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History
Of Freemasonry In Ohio
From 1791 to 1912 by W. M. Cunningham and John G. Reeve= s
THE
HISTORY OF THE MOST WORSHIPFUL GRAND LODGE
By
W. M. CUNNINGHAM, M. A.,
VOLUME 3 Part III Copyright, 1914 By J. H. Bromwell Grand Secretary Cincinnati, Ohio
1907 M.·. W.·. HORACE A. IRVIN, GRAND MASTER Grand Lodge convened at the Auditorium, Canton, Wednesday, October 16,= A. D. 1907, with M.·. W.·. Horace A. Irvin, Grand Master, in t= he Chair, all the other Grand Officers in their stations, Past Grand Masters= W. M. Cunningham, J. M. Goodspeed, Leander Burdick, Levi C. Goodale, Allen Andrews, C. F. Clapp, Wm. B. Melish, Barton Smith, Nelson Williams, E. L. Lybarger, Frank S. Harmon, Ike M. Robinson, W. A. Belt, O. P. Sperra, C. = G. Ballou, Lewis P. Schaus, Past Deputy Grand Masters Wm. J. Akers and J. L'= H. Long, twenty-two District Lecturers, and the representatives of 492 Subordinate Lodges in attendance, 12 Lodges not being represented. The Grand Master read his annual address, in which he calls attention = to the death of Bro. Charles A. Woodward, Most Worshipful Past Grand Master = of Masons of Ohio, who died at Cleveland, February 15, A. D. 1907. He was bo= rn at Cincinnati, December 6, 1827, was made a Master Mason November 27, A. = D. 1855, in Cleveland City Lodge No.15, exalted to the degree of Royal Arch Mason in Webb Chapter No.14, R. A. M., April 16, 1857; Knighted in Orient= al Commandery No.12, K. T., September 5, 1864; received the Thirty-second Degree, A. A. S. R., March 25, 1865, and was elected and made an honorary Thirty-third Degree member of the Supreme Council of that Rite, June 18, 1870, and served as an Officer in various bodies of the York and Scottish Rite, and as Grand Master of Ohio in 1876 and 1877 Also the death of R.·. W.·. Bro. Sidney Moore, Past Juni= or Grand Warden of this Grand Lodge, who died at Delaware, Ohio, May 27, 190= 7. His gift to the Masons of Delaware of their splendid Masonic Temple an= d to the citizens of Delaware of the home for aged people, while probably the = most conspicuous of his philanthropies, do not represent the total of his benevolence. It was his pleasure to be at all times helpful and in most of his acts of charity concealed the identity of the donor. Reports that the San Francisco and California Emergency Fund of $2,184= .60, unexpended and turned over by Grand Master L. P. Schaus, last year, bad b= een increased by the refunding by the Grand Lodge of California of the additi= onal sum of $1,600, our pro rata share of the unexpended balance in their hand= s, the fund now aggregating $3,784.60, and accrued interest, the fund being invested at four per cent per annum, payable in semi-annual installments.= On January 29, 1907, received a communication from the Grand Orient of Greece asking for an exchange of representatives. On April -, 1907, recei= ved a communication from the Grand Lodge of Canada advising me it had canceled the warrant issued by it to the Royal Solomon Mother Lodge at Jerusalem, Palestine; and on July 30, 1907, received a communication from the Grand Secretary of the Grand Lodge of Saskatchewan, advising us it had withdrawn from the Grand Lodge of Manitoba, and formed itself into a new Grand Lodg= e to he known as the "Grand Lodge of Saskatchewan" and requesting recognition and exchange of representatives, all of which were referred t= o the Committee on Foreign Correspondence for investigation and report at this session of the Grand Lodge. Reports the appointment of the twenty-five District Lecturers, and commends them as loyal, courteous, energetic, and efficient Officers. The Past Grand Master's jewel voted to M.·. W.·. Grand Master Lewis P. Schaus was presented to him by M.·. W.·. Br= o. L. C. Goodale, at the meeting of Acme Lodge No.554, of which he is a char= ter member, on the evening of December 19, 1906, in the presence of over 250 Masons, including M.·. W.·. Bro. Wm. M. Cunningham and M.·. W.·. Grand Master Horace A. Irvin, and was received by= him in a pleasant speech of acceptance and thanks. The terms of M.·. W.·. Bro. Leander Burdick and M.&middo= t;. W.·. Bro. C. F. Clapp as Trustees of the Masonic Home expiring December 31, 1906, the Grand Master in November, reappointed them for the term of three years subject to approval of the Grand Lodge, and which appointment was duly confirmed by the Grand Lodge. The membership, August 31, A. D. 1907, was 68,679, an increase of 3,574 over last year, and the largest gain since 1903, which remains the banner year. SUPREME COURT DECISION "On June 18 of this year, the Supreme Court of Ohio decided the famous New England Lodge No.4 case in favor of the legitimate body, there= by restoring to it the property of which it has been deprived for nearly twe= lve years. "While we congratulate New England Lodge No.4 on the recovery of = its historic property, this Grand Lodge has infinitely more cause of congratulating itself, as this decision probably forever decides the prop= erty rights of all legitimate Masonic bodies, and is a complete recognition by= the highest tribunal of the state of the authority and supremacy of the Grand Lodge in the management and conduct of its affairs." A full statement of the facts in this ease and the brief of M.·. W.·. Bro. Allen Andrews of counsel for the Grand Lodge, will be fo= und in the first volume of this history, and his report to the Grand Master w= ill be found in the proceedings of 1907. Dispensations were granted for new Lodges at the following places: November 14, 1906, Clarington Lodge, at Clarington. Proxies were issued to the following Brothers to dedicate Masonic Temp= les and Halls, lay corner stones, etc.: October 13, 1906, to M.·. W.·. Bro. Allen Andrews, to
dedicate the Masonic Temple at Portsmouth, October 26; October 13, 1906, =
to
M.·. W.·. Bro. F. S. Harmon, to dedicate the new Masonic Te=
mple
at Elyria, October 18; October 18, 1906, to M. Bro. C. F. Clapp, to lay t=
he
corner stone of the West Side Christian Church at Warren, October 21; Oct=
ober
29, 1906, to R.·. W.·. Bro. Harry S. Kissell, to constitute
Ostrander Lodge No.594, November 5; November 13, 1906, to R.·.
W.·. Bro. B. F. Perry, to dedicate Woodward Masonic Temple at
Cleveland, November 14; January 15, 1907, to W. Bro. J. W. Moore, to dedi=
cate
the Lodge room of Homeworth Lodge No.499, January 19; February 16, 1907, =
to
M.·. W.·. Bro. F. S. Harmon, to represent the Grand Master =
at
the funeral of M.·. W.·. Bro. C. A. Woodward; September 13,=
1907,
to M.·. W.·. Bro. I. M. Robinson, to lay the corner stone of
the Masonic Temple at Marietta, October 7; September 28, 1907, to R.&midd=
ot;.
W.·. Bro. C. S. Hoskinson, to dedicate the Hall of Lowell Lodge
No.436, at Lowell, October 8; October 22, 1906, to M.·. W.·=
. H.
A. Irvin, to dedicate the Lodge rooms at Kalida; November 2, 1906, to
M.·. W.·. Bro. L. P. Schaus, to dedicate the Lodge room of
Neoaeacia Lodge No. 595, at Columbus; July 11, 1906, to M.·.
W.·. Bro. H. A. Irvin, to dedicate the Lodge room of Pharos Lodge
No.355, at St. Paris; July 25, 1906, to M.·. W.·. Bro. H. A.
Irvin, to dedicate the Lodge room of Waynesville Lodge No.163, Waynesvill=
e. On October 31, 1906, M.·. W.·. Bro. L. P. Schaus, constituted Neoacacia Lodge No.595, at Columbus, and installed its Office= rs; on October 5, 1906 R.·. W.·. Harry S. Kissell, constituted Ostrander Lodge No.594; and installed its Officers. Full reports were made by these Brethren of the performance of the dut= ies assigned to them. The Grand Master presided at the ceremonies of laying the corner stone= s of the following edifices: October 16, 1906, laying the corner stone of the Masonic Temple at Day=
ton. Reports visitation of twenty-five Lodges, at each of which he was rece= ived with splendid courtesy and generous hospitality due the representative of this Grand Lodge. The Grand Master reported a number of decisions which were approved by= the Grand Lodge. The Grand Master received from the Secretary of New England Lodge No.4= at different times the petitions of the following former members of said Lod= ge who were expelled for associating themselves with the clandestine so-call= ed New England Lodge No.4 at Worthington, and the clandestine so-called Grand Lodge formed at Worthington, the legitimate Lodge having unanimously voted recommending the restoration of said members, they having fully renounced= all connection with or allegiance to all bodies declared clandestine by this Grand Lodge, and declared full allegiance to this Grand Lodge and its legitimate subordinates, viz.: Harry R. Hughett, C. G. Moore, Charles F. White, Nathan Pinney, Aaron P. Spencer, Charles F. Pinney, and Charles F. Hinds, who were members of New England Lodge when its charter was arreste= d in 1891, and the following who were expelled by this Grand Lodge at its sess= ion of 1891, viz.: Justin Pinney, J. R. Topping, and D. H. Welling, all of wh= ich are referred to the Committee on Masonic Jurisprudence for examination and report. The Grand Treasurer submitted his report showing the balance on hand October 8, 1907, general fund, $55,596.94. The Emergency Relief Fund: October 11, 1906, received from L. P. Schaus, Past Grand Master . . . =
. .
. . $2,184.60 The Grand Secretary presented his report congratulating the Grand Lodge and the Secretaries of the Subordinate Lodges on the fact that all the an= nual returns and Grand dues were in his hands prior to September 30, 1907; that the increase of membership was 3,574, an increase over last year of 105; = reports that the duplication of the returns of 1906 were completed and bound and deposited in the vault at the Masonic Home, and recommends the Secretarie= s of the Subordinate Lodges use good ink, instead of typewriting the returns w= hich fades in a few years, while we have returns of 1809 which are as legible = as the day they were made. The only indebtedness is the per capita tax to the Masonic Home amount= ing to $20,603.70, and recommends an additional donation of $12,000.00 to the Masonic Home, $6,000.00 to the general and $6,000.00 to the endowment fun= d, which recommendation was approved by the Committees on Charity and Accoun= ts, and adopted by the Grand Lodge and the appropriation made. Reports that the supply of the Code is nearly exhausted and the Grand Secretary has commenced the preparation of a new revision, rearrangement,= and new index of the Code, and estimates the expense of a thorough revision at $3,000.00 and offers to make the compilation and revise the publication thereof. M.·. W.·. Bro. Wm. B. Melish offered the following which= was adopted: "Resolved, That this Grand Lodge receive with hearty appreciation= the offer of the R.·. W.·. Grand Secretary to revise the Code of Laws, and to make a compilation of the Decisions, and to arrange and index the laws of the Grand Lodge, etc., and to superintend the publication of = the same." M.·. W.·. Bro. Leander Burdick presented the report of t= he Board of Trustees of the Ohio Masonic Home and the report of the Superintendent and Secretary, which are printed in the proceedings. The amounts contributed by the Grand Bodies of Ohio at their 1906 sessions, w= ere: Grand Lodge . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $31,531.50 In addition to this the Ohio Council of Deliberation of the Ancient Accepted Scottish Rite for the Northern Jurisdiction, realizing the neces= sity of adding to the capacity of the Home, made an appeal to the several bodi= es located in Ohio for funds sufficient to add an additional story to the re= ar part of the main building, which appeal was generously responded to, and = the sum of $16,400.00 was contributed, and the work is nearly completed, which has improved the dining room and added thirty additional rooms over that = part of the building. "It has been practically demonstrated that Lodge, Chapter, Counci= l, Commandery, Scottish Rite, and Order of the Eastern Star have all been greatly interested in promoting and sustaining this worthy charity, and we sincerely believe that no other Masonic work in Ohio has ever or will ever be, accomplished that will reflect greater honor on our beloved Fraternity than the establishment of the Ohio Masonic Home. The members of the Eastern Star, God bless them appreciating the neces= sity of having suitable accommodations for those who become seriously ill at t= he Home, have built and furnished a beautiful hospital building, donating the same to the Trustees, which has provided for a necessity that had long existed prior to this noble act of those who took upon themselves the accomplishment of the work." The Endowment Fund was increased by donations from various Grand and Subordinate Masonic Bodies and individual Masons, among which was the beq= uest of our late lamented Brother and late President of the Board, John M. Stu= ll, of $1,000.00, the total amount of such donations, including accrued inter= est on investments, amounting to $14,320.98, a good showing for one year. The total Endowment Fund 15 $74,149.33. The number of residents at the Home are: Men, 63; women, 42; boys, 28; girls, 23. Total, 156. The Committee on Masonic History reported that only 225 Subordinate Lo= dges had filed and reported the blanks sent out for the purpose of obtaining a brief history of the organization, etc., of the Lodges, and request the G= rand Secretary send the District Lecturers lists of the Lodges who have failed= to report within their districts and urge on them a prompt compliance with t= he orders of the Grand Lodge, which was adopted and the committee continued = for the purpose of preparing the history. The Committee on the S. Stacker Williams monument reported the sum of $1,200.89 on hand, donated for the purpose of erecting a suitable monumen= t at his grave, which they consider sufficient for that purpose, and the commi= ttee was continued until such stone could be procured and erected. Telegrams of greeting were sent to the Grand Lodges of Kentucky and Wisconsin now in session and proper responses received. The Grand Master called attention of the Grand Lodge to the fact that = this was the birthday of one of the most distinguished Masons in the United States, and by authority of the Grand Lodge, sent the following telegram:= "Canton, Ohio, October 17, 1907. " The Grand Lodge of Ohio in Annual Communication at Canton, mindful of = the eighty-eighth anniversary of America's most distinguished Mason, extends = to him sincere greetings and felicitations on this notable occasion. Horace A. Irvin, Grand Master." To which the following response was received from the distinguished Brother: Horace A. Irvin, Grand Master, Grand Lodge of Ohio. I have received a dispatch, signed by you as Grand Master of the Grand
Lodge of Ohio, conveying the greetings and felicitations of that
distinguished body of Freemasons on the occasion of my eighty-eighth
birthday. I wish to thank you personally, and the Grand Lodge of Ohio, for
this kind remembrance, and I beg to assure you that it was most highly
appreciated. Charters were granted to the following new Lodges: Brookville No.596, at Brookville, Montgomery County A dispensation was granted for Euclid Lodge U. D. to be located at Cleveland. The Committee on Foreign Correspondence to whom the request of the Gra= nd Lodge of Saskatchewan for recognition was referred, report in favor of the same, which report was adopted. The committee on the S. Stacker Williams library reported that it had entered into an agreement with the Masonic Library Association of Cincinn= ati, in pursuance of which the library, complete, containing about seven thous= and volumes, has been shipped to Cincinnati and placed in the custody of the Cincinnati Masonic Library Association of Cincinnati, with the privilege = of using and circulating the same among its members under the rules of its o= wn library, but it is to be always kept intact, and under the control of this Grand Lodge until such time as it shall make suitable arrangements for its permanent care and preservation as a distinctive Grand Lodge Library, no = part of it to be sold, or given away except by the express authority of the Gr= and Lodge, and that the ownership thereof shall remain in the Grand Lodge, bu= t it is not to incur any expense in relation thereto except the insurance. The library has been shelved in room 12, Masonic Temple, Cincinnati, at a cos= t of about $400.00, which was donated by the Masons of Cincinnati, which report was adopted and the action of the committee approved. Brother George D. Copeland, of Marion, was elected M.·. W.&midd= ot;. Grand Master; Bro. C. S. Hoskinson, of Zanesville, R.·. W.·. Deputy Grand Master; Bro. B. F. Perry, R., of Jefferson, R.·. W.·. Senior Grand Warden; Bro. Harry S. Kissell, of Springileld, R.·. W.·. Junior Grand Warden; Bro. Ralph R. Rickly re-elec= ted R.·. W.·. Grand Treasurer, and Bro. I. H. Bromwell, of Cincinnati, re-elected R.·. W.