Norwich bulletin., 1914-02-05
MASONIC GRAND LODGE
 IN ANNUAL SESSION. Membership Gain of 61o Shown-Ed- gar H. Parkman Elected Grand Master.


 The most worshipful grand lodge of Masons in annual session at Masonic temple, Hartford, Wednesday elected officers and received the annual reports from the retiring officers.
 Grand Master Wilbur s. Comstock in year had proved comparatively un- eventful. The grim reaper, death, had taken three past grand masters, Ben 1amin F. Turner, Middletown; Frank w. Ravens, grand secretary emeritus as well, of Hartford, and Leon M Woodford of Naugatuck. Andrew C. Lippitt of New London, grand senior warden in 1895, had also died. To each of these officers the grand master paid eulogy for their devotions to the cause Of Masonry.
 The dedications during the year were at Westyille. Suffield and North Haven. Attention was called to the congeSt- ed condition of the grand secretary's S office owing to lack of room to care for the documents which constantly come in, and inadequate facilities to classify and place them on shelves. The grand master recommended that a special committee consider means of overcoming conditions. A revision of the regulations relating to suspension for non-payment of dues to avoid pres ent complications was also recom- mended.
 Grand Secretary George A. Kies in his report referred to gifts of several books of much value to the grand lodge, including the constitution and bylaws of the grand lodge of Con necticut, edition of 1854, presented by H. B. Phitbrick of Hartford He said arrangements had been made for the early printing and distribution of the doings of the present annual com in Ohio last spring the grand secre- tary received $1,46S. In relation to lodge statistics the report stated that returns from 109 lodges for 1913 show ed 1,1S2 limitations, 1,1ss passed, 1,19O raised, 67 affiliated. There were 435 state Dec. 31. 1918, was 24,7S6, a gain of 61O for the year. The seven lodges doing the most work were: Wooster, New Haven, 51; Continental, Water bury, 43; Olive Branch, Westville 3e ; Hartford of Hartford, 34; St Johns. inthian, Bridgeport, S2. The four largest lodges are: Hartford of Hart ford, 962; Hiram. New Haven, S76; St Johns, Hartford, S71; Wooster, New Haven, 769.
 The following officers were elected:
 Grand master-Edgar H. Parkman, Thompsonville.
 Deputy grand master-Clarence R. Austin, Danbury.
 Grand senior warden-Thomas Me kenzie, PaWcatuck-
 Grand junior warden - Leonard J. Nickerson, Cornwall
 Grand treasurer = Stanley Bosworth, Hartford.
 Grand secretary - George A. Kies, Hartford
 Grand senior deacon-Rev. Dr. Will liam F. English, East Windsor.
 Grand junior deacon Wallace &. Moyle, New Haven.
 Grand trustees-Willis L. Mix, New Haven; Charles B. Chapman, Norwich {; 1siah Baker, Jr., Hartford
 Grand Master elect Edgar H. Park man was raised in Doric lodge, F. and A. M, Thompsonville, April g, 1876. He was born in North Brookfield, Mass, Aug. 28. 1862. He is one of the best known high school teachers In Connecticut. He is now completing his 18th year as principal of the En- field public high school.
 Past Grand Master Justin Holden, with Arthur G. Jenkins, Julian L. Will Hams and J. H. McNeely from St. James lodge, No. B, and Herbert R. Kind and two other delegates from Somerset lodge, No. 34, were among the Norwich men attending the ses- sion.