The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1896-10-21
SELECT MASTERS MEET
F~ORTY-FIRST ANNUAL GATHERING
OF THE GRAND COUNCIL.
Reports Show Order to Be in Flour
isbfng Condition, with an In
crease in Membership.

Grand Council of the Royal and Select
Masters of the State of Indiana is now be-
ing held at the Masonic Hall in TINS city.
The principal business of the meeting was
transacted yesterday and 1t Is expected
that adjournment will be reached by IL
o'clock this morning. The meeting Is pre-
sided over by Thomas r. Marshall, OF Hart
ford City, illustrious grand master. Inc
first act of the grand master was 10 APP
point the following committees to act dur
ing the present session:
Credentials-William H. Smythe, I. l.
Showalter and Robert Cox.
Visiting Companions-George w. F. Kirk
John Borough and John c. Wicker rbos
Charters@Orlando w BroWarack' Illus
B.. Williams and Samuel F. pay, IT q
observation-disclosures . Jones, H. =.
Yount and w. D. Carr.
Grievances and Appeals-S. .. Johnson
Harry Caldwell and q. NJ. zimmerman.
Ciaims-L. A. Foote. Isaac p. Leyden ana
'3 Foreien 1SorresnoIndence-Harry w. Word
hurst, Fl. K. Miller and George " Ballew.
Unfinished Bu~siness1Ellas |; Bro"n'
Observation-Disclosures ThonaS; WI
liam W. Austin, Daniel McDonald, SaInuel
sarqant CHARLES w. Slick, Theodore b.
Brown and Thomas B. Long.
The reports of officers were of the usually
fattering nature, showing the order TO De
in a hourishing condition. hi of the re-
| firing illustrious grand master dealt WIN
the changes in the subordinate looses'
showing the condition of the various lodges
| throughout the State, of which there are
forty-eight. The report concluded with lol-
lowing reference to the prevailing aouso -
the secret order badge:
1T has become ar infinite source OF re-
greet TO me that in some places and under
some circumstances Masonry IS being
brought into the public marts; that our
badges are used for ali purposes, ana mat
there is a desperate attempt 10 supselE e
St. rnping the Masonic badge upon all sorts
of devices, from corn pastors. Wnlcn 10
not draw, to insurace compahles' - ~ uo ~
not insure. This may not meet with your
approval, my illuStriouS companions, put l
am more and more convinced that we
fear viii be a burden that will bear US
down in this jurisdiction unless we let II
be known that ours is purely d lfaternai
restitution. and that il is not instituted for
business purposes at all, ana that we are
not associated with any man, or Grass OF
men. who are using the institution Tor per
sonal and private purposes: | speah nf
not in harshness, nor for the purpose OF
in loving gratitude and graciousness to
you, and now as l draw to the close OF my
official career, if L were Richelieu ana IL l
had the power to bless you an, as ne IN
his priestly power had, / would say that l
should draw around your heads the sacred
circle of my love and benediction, and that
if any man dared enter therein except in
love and mercy. upon his head, yea, though
it wore a croWn-even the crown WnIcn i
now wear-I'd launch the curse of Rome.
Companions. | have lived my life and done
my work officially. There has been no en-
ulation nor disssnsion, except true Masonic
emulation, in Cryptic Masonry in Indiana,
which just a little bit of charity has
soothed and wiped away. Companions
soon my successor will be here. The king
is dead. Long live the king
The report Of the grand recorder VII.
lam H. Smythe, showed the total receipts
for the past year to have been $~3,129.1z. OF
which disbursements amounted to $1,340.9o
leaving a balance in the hands of the grand
treasurer of 81, 1857 Concerning the mem
bership of the order in the State, the grand
recorders report contained the following
2,45T; number advanced in 1895. 149; number
reinstated, /; number affiliated, Al; total tf
be accounted for 2,64S. From this tota
there are the following deductions for the
rnitted, SO; suspended for nonpayment Of
dues. 10; total, 1913. This leaves a net mem
bership. Jan. 1, 1896, of 2,525, an increase FOL
the year of IS members.
'rhe report of the grand treasurer, Mar.
tin Fl. Rice. agreed with the financial par
of the grand recorders report.
Officers for the ensuing year were elected
yesterday afternoon as follows:
ulustrious Grand aster-Andre ]
Robinson, Logansport. !.
Deputy Illustrious Grand Master-Davi
NJ. Burns, Lebanon.
Grand Principal Conductor of the Work
John W. Pottinger, LaPorte.
Grand Treasurer-Martin H. Rice, Indf
anapolis.
Grand Recorder-William H. Smythe, In
dianapoliS.
Grand Captain of the Guards-JohI
Borough, Mishawaka.
The Sessions of the Grand Chapter Of thu
Royal Arch Masons Will begin at the Ma
sonic Hall this afternoon.