USA > Indiana > A history of freemasonry in Indiana from 1806 to 1898 > Part 25
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The Grand Master decided that a man who is superin- tendent of a brewery, under the regulations, is not eligible to the degrees. The committee to whom the decision was referred stated that, how far a man who had no interest in the manufacture or sale of liquors, and was employed only as a laborer, was amenable to the rule was "too metaphysical and fine-spun to be distinctly visible to the naked eye!"
It was decided that in all business transacted in a lodge, a majority should rule.
Upon counting the ballots for Deputy Grand Master, it was found that Lucien A. Foote had been elected. Where- upon, it having been ascertained that Brother Foote had never been elected and served as Master of a lodge, and was therefore, under the Constitution, ineligible to the office of Deputy Grand Master, the Grand Master declared the elec- tion void.
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Instead, he sent out a circular asking a number of ques- tions, and from 388 lodges received replies giving the fol- lowing information :
Value of lodge hall property $305,658
Value of furniture. . 93,353
116 lodges carried insurance. 130,143
Total indebtedness of lodges 79,069
Total cash on hand. 53,604
Total dues unpaid. 40,892
Total stated meetings provided for 6,620
Total stated meetings held . 5,922
Total stated meetings missed.
131 lodge declare cases of emergency. 698
Jefferson Lodge, at New Albany, presented a petition asking that Sections 108 and 109, which were omitted from the revised code of rules and regulations adopted last year, be resuscitated. They referred to the use of intoxicating liquors as a beverage, and to the conferring of the degrees upon anyone in the habit of becoming intoxicated. The petition was referred to the Committee on Jurisprudence, who reported in favor of restoring the omitted sections, and the Grand Lodge concurred by an overwhelming majority.
One of the most important cases that had come before the Grand Lodge in many years, if ever, was the case of Mrs. Page vs. Perry Lodge, Lafayette. The lodge had borrowed of Mrs. Page, the widow of a Mason, $4,000, the money having been previously paid her by the Masonic Mutual Benefit Society upon the death of her husband, giving her a mortgage upon the lodge property. Not long after a prior mortgage was found to exist upon said lodge property to the amount of $8,000, which was legally foreclosed. The property was purchased by five brothers of the lodge, taking a deed in their own names individually, and not in trust for the lodge or its creditors, thus depriving Mrs. Page of her surety. A thorough investigation was ordered, which ran along through several years.
Stephen Albert presented an elaborate plan for a Ma- sonic widows' and orphans' home, which was referred to the Committee on Charity, which subsequently reported against the proposition.
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The Committee on Masonic History reported in favor of making preparation for such a history, and ordered the Grand Secretary to send a circular to the several lodges ask- ing replies to certain questions therein named. This cir- cular was printed and sent, and such as were returned have been bound and labeled "Centennial History of Masonry, 1876," and filed in the office of the Grand Secretary.
Section 5 of the rules was amended to read as follows: "The payment of all dues for which a member was sus- pended will restore him to all the rights and privileges of membership, provided the failure to pay dues was the only charge found against such member." This was repealed at the next annual session.
INDIANAPOLIS, MAY 22, 1877 .- The Grand Master an- nounced the death of Grand Marshal E. W. H. Ellis, one of the most distinguished members of the Fraternity in this jurisdiction.
The Trustees of the Grand Lodge Hall property showed a total indebtedness of $104,666.67, with pressing present liabilities of $24,000.
The Committee on Ways and Means recommended the assessment of one dollar yearly on each member, to be used in paying off the debt on the Grand Lodge Hall property, and, a vote being taken by lodges, it was adopted, 260 to 147.
The pay-roll was made out and the total amount ordered to be paid-half cash and the remainder in certificates to be redeemable in payment of dues of subordinate lodges to the Grand Lodge in any subsequent year.
INDIANAPOLIS, MAY 28, 1878 .- Four hundred and eighty- four out of the five hundred and thirty-five lodges were rep- resented.
The Grand Master announced the death of Past Grand Master Harvey G. Hazelrigg, which occurred December 15, 1877.
It was resolved that "The payment of all dues for which a brother was suspended will restore him to the rights and privileges he enjoyed before suspension."
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The reports of the Grand Treasurer and Secretary and the Trustees of the Grand Lodge Hall property showed the treasury to be empty and the indebtedness to be about $100,000.
The Committee of Ways and Means recommended that an assessment be made annually to raise funds to pay off the indebtedness, which was adopted by a vote of 317 to 166.
