The Worcester spy. [volume] (Worcester, Mass.) 1898-1904, 1898-11-20
TEN Pile
FALLS.
Continued From Page One,)


action of the association at the meeting
last night
The proposed changes in the bylaws
of the eleven Masonic bodies We're not
sprung upon any Of these bodies, but
submitted only after full announcement
of their import and meaning. The real
issue involved was a provision pro-
viding for a tax Of 50 per year per head
on all Of the Masons of Worcester, the
fund thus raised to go toward the gem
eral fund for the purchase of the land
and the erection of the temple.
The committee of 80, or the associa-
ton especially formed for the purpose
of erecting the proposed building, had
every assurance of the adoption Of the
bylaw changes before they were SUBJ
mitted individually to the several Ma
sonic bodies Some time last spring
circular letter was addressed to the
members Of the association, which was
signed by more than 400 members Of
the craft, expressing the confidence of
the signers in the work of the commit
temple and pledging earnest and I'M
qualified support in the adoption of
such means as might be necessary in
the erection of a temple, not to exceed
in cost the sum of $165.O00, including the
land.
This expression of confidence in work
already done and OF cooperation in
] n Ia q IA kan was gn
fled as to warrant its Reproducing here.
1t was as follows:
To the Worcester Masonic Chart
ty and Educational Association,
Worcester, Mass: Brethren-We
the undersigned, members of the
Masonic fraternity of Worcester,
fully approaching your ardent zeal
and conscientious endeavors in the
performance of the duties to which
you were chosen by the various Ma
sonic organizations of Worcester,
and having full confidence in your
honor, integrity and ability in car
rying out to a successful termina-
ton the project of building a Ma
sonic temple in Worcester, hereby
pledge to you our earnest and I'M
qualified support and cooperation
in every way in our power to aid
and assist in the adoption of such
essary to build the temple COM
plete, at a cost not to exceed lin adj
dtion to the land) the sum of one
hundred and twenty-five thousand
dollars.
With such an expression Of conf
dence, the committee OF 80 went ahead
and drafted the proposed changes for
the bylaws of the different Masonic
organizations in the city. After this
work was completed, a mass meeting
Of the craft was called in Horticulture
al Hall, and the changes read and ex-
planned to the assembled Masons, more
than 300 in number. The purpose and
object Of the changes were carefully
explained by members of the commit
tee present, and before the close of
the meeting the changes were approved
unanimously by a rising vote. There
was not voice of dissension or disap-
prevail from a single Mason in the
meeting.
Previous to the submission Of the
proposed changes to the Masons of
the city in mass meeting assembled,
they were submitted to the standing
committee on charters and bylaws of
the Grand Lodge of Masons of the
state, and there met with the unani-
nous approval of that august and i'm
porta-nt body of the grand lodge.
Encouraged by the approval of the
mass meeting of the fraternity, the
committee Of SO submitted the changes
to the individual bodies of the frater-
nifty. The first body to act on the by
laws was the Quinsigamond lodge.
There the changes were adopted by
two-thirds vote Then the bylaws
We're submitted 20 Worcester County
Commandery, Knights Templars, and
here they were rejected by a majority
sH1kT H.
fourths vote for the change to make
them valid.
The action of the commandery was
not a complete surprise to the members
of the association, for it had been evil
dent that certain members of the COM
mandery We're doing all in their power
to block the scheme Among the mem
bers against the adoption of the bylaw
changes in the commandery We're the
very men whose names were signed to
the circular addressed to the committee
of 49, above quoted, pledging earnest
support and cooperation to the plans
proposed by the committee. Among
the names on the circular were those of
40 members Of the commandery, in
Guiding the past commanders arleady
referred to, and men who have received
hands of the craft OF all the past com
nanders signing the circular to the
committee of SO, but a single one of
them voted in the commandery meet
ing to sustain the committee and
change the bylaws.
This was the first wet blanket on the
temple building scheme. Notwith-
standing the vote of the cOmmandery,
at q. meeting of Eureka Chapter a few
days later, the changes in the bylaws
were adopted by a vote of 45 to IL,
two-thirds vote being necessary in this
body. instead of three-fourths votes, as
in the commandery.
The action of the chapter was coun-
terbalanced by the vote of the Worces-
ter Lodge of Perfection Thursday
night against the adoption of the
changes. Then it was that the mem
bers of the committee Of SO saw the
hopelessness Of a further continuance
of the unequal fight. and hence the
meeting last night and its action.
Personal jealousies are alleged as the
cause for the defeat of the bylaw
changes. According to Masons not
connected with the committee Of 80, one
of the most active opponents of the
adoption of the new bylaws was a
past commander of the conmandGry,
who has been elevated to the high and
exalted position of eminent commander
of the Grand Commandery of Rhode
Island and Massachusetts. Although
this gentlemans name is said to be
among those who signed the circular
endorsing the work of the committee,
t is stated on good authority that he
has voted against the adoption of the
changes in the bodies of which he is a
member His case is cited as only one
Of numerous others, where the names
are in black and white on the circular
to the committee, and whose votes, in