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Article THE MASONIC YEAR 1877. ← Page 10 of 13 Article THE MASONIC YEAR 1877. Page 10 of 13 →
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The Masonic Year 1877.
sanctioned at the last annual assembly in September . It is some consolation to know that the recent change is not irrevocably fixed , and that what was done a few months since may be undone a few months hence . The next important body which claims our attention is
that of the Grand Orient of Italy . The legislative assembly of this flourishing body met at Rome , on the 9 th June , and there wero present delegates from one hundred and twenty-four Lodges . Among the brethren Avere Bros . P . Messineo , Grand Secretary of one of the two
fractions of the Supreme Council , and G . La Loggia , head of the other fraction . Hitherto all attempts at the union of Palermitan with the rest of Italian Freemasonry appear to have failed signally , but now tho adhesion of the former appears to have been almost settled , while tho presence of
Bro . La Loggia excited a hope that the other might follow , snit . Tho assembly was opened by Grand Master Mazzoni , in an able speech . The reports of the Grand Secretary and Grand Treasurer were approved , after which a motion was carried , by a majority of forty to thirty-one—four
abstaining from voting—forbidding Lodges from publishing iu the journals the names of their dignitaries and officers , or any writing signed by them , and the address of Lodges . Lodges were further recommended to observe the greatest precautions in order to keep concealed from
the profane world tho interior working of Freemasonry . Before the Assembly broke up Bro . Mazzoni was re-elected Grand Master and Bro . L . Castellazzo Grand Secretary ; and Bros . G . Tamajo , F . Serra Caracciolo , P . Messineo and P . Aporti were appointed Assistant G . Masters . The
members of the Council of the Order were also nominated . The two days preceding the meeting of the Assembly , delegates from twenty-two Lodges met together , for the purpose of discussing the new ritual prepared by a special Commission , ancl after an exhaustive discussion
the ritual which was recommended was adopted . Those present also decided that the direction of the Symbolic Rite should bo in the hands of those among them who were members of the Council of the Order , but that they should in no wise be in a position to encroach
on the authority of tho G . Orient and its Grand Master . This Directory is composed of Bro . P . Aporti President , Bro . F . Dobelli Vice-President , Bros . Drs . V . Montenovesi and G . Pini Secretaries , ancl Bros . F . Muller , Curzio Antonelli , G . Conrad , ancl G . Mussi . The Lodge
Avvcnirc of Spezzia having refused to recognise the authority of the G . Orient has been closed , but against this must be set off the establishment of the Lodge La Projicir janda Masonica at Rome , Taddeo da Sessa , 0 . of Sessa Aurnnca , ancl the Lodges Annita , Fratellanm , and Fratelli
Bandiera in the Orient of Livorno ( Leghorn ) . Among other matters worth mentioning is the resolution of tho Milan Lodges to establish lay educational Institutes to counteract the influence of the clerical . The Lodge Esule of Palermo has decided to hold special meetings for the
discussion of scientific , social , ancl economical questions , while as showing what is done in the way of beneficence by our Italian brethren , we may mention that during the fourteen years it has existed the Lodge Femtccio of Pistoia has not only taken the initiative in establishingthe National
Society for aiding the Volunteers who have fought for their country , but have also established an Infant Asylum and a Working Man ' s Society , while certain of its members have distinguished themselves by similar acts . Italy , however , has to deplore the loss of one highly distinguished
Craftsman , Bro . G . Rasponi , a member of the Council of the Order . He was a Deputy in the Italian Parliament , ancl died , after a protracted illness , at Ravenna . The Lodges went into mourning in order to pay respect to the memory of one who was both a distinguished patriot and a zealous Mason .
Wo now betake ourselves to the Western hemisphere , in the northern continent of which the condition and prospects of the Fraternity are among the brightest . And first , as to the statistics of the Craft , though , as in our own case , Ave must not attach too great importance to mere numbers .
