New-York tribune., 1909-05-05
CRITICISM OF MASONS
Grand Master and Board of Trus-
tees at Odds.

Justice s. Nelson Sawyer, of the Supreme Court
of Palmyra, who opened the 12Sth annual COM
munication of the Grand Lodge of Masons or the
State of New York, in the Masonic Temple here
Yesterday afternoon. censured the grand trustees
in his annual report He said later that his re
marks were not meant personal criticism OF
the trustees individuals.
In his address. under the heading, The Story
of A Trust" the grand master made it plain that
the 9th street extension of the temple, at Sixth
avenue and ed street. with the acquisition OF the
lease of the Garfield National Bank and the plahS
10 tear down the present building, were far from
meeting his approval. and suggested changes III
the constitution. already submitted. making tIle
trustees subsidiary to the grand lodge. Ihls VIII
be acted on to-day if his suggestion is followed
The grand master said that the building opera
tions had resulted in the encumbrance OF the IedI
estate Of the fraternity in such way as TO nlniI
charitable activities, and that this action hao p
taken on the authority Of the trustees alone WIN
ont action bv the grand lodge The purchase OF
the lease OF the bank and the prospective loss III
this way OF a valuable tenant led 10 a s'rohs ca
preston Of disapproval from Justice Sawyer
1t was explained in his address by the srdIlu
master. that finding he was unable 10 lhouce u
trustees TO postpone action until the aPpIoNd' VI
the grand lodge be obtained, he had requested the
members to resign This offer was not accepteu'
one member replying to the erect tha' ne t No1.C
prefer be removed as trustee 70 the aI'ei iA'-'
of handing in his resignation
The grand master then told them that' PAIN, ~
as such action might be to him, he felt that MS
duty would require him TO exercise ule Po"e' u
removal continued Grand Master Sawyer.
William Sherer Of this city. manager ot the
Clearing House. resigned president OF the Doairu
of trustees during the controversy with the graHu
master, and Justice Townsend Scudder' oil Ile gu
irene Court was elected 70 succeed MIN ie
other trustees are Henry b. Pruser, of Mount YER
non; J. Hungerford Smith, Of Rochester; charles
H. Armatage Of Albany, and George Hayes OF
this city.
After the trustees had completed the contract
with the safe deposit company they tendereu lneI me-.
designations to the grand master Win IIllS Ooii
n,cnt signed by the board Of trustees:
Having thus discharged our duty We tender our
designations, but in the form IN ] ]w9lch @ oyS ss s
upon the manner in which We have discharged our
trust.
Grand Master Sawyer said he had not acted
on the designations Asked II he would do 50. ne
answered. Il do not know whether l will or not
The grand master. after the session. said there
was no doubt that the trustees had acted "lthlh
/ their legal power. but it was thought adFlsaoIe'
! he said. to bring the entire subject oetore ule
grand lodge it, action
Mr. Pruser afte. conference with his assocl-
ates said the board of trustees had no statement
TO make. Mr.. Sh, said that under no clTcuhl-
would he 'sh 70 eritcise anytning m tha5
Of me trsteee He said the would present
their report to the lodge to-day.
This is a matter simply or opinion sac III
Sherer referring 20 the controversy over tne pro pro
posed new building Some members PTlvale,y Psa4 y,
discussing q reply Mr.. Sherer was supposed 70
have made to the sra1d master. remarked that
II have handed millions of dollars. yes. ,tri
ee l2 aeG G crcised ado for Breach Of trust When
asked if he had made any such statement MI
"GR. that was simply a remark to some OF my
friends have not criticised and do not intend
There viii be- service for the Masons in Trinity
6qTGn 'Pnf RI Re Rs s Hag Haf T nge the grand
chaplain. o, Binshamton. y. Y Every one OF the
seven hundred and eighty-four lodges IN the state
Is represented at the communication