Proceedings Of The Grand Lodge Of Massachusetts, 1871.

respectable sect from among us . " These sentiments will be aproved by the English Craft . As Alasons , we are tolerant to all relig ious sects , and till are welcome to our lodges , irrespective of

creed , colour or country , so long as of sound judgment , strict morals , ancl bear the tongue of good report . We have no desire to radically change our ritual . It is now about as little

offensive to men of various creeds as it can be made , consistent with its character and origin , and so lon tr as its universal ancl unsectarian

platform be maintained we cannot see there is any cause of complaint , cither in a relig ious or social point of view .

Thc report having been read , the recommendation of thc Committee was put that " The Petitioners have leave to withdraw , " which the Grand Alaster declared to be unanimous in the

affirmative , whereupon Bro . Samuel Evans arose , ancl requested that his name mig ht be recorded as voting in the negative , so that our zealous brother retained his courteous opposition to the last .

The Grand Alaster read the official documents relating to the magnificent reception of the Grand Alaster of England , the Alarquis of Ripon , K . G ., by the Grand Lodge of the District of Columbia ,

and at which were representatives from nearly all the Grand Lodges in the United States . The Ai . W . Bvo . W . S . Gardner , being unable to attend , the distinguished Alason , John T . Heard

P . G . M ., was deputed to attend . In a capital letter , Bro . Heard concludes by stating that "both al the reception and banquet , the Grand Alaster of England returned thanks , eloquently and

warinlv , for the attention he had received . At the table many brethren from various parts of the Republic made short but appropriate addresses , which \ t ere received hi * the company with great favour . "

A copy of the letter signed by our respected Grand Secretary , containing particulars of the \ ole oi our Grand Lodge , holden at Freemasons ' J hill , London , on the 7 th | une , in appreciation of

the hearty and enthusiastic reception of the Jiarl De Grey and Kipon , was also read , and the resolution was dul y forwarded by the next mail , signed aud sealed b y the Grand Master and the Grand Secretary .

On the arrival of the Alarquis of Ripon at the city of Washington , U . S ., a very kind invitation was extended to his lonMii p hythe Grand Lodge uf Alassachusetts . ' •as the oldest of those insti .

tutci ! on the Continent . Wc have thought lhat it would be a source of extreme pleasuie , could we mee ! , for the lirst time in near a century and a half , the representative of our Alasonic mother . "'

Lord Tenterden replied , by request of oui Grand . Master , who had much pleasure in receiving * this gratifying * proof of the feelings of fraternal union with which the brethren of the Order

m Massachusetts are actuated towards ( he members of the Craft in England , over whom he has ihe'lionour to preside ; and who much regrets that he sees so little prospect of his visitm «

Boston as to render it impossible for him to appoint ; my day on which lie could have the pleasure of accepting th . * friendly and fraternal invitation . 'I'he Ihoroughly hearty manner in which the alarquis of K . i |_ on was received b y the members

Proceedings Of The Grand Lodge Of Massachusetts, 1871.

ofthe mystic tie in the United States , and particularly at thc Grand banquet , given in his honour at the city of Washington , must ever prove a source of pleasing remembrance to his lordship ;

and historically , it will be noted as one ofthe most prominent and valuable evidences in favour of the happy and genial influences , as well as the international and universal character of Ancient , Free , and Accepted Masonry .

The corner-stone of thc Army and Navj monument at Boston Common was laid by the

Grand Lodge , on thc iSth September , under thc acting Grand Mastership of Bro . C . L . Woodbury , D . G . AI . ( The structure is to be erected in memory of those soldiers and sailors , citizens

of Boston , who lost their lives m the recent civil war ) . The Grand Lodge was conducted to carriages furnished for their use by the City Government , ancl the procession was composed

of a large number ol military organisations , the Government ofthe Commonwealth , the Alayor and other officers of the city , and others . The entire procession numbered over 5 , 000 . On the conclusion of the ceremony , an artillery salute

was given . The corner-stone of the new post-office and sub-treasury building was also laid in the same city , on the 16 th of October , by the Grand

Alaster . It must have been a grand sight , indeed , to witness , for the spectacle was , in one respect at least , quite unique . It was the first time in their history when the President of the nation

had requested the Grand Lodge of Alassachusetts to lay the corner-stone of a public edifice , ancl himself been present at the ceremony . Alore than one hundred lodges were very fully

represented in the procession , antl no doubt it was as numerous as it was effective . All the Commanderies of Knights Templar in Alassachusetts and Rhode Island were called out , and Boston

Commandery was detailed as the Botly Guard to the Grantl Lodge . Four carriages were provided for the Grand Alaster and his chief officers . Able and interesting addresses were delivered by

Past Alaster General CreswcJl , Ex-AIayor Shustefl ' of Boston , General Bust , ( Postmaster of Boston ) , and especially by * the Grantl Alaster .

