The San Francisco call., 1904-09-04

After due deliberation it was resolved
by the assembiage 10 proceed with the
orgauIZatIo OF Il Grand Lodge Tor the
State OF California. IN pursuance OF
his resolution a committee composed
OF Brothers Charles Giimon, j. -. Ste
venson, John A. 1utt, j. h. Crlhon and
I thomas E. Gray was appointed to
draft a constitution for the Grand
Lodge ON the 18th day of April, 1851,
the committee reported. Their report
was unanimously adopted. Thus was
instituted the Grand Lodge of Calitor-
MIA, d Grand Lodge destined TO take
high rank in tine galaxy UI Grand
Lodges upon the American continent
An. election for officers under this
constitution having been held resulted
in the choice of Brothers Jonathan u.
Stevenson as grand master, John Al.
Tutt as deputy grand master, Caleb
Fenner as senior grand warden, Sas-
chel Woods as junior grand warden,
Bergman Jennings as grand treasurer
and John H. Gihon as grand secretary,
and these officers were duly installed.
On the same day Connecticut Lodge
was recognized as legally constituted
lodge unuer the jurisdiction of Califor
MIA, by the name of Tehama Lodge;
Western Star Lodge was recognized rs
q legally constituted lodge, retaining
its original name; and California
Lodge was recognized as a legally con-
stituted lodge with privilege to retain
the name which it had at the time if it
50 desired On this day also a charter
was granted to New Jersey Lodge, by
the name of Berryman Lodge, which
name was, at the first annual comlnu
nication of the Grand Lodge, changed
to Jennings Lodge, No. 4. The grand
master was authorized to issue a char
ter to Benicia Lodge on the approval of
its records. This was done and Cali
fornia had now five duly constituted
lodges.
The Grand Lodge of California con-
vened in annual session for the first
time on the 7th day of May, 1850. Grand
Master Stevenson, being unable to at
tend, presented brief but comprehen-
sive communication, from which we
excerpt the Introductory paragraph:
Brethren The formation of Grand
Lodge for the State of California should
be a subject of sincere congratulation to
every Mason here and elsewhere; for prob
ably In part of the habitabe globe has
its usefulness been made manifest
in this country within the past year AL
ready does California number among its
inhabitants persons Of every nation and
CLINE known to the civilized world all
seeking by enterprise and industry. 10 i'm
prove their condition in life; and 1t not
unfrequently happens that within the
distance of a few hundred yards of a
mining district there will be found many
persons laboring together who stran-
gers in language, heart and feelings; but
IL they be members of ancient order.
each is the master of a language that all
can understand and there at once springs
up that deep feeling of fraterna affection
which has distinctly marked and
distinguished the members of the Ma
sonic fraternity above all others; for
member of this order be a
stranger among his brethren-no can
be in sickness or afhlction without some
one ministering to his wants and contrib
uting to his comforts-and nowhere is this
holy fellowship and brotherly love
frequently called into requistion than in
this land Of gold and promise; for no.
where Is more dependent upon his
fellow man for all the necessary comforts
of life than In California; and often has
the benign influence of the Masonic order
been witnessed and felt in various parts
of this country, we'll in health as in
the dreary hours of sickness and DEATH
that all who have witnessed those infu-
ences have learned properly TO appreciate
the benefits of the institution In COM
munity like ours.
In the absence of Grand Master