and
dedicated with the usual Masonic services.
Several important amendments 10 the constitution
were proposed at the last annual communics ton,
and laid under the rule, 10 be acted upon at the
present session. One OF these amendments proposes
that where loo. re changes ITS place of meeting II
shall previously have obtained the consent of all
the lodges whose jurisdiction might be affected by
the removal Another brings up the subject of bien-
nial sessions of the grand Hodge, and still another
PROPOSES to make the minimum initiation fee $50
IL is said that except that In regard to the change
of location of lodges, the amendments are not
looked upon with much favor generally. Friends
have been active in preparing oil portraits OF Past
Grand Masters Jesse H. Anthony, Edmund l.. Jud-
son and BENJAMIN Flager These paintings are TO
be presented TO the grand lodge at the coming ses
sion 1t has been suggested that as these valuable
pictures Of past grand masters have
been multiplying very rapidly. the trustees
of the Hall and Asylum Fund be asked to
set apart tho corridor the second
floor Of tho Temple as q gallery where these por-
traits could suitably be hung. Here they could be
inspected by all visitors to the Temple. and would
form a valuable addition the attractions of the
place.
The Commissioners OF Appeals are Frank r. Law
renee Of New-York Cityi Edward j.. Gaul, of
Hudson; John A. De Remer. of Schenectady;
Henry A. Childs of Medina; William Sherer, of
BROOKLYN; Joseph yelling and William +. Wood
ruff. of this city. To facilitate the work of the
annual session, and In the hope OF shortening Its
term the commissioners are 20 meet to-day at
o'clock in the Tuscan room of the Masonic Temple
at sixth-ave. and Twenty-third-st They will
receive any applications for appeal that may be
offered and push forward the hearings in the several
cases 80 that they will be able 20 report TO the
Grand Lodge at the earliest moment practicable
The standing committees also to meet before
the opening of the annual session.
HCoonel Ehlers has closed his first year as grand
secretary. He succeeded the late James McMurray
Austin who was reelected for twenty
secuive years and during his long period of
became one OF the influential Masons of this State.
Colonel Eblers has effected improvements In the
work of the grand secretarys office that will greatly
facilitate the dispatch OF the business OF the coming
annual session. During INC year Nc mas not only
kept up q correspondence with the 800 lodges In
this State but has contrived to interest them 10 an
increased degree in the affairs of the fraternity.
Fewer lodges than ever before have suffered their
grand lodge dues to remain unpaid Transmitting
their Dues they also have sent statement Of their
condition and their membership. which will enable
the grand secretary to Law before the grand lodge
report which will embrace facts of Importance
which never before have been secured until much
later in the year. An improved system of accounts
has been instituted which will enable representa-
tves of lodges to secure their pay promptly and ad
lust their affairs early In the present session.