·. Grand Secretary, and they = and the appointive Officers, were duly installed. The Committee on Masonic Jurisprudence, to whom was referred the petit= ions of various members of New England Lodge No.4, to be restored to good Maso= nic standing, reported as follows: "The charter of New England Lodge No.4 was arrested April, 1891, = for rebellious and un-masonic conduct. By this action all the members lost th= eir Lodge membership, but were entitled to make application respectively to t= he Grand Secretary for certificates of good standing in Masonry, which certificates would, on such applications, be granted or refused according= to the merits or demerits of each applicant. Now, among these members are Br= os. C. G. Moore, Chas. F. White, Nathan Pinney, Aaron P. Spencer, Chas. F. Pinney, Chas. F. hinds and Harry R. lluggett, who have not affiliated with any Lodge since the arrest of said charter. They now come and ask to be placed in good Masonic standing. Subsequent to the arrest of the charter,= the Grand Lodge restored or granted a substitute charter to the loyal members= of the Lodge who had not engaged in the rebellious and un-masonic conduct, a= nd they resumed work again as New England Lodge No.4. The Lodge now, and als= o the Grand Master, recommend that the prayer of the Brethren above named be granted. In order to do this there is nothing to do but for the Grand Secretary to issue the certificates of good standing, and we now recommend that this be done. "Some of those, however, who were members of the Lodge when the charter was arrested, together with some members of other Lodges who bad = been engaged in the rebellion against the Grand Lodge, were put to trial and d= uly expelled from all the rights and benefits of Masonry by the Grand Lodge at its Annual Communication, 1891. (See proceedings 1891, page 48.) Among th= ese, Mr. Justin Pinney, Mr. J. R. Topping and Mr. D. H Welling, now petition t= he Grand Lodge for restoration to the rights and benefits of Masonry. New England Lodge No.4, and the Grand Master also, recommend that the prayer = of this petition be granted, and in this recommendation this committee concur." M.·. W.·. Bro. Allen Andrews moved the adoption of the report. M.·. W.·. Bro. Levi C. Goodale asked for a separate= vote on that portion of the report relating to the restoration of Justin Pinne= y, J. R. Topping, and D. H. Welling to good standing in the Order, which was allowed by the Grand Master. After extended discussion the recommendation of the committee as to th= e reinstatement of Justin Pinney, the Grand Lodge resolved to postpone the matter for fur= ther consideration until the next Annual Grand Communication. As to the recommendation that J. R. Topping and B. H. Welling be reinstated, the Gr= and Lodge adopted the recommendation, and directed the Grand Secretary to iss= ue certificates accordingly. The balance of the report in relation to the issuing of certificates to the other applicants as recommended by the committee the Grand Lodge adop= ted. The committee called attention to the fact that the action of the Grand Secretary in issuing certificates to the former class and of the Grand Lo= dge in restoring the latter class to the rights and benefits of Masonry have = the effect to make them Masons in good standing, but non-affiliates; and that= to gain admission to a Lodge, each must make application to the Lodge of his choice and can Ile admitted to Lodge membership in such Lodge only by the action of the Lodge and after ballot in the regular way; which statement = and decision were approved by the Grand Lodge. M.·. W.·. Bro. Nelson Williams, M.·. W.·. = Bro. L. P. Schaus and W. Bro. M. L. Finuell were appointed a committee to proc= ure and present to M. .W. .Bro. Horace A. Irvin, retiring Grand Master, a Past Grand Master's jewel. The Committee on Centennial Celebration reported recommending that an appropriation of $5,000.00 be made and set apart for the purpose of prope= rly celebrating the anniversary of the organization of this Grand Lodge, the = same to be held during the Annual Communication of the Grand Lodge in the year 1908, and a majority of the committee, six in number, voted in favor of holding such communication and celebration in the city of Cincinnati, and= the minority, three in number, voted in favor of holding the same in the city= of Columbus, and the committee recommended it be held in Cincinnati, Wednesd= ay, October 21, A. B. 1908. A motion to strike out Cincinnati as the place and insert Columbus was= , on a rising vote, lost, and the report was adopted as read and the Committee= on Accounts reported in favor of appropriating the sum of $5,000.00 for this purpose, which was adopted. The Committee on Foreign Correspondence presented its report which is printed in the proceedings, covering 361 pages, reviewing the proceedings= of 63 English speaking and 16 non-English speaking Grand Lodges. The introductory contains letters from Wm. James Hughan of Torquay, England; Robert Freke Gould and a sketch of his lecture on "The Filiation of Speculative" (or Symbolic Masonry) ; articles on "Early Freemasonry in France;" "The 1717 English Freemason= ry in France;" "Albert Pike and Symbolic Lodges;" "Physi= cal Perfection;" "Correspondences;" "Past Master's Degree," etc. The general review of the various Grand Lodges presents numerous artic= les and reviews of the general history, condition, and progress of Masonry throughout the world, together with reliable information relating to Maso= nic procedure and jurisprudence, that is of general interest to all active and thinking Masons, and should be perused by all members of the craft. The Ohio Masonic Veterans' Association met in the Masonic Temple, Octo= ber 16, 1907, at 5 :30 p. m., with Venerable Bro. Leander Burdick, President,= in the Chair. A large class of applicants was elected, introduced, instructed and welcomed as Venerable Brethren, and the routine business transacted. Ven. Bro. Wm. M. Cunningham was elected President for the ensuing year. The Brethren enjoyed a splendid banquet prepared by the local Brethren= and committee, for which a vote of thanks was tendered. 1908 M.·. W.·. GEO. B. COPELAND, GRAND MASTER On Wednesday, October 21, A. D. 1908, at 9:15 o'clock a. m., the Offic= ers and members of the Grand Lodge assembled at the Hotel Sinton, Cincinnati,= and were escorted by the Centennial Committee with military bands to the Music hall, where the session of the Grand Lodge were to be held. The Grand Lodge and visiting Brethren in large numbers, having taken t= heir places, were entertained by an organ recital by Bro. John Yoakley. This w= as followed by a rendition of Mozart's Invocation by the Scottish Rite double quartet, of Cincinnati. Rev. and R.·. W.·. Bro. Paul R. Hic= kok, Grand Chaplain, invoked the blessing of Deity on the session, after which R.·. W.·. Bro. Edward F. Shipley, Grand Orator, delivered an address of welcome, which was responded to by R.·. W.·. Dep= uty Grand Master Bro. C. S. Hoskinson. Hon. Leopold Markbreit, Mayor of the city of Cincinnati, paid a most beautiful tribute to the Fraternity, and on behalf of the city, bade the Grand Lodge welcome, to which the M.·. W.·. Grand Master Br= o. George B. Copeland, responded. The Scottish Rite double quartet sang "Lift Thine Eyes," by Mendelssohn, and "Charity," by Nembach. This was followed by various announcements made by M.·. W.&midd= ot;. Bro. Wm. B. Melish, chairman of the general committee of the Grand Lodge,= as to the program of entertainment provided by the committee. Following these announcements, a party composed of fifty of the boys a= nd girls of the Ohio Masonic Home was presented to the assembled audience, a= nd rendered a number of glees and patriotic songs, concluding with "Hom= e, Sweet Home." All who were not entitled to remain within the Hall as members of the Fraternity having withdrawn, the M.·. W.·. Grand Master proceeded to open a Lodge of Master Masons, the Grand Officers occupying their respective stations. The Grand Lodge was opened in ample form, with M.·. W.·. Bro. George B. Copeland, Grand Master in the East, all the Grand Officers= in their respective stations, Past Grand Masters W. M. Cunningham, J. M. Goodspeed, Leander Burdick, Levi C. Goodale, Allen Andrews, C. F. Clapp, William B. Melish, Barton Smith, Nelson Williams, E. C. Gulliford, E. L. Lybarger, Frank S. Harmon, Ike M. Robinson, W. A. Belt, O. P. Sperra, C. = G. Ballou, Lewis P. Schaus, and Horace A. Irvin, Past Deputy Grand Masters W. J. Ake= rs and J. L'H. Long, twenty-four District Lecturers, and the representatives= of 508 of the 514 active Lodges in attendance. The Grand Master read his address referring in a pleasing and eloquent manner to the fact that on the 4th of January, A. D. 1808, the representatives of a handful of Lodges met in the town of Chillicothe, for the purpose of forming a Grand Lodge of Masons for the State of Ohio, and= on the last days of that year were again on their way to hold the first Communication of this Grand Lodge, which was held on January 2, A. D. 180= 9, the one hundredth anniversary of which we now celebrate, and congratulati= ng the craft on the fact that during this time the handful of Masons had gro= wn to over seventy-two thousand active, earnest and faithful members; and the history of Ohio for the last one hundred years has been largely the centennial history of Masonry; and that we could point with pride to the = long list of distinguished patriots and statesmen who had served our state and nation in positions of high honor and trust, and who had taken from the designs upon the trestle board in our Lodges, the inspiration for lives w= hich have left their impress upon the pages of history. Calls attention to the death of and pays proper tribute to the followi= ng distinguished Brothers of this jurisdiction, viz.: Bro. Robert V. Hampson, who died at Salem, Ohio, January 14, 1908. He = was Past Grand Commander of the Grand Commandery of the State of Ohio, and at= the time of his death was serving as Grand Treasurer of the Grand Chapter R. = A. M. of Ohio, and Grand Treasurer of the Grand Council It. & S. M. of O= hio, and was an honorary member of the Supreme Council A. A. S. R. for the Northern Jurisdiction. On the 17th of April, 1908, Illustrious Bro. Henry C. Urner, Thirty-th= ird Degree, died at Cincinnati, where he was horn April 30, 1830, and lived during his entire lifetime. He was initiated in Kuwinning Lodge No.356, J= une 10, 1870, became a Royal Arch Mason in Cincinnati Chapter No.2, April 3, 1871, a Royal and Select Master in Cincinnati Council No.1, June 19, 1871, created a Knight Templar in Cincinnati Commandery No.3, May 22, 1871, received the Thirty-second Degree in Ohio Consistory A. A. S. R., January= 21, 1871, the Thirty-third Degree in the Supreme Council, November 17, 1873, = and was crowned an active member, September 19, 1899. On July 5, 1908, Bro. A. H. Snider, President of the Marietta Masonic Building Company, died at Marietta. Highly commends the District Lecturers for their zeal and fidelity, ev= ery Subordinate Lodge in the state having been inspected during the year. The Past Grand Master's jewel voted to M.·. W.·. Bro. Ho= race A. Irvin, retiring Grand Master, at the last session, was presented to hi= m by M.·. W.·. Bro. Nelson Williams, P. G. M., during the ceremo= nies of the dedication of the Masonic Temple at Dayton, the Grand Master having the pleasure of being present at this pleasant ceremony. The Grand Master reappointed M.·. W.·. Bro. F. L. Lybarg= er, P. G. M., and M.·. W.·. Bro. Nelson Williams, P. G. M., as Trustees of the Masonic Home for three years from January 1, 1908. At a meeting of the Centennial Committee held at Cincinnati, March 4, 1908, it was decided that a Masonic History of Ohio should be prepared by M.·. W.·. Bro. W. M. Cunningham, Past Grand Master, who has been a Master Mason for fifty-eight years, and who has personally attended every communication of the Grand Lodge of Ohio for the last fifty-four ye= ars, and is the chairman of the Committee on Masonic History; and I accordingly appointed Bro. W. M. Cunningham, Grand Historian of Ohio. Dispensations were issued for new Lodges at the following places: October 27, 1907, Euclid Lodge, at Cleveland. Having received satisfactory evidence that Clarington Lodge No.597 was free from debt, in compliance with the directions of this Grand Lodge at = its last session, I, on November 9, 1907, issued and delivered the charter granted said Lodge. Corner stones of the following Masonic and public buildings were laid = by the Grand Master or Brothers acting as his proxy: October 21, 1907, to M.·. W.·. Bro. Horace A. Irvin, the corner stone of the new Masonic Temple at Troy; November 24, 1907, to R.·. W.·. Bro. B. F. Perry, Jr., the corner stone of the Children's Home of Mahoning County; April 4, 1908, M.·. W.·. Bro. Geo. D. Copeland, Grand Master, the corner stone of a new public building at Wyoming; June 11, 1908, M.·. W.·. Geo. D. Copel= and, Grand Master, the corner stone of the Court House at Youngstown; August 1= 6, 1908, to R.·. W.·. Bro. J. H. Bromwell, the corner stone of= a new school building at Madisonville; August 16, 1908, to R.·. W.·. Bro. Paul B. Hiekok, the corner stone of the Second Presbyter= ian Church at East Liverpool; September 1, 1908, to Bro. G. C. Maurer, the co= rner stone of the Union Hospital at New Philadelphia; October 10, 1908, to Bro= . F. F. McCombs, the corner stone of the Shadyside School House. The following Masonic Temples and Lodge rooms were dedicated by M.·. W.·. George D. Copeland, Grand Master: November 19, 1907, Masonic Temple at Dayton; January 2, 1908, Masonic Lodge rooms at Cleveland; June 24, 1908, Masonic Temple at Lancaster; September 1, 1908, Masonic Temple at Marietta; October 1, 1908, Masonic L= odge rooms at Greenville. The following Brothers acting as proxy of the Grand Master, dedicated = the following Masonic Lodge rooms: December 19, 1907, Bro. A. L Rawlings, Masonic Lodge rooms at Brownsvi= lle; January 14, 1908, Bro. B. S. Fogle, Masonic Lodge rooms at Payne; February 15, 1908, Bro. G. A. Reuter, Masonic Lodge rooms at Celina; April 29, 190= 8, Bro. W. A. Smurthwaite, Masonic Lodge rooms at Steubenville; June 24, 190= 8, Bro. Walton H. Parker, Masonic Lodge rooms at Stockport. The following Lodges chartered at the last session were duly constitut= ed and their Officers installed by the following Brothers acting as proxies = for the Grand Master: November 28, 1907, Bro. F. F. McCombs, Clarington Lodge No.597, at Clarington; November 1, 1907, M.·. W.·. Bro. L. C. Goodale, Enoch T. Carson Lodge No.598, Cincinnati; December 6, 1907, M.·. W.·. Bro. H. A. Irvin, Brookville Lodge No.596, at Brookville. Reports a large number of visitations at which he was received and tre= ated with the utmost courtesy and hospitality befitting the representative of = this Grand Lodge. Reports nine decisions which were approved. On April 28, 1908, the Lodge room, property and records of Peebles Lod= ge No.581 were destroyed by fire, and on August 2, 1908, the Lodge room and all the personal property and charter of Bellville Lodge No.376, at Bellville, we= re destroyed by fire, and a dispensation was issued authorizing the Lodge to continue work until the close of this session, and a new charter is recommended. An attempt was made to organize a clandestine Lodge of Masons in Cleve= land early in the year by advertising in the city papers that one thousand men were wanted to join at $10.00 per capita. Bros. Frank S. Harmon, M.&middo= t;. W.·. Past Grand Master, and Edwin S. Griffiths, W. Tumor Grand Dea= con, succeeded in having the papers discontinue such advertisement, and the ma= tter seems to need no further attention. The people of Ohio are to be congratulated upon not being misled into joining an institution, membership in which can only bring upon them the contempt and detestation of all good Masons. The Grand Treasurer submitted his report showing a balance on hand Oct= ober 1, 1908, in the general fund, $58,564.60, and in the emergency relief fun= d, including interest, $4,027.76. The Grand Secretary presented his report showing the membership, August 31, 1908, 72,339, a gain of 3,660, and a gain over last year of 86, being within 31 of 1903, which remains the banner year. While the net gain of 1903 still stands as the largest, the gross gain= of this year exceeds that of any previous year. This being the twentieth report of the Grand Secretary, the following table is inserted showing the wonderful increase in membership and annual income during the past twenty years:
