Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1916-06-15
FIRST DAY OF GRAND LODGE
Grand Master Darling Reports
Temple All Paid For.
One Thousand Dollars to he Added An-
nuaIIy to Charity Fund In Lieu of
Erection of Masonic Home.
The Grand Lodge of Vermont, +. ana

the Grand Lodge or vermont. +. ana
A. NJ. will not establish a Masonic
Home, but instead of that will found
an endowment fund the proceeds of
which will be used for charitable pur-
poses. This, and the fact that during
the past year the concluding payment,
amounting to six thousand dollars.
was made upon the Masonic Temple.
was the meat of the annual address
of Grand Master Charles H. Darling
at the opening session of the Grand
Lodge yesterday morning.
The plan is to set aside annually
one thousand dollars, as was done last
year. until not less than nifty thou
sand dollars, is at hand. when the Grand
Lodge will begin to use the income of
the fund. Says Grand Master Darling
There seems to be no reason why this
should not be done this year ana IN
the years to follow. Vermont has ap-
parently settled upon the policy of
establishing a foundation for a per-
manent charity fund the income OF
which shall be used for charitable pur-
poses. On careful consideration this
method seems more practicable and
useful than the establishment of a Ma
sonic Home. Men are often suddenly
and temporarily overwhelmed fnan-
cially by accident or temporary sick
ness either to themselves or to their
families. when Il Masonic home can
afford no relief: while the income of a
substantial endowment fund will take
care of all sick cases. as well as assist
the permanently poor and enfeoblcd.
Such income should not be used until
the fund reaches at least $4,000, and
I hope to see the amount at least
twice that sum within a reasonable
time"
But the Masonic institution" is not
an insurance" concern, he says.
Charitable aid is to be interpreted ac-
cording to the custom in vogue in the
order.
Regarding the clearance of the tenn
pie from debt he says: ut is gratiry-
ing to report that the last of the debt
has this year been extinguished, and
that the Grand Lodge is entirely free
of debt. While the building has gen
orally been kept in fairly good repair.
1t will probably be necessary to do
some decorating and make some i'm
provements that have been deferred
until the liquidation of the debt"
The tax on each member lowed to
free the temple Of debt will now he
abolished, if the Grand Masters rec
ommendation is followed. but the other
tax devoted to maintenance of the
Grand Lodge will probably be slightly
increased.
Grand Master Darling referred feel
ingly to the efficient work of the late
Past Grand Master Marsh O. Perkins
11nI
the position of chairman of the COM
mittee on foreign correspondence.
Past Grand Master Kittredge Haskins
is also commended for the way in
which he has continued the work OF
his predecessor. Regret is expressed
at the loss of Past Senior Warder
W. Fl Vinton.
Washington Lodge spent s11OS5 for
charity during the year and Burling-
ton Lodge $3.50
The Masonic Veterans association al
its meeting in the evening elected the
following officers. Austin d. Paige OF
Lyndonville, venerable chief; II. T. Seave.
of Barton, first associate; second asso-
ciate w. w. Jones of Windsor f. L.
Wells of Lyndonville. veteran treasurer
George +. Root or Newport, veteran sec
rotary; A. J. Hough of Brownsville. vet.
eran chaplain +. II. Rabbit of Bellows
Falls, veteran marshal; Charles A. Lang
Of Montpelier. veteran sentinel. The as
ISOLATION consists of those who have beer
Master Masons for q years or longer.
Charles II. Heaton has declined to serve
as grand treasurer of the Grand Council
and has been succeeded by Frank Adams
of Bellows Falls.
Mr. Heaton has served for SO years, tax
Ing the ONCE from Judge Hall. In recog
milton of long and faithful service tn,
Grand Council passed a resolution Of
thanks and donated 500 to Mr.. Iieaton.
To-day's program consists Of a meet
Ing at nine o'clock this morning Of tn.
grand lodge. when officers will be elect ed
and a session of the Order of High Priest
hood at eight o'clock tonight