The Montgomery advertiser., 1908-12-03

Committee from Moa@vallo has vo1un- tarfiy appeared before us and made an oner for the location of this home near the town of Montevallo. In this offer they agree to give us the sum of si2- 900 in cash and in addition seventy acres of land to be used as a site for the home
 Thus 1t will be seen that there ts at present cash on hand and available as. sets which may be collected within the next ninety days more than S3B, 900. Feeling that all sections of the state that may desire to have this home iocateo In their midst should nave fuli opportunity to make their oners for sites and any bouus they may see proper to give we deem 1t advisable to make no recommenda- tons at this meeting. But in view of the fact that 1t is desirable that we proceed with the erection of this home as early as our means will justify we are constrained to ask this Grand
 Lodge to place in this committee the authority to decide upon a location as early after the meting of this Grand Lodge as practicable. therefore we recommend and ask that this commit tee be instructed to publish the fact that we arc ready to receive offers for the location of this home and will con- stder all offers made between this time and Tuesday, April 18th. 1909. at which time, If granted authority by this Grand Lodge we will hold meeting in the City of Birmingham and decide upon the location of the home
 To Receive Conveyaneea.
 We further recommend that this committee, or any subcommittee ap- pointed by its authority be authoriz- ed to receive in the name of the Grand Lodge conveyances of any real estate or other property that may be donated for the purpose herein.
 We further recommend that this committee. or any subcommittee ap- pointed by It's authority. be authortz- ed to advertise for plans and specin- cations of the home and adopt any they may deem proper. To make and enter into any contract for the build ing. finishing and furnishing of said home as soon as practicable.
 We feel that the prospects are such that 1t is matter of only a short time until all funds necessary to erect and equip this great institution will be on hand and 1t would be unwise to de- lay the beginning of this great enter prise, and therefore we ask power to begin work as early as possible. Tt hardly being probable that under the most favorable circumstances we could open the home for occupation be- fore the next meeting of this Grand Lodge, we ask until that time to re- port on plans for its maintainance and government.
 Tt would not only being more con
 venient, but preferable, that all funds that may be devoted to the erection of this home be consolidated we recom- hak uwrfA l fund and the fund derived from the per capita tax be turned over to this committee to be used with the funds collected by 1t and invested until need. ed. It may be proper to say that where ever placed the committee will make sure of the payment of the funds either by the deposit of gilt edge collateral | or guaranty bond. We recommend that the finance Committee be request ed to invest the funds to the credit of the Endowment fund
 '"rhe committee feels that in spite | of adverse circumstances owing to
 hard times. and the difficulty and ex- pense of reaching tho bretheren we
 have cause te be proud of the great 1 progress made in this work. But we have only just begun, for 1t is the pur- pose of our bretheren to erect an in-
 stitution that will not only be the | pride of Masons in Alabama but an honor to the state. and what Is far more to be desired, found and main
 tain a place that for all time to come | will be a monument to the Masonic zeal and Masonic charity of this craft
 Liberal as the response has been less
 than one third of the lodges of the state have contributed anything either in cash or pledges. We feel that 1t should be the desire of every individu-
 al Mason to have some personal inter est in this great enterprise and that 1t Is his duty, as we'll as his privilege, to make some contribution to it's erection
 no matter how small that contribution may be. We therefore recommend that
 this Grand Lodge name a day which shall be known as the Masonic Home day, at which time every lodge in the state and every member of every lodge
 be solicited and urged to make some
 contribution to this great work. If
 the officers of the lodges present will only come to the full measure of their duty we feel that there will be a wide spread and liberal response.
 "To reach various lodges in the