Grand Lodge Of New York. U. S. A.

were 6 , 142 imitated , and 812 , affiliated from other Grand Lodges , making a total of 6 , 954 , and the whole strength of the Grand Lodge was declared to he about 78 , 000 members . This ,

we believe , is by far the largest Grand Lodge in the States , if not in the world . The Grand Treasurer reported the receipt of over 817 , 000 , and the disbursements had amounted to nearl y

that amount . The Trustee of the " Hall and Asylum Fund" made the gratifying report of a most substantial balance of about . ^ £ ' 166 , 000 . The expenditure on the new Masonic Temple ,

however , having cost to thc present time some £ 150 , 000 , there was only a disposable balance of about £ 16 , 000 . For the information of our readers we should remark that the " Hall and

Asylum Fund originated in 184 , 3 , and from its first year of £ 1 , 000 has increased to an institution of colossal crrowth . The " Grand-street

Property , '' bought in 1865 with these funds , was sold in 1868 , and realized a handsome profit , and now the " Sixth Avenue Property " is to he the . seat of the Grand Lodge . *

After the report had been read , a resolution , offered by M . AV . Isaac Phillips was adopted , tendering thanks for donations to the fund , and particularly to R . AV . Isaac II . Brown , who has

been instrumental in raising nearly 8 5 , 000 towards the erection of the new hall , designating him as the noblest Roman of them all . R . AV . E . P . Breed , from Committee on

Foreign Correspondence , presented their report ; briefly reviewed the proceedings of 40 American , ^ Dominion of Canada , ^ European GrandLodges , andtheGermanGrand Masters ' Conference ,

Kentucky , Massachusetts , Minnesota and AVest \ irginia , were hot received , which was regretted , though " Pomeroy ' s Democrat " could have supp lied the three former from its files . The following resolutions were appended to the report :

1 . Resolved . That the Grand Lodge of New-York hereby extends to the Grand Lodge of Utah a fraternal recognition , and welcomes it to a p lace in the list of corresponding Grand Lodges . 2 , Resolved . That the Grand Lodge of New York faternally greets the Grand Lodge of

British Columbia , and with pleasure accords it recognition as a regular Grand Lodge .

3 . Resolved . That the Grand Lodge of New York again asserts it adherence to the doctrine of the supreme and exclusive jurisdiction of every regular Grand Lodge within the territorial limits

of the State , Territory or Province wherein il is located ; and therefore it will , under any and till circumstances , assert and aid in asserting , the rig hts of every such Grand Lodge , whenever its jurisdiction shall be infringed .

4 . Resolved . That it be referred to the Committee on Masonic Jurisprudence to inquire and report as to what action , if any , this Grand Lodge ought to take in reference to the

countenance and support given by any Grand Lodge to such Grand Lodge , Grand Orient or Grand Council , as infringes upon the jurisdiction of any legally constituted , fully recognized , and Soverign Grand Lodge .

The various Committees on Credentials , Jurisprudence , AVarrants , Grievances , Finances , Constitution , Charity , Unfinished Business , Ap-

Grand Lodge Of New York. U. S. A.

peals , AVork and Lectures , Exemplification of AVork , were appointed , AVe mention these just to afford a view of the work done by the committees , and to show how thoroughly well

everything Masonic is attended to by our American brethren . Of course several , days were occupied in the duties of Masonry , and a vast amount of real

Masonic labour was achived . On looking over the report we could not help thinking of a Grand Lodge , with twice the number of Lodges , that meets only for a couple of hours four times a year ! and

which affords the Craft little or no information about the progress of Freemasonry abroad , and the changes that are always occuring in our institution . In the United States each Grand Lodge ,

though itsCommitteeon Foreign Correspondence , presents to the members a well written and almost exhaustive report of the spread and influence of the Craft universal , and we know of few works

we would rather read on Masonry than these socalled " Proceedings . " ' The Grand Lecturer , AV . George H . Raymond , presented his report . He stated that nearly

every Lodge in the State had adopted the standard work . A few still adhered to what they called the old work , and it was extremely difficult to get them to adopt the standard work .

