New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1896-06-03

were In attendance Bishop Potter. associate
chaplain of the Grand Lodge, opened the meet
ing with a prayer for the welfare OF the order
and for the success Of the deiberation OF the
convention.
Reports were received from the different officers
and from the thirty district deputy grand mas
tors Committees were then appointed TO IN
vcstigatc the reports. and Grand Master Stew
art gave his annual address.
The report OF Jerome E. Morse. grand treas
urer, showed receipts for the year ending May
II. $74 800 81; interest on deposits S4'l ~ pal
ance from May -. 1895, S47. 1913 II, making
total of Sl2l .039 81.
The trustees Of the Masonic Hall and Asylum
Fund showed by the reports OF Treasurer FRED
erck p. Morris Receipts for the year just
passed SASH 80; total Disbursements S's'-
7S3 20: balance on hand April 30 lS9o S3o-
6ol 81: balance on hand April 90 1896. SILL
1905
Committees were appointed by the Grahd Mas
ter to examine the reports OF the treasurer ana
other officers. and to report on the Grand Mas
ters address and on the work of the Committee
on Credt ntals. The committee Will report TO-
day. r.,
The visitors to the convention included: FROM
ew-Jersey Grand Master George W. Fort
meyer and seven past grand masters HaHIltoH
Wallis. J. W. Consdon, T. W. I,d h 5ns s,Jo.
ert NJ Moore, James H. Durand ana Charles
Belcher; from Philadelphi1, Deputy Grand Mis-
ter w J. Kelly and Junior Grand warden w.
j Wagner Antonio Gonzales represented the
Grand Lodge OF Cuba.
Grand Master John Stewart IN his address paid
tribute to the memory Of the late Edward g.
Harper who president OF the trustees OF
the Masonic Hall and Asylum Fund, eaying:
Brother Harper was known TO you all as Yea,
Gus craftsman. foremost In every good work ana
rirel-ss in the interest 81 the fraternity AZ man
he was Incapable of doing or saying mean thlhs.
one who knew HIM best truthfully bears testimony
70 his goodness OF heart In these words; NO needy
| in vain Ii could not bear TO see suffering go un,
aided and in consequence many men not bound
10 him by fraternal fellowship pTphtfdC p% nus
/ bounty. We mourn him as loving brother.
Referring 10 the Greater NewYork act In its
effect on the lodges II this city and BROOKLYN
! Mr.. Stewart said:
| BY this &C, all the lodges south OF the cities Of
Yonkers and Mt vernon except those in Suffolk
County and two in Queens County, vii! be iocated
eastery end OF Long Island are entirely 'spara'eea
from that portion Of the State through which IN
their case under our present aM fd II wouI
seem only fair to so amend the law as 10 proViie
that the counties OF New-lork. Kings. queens
Suffolk and Richmond shal constitute me , Met.O-
politan District and that wcen the Grand Master
il chosen from the said district the Deputy franc no
Master shall be chosen from some other part OF o.
the state and vice versa. In this connection IL
for me to memon b ,na xT rSs 81
s.derat.on believe the best interest OF the Grand
| Iodce demands that the present nethoi OF elecung
tho Deputy Grand Master. when resident of New
York or Brooklyn from the floor. should be changed
so as 10 provide for advancement by regular grada-
ton alternating the election Of the Junior Grand
Warden, under the same provisions as those gov
ernlus the election under the present law, OF the
Grand Master and Deputy Grand Master.
The advent Of the Greater New-York Will also
nccessltate the changing OF The Masonic districts
within It's territory and should be made the occa-
sion for rearranging all the districts in the state
Many OF our districts are too large and should be
subdvided. the end that II may be made more
convenient for the several District Deputy Grand
Masters to annually visit each lodge under thelr
charge The feasibility of this change needs no
argument. The benefit to be derived by the change
Is readily admitted by all who have given the sub
jact any thought. County lines should not be dis
! turbed but the districts should be arranged that
counties contiguous TO each other and easily ac
cessible by railroad communication should be
grouped In a reapportlonment OF the present Ma
sonic districts