Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1891-10-09
Grand Lodge of Illinois COnveneS in
Central Music Hall,
Chicago.
Many Visitors are Present from Wis.
consin and Other Neighb0r-
ing States.
A Reduction Proposed in the Salary
of the Grand
Master.

CWCA' o, oct 6.-The Grand Lodge
of the Masonic order in illinois con-
vcncd this morning in Central Music
Hall, with large attendance of dele
gates from the $50 lodges in this State
and many visitors from Wis onSin
Iowa, Indiana and Michigan. The
morn .ng session, which was called 70
order at 10 o'clock, was taken up with
the formal opening of the lodge and
the reading of the annual reports of
the Grand Master, Grand Secretary
and Grand Treasurer.
Considcra BILE dis usSion was evoked
on the question of the reduction of the
salary of the Grand Master from 81 = 500
to 81, 200, with an allowance of ex-
penSes 1t was proposed also, to re-
duce the salary of the Grand
Secre airy $500. A spirited contest
was evoked by the bringing up
of this last amendment \ warm
friend of the present incumbent of the
ot1i made an eloquent appeal against
the reduction, arguing that the duties
OF the office were constantly increas-
ing, and the craft in the State were
yearly growing stronger and more able
to pay fair compensation to deserv-
ing officer.
uring the past year the Masons of
Illinois have paid out for the relief of
needy mem bers and to widows and
orphans Slb,O and on outside charity
have expended something over $1,000.
The Chicago Masonic Home has re-
cc!vcd 500 during the present year
Five schools of instruction were held
during the past year, and the Grand
nj
attended. There was also appointed
the following admirable list of Grand
Lecture s: Thomas W. Macfall, of
Blandinsville; John c. Eannis-
Chicago: Herbert $. IIurd, of
Chicago; Calvin Il. Burt OF chicago;
John ". Klecilncr of Chicago John
Glaze of Chicago Isaac W. Todd of
Elyaston. Charles S. De Hart of Garth
age; l.. j. North of Fairfield; Cor
nelius NJ. Erwin of Bowen: Orville f.
kirItpatr elk of Bowen. John j. Crow
den OF n ringHeld; Thomas W. Wilson
O. Riverton; Joseph a, AEce of River
ton; harlcs +. Graves of Mount Car
rolf William V. amb of Napcr-
Vile. Henry \. ldison of Viii
low Hill: samuel G.. Jarvis of
Victoria and Joseph Y, Harris OF Can
ton. " hile only two lodges have SUR
rendered their charters, one at Hum
DO .dt and one at lr'v ng, disI cnsations
have been granted for forming four
teen new ones. The mum Der Of lnitin-
tionS rea he'd > 99i, making net in
crease of near y l,GOO m the member
ship, which now numbers 1920. AS
the Grand Lodge was organized in
1870 with only six lodges and l57 mem
bers, this shows EN- .,rhablc increase
in fifty years.
Most Morshipful Brother Joseph
Robbins report fills 500 pages, and
deals in fearless and candid manner
with all Masonic questions of the day,
the iowa Cernean controversy, in par
ticular being handled in very skill
full manner. He dcvotcs mDre than
twenty pages to this last topic, but it
is not likely that the Grand Lodge will
take action on it.
The proceedings of the Grand Lodge
from $50 to 1880 would make a fine
volume, and it viii proba5 bly, be printed
and issued for distr button in the
State The records were all Destroyed
in the great fire of 1871, but copy
was provide ntially preserved in the
library of the Grand Lodge of New
\ orb.