Showing Increase in number of Lodges . . . . . . . . . . 26 *This includes the Emergency fund, amounting to $3,828.29. Tile relative standing, in point of membership, of Ohio with several o= ther Grand Jurisdictions, taken from the last Annual Proceedings on file, is as follows: New York has 779 Lodges, and a membership of 152,928 It will be seen from this that Ohio comes after Pennsylvania, or fourt= h in the list. The only indebtedness is the per capita tax due the Masonic Home, amounting to $21,701.70, and an additional donation of $10,000.00 is recommended for the Home, $5,000.00 to the general and $5,000.00 to the endowment fund, which recommendation was concurred in by the Committees on Charity and Accounts, and approved by the Grand Lodge, and the appropriat= ion made. Reports the revision of the Code is completed except the index which w= ill be completed soon after this session. The work has been approved by the Committee on Masonic Jurisprudence. Practically all the spurious, clandestine Lodges have ceased work and become extinct, but as some of their members bold certificates and dimits, for the purpose of warning and protecting Lodges in this and sister jurisdictions, a list of such so-called Lodges is printed for the informa= tion of the Officers and members of the Lodges in this and other jurisdictions= . The following distinguished Brothers being present, were received, introduced to the Grand Lodge, and welcomed with Grand Honors: M.·. W.·. Bro. Chas. M. Mikels, Grand Master of Indiana;= R. Em. Sir Edwin B. King, Grand Commander Knights Templars of Ohio; M. Ex. E= d. H. Archer, Grand High Priest, Grand Chapter of Ohio; M.·. W.&middo= t;. Warren J. Baker, Grand Master of the Grand Council R. & S. M. of Ohio; M.·. W.·. Barton Smith, Deputy for Ohio of the Ancient Acce= pted Scottish Rite; and M. Em. William B. Melish, Deputy Grand Master of the G= rand Encampment of the United States, Knights Templars. Each made a proper response thanking the Grand Lodge for the courtesy. Charters were granted to the following new Lodges: Euclid No.599, at Cleveland The applications of East Gate at Columbus, and Sugar Creek Valley at S= trasburg were rcferred to the incoming Grand Master for investigation and action.<= /p> The Committee on Foreign Correspondence submitted a special report acknowledging the courtesies extended to this Grand Lodge in their Masonic papers and communications for its special use, by V. W. Bro. Robert Freke Gould, of Kingsfield, Woking, England; V. W. Bro. Wm. Jas. Hughan, of Torquay, England; and R.·. W.·. Bro. Dr. W. J. Chetwode Crawley, Grand Treasurer of the M.·. W.·. Grand Lodge of Ir= eland, respectfully recommend that these three eminent Masons and distinguished authors be, and are hereby constituted Honorary Members of the M.·. W.·. Grand Lodge F. and A. M. of Ohio; which report was adopted and the recommendation concurred in. The Committee on Masonic History reported that finding cooperative wor= k in this connection not only ill advised and unsatisfactory, but difficult in execution, and deeming it for the best interests of the proposed historic= al work, they delegated its compilation and the work connected therewith to = the chairman of the committee, who had compiled and completed the manuscript = of the first volume and had the same ready for the printer for publication, = and bids have been received from two competent printers. The manuscript of vo= lume 1 has been approved by the Grand Master and the committee recommends its publication and the preparation of two additional volumes, which report a= nd recommendation were approved by the Grand Lodge. The committee on S. S. Williams monument was continued to next Annual = Communication to enable it to complete the duties assigned to it. The Committee on Masonic Jurisprudence reported on the applications of Bros. F. E. Chambers and S. S. Pinney of New England Lodge No.4 for restoration to good standing in Masonry in favor of these applicants, it appearing they had not joined or participated in the rebellious and un-masonic acts against this Grand Lodge, said S. S. Pinney not being at = that time a member of said Lodge, and being a resident of Virginia, which repo= rt and recommendations were approved by the Grand Lodge and the Grand Secret= ary directed to issue proper certificates to them. The case and application of Justin Pinney was continued to the next An= nual Communication, as the Brethren having the ease, were not ready to submit = the evidence. The same committee reported adversely to permitting the organization k= nown as the "White Shrine of Jerusalem" being permitted to use Mason= ic Halls for meeting purposes, which report was adopted by the Grand Lodge.<= /p> Brother C. S. Hoskinson, of Zanesville, was elected M.·. W.·. Grand Master; Bro. B. F. Perry, Jr., of Jefferson, R.·. W.·. Deputy Grand Master; Bro. Harry S. Kissell, of Springfield, R.·. W.·. Senior Grand Warden; Bro. Thomas B. Guitteau, of Toledo, R.·. W.·. Junior Grand Warden; and Bro. Ralph R. Rickly, of Columbus, re-elected R.·. W.·. Grand Treasurer, = and Bro. J. H. Bromwell, of Cincinnati, R.·. W.·. Grand Secreta= ry, and they and the appointive Officers were duly installed. Cleveland was selected as the place and Wednesday, October 20, A. D. 1= 909, as the time for holding the next Annual Communication of the Grand Lodge.= M.·. W.·. Bros. Nelson Williams, Horace A. Irvin, and Fr= ank S. Harmon were appointed a committee to procure and present to M.·. W.·. Bro. George D. Copeland, retiring Grand Master, a Past Grand Master's jewel. The local Centennial Committee announced that a special program for the entertainment of the Grand Lodge and visitors had been arranged at the Zoological Garden this afternoon, consisting of a special band concert by Bellstedt's famous band, an exhibition drill by the Drill Corps of Hansel= maun Commandery No.16, Knights Templars, one of the prize winners at the last Triennial Conclave, music by the Hanselmann Military Band, parade and rev= iew by the Refuge Home Cadets, accompanied by the Boys' Military Band, and ot= her special features of amusement and entertainment M.·. W.·. Bro. Wm. B. Melish, chairman of the Centennial Celebration Committee, submitted a verbal and partial report, stating it = was the intention of the committee, if permitted by the Grand Lodge, to prepa= re a complete and detailed report, as a separate document, and mail the same to the Officers and members of the Grand Lodge. That after this is accomplis= hed the committee will make a complete financial statement and report of the = work of the committee to the Grand Lodge at its next Annual Communication. On motion, it was resolved that the Committee on Centennial Celebratio= n be permitted to publish a separate report of their doings as a committee, an= d to pay the expense of the same from the Centennial Celebration Fund already placed at their disposal; which report and resolution was unanimously adopted. By rising vote it was unanimously resolved that the thanks of this Gra= nd Lodge be extended to the Centennial Committee and the Masons of Hamilton County for their zealous and elaborate entertainment of this Grand Body a= nd its individual members. M.·. W.·. Bro. Wm. B. Melish, referring to the fact that there was present upon the platform a Venerable Brother who had been a Ma= son for over fifty years, and was distinguished not only in Masonry, but in t= he circles of his church throughout the world, introduced Reverend Bro. John= M. Walden, Bishop of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and a member of McMakin Lodge No.120 of this Grand Jurisdiction. To this pleasant introduction the Reverend Brother responded with much feeling, and expressed his appreciat= ion of the compliment. The Trustees of the Ohio Masonic Home presented their report, together with the report of the Superintendent, which are printed in the proceedin= gs. The amounts contributed by the Grand Bodies of Ohio at the 1907 sessio= ns, were: Grand Lodge . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $32,603.70=
Scottish Rite Masons for new building . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
.16,737.19 The appeal to the Scottish Rite Brethren of Ohio for $15,000.00 for the purpose of adding two additional stories to the dining room building met = with the following generous response: Cincinnati . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .$5,000.00 The lower floor of the new addition, containing thirty-one pleasant bedrooms, is now furnished and is being gradually filled with occupants. = The upper floor, which will contain twenty bedrooms, will b filled later. Ths improvement is not only a great convenience, but adds much to the appeara= nce of the entire place. We are very grateful to our Scottish Rite Brethren f= or their liberality. The Trustees decided to appeal to the Blue Lodges that had not contrib= uted to the original furnishing of rooms of the Home, asking the sum of $75.00= for each room. Twenty-four Lodges responded with that amount each, and a numb= er of Lodges and Brethren sent smaller donations, the total amount to date b= eing $2,365,66. The endowment fund was increased during the past year from donations of Grand and Subordinate Bodies and members in the sum of $18,107.22, and th= at fund now amounts to the sum of $91,626.98. The present residents are: Men, 66; women, 43; boys, 28; girls, 21. To= tal, 160. We have still on our rolls thirty above eighty years, four of them abo= ve ninety years, and two having reached ninety-three years. The average age = of our old folks is seventy-four years. The general health of the residents = is good considering their advanced ages. We have lost but one child by death= in our entire history, and that was from disease contracted away from the Ho= me. The hospital erected and furnished by the Order of the Eastern Star of Ohio is nobly fulfilling its mission, and is of great value and service in caring for our sick and disabled, many of whom are constantly within its precincts. 'The view from the building is superb and is greatly enjoyed by the occupants. The various Chapters of the Order of the Eastern Star and bodies and individual members of the various Masonic Bodies in Ohio, made their usual liberal contributions of money and supplies to provide for the Thanksgivi= ng and Christmas festivities, all of which were highly appreciated. The Committee on Foreign Correspondence submitted their general report covering 391 pages and reviewing the proceedings of 65 English speaking a= nd 16 non-English speaking Grand Lodges. This is the twenty-seventh annual report of this committee, prepared and submitted by M.·. W.·= ;. Bro. Wm. M. Cunningham as chairman of the Foreign Correspondence Committe= e of this Grand Lodge, and who is recognized as the Dean of Foreign Correspond= ents by the Masonic Fraternity throughout the world, and one of the best equip= ped and informed Masons in the United States. His Foreign Correspondence Repo= rts to this Grand Lodge during the past twenty-seven years contain the best history of the current events and transactions of the various Grand Lodge= s in the world, and the views of their various correspondents, and a fund of information in relation to their organization procedure, and progress that can not be found in any other volume, magazine or set of papers, and any student of Masonry and its tenets and history should carefully read each = one of the valuable and instructive reports. The introductory of the present report contains interesting articles on "The Value of Masonic Diplomas or Certificates in Great Britain,&quo= t; by Wm. James Hughan; "Masonic Diplomas or Certificates in Ireland,&q= uot; by W. J. Chetwode Crawley; "Prehistoric Freemasonry," by Robert Freke Gould; "Symbolism," and a number of other instructive articles, and the usual review of the various Grand Lodges. 1909 M.·. W.·. CHARLES S. HOSKINSON, GRAND MASTER Grand Lodge convened in the Hall of the Chamber of Commerce, Cleveland, Ohio, Wednesday, October 20, A. D. 1909, with Grand Master Charles S. Hoskinson in the Chair, all the other Grand Officers in their stations; P= ast Grand Masters Leander Burdick, Levi C. Goodale, Allen Andrews, Carroll F. Clapp, William B. Melish, Barton Smith, Nelson Williams, E. C. Gulliford,= E. L. Lybarger, Frank S. Harmon, Ike M. Robinson, William A. Belt, O. P. Spe= rra, C. G. Ballou, Lewis P. Schaus, Horace A. Irvin, George D. Copeland; Past = Deputy Grand Masters William J. Akers and J. L'H. Long, twenty-four District Lecturers, and the representatives of 505 of the 514 active Lodges in attendance. The Grand Master read his annual address, congratulating the Craft on = the prosperity of the Order in this State during the past year. More Masons h= ave been raised, affiliated, and reinstated then ever before; yet the large number of deaths, (997), withdrawals, and suspensions brings our net gain down to 3,637, twenty-three less than last year. Announces the death at Newark, Ohio, on August 16, A. D. 1909, of Past Grand Master William M. Cunningham, the oldest Past Grand Master of this Grand Jurisdiction, and an active and distinguished member of this Grand Lodge, having attended every convocation for over fifty years, served it = in many capacities, and at the time of his death was serving as Grand Histor= ian, and Chairman of the Foreign Correspondence Committee, which latter positi= on he had held continuously ever since 1885. He served as Grand Master of th= is Grand Lodge in 1877 and 1878. He served as Grand High Priest of the Grand Chapter of Royal Arch Maso= ns of Ohio, in 1901; and as Chairman of its Foreign Correspondence Committee= in 1863, 1865, 1869, and continuously since 1904; and was an Anointed Member= of the Order of High Priesthood. Served as M.·. W.·. Grand Mas= ter of the Grand Council Royal and Select Masters of Ohio, in 1865 and 1866; = and as Chairman of its Committee on Foreign Correspondence from 1873 to 1881,= and from 1899 to 1905. Was Past Em. Commander of St. Luke's Commandery No.34, K. T. of Newark, Ohio. Was a member of Ohio Sovereign Consistory, A. A. S. R. of Cincinnati, Ohio, since February 16, 1862, and received the Honorary Grade of Thirty-third Degree in the Supreme Council for the Northern Masonic Jurisdiction, May 20, 1865. He was a charter member, and Past President of the Ohio Masonic Vetera= ns Association. He was a thorough student of Masonic literature, and perhaps without a rival in the field of Masonic history and ritualism. His reports as Chair= man of the Committees on Foreign Correspondence in the various Grand Bodies of this State are quoted as authority, and have done more than the work of a= ny one man to make Ohio Masonry known throughout the world. He was the compi= ler and author of many Masonic text books and manuals. His last literary work= was the preparation of the first volume of the Masonic History of Ohio which = he had barely finished when the dread summons came that called him to lay do= wn the pen and close his eyes upon its final pages. It will be one of the ma= ny monuments to his Masonic attachments and his thoroughness in Masonic literature and history. His funeral was conducted by the Grand Lodge assisted by a large conco= urse of Masons from various parts of the state, and the citizens of Newark and vicinity. The Grand Master issued a circular to all the Subordinate Lodges in th= is Jurisdiction calling upon them to pay fraternal respect to his memory. The Grand Master issued dispensations for the following new Lodges: December 31, 1908, Cypress Lodge, at Strasburg, Ohio; October 28, 1908, East Gate Lodge, at Columbus, Ohio; March 1, 1909, W. K. Rickseeker Lodge= , at Aurora, Ohio; May 24, 1909, Emmanuel Lodge, at Cleveland, Ohio; June 21, 1909, Glouster Lodge, at Glouster, Ohio; September 8, 1909, Bremen Lodge,= at Bremen, Ohio. Complying with the expressed desire of the Grand Master over thirty thousand Brethren, members of over four hundred Lodges throughout this Jurisdiction, observed the festival of St. John the Evangelist on Sunday, December 27, 1908, by attending Divine service. On the night of February 10, 1909, the hall of Dover Lodge No.489, Dov= er, Ohio, was destroyed by fire. The charter and only part of the records were saved. On February 18, 1909, in the Scottish Rite Cathedral, Cincinnati, Ohio= , in the presence of a large number of distinguished Brethren, the M.·. W.·. Grand Master, C. S. Hoskinson, exercised his prerogative as G= rand Master, and made Hon. William Howard Taft a Mason at Sight. There were present on this occasion the Grand Masters of fourteen sist= er Grand Lodges, three Officers of the Grand Encampment of Knights Templars = of the United States, ten Officers of the Grand Lodge of Ohio, twelve Past G= rand Masters of Ohio, eight Officers of the Grand Chapter of Ohio R. A. M., fi= ve Officers and seven Past Grand Commanders of the Grand Commandery K. T. of Ohio, a large number of Active and Honorary Members of the Supreme Counci= l A. A. S. R. Thirty-third Degree, three hundred and two of the W. Masters of = the Subordinate Lodges of the State, and twenty District Lecturers and a large assembly of Master Masons. A brief synopsis of the ceremony and proceedings at this Occasional Convocation and Lodge will be found in the proceedings of the Grand Lodge, pages 20 to 27. Later in the evening Bro. William Howard Taft was present at the conferring of the Master Mason's Degree by Kuwinning Lodge No.356, and was presented by the Lodge with a beautiful lambskin apron. At a subsequent stated meeting of that Lodge his petition for affiliat= ion was presented, laid over to the next stated meeting when he was duly elec= ted to membership in the Lodge. THE NEW CODE The one great work, the work that should be the pride of Ohio Masonry,= the work that will perpetuate the memory of one of our earnest and efficient Officers, the new code, has been completed and two copies sent to each Lo= dge. The Grand Master made the following appointments during the past year:= COMMITTEE ON MASONIC HISTORY October 26, 1908, W. Pro. T. C. Coates, having tendered his resignatio= n, the M.·. W.·. Grand Master appointed M.·. W.·. Pro. George D. Copeland, Past Grand Master, a member of the Committee on Masonic History. August 23, 1909, he also appointed W. Bro. John G. Reeves, Lancaster, Ohio, Chairman of the Committee on History and Grand Historian, to fill t= he vacancy caused by the death of M.·. W.·. Pro. William M. Cunningham. GRAND CHAPLAIN August 23, 1909, appointed Bishop John M. Walden, since 1852 an active= and exemplary member of McMakin Lodge No.120, Mt. Healthy, Ohio, Grand Chapla= in to fill the vacancy caused by the removal of R.·. W.·. Bro. Paul R. Hickok to Washington, D. C. CHAIRMAN COMMITTEE ON FOREIGN CORRESPONDENCE August 23, 1909, appointed M.·. W.·. Bro. William A. Bel= t, Past Grand Master, Kenton, Ohio, Chairman of said committee to fill the vacancy caused by the death of M.·. W.·. Bro. William M. Cunningham. TRUSTEES MASONIC HOME December 31, 1908, appointed Bro. H. A. Worthington, and reappointed B= ro. Edward Harford, both of Springfield, to serve as representatives of the G= rand Lodge in the Board of Trustees of the Masonic Home for the term of three years from January 1, 1909. RITUAL COMMITTEE January 2, 1909, appointed M.·. W.·. Bro. C. G. Ballou, = Past Grand Master, Toledo, Ohio, a member of the Ritual Committee, to fill the vacancy caused by the death of Bro. John L. Barbour. The District Lecturers are highly commended for the prompt and efficie= nt manner in which they performed their duties. All of the 514 chartered Lod= ges have been inspected, and complete reports of every inspection received and filed. The Grand Master laid the corner stones of the following Masonic and public buildings: January 14, 1909, Plymouth Congregational Church, at Newark, Ohio; Jul= y 3, 1909, School Building, at Bellaire, Ohio; July 4, 1909, Federal Building,= at Warren, Ohio; August 21, 1909, Methodist Church, at Logan, Ohio; September 14, 1909, Masonic Temple, at Upper Sandusky, Ohio. And the following by the Brethren named, acting as proxies for the Gra= nd Master. April, 5, 1909, Masonic Temple at Youngstown, Ohio, by Pro. A. D. Thom= as; June 26, 1909, High School Building at Pleasant Ridge, Ohio, by Bro. Scott Bonham; July 9, 1909, Carnegie Library at Miamisburg, Ohio, by Pro. Horac= e A. Irvin; July 31, 1909, Elmwood Place Town Hall at Elmwood Place, Ohio, by = Bro. Scott Bonham. The Grand Master regularly constituted and consecrated the following n= ew Lodges and installed their officers: October 30, 1908, Euclid Lodge No.599, Cleveland, Ohio; November 7, 19= 08, Lakewood Lodge No.601, Lakewood, Ohio, and dedicated its Lodge rooms; December 2, 1908, West Lafayette Lodge No.602, West Lafayette, Ohio, and dedicated its Lodge room November 2, 1908, M.