New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1891-06-03
FREE MASONS ASSEMBLE.
THEIR 10th YEARLY COMMUNICATION.
toERs WILL BE ELECTED ro-pAY-GRAND

OFFICERS WILL BE ELECTED To-DAY-GRAND
MASTER vRooMAN DECLINES REELECTION.
The Masonic Temple Twenty -third-s and Sixth ave-,
has rarely held more representative body Of Nasons
than yesterday, when the 10th annual communiea-
ton of the Grand Lodge Of Free and Accepted Masons
Of the state of NewYork began. There were present
delegates from the 7o1 active lodges in the State rep
resentng about II 900 Master Masons In good stand
Ing. This is an important communication, ana VIII
close on Thursday with the installation OF ofncers'
The proceedings yesterday opened at 2 p. m bu'
long before that time the Temple was filed Win MaSIe
Mssons renewing their friendships aud preparing lot
the business OF the communication. the arriving ucF
egates paid their respects to Grand Master Joih W:
Vroopan, and his room was crowdcd as uat VI
Colonel f. NJ L. Ehlers. the grand secretary AT
p. H. the representatives were seated in the "rahu
Lodge ROOM and the procession of Grand Masters Do
gan. the inspiring strains of band from 81 0ecle
Lodge, No 56S, and the organ, played by Ueorse W.
Morgan organlst to the Grand Lodge and the mnscai
patron saint Of the Masons Of this CITY, Tine process
sion was led by the marshal William 5. Prescott and
after him came the officers of the Grand Lodge who
are John W. Vreoman Of Herkmer. grand masVr
william sherer OF Brooklyn, deputy James Ten EycK
of Albany, senior grand warden; John Hoose'
of Lockport junior grand warden; Johh D.
German, OF New-York, treasurer; Colonel I'd
ward NJ l.. Ehlers Of NewYorR, secretary ;
the Rev. Messrs Charles W. Camp, Of LOckport; Rob
ert Collyer, OF New York, and John 5. Bacon Oh
Corning cbapains william c. Prescott. Of llerlumer
marshall also the following who have the title oil Rg
worsMpful: John H. Cunningham, of Utica, standard
bearer; Charles ". Mead. of Albany sword bearer ;
Charles G. Wilson, of New-York; Simeon T. Clark OF
Lochport William Ebert of Brooklyn, and George A.
Beam of Dundee, stewards Frederick p Morris. Of
Flushing, grand senior deacon Albert d. Price,
OF New-York grand junior deacon; George
II. Raymond, Of New-York lecturer: Herman G. Car
ter Of New York, librarian; George Skinner, Of New
I'd InhO HOn1p ~ New
Others present were the grand officers composing the
Court Of Appeals, who are Frederick A. Burnham. OF
this city, chief commissioner: Rufus T. Grggs, Of
Brooklyn; John c. Graves. Of Buffalo, Wright ID. Pow
NALL Of this city; William II. Andrews. of this city
Edward H. Gaul, of Hudson, and Edmund l.. Pitts
of Medina There also the trustees OF the Hall
and Asylum Fund who Edward b. Harper, OF this
CITY: Alexander T. Goodwin, OF Utica Horace l..
Green of Fort Plain John stewart Of this city George
H. Wiley OF Utica George Hayes, OF this city, and
Jerome E. Morse, Of Brooklyn Others present were
ex Speaker Hustled Frank r. Lawrence, Specia Deputy
Collector Joseph J. Couch and Deputy Collector Lew
II. Gano.
Grand Cbaplan Bacon offered prayer, after which
Grand Master Vrooman delivered his annual address,
which was able and eloquent and contained many points
OF general interest He announced that no charter ad
been suspended or surrendered during the year and that
the assets Of the craft In the state were largely III
creased We are beginning new era said he.
In regard 10 new lodges Mr.. Vro0man said that I'M
common Masonic impetus seemed to prevail throughout
the Jurisdictions as the case last year, and tt
had been felt In frequent and earnest appeals Tor ne"
lodges. But lie had adhered TO the policy OF lhe "Iau
Ledge OF recent years which was to discourage t'o
creation of new lodges The permanent prosperity OF
the fraternity demanded that all OF Masonic growth ana
membership should be infused for the present into the
lodges now in existence, and he had made but one
exception to this policy.
Grand Master vrooman next took the question OF
public installation Of officers. In the absence OF Masonic
law he merely offered few general suggestions These
we're first that the ceremonies should be performed i'll
,ba lod room never outside OF 1t second that they
sh,Id he public in the only that persons mol mem
bers of the fraternity should be present upon the eA
p-ess invitation OF the lodge or member thero' anu
these invitations should De restricted to the families ana
immediate friends Of the members third, mat any
exercises either before after the installation cee
monies should be in keeping with the dignity OF the
occasion. 1t was his belief that an occasional
installation Of this character would bflhs
the families and friends OF the brethren hto
closer relations and avoid something of the needless
air of my stery that occasionally pervaded the instu-
ton He urged each lodge never TO engage IN pup
lie installation any of the brethren should deem 1t
advisable not TO perform the cermony in the manner
indicated.
Mr. Vrooman announced that there was peace and
harmony throughout the order, ana that the cohtio
versy which had ragged several years between tho
Grand Lodge and that of New-Jersey had been ami
cably settled He also took occasion To say That COM
plants had been received that in several instances
brother or selfappointed Masonic committee had IS
sued letters circulars requesting OF breth-
rem their votes in behalf of brother
who was a candidate for political
Office. He appealed to the MasoDs TO carry ont the
ancient charge I'VE resolved against all politics,
as what never yet conduced to the welfacc Of the
lodge, nor ever WILL"
Allusion also made to the laying Of the cor
nerstone Of the Masonic Home and School at Utica
and the progress made the buildings.
Reports received from the grand secretary
and the committee correspondence, after which
tho communication adjourned until to-day.
1t is generally believed that the election which takes
place to-day will pass of quickly. Grand Master
Vrooman has declined a reelection. and the general
belief Is that Deputy Grand Master Sherer will be
promoted. The principal struggle will over the
Office of junior warden.
Grand secretary Elders, in his annual Tepxn said
that the receipts of the Grand Lodge for the year
aggregated S69, ST. 40. TIICfe balance hand
OF $50. 939 Al During the year 4,s25 Mas0ns had
been raised TO The degree OF master mason, while $40
members had died.
In the evening Kane Lodge entertained the visiting
delegates who turned ont IN large numbers and were
royalty received. Many delegates attended the thea
tres and private receptions given for them by local
members Of the Grand Lodge