The Committee on Pay-Roll recommended that the sign- ing of the roll by those in attendance be dispensed with, and the Grand Secretary send scrip certificates of indebtedness to the members for the amount to which each was entitled, which was adopted.
It was also resolved that, owing to the embarrassed condi- tion of the treasury, the preparation and printing of the re- port on correspondence be dispensed with until otherwise ordered.
Intercourse with the Grand Orient of France was severed for changing the fundamental principles of the Order from a belief in the existence of Deity and the immortality of the soul to absolute liberty of conscience.
INDIANAPOLIS, MAY 27, 1879 .- Four hundred and twenty- seven out of five hundred and twenty-five lodges were rep- resented.
The Grand Master reported that the various lodges in the jurisdiction had contributed and forwarded to the yellow fever sufferers of the South $566.
A regulation for the consolidation of two or more lodges was prepared and adopted by the Grand Lodge.
It was decided that all lottery schemes and gift enter- prises are disreputable, immoral and unlawful.
Rev. John Leach was made an honorary member of the Grand Lodge.
The new Grand Lodges of the Island of Cuba and New Mexico were recognized.
The Grand Secretary was made the general agent for the Grand Lodge, without additional compensation.
The penalty for non-payment of dues was made indefinite suspension.
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HISTORY OF FREEMASONRY.
INDIANAPOLIS, MAY 25, 1880 .- Four hundred and eighty- seven lodges were represented.
The death of Past Grand Chaplain John Leach was an- nounced.
The indebtedness of the Grand Lodge was stated to be $94,333.34, showing a decrease of nearly $10,000 during the year.
Forty-nine lodges petitioned that the rules be so amended as to permit the Grand Master to issue dispensations to suchi lodges as may petition for the same, to occupy a hall with other secret and kindred societies. The petition was laid upon the table.
At this session the rule changing the ballot from a sep- arate ballot for each degree to one ballot for all three de- grees was adopted.
A regulation was adopted that all officers elected or ap- pointed must be installed on or before the next stated meet- ing, or as soon thereafter as practicable, and hold until their successors are elected and installed.
The Grand Lodge of Indian Territory was recognized.
In accordance with the recommendation of the Trustees and a special committee, the following resolution was adopted :
"Resolved, That when this Grand Lodge be adjourned it shall not meet again until the fourth Tuesday of May, 1882."
This was done to effect a saving of $10,000 to apply on the indebtedness of the Grand Lodge.
INDIANAPOLIS, MAY 23, 1882 .- No meeting was held in 1881. At this meeting 475 lodges were represented.
Grand Masters Meffert, of Kentucky, and Scott, of Illi- nois, were present as visitors.
The total reduction of the indebtedness since May, 1880, is shown to be $31,333.34, leaving balance due $63,000.
Ten printed pages of the proceedings are taken up with the appeal case of George Chaney vs. Reed Lodge of Evans- ville for trial and conviction on the grounds that the ac- cused denied the existence of God, had publicly renounced his trust in God, expressed his contempt for Masonic invo-
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cations to Deity, and had declared his contempt for Masons and Masonry. He was expelled, and appealed. The de- cision of the lodge was sustained.
A new codification of the laws, etc., was made and or- dered to be printed. It embraced the Constitution of the Grand Lodge, the By-Laws of the Grand Lodge, the rules of order of the Grand Lodge, general regulations for the government of lodges, ritual for installing officers of a lodge, funeral ceremonies.
Resolutions of respect were adopted in memory of the late Albert G. Mackey.
The Grand Lodge adjourned until May, 1884.
INDIANAPOLIS, MAY 27, 1884 .- During the two years the debt had been decreased $31,000, the balance at this date being $32,000.
The death of Past Grand Master Thomas R. Austin was announced.
The Grand Master reported that the Masons of this juris- diction had contributed during the years 1883-4 $7,212 for the relief of the flood sufferers along the Ohio river. A full and itemized report of receipts and disbursements, pre- pared by Grand Secretary William H. Smythe, forms thir- teen of the brightest pages on our Grand Lodge records.
Tipton Lodge, Logansport, presented a proposition to dis- pose of the Grand Lodge property and invest the proceeds in building an asylum for Masonic orphans, decrepit, indi- gent Masons, etc. It was indefinitely postponed.
Past Grand Master Martin II. Rice presented his com- mission as Grand Representative of England, was received with proper honors, and responded in a few well-chosen words.
INDIANAPOLIS, MAY 25, 1886 .- Four hundred and sixty- three lodges were represented.