There are in North America fifty-three—or , if we include the NCAV Mexico , which has hardly yet had time to shape itself into form , fifty-four Grand Lodges . Seven of these are in British territory , namely , those of Canada , Nova Scotia , Quebec , Now BrnnsAvick , Prince EdAvard Island , British Columbia , ancl Manitoba . The first-mentioned has
about ooO Lodges in its jurisdiction , AA'ith a membershi p which , according to Bro . Josiah Drummond amounts to not far short of some 17 , 000 brethren . This G . Lodge cannot
The Masonic Year 1877.
boast of a very lengthened existence , but it has fared prosperously , and has every reason to be prond of its position . Latterly an attempt has been made by some discontented brethren to establish a separate and independent Grand Lodge . We do not know what has become of this petty
aspirant for Masonic independence . It may , or it may not be in existence ; it may , or it may not have increased in mere numbers ; but it certainly has failed to obtain , so far as AA e know , the recognition of any respectable Masonic body , and if AVO were to express our opinion , founded on a
Avell knoAvn accident which befel tho newspaper supposed to be the advocate of its rights or wrongs , Ave should say that tho Grand Lodge , if it has not done so already , Avill veiy speedily experience the same fate as its Grand Organ . HoAvever , this , of course , is mere conjecture , and
it is our business to record facts . The Graud Lodge of Canada , in short , under the able rule of its Grand Master , Bro . Kerr , has in no wise suffered by the defection of a foAV malcontent members . Of tho other six Grand Lodges Ave have little to record , except in the case of that of NCAV
Brunswick , Avhich in common Avith the rest of the worthy people of St . John has suffered heavy losses by the terrible conflagration in June . The books and the regalia were fortunately under the personal guardianship of the G . Secretary , and havo therefore escaped , but the G . L . Library ,
the Hall , the property of many of the Lodges , and much valuable property which no amount of wealth can full y replace , have shared in the general destruction . The New Brunswickers , hoAvever , though they have felt the blow severely , have borne it manfully and with Masonic
resignation . More than this , they have set themselves to the task of making good , as far as possible , the losses they have sustained , and so zealously and successfully have they worked , that it is hoped after the lapse of about a year nearly all traces of the disaster will have been removed .
The Grand Lodge of New BrnnsAvick has had the sympathy of the whole Craft , and especially of the brethren in North America and the United Kingdom . We will remark further that Nova Scotia has a membership of over 3 , 400 , Quebec of over 2 , 700 , New Brunswick of over 2 , 250 , Prince
Edward Island of 557 , British Columbia of 300 , and Manitoba of nearly the same number . In the United States there are forty-seven—or omitting New Mexico , of which we are unable to give any particulars—forty-six Grand Lodges . Ranged under the banner of these Grand Lodges are , in
round figures , 575 , 000 Craftsmen . The returns from which we have quoted our figures have been compiled by Bro . Josiah Drummond , ancl as they appear to be accepted by the American Masonic journals , we cannot do better than follow their excellent example ancl accept them likewise . Thus ,
according to Bro . Drummond , NCAV York has nearly 82 , 000 Masons . Then folloAvs , but longo intervallo , Illinois Avith over 40 , 000 , Pennsylvania Avith over 38 , 000 , Ohio Avith some hundreds in excess of 30 , 000 , Indiana Avith close on 29 , 000 , and Michigan and Massachusetts , pretty close together ,
over 26 , 000 ; ancl so we go on , at first by a gradually , but toAvards the end , by a rapidly descending scale , to little Wyoming , Avith a membership of 255 . No returns are given for Dakota . A few more figures , and Ave shall have done with this portion of our record . No less than 80 , 715 Avere
raised to the sublime degree of M . M . Of those admitted and restored , there were 17 , 969 , withdrawn 18 , 920 , expelled 1 , 039 , suspended 1 , 064 , suspended for non-payment of dues 17 , 621 , died 7 , 100 , and rejected 6 , 142 . These figures , it must be borne in mind , are made out necessarily for the
year 1876 , and in case of admissions , expulsions , & c ., & c , include the figures for the Grand Lodges in British North America as Avell . Nevertheless , though it Avill be some
months before Ave are in a position to record hoAV it has fared numerically Avith the Craft in North America , Bro . Drummond ' s labours enable us to form a very good judgment as to its position during tho year still current .
