The San Francisco call., 1910-10-12
MASONIC GRAND
LODGE IN SESSION
=
Annual Address Written on
Deathbed by Late Grand
Master Is Read
Six Hundred Attend Sixty-first
California Communication
at Commandery' Hall

The grand lodge of Free and Ac-
cepted Masons Of California opened its
sixty-first annual communication In
Golden Gate Commandery hall yester-
day morning, with Dana r. Weller OF
Los Angeles, acting grand master, pre-
siding. All of the grand officers were
present, as were also about 600 repre-
sentatives. A peculiar. feature was that
the representation from San Francisco
was smaller and that from the places
outside of the city larger than at any
communication for many years.
AS soon as the grand body was called
to order, Deputy Grand Master Weller
formally announced the death of Grand
Master w. Frank Pierce, after which
Grand Chaplain Ernest II. Baker offered
a prayer that moved many of the au-
ditors to tears.
HUNTER APPOINTED
Judge R. Hunter was appointed or
the committee of jurisprudence in the
absence of oscar w. Lawler.
The deputy grand master read thf
address of the late grand master which
he dictated on his deathbed. This is q
clear, concise report of the work OF
the grand body during the last year
and on the subject of Masonic relief
his views We're expressed as follows:
The question of Masonic relief.
involving as it does the securing of
employment for unemployed breth-
rem, has always been deeply inter-
esting to the Masonic heart, and
during many years of Masonic work
it has been the subject of much
thought to your grand master.
Indeed. the briefest consideration
of the subject must establish the
a fratqrnifV differing
as it does so essentially from the
more modern organizations which
establish in advance the amount of
benefits to be paid, and the methods
of proving standing in the order by
certificates and annual and semi
annual passwords, is always faced
with a very involved proposition
when demand for relief is made
upon it.
He also paid a tribute to Grand
Treasurer Edward Coleman for his gen.
erous donation of a fully equipped hos
pital costing $4,000 to the Masonic
home at Decoto, and he paid high
compliment to Grand Secretary John
Whicher for his assistance.
ECONOMY EFFECTED
The report of the trustees of the Ma
sonic homes. the one for adults at De-
coto and the other for children at San
Gabriel, was read, and it shows that the
two were conducted last year for SIS ,00C
less than expended to conduct one the
year before This will be made the spe-
cial order of business this morning.
The report of the board of relief
shows an expenditure of about $4,000
during the year.
At o'clock this afternoon the grand
orator will deliver his grafton.
Tomorrow afternoon at o'clock
there will be special services in honor
of the memory of the late grand mas
ter when Charles L. Patton will de-
liver the eulogy.
The deputy grand master Will become
grand master, Alonzo J. Monroe will be
advanced to deputy grand master and
William p. Filmer to senior grand
warden. There are quite a number OF
candidates for the office of junior
warden. John Whicher, grand secre-
tary, and Edward Coleman, grand treas.
urer, will be reelected, as neither has
| any opposition. The latter wants to re-
| tire, but the representatives will not
permit him to do So