He had visited nearly every county in the State during the year , and was received with true Masonic courtesy . Nearly all the Lodges evinced a desire to use the standard work . He

recommended AVarrants to he granted to the Lodges under dispensation . The appointment of Grand Lecturers is one of our pet schemes for the improvement of our

" working ' in England , and we hope yet to see some such Brethren appointed , or at least that the Provinces would clelesrate to one or more of

their officers , the duties so abl y rilled hy Grand Lecturers in the United States . The period-set apart for the election uf officers

for the ensuing year having arrived , the G . East was taken by M . AV . Bro . John J . Crane , P . G . M ., and the special order was proceeded with . R . AV . Bro . Christopher G . Fox was nominated for ( irand Master , and elected by

acclamation . M . AV . Bros . Isaac Phillips , Stephen H . Johnson , and James Gibson were appointed a committee to notify the Grand Master elect of his election to office . The committee retired , and

on their return M . AV . Isaac Phillips presented him to the Grand Lodge in a eulogistic speech , which was responded to by the Grand Master

elect in a few well chosen and feeling remarks . Four brethren were then nominated for the office of 1 ) . G . Master , including AVm . T . AVoodniff , and Jerome Buck .

The G . Master appointed AVor . Bros . H . D AValker , John H . Reed , and M . C . Addoms tellers . On the first ballot there was no elec

turn : 2 , 378 votes were cast . On the second ballot there was no choice , when the two lowest candidates , Woodruff and Buck , were withdrawn , the last-named having

dwindled from 3 6 on ist to 1 ; on 2 nd ballot . Our prophices in regard to these two officeseekers were fully verified . Pennsylvania ought to be proud of the popularity of its Representative .

Grand Lodge Of New York. U. S. A.

On the third ballot R . AV . Bro . Elwood E . Thorne was elected D . G . Master . The R . AV . Bros . Edmund L . Judson , ' S . G . Warden ; James AV . Husted . J . G . AVarden ;

John AV . Simons , G . Treasurer ; James M . Austin , G . Secretary ,- Revs . 11 . L . Schoonmaker , Fred . L . Ewer , John G . AVebster , G . Chaplains ; AVors . J . Fountain , G . Pursuivant ;

J ohn Hoole , G . Tyler ; and George H . Raymond , G . Lecturer , were elected by acclamation . A Petition , numerously signed , by Brethren of the Jewish faith was presented , asking for

certain changes in the Ritual . It was ordered to be reported on next year . The . committee on Finances having delivered their report , and other matters of interest

transacted , including 50 dollars each to the reporters , the Grand Lodge was closed with prayer by the Grand Chaplain , in ample form .

The following resolutions , we think , are worthy also of reproduction in the columns of the Freemason .

On motion , the action had on Thursday in relation to referring the proposed Constitution to a Committee to be appointed by the in-coming G . Master , was repealed .

M . AV . John L . Lewis then ottered a resolution , which was adopted , providing for a convention consisting of one delegate from each Masonic district to meet for the purpose of revising the

Constitution , at such time and place after Jan . 1 , 1873 , as the Grand Master should direct . Delegates to be elected hy a plurality of votes of

Lodges in each district at elections held before Oct . 1 . The sessions of the Convention to continue not longer than four days and the actual expenses to be borne by the Grand lodge . The Grand Officers elect were then installed .

in accordance with previously adopted ceremonial , and proclaimed South , AVest and East . The M . AV . C . G . Fox , G . Master , was pleased to appoint R . AA . Stephen , S . Marshall , AV . Josiah Shove , and R . AV . \\ m . A . Brodie , a

Committee on Printing . On motion , the necessity of Subordinate Lodges making financial statements annually , was abolished . An unwise inquisitorship , not

within the proper scope of Grand Lodge legislation , was thus done away with . M . W . James Gibson , from Committee on Jurisprudence , presented a report , and as recommended , tlie following subjects were

adopted : 1 . That no Lodge can divest itself of jurisdiction when charges are made in open Lodge by a member against a fellow-member , nor can it delegate its authority to a commission to be appointed by the Grand Lodge without the consent of the accused .

2 . That a vote for the expulsion of a member of a Lodge on charges preferred , requires a majority vote of all brothers present in Lodge , and the requirement is enforced that all present must vote on the question at issue .

3 . ihat while each Lodge has the right to select its own material , it is asserted to be unmasonic , unlawful , and a breach of Masonic courtesy , for a Lodge to initiate , pass or raise a

candidate , after having been advised by a sister Lodge , or by brethren in good standing , that , such candidate is unworthy or unfit to be made a Mason .

The Committee also reported in favor of taking strong and decisive action in the case of any Grand Lodge invading the territorial jurisdiction