The daily morning journal and courier., 1898-10-13

surrendered its charter, and this year we find in the records of the grand rer corder, as reported to the Grand lodge, that the membership In Connecticut at the end of the year was 1906. In 1886 one lodge was added, the net increase in membership being 2S7 for the year, closing with 1,5S3 members. In 1887 three lodges were instituted, the net increase being 427, the total member ship 2,010. In 1888 seven lodges were added, the increase for the year being 560 and the total membership at the end of the year being 2,57O. In 1889 five lodge were added with a net increase of 641, the total membership being 3,211. In 1890 one lodge was instituted, the net gaing was TAG, the membership having increased to 3,557. In 1891 six lodges were instituted, the net gain be- ing l,499, bringing the membership to 5,456 In 1892 nine lodges were added and the net increase was 1,62S, the total membership being 7,0S4 In 1893 seven lodges were added, the net gain being 855, the membership then being 1889. In 1894 two lodges were institut- ed, the net gain being 539 the total membership SAYS. In 1895 one lodge was instituted, the net gain being 1,O22, membership 9,500 In 1896 three lodges were instituted, the net gain being 727 total membership 10,227. In 1879 one lodge was instituted, the net gain was 6O1 and the total membership December 31, 1897, was 10,S2S. Between the date of the institution of Momau- guin lodge, No. 1, and December 31, 1S97 F, ,404 members have been initiated | and
 The first member of the order in Connecticut who took an unusual inter- est in the work was Charles B. Booth of Woodworth lodge, No. ?, of Bir- ! mingham, who was elected to the office of grand receiver March 1, 1882, and who continued to be reelected to this office each year until February A, 1885, when he was elected grand fore man. During all this period he was placed in charge of the lodges in Con- necticut as grand supervisor and by his active interest and perseverance the order made notable progress. During the summer of 1885 Brother Booth en- tered into business arrangements which required his removal to Minnesota. As this removal would prevent his receiv- 1 ing the honors of the order the grand master workman resigned December 15 1885, and Brother Booth thus be- came grand master workman, serving until the close of the session of 1886. His promotion created vacancy in the office of grand foreman, which was filled by the appointment of James Weymouth, grand overseer, of Old Town, Maine, and the office made va cant by this appointment was filled by the appointment of Colonel William E. F. Landers of Gary lodge, No. 8, of Mystic, Conn. Brother Landers was elected to the same position at the ses- sion of the Grand lodge in 1SS6 grand foreman in 1887, and grand master workman in 1888, occupying the posi- tion of past grand master workman in 1889. He filled all of these positions with great credit to himself and ren- dered valuable service to the order and jurisdiction each year as grand super visor having charge of the lodges in Connecticut. Brother Landers repre- sented the Grand lodge in the supreme lodge in 1889, 1890 1891 and 1892
 In 1890 the members in this state rec ognizing the qualities possessed by Past Master Workman Roswell B. Far ren of East Rock lodge, No. 3s, present. ed his name for the position of Grand overseer to which he was elected, and each year thereafter was advanced to the positions of grand foreman and grand master workman. While hold ing these positions he was grand su- pervisor for Connecticut Under his administration the order increased in Connecticut with great rapidity, his zeal and active efforts producing re- suits which have never been reached by his successors. He had the faculty of drawing to his support the pushers in the state With his enthusiasm and ability to lead the order was active in all parts of the state. A portion of his enthusiasm was spread over the whole jurisdiction when grand master work man, and as result we and he can turn to the record and find that during his term of office as executive head the greatest gain stands to his credit It is a record of which he has a right to be proud and which no member Chad we the poWer) would attempt to take from him. He served as supreme rep resentative in 1893, 1894, and 1895, and as supreme trustee from June, 1895, to June, 1897.
 In 1892 at the session of the Grand lodge John Currier Gallagher of Pyra- mid lodge No. 45, was appointed as a member of the committee on laws and was again appointed upon the commit tee in 1893. Tn 1894 he was elected grand overseer, in 1895 grand fore man and in 1896 grand master work man. During his term of service in the latter office the supreme lodge adopted the system of classified assess ments, and as the executive officer of the order it became his duty to inform the members of the order in the juris- diction of Massachusetts of the enact mcnt of this law. The result of this presentation does not need recording here He has been severely criticised by the members of the order through out the length and breadth of our juris- diction, much of which has been un- just and untrue. He would have been recreant to the trust placed in his charge had he failed to acquaint the or der with this change of law by the supreme lodge for discharging duty resting upon him by his oath of office he should never be censured.
 Brother Gallagher has represented