The Grand Master announced that the Grand Lodge was out of debt and had a surplus of nearly $12,000 in the treasury.
He also announced the death of Charles Fisher, for thir- ty-seven years the honored Grand Treasurer of the Grand Lodge.
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The dues for 1886-7 were fixed at fifty cents per capita.
A proposition to make it a Masonic offense for a Mason to sign a saloonkeeper's bond was not concurred in.
A grand banquet and jubilee was held on the evening of May 26th, in honor of the payment of the Grand Lodge debt. Speeches were made, and an elaborate statement of everything connected with the making of the debt and its payment was presented by Grand Secretary W. H. Smythe, which is printed in full as an appendix.
The Grand Lodge then adjourned for two years more.
INDIANAPOLIS, MAY 22, 1888 .- Representatives of 462 lodges were present.
The death of William M. Black, Grand Tyler, and Cyrus Vigus, Past Grand Tyler, 1821 to 1828, were announced.
The centennial celebration of Fredericksburg Lodge, Virginia, was announced by the Grand Master. It worked under a charter from the Grand Lodge of Virginia, dated January 31, 1787. It worked, however, under a charter prior to this granted by the Grand Lodge of Scotland, dated July 21, 1758, but was under dispensation long prior to that date. General Washington received the degrees in this lodge, as follows: Entered Apprentice, November 4, 1752; Fellow Craft, March 3, 1753; Master Mason, August 4, 1753, and afterwards served as Master of the Lodge.
In October, 1887, the daughter of George W. Bolen fell down a stairway in the rear of the Temple and was killed. The father brought suit against the Grand Lodge for $10,000 damages, but the case was dismissed on demurrer.
A lengthy paper, giving a complete history of the action of the Grand Lodge on the question of "work," is printed in the proceedings, pages 95 to 108, inclusive.
The Grand Master sent $100 to Charleston for the relief of sufferers from earthquake, and his action was approved.
The following was adopted:
"Resolved, That it is the sense of this Grand Lodge that the emergency no longer exists to hold only biennial ses- sions."
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The credentials of Robert Van Valzah as the Grand Rep- resentative of the Grand Lodge of Ireland were presented, and he was received with the grand honors, and responded in fitting terms.
The claim of Mrs. Laura Page vs. Perry Lodge, which had been before each session of the Grand Lodge from 1876 to that time, was again presented. The committee to whom the matter was referred made a report embracing all the action had by the Grand Lodge in the matter to the present time, which is printed in the proceedings, pages 116 to 124, inclusive. They concluded as follows:
"Your committee are of the opinion that this Grand Lodge is under no legal or moral obligation to grant the prayer of the petitioner."
A resolution was adopted requiring the Grand Secretary to send a request to each lodge to instruct the representative next year how he shall vote on a proposition to establish a widows' and orphans' home at the expense of and under the management of the Grand Lodge.
The proposition to limit the commissions of Grand Rep- resentatives to three years was not concurred in.
"Resolved, That the practice of issuing begging circulars under the guise of charity, for any imaginable purpose, by Masonic lodges or individual Masons is wrong and contrary to the views of this Grand Lodge.
"Resolved, That lodges are hereby forbidden to issue any such circulars, and in doing so hereafter, will subject them- selves to discipline by the Grand Lodge."
INDIANAPOLIS, MAY 28, 1889 .- Four hundred and fifty- eight of the four hundred and sixty-five lodges were repre- sented.
The death of Past Grand Master Albert P. Charles was announced.
The lodges had been asked if they deemed it advisable that the Grand Lodge should take steps to organize a wid- ows' and orphans' home: 255 lodges had responded: 111 an- swered ves, 144 no. Three hundred and thirty-nine dol- lars and fifty cents had been contributed to yellow fever sufferers in Florida.
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HISTORY OF FREEMASONRY.
A proposition to build a Masonic widows' and orphans' home was voted down by a large majority.
It was decided that when a brother is summoned to ap- pear at a stated meeting, and no quorum was present and no meeting held, the case would have to be commenced anew and a new summons issued.
The surplus funds of the Grand Lodge were ordered to be loaned on first-mortgage security.
INDIANAPOLIS, MAY 27, 1890 .- The address of Grand Mas- ter Thomas B. Long covers forty printed pages, and is the Long-est document of the kind ever delivered before the Grand Lodge, as well as one of the best.
The donations for the relief of the Johnstown flood suf- ferers footed up $3,259.30.
