The sun., 1890-06-04
THE MAsoNIo GRAND LODGE
IT'S Ono Hundred and NInth Annual Session
Held at the Temple.

With tho hluo and gold banner Of tho Grand
Lodge Of Trco and Accepted Masons Of the
state OF New York pendant from the wall ut
the rear Of tho platform In tho large hall OF the
Masonic Temple. and with the golden ark OF
the Covenant, II golden beehive, and golden
horn OF plenty at their feet nineteen OF the
twenty-five officers Of the Grand Lodge stood
behind Grand Master John W. Vrooman yes
terday afternoon while he opened the Grand
Lodge In due FORM 1t wRs the 1O0th annual COM
munication of the Grand Lodge of this State
To the members of the craft assembled there
nearly a thousand and from all parts Of tho
State-it was an impressive ceremony. The
reading by Grand Master Vrooman OF his ad-
dress occupied nearly two hours. In opening
he said:
We assemble to-day unbroken band OF lodges
with each annual return complete and on file with the
Grand Secretary with harmony perfect as may be
accorded to any institution earth, Within hall mag
nihcent in design and purpose with site for tho
lum beautiful in location and approved by the craft
and with bank account amply sufficient to complete
and furnish the main building Of that asylum. This
wonderful growth s not the result OF accident or the
freak of fortune il tho legitimate fruit of faithful
devotion to the eternal principles upon which Free
masonry is founded our proud possessions are free
from any incumbrance. May our beloved fraternity,
to the end Of time, obey tho serpturaI injunction,
lowe man anything
After paving a fitting tribute to the deceased
brethren the Grand Master touched upon the
subject of new lodges. He said: Il am fully
convinced that 1t will be more commendable
and produce more healthy growth to infuse all
the surplus Of enthusiasm and mem bership
into the lodges now In existence"
Speaking OF Pope Leos bull Of excommupi-
cation against the Masonic fraternity the
Grand Master said
Freen asonry no longer needs defender; its teach.
Inspection and crtclsm. The Winds OF edicts and in.
nce: 1t VIII not fall it ia founded upon rock.
or the Hall and Asylum Fund he spoke at
length. He paid high tribute TO Past Master
Frank X Lawrence, whose efforts made cer-
tain hall Tree from encumbrance and an
asylum that will not be surpassed by any in
the world.
Grand Secretary F. NJ L. Ehlers, Grand
Treasurer John J. German. and r. w. John
Il Schiok OF the Asylum Fund Committee each
read their reports The Grand Treasurers re-
port shows that on May ID there was balance
on hand OF $40 1856. 80. exclusive OF the Asylum
mated cost Of erecting the Masonic Homo on
tho property recently secured at Ctica is
$l5OOO0. BY resolution the plans OF Archi-
tects Fuller and Wheeler OF Albany were
adopted: and the work Is to be commenced at
Building Committee.
The Grand Master and his staff we're enter
tanned by Rolltn NJ. Morgan and his officers OF
Kane Lodge. No. 454. during the evening In
PALESTINE Commandery room IN the Temple.
alton dned at the Ashland House early In the
evening. John J. Baldwin presiding.
The Grand Lodge will convene at . o'clock
this morning and will be in session nearly all
day, the election OF officers occurring in the af-
ternoon. The voting will be by reclamation.