·. W.·. Frank = S. Harmon, Past Grand Master, acting as proxy for the Grand Master, constitu= ted and consecrated Brenton D. Babcock Lodge No.600, Cleveland, Ohio, and install= ed its officers. The Grand Master dedicated the following Masonic Temples and Lodge roo= ms: December 8, 1908, Masonic Lodge rooms at Findlay, Ohio; December 10, 1= 908, Masonic Lodge rooms at Millersport, Ohio; December 29, 1908, Masonic Temp= le at Troy, Ohio; January 26, 1909, Masonic Lodge rooms at Elmore, Ohio; February 4, 1909, Masonic Lodge rooms at Quaker City, Ohio; February 9, 1= 909, Masonic Lodge rooms at Oberlin, Ohio; March 18, 1909, Masonic Temple at Mechanicsburg, Ohio; September 10, 1909, Masonic Temple at Lodi, Ohio. The following were dedicated by Brothers acting as proxies of the Grand Master: May 12, 1909, Masonic Lodge rooms at Washington C. H., Ohio, Bro. Walt= er W. Hamilton presiding; June 15, 1909, Masonic Lodge rooms at Niles, Ohio, Bro. A. D. Thomas, presiding; June 24, 1909, Masonic Lodge rooms at Mt. Ephriam, Ohio, Bro. E. C. Chamberlain, presiding; September 27 1909, Maso= nic Lodge rooms at Holgate, Ohio, Bro. Virgil Squire, presiding; September 27, 1909, Masonic Lodge rooms at New Burlington, Ohio, Bro. Chas. L. Harrod, presiding; October 4, 1909, Masonic Lodge rooms at Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio, = Bro. H. M. Hagelbarger, presiding; October 13, 1909, Masonic Lodge rooms at Barberton, Ohio, Bro. H. M. Hagelbarger, presiding. July 26, 1909, the Grand Master issued a dispensation to Warsaw Lodge No.255, at Spring Mountain, to remove to Warsaw, its original home. The G= rand Master visited 48 Subordinate Lodges, at all of which he was received and welcomed with all the honors and fraternal kindness due his high rank. The Grand Treasurer presented his report showing a balance in the Gene= ral Fund, October 9, 1909, of $63,766.24; and in the Emergency Relief Fund, $4,188.86. The Grand Secretary submitted his twenty-first annual report showing t= he net increase of membership, 3,637, being only 23 less than that of last y= ear, and 44 less than the highest record which was made in 1903. The returns of all the Lodges except Collinwood Lodge No.582, were in on time, as were t= he Grand dues of all except Senate Lodge No.378. The number of members August 31, 1909, 75,976. The per capita due the Masonic Home was $22,792.80; and the Grand Secretary recommended an additional donation of $10,000.00 to the Endowment Fund, and $5,000.00 to= the General Fund, which was concurred in by the Committee on Accounts, and adopted by the Grand Lodge and the appropriation made. Shortly after the last session the revised code was completed and copi= es distributed to the various Lodges, Present and Past Grand Officers, and District Lecturers, and quite a number sold. The estimated cost of publis= hing the code was $3,000.00; the actual amount expended only $1,612.94, and the Grand Lodge has the plates which will greatly reduce the cost of printing additional copies. The Committee on Centennial Celebration presented their financial repo= rt showing the total appropriation, $4,000.00, and the total expenditures, $3,572.87, leaving a balance of $427.13 refunded to the Grand Lodge. The Committee on the Memorial to Past Grand Master S. Stacker Williams reported that they had collected funds amounting to $1,296,64, with which they had procured and had placed on the Williams lot in Cedar Hill Cemete= ry at Newark, Ohio, a beautiful large polished Barre Granite Monument, and t= wo granite markers for his grave and that of Elizabeth Williams, his wife, w= hich was approved, and the committee discharged. Brother B. F. Perry, Jr., of Jefferson was elected M.·. W.&midd= ot;. Grand Master; Bro. Harry S. Kissell, of Springfield, B. .W. Deputy Grand Master; Bro. Thomas B. Guitteau, of Toledo B W Senior Grand Warden; Bro. Edwin S. Griffiths, of Cleveland, R.·. W.·. Junior Grand Warden; Bro. Ralph R. Rickly, of Columbus, re-elected R.·. W.&midd= ot;. Grand Treasurer; and Bro. J. H. Bromwell, of Cincinnati, reelected R.·. W.·. Grand Secretary, and they and the appointive offi= cers were duly installed. Columbus, Ohio, was selected as the place, and Wednesday, October 19, = A. D. 1910, as the time of holding the next Annual Communication of the Grand Lodge. The Committee on Masonic Jurisprudence reported on the petition of Jus= tin Pinney, for restoration to good standing in Masonry, (he having been expe= lled for his connection with the organization of the clandestine, so called Worthington Grand Lodge of Ohio), recommending that his petition be denie= d, which report and recommendation were unanimously adopted by the Grand Lod= ge. The petition of John J. Stoddart for restoration to good standing was = laid over for further information and consideration, on recommendation of the = same committee. The proposed amendment of Section 16, of the Code, providing that &quo= t;No Lodge shall confer the first three degrees of Masonry for less than twenty-five dollars, and in cases where three or more Lodges have concurr= ent jurisdiction for less than forty dollars," was unanimously adopted.<= /p> Charters were granted to the following Lodges U. D.: East Gate No.603, at Columbus, Ohio; Cypress No.604, at Strasburg, Tuscarawas County, Ohio; Emmanuel No.605, at Cleveland, Ohio. Glouster Lodge, U. D.; W. K. Ricksecker Lodge, U. D.; and Bremen Lodge= , U. D., were continued under dispensations until the next Annual Communicatio= n. A committee consisting of M.·. W.·. Bros. George D. Copeland, C. G. Ballou and F. L. Lybarger, was appointed to procure and present the usual Past Grand Master's jewel to M.·. W.·. Br= o. Charles S. Hoskinson. The Committee on Necrology presented their report containing proper testimonies to the memory of M.·. W.·. Bro. William M. Cunn= ingham, the senior Past Grand Master of this Grand Lodge, who died August 16, 190= 9; the 977 Brothers of this Grand Jurisdiction who died during the past year, and a number of distinguished Brothers of Sister Grand Jurisdictions, whi= ch report was adopted and is printed in the proceedings. The following distinguished Masons being present were escorted to the Grand East and introduced by Past Grand Master Nelson Williams, viz.: M.·. W.·. Barton Smith, Past Grand Master, Lieutenant Comma= nder of the Supreme Council Thirty-third Degree of the A. A. S. R. of N. M. J.= ; M. Ex Comp. W. T. S. O'Hara, Grand High Priest of the Grand Chapter R. A. M.= of Ohio; and M.·. W.·. Bro. William B. Melish, Past Grand Mast= er, B. Em., Deputy Grand Master of the Grand Encampment of the U. S. Knights Templar. The Grand Honors were given, and a formal welcome tendered by the M.·. W.·. Grand Master, which was responded to by each of t= he distinguished Brothers. The Committee on Foreign Correspondence, through its Chairman M.&middo= t;. W.·. William A. Belt, presented its report covering 209 pages and reviewing the proceedings of 64 Grand Jurisdictions and is a valuable addition to the many instructive and able reports of this Grand Jurisdict= ion, and is specially commended to all Masonic students. The Committee on the Centennial Celebration of the organization of this Grand Lodge in the year A. D. 1808, presented a detailed statement of the ceremonies and proceedings attending this celebration held during the Ann= ual Communication of this Grand Lodge at Cincinnati, Ohio, October 21 and 22,= A. D. 1908; and which was printed as an appendix to the proceedings of 1909, pages 347 to 423 inclusive. Space will permit us to only insert a brief synopsis, as follows: THE CENTENNIAL CELEBRATION of the MOST WORSHIPFUL GRAND LODGE OF FREE AND ACCEPTED MASONS OF OHIO FOREWORD At the session of the Most Worshipful Grand Lodge of Ohio, held in Cincinnati, October 18, 1905 the following preamble and resolution, offer= ed by M.·. W.·. Bro. Win. B. Melish, were unanimously adopted.= "Whereas, This Grand Lodge was organized in the year 1808, and wi= ll probably desire to and should celebrate in some appropriate manner the centenary of this interesting occasion: "Resolved, That a Special Committee of seven be appointed by the incoming Grand Master to take into consideration the proper manner of observing this event, and to report to this Grand Lodge at its next Annual Communication a recommendation as to a suitable program and the probable expense attendant thereon." And in pursuance of this resolution, the M.·. W.·. Grand Master, Lewis P. Schaus, appointed the following: PRELIMINARY COMMITTEE ON CENTENNIAL CELEBRATION M.·. W.·. Bros. William B. Melish, of Cincinnati; W. M. Cunningham, Newark; Leander Burdiek, Toledo; O. P. Sperra, Baveuna, and R.·. W.·. Bros. Horace A. Irvin, Dayton, and J. H. Bromwell, Cincinnati. At the Grand Communication, held in Columbus, October 10, 1906, M.·. W.·. Bro. Wm. B. Melish, as chairman, resented a repor= t on Centennial Celebration including among other things the following recommendations: "1. That the celebration of the one hundredth anniversary of the organization of this Grand Lodge be had in 1908, in connection with the Annual Communication of the M.·. W.·. Grand Lodge and under= its authority. "2. That the Grand Master appoint a committee of nine, of which committee he shall be a member, and that said committee should be empower= ed to make all necessary arrangements for the Centennial Celebration. "3. That this celebration shall be held in one of the large citie= s of the state, the location to be considered by the Committee on Centennial Celebration, and their recommendation to be made to the M.·. W.·. Grand Lodge at its Annual Communication of 1907. "4. That the program in its general charter shall consist of a Masonic procession, escorting the M.·. W.·. Grand Lodge on = the morning of its first day session to its place of meeting. That a commemorative service, with a program of an historical and Masonic charac= ter, with appropriate music, be held in a large hall during the afternoon of t= he first day's session, followed by a reception to Masons and their families= by the Most Worshipful Grand Master and Officers of the Grand Lodge, the pro= gram concluding with an anniversary banquet in the evening, the details of the= se events to be arranged by the Centennial Celebration Committee. "5. We are unable at this time to report to the Grand Lodge the probable cost of a Centennial Celebration such as outlined in this report= . We recommend that the question of expenses be referred to the committee to be appointed by the Grand Master, as suggested in this report, said committe= e to report regarding the matter of expenses to this Grand Lodge at its next Annual Communication." On motion, the report of the committee was adopted and the recommendat= ions concurred in. In accordance with the recommendation of this report the M.·. W.·. Grand Master appointed the following Brethren as the COMMITTEE ON CENTENNIAL CELEBRATION M.·. W.·. Bros. Win. B. Melish, Cincinnati, Chairman; Wi= n. M. Cunningham, Newark; Leander Burdick, Toledo; O. P. Sperra, Ravenna; Ho= race A. Irvin, Dayton; Lewis P. Schans, Newark; and R.·. W.·. Br= os. J. H. Bromwell, Cincinnati; Win. J. Akers, Cleveland, and R. R. Rickly, Columbus. At the Grand Communication held in Canton, October 17, 1907, M.·= ;. W.·. Bro. Win. B. Melish submitted an additional report of the Committee on Centennial Celebration recommending that said Celebration be held on the third Wednesday of October, (the 21st of the month), in the y= ear 1908, and in the city of Cincinnati. Which report was, on motion, unanimously adopted. THE COMMITTEE'S WORK The Centennial Committee held its first session at the Sinton Hotel, in Cincinnati, February 28, 1908, and elected M.·. W.·. Bro. W= in. B. Melish, Chairman, and R.·. W.·. Bro. J. H. Bromwell, Secretary. THE CENTENNIAL CELEBRATION LOCAL COMMITTEE The Chairman announced that the Lodges of Hamilton County had perfecte= d an organization for the purpose of taking charge of local details and of wor= king in harmony with the Grand Lodge Committee, and that Bro. E. E. Shipley had been chosen as Chairman and Bro. Albert L. Knight as Secretary of this lo= cal organization. SUB-COMMITTEES The Chairman having been authorized to appoint the necessary sub-committees, announced the following: Finance - R. R. Rickly, O. P. Sperra, Wm. J. Akers. HISTORICAL SKETCH The committee unanimously requested M.·. W.·. Bro. Wm. M. Cunningham, the oldest living Past Grand Master of the Grand Lodge of Ohi= o, to prepare an historical sketch to be read by the Grand Secretary, which request was accepted by our venerable and learned Brother, who subsequent= ly delivered to the committee a full and interesting resume of the principal events of interest which had transpired in Masonry in this state during t= he existence of the Grand Lodge. POET LAUREATE The committee, being fully advised by many delightful experiences on o= ther occasions of the poetic talent of our M.·. W.·. Bro. Nelson Williams, unanimously named him "Poet Laureate" of the coming celebration, and invited him to prepare an appropriate poem specially for= that event, which request our talented Brother complied with by furnishing and reading the beautiful poem which will be set out in full later in this memorial. MUSIC HALL The Chairman, M.·. W.·. Bro. Wm. B. Melish, announced to= the committee that he had secured Music Hall for the sessions of the Grand Lo= dge, as well as for the special Centennial Celebration on October 21 and 22. POSTER NOTICES Special poster notices were printed and mailed to every Lodge in the state, reminding them of the coming celebration and inviting their member= ship to be present. INVITATIONS Handsomely engraved invitations to the number of two thousand or more = were ordered to be prepared and mailed to the officers and members of the Grand Lodge of Ohio, to the Grand Masters, and Grand Secretaries of other Grand Lodges, and to such other distinguished Masons as the Committee on Invita= tion might think proper to invite. PARADE The Subcommittee on Parade was directed to arrange for a parade of Mas= ter Masons, to be reviewed by the Grand Master and other Grand Officers and invited guests on the 21st day of October at 2 :30 o'clock P. M., the lin= e of march and other details to be in charge of that committee. SCOTTISH BITE CATHEDRAL The Trustees of the Ancient and Accepted Scottish Rite of the valley of Cincinnati tendered, without charge, the use of the handsome Cathedral of= the Rite for Reception Committee headquarters, or any other purpose for which= it might be useful or needed, which offer, it is needless to say, was accept= ed by the committee with thanks. BADGES Two styles of bronze badges were ordered, one for the use of the offic= ers and members of the Grand Lodge, and the other for the Brethren either of = our own or other jurisdictions who might be our guests. THE CELEBRATION GRAND MASTER'S INVITATION The following invitation of the Grand Master was sent to the Officers = of the Grand Lodge, the Masters and Wardens of Ohio Lodges, Past Grand Offic= ers and District Lecturers, the Grand Masters and Grand Secretaries of other jurisdictions, and a large number of other invited guests: ORDER OF THE GRAND MASTER On October 5, 1908, M.·. W.·. Bro. George D. Copeland, G= rand Master, issued the following order of instructions to the Grand Lodge Officers and Members and to the Brethren of the several Lodges: THE GRAND LODGE OF THE MOST ANCIENT AND HONORABLE FRATERNITY OF FREE AND ACCEPTED MASONS OF T= HE STATE OF OHIO OFFICE OF THE GRAND MASTER GENERAL ORDER NO. 1 To the Masters, Wardens, and Brethren of the Several Lodges within the Jurisdiction of the M.·. W.·. Grand Lodge F. & A. M. of Ohio. GREETING: I. The M.·. W.·. Grand Lodge F. & A. M. of Ohio will convene in Annual Grand Communication in the Music Hall, Elm Street, betw= een Twelfth and Fourteenth Streets, Cincinnati, Ohio, at 9 :30 A. M., Wednesd= ay, October 21, A. D. 1908, A. L. 5908. II. All members of the Grand Lodge will, as early as practicable, repo= rt their presence to the Committee on Credentials, at Boom No.3, ground floo= r, at the Official Headquarters, the Hotel Sinton, Fourth and Vine Streets.<= /p> III. The Officers and Members of the Grand Lodge, and visitors from ot= her Grand Lodges, will assemble at the Hotel Sinton at 9 A. M., October 21, w= hen the Grand Lodge will proceed, under escort of the Cincinnati Entertainment Committee, to Music Hall. IV. The Centennial Celebration Parade will occur at 2 :30 P. M., Wednesday, October 21, and will be under the command of M.·. W.·. Horace A. Irvin, Grand Marshal of the Parade, with Bro. James Pettibone as Chief of Staff, to whom, at their headquarters, Parlor "E," Hotel Sinton, Grand Lodge Members, Masters of Lodges atten= ding as Lodges, and unattached Brethren will promptly, on arrival, report for assignment. V. Lodges under our jurisdiction are hereby authorized to appear in pu= blic from October 20 to October 22, inclusive, for the purpose of attending th= is Centennial Celebration. The Grand Master, and Officers and Committees of = the Grand Lodge will be located at the Hotel Sinton, Official Headquarters, t= he Parlor of the Grand Master being Room No.322. The office of the Grand Secretary, Grand Treasurer, etc., and of the Centennial Celebration Commi= ttee will be Parlors "C" and "E." Given under my hand at my office in Marion, this fifth day of October,=
A.
