The daily morning journal and courier., 1902-01-16

! held on September 20.
 The board of managers of the Ma
 sonic Home have been compelled tc
 build an addition to enlarge its accom-
 modations and improve it's facilities al , a cost of 2,000 An appeal was issued
 to the lodges and I congratulate ano
 thank the lodges for their prompt and liberal response to this circular letter i Wallace S. Moyle ct al vs. Charles Q.
 Bonney, Past Master of Hiram Lodge
 No. l.
 The special committee to whom ths
 matter was referred recommended that commission be appointed by the most
 worshipful grand master to hear and determine the matter and report to the grand master for his action. The com
 mission met in New Haven April 24, and after hear presented their report to the grand master which is now present. ed to the grand lodge for final action,
 MASONIC AND BUSINESS ENTER
 PRISES.
 l desire to call your attention to the remarks on this subject by Past Grand Master kies in his address before the grand lodge in 1898. l quote his words:
 I note with regret an increasing ten dency to connect the term Masonic with business enterprises which are conducted by masons. l refer particu- Ilarly to the mutual benefit associations. ] believe that the use of the word ma sonic in such connection is violation of the spirit, if not the letter, of section 29 of the general regulations of the 1 grand lodge, which prohibits masonic advertising. These organizations, while l independent of the craft in general, so far as the management of their aitalrs | in concerned. are practically conduct l ing business under the auspices ot ma sorry. Even though most of them are ! CO., operative this does not alter the faet 1 that they are in reality trading upon the name of the institution. Worss than this, when matters go amiss in any of these associa tions, the fraternity at 1 large is Wrongfully held responsible in the eyes of the profane. As to the ne- cessity of legislation upon this subject at the present time, you will of course judge for yourselves. But I believe that the time is not far distant when this matter must be seriously considered.
 Brethren. in view of the recent fail- ure of one of these fraternal associa- tions, think the time has come for this grand lodge to take action.
 | would also call the attention of the grand lodge to another matter l al Jude to the thoughtless practice, which is too prevalent by far, that of guying candidates by giving them false impress sions of the ceremonies through which they will be required to pass. The can didate expecting that the brethren are enjoying mirth at his expense, his mind is ill prepared to receive the lessons in- culcated by our symbolism. There is nothing in the ceremonies of masonry of trifiing nature, and if candidate is to be informed at all, let it be with that end in view.
 Brethren, having rendered an account { of my official acts it only remains for me, before returning to your keeping the jewel with which you honored me { one year ago. to express my high ap- preciation of your kindness and for bearance extended to me on all occa- sions, and especially to my associate grand officers for their fraternal eour- tesy and all kind acts and words. Ac cept in fraternal kindness my best wishes for your individual ins itution. Most humbly and sincerely do l invoke
  uopn your deliberations and when cur labors shall be ended in our councils here below, may we all meet in the grand lodge above and be received as faithful servants of Him who has life's toilsome journey.
 Truly and fraternally.
 FREDERICK $. STEVENS
 Grand Master
 Grand Secretary John H. Barlow, of Hartford, presented his annual report, showing the order to be in a prosper 0us condition.
 The returns of the 110 lodges in this jurisdiction show a most gratifying in- ,rease of number The number initiated, 905; passed 'SS; raised STA; affiliated, 55 reinstat ed, 57; demitted, S4; struck from the 'oll, 321; suspended, ?; expelled, 0; died ,3S: total number of members, 17.I30; ; one year ago, 17,397; net , gain the past year, 333 exempt from | grand lodge dues, 4iS0; on which dues !. ire paid, 13,250. There are only two lodges which z rave dcne no work Eighty-eight r edges show a gain in members. 20 i odges show g loss in membership, two ( edges show neither gain nor loss
 The lodges which have done the lars , st amount of work are: Hiram, No. 10; St. John, No. g. 30; Hartford, No 8, 21 Wooster, No 79, fl; Harmony Jo. 42, 23; Morning Star, No. 47, 21; r .delphia. No 63, 26; Olive Branch, No ' f. 26; Corinthian, No. 10t, 25. The lodges having the largest num- ', CT of members are: E Hiram, No. 1, 749; St. John, No. I, .r 73 Hartford No SS, 6S1; Wooster, 1 D3 St. John, No }, 510. ,t The lodge having the smallest mem- 1 ership is Brazing Star, No "A, %
 The average membership of the il 'dges is 161. t1 This afternoon the following officers ., ere elected: T. Grand master-Arthur c. Wheeler of ,, orWalk. a Deputy grand master-Leon NJ. Wood ~, 'rd of Nau@a tuck. ol Grand senior warden-Georse E. arson of Norwich. 5, Grand junior warden-Asa r. Fitch .t Hartford. =, Grand treasurer--Miles w. Graves of ", artford. ~, Grand secretary--John H. Barlow of artford. o1 The new grand master is prominent n,