Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1884-01-31
MASONIC.
Proceedings Of the First Days Session Of
the Grand Lodge-The Report of
Grand Master Mcconnell
For the Past Yesr-Progress OF tie
Order-Tari6us Recommendations
and Suggestions.

The following elected and appointed Off
GERS were installed by M. J. G. NJ. Ma
thews, assisted by P. NJ. j. G. NJ. B. R.
Harrisi Pitkin G. Wright, g. NJ; James
r. Grow, &. p. c.. W; n. S. Woodward,
g. Treasurer; John Frizzell, g. Recorder;
F. p. Keesee, q. c.. OF H.; George b.
Boyles, g. Marshal; w. T. Robertson; q.
@. OF c.; A. Bearden, G. Steward; G. Sci
ferle, G. Sentinel.
The Grand Council was then closed.
THE GRAND LODGE.
The Grand Lodge met at IL o'clock, the
following officers present:
N. w. Mcconnell, Grand Master; 3. F.
Price. Deputy Grand Master; II. NJ.
Aiken, G. S. W.; G. A. Goodloe, q. J.
W.; VIM. HI. Morrow, Il. Treas. John
d. j. Pierce, G.. S. D.. J. B. Moore, G. J.
D.; H. f. Davis, G. S.; John C. New, &.
Pursuiyant; G. Seiferle, G.. Tyler
The Grand Master and Grand Lecturer
delivered interesting entertaining and
instructive addresses.
GRAND MASTERS ADDREss.
Grand Master Mcconnell, in his address,
said:
at has been the busiest year of my
life. My Masonic work, added to the
laborious duties of public civil station,
has filled to the very utmost capacity
every moment of my time. The days
have come and gone with such rapidity
that it seems but yesterday since l was in
vested with the high office am now about
to lay aside. To me it has been a year of
unalloyed pleasure. 1t has been a year of
unexampled prosperity to our State.
Feeling the Importance OF a revival in
Masonry, l sought for some means, early
in my administration, to reach that end.
And by revival L do not mean the ac-
QUESTION OF new members so much as the
awakening to new atId higher life the
membership We already had. 1 found
scattered all over the State an army Of
non-affiiates, whose ranks were con-
tinually being filled with fresh recruits
from the lodges. My first effort was to ar
rest this stream OF desertion, which threat
ened to deplete many of our lodges to such
an extent that they must inevitably per-
ish. l found another army thai, while
they still retained their 'embership,
rarely ever attended the = ,ommuni-
cations; and, while they Ia a aname to
live, were really Masonically dead. To
arouse and resuscitate these was another
important end to be accomplished. Among
these two armies were many valuable
brethren. To reach them and bring them
back to their first love was matter of the
very first importance.
"In view of this determination, the
Grand Master issued circular address to
! the different lodges, submitting a table of
the losses and gains OF the order for the
| nine years ending January l, 1888. In
1873 the membership was 1892, the
greatest number ever reached in the State.
| From that year to the lstof January, 1888,
| period OF nine years, the membership
has steadily decreased, and the net loss
| aggregates 4419, and the aggregate loss
| from all sources reaches the appalling
number of ,l26. The withdrawal OF
members is the greatest trouble, 1882 hav-
| ing withdrawn in nine yoars. The circular
| urged members to impress upon those de-
string to withdraw the fact that they ought
not to do so without joining another lodge
| and closed with an order that the circular
| be read at the next stated communication
OF the lodge, and the aid Of the members
be invoked in the endeaver to resuscitate
| Freemasonry in Tennessee, a report oil
| the result to be made at the end OF 81 x
months.
''The net loss for 1874 was $50 members
for 1870 it was 44S; for 1916 it was 77S; for
| 1877 it was 9Gl; for 1878 it was 922; for
1879 it was oil; for 1880 it was 2S2; for
1881 it was 450; for 1882 it was 274. AT
the time this address went to press, the re-
turns from 339 lodges had been received
| and they showed net gain of thirty-two
"Official visitation | regarded as another
| means of reviving Masonry, hence /
availed myself of every possible opportu-
| nifty to visit lodges. l would sometimes
visit single lodge, and at other times, by
previous arrangement, l would visit sew
eral lodges together
The Grand Master gives detailed ac-
count of his various visits. Then follows
list OF the dispensations and commits
sions. He compliments the Grand Visit
| ors on their effective work.
He granted dispensations for two new
| lodges, Trizonia Lodge $40, Loudon county
and Van Hill Lodge 500, Hawkins county.
Dispensations were refused in four cases,
"The Grand Lodge, at its last communi-
cation, directed the Grand Master to ap-
point Grand Lecturer for the ensuing
Masonic year. In obedience to this order,
| commissioned Past Grand Master J. Il,
| lrion, Grand Lecturer. He had filled this
important Office the preceding year, and
had given such universal satisfaction that
L did not hesitate for moment to recon-
| mission him. l have received a good
| many letters from the lodges which he
has visited, and have seen many members
OF such lodges in person, and have heard
but one account of him, and that has
been Of the most flattering character. |
| am of the opinion that he is doing the
| greatest work for Freemasonry in Tennes.
see that has been done for manv wears
He has visited $50 lodges this year, and
the same number last year and, while all
have not yet been visited, the greater
portion have, and the work OF re.
suscitation is well under way.
suggest that, during the next
| year, the work of establishing the uniform
rttr tol ha lx, Al - Al I
way to do this will be to organize schools
| OF instruction at convenient places over
the State, where the officers of the lodges
can attend sufficient time to perfect their
knowledge in the ritual. In this way the
Grand Lecturer can in one year instruct
| every officer in the State, and at a vast
deal less of physical outlay than he has
been compelled to undergo during the last
| two years.
81 congratulate the Grand Lodge and
| the fraternity throughout the State upon
| the publication of the Masonic Digest.
This was done under a resolution adopted
| by the Grand Lodge in 1880. / am salts.
| fed at least three-fourths of the questions
| on Masonic law which have been sub
| mitted to me this year would not have
been asked if the lodges had been in pos
session of this digest at the beginning OF
| the year. Every Mason in the State onght
to provide himself with copy.
"The relations existing between the
Grand Lodge of Tennessee and all other
| grand jurisdictions, both in America and
in foreign lands, are of the most friendly
character; and am pleased to state that
nothing whichis of a nature to disturb the
general peace and harmony which every
| where prevail seems even to be threatened
| A new Grand Lodge of Symbolic Masonry
has been formed in the republic of Peru il
| full conformity to the recognized law.
I which should govern in such matters. aud