Year: 1878




Most Worthy Grand Master, Mt the Session Of


the Right Worthy Grand Lodge Of l. 90.


+. Ohio, at Canton, May 10th, 1873.
officers and Representatives of the Right Worthy


Grand Lodge Of Ohio!


In assuming the duties of Most Worthy Grand
Master, to which your Partially has assigned me-
feel an implied right as well as IN the obseTv.
anCe Of an hOn0red custom, to claim your ndul.
genCe for a few moments that may nnburden
the feelings of grateful heart in giving utterance
to the thoughts which your preference has in.
spired,


have profound sense Of the honor and obli.
cations which you and a generous constituency,
composed OF the Past Grands throughout this iu-
risdiction, without dissenting voice, have eleva.
ted me To be thus called to the Executive head
of the forty five thousand Odd Fellows Of Ohio,
and to preside over the deliberations of body
like this Grand Lodge, composed as 1t is of mem.
bers from every part of this great State, who are
brought together by the same ennobling purposes,
animated by the same generous motives and sen.
timens representing an intelligent constituency,
and the second largest Jurisdiction In the annals
of benevolent institutions I say that to be the
Official head of such an organization is an honor
of no tri6ing magnitude.


In all the dreams of my youthful ambition no
vision Of success, was so radiant as the honor
now wear by your suffrage


By The arts Of the demagogue and the shrewd
practice of worldly diplomacy, it is possible for
man to rise TO high position in the State and to be
loaded with titles and enriched by em0luments
of which he ia little deserving; but, in an order
like this where influence, patronage and place.
must In the very nature of its covenants, be un.
sought, the unlnvited honor comes with grace
which he, who is the mere recipient Of political
favor, can neither claim nor wear


To know that my connection with this Grand
Lodge, and with the Order in this State, has been
sufficiently active to attract your favorable notice
and to induce you TO confer upon me this distinc
ton, is somewhat allowed by a feeling Of my in
competency to preside over your deliberations In
such manner as to reflect credit upon myself
or afford entire satisfaction 10 this legislative
body.


When remember that the position I now oc.
Cupy has heretofore been filed by brothers distin
guished for their knowledge Of parliamentary
law, just vacated by one marked for his efficiency
and for his ability as an executive and presiding
officer, am constrained In view Of these facts
and my own limited experience, to ask your kind
indulgence and generous forbearance.


l am fully aware that the office Of Grand Master
of this Jurisdiction is not one Of entire ease orna
ment, or comfort but in the discharge of its var
led duties 1t s fraught with anxious cares and ar.
duous labors.


1t has been my lot during life TO be favored with
what may be termed some of the honors of the
world; but there are none prouder to be worn
than those bestowed upon man by his fellow
workers, Whatever individual pride this position
may inspire, am impressed that much sacrifice
OF time and personal comfort are attendant upon
the faithful discharge of its various duties True,
distinction brings cares and anxieties, and the
highest officer oftener has more burdens than de.
lights .
am conscious that Office once assumed should
be faithfully administered, and its honors, how
ever brilliant, should, by an efficient discharge of
Its duties be reflected by the officer rather than be
shed from the place itself.


l know full well from experience that some
thing may, and it is to be learned every day bat
the guide boards of the past and the fortunate
surroundings o the present, with experienced as
sociates, and an earnest willingness TO seek and
take counsel from my co labOrers in this great
work of fraternal fellowship and love- will trust
enable me to transmit to my successor IN Office,
the scepter which have the honor to-day to as.
sumo, as bright and untarnished as 1t now comes
to me through long line Of worthy and dsLin
guished predecessors.


shall not be uumindful of the labor, devotion,
and sacrifice Of the men who have done so much
i'll the past for this great work and whilst can
not hope to add much luster to the brilliant rec.
ords some of them have made shall endesvor to
impress upon the pages of this administration the
evidence Of an earnest desire to promote the best
interests of this noble Brotherhood, and the beau
tiful harmony which has ever characterized and
blessed Its ministTaiOns.


Many subjects that will be submitted for deci-
sion will demand careful research and calm re-
Election. Some, no doubt will be new and merit
close consideration.


From the report Of the retiring Grand Master
may be gathered the intelligence Of the in creasing
labors OF this Office and it is particularly notice
able that the matter Of Correspondence h as grown
to exceedingly large proportions.


submit that much of this might be avoided
and lessened with profit, If officers and mem bers
of Lodges would give closer attention and exam.
ination to the laws of our Order, and thereby
settle many causes for, and with credit to them