The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 18??-19??, 1903-01-20
GRAND MASTER
CLARK'S ADDRESS
A Masterpiece in its Line.
Interesting and Instruc-
tive to All.

Clark, of Scotland Neck. to the Grand
Lodge was generally regarded by all who
heard it as a masterpiece in its line,
containing a vast deal Of instructive as
well as interesting matter, not only to
Masons, but to the general public as
we'll.
Grand Master Clark said in part as
follows:
The eternal surge OF time and tide
rolls on. and brings us once more into
annual communication. At the beginning
of the third year of the twentieth cen
tury We have assembled in the 116th
annual communication of the Grand
Lodge of North Carolina.
4 extend to you one and all Breth-
rem the heartiest fraternal greetings and
welcome.
With all material things Masonry has
progressed wonderfully in the year that
is behind us, by an earnest desire to at
tain the authorized works, new life and
energy has been given our noble order.
The middle-aged and the young man has
sought an entrance within our portals.
and tonight it gives me pleasure I'M
bounded to announce that morally and
numerically We were never so strong.
For these and the many blessings
which have been permitted US, let us
render thanks to the most High God,
who doeth all things well.
while old friends are greeting each
other with a hearty hand-shake and well
coming the new faces with a bright fra
ternal smile, yet there is a tinge of
sadness pervading our meeting and all
is not Joy. For since our last meet
ing in this room. the brother who so
charming1y entertained us as Grand Oro-
tor, by giving his sublime conception as
to What is Masonry has been called
to the Celestial Lodge above. His life
work has been tseted, and the square
Of the Great Overseer. and he is at
rest. The sould of the Grand Chaplain
Marshall left it's earthly tabernacle as
the sun was setting behind our western
hills, on Gods own day, Sunday, and on
wings invisible scared aloft to join the
noble band who preceded him. An elo-
quent preacher-a loving father-a de-
voted husband-a good man, the world
was better by his having been in it. The
last words l ever hear him utter should
be an inspiration to US all.
Mason, may the eagle fight ever be
thine,
Onward and upward, true to the line
His remains were laid to rest on the
following day under the auspices of the
Grand Lodge, Past Grand Master Mich
OILS officiating.
I'VE rave come together Brethren to
review the past years work, and to
place upon the tressel board an outline
of that which is to be done. I ask of
you a careful consideration Of that which
will come before you that the best re-
suits may be obtained.
STATE OF THE CRAFT.
LAS stated before, Masonry in our State
was never so prosperous. The Grand
Lecturer and his assistants have been
earnest in their efforts to spread the au-
thorized work, not only that, but they
have so endeavored to place before the
lodges and through them the high moral
and intellectual aims of Masonry that
the brightest and best of our land are
building up and new lodges being form
ed. At the close of our last Masonic
year there were three hundred and TWEEN
ty-four active lodges, the membership
CT which was 12,O12, since then there has
been a net gain of five new lodges, max
ing a grand tOtal<Of three hundred and
twenty-five active lodges, comprising a
membership of 1862, a net gain in men,
bcrshiD of six hundred and fifty. A great
deal Of this steady, healthy growth is
due to the earnest efforts Of the Grand
Secretary and his efficient assistants.
make an earnest suggestion that their
services be more generally sought after,
there are many lodges which earnestly
think their work up-to-date, yet a
visit from one Of the Grand Lecturers
would be a great benefit to them.
There has been very little friction
among the brethren during the year. and
what little unpleasantness arose has
been generally very easily settled, one
or the most important, and one that
S'Vo mo the greatest trouble which was
caused by the lodges lack of knowledge
OF the Masonic law as plainly given in
the Code was in the case of the brother
VINO mad been granted a new trial by the
last Grand Lodge, when the second trial
was held, the entire part beginning at
the question of guilt or innocence was
SO very irregular that 1 exercised the
supreme authority of my office and or
dered the Master to again summon his
lodge in special communication for the
purpose CT settling legally the guilt or
innocence of the brother. and if found
guilty to continue the ballot until the
penalty was decided upon. | cited him
to the several sections of The Code which
would guide him with Instructions to
follow them implicitly, this course was
followed and the unpleasant situation
satisfactorily settled.
DISPENSATION TO FORM NEW
LODGES.
ION the following dates dispensatiop
were granted for the following new
lodges: February 24th, Shoal Creek.
Postell, Cherokee county; September
9TH, Widows Son, Roanoke Rapids, Hal
flax county; September goth, Fairfield
Lodge, Fairfield, Hyde county: Novem-
Der 18th. Wanchese Lodge, Wanchese,
Dare county.
SISTER GRAND JURISDICTIONS.
Our relations with all other Grand
Jurisdictions are of the most cordial. and
what correspondence has been had with
them was coupled with courtesy and ex-
presslons of fraternaly good will.
"On the 25th of January last. I re-
celved application from William McKin-