D. 1908, A. L. 5908. Attest: TUESDAY, OCTOBER 20 The program of entertainment for this day was as follows: Beginning at 10 o'clock A. M., the Grand Lodge Officers and members and visiting Brethren were registered and badges and tickets for the various entertainments distributed. At 6 P. M. a banquet was tendered by the local committee to the Masonic Veterans' Association, consisting of Brethren who have been Master Masons= for twenty-one years or more. This banquet was given at the Scottish Bite Cathedral and was largely attended, finely served, and made unusually interesting through the exchange of reminiscences on the part of these veteran members of our Order, some of whom joined the Fraternity a half-c= entury or more ago. At 7:30 P. M. the work of the various degrees was exemplified at the Masonic Temple as follows: Vattier Lodge No.386, Entered Apprentice Degree; Cincinnati Lodge No.1= 33, Fellow Craft Degree; Lafayette Lodge No.81, Master Mason's Degree. In addition to this work, Hanselmann Lodge No.208 exemplified the Master Mas= on's Degree in the German language. At the same hour, and up to 11:30 P. M., a reception and smoker to our visiting Brethren was held at the Business Men's Club, at which music, fr= aternal greetings, refreshments and cigars entertained our visitors and furnished them a delightful evening. WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 21 The day opened bright and pleasant and was perfect in every respect. G= reat throngs filled the streets, and upon the buildings in the business center= of the city fluttered Masonic banners and emblems by the thousands. The peop= le of Cincinnati vied with each other in making the celebration a success an= d in welcoming the visiting Masons from every part of Ohio and from neighboring states. The program of the day was initiated by the march to Music Hall and the formal opening of the Grand Lodge, was passed along to the immense parade= in the afternoon, and was raised to a sublime degree of enthusiasm in the exercises of the evening. OPENING OF GRAND LODGE At 9 o'clock A. M. the local Entertainment Committee to the number of = one hundred reported at the headquarters of the M.·. W.·. Grand Master at the Sinton Hotel to act as an escort to the Grand Lodge to Music Hall. At 9:30 the procession was formed, the Grand Officers, Past Grand Mast= ers, Past Deputy Grand Masters, District Lecturers, and representatives of the various Lodges, numbering altogether nearly a thousand (being in line, wi= th military bands interspersed at suitable intervals, and the march was made= to the place of meeting. On arriving in front of Music Hall the procession was massed and a lar= ge group photograph of the members of the Grand Lodge was taken, after which= the Brethren entered the hall, the officers took their stations, and the following exercises were had prior to the opening of the Grand Lodge, M.·. W.·. Bro. Wm. B. Melish, Chairman of the Grand Lodge Committee, making the announcements: OPENING EXERCISES OF THE GRAND LODGE OF OHIO FREE AND ACCEPTED MASONS WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 21, 1908 MUSIC HALL, CINCINNATI 9:30 A. M. - Organ Recital.... Bro. John Yoakley ORGAN RECITAL The recital on the great organ was by Bro. John Yoakley and delighted = all, especially those who heard this famous organ for the first time. VOCAL MUSIC The vocal music was furnished by the Scottish Rite Double Quartette, a= nd it is needless to say was rendered in the most finished and artistic mann= er. WELCOME The welcoming address and the responses were eloquent and impressive, = and were greeted with frequent and hearty applause. HOME BOYS AND GIRLS The final number of the program was unexpected and came as a surprise = to the hundreds of Brethren on the floor. Fifty inmates of the Ohio Masonic Home twenty-seven boys and twenty-th= ree girls suddenly appeared upon the stage and proceeded to render a number of songs which they had been taught at the Home. The incident was both interesting and pathetic, and many eyes were moist as the wards of the Or= der sang in their youthful tones of "Home, Sweet Home." They had been brought from Springfield, where the Home is located, to Cincinnati in charge of the Superintendent, Bro. John W. Parsons, and his wife the Matron, were met at the depot and escorted to the Hall. They remained in the city until the afternoon of the 22d, and were giv=
en
the time of their lives. THE PARADE The M.·. W.·. Grand Master having appointed M.·. W.·. Bro. Horace A. Irvin, Past Grand Master, to act as Grand Mars= hal of the Centennial parade, general orders were issued by the Grand Marshal= for its formation and management. The details set out in these orders were carried out to the letter, and promptly at 2:30 P. M. the greatest Masonic procession ever seen in this = and probably any state, took up its line of march. That some proper conception may be had of its magnitude the report of = the Chief of Staff to the Grand Marshal, is submitted: REPORT OF CHIEF OF STAFF To M.·. W.·. Bro. Horace A. Irvin, Grand Marshal. Dear Sir and Brother: The report of participants in the Centennial par= ade is as follows: MASONIC PARADE . . . . . . . . Officers . . Past . . Members . . Offic=
ers
. . Past . . Master . . Total Mounted Police . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .=
. .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12 FIRST DIVISION SECOND DIVISION THIRD DIVISION FOURTH DIVISION FIFTH DIVISION SIXTH DIVISION RECAPITULATION. One of the most interesting features of the parade was the distributio= n of thousands of souvenir Masonic Aprons, specially made and inscribed for the occasion, which took place just before this grand Masonic army took up its march. Some of these will no doubt be treasured by the children and the children's children of those who wore them on this occasion, and will be displayed as precious keepsakes when the bi-Centennial Anniversary shall = be celebrated by our Masonic successors. The parade was preceded by a troop of mounted police in personal comma= nd of Bro. Paul Millikin, Superintendent of Police, while at short intervals along the line of march were posted members of four companies of "Cincinnati's finest" to clear the streets and prevent interfer= ence with the procession. After them came the Grand Lodge Officers in carriages in the following order: The M.·. W.·. Grand Master of Ohio, George D. Copeland,
Marion Past Grand Masters Wm. M. Cunningham, Newark; J. M. Goodspeed, Athens; Leander Burdick, Toledo, and Levi C. Goodale, Cincinnati. M. EL Grand High Priest, F. H. Archer, Columbus. Past Grand Masters Allen Andrews, Hamilton; Carroll F. Clapp, Warren, = and Barton Smith, Toledo. Past Grand Masters Nelson Williams, of Hamilton; F. C. Gulliford, of Cleveland; F. L. Lybarger, of Warsaw, and Frank S. Harmon, of Cleveland.<= /p> Past Grand Masters Ike M. Robinson, o, Chandlersville; W. A. Belt, of Kenton; O. P. Sperra, of Ravenna, and C. G. Ballou, of Toledo. Past Grand Masters L. P. Schaus, of Columbus; Horace A. Irvin, of Dayt=
on;
Past Deputy Grand Bishop and Bro. David H. Moore, of Cincinnati; Bishop and Bro. John M. Walden, of Cincinnati. When the head of the column reached the reviewing stand on Government Square it stopped long enough to permit the Grand Lodge Officers and invi= ted guests to take their places, and then the Brethren passed in review in columns of four to the place of dismissal, and this great Masonic parade = was at an end. THE CELEBRATION EXERCISES AT MUSIC HALL Admission to these exercises was by card issued to Masons and their families, and at least eight thousand were present. PROGRAM 7:30 to 8 P. M. Organ Recital, Patriotic Airs. Mrs. Lillian Arkell-Rixford, of The College of Music of Cincinnati. 8:00 P. M. Overture, "Figaro's Hochzeit" ....Mozart The College of Music Orchestra; Henri Em, Director.
Invocation M.·. W.·. Bro. William B. Melish, Chairman of the Centen= nial Committee, presided at these exercises and announced the various details = of the program. He made a few introductory remarks as follows: "Today we note the beginning of a new century of life for our Gra= nd Lodge, and by comparing the early period of its life with the present we = find abundant cause for congratulation and for a glad and grateful celebration= of this significant anniversary. The storm of the past, if rightly read and interpreted, is the power of the present, the prophecy of the future. Lif= e is brief, duty grave, but with rain-folded wings of yesterday's sunshine the grateful heart sings. We are the owners of Ohio's proud history of Masonr= y. To us of right belongs its ancient glory and its present prestige. On us depends its future fame and fortune. May the faith and fealty of the fath= ers be renewed in the high resolve and noble deed of each member of the Fraternity in Ohio." The following telegram, letter and cablegram were read, in each case b= eing received by the Brethren with enthusiastic applause: Telegram from President Roosevelt "The White House, Washington, D. C. LETTER FROM VICE-PRESIDENT FAIRBANKS "Indianapolis, October 6, 1908 "My Dear Friend: Your letter of the 5th inst. is just received. I= can not tell you how much I appreciate your kindness and how gratified I woul= d be were the way clear to accept the invitation you extend to participate in = the festivities of your Centennial Celebration on the evening of the 21st of = this month. The campaign demands upon me are such that I find it entirely beyo= nd all reasonable possibility to agree to be with you. I can not tell you how much I regret this, for the occasion is one that appeals to me in the strongest possible manner. I am always gratified to be associated with my Masonic Brethren in those events which seek to bring the members of the Fraternity in closer fellowship. "I am greatly pleased with the kindly message which our mutual friend, Bishop Moore, sends me. It is only evidence of that graciousness which I learned to appreciate when a student at the Ohio Wesleyan Univers= ity. You say that the Bishop will either pray for me or speak with me. I presu= me the alternative choice is to rest with me. Appreciating the necessities of the situation, if able to be present I should certainly wish that he woul= d do both. "I wish to be very kindly remembered to him. Cablegram from Zuich, Switzerland "Grand Lodge of Ohio: Heartiest congratulations M.·. W.·. Bro. Melish then introduced Bro. Wm. M. Cunnin= gham and R.·. W.·. Bro. J. H. Bromwell, the former having written the historical sketch which Bro. Bromwell proceeded to read. This will be found in the proceedings of the Grand Lodge for 1909, pages 375 to 412 inclusive. Then followed the Fellow Craft's Song, "'Anderson's Constitution," Delahaye, by The College Chorus and Orchestra and the great organ under direction of Bro. A. J. Gantvoort. The Brethren joined = in the refrain of each stanza. THE FELLOW CRAFT'S SONG Hail, Masonry! Thou Craft divine! Refrain: As men from Brutes distinguished are, Refrain: Ensigns of State that feed our Pride Refrain: Refrain: Oration, Bishop David H. Moore, of the Methodist Episcopal Church, was then introduced, and spoke in part as follows: "Mr. Chairman, Most Worshipful Grand Master, Brothers and Assembl= ed Friends: I am to speak on 'The Masonic Fraternity, Wheresoever Dispersed = on Land or Sea. "This Fraternity is one form of that Brotherhood which has its be= st representation in the family. There how tender and holy the relationship! Brothers, children of the same parents, objects of the same love and care, heirs to the same estate; interests alike, hopes, fears, joys and sorrows-Brotherhood! "From this experience of domestic unity and love it seems a far c= ry to its practical extension to all the tribes of earth-divided, selfish, hostile as they now are. Yet through all our stir and strife this is the ideal that glows down upon us and toward which we are working. Groups, unions, societies, uniting for mutual help and social, moral, and intellectual improvement, push humanity toward this goal. They may have m= eant to confine advantages and helps primarily to themselves, but the benevole= nce which animates them is expansive, and ever extends beyond the limits of t= heir membership. They begin by being esoteric, but always become exoteric. Ever 'love laughs at locksmiths,' and every organization based on the principl= es of fraternity, consciously or unconsciously, contributes to the common go= od and to the fulfillment of the promise and prophecy that all men shall love God supremely and their neighbors as themselves -when Turk and Chinese an= d Polander and American -all earth's bubbling tribes-shall bow the knee to the common Father and call every man brother. "We note three characteristics of Masonic Fraternity. The first is its antiquity. Its very name 'Masonry' implies this. Construction of work= in stone dates from remotest times. Back of recorded history, prehistoric remains point to still earlier achievements. Like the everlasting hills f= rom which they were quarried and hewn, they survive the rush of centuries. In what particular period the apprentices and master builders were first organized for fellowship, mutual help, culture and development, is not especially important. But back, and yet farther back, the chronicles run, across continents and seas, from realm to older realm, until lost in the foregleam of civilization. Some such institution was needed, was created, served its purpose, proved its value by its transmission from generation = to generation, until it has reached us, stamped with seals of hoary antiquit= y, and bearing the approval of the more exacting twentieth century. Its second characteristic is its democracy. It chooses the insignia of labor rather than the luxury and pomp of power; the apron of the Mason ra= ther than purple and gold; the square and the compass rather than the scepter = and the crown. It recognizes the dignity of toil, sets its seal upon honest industry, and points all alike to sacred duties and higher reward. Within= the Lodge vanish all the separations of life-high, low, rich, poor; men meet = men upon the level and part upon the square. "Its third characteristic is its universality. As our Chairman tersely puts it, 'If it be true that a man can go around the world and not lose sight of the Union Jack of the British Empire, it is equally true th= at, at the same time, he is never beyond the cable-tow of a Master Mason.' Gr= and Lodges recognized by us are found in England, Ireland, Scotland, Switzerl= and, France, Italy, Greece, Spain, Belgium, Portugal, Egypt, Australia, South America, Mexico, Cuba, and a score of other countries, to say nothing of Lodges chartered from England, working in Africa, India, China, and Japan= . I myself belong to the Ancient Landmark Lodge and the Orient Consistory in Shanghai. Hence it is that on the Nile or the Amazon, amid arctic snows or tropical flowers, in palaces or hovels, everywhere you are within hailing distance of a Free Mason. Chaplain McCabe found it so when returning from Libby Prison. Wasted to a skeleton, he was helped on a train at Petersbur= g. 'A man came into the car with a basket,' he says, 'and walked right up to= me and gave me a piece of fried chicken and some bread. And I said to him, '= Sir, what is your name?' 'I am Captain Hatch,' he said. I asked him how he knew me, and he answered, 'Ask your father when you get home.' When I reached = home I asked my father how Captain Hatch happened to know me, and he said, 'My son, I went clear down to Fortress Monroe after you, and when I could get= no farther I sent word along the line, and if you were a Mason you would understand.' So I never knew how Captain Hatch happened to know me, but somehow I have always associated Masonry and fried chicken, and if any one asks me what Masonry is I answer, 'It is a thing that gives a fellow fried chicken when he is hungry.' "You smile, but is not the instance typical? After all is not this the feast which the Lord hath chosen, to give bread to the hungry and to bring him who is ready to perish to thy dwelling? Going forth among the l= owly and the suffering, animated by such fraternal impulses and characterized = by such helpful fellowship, Masonry, wherever found, if true to its ideals, = must make every man feel that he is every man's brother; aye, make him to do to every man a brother's part. Thus in our own country it binds the different classes together in good-will and good order, contributing mightily to domestic tranquility, peaceful industry, and national prosperity. But wha= t it does for one country it tends to do for all countries where it is established. Grand Lodge is bound by strong fraternal ties to Grand Lodge= the world over. Thus the highest offices of diplomacy are made easy; the swor= d is dulled, the spear broken, the battle-flag furled, and the golden year, foretold by prophets and sung by poets, is ushered in, "'When all men's good "To this glorious consummation, each in its measure, all fraterni= ties contribute, Masonry not least. O Brothers, let us be true to our high mission! Let us not lose sight of it for a single moment in Our enthusiasm for the Ritual and loyalty to the Order. Let us fling to the breeze our unsullied banner, inscribed with Fraternity, Liberty and Equality, and as operative Masonry fits and cemen= ts together separate blocks, according to the architect's pattern, into a perfect structure, so, in common with all true Masons and all lovers of mankind, let us labor to bring classes and nations together according to = the one perfect plan of the one perfect Architect, until the capstone of the final social structure is brought forth with shoutings of grace, grace un= to it." Creation's Hymn, Beethoven. The College Chorus and Orchestra under direction of Mr. Louis Victor Saar. This was followed by an original poem specially written for this occas= ion and read by the author, M.