Omaha daily bee., 1898-06-10
GRAND LODGE GETS THROUGH
Iowa Masonic Governing Body Concludes It's
Annual Communication.
MUCH IMPORTANT BUSINESS DONE
Plan for n school Of Instruction Is
Adopted, Constitution Amended
and Subordinate Omcers and
Committed Named.

eOUhE1tttett Nutttus
The ffty-ffth annual communication Of
the grand lodge of low Masons concluded
its labors yesterday afternoon and adjourned.
The majority of the delegates LETT for their
homes soon after the close of the afternoon
session and the hotels, which had been
taxed to the limit for the last three days,
resumed their normal condition and appear
ance again last night. Unfortunately the
weather clerk was not on his best behavior
and the incessant rain did much to spoil the
pleasure of the delegates during their visit
here. Most Of them had come with the an
ticipation of spending part Of the time
taking in the sights of the exposition and
the various attractions there, but the rain
interfered with their plans and many Of
them went home last night without even
having once visited the grounds.
At the close Of the afternoon session the
grand secretary paid the delegates their
mileage and per diem at the Citizens State
bank and for a while it looked to the un-
Initiated that there was a run on the bank.
1t took just forty minutes to pay the dele
gates off, which is said to be the fastest
time on record at any previous grand lodge
meeting. The total amount of mileage paid
out according to the report of the commit
tee was $S,97S. rs, being an average OF $19.34
for each lodge.
Before adjourning the grand lodge passed
the following resolution:
Resolved. That we hereby tender to the
Masonic brethren of Council Bluffs and to
the members of the Chapter Order of the
Eastern Star our sincere thanks for the very
courteous reception and entertain ment ex-
tended to the members of this grand lodge
during this session and we will hold their
kindness in memory among our red letter
days.
For instruction in Ritual.
The morning session of the last days
proceedings was opened in the usual manner
and after the invocation by Grand Chaplain
Hackley the lodge at once commenced. on
the business before it. One of the most i'm
portant matters acted Upon was that of en-
larging the methods whereby the lodges can
receive instruction in the ritual of the order.
Past Grand Master Granger. who is one of
the custodians, outlined a plan which was
adopted and in accordance with it the code
will be amended. The plan provides that:
The grand lodge board of custodians shall
divide the state into such number of dis
tricts as shall be most advisable for the
purpose and in each of these districts a
school for instruction in the work and the
lectures of the order shall be held. The
school is to be in general charge of the
board of custodiaDs which shall within
thirty days after each annual communica-
ton of the grand lodge select one of the
number to act as travelling custodian, who
will have particular care of the schools in
the different districts. The travelling custo-
dian is to receive an annual compensation of
81, 200 and expenses. In the event that no
member Of the board of custodians can be
secured to perform this service, then the
hoard shall SaIppt gnmn nthnr pnfp nafanf
brother to do the work.
Each subordinate lodge will be required
to send the worshipful master or one rep
resentatfve to be selected by him to the
school for instruction in the district to
which the lodge shall belong who when pro-
ficient in the work and lectures shall re-
ceive from the custodian in charge a GER
tificate and this representative shall there
after be the authority for the lodge on all
questions as to the work and lectures. 1t
shall also be the duty of the said instructor
to thoroughly instruct the lodge in the
work and lectures prescribed in the juris-
diction.
The committee on chartered lodges re-
ported adversely on the petitions of the
three lodges to be released from payment
of grand lodge dues on account of having
had their lodge rooms and property de-
stroyed by fire.
The amendment to article xii OF the con-
s%titution of the grand lodge presented at
the annual communication in 1897 on the
subject of right of membership was taken
up and final disposition made by its adop-
ton. The amendment vas as follows:
Section l. The grand lodge shall, by APP
propriate legislation, secure to every non
aHliated master Mason of good moral char
acter and good Masonic standing residing in
this jurisdiction the right of petitioning for
membership in the lodge of his local jurisdic-
tiOn after tiD,ply raSidanca tharaip Ynnn enob
terms and conditions as will best subserve
the honor OF the craft and maintain harmony
and good fellowship in such local lodge.
Sec. 2. Each subordinate lodge shall have
the right to waive its jurisdiction over any
such non-afhliated master Mason upon proper
application and upon such conditions as may
be provided by law.
Appointive Officers Named.
At the afternoon and concluding session
Grand Master Bowen named the following to
fill the appointive offices: Deputy grand
master, Sumner Miller, Gutenberg; deputy
grand secretary, N. r. Parvin, Cedar Rap
ids; grand chaplain, Rev. j. /. Farley, New
Virginia; grand marshal, G. b. Mills, Sioux
Rapids; senior grand deacon, M. II. Ans
back, Clarinda; Junior grand deacon, II. j.
Bourne, Grundy Center; senior grand stew
ard, George Sinclair, Sioux City; Junior
grand steward, ID. w. Swartz, Keokuk,
grand tyler, A. NJ. Alberson, Washington.
George w, Ball of Iowa City was appointed
trustee of the grand lodge charity fund to
succeed Past Grand Master w. p. Allen OF
Dubuque, deceased.
Charles C, Clark OF Burlington was elected
on the board OF grand lodge custodians In
place of the late Past Grand Master w. p.
Allen. The other members OF the board are
G, b. Van Saun of Cedar Falls and Judge
c. Il. Granger OF Des Moines.
The grand master appointed the following
as the committee on Masonic Jurisprudence:
Past Grand Master Almon II. Dewey OF
Washington, G. w. Neal of Stuart and ]. l..
Stevens OF Boone.
i @ w CnNn of MnahInnInn urn raau.