The Committee on Grievances stated that, out of 694 cases that had been before the Grand Lodge the past forty years, 16.5 per cent. per year were charged to the period of 1850 to 1860, 21.8 per cent. 1860 to 1870, and 24 per cent. 1870 to 1880, and 7.1 per cent. from that time to 1890. At this session the committee had but five cases.
The cost of reprinting the proceedings of the Grand Lodge, including the Hacker electrotype plates of the pro- ceedings from 1817 to 1845, to the present time, is fully set out on page 108.
The regulations were changed so as to require the meet- ing of the standing committees only one day previous to the date of the annual meeting, instead of the week previous.
INDIANAPOLIS, MAY 26, 1891 .- A letter from Past Grand Master William Hacker, announcing his inability to be present at the meeting, was received and referred to the Senior Past Grand Masters.
The Grand Secretary reported that subordinate lodges had 193 copies of the reprint proceedings at $2.45 per copy.
The Grand Secretary recommended the erection of a flag- staff on Masonic Temple and the purchase of a flag, to be displayed on all proper occasions. The proposition was heartily concurred in and the Grand Secretary authorized to attend to the matter.
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The session was taken up with routine business, there be- ing nothing transacted out of the usual order.
INDIANAPOLIS, May 24, 1892 .- The death of Past Grand Master William Hacker, one of the most distinguished and universally respected members the Grand Lodge has ever had on its rolls, was announced as having taken place July 28, 1891. Also the death of Rev. Thomas HI. Lynch, a revered Past Grand Chaplain.
The Committee on Jurisprudence reported upon a case where a brother asked for a dimit, he being clear of the books and in good standing, and the lodge refused to vote it to him, that the lodge erred, and it was ordered to issue him a dimit at its earliest convenience.
A lengthy report was made on the proposition to estab- lish a widows' and orphans' home. Action was postponed until next year.
INDIANAPOLIS, MAY 23, 1893 .- The Grand Master an- nounced the death of Past Grand Masters Robert Van Valzah and Bruce Carr.
The rule in regard to the non-payment of dues was changed so as to make the period of suspension one year in which the brother can pay and be restored to all the privi- leges he possessed before suspension. After that date he could only be reinstated by a majority vote, and then only as a non-affiliate.
The plates belonging to Brother William Hacker, used in the reprint of the early proceedings of the Grand Lodge, were ordered to be purchased, on delivery in good condition, for $300.
INDIANAPOLIS, MAY 22, 1894 .- At this meeting 466 of the 173 chartered lodges were represented.
The amount of Grand Lodge surplus funds invested in bonded securities was stated by the Grand Secretary to be $25,474.79, with a balance in the Grand Treasury of $11,815.34.
Hle also gave the rate of Grand Lodge dues from 1849 (the reports had not been preserved prior to that time), as. follows:
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1849 to 1858 75 cents per member.
1858 to 1865 50 cents per member.
1865 to 1870. . 25 cents per member.
1870 to 1877 40 cents per member.
1877 to 1885 100 cents per member.
1885 to 1894. 50 cents per member.
1894 to 1897 40 cents per member.
1897 to 25 cents per member.
The total rents of the Grand Lodge Hall and property for the year were $6,597.67; expenses, $4,366.12; net balance from rents, $2,231.55.
The pay-roll for the session amounted to $7,343.10.
It was decided that a Grand Lodge should never surren- der the sovereign power to legislate for itself upon its own exclusive territorial jurisdiction; that the Grand Lodge of Indiana declines to claim for itself and its subordinates any ownership in material absolutely rejected here, after such may have become available to the lodges of another Grand Jurisdiction.
The Grand Master made this decision: "An English clergyman, a missionary, who resided in the State for six months, petitioned for the degrees. In this case I ruled that before the lodge could receive his petition the peti- tioner must become a citizen of the United States, or at least have declared his intention to become such."
A majority of the Committee on Jurisprudence recom- mended approval of the decision. A minority report in op- position was adopted.
INDIANAPOLIS, MAY 28 1895 .- Out of 475 chartered lodges, 467 were represented, with thirteen Past Grand Masters also present. The Grand Master made thirty de- cisions on questions of Masonic law, all of which were con- curred in.
There was found to be a balance in the Grand Treasury of $15,264.74, in addition to funds invested of $25,474.79.
The Trustees noted the fact that in the erection of the Grand Lodge Hall the building had encroached slightly on the adjoining lot, No. 9. They reported having secured a deed for $150 for the ground in dispute.