A beautiful hymn , composed by Bro . William T . Adams , was sung to thc tune" America , ' ' all present uniting , and the band accompanied them .

On the return ol the brethren to the ( irand Lodge the handsome sum of onc thousand dollars was voted for the relief of our Alasonic brethren in Chicago , ancl that the said amount

be transmitted to the Grand Alaster of Illinois for distribution . The President received , expressly by his desire , the Grand Alaster , the same evening at St . lames ' s Hotel , ancl also the

members of the Grand Lodge , about 200 in number , who after shaking hands with that distinguished personage , and enjoying a few minutes in social intercourse , dispersed without formality .

Fhe annual communication was holden 13 th Dec , 1871 . The annual report of the Grand Alaster showed that there were , ' 1 , 500 members ,

and the lodges generally were in a riourising condition . 'I'he Grand Treasurer had paid the stun of of £ 100 , 000 ( circa ) and received about £ 110 , 000 . The debt of Grand Lodge still amounts to upwards of £ 80 . 000 , which , however ,

Proceedings Of The Grand Lodge Of Massachusetts, 1871.

we are glad to notice , is being reduced annually by three to four thousand pounds . There is a " Sinking Fund" of some A ? 3 , 5 , , which appears to be formed from the Fees receiveable

from the initiates as dues from lodges . The expenses of printing during 1870 was so great ( viz . nearly , = £ 900 ) that a Committee was appointed to have charge of that department .

The " Committees" in United States Alasonry may be said to do everything . When any matters of consequence arise , petitions presented , or anything important is to be done , a Committee is

always appointed to prepare a report . This common sense plan should be adopted in all Grand Lodges , because a great deal of unnecessary discussion ancl waste time would be saved , as the committee really investigate all matters

thoroughly , ancl the members of the Grantl Lodge having sound data , are enabled to arrive , speedily and quietly , at an intelligent decision . A report was presented hy the Grand

Secretary , of the contributions received from thc lodges in Alassachusetts , for Chicago , from October iSth to December nth , 1 S 71 . The total contributions were considerabl y over £ 1 , 000 .

Bro . lundel ' s letter , received September last , was read , ancl as his suggestions relative to the Grand Lodges being unlimited in number in any state or country , were utterly

opposed to the usages ot Craft in America , the Grand Alaster acted as the mouthpiece of some fifty Grand Lodges in saying that the

acknowledgment of any Grand Lodge in Alassachusetts , other than our own , would k lead to the most disastrous results to the institution of

Freemasonry . We rather wonder of our talented Bro . F'indel ' s anxiety to promote the establishment of more than one Grand Lodge in each country ,

seeing that such a course would inevitably be followed by tin unwholesome rivalry and party manifestations , tpiite foreign to the genius of Freemasonry . One Grand Lodge in each state

or country is , in our opinion , much better than many , antl even preferable to two ; hence we arc obliged to disagree with our friend Findel's action in this matter .

The valedictory of the Grand Alaster is a pleasure to read , because in it he shows that although the commencement of his official duties was uot under propitious circumstances , because

of thu hirgc nnd unwieldy debt , u taxation irritated many of the brethren , and by others lhe Grand Lodge was looked upon as a monopoly ; yet , in concluding his eventful term of office , he was

able to declare that " no administration of the Grand Lodge within his memory had received more encouragement from the Craft at large , or been in closer sympathy with all the brethren

than this . " One of the mornings occupied by the Grand Lodge meetings was devoted to a " Grand Lodge of Instruction , " wherein the work and lectures of the three degrees were fully

exemplified b y the three Grand Lecturers , assisted by - several Past Alasters . " A very large number of the members were present , and great interest was

manile ' sted in the ritual ot the Crait . " Atthe stated commtincation for the installation , Grand Master Gardner delivered an elaborate address on

' * Henry Price , first Grand' Alaster of Alasons in America . " It is rruite it yipossible ior us to do