Grand Lodge Of New York.

GRAND LODGE OF NEW YORK .

The ninetieth annual communication of the Most Worship ful Grand Lodge of the State of New York was opened at the Grand Lodgeroom , Masonic Temple , corner of Twenty-thirdstreet , and Sixth-avenue , on Tuesday , 3 rd inst . The representatives of several Grand Lodges ,

and delegates fiom at least six hundred and fifty surbordinate lodges were present . The Grand Marshal , R . W . Bro . Charles Roome formed the Grand Officers , according to rank , in the Grand Secretary ' s office , and the procession moved up the main aisle , Bro .

William Keating ' s band playing , in magnificent style , the " Coronation March , " from Mendelsohn , receiving at its close deserved app lause . The Grand Lodge was then opened in ample form , and with prayer by the Rev . R . L .

Schoonmaker , Grand Chaplain , a select chorus from New and Brooklyn Lodges , under the lead of W . Bro . William F . Sherwin , P . M . of St Cecile Lodge , No . . 5 68 , Grand Musical Director , singing in exquisite style , the ode , " Hail ! Brother Mason , Hail . The Most Wor . the Grand Master then

delivered the following address : — Officers and Representatives : —In conformity to a time-honoured custom , and obedient to a provision of the Constitution , we are again convened in annual communication , to deliberate upon questions of moment concerning the

government of the Craft of this jurisdiction . The auspicious event which characterises our present meeting marks a new era in the history of this Grand Lodge , now for the first time dul y assembled within an edifice wholly the property of the brethren who compose its widely extended

and influential jurisdiction , and , though the building is uncompleted , they regard it with pride , and justly esteem it the harbinger of the accomplishment of an undertaking dear to their hearts . Their zealous labour in the past has furnished the Grand Lodge a seat of

government whence its laws will be promulgated and itsjudgenients pronounced , and where its archives will be securely preserved to their posterity . And they will yet , in compliance with the original plan , build the Asylum—a refuge for the aged and indigent , and the widows and orphans

dependent on them for protection and support . That work may be hindered and impeded by indifference and local prejudice , but their efforts will surmount all difficulties , and time , silent but inevitable , yet observant , will witness the consummation of the Hall and Asylum , projected

generations since by the Grand Lodge of New York , when she will rank the first among her equals for benevolence and charity . The warmth of your friendly and brotherly greetings , the mutual congratulations of the hour

and the interest of the occasion , inspire a unity of action in respect to the matters that will be presented for your consideration , unusual to so large a body , and induce the hope that harmony will be the guide to word and deed .

The several lodges to which warrants were granted at the last Annual Communication , were dul y constituted , and their officers installed either by the Deputy Grand Master or myself , or by virtue of special dispensations issued for the purpose .

Constellation Lodge , No . 404 , to which the ori g inal warrant was restored , was recognised and its officers elected and installed under the supervision of R . W . William A . Brodie , District Deputy for the Nineteenth Districtsome questions growing out of the peculiar

condition of its membershi p requiring official interposition . In the matter of the petition of Bro . James R . Golding , praying the Grand Lodge to terminate the sentence of indefinite suspension inflicted by Pacific Lodge , No 233 , which was referred to the Grand Master with power , 1 found the facts

to be as stated in the report of the Committee on Grievances , submitted at the last Annual Communication , and -greeing with the conclusions of that Committee in respect to the punishment inflicted , and tl > . ; promise of future good behaviour on the part of the petitioner , I addressed a letter to his lodge , recommending his

Grand Lodge Of New York.

restoration , which recommendation was comp lied with . The relation of non-intercourse heretofore established between ourselves and the Grand Orient of France and the Grand Lodge of Hamburgh still continues , iieith : r of those bodies

having retraced its steps respecting its unwarranted interference with our own and other Grand Lodge jurisdictions of this country . Our relations with other Grand Lodges of the world , recognised as legitimate governing bodies in Masonry , are of the most peaceful and fraternal

character . The usual variety of questions of law and privilege have been submitted for decision , and in their consideration I have kept steadily in view the provisions oF the Constitution and

Regulations of the Grand Lodge , and rendered decisions accordingly ; indeed , the field of Masonic law lias been so thoroughly cultivated by my predecessors , that I found no occasion to propagate new theories or princip les of law or

practice . During the year , seventeen new lodges were organised , under dispensations issued for the purpose , twelve having been granted by the Deputy Grand Master , and five by myself . The report of the Grand Secretary will show the order in which they are granted , and the location

of the several lodges organised pursuant thereto . The district deputies of the districts in which the new lodges are located , have submitted special reports in regard to them , b y which it appears that all have complied with the regulations of the Grand Lodge respecting lodges U . D ., and their applications for warrants are recommended to the favourable consideration

of the Grand Lodge . A sense of duty has constrained me to refuse to o-rant five app lications for authority to form new lodges , although the papers presented were in due form , and the petitions properly recommended . The considerations which induced me

to deny the applications were briefly these : The territory sought to be occupied was already supp lied with a sufficient number of lodges ; warranted lodges , weakened by dissensions growing out of the attempt to organise others , weic likfly to be materially injured , and their

existence imperilled , by the eiiiiUismuent o £ another lodge in the immediate vicinity ; or , if organised , there was a lack of good material to sustain a lodge properly beyond the first few months of its existence . For similar reasons , I have felt at liberty to discourage efforts to

organise new lodges in several localities , and with gratifying success . Dispensations to confer the Master ' s degree in less time than the Constitution provides , have been granted , in some instances , by the Deputy Grand Master . Applications to myself have

been frequent , but denied in all cases , with one exception , and that was granted early in my term , and in consideration of the fact that the requisite time Uv . d nearl y expiied . In declining to grant the requests , I have endeavoured to

dissipate the impression which prevails that the mere-payment of the requited fee was all that was necessary to dispense with the law regulating the conferring of the Master s degree , but that good and sufficient cuise must exist to warrant the exercise of the dispensing power .

