The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1916-02-02
GRAND LODGE OF
MASONS HOLDING
18TH MEETING
Election of Officers Follows
Consideration of Import
ant Business.

Hartford, Feb. 1.-Two matters of
great interest to the fraternity came
before the 128th annual communica-
tion of the Most Worshipful Grand
Lodge of Connecticut, F. & A. M,
which opened at IL o'clock at Ma
sonic Temple in this city today, the
amendment to the constitution that
all future annual communications be
held in Hartford and the report of
the committee on the matter of ritual.
Most Worshipfu1 Grand Master Clar-
ence R. Austin, of Danbury. presid-
ed.
George A Kies, of Hartford, and
Harold B. Waldo of Glastonbury, were
appointed as the committee on ere
dentia1s.
The grand master in his address
made reference to the world war and
said that happily this country re-
manned undisturbed. He paid tri-
buted to the members of the fratern-
ity who were expanding efforts in ev-
cry direction to aid and assist the
afflicted.
The grand master said the relations
of the Masonic jurisdiction of Con-
hecticut with the fraternity through
out the world were most cordial and
friendly. Theret had been increased
growth in Connecticut and a great de-
every branch of the Masonic organ
ization.
The harmony in Connecticut Ma
sonry was commended by the grand
master, who said he had not been
called on to interfere in the affairs
of any lodge to settle disputes or rem
der decisions in matters of jurispru-
dence.
Only one death occurred in the
grand lodge membership during the
year, that of Past Deputy Grand Mas
ter Augustus Go1ding, of Norwa1k.
The grand master read a list of dis
tinguished dead of other grand juris-
dfctions.
He spoke of the many acts of .cour-
tesy and consid eration he had receiv-
ed from the subordinate lodges Eight
official vtsitations were made by the
grand master. Mention was made
of the four anniversaries celebrated
during the year: the Inundredth ami
versary of Hamilton lodge of Sharon,
and the one-hundred and fftieth an
niversaries of st. Johns lodge. of Nor
walk, Union lodge of Thomaston and
King Solomon lodge, of Woodbury.
The grand master gave an account
Of the dispensations granted and sum-
married the reports of the nine district
deputies, in which he found the lodges
of the state in a prosperous condition.
An account of the grand masters
day celebration at the Masonic Home,
September %, was given and the
grand master said, ttThe Masonic
Home was a true expression of Ma
sorry in the most concrete form and
the real ideal and practical objective
of the craft
The grand master made reference
to Masonic publicity and said that too
much of what was of interest only to
the craft appeared in print.
why advise the public on matters
in which it has no concern, no inter
said he. why for instance, do a
possible injury or inflict a possible
en- barrassnnent on a candidate by
publishing your intentions when every
member has the right, and often ex-'
ercises the right, to make those in
tentions miscarry? The public can
not Judge by Masonic Standards and
every principle Of Masonry a.bhors a
upon any member of society
either within or without it's fold.
cit seems to me to be my duty to
bring this matter before you for such
consideration as you may deem it. de-
serves, and to give word of warning
in regard to too loose and careless
m ethods of Masonic publicity and to
bespeak a more careful and particu-
lar Interpretation and practice of es-
oteric Masonry as handed down to us
by our ancient brethren and preserved
the ages as a cornerstone es-
tabHshed on a sure foundation which
must not be disturbed"
A tribute to the aid and good work
of the order of the Eastern Star, es-
peciaIly in it's active participation in
the improvements at the Masonic
Home was made by the grand master.
Deputy Grand Master Thomas Nc
Kenie, of Pacatuck, in his report,
made mention of the eight visits he
made during the year.
The special order of business at the
afternoon session was the election
of officers The result of the cleo
ton was as follows:
Grand Master, Thomas Mckenzie. |
deputy grand master.
Leonard J. Nickerson, West Corn |
wall; grand senior warden, the Rev.
DR.. William F. English. East Wind |
sor; grand junior warden, Wallace S.
MoyIe, New Haven; grand treasurer,
Stanley B. Bosworth. Hartford; grand
secretary George A. Keis, Hartford; |
grand senior deacon, Charles @. Per-
xins, New London; grand junior dea- I
son, Charles w. Cramer, Portland; I
grand treasurer, Willis L. Mix, New
Haven.