·. W.·. Bro. Nelson Williams, Past Grand Master. CENTENNIAL POEM We have gathered today from the hillsides and valleys, Giving thanks unto Him who provides in We are gathered today in this beautiful city, To mankind, while time flies as with wings of the eagle, But today we assemble as mortals and Masons, And tonight in the presence of beautiful women, E 'er our great Commonwealth, in the pride of young Statehood, To those men who withstood all the trials and the hardships, With a fraternal love for their brothers and fellows, As the forests were felled by the ax of the woodman, As the unobserved stream in the unbroken forest While she boasts of her constantly increasing numbers, She has borne on her rolls many names, now immortal, They are standing for Truth, in its contest with error; They have spurned the disloyal and unworthy Mason; And what of our future? Who can answer the question? Let us pray that our standard of morals and virtue "The Star Spangled Banner," Key. The stanzas were sung by Br= o. Douglass Powell, and the refrain by the College Chorus and Orchestra and repeated by the Brethren standing, accompanied by the great organ, all un= der the direction of Bro. A. J. Gantvoort, Warren Lodge No.24, F. & A. M. Piqua, Ohio. Doxology sung by the Brethren, all standing, assisted by the, College Chorus and Orchestra and the organ. "Praise God, from whom all blessings flow, Benediction, Rev. Paul Hickok, R.·. W.·. Grand Chaplain = of Grand Lodge of Ohio, Hiram Lodge No.18, Delaware, Ohio. For all the innumerable evidences of Thy loving kindness and tender me= rcy toward us, O Lord our God, we render unto Thee heartfelt thanks, and especially for the inspiration and the uplift of this season of so great privilege. We praise Thee for that which has been wrought for God and men= in the name of our beloved Fraternity, and for the honored history of the century now just closed. And now, O Thou Supreme Master of the Universe, make us obedient to all the plans which Thou in infinite wisdom dost draw for us. As we shall turn our faces from this place, to go back to our homes and our work, may the Divine Master be our Director and Protector. May the principles we have learned under the tutelage of our Brotherhood so govern our lives, that at the end of all our earthly labors we may be enabled to gather in that Hea= venly Temple above, where with virtue that is celestial, truth that is radiant,= and love that is Godlike, we may meet to separate no more, forever. Amen. DISTINGUISHED GUESTS The exercises were honored by a large number of distinguished guests, among whom were the following: M.·. W.·. Bro. Charles N. Mikels, Grand Master of the Gr=
and
Lodge of Indiana CONGRATULATIONS were received by letters or telegrams from the following distinguished Brethren of other Grand Jurisdictions: Alabama - R.·. W.·. Bro. Geo. A. Beauchamp, Grand Secret=
ary OHIO MASONIC HOME The annual report of the Officers of the Masonic Home was presented to=
the
Grand Lodge, audited, approved, and printed in the proceedings, pages 425=
to
441. During the past year there have been 174 residents, divided as follows=
: 73
men, average age 72½ years; 46 women, average age 74 years; 31 boy=
s,
average age 10½ years; 24 girls, average age 12 years. The amounts
contributed by the several Masonic Grand Bodies at their 1908 sessions we=
re: Grand Lodge . . . . . $31,701.70 In addition to this there was donated by various Masonic Bodies, and
individual Masons, including the Order of the Eastern Star and its member=
s,
as a Christmas Fund, the sum of $926.00. Clark Lodge No.101, of Springfield, Ohio, refurnished the room bearing=
its
name at a cost of $500.00; and it is now one of the finest rooms in the H=
ome. The Hospital, erected and furnished by the Order of the Eastern Star of
Ohio, and dedicated by their Grand Chapter, October 26, 1904, received fu=
nds
to the amount of $4,500.00 for its improvement generously furnished by th=
at
Order. The improvement consists of two additions to the original building, on=
e on
the north end and one on the south, each twenty-one feet in length and fo=
rty
feet in width, making the building one hundred feet long and forty feet w=
ide.
The additions are divided into two wards in the north, and one ward and a=
sun
parlor on the south end, making in the entire building, eleven rooms, five
wards, one sun parlor, and two duty rooms, besides the kitchen and other
space in the basement. The Endowment Fund of the Home now amounts to the sum of $105,036.70, =
and
is invested in first class securities. MASONIC VETERANS Proceedings of the Ohio Masonic Veteran Association at Its Thirty-eight
Annual Convention, Held in The City of Cleveland, October 20, 1909. Meeting held in the Consistory Boom of the Masonic Temple. OFFICERS PRESENT J. L'H. Long, Venerable President Called to order at 7:30 o'clock P. M. by the Venerable President, J. L=
'H.
Long, who, after an invocation, declared the Association opened in its
thirty-eight Annual Session. Record read and approved. Twenty-four Venerable Brothers present. Pursuant to petitions and favorable action thereon, thirty-four were
admitted to membership and welcomed to the rank of Venerable Brothers. The Secretary-Treasurer reported: Receipts from deceased Secretary, balance . $120.00 THE FOLLOWING OFFICERS ELECTED Venerable Bro. J. L'H. Long, President After enjoying the courtesy of a sumptuous banquet at the Forest City
House, tendered by the Masons of the city of Cleveland, and by a unanimous
vote of the Venerable Brothers present thanking them for same, the
Association adjourned. J. L'H. Long, President 1910 M.·. W.·. B. F. PERRY, JR., GRAND MASTER Grand Lodge convened in the Masonic Temple, Columbus, Ohio, Wednesday,
October 19, 1910, with M.·. W.·. B. F. Perry, Jr., Grand Ma=
ster
in the Chair, all the other Grand Officers in their stations; Past Grand
Masters Leander Burdick, Levi C. Goodale, Allen Andrews, Carroll F. Clapp,
William B. Melish, Barton Smith, Nelson Williams, E. C. Gulliford, E. L.
Lybarger, Frank S. Harmon, Ike M. Robinson, William A. Belt, O. P. Sperra=
, C.
G. Ballou, Lewis P. Schaus, Horace A. Irvin, George D. Copeland and Charl=
es
S. Hoskinson; R.·. W.·. Deputy Grand Masters William J. Ake=
rs
and J. L'H. Long, all of the twenty-five District Lecturers, and the
representatives of 512 of the 520 active Lodges present. The following distinguished visitors present in the Grand Lodge were
conducted to the Grand East, introduced and welcomed, and given the Grand
honors, viz.: M. Ex. Companion Frank S. Crumit, Grand High Priest of the Grand Chapt=
er
of Royal Arch Masons of Ohio; Eminent Sir Campbell M. Voorhees, Grand Sen=
ior
Warden of the Grand Commandery of Knights Templars of Ohio; M. Eminent Sir
William B. Melish, Grand Master of the Grand Encampment of Knights Templa=
rs
of the United States; M.·. W.·. Bro. Barton Smith, Most
Puissant Sovereign Grand Commander of the Supreme Council of the Ancient
Accepted Scottish Rite for the Northern Jurisdiction of the United States=
of
America; attention being called to the fact that at the present time
Presiding Officers of three of the Great National Masonic Bodies of the
United States are citizens of Ohio, and subject to the Jurisdiction of th=
is
Grand Lodge. All these Brethren responded eloquently to their greeting and reception
and M. .W. Bro. Wm. B. Melish referred to the fact that Bro. Graff M. Ack=
lin,
another Brother subject to the jurisdiction is the Most Illustrious Grand
Master of the General Grand Council of Royal and Select Masters of the Un=
ited
States. Greetings were exchanged between this Grand Lodge and the Grand Lodge =
of
Kentucky now convened in its one hundred and tenth Annual Grand
Communication. The Grand Master read his annual address, congratulating the Craft on =
the
continued peace and prosperity enjoyed by our Order in this Jurisdiction =
and
to the fact that "the beautiful lessons taught by our ceremonies have
this year been imparted to more applicants than in any other period in the
history of this Grand Jurisdiction. We are not only numerically stronger,=
but
I believe the Lodges, as well as the individual members of the Craft, are
doing more toward the uphuilding of character, more nearly fulfilling the
mission of the great Brotherhood, than ever before. He calls attention to the fact that "While the membership of the
Grand Lodge has been preserved, death has laid a heavy hand upon the
Subordinate Lodges, for during the year, 1059 of our Brethren have been
called from labor, and entered the shadow of the valley of death." He
also records the death of twenty-four distinguished Masons of our Sister
Grand Jurisdictions, among the number that of M.·. W.·. Bro.
Henry Warren Rugg, Past Grand Master of Rhode Island, who at the time of =
his
death was serving as the Grand Master of the Grand Encampment Knights Tem=
plar
of the United States. He highly commends the promptness and efficiency of the District
Lecturers, the five hundred and seventeen Chartered Lodges, and three und=
er
dispensation having been each inspected, and full reports thereof rendere=
d. The Past Grand Master's Jewel voted at the last communication of the G=
rand
Lodge to M.·. W.·. Bro. Charles S. Hoskinson, retiring Grand
Master was duly presented to him June 3, 1910, in the presence of the mem=
bers
of Amity Lodge No.5, F. & A. M., and a large number of Masons from ot=
her
Lodges. It was the occasion of the exemplification of the Master Mason
Degree, and the candidate thus raised increased the membership of Amity L=
odge
to just five hundred. The Grand Master on December 30, A. D. 1909, reappointed M.·.
W.·. Bro. Leander Burdick of Toledo, Ohio, and M.·. W.&midd=
ot;.
Bro. Carroll F. Clapp of Warren, Ohio, Trustees of the Masonic Home for t=
hree
years from January 1, A. D. 1910. On the night of June 3, 1910, the Lodge room, furniture, records and
charter of Olive Lodge No.210, were destroyed by fire, and being unable to
secure a proper Lodge room a dispensation was issued authorizing the Lodg=
e to
meet temporarily in the Lodge rooms of Summerfield Lodge No.425, F. and A=
. M. The Hall of Higginsport Lodge No.373, F. and A. M., together with the
furniture, records and charter, were destroyed by fire on Tuesday, June 1=
4.
As soon as suitable quarters could be secured and inspected a dispensation
was issued authorizing said Lodge to occupy the same temporarily. On September 26, 1910, received application for a new Lodge to be loca=
ted
in the village of Belpre, Washington County, and known as Belpre Lodge
together with the necessary consents, certificates, dimits, etc., and not
having time to fully investigate the same is referred to the incoming Gra=
nd
Master. SPECIAL COMMUNICATIONS The Grand Lodge has been convened in Special Communications during the
past year for the following purposes: DEDICATIONS Nov. 19, 1909, Masonic Lodge rooms at Johnstown, Ohio, Bro. C. S. Hosk=
inson,
M.·. W.·. Past Grand Master, presiding. Nov. 25, 1909, Masonic Lodge rooms at Higginsport, Ohio, Bro. E. B. Bl=
air,
presiding. Feb. 1, 1910, Masonic Lodge rooms, at Bellsville, Ohio, Pro. F. H.
Marquis, W. Jr. Grand Deacon, presiding. STONES LAID Oct.23, 1909, Linwood Masonic Temple, at Cincinnati, Ohio, Bro. B. F.
Perry, Jr., M.·. W.·. Grand Master, presiding. Oct. 15, 1910, United States Post Office Building at Ashtabula, Ohio, =
Bro.
B. F. Perry, Jr., M. Grand Master, presiding. LODGES CONSTITUTED The Grand Master duly and regularly constituted and consecrated Lodges
Nos.604 and 605, and installed their officers, as follows: Nov. 13, 1909, Emmanuel Lodge No.605, at Cleveland, Ohio December 14, 1909, acting as proxy of the Grand Master, Bro. O. P. Spe=
rra,
M.·. W.·. Past Grand Master, regularly constituted and
consecrated East Gate Lodge No.603, at Columbus, Ohio, and installed its
officers. A detailed report of each of these Special Emergent Communications wil=
l be
found in the proceedings of 1910, "Appendix B," pages 89 to 114,
inclusive. The Grand Master reports the visitation of thirty Subordinate Lodges, =
at
all of which he was accorded a hearty fraternal welcome, and specially
mentions the public reception accorded to Bro. Judson Harmon, Governor of
Ohio, on June 14, 1910, by the Masons of Marietta, Ohio, at the parlors of
their Masonic Temple following a reception by the Brethren at a Special
Communication of American Union Lodge No.1; and on the following evening
another Special Communication of American Union Lodge, No.1, in company w=
ith
Brother William Howard Taft, President of the United States. These were v=
ery
interesting occasions, that will be long remembered by all who were permi=
tted
to be present. The Grand Treasurer reports the balance of the General Fund, October 1=
0,
1910, $64,528.70; Emergency Fund, $4,356.41. The Grand Secretary presented his report showing the net membership in
good standing August 31, 1910, 79,501, a gain of 3,525 over last year. Th=
at
all the subordinate returns and Grand Dues were in his hands prior to the
time fixed by law, with a marked improvement in appearance both as to
legibility and neatness of the returns as compared with former years. That the first volume of the History of Masonry in Ohio, prepared by o=
ur
late Pro. William M. Cunningham, was issued shortly after the close of the
last session of the Grand Lodge and copies sent to the libraries of the
different Lodges, the various Grand Officers and District Lecturers, and =
to
the Grand Secretaries of other Grand Jurisdictions, and that the Grand
Secretary has a large number of copies on hand for sale at $1.00 per copy=
. That the per capita tax due the Masonic Home is $25,850.30, and recomm=
ends
that an additional donation of $20,000.00 be made of which $15,000.00 be =
set
off to the Endowment Fund, and $5,000.00 to the General Fund, which
recommendation was approved by the Committee on Charity and Committee on
Accounts, adopted by the Grand Lodge and the appropriation made. M.·. W.·. Pro. William B. Melish on behalf the Trustees =
of
the Masonic Home, extended an invitation to the members of the Grand Lodge
and their ladies to visit the Masonic Home this afternoon on a special tr=
ain
chartered for that purpose, which invitation was heartily and unanimously
accepted by the Grand Lodge. M.·. W.·. Bro. Horace A. Irvin, extended an invitation on
behalf the Brethren of Dayton, Ohio, requesting the Grand Lodge to hold i=
ts
next Annual Communication in that city on the third Wednesday of October,
1911. The Grand Lodge was so pleased with the eloquent invitation of Bro.=
H.
A. Irvin that it resolved unanimously to accept it. The Committee on Masonic Jurisprudence reported on the petition of G. =
A.
Pingree, former member of New England Lodge No.4, and who was suspended by
this Grand Lodge in 1891 for rebellion against this Grand Lodge, requesti=
ng
that he be now reinstated to good standing in Masonry; that said committee
finds that said G. A. Pingree immediately withdrew from the rebellious Lo=
dge
and never afterwards affiliated with it, and recommends that he be reinst=
ated
and restored to good standing, which report was adopted and the Grand
Secretary directed to issue the proper certificate to him. The same committee reported on the petition of John L. Stoddart for
restoration, laid over from last session, that said J. L. Stoddart at the
organization of the clandestine so called Worthington Grand Lodge, was no=
t a
member of New England Lodge and did not take any part in forming said so
called Grand Lodge, and recommend that he be restored to all the rights a=
nd
benefits of Masonry; which report and recommendation were adopted by the
Grand Lodge and the Grand Secretary directed to furnish him a proper
certificate. Brother Harry S. Kissell of Springfield, was elected M.·.
