The Dallas express., 1900-01-13
u NJ d work a. ain

hours of labor would be from a. m.
TO IL M; from p. m. to 8 p. m.
The grand lodge was in session from
Wednesday, 9th, to Saturday, the
Both ult. at II m, during which time
1t transacted much important busi
ness.
Capt. w. D. Matthews, of Leavens-
worth, Kas., NJ. w. National Grand
master of Masons (colored,) having
arrived on his national grand visita
tion to the Royal Craft, he was es-
corted to the residence of Mrs. Gra-
ham, where Grand Master DR.. John
H. Wilkins and his staff of grand Off
GERS called upon him and accompanied
him to st. Benjamin's hall, where e-the
grand lodge and most worshipful
brethren and officers received him
with fraternal greeting and the grand
honors. He delivered short address
congratulating the grand master and
craft for their great achievements
during the year.
The grand masters address was de-
livered in the afternoon, Wednesday,
the q ult., as follows:
To the most worshipful st. John
Union lodge, L. & A. A. Y. NJ. national
again feel more than thankful to
congratulate you in this our 14th an
nual grand communication, to give an
account of our stewardship during this
! past year.
After closing our grand lodge session
| at Orange, Texas, last January, we at
once entered upon our new year with
VigCr and determination to accomplish
more than any previous year of our ex-
| lstence. And how well we have done
remains to be seen in our following
report:
First, our work in person was at
Trinity, Texas, where we made two
| trips. We were able to institute new
lodge with as noble set of men as
| found anywhere or in any community.
| Here we had the 'Sistance of Prof
Is ac w. Thomas. From this lace, we
| ent to Village AII44s, and here we
were successful in instituting another
new lodge with Village Mills best col
Ored citlzens-in this work, we had the
| assistance of Rev. A. II. Hall and
BrotherI. w. Thomas. From this
| place, we found ourself in Carthage.
After making two trips, we succeeded
in erecting another new lodge-here,
Brother Thomas NJ. Brown rendered
| US valuable service. Thence, from
Carthage, we found ourself in Timp-
son ana at this point l found six Ma
sons, Brother G.. w. Dones had done
| some excellent work here and we were
able to institute another new lodge.
We knew no such word as fail or IA
tigue. So, on we went to San Angus
tine, the oldest town in Texas-Rev.
n ho1
rounded things in such shape that we
marshaled our forces and the old
town was soon captured, and here we
run up our national banner and col
ors were thrown to the breeze, we
trust, to brave many Masonic storm.
From San Augustine, we hoistedo our
| sails and took sOutherly flight and
anchored our Masonic ship at Conroe,
Texas, where Brother B. NJ. Taylor
had planted some national compact
seed; and here we poured upon them
our oil and water, and agreeable to
both Brother Taylor and myself,
sprang up one of the strongest lodges
in Texas; not so large in numbers, but
in kind and material.
Brethren, finding myself nearly eX-
hausted from travel over rail road
and through the country in wagon and
buggy, we had to turn our face home
ward for rest, notwithstanding, we had
call to go to Leona, Texas. We
were compelled to have Rev. w. A.
FortsOn to act i'll our name, and under
cur seal and throu h his energy, we
were able to institute another new
lodge, and from the character of the
brethren seen from that locality, we
are under the impression that coed
material has been put into that build
ing.
The Bible says: "The first shall be
last and the last first" therefore, we
desire to call your attention to our
stituted by Brothers A. c. Frilot and
Isaac W. Thomas. Acting under our
authority, they were successful in
erecting a new lodge in this locality.
We, therefore, entered it upon oBr
roster as one of our stars, belonging
to our Masonic constellation. We
nave every reason to believe, from
t e correspondence and business re-
Iations we have had with the brethren
of Golden Gate lodge, that they are a
set of good and true Masons and gem
tlemen. We, therefore, welcome
them in our fold as one Of ourselves.
The above new lodges instituted
during the year, we find them work.
ing and doing well-we, therefore,
recommend that they be granted war
rants at this grand lodge sitting.
LECTURES.
The nature and tone of our lectures
have been as practicable as possible,
from the fact we wished to impress
upon our brethren the things they. |
need in every day life; something that
will assist them in their daily occupa-
ton, and that would have the tenden-'
cy to elevate them in higher citizen
ship, and, especially, i'll their morals
and integrity. /
Dear brethren, there is one very inn
portant feature of our work among
the craft which, it seems, has taken
hold of our fraternity more than any
thing of the kind have ever seen, viz:
The accumulation of lodge property. |
Why, it is just phenOminal the way
this spirit of wealth has seized hold
upon our brethren. If you will per-
nit me, will mention a few cases
where we have purchased: Trinity
lodge, No. II, at Trinity, Texas, has
secured a very valuable piece of prop |
erty; fine Let with Masonic hall al
L L / L.