Morning journal and courier., 1883-05-08
SuurnaI snG GOnrisr.
MAY 8, 1883.
Royal and Select.


 MasOnS i'm COune1l-Annual Assembly,
 Annual Address of Grand Master
 Waugh.
 At 10 o'clock yesterday morning the Grand Council of Royal and Select Masons met in Commaudery hall in Masonic building, cor ner of Chapel and Union streets The morn ing hours were used for an exemplifcation of the work and no routine business was transacted.
 At o'clock the Grand Council convened for business, the following grand officers be- ing present: NJ. P. Grand Master Dwight Waugh of Stamford, D. P. Grand Master Burton G. Bryan of Waterbury, T. T. Grand Master Alex. B. Shumway of Litchfeld, s. P. Conductor of Work J. F. Seamans of Kill lingly, Grand Recorder Joseph K. Wheeler of Hartford, Grand Conductor Frank G. Bassett of Seymour, Grand Steward James H. Welsh of Danbury, Grand Chaplain Rev. George M. Stanley of Winsted, and Grand Sentinel George A. Smith of New Haven. The only grand officers not in attendance were Grand Treasurer George Lee of Hart ford and Grand Captain of Guard W. l.. Morgan of New Britain.
 Grand Master Waugh delivered his annual address, from which the following facts are | taken:
 As we cluster in reverent adoration and humble supplication around our sacred altar in this our sixty-fourth annual assembly, our hearts go out in spontaneous thanksgiving to that beneficent Providence who has held our souls in life and suffered us to join hands again in the clasp of fraternal welcome. It affords ne great pleasure to report to you |. 1. hoe | In- formed, been one of perfect peace and quiet ness within our jurisdiction, and that no disturbing element has been suffered to i'm trude so as to mar the harmony of a single council. have during the past year granted the following dispensations
 On the 18th day of January, one to Craw ford council No. 19, of New Haven, to elect officers on the 22nd day of that month, the requisite number to open the council not be- ing present on the evening of the annual election.
 On the filst of February, one to Washing ton council Mo- 6, to elect officers on the Sth of last month for the same reason. On the 27th of February, one to Wooster council No. 23, to elect deputy master on the 18th of March the deputy master-elect having de- clined to be installed, and one on the 23d of March to Union council No. 21 to ballot on candidate without the usual delays. Some time in August last I received 8 communication
 
 that our representative near that grand council, T. I. Companion G. Fred. Wilton, had resigned his commission and suggesting the name of Companion P. W. Verhoven as a suitable successor. I accordingly forward ed a commission to Companion Verhoven and have received his acceptance of the po- sition Early in the year I issued a circular making the usual assignment of the several subordinate councils to the first four grand officers for visitation. It has been my pleas ure to visit a greater number of the sub ordinate councils than in any previous year during my connection with this grand body and the condition of those have been privileged to visit the following report will show The exemplifcation of the work of Montgomery council No. ? of Danielsonville in the royal select and superexcellent de- grees Dec. IA, was for perfection of appoint ments and fullness of the working parapher naIia one of which T. I. Companion Green and his associates have every reason to be proud. Grand Master Waugh goes on to compliment Harmony council No. 8, of New Haven, Tyrian council No. 31, of Winsted, Union council No. 27, of Birmingham, and Wooster council No. 2S, of Danbury, for ex- cellence in work.
 He adds: The general result of my visita- tions has been to satisfy me that large num- Der of our councils are growing Tn strength, in proficiency, in the ritual and in general knowledge of all that pertains to the Cryptic rite, and cannot but believe that one of the principal agencies in this general advance ment has been their frequent visitation by the grand officers. As it now stands, how ever our weakest councils, those needing vis- itation, inspection and instruction most, do not get visited. The councils themselves feel unable or unwilling to bear the expense of a visitation, and the grand officers have 8 natural delicacy about intruding themselves. I take occasion to renew the recommends 1F hot kIa councils not only provide that each of it's subordinates shall be visited by some one of the first four grand officers once in each year, but also that the necessary expenses be paid by this grand body.
 The following question has been submitted for my decision by one of the subordinate councils: If Council A blackballs a candi- date, and at an early day thereafter surren- ders jurisdiction in favor of Council B, can at once act upon his application and if not, how long must his probation be I gave it my opinion that in the ab- sence of any by law of the grand council upon the subject, all the other points of Masonic law having been complied with, it could act upon the application immediately. It seems to me the grand council should have bylaw making six months the shortest time for acting on the application.
 The grand master closes his report with appropriate personal reference to the mem bers of the council who have died during the year.
 Grand Recorder Wheeler stated in his an nual report that during the past year 127 new members had been added to the coun- cil This is the largest yearly increase of membership for the past ten years, and about three times the increase during 1880. The present membership is 2,265. The re- ceipts during the year were $2O1. 80. Thirty one members have died, one of them being O. P Jacobs, of Danielsonville who has been a regular visitor to the councils for the past twenty five years |.
 The reports of the delegates, like the other reports, were of highly favorable character. The annual convocation of the grand chap ter of the State will open to-day at 10 a. m.