W.·. Grand Master; Bro. Thos. B. Guittean of Toledo, R.·.
W.·. Deputy Grand Master; Bro. E. S. Griffiths of Cleveland,
R.·. W.·. Senior Grand Warden; Bro. Chas. J. Pretzman of
Columbus, R.·. W.·. Grand Junior Warden; Bro. Ralph R. Rick=
ly
of Columbus, re-elected R.·. W.·. Grand Treasurer, and Bro.=
J.
H. Bromwell of Cincinnati, re-elected R.·. W.·. Grand
Secretary, and they and the appointive officers were afterwards duly
installed. On recommendation of the Committee on Charters, duplicate charters were
granted to Olive Lodge No.210, and Higginsport Lodge No.373, in lieu of t=
heir
original charters destroyed by fire. Charters were granted to W. K. Rickseeker Lodge No.606 at Aurora, Port=
age
County; Glouster Lodge No.607 at Glouster, Athens County; and Bremen Lodge
No.608 at Bremen, Fairfield County. The report of the Committee on Necrology paying a fitting and eloquent
tribute to the memory and good works of the honored dead of this and other
sister Jurisdictions is printed in the Proceedings, pages 68 to 75. By unanimous vote a committee composed of M.·. W.·. Brot=
hers
Frank S. Harmon, Carroll F. Clapp, O. P. Sperra and George D. Copland, was
appointed to procure and present to M.·. W.·. Bro. B. F. Pe=
rry,
Jr., retiring Grand Master, the usual Past Grand Master's Jewel. The Committee on Foreign Correspondence, through its Chairman, M.&midd=
ot;.
W.·. Bro. William A. Belt, Past Grand Master, presented its report=
covering
124 pages, and reviewing the proceedings of sixty-six Grand Lodges, in a
masterly manner, presenting in a condensed form all the important legisla=
tion
and proceedings and furnishing the Masonic student the cream of informati=
on
as to the doings and progress of practically all the Masonic Grand
Jurisdictions in the world. The following valuable table as to Perpetual Jurisdiction claimed by t=
he
various Grand Lodges over rejected candidates, on page 242 of the report =
is
here appended for the information of the Craft: At the present time, jurisdiction claimed by the various Grand Lodges =
of
the United States over rejected candidates stands as follows: PERPETUAL Connecticut West Virginia Texas PERPETUAL WHILE IN THEIR JURISDICTION Nevada Missouri South Dakota LIMITED PERIOD Maine 5 years Georgia 1 year The Officers and Trustees of the Ohio Masonic Home, presented their re=
port
which was audited and approved, and is printed on pages 245 to 269 of the
proceedings. The residents number 70 men, 49 women, 27 boys, 22 girls, total, 168.<=
/p>
The Grand Masonic Bodies at their 1909 sessions contributed the follow=
ing
sums to the Home: Grand Lodge . . . .$37,792.80 In addition to this, liberal donations were made by the various Masonic
Bodies, Subordinate Chapters of the Order of the Eastern Star and individ=
ual Masons,
both of cash and supplies for the Thanksgiving and Christmas dinners and
festivities, which are duly acknowledged on pages 255 to 257 of the
proceedings; the cash donations for the Christmas Fund amounting to $792.=
74. The improvements to the Hospital commenced last year by the Grand Chap=
ter
of the Order of the Eastern Star in the construction of two additions, are
fully completed, and it is a beautiful building and splendidly located. T=
he
view from its front over Mad River valley is superb and elicits the
admiration of all who are privileged to visit it. In fact, all the
surroundings are pleasing, the grounds attractive, the furnishings handso=
me
and comfortable. Usually about twenty patients are cared for in the build=
ing,
and the recent additions give much needed room, probably as much as will =
be
needed for several years. All honor to our friends of the Eastern Star, w=
ho
have so generously contributed to the erection of this splendid monument =
of
good will to their fellow men. The entire cost of erecting and furnishing this magnificent Hospital w=
as
donated by the Grand Chapter of the Eastern Star, and is as follows: Contributed by the Grand Chapter for the original building and furnish=
ings
. . $15,200.94 The amount of the Endowment Fund is $125,408.21, all invested in first
class securities. The interest received on bonds and cash balances during the past year
amounted to the sum of $5,806.32. The returns from the farm, garden and hennery during the past year
amounted to the sum of $4,638.47. A number of additional improvements were made during the past year, am=
ong
which Cincinnati Lodge No.133, of Cincinnati, redecorated the walls and
ceiling of the reading room and purchased new curtains for same. This room
was originally furnished by and named for that Lodge, and their generosit=
y in
assuming the expense of continuing its attractiveness is highly appreciat=
ed. The walls and ceilings of the girls' dormitory and of the library have
been redecorated in a very artistic manner by two of our boys, Dyke Wethe=
rell
and Matthew Hastings, who show a high order of merit In that line of work=
. A
new carpet has also been purchased for the library. MASONIC VETERANS Proceedings of the Ohio Masonic Veteran Association at its Thirty-ninth
Annual Convention, held in the Chapter Apartments, Masonic Temple, Columb=
us,
Wednesday, October 19, A D. 1910, 7:30 P. M. The Venerable President call=
ed
the Convention to order with the following officers and members present:<=
/p>
OFFICERS Venerable Bro. J. L'H. Long, President A quorum being present, after invocation to the Grand Architect of the
Universe by the Venerable Chaplain, the Venerable President declared the
Thirty-ninth Annual Convention of the Ohio Masonic Veteran Association op=
ened
and in regular session. The record of the Thirty-eighth Convention was read and approved. The Secretary presented thirty-four applications in regular form for
membership, which were, on motion, referred to an Investigating Committee=
, consisting
of Venerable Bros. L. M. Lea, E. L. Lybarger and E. H. Archer, who report=
ed
favorably. On motion, the report was accepted and the committee discharge=
d. A
ballot was spread and found clear. The Venerable President declared the
thirty-four petitioners duly elected to membership, and by his direction =
the
Venerable Marshal presented the petitioners, who were each duly received,
acknowledged and welcomed as Venerable Brothers and members of the Ohio
Masonic Veteran Association, and certificates so certifying were issued a=
nd
delivered to each. The Secretary-Treasurer reported the condition of finances as follows:=
RECEIPTS October 20, 1900, Balance . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $117.80<=
br>
October 19, 1910, Receipts 34 petitions . . . . . . . . . . 68.00 EXPENDITURES Postage . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . =
. .
. .$3.80 On motion, the Venerable President appointed the following Committee to
nominate officers for the ensuing year: Ven. Pros. James D. Osborn, H. F.
Jones, and Henry Pohl, who reported the following nominations. An election
was had, which resulted in the election of all nominated, as follows: Venerable Bro. Leander Burdick presented the following resolution, whi=
ch
was, on motion, unanimously adopted. "Resolved, That the sincere thanks of the members of the Ohio Mas=
onic
Veteran Association be extended to the Masonic Fraternity of the City of
Columbus for the sumptuous banquet furnished the members of this associat=
ion;
also for the free use of the Chapter Apartments for holding our Annual
Meeting." Previous to the regular session, one hundred and twenty-five veterans =
and
candidates were served with a banquet at 6:30 P. M. The food was good and
satisfying, the service prompt and hospitable, and the hosts will ever be
remembered for their generous and hearty hospitality. At the suggestion of Venerable Ex-President Burdick, the Venerable
President appointed a committee to prepare and submit for approval of next
convention, "Forms and Ceremonials" for government of and admis=
sion
to membership of this association, consisting of Venerable Pros. W. P.
Melish, Leander Burdick and F. H. Archer. After an invocation by the Venerable Chaplain, and on motion duly adop=
ted,
the Venerable President declared the Thirty-ninth Annual Convention
adjourned. J. L'H. Long, President 1911 M.·. W.·. HARRY S. KISSELL, GRAND MASTER Grand Lodge convened in the Masonic Temple, Dayton, Ohio, Wednesday,
October 18, A. D. 1911, with M.·. W.·. Grand Master Harry S.
Kissell in the Chair, all the other Grand Officers in their stations; Past
Grand Masters Leander Burdick, Levi C. Goodale, Allen Andrews, Carroll F.
Clapp, William P. Melish, Barton Smith, Nelson Williams, F. C. Gulliford,=
F.
L. Lybarger, Frank S. Harmon, Ike M. Robinson, William A. Pelt., O. P.
Sperra, C. G. Pallou, Lewis P. Schaus, Horace A. Irvin, George D. Copelan=
d,
Charles S. Hoskinson, B. F. Perry, Jr.; Past Deputy Grand Masters William=
J.
Akers and J. L'H. Long; twenty-two District Lecturers; and the
representatives of 508 of the 520 active chartered Lodges in attendance.<=
/p>
Fraternal greetings were exchanged by wire between our Grand Lodge and
M.·. W.·. Grand Lodge of Kentucky, in session at Louisville,
Ky. The Grand Master presented and read his annual address and among other
things announced the death of M.·. W.·. Past Grand Master
Joseph M. Goodspeed at his home in Athens, Ohio, June 11, 1911, his funer=
al
under the auspices of the Grand Lodge, and that a proper circular in rela=
tion
thereto was issued and sent to each Subordinate Lodge in the state. Also =
the
death of Ill. Bro. David N. Kinsman of Columbus, Ohio, who served this Gr=
and
Lodge as R.·. W.·. Grand Orator in 1895, and at the time of=
his
death was an active member of the Supreme Council of the Ancient and Acce=
pted
Scottish Rite, Thirty-third and last Degree, for the Northern Masonic
Jurisdiction of the United States of America, and was serving as its
Illustrious Deputy for the District of Ohio, and an active worker in Scio=
to
Sovereign Consistory. Also to the death on June 1, 1911, of Bro. Arthur P. Crane, a Past Mas=
ter
of Sanford L. Collins Lodge No.396, and for many years representative of =
the
Grand Lodge of England near the Grand Lodge of Ohio. Brother Crane was al=
so
Most Illustrious Past Grand Master of the Grand Council of Royal and Sele=
ct
Masters of the State of Ohio. He also calls attention to the fact that du=
ring
the past year our Subordinate Lodges have lost 1,195 members by death, and
that our sister Grand Jurisdictions have lost a large number of Present a=
nd
Past Grand Officers, among them M.·. W.·. Bro. John Milton
Hodson, Past Grand Master of the Grand Lodge of Oregon, who was born near=
New
Vienna, Ohio, and who attended the University at Lebanon, Ohio; and that =
our
neighboring jurisdiction, Indiana, had been particularly unfortunate in t=
he
loss of three of its Past Grand Masters, M.·. W.·. Pros. Is=
aac
P. Leydon, Lucien P. Foote and Simeon P. Gillett. Dispensations were issued for four new Lodges, as follows: November 21, 1910, Belpre Lodge at Belpre, Washington County, Ohio. This is the first daylight Lodge to be established in this jurisdictio=
n.
All meetings are to be held in the afternoon, affording many of the Breth=
ren
who are employed in the evening an opportunity to attend the Lodge. June 19, 1911, Henry Perkins Lodge at Akron, Ohio, 52 applicants. During the past year special communications of the Grand Lodge were op=
ened
by the Grand Master or his duly authorized proxy at the following places =
and
for the following purposes: LODGES CONSTITUTED November 19, 1910, W. K. Ricksecker Lodge No.606, located at Aurora, O=
hio,
by R.·. W.·. Bro. Edwin S. Griffiths, proxy. January 20, 1911, Bremen Lodge No.608, located at Bremen, Ohio, by
R.·. W.·. Bro. Charles J. Pretzman, proxy. MASONIC TEMPLES AND LODGE ROOMS DEDICATED November 18, 1910, Lodge rooms of Warsaw Lodge No.255, Warsaw, Ohio,
M.·. W.·. Bro. Lewis P. Schaus, P. G. M., presiding. CORNER STONES LAID December 4, 1910, First Methodist Protestant Church, Youngstown, Ohio,
M.·. W.·. Bro. P. F. Perry, Jr., Past Grand Master, presidi=
ng. FUNERAL June 13, 1911, funeral of M.·. W.·. Bro. Joseph M.
Goodspeed, Past Grand Master, Athens, Ohio; M.·. W.·. Bro.
Allen Andrews, P. G. M., presiding. Detailed reports of each of these communications are printed in the
proceedings. The Grand Master reports the appointment of the twenty-five District
Lecturers, and that he called them together at Springfield, Ohio, at the
chapel of the Masonic Home, November 29, 1910, for instruction and
consultation with reference to the inspections of the Subordinate Lodges =
and
other important matters. Twenty-one out of the twenty-five District Lectu=
rers
were present, and in addition they were honored with the presence of
M.·. W.·. Bro. Horace A. Irvin, Past Grand Master R.·=
;.
W.·. Bro. Thomas P. Guitteau, Deputy Grand Master; R.·.
W.·. Bro. J. H. Bromwell, Grand Secretary, and R.·. W.&midd=
ot;.
Bro. C. F. Buchholtz, Grand Marshal. The Grand Master highly commends the District Lecturers for the prompt=
and
efficient manner in which they performed their duties. Each of the 520
chartered Lodges and the four Lodges under dispensation were inspected and
detailed reports thereof made, and these reports show all the Lodges in a
good, healthy and active condition. The Grand Master appointed M.·. W.·. Bro. Nelson William=
s of
Hamilton, Ohio, and Bro. Charles H. Voegele of Mansfield, Ohio, as Truste=
es
of the Masonic Home for three years from January 1, 1911, which appointme=
nts
were confirmed by the Grand Lodge. ADAMS COUNTY The Grand Master calls attention to the fact that in Adams County duri=
ng
the past year more than eighteen hundred men have been convicted for sell=
ing
their votes, and have been disfranchised. That in this county we have five
active Masonic Lodges, and out of the eighteen hundred men so convicted n=
ot
one is a Mason, and not a Mason was indicted by the grand jury investigat=
ing
these cases; and says "If Masonry could maintain this record it woul=
d be
a mighty power aiding in the solution of the many great problems which
confront us as a nation." He reports a large number of visitations to Subordinate Lodges at all =
of
which he was received and welcomed with the utmost courtesy and accorded =
all
the hospitality and honors due the Grand Master of this Grand Jurisdictio=
n. M.·. W.·. Bro. Frank S. Harmon, chairman of the committee
appointed at the last communication of the Grand Lodge to procure and pre=
sent
to M. Bro. B. F. Perry, Jr., the retiring Grand Master, a Past Grand Mast=
er's
Jewel reported this duty performed and the jewel presented to M.·.
