The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1886-05-05
MASONIC.
Annual Meeting of the Grand Bod
les.
The Proceedings of the First Day.

The Grand Lodge of Masons of Maine met at 8
a. M yesterday, Grand Master Fessenden l. Day
presiding. The Asylum was filled and many well
known men from all parts of the State were pres
emit OF the Past Grand Masters, there were pres
ent Hiram Chase Of Belfast, Edward p. Burn
ham, now of RoxbuTy, Mass, William z. Preble
of Portland, Charles l. Collamore of Bangor, Da-
vid Cargill Of East Livermore, NJ. f. King, Port
land w. II. G. Estes, Skowhegan. The venera-
BILE Oliver Gerrish, Past Junior GrandWarden, now
over 80 years of age, was present and active as
chairman of the finance committee.
The Grand Lodge was opened with prayer by
Grand Chaplain Rev. John Gibson
The committee on credentials reported lao out
of 1874 lodges represented.
Grand Master Day read his annual address
which was an able and interesting paper. He re-
ported the death of but past grand officer
during the year, William Somerby of Ellsworth,
who had been senior grand warden, and who
joined the fraternity in 1924. He reported the
fraternity to be in prosperous condition. He re-
ported that the Fraternity of Maine had contribu-
ted $436.70 to the relief of the sufferers at the
great fire in Galveston, Texas, of which part was
declined by the Texas Committee on account Of
sufficient relief having been received and this por
ton was returned to the contributors.
The report of the committee OF finance ana
Grand Treasurer showed satisfactory state OF
the finances
The report of the committee on returns showed
20,039 members an increase OF l67 during the
year. Tbe initiates are ga against 74S last year,
The deaths are 269 against 225 last year.
Dropped from membership 1877, against 335 last
year.
The gain in the last item is the most significant
OF general improvement.
Resolutions were adopted recognizing the Grand
Lodge of South Australia.
At12.15 the Grand Lodge called off until 2
AFTERNOON SESSION.
The Grand Lodge was called ON at 2 O'Clock
Many more delegates were present who had ar
rived by the noon trains, 1877 lodges being repre-
scented and Albert Moore of North Arson was adj
ded to the roll Of Past Grand Masters present.
Routine business filled the hour until 3 o'clock,
the time assigned for the election of officers, when
Past Grand Master Charles I. Collamore, was
call to the chair and the following officers were
elected:
Grand Master--Fessenden l. Day, Lewiston.
Deputy Grand Master-Frank E. Sleeper, Sa-
BATS
Senior Grand Warden-Albro E. Chase, Port
land.
Junior Grand warden-Benjamin Ames,
Thorndike.
OTdllu Observation-Disclosures FOX, POfLIdllQ.
Grand Secretary-Ira Berry, Portland.
Finance Committee-Oliver Gerrish, Portland;
s. Clifford Belcher, Pennington; Judson B. Dun
bar, Portland.
Trustees for three years-A. M. Wetherbee,
WARREN E. Howard Vose, Calais
A vote of thanks was unanimously passed to
Edmund B. Mallett, Jr., for the gift of free bed
in the Maine General Hospital to the Masonic
fraternity for the current year.
Grand Royal Arch Chapter of Maine.
AT 5.15, called off until 2 O'Clock Wednesday
afternoon.
The Grand Chapter met at O'Clock last eve
ming, Manly G. Trask, Grand High Priest, presid-
ing. 1t was opened with prayer by Rev. Marion
Crosley Grand Chaplain.
Alfred F. Chapman of Boston, General Grand
High Priest of the General Grand Chapter Of the
United States was present to make an official Wis
it, and was received and welcomed to the Grand
Chapter.
The committee on credentials reported 81 out
of At chapters represented.
Grand High Priest Trask read his annual adj
dress, reporting peace and prosperity existing
throughout the jurisdiction
The report on returns showed 4265 members
and 152 candidates The officers elected are as
follows:
Grand High Priest-James NJ. Neyens, Bucks
port.
Deputy Grand High Priest-Archie L. Talbot,
Lewiston.
Grand King-George w. Goulding, Oakland
Grand Scribe-Charles /. CollamOre, Bangor.
Grand Treasurer-Rufus Il. Hnkey. Port
land.
Grand Secretary-Ira Berry, Portland.
Committee of Finance-J0siah H. Drumm0nd,
Portland; Oliver Gerrish, Portland; Nathan
Woodbury., Lewiston.
At 1o.4o the Grand Chapter was called off un-
til this morning.
Order of Meetings.
The order of meeting today is as follows: Grand
Chapter at a. m; Order of High Priesthood at
II a. ~; Grand Lodge at p. M; Grand Com
maddery at o. H.. sharp.