The daily morning journal and courier., 1898-01-20
THE MASONIC GRAND LODGE
ANNUAL SESSION OPENED IN HART
 FORD YESTERDAY.

Grand Masters Report--Touched on Topics of Special Interest to the Craft-other Reports Show Increase in Membership Officers Elected.
 Hartford, Jan, 19.-The annual session of the Connecticut grand lodge of Ma sons was opened In the Masonic tenn pie in this city this afternoon, Grand Master George A. Kies of Norwich pre- siding. There was large attendance of Masons from all sections of the state.
 The past year has been prosperous one for the order and the gain in mem bership in round numbers is 260. Two lodges, Lyon of Columbia and Warren of South Coventry. have surrendered their charters during the year.
 The address of the grand master dis cussed the interest of the order with much thoroughness. Concerning the recommendation of District Deputy Samuel J. Bryant of New Haven, that smoking should be confined to the ante rooms and banquet hall Grand Master hlGS SdlQ. IL IidS dlW Wayn SSSlAS0 " me that smoking or any trivial behavior within a lodge room, which has been solemnly dedicated to Masonry, consti- tutes in itself lack of respect for the institution" Grand Master Kies recommends the appointment of a standing committee on ritual whose duty it shall be to for mulate (under proper Masonic restric- tions), the present work. and to devise means whereby an accurate knowledge of the same can be acquired by those who are entitled to it.
 Tt seems to me that the time is ripe to consider the expediency of choosing some one city in which the annual com- munications of the grand lodge shall be regularly holden. I would, therefore, recommend that article of the con- stituion be so amended as to provide that all regular communications shall be held in Hartford, or some other city of like central location, and that the of- flee of the grand secretary shall be per- manently located in the city selected.
 "The malicious blackballing of candi- dates is a matter which, at intervals, arises to threaten the harmony of lodges. Every brother should realize the importance and responsibility at tached to the prerogative which makes him the possible arbiter of the Masonic destiny of fellow mans If he uses this high privilege as a means of venting personal spite against worthy candi- date, who he knows would be in even the least degree a factor in strengthen ing our institution, he Is certainly guilty of cheating, wronging and de- frauding the craft. If he does so in re- venge for real or fancied grievance against some other brother, his conduct is puerile and even more reprehensible. T
 Grand Master Kies regrets the in creasing tendency to connect the term Masonic with business enterprises which are conducted by Masons. parti- cularly to mutual benefit associations.
 SECRETARY s REPORT
 The report of the grand secretary, J. H. Barlow, showed the work of the lodge the past year:
 Initiated, 6SS; passed, 6S7; raised, 691; affiliated, S6; reinstated, 43; demitted 99; stricken from roll, 165; suspended, A. expelled, 2; died, 262; total membership 17,O71; Increase the past year253
 Lodges having the greatest number of members are. Miriam, No. 1, 76S; St Johns, No. 8, 537; St. Johns, No. 4, 657 wooster, No 79 565; Hartford, No. SS 55e. Average membership of the 10! lodges is 157.
 The receipts have been: For Grand lodge dues, $12,429; Warren lodge, No 50, s7.s7; sale of proceedings, $5. Tota $12, x.
 Officers were elected as follows at tn meeting tonight of the Connection Grand Lodge of Masons: Grand mas ter, Frank w. Havens of Hartford deputy grand master, George G. Mo Nall of Greenwich; grand senior war den, John O. Rowland of Fair Haven grand junior warden, Frederick S Stevens of Bridgeport; grand treasurer Miles Graves of Hartford; grand secre tary, John H. Barlow of Shelton; gran senior deacon. Arthur C. Wheeler 0 Norwalk; grand junior deacon, Leol M. Woodford of Naugatuck; gran trustees, N. c. Hinckley of Hartford William R. Higby of Bridgeport, an Edmund Tweedy of Danbury.