W.·. Brother Perry on June 2, 1911, in the hall of Tuscan Lodge
No.342, at Jefferson, Ohio, his home. In his report Brother Harmon pays a beautiful tribute to Brother Perry=
, as
follows: "Your committee recognizes that Bro. Perry is well known to the
members of the Grand Lodge. However, the work he has done and is doing for
Masonry in the Northeastern part of Ohio is not so well known. For a quar=
ter
of a century your chairman has watched Bro. Perry and his work for Masonr=
y in
his home Lodge and the sister Lodges near him. The imprint of his kindnes=
s,
his brotherly interest in all which makes for the uplift of mankind, and =
his
loyalty to our fraternity and his friends, has exerted a most beneficial
influence, and the jewel, therefore, we believe will be worthily worn, as=
it
was worthily won." The Grand Treasurer submitted his annual report showing the balance in=
the
General Fund, October 9, 1911, $65,912.49. The Grand Secretary presented his report, and among other things says:=
"It is in a spirit of retrospection that I present to you this, my
twenty-third annual report as Grand Secretary, and in looking hack over t=
he
span of years during which I have had the honor to represent you I see the
pleasant mingled with the sad; the pleasant in the privilege of companion=
ship
with such a body as this, representing, as it does, the highest type of
citizenship and loftiest ambition to make the world better for their livi=
ng
in it; the sad, when we recall the names of the great and good men who on=
ce
stood upon our roster but from whom no response now comes as the roll of =
our
membership is called. "During these twenty-three years we have seen this roll of member=
s in
good standing grow from only a little over thirty thousand to but a few s=
hort
of eighty-three thousand and have seen the altar of Masonry erected in
sixty-six Lodges that have been constituted under your authority. The fir=
st
charter signed by me as Grand Secretary in 1888 was numbered 546; the one
which I shall sign for the latest Lodge now under dispensation will be
No.612. "The membership of the individual Lodges has increased in many
instances to an almost marvelous extent. Two have over a thousand members
each and a large number over seven hundred, and even in the case of the
smaller Lodges the mere handful of members which often found it difficult=
to
form a quorum to transact the business of the Lodge now find it necessary=
to
increase the capacity of their halls in order to accommodate the
ever-increasing membership. "One of the most pleasant features of this growth is the numerous
magnificent Masonic Temples which have been erected throughout the state,
standing forth, as we say in our ceremonial, 'to bear testimony to the
untiring industry of Free and Accepted Masons.' I hope to be able during =
the
coming year, if I should be continued in my present station, to procure
photographs of all Temples in this state owned by the various Lodges or
Masonic Temple companies, for insertion in the future proceedings of this
Grand Lodge, in order that the Brethren in our own Lodges, as well as tho=
se
of other jurisdictions, may be informed of the progress we have made in
adding to the dignity and securing the conveniences and comforts of our
places of assemblage." SCARCE PROCEEDINGS From various causes certain years of our Annual Proceedings are practi=
cally
exhausted and it is impossible for either newly created Lodges or the old=
er
Lodges to procure copies for the purpose of completing full sets for their
Lodge library. It has occurred to me that some ten or twelve years'
proceedings should be reprinted to overcome the inconvenience of this
scarcity. This would include the following: No. of Copies . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No. of Copies Two hundred copies of each of the above would supply the demand for the
next fifteen or twenty years, and I think the expense would not be very g=
reat
if competitive bids are taken for the work. In case you authorize this
reprinting I would suggest that the copies be furnished such Lodges as ne=
ed
them upon the request of the District Lecturer, and that no copies be
furnished to private individuals except upon payment at a price twenty-fi=
ve
percent in advance of the actual cost of printing and binding. They shoul=
d be
bound in paper, so as to conform to the style and appearance of the
originals. DUPLICATION OF RETURNS The duplication of returns has gone on as heretofore, and those for 19=
11
will be copied and bound and deposited in the Masonic Home vault with tho=
se
of former years. He reports the number of members in good standing August 31, 1911, 82,=
833,
a net gain for the year 3,332, as against 3,525 last year. The per capita tax for the Masonic Home amounts to the sum of $24,849.=
90; and
he recommends an additional donation of the sum of $20,000.00, which
recommendation was concurred in by the Committees on Charity and Accounts,
and the Grand Lodge approved the same, donating $10,000.00 to the Home
Improvement Fund, $5,000.00 to the Dormitory Fund, and $5,000.00 to the
General Fund. Reports that at a conference held at his office by the M.·.
W.·. Grand Master; M.·. W.·. Allen Andrews, Chairman=
of
the Masonic Jurisprudence; M.·. W.·. Levi C. Goodale, Chair=
man
of Committee on Charters and Dispensations, and himself, arrangements were
perfected to secure an inspection and revision of the By-Laws of every
Subordinate Lodge so as to have them conform to the uniform Code and Laws=
of
the Grand Lodge, which plan was put into active operation with such effect
and success that there is only a small proportion of the Lodges whose Laws
have not been approved; and recommends the work be completed until these =
have
amended their Laws, and every Lodge in the state shall have a set of By-L=
aws
strictly in conformity with the Grand Lodge requirements, which will prob=
ably
take two or three months longer. This matter was also reported on by the Committee on Charters and
Dispensations which highly commends the intelligent, efficient and
painstaking services of the Grand Secretary, in part as follows: "The work of examining the By-Laws of the Subordinate Lodges of t=
his
Grand Jurisdiction was referred to the Grand Secretary and to be done und=
er
his supervision. * * * To this work Brother Bromwell brought ripe experie=
nce,
careful analysis, and a judicial mind. * * * The work of reviewing,
correcting, arranging and filing these By-Laws has occupied almost every
spare moment of the Grand Secretary for the past year. In the pursuit of =
this
work of love he has permitted himself no days of vacation or hours of
recreation. The many sets of By-Laws thus reviewed bear intelligent proof=
of
his care and the thoroughness of his work in carrying out the work assign=
ed
to him." The following distinguished Masons representing the highest stations in
Masonry throughout the state and nation, being present, were escorted to =
the
East, introduced to the Grand Lodge and the Grand Honors given, viz.: M.·. Em.·. Sir William B. Melish, Grand Master of the Gr=
and
Encampment of Knights Templars of the United Stated States of America;
M.·. W.·. Bro. Barton Smith, Most Puissant Sovereign Grand
Commander of the Supreme Council of the Ancient Accepted Scottish Rite for
the Northern Masonic Jurisdiction, U. S. A.; M. .Ex. Companion Joseph Kir=
kup,
Grand High Priest of the Grand Chapter Royal Arch Masons of Ohio; and M. =
.W.
Bro. Frank S. Harmon, Illustrious Deputy of the A. A. S. Rite for the sta=
te
of Ohio; all of whom responded to the fraternal welcome accorded them. M.·. W.·. Bro. William B. Melish, on behalf the Trustees=
of
the Ohio Masonic Home extended an invitation to the members of the Grand
Lodge to visit the Masonic Home in a body, this afternoon, on a special t=
rain
provided for that purpose; which invitation was accepted and the members =
of
the Grand Lodge availed themselves of this opportunity to visit and inspe=
ct
our splendid Masonic Home. Bro. Thomas B. Guitteau of Toledo, Ohio, was elected M.·.
W.·. Grand Master; Bro. E. S. Griffiths of Cleveland, Ohio,
R.·. W.·. Deputy Grand Master; Bro. Charles J. Pretaman of
Columbus, Ohio, R.·. W.·. Senior Grand Warden; Bro. George =
L.
Marshall of Dayton, Ohio, R.·. W.·. Junior Grand Warden; Br=
o.
Ralph R. Rickly of Columbus, Ohio, re-elected R.·. W.·. Gra=
nd
Treasurer; and Bro. J. H. Bromwell of Cincinnati, Ohio, R.·.
W.·. Grand Secretary, and they and the appointive officers duly
installed. Charters were granted to the following new Lodges now under dispensati=
on: Bremen Lodge No.608, at Bremen, Fairfield County, Ohio A duplicate charter was granted to Litchfield Lodge No.381, located at
Litchfield, Medina County, Ohio. The Committee on the S. Stacker Williams Library reported that the Mas=
onic
Library Association of Cincinnati, in whose charge the Library has been
placed, submitted a lengthy report of the work being done for the same, a=
nd
that they have secured and placed in the Library three hundred and
twenty-five proceedings of various Grand Masonic Bodies during the past y=
ear,
a number more being needed to fill the sets, and requested a donation of
$100.00 for that purpose, which was granted. On motion, the Grand Master appointed a committee composed of M.&middo=
t;.
W.·. Bros. O. P. Sperra and L. C. Goodale and R.·. W.&middo=
t;.
Bro. George L. Marshall, to procure and present to the Grand Secretary so=
me
suitable testimonial in recognition of the work done by him in the examin=
ation
and correction of the By-Laws of the Subordinate Lodges. The M.·. W.·. Grand Master announced that upon the occas=
ion
of a visit made by M.·. W.·. Bro. Wm. B. Melish to Europe,
during the past summer, he had appointed Bro. Melish as his proxy to
represent the Grand Lodge of Ohio at any Masonic function which M.·=
;.
W.·. Bro. Melish might have an opportunity of attending, and called
upon Brother Melish to report to the Grand Lodge as to his carrying out t=
he
purposes of this proxy. M.·. W.·. Bro. Melish entertained the Grand Lodge with a
description of the interesting events in which he had participated, point=
ed
out the resemblances and differences between the ceremonies and practices=
of
Masonry in Great Britain and the United States, and made an address that =
was
very instructive and claimed the close attention of the Grand Lodge. GRAND MASTER'S JEWEL On motion of M.·. W.·. Bro. Horace A. Irvin, the R.&midd=
ot;.
W.·. Deputy Grand Master appointed as a committee to procure and
present the usual Past Grand Master's Jewel to the retiring Grand Master,
M.·. W.·. Bros. Horace A. Irvin, Allen Andrews and O. P.
Sperra. AMENDMENT OF SECTION 58 OF THE CODE The Committee on Jurisprudence, to which was referred the proposed
amendment of Section 58 of the Code, submitted the following report, whic=
h,
on motion, having received a unanimous vote, was adopted: To the M.·. W.·. Grand Lodge: On the proposed amendment of Section 58 of the Code, we report that sa=
id
section should be amended so as to read as follows: "Section 58. To engage in the selling of intoxicating liquors for
beverage purposes is a Masonic offense and should subject any Brother so
offending to charges and expulsion; it should also be a disqualification =
for
initiation or affiliation in a Masonic Lodge." The Committee on Necrology presented its report and testimonials to the
memory of the Illustrious and Honored Dead of this and sister Jurisdictio=
ns,
which were ordered printed in the proceedings. The Committee on Foreign Correspondence presented a lengthy report on =
the
status of the M. York Grand Lodge of Mexico F. & A. M., formerly
recognized as the M.·. W.·. Grand Lodge Valle de Mexico, A.=
F.
and A. M., and recommending that said Grand Lodge be recognized as the
legitimate successor of said last mentioned Grand Lodge, and that recogni=
tion
of and friendly relations with said M.·. W.·. York Grand Lo=
dge
of Mexico, F. & A. M., with its seat in the City of Mexico, and of wh=
ich
M.·. W.·. Bro. W. H. Seamon is Grand Master, and R.·.
W.·. Bro. F. E. Young is Grand Secretary, be continued; which repo=
rt and
recommendation was adopted by the Grand Lodge. Toledo, Ohio, was selected as the place, and Wednesday, October 23, 19=
12,
as the time for holding the next Annual Grand Communication of this Grand
Lodge. The Grand Master was authorized to obtain membership for this Grand Lo=
dge
in the George Washington Masonic National Memorial Association under
conditions named. The Committee on Foreign Correspondence in a special report covering
nearly four pages, state the object and constitution of the association, =
the
number of Grand Lodges already members, and other useful information in
relation to the project. The Committee on Foreign Correspondence also presented its general rep=
ort
of fraternal correspondence covering 207 pages and reviewing in an
instructive and interesting manner the action and proceedings of sixty-six
Grand Lodges, containing an epitome of all the important transactions of
these Grand Bodies during the past year, and a fund of information valuab=
le
to every Mason, and especially to every officer of a Lodge. The Officers, Trustees and Superintendent of the Ohio Masonic Home
presented their annual report, which is printed in the proceedings. The number of residents during the past year were: men, 73; women, 47;
boys, 25; girls, 22; total, 167. The average age of the men, 72 years; wo=
men,
73 years; boys, 12 years; girls, 12 years. The returns from the farm, gar=
den
and hennery, $5,812.44. The donations received for Christmas and Entertainment Fund, $1,017.73=
. The amounts contributed by the several Masonic Grand Bodies of Ohio at
their annual sessions, 1910, were: Grand Lodge . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .$43,850.30 In addition to this the various Lodges and other Subordinate Bodies
contributed to the Home Improvement Fund during the year for the purpose =
of
refurnishing rooms, including the interest on certain investments, $6,696=
.69. The Grand Chapter of the Order of the Eastern Star with its usual rega=
rd
for the comfort and care for the sick made a special donation of $1,000.0=
0,
which it placed in the hands of the Superintendent for use as needed in
covering the expense of special nursing, and items for the special comfor=
t of
the sick and afflicted. In addition a donation of $160.00 for general
purposes was made. The Subordinate Chapters made their usual liberal
donations of money and supplies which are acknowledged with thanks in the
report. ENDOWMENT FUND On hand last report, August 1, 1910 . . . . . . . $125,408.21 The Unbroken Line of Twenty Past Grand Masters of the M.·.
W.·. Grand Lodge of Ohio, F. & A. M., October 19, 1911. There was present in attendance on this Annual Convocation of the Grand
Lodge an unbroken line of twenty of its M.·. W.·. Past Grand
Masters from 1888 to 1911 inclusive, who served the Grand Lodge in that
capacity, as follows: Leander Burdick, 1888-1889; A fine group photograph was secured of these Illustrious Brothers, from
which an engraved plate was made, impressions from which face the title p=
age
of the proceedings of this year, copies of which will be inserted in this
Volume of the History, thus preserving to the Craft in one group the
portraits of these active, loyal, unfaltering and efficient rulers, who f=
or
twenty-three years past have faithfully and fearlessly battled for and up=
held
the honor, dignity, unity, sovereignty and power of this Grand Lodge and =
the
Ancient Landmarks of Freemasonry, and did so much to preserve, upbuild an=
d maintain
the cause of true and legitimate Masonry in Ohio. PROCEEDINGS OHIO MASONIC VETERANS ASSOCIATION The Ohio Masonic Veterans Association met in its Fortieth Annual Meeti=
ng
in Blue Lodge Room, Masonic Temple, Dayton, at 6:30 P. M., October 18, 19=
11. OFFICERS PRESENT Ven. Bro. E. L. Lybarger, President; Ven. Bro. J .H. Bromwell, First
Vice-President; Ven. Bro. H. A. Irvin, Second Vice President; Ven. Bro. W=
m.
A. Belt, Third Vice-President; Ven. Bro. E. C. Gulliford, Fourth Vice
President; Ven. Bro. Nelson Williams, Fifth Vice-President; Ven. Bro. E. =
H.
Archer, Secretary-Treasurer; Ven. Bro. C. G. Ballon, pro tem. Chaplain; V=
en.
Bro. W. B. Anderson, Marshal; Ven. Bro. E. B. Cox, Sentinel; Ven. Bro. Jo=
hn
Schonecker, Outer Guard. Ven. Bro. Leander Burdick, Past President; Ven. =
Bro.
J. L'H. Long, Past President, and twenty-three Venerable Brethren. A quorum being present, after invocation to the Grand Architect of the
Universe by the Chaplain, the Venerable President declared the Fortieth
Annual Meeting opened and in regular session. The record of the Thirty-ninth Annual Meeting being printed, was, on
motion, approved without read jug. The committee appointed at the Thirty-ninth Meeting presented their re=
port
of "Forms and Ceremonials," which was, on motion, unanimously
adopted, and said "Forms and Ceremonials" was, by the President,
declared to be the duly authorized ceremony for admission to membership in
the Ohio Masonic Veterans Association. The Secretary presented thirty-nine petitions for membership, which we=
re
referred to a Committee of Investigation; which reported favorably, and a=
fter
ballot each, was declared to be elected. The Venerable President directed the Marshal to retire and present the
petitioners; thereupon in conformity with the Forms and Ceremonials all of
the petitioners were duly received and greeted as Venerable Brothers and
members of the Ohio Masonic Veterans Association. The Secretary reported the deaths of Venerable Bros. David N. Kinsman,=
J.
M. Goodspeed and Edward Bacon, and the usual memorial was, by unanimous v=
ote,
adopted. The Secretary-Treasurer reported condition of finances as follows: October 19, 1910, balance . . . . . . . .$39.00 On motion the Venerable President appointed Venerable Bros. Leander
Burdick, S. Rufus Jones and John Cissna, a committee to nominate officers=
for
the ensuing year; the committee having attended to that duty nominated the
following officers, who were duly 4ected: Ven. Bro. E. L. Lybarger, President; Ven. Bro. J. H. Bromwell, First
Vice-President; Ven. Bro. H. A. Irvin, Second Vice-President; Ven. Bro. W=
m.
A. Belt, Third Vice-President; Ven. Bro. E. C. Gulliford, Fourth
Vice-President; Ven. Bro. Nelson Williams, Fifth Vice-President; Ven. Bro.
Thomas Kite, Chaplain; Ven. Bro. E. H. Archer, Secretary-Treasurer; Ven. =
Bro.
W. B. Anderson, Marshal; Ven. Bro. W. B. Melish, Master of Ceremonies; Ve=
n.
Bro. E. B. Cox, Sentinel; Ven. Bro. John Schonecker, Outer Guard. Immediately following the adjournment the Venerable Brothers repaired =
to
the banquet room, where a sumptuous banquet was served, after which the
Brethren, by rising vote, expressed thanks Of appreciation for the frater=
nal
hospitality of the Dayton Masonic Brethren. After invocation by the Venerable Chaplain the Brethren formed the Cha=
in
of Union, with "We meet upon the level and part upon the Square,&quo=
t;
led by Venerable Bro. Burdick, whereupon the meeting was declared adjourn=
ed. F. H. Archer, Secretary. F. L. Lybarger, President. |
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