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The committee to whom the matter was referred recom- mended that steps be taken to secure and preserve the facts and incidents connected with the lives and times of the pioneer Masons of Indiana and the history relating to the Grand Lodge, especially during its earlier and formative period, and to that end recommended that the Grand Master appoint a committee of three persons as Historians of the Grand Lodge, who should proceed to carry out the pur- poses of the action. The Grand Master appointed the fol- lowing as said committee:
P. G. M. Daniel McDonald, Plymouth.
P. G. M. Thomas B. Long, Terre Haute.
P. M. Will E. English, Indianapolis.
It was decided that in case a candidate is elected, and be- fore the degrees are conferred an objection is lodged with the Worshipful Master, and by him announced to the lodge and entered upon the records, that the withdrawal of the objection does not authorize the conferring of the degrees, but that the objection operates as a negative ballot, and the candidate is thereby rejected.
It was decided, "Under the spirit and letter of the law, a lodge has nothing to do with fixing the penalty in a case of suspension for non-payment of dues after charges, trial and finding guilty by the lodge; that the rules and regulations of the Grand Lodge fix the penalty."
The resolution adopted in 1893, authorizing the purchase of the Hacker electrotype plates, was rescinded.
INDIANAPOLIS, MAY 26, 1896 .- The proceedings of this session contains a photo-gravure of the building at Madi- son in which the Grand Lodge was organized; also pictures of all the Past Grand Masters, except a few which could not be procured.
Grand Master Edward O'Rourke presided, with four- teen Past Grand Masters present.
George A. Macomber, having removed from the jurisdic- tion, presented his resignation as Junior Grand Warden.
Daniel McDonald, for the Committee on History of Ma- sonry in Indiana, made a report showing progress in the
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work. The committee to whom the report was referred recommended the appropriation of $250 to prosecute the work, to be divided between the three committeemen as they might determine, making no provision for work al- ready done. Thereupon Brother McDonald resigned as chairman of the committee.
The Grand Treasurer's report showed total receipts dur- ing the year $20,839.32, which, added to the balance on hand at the close of last year, showed total receipts of $36,- 104.06. He also stated that Grand Lodge securities were deposited in a safety vault amounting to $28,474.79.
The Committee on Charters called attention to the fact that in writing the minutes Secretaries should use the word "meeting" instead of "communication;" that this change was made by the Grand Lodge many years ago.
A stenographer and typewriter for the Grand Secretary was authorized for the future.
The office of the Grand Secretary was ordered to be en- larged by fitting up the room adjoining as an addition to the present office.
A proposition to reduce the Grand Lodge dues from 40 cents per capita to 25 cents was not concurred in.
It was decided that "the Grand Lodge of Indiana has at all times contended and held that a Mason in distress is en- titled to aid and assistance from the Fraternity, wherever he may be at the time of his need, and that, as a matter of law, his lodge is not bound to make any restitution, though it may always do so at its own option."
In regard to the doctrine of "perpetual jurisdiction," the committee reported, and it was adopted, that "The doctrine of perpetual jurisdiction over rejected candidates is held only by a minority of the Grand Lodges of the United States, and by no Grand Lodge outside of the United States. It is unmasonic, uncharitable, unconstitutional, wrong in theory and pernicious in action!"
The total initiations during the year were 1,834, a gain of 455 over the previous year. Total membership, 28,439, being a gain of 932 over the year previous.
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The committee to whom the matter was referred recom- mended that steps be taken to secure and preserve the facts and incidents connected with the lives and times of the pioneer Masons of Indiana and the history relating to the Grand Lodge, especially during its earlier and formative period, and to that end recommended that the Grand Master appoint a committee of three persons as Historians of the Grand Lodge, who should proceed to carry out the pur- poses of the action. The Grand Master appointed the fol- lowing as said committee:
P. G. M. Daniel McDonald, Plymouth.
P. G. M. Thomas B. Long, Terre Haute.
P. M. Will E. English, Indianapolis.
It was decided that in case a candidate is elected, and be- fore the degrees are conferred an objection is lodged with the Worshipful Master, and by him announced to the lodge and entered upon the records, that the withdrawal of the objection does not authorize the conferring of the degrees, but that the objection operates as a negative ballot, and the candidate is thereby rejected.
It was decided, "Under the spirit and letter of the law, a lodge has nothing to do with fixing the penalty in a case of suspension for non-payment of dues after charges, trial and finding guilty by the lodge; that the rules and regulations of the Grand Lodge fix the penalty."
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