The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1902-01-23
ANNUAL MEETING OF GRAND
LODGE CONVENED YES
TERDAY
BEST IN STATES HISTORY
Nearly Every Lodge in Minnesota
Represented = Officers Report
Most Encouraging Condition
Total Membership, I,7OO.
IVES REFUSES REFLECTION

Ihe regular annual session of the
grand lodge of Minnesota of Ancient
Free and Accepted Masons convened yes
terday at noon at the Masonic hall with
nearly 400 delegates in attendance
These delegates represent nearly every
town in the state of Minnesota and the
meeting is the largest one in the history
OF the Masons in the state.
There are at present 28S subordinate
lodges in the state comprising a total
membership of 1850 and nearly every
lodge is represented at the grand meet
ing. Grand Master G. S. Ives, of st.
Peter, called the meeting to order and
presided at the session yesterday.
During the afternoon the grand master
delivered his annual address, which con-
tained history Of the year in Masonic
circles, summarizing a number of i'm
portant events, and containing a great
many statistics showing the excellent
condition of the order throughout the
state.
Grand Treasurer w. D. Knowlton also
made his annual report. The report
showed that the receipts for the year
amounted to $4,000. The balance to the
credit Of various funds reaches S35 600
and in the widows and orphans fund
there is at present $4,000
Grand Secretary Thomas MONTGOMERY
also read his annual report, which show
eu that during the past year seven new
lougeS mad been organized bringing the
number up to 2S8, as mentioned above.
Inc Masonic Veterans association Is
also IN an exceedingly prosperous condt-
ton. Last night a class Of nearly 100
candidates was taken into the assocta-
uon' and the membership reaches nearly
QUO now After the work last night the
veterans associations sat down to a
banquet.
MOST of yesterdays session was taken
up with the calling of the roll and ex-
amlnlng credentials. The meeting adj
Journed at o'clock and the delegates
We're served with refreshments During
the nrst half of the session the work of
organizing the convention took up most
of the time =.
AT the latter portion of the days ses-
sion the grand master made his annual
address and the officers made their re-
ports The SESSION last night was a short
one and little business was done as the
members were entertained by one of the
degree lodges at Elks' hall after the ses-
sion
There is no important legislation to
come before the session this year ana
there Will be no radical changes in the
affairs of the order.
Ives Refuses Reelection.
This morning committees for the year
| past will report, and the sessitn will
/ close with the election of officers. Grand
Master Ives will, it is understood refuse
a reelection, and it is likely that his sue
| cessor will be Henry r. Adams or Min
neapolis. Mr.. Adams is the present dep
uty grand master, and the sequence win
probably be followed out
Grand Secretary Thomas MONTGOMERY
is just completing his thirteenth term.
and it is probable that he will be re-
elected. His long service as secretary
has made him familiar with every detail
Of the work, and it is not probable that
the lodge will care to elect another to the
| office.
Grand Treasurer Knowlton, Of Mime
apolts, was appointed to the Office last
June to succeed ]. H. Thompson, of Min
| neapolis, deceased He may also be re-
elected.
It is understood that there are two
other candidates besides Mr.. Adams in
the race for grand master They are A.
D. Countryman, Of Appleton, and G. H.
! Davis, Of Mankato
Last night Ancient Landmark Lodge
No. exemplified the work of the second,
or fellow craft, degree A large number
| of delegates visited the lodge during the
evening. The delegates are finding their
| time pretty well taken up with their work
| and with the different sessions and social
affairs that are being held for them.
| Nineveh Zodiac degree kept open house
| for the delegates at Ell1s' hall last night
| and entertained them after conferring the
! degree upon a large class. The hall was
kept open all night and the. members
| were in attendance to look after the
wants Of the delegates as they came and
went.
The session is the forty-ninth annual
meeting Of the grand lodge, and most
! every lodge in the state is represented by
| at least three officers who are entitled to
| seats in the grand lodge Today's session
| will close the grand lodge meeting for
| this year. A meeting place for the next
| session will be named today.