The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1886-05-26
BLUE LODGE FREEMASONRY.
The Sixty-Sixth Annual Session of the
Grand LOdge-A Memorable Occasion.
Rhe Heavy and Long-Standing Indebtedness
Finally Liquidated-T Grand Lodge In
Better Condition than Ever Before.
THE GRAND LODGE SESSIONS.

address ~
Grand Lodges Gratifying Condition.
The sixty sixth annual meeting OF the Grand
Lodge. F. and A. NJ, of Indiana, was called to
order at 10 o'clock yesterday morning by Albert
p. Charles, of Seymour, grand master. Nearly
all the delegates 500 in number were present
The first business Of interest was the reading of
the grand masters address, in which he stated
that the condition of the craft in this grand
Jurisdiction is Eealthful, adding that while the
the report of the grand secretary showed de-
crease of membership, it also showed that this
decrease had resulted from causes which have
placed the lodges upon stronger footing than
for some years previous. The Grand Lodge,
Mt its last session. chartered FIVE lodges.
These were properly constituted by special depu-
Ties. He reported that he had taken up the
charters of Greenwood Lodge, No 1872, Moorefeld
Lodge, No. 213, Tunneton Lodge, Nc. 329, Kanka-
kee Lodge No. 800, and Canton Lodge, No. 4Sl;
and had annulled the charters of fourteen lodges
for failure and refusal to pay Grand Lodge dues,
failure to meet, in many instances, for more than
year and inability to sustain themselves. In
most instances the decay of the villages In which
they were located resulted in the decline of the
lodges. In all these cases the lodges were prac-
ticay dead before any action was taken.
On the first day of April last there were 131
lodges delinquent in the payment of Grand
Lodge dues. or in making their reports;
some in both instances. The grand master
notifying these lodges that if their dues
were not paid by May he would suspend them
cite them to appear at this session to show
vvhv
and that they would be refused representation
at this session On May l, of this number, two
only were delinquent-Canaan Lodge. No. 1913,
and Bloomington Lodge, No. 4S9. Never before
in the history Of this Grand Lodge has there
been held a session with such small percentage
of delinquency. Four lodges have sur
rendered their charters Stockwell Lodge,
No. 553. April A. 1884; Hudson Lodge, No. 258,
Jan. 5, 1885, Carbon Lodge, No. SOC, Jan. z,
1885; and Rockfeld Lodge, No $40 Dec. 4, 1885.
The action of these lodges in surrendering was in
conformity with the rules and regulations. Dis
pensations to form new lodges were granted to
Scottsburg Scott county, June IL, 1884. and to
Euclid Lodge. Terre Haute, Sept. IL, 1884 The
grand master said. II have refused to issue dis
pensations to form new lodges in seven instances
Ny refusal was based upon the facts that these
petitions came from new towns of doubtful
growth; that there was no probability that they
would survive any length of time that the pro-
posed jurisdiction sufficiently sup
piled with lodges already in existence,
and that the lodges now holding charters
In the immediate vicinity should be strengthened
rather than weakened by new ones My ex-
perience has convinced me that we have already
sufficient lodges in this jurisdiction; that the
granting of dispensatons to form new lodges is
but issuing a commission to the members to en-
gage in a contest to create new members and
obtain funds to reimburse the outlay incident to
their creation. have refused in numerous in
stances to issue dispensations to ballot upon
petitions for the degrees the same night they
A-1l. -.
iatons prescribed the time between the recep
ton of petition and ballot thereon; and the
grand master was not vested with authority to
set these aside. Moreover, l saw reason why,
because a person upon the eve of absence from
mis- home should conclude that the degrees of
Masonry would be good thing to travel
on, he should be rushed into
fraternity; nor why a suddenly conceived
idea that to appear in the regalia of a knight
Templar at the approaching triennial at ST.
Louis would be essentially advantageous to the
wearer. should be gratfed by setting aside laws
wisely conceived and especially prepared to guard
our portals by requiring ample time for the ex
animation of the character of all petitioners l
have refused to issue dispensations for lodges to
meet in halls occupied by bodies not Masonic,
and to join In public civic PROFESSIONS lodges.
on Memorial or Decoration days. and upon July
q; to remove from one town to another, and to
initiate without legs and arms. / no
good reason why the grand master should set
aside the rules and regulations. During the
past two years eight corner-stones of public
buildings have been laid with appropriate Ma
sonic ceremonies great number of charges
were disposed of, both against individual mem
bers and lodges all Of which were satisfactorily
settled.
The grand master announced that the Grand
Lodge was out of debt and has nearly $l2 900 in
its treasury, remarkiug that it had met on this
occasion under its own roof-tree. freed from the
grasp of the money-lender. and with the salts
faction of having paid an honest debt to the ut
termost farthing In this connection ne mem
toned that credit was due two brethren who
when the debt was contracted and the lender re-
qured lndorsers of the bonds and mortgage,
came forward and placed their names thereon as
sureties-Nicholas r. Ruckle and James W.
Hess
Several Recommendations were also made
one to reduce the annual dues to 80 cents, and
another to increase the salary of the secretary
5000. Mention was also made of the death of
Charles Fisher for tbirty-seve years treasurer
Of the Grand Lodge.
The report of Grand Secretary Smythe showed
that the total receipts since May l6, 1885, incud
Ing balance of 1863 OF at that date, were $685.
BIZ U.s. and the disbursements $2l, 1888 Us, leaving
balance OF @ll.9I. o3. The disbursements in
rlnde the payment of sl4, 600 on the Grand Lodge
debt.
The report OF the treasurer. Martin Fl. Rice,
corresponGed with that of the secretary
The trustees, John Cavan, Robert Van Valzah
Rnd Calvin Prather, in their report. said sit is
pur pleasing duty and happy privilege to official
~ inform you that every dollar OF the indebted
ness of the Grand Lodge. both floating and
bonded, has been paid in full. in good and lawful
currency of the realm; the bonds and notes
ceed, the mortgage and all other evidences of
Indebtedness returned. and now in custody OF
the grand secretary, and the release and salts
faction of the mortgage duly recorded in the
BORDERS office of Marion county, Indiana" They
also give the total receipts account OF rents
from Masonic Temple, the Grand Lodge Hall
and the vacant ground for the last year as &c.
l9l AZ, and the expenses, such as repairs taxes,
insurance. ETC.. So. SS3 H. leaving net balance
Of So. Cos 81
After hearing reports from several committees
recess was taken untr2 o'clock p NJ.
AFTERNOON SESSION.
In the afternoon, at o'clock, the lodge recon
Rencd and was opened in due form. REPORTS