We Avill now recapitulate as briefly as we can the leadin g events of the year . Undoubtedly , from an historical point of vieAV , the celebration by the Grand Lodge of Massachusetts of the hundredth anniversary of its existence as an independent Grand Lodge is the most important , ancl
claims , therefore , our first attention . This auspicious event took place on the 8 th March , on which day a special Communication of Grand Lodge Avas held , under the presidency of Grand Master Bro . P . LoAvell Everett , Avho Avas
numerously supported by his officers , as well as by some two hundred brethren belonging to Lodges in the Common-Avealth . There Avere also present M . W . G . M . John J . Bell , New Hampshire , M . W . G . M . Henry H . Smith , Vermont ,
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
The Masonic Year 1877.
sanctioned at the last annual assembly in September . It is some consolation to know that the recent change is not irrevocably fixed , and that what was done a few months since may be undone a few months hence . The next important body which claims our attention is
that of the Grand Orient of Italy . The legislative assembly of this flourishing body met at Rome , on the 9 th June , and there wero present delegates from one hundred and twenty-four Lodges . Among the brethren Avere Bros . P . Messineo , Grand Secretary of one of the two
fractions of the Supreme Council , and G . La Loggia , head of the other fraction . Hitherto all attempts at the union of Palermitan with the rest of Italian Freemasonry appear to have failed signally , but now tho adhesion of the former appears to have been almost settled , while tho presence of
Bro . La Loggia excited a hope that the other might follow , snit . Tho assembly was opened by Grand Master Mazzoni , in an able speech . The reports of the Grand Secretary and Grand Treasurer were approved , after which a motion was carried , by a majority of forty to thirty-one—four
abstaining from voting—forbidding Lodges from publishing iu the journals the names of their dignitaries and officers , or any writing signed by them , and the address of Lodges . Lodges were further recommended to observe the greatest precautions in order to keep concealed from
the profane world tho interior working of Freemasonry . Before the Assembly broke up Bro . Mazzoni was re-elected Grand Master and Bro . L . Castellazzo Grand Secretary ; and Bros . G . Tamajo , F . Serra Caracciolo , P . Messineo and P . Aporti were appointed Assistant G . Masters . The
members of the Council of the Order were also nominated . The two days preceding the meeting of the Assembly , delegates from twenty-two Lodges met together , for the purpose of discussing the new ritual prepared by a special Commission , ancl after an exhaustive discussion
the ritual which was recommended was adopted . Those present also decided that the direction of the Symbolic Rite should bo in the hands of those among them who were members of the Council of the Order , but that they should in no wise be in a position to encroach
on the authority of tho G . Orient and its Grand Master . This Directory is composed of Bro . P . Aporti President , Bro . F . Dobelli Vice-President , Bros . Drs . V . Montenovesi and G . Pini Secretaries , ancl Bros . F . Muller , Curzio Antonelli , G . Conrad , ancl G . Mussi . The Lodge
Avvcnirc of Spezzia having refused to recognise the authority of the G . Orient has been closed , but against this must be set off the establishment of the Lodge La Projicir janda Masonica at Rome , Taddeo da Sessa , 0 . of Sessa Aurnnca , ancl the Lodges Annita , Fratellanm , and Fratelli
Bandiera in the Orient of Livorno ( Leghorn ) . Among other matters worth mentioning is the resolution of tho Milan Lodges to establish lay educational Institutes to counteract the influence of the clerical . The Lodge Esule of Palermo has decided to hold special meetings for the
discussion of scientific , social , ancl economical questions , while as showing what is done in the way of beneficence by our Italian brethren , we may mention that during the fourteen years it has existed the Lodge Femtccio of Pistoia has not only taken the initiative in establishingthe National
Society for aiding the Volunteers who have fought for their country , but have also established an Infant Asylum and a Working Man ' s Society , while certain of its members have distinguished themselves by similar acts . Italy , however , has to deplore the loss of one highly distinguished
Craftsman , Bro . G . Rasponi , a member of the Council of the Order . He was a Deputy in the Italian Parliament , ancl died , after a protracted illness , at Ravenna . The Lodges went into mourning in order to pay respect to the memory of one who was both a distinguished patriot and a zealous Mason .
Wo now betake ourselves to the Western hemisphere , in the northern continent of which the condition and prospects of the Fraternity are among the brightest . And first , as to the statistics of the Craft , though , as in our own case , Ave must not attach too great importance to mere numbers .