Two applications were presented for dispensations to confer all the degrees at one and the same time , and numerous requests preferred for permission to initiate persons physically disquali lied ; the former were denied , and the latter , which I had no power to grant , were dismissed

with an intimation that a landmark of the fraternity absolutel y forbade the practice . The investigation of a number of appeals brought to me from the action of lodges in trials for alleged offences satisfied me that the brethren charged with their commission were

improperly convicted , and punishments inflicted without just cause , and in each case the action of the lodge was reversed . It ought to be well understood , b y this time , that no Mason can be unlawfully convicted on insufficient testimony ,

nor be tried by commissioners manifestly unfriendly to him ; and that the extreme penalty of Masonic law . lor comparativel y trivial offences , will be set aside . Death has not been wholly unmindful of tho ^ e

Grand Lodge Of New York.

hi gh in authority elsewhere , or hitherto officially connected with this Grand Lodge . M . W . Gustavus Warnatz , Grand Master of Masons in the kingdom of Saxony , was stricken with appoplexy , and died suddenly at Berlin , on the 18 th day of May , 1872 , soon after his arrival

there to attend the Constitutional Convention of the German Grand Lodge League , appointed to meet a few days afterwards . Bro . Warnatz was horn at Kamentz , in Saxony , February 27 th , 18 to , and was a physician by profession . In civil life he was counsellor and medical member of the Provincial Government at Dresden . He

was made a Mason in 1 859 , initiated in the Lodge of the Golden A pp le at Dresden , and in 1866 he was elevated to the Grand Mastership . He was an enli g htened and zealous Mason , prominent in the counsels of the Craft , and his death was severel y felt , not only by the Grand Lodge of Saxony , but by the fraternity of Germany .

R . W . William Wagner , for many years connected with this Grand Lodge in various relations , died at his residence , near New York city , on the 30 th May , 1872 . He was born at Fuerstenbevg , Germany , in 1804 . He received the degrees of symbolic Masonry in German Union

Lodge , No . . 54 , in 1835 , w ' which he ever afterwards continued his membership . He was Master of that lodge in 1843 and 1850 , and was for several years an officer of the Grand Steward ' s Lodge prior to the abolition of that body ; and in i 8 + 5 was accredited to this Grand Lodge as

the representative of the Grand Lodge of Saxony , and as such was well and favourablj known to his brethren . His services as its representative near this Grand body were highly appreciated by the Grand Lodge of Saxony , and the utmost confidence was reposed in his

discretion and ability . His death was sincerely mourned by his friends , and sundered his relation as the Representative of a Foreign Grand Lodge with which we are on terms of the most friendl y nature . In March last the sad intelligence of the

death of R . W . Edward Barnett , representative of this Grand Lodge near the Grand Lodge of Louisiana , was officially communicated to the Grand Secretary . His death occurred at New Orlerms . his place of residence , on the first of that month . He was born \ n l ^ cw OtUias

March 1 . 5 th , J 81 . 5 , and from his long continued residence and uprig ht character was well and favourably known to his fellow citizens . He was made a Mason about the year 1846 , and subsequently became connected with the various

bodies of the different Masonic rites , and ever had the love , and respect of his brethren . He was Grand Secretary of the Grand Lodge of Louisiana for two years , and in 186 . 5 was elected Deputy Grand Master , in which positions he rendered faithful and able service to the Grand

Lodge . R . W . Charles B . Wade , one of the Grand Stewards , died at his home at Walton , on the 10 th day of May last , alter a uiief illness—his health , however , was impaired for s ver . il tears p . 1 st . The late hour at which I learn ; . ! til" the

said event , and the want ot sufficient d . ita r- speeting his personal and Masonic history , prevents a proper reference to it . He held tile 1 . thee of District Deputy under Grind Masters Gibson and Anthon , and acquitted himself in tfi . tt capacity with marked success . My pergonal acquaintance with the deceased was liirr . !¦¦ . !

casual intercourse in Grand Lmlgc a . i t \ j , t 1 1 Chapter , and yet I came to esteem hiiii for Jii > manly character , modest demeanor , and a'liimle disposition ; he seemed always ready to do an act of kindness , and his heart filled with love tor his brethren . His death was indeed tuition ly , and his brethren mourn his loss with sincere

sorrow . The demand for the public ceremonies of the fraternity has been frequent and generally permitted ; and 1 am gratified in being able to report that the solemn and impr .-ssive rites of the fraternity with their attendant festivities were

in every case properly conducted , and with beneficial results to the Craft . On the 24 th of June , on the invitation of eoiiiinissioin rs , the cornei-s : nu" of th ,- O y and County il . t'l . iti OKU e " ' < rj on ;> e City of Builalo and Cuiiu . y ui E . ic , WJJ i * d