Grand Lodge Of Massachusetts.

GRAND LODGE OF MASSACHUSETTS .

ti ^ ROM tho last issued " Proceedings " of this Grand JD Lodge , we loarn that a Special Communication was held at the Masonic Temple , Boston , on Friday , 1 st November 1878 , the special object of tho meeting , as described by the Grand Master , being to perform the last

ceremonies over the remains of the lato Recording Grand Secretary , Bro . Charles H . Titus . Bro . Titns , who was born on 11 th April 1819 , was admitted into Freemasonry in the King- David Lodge , Taunton , in 1858 . The two following years he received the Capitular degrees in

Adoniram Chapter of New Bedford , and the Orders of Knighthood in St . John ' s Commandery , Providence , R . I ., attaining the 33 rd degree in 1865 . Ho was appointed Recording Grand Secretary in April 1871 , hy Grand Master Gardner , and in the June following was duly elected by Grand Lodge to that office .

Grand Lodge being opened , was called off , and the members proceeded by train to Providence , R . I ., beingjoined on the way by the relatives , having in their charge the remains of the deceased , and later on by the Members of Charles H . Titus Lodge , together with a delegation

from King David Lodge . Upon the arrival of the train at Providence , the Grand Lodge was met by St . John ' s Commandery of Knights' Templars and members of various Masonic bodies of the district , who together proceeded by train to the town of "Warren , where , in accordance with the

special request of the deceased , his remains were to find their last resting place . At 2 o ' clock a procession was formed to the Methodist Church , where the funeral service was conducted by Revs . Edgar F . Clarke , Dr . Samuel C . Brown , Dr . Micah J . Talbot , Dr . Morrison aud John

Livesey , Rev . Dr . Brown giving an oration on the character of the deceased . After the completion of the service the brethren , by invitation of the Grand Master of Rhode Island , proceeded to his mansion , where

they were hospitably entertained , and left for their homes amid warm expressions of friendship between the two Grand Lodges . Grand Lodge was closed , at Boston , just before nine o ' clock .

On the 11 th December the Annual Communication was held , the Grand Master , Bro . Charles Alfred Welch , again presiding , supported by a large and influential gathering of Grand Officers and brethren . The records of the Quarterly Communication of 11 th September , and

of Special Communications held on 13 th September , 3 rd October , and 1 st November having been approved , various proxies wero presented , and the brethren named therein were duly recognised . The Grand Master then read his Annual Report , in which he states that the general

condition of the Lodges throughout the State is satisfactory ; he found that the records of the Lodges were correctly kept , harmony prevailed , and tho duty which each Mason owed to the Institution -was freely acknowledged . The number of initiates during the

year ending August 1878 , was 985 ; tho membership at same date reaching 25 , 742 . Two new Lodges have been added during the year , making up the total to 221 , besides which two are working under

dispensation . The Grand Master expressed his opinion that it was impolitic to warrant new Lodges unless the need for them was very apparent , as the founders of a new Lodge were very apt to under-estimate the expense , and when they found it had exceeded their ideas , to meet the

Grand Lodge Of Massachusetts.

liabilities they admitted persons who , under ordinary circumstances , would be rejected . He referred to the granting of dispensations to confer the degrees at less intervals than the Constitutions required , and stated that he had expressed his opinion to the District Deputies in

order that a stop should be put to such a course for the future . He then , at some length , referred to the loss the Grand Lodge had sustained in the death of its Treasurer and Recording Secretary , Bros . John McCIellan , who died on 29 th September , and Chas . II . Titus , who died on 29 th

October , and also mentioned other cases where death had taken members of the Grand Lodge . He had installed Bro . Samnol Wells and Bro . Tracy P . Cheevcr to fill the two vacancies . Special warrants were issued during the year for the pnrposo of installing the Deputy District Grand

Masters of Districts Nos . 8 and 10 , to formally heal two candidates of Districts Nos . 2 and 19 respectively , and for Bro . John A . Hall D . D . G . M . for No . 10 District to dedicate a new Masonic Hall at Conway . 13 o 9 92 dols . had been received since last Commnnioatiou for the relief of

members of the Fraternity who were sufferers by yellow fever in the South-west . Of this sum only 300 dollars had been expended , the balance being withheld , as it was considered that sufficient , funds had been raised for present requirements . The Grand Treasurer ' s accounts showed

that the indebtedness of Grand Lodge at the close of the year was 12 , 000 dollars less that at tho corresponding period of 1877 , the principal item in the receipts being 21 , 156 dols . from the capitation tax . The question of the means to be adopted to meet the expenses of Grand

Lodge after the end of 1879 , when this tax ceases , appears to bo a most important one to the members of this Grand Lodge . Tho Grand Master estimates the receipts for 1880 at 28 , 000 dolls ., and as Grand Lodge will start the year with about 265 , 000 dolls , indebtedness , close on 19 , 000

dolls , of this amount will be absorbed for interest , tho other expenses raising the estimated expenditure to 37 , 000 dolls , or a deficiency of 14 , 000 dolls , / or the year . To meet this difficulty the Grand Master points out two courses . Either the Masonic Temple , with its

pictures , libraries , furniture , jewels , regalia , etc ., must bo disposed of , or the capitatiou tax must be renewed . If the latter course is adopted , it may reasonably be expected that under similar arrangements as at present exist , the rate of interest cau be reduced to 0 per cent ., as

the mortgagees will have further security than at present , and if properly managed the result should be that at the end of twelve years the debt Avould amount to about 40 , 000 dolls , only . He did not consider they need be discouraged , for they were much better off than at tho

time the Temple was finished . Then 16 , 000 Masons owed 450 , 000 dolls ., now over 25 , 000 Masons had to provide for a claim of 265 , 000 dolls . It was finally arranged that a committee of one or more from each District should be appointed to consider the subject , and report on it at tho next Quarterly Communication .

The Deputy Grand Master now assumed the chair , and Grand Lodge proceeded to the election , of Officers for the ensuing year , it being announced by Grand Secretary that the whole number of votes that might be cast was 530 . A Committee was appointed to examine the votes , and they

declared that 455 had been cast for Grand Master , all of which were for M . W . Charles Alfred Welch , who was thereupon declared unanimously elected Grand Master . A . Committee of Past Grand Masters , attended by the Grand Stewards , & c . waited upon the Grand Master , and con-