There are in North America fifty-three—or , if we include the NCAV Mexico , which has hardly yet had time to shape itself into form , fifty-four Grand Lodges . Seven of these are in British territory , namely , those of Canada , Nova Scotia , Quebec , Now BrnnsAvick , Prince EdAvard Island , British Columbia , ancl Manitoba . The first-mentioned has
about ooO Lodges in its jurisdiction , AA'ith a membershi p which , according to Bro . Josiah Drummond amounts to not far short of some 17 , 000 brethren . This G . Lodge cannot
The Masonic Year 1877.
boast of a very lengthened existence , but it has fared prosperously , and has every reason to be prond of its position . Latterly an attempt has been made by some discontented brethren to establish a separate and independent Grand Lodge . We do not know what has become of this petty
aspirant for Masonic independence . It may , or it may not be in existence ; it may , or it may not have increased in mere numbers ; but it certainly has failed to obtain , so far as AA e know , the recognition of any respectable Masonic body , and if AVO were to express our opinion , founded on a
Avell knoAvn accident which befel tho newspaper supposed to be the advocate of its rights or wrongs , Ave should say that tho Grand Lodge , if it has not done so already , Avill veiy speedily experience the same fate as its Grand Organ . HoAvever , this , of course , is mere conjecture , and
it is our business to record facts . The Graud Lodge of Canada , in short , under the able rule of its Grand Master , Bro . Kerr , has in no wise suffered by the defection of a foAV malcontent members . Of tho other six Grand Lodges Ave have little to record , except in the case of that of NCAV
Brunswick , Avhich in common Avith the rest of the worthy people of St . John has suffered heavy losses by the terrible conflagration in June . The books and the regalia were fortunately under the personal guardianship of the G . Secretary , and havo therefore escaped , but the G . L . Library ,
the Hall , the property of many of the Lodges , and much valuable property which no amount of wealth can full y replace , have shared in the general destruction . The New Brunswickers , hoAvever , though they have felt the blow severely , have borne it manfully and with Masonic
resignation . More than this , they have set themselves to the task of making good , as far as possible , the losses they have sustained , and so zealously and successfully have they worked , that it is hoped after the lapse of about a year nearly all traces of the disaster will have been removed .
The Grand Lodge of New BrnnsAvick has had the sympathy of the whole Craft , and especially of the brethren in North America and the United Kingdom . We will remark further that Nova Scotia has a membership of over 3 , 400 , Quebec of over 2 , 700 , New Brunswick of over 2 , 250 , Prince
Edward Island of 557 , British Columbia of 300 , and Manitoba of nearly the same number . In the United States there are forty-seven—or omitting New Mexico , of which we are unable to give any particulars—forty-six Grand Lodges . Ranged under the banner of these Grand Lodges are , in
round figures , 575 , 000 Craftsmen . The returns from which we have quoted our figures have been compiled by Bro . Josiah Drummond , ancl as they appear to be accepted by the American Masonic journals , we cannot do better than follow their excellent example ancl accept them likewise . Thus ,
according to Bro . Drummond , NCAV York has nearly 82 , 000 Masons . Then folloAvs , but longo intervallo , Illinois Avith over 40 , 000 , Pennsylvania Avith over 38 , 000 , Ohio Avith some hundreds in excess of 30 , 000 , Indiana Avith close on 29 , 000 , and Michigan and Massachusetts , pretty close together ,
over 26 , 000 ; ancl so we go on , at first by a gradually , but toAvards the end , by a rapidly descending scale , to little Wyoming , Avith a membership of 255 . No returns are given for Dakota . A few more figures , and Ave shall have done with this portion of our record . No less than 80 , 715 Avere
raised to the sublime degree of M . M . Of those admitted and restored , there were 17 , 969 , withdrawn 18 , 920 , expelled 1 , 039 , suspended 1 , 064 , suspended for non-payment of dues 17 , 621 , died 7 , 100 , and rejected 6 , 142 . These figures , it must be borne in mind , are made out necessarily for the
year 1876 , and in case of admissions , expulsions , & c ., & c , include the figures for the Grand Lodges in British North America as Avell . Nevertheless , though it Avill be some
months before Ave are in a position to record hoAV it has fared numerically Avith the Craft in North America , Bro . Drummond ' s labours enable us to form a very good judgment as to its position during tho year still current .
We Avill now recapitulate as briefly as we can the leadin g events of the year . Undoubtedly , from an historical point of vieAV , the celebration by the Grand Lodge of Massachusetts of the hundredth anniversary of its existence as an independent Grand Lodge is the most important , ancl
claims , therefore , our first attention . This auspicious event took place on the 8 th March , on which day a special Communication of Grand Lodge Avas held , under the presidency of Grand Master Bro . P . LoAvell Everett , Avho Avas
numerously supported by his officers , as well as by some two hundred brethren belonging to Lodges in the Common-Avealth . There Avere also present M . W . G . M . John J . Bell , New Hampshire , M . W . G . M . Henry H . Smith , Vermont ,