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PROCEEDINGS

OF THE

- MOST PUISSANT GRAND COUNCIL

OF

OF TlIE

S T A. 'l' E 0 F N E W Y 0 R K ,

February 2, 18G9.

___ ,, _____ _

NEW YORK:

CORLIES, MACY & CO., STATIONERS AND PRINTERS,

33 NASSAU STREET.

18 G 9.

ANNUAL ASSEMBLY .

. GR.AND COUNCIL ROOM, ALBANY, Feb. 2d, A. D. 1869, A.. Dep. 2859.

'rhe Most Puissant Grand Council of Royal and Select Masters of the State of New York convened in .Annual .As· sembly in the city of .Albany,. in accordance with a resolu­tion of the last .Annual .Assembly, on 'l'ucsday, February 2d, A. D. 1869, A. Dep. 2869.

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P1rnsENT.

JIJ. P CHARLEiil H. l'LATT • • • • • • . . • . • . . . • • • ..• • • • • • • .•.•. GRA!<D MASTIR. R. P. JOHN BOOLE • • • . . •.. • • • • • ................ , . DEPUTY GRAND MASTER. It. P. JAMES ·MCCREDIE .................. , ..... GRAND lLLUSTRIOUS,MASTER. R. P. JOHN D. WILLIAMS •••.••••••••••.••.••.. GRAND P.·C. OF TRE WORK.

R p, JOSIAH SHOVE •••••• •••••••••• ................... ·GBAND RECOBDEB. M. P. H. F .. L. BUNTING .••.. • ••.•••. · ....... •.• •••••...••. GRAND TREASURER: R. P. DANIEL WOLFF • • • • • • • . . • •.• . . • . • • • . • . • ••. GRAND·C. ·OF THE GUARD. R. P.'JOSEpH B. CHAFFEE ..•... · ...•••••.••••.••.••.•••••. GRAND MARSHAL. R. P. AND·REV. J. G. WEBSTER .••••••.••.••••••••••••••. GRAND CHAPLAIN.

P. AZMA lfULLER ..................................... GR'.-ND SENTINEL. R. P. ·sEYMOUR·H. STONE ................................. PASTDEP. MASTER.

And the Representatives of the following Couucils: COLUMBIAN ............................... -. ........ ,. •• .' ................ No. I. UNION ........... -., ..... ,. .......... .' ........................................ No. 2. BROOKLYN.... • • • . ........ • ......... ., •• ; ...... • ........... .- ....... ., •• , : ... No. 4. ADELPHIC ....................................................... .- ••.•.• No. 7. CENTRAL CI:rY ............ ; . ; ........................................ No.13. BLOSS ................................ ; ................... : .. •••.• •. : ..••.. No. 14. BRUCE ................ .-, ... : ......................................... No.15. SOUTHERN TIER ................... .- • • • • • • • • • • .. • . . • • • .. .. .. .... No. 16. BUFFALO ......................................................... No . .17. KING HIRAM ................................... , .................. No. 18. DORIC ............................................................. No. W. KEYSTONE .......................................................... No. 20. HUDSON RIVER .................................................... No. 21. DE WITT CI,INTO::<I ................................................ No. 22. ONTARIO ............... : ............ ; ............................... No. 23. BINGHAMTON ................. · ............................... No. ~4. DUNKIRK ........................................................... No. 25. PALMYRA ................ ;..................... • .................. No. 26. BATAVIA ........................................................... No. 2.7. MOHAWK ......................... . : .. ........................... No. 29. OWEGO .......................... ,... • • • .............................. No. 30. KING SOLOMON ............................ • ............ • • •• • ...... No. 31. CHAUTAUQUA ................................. •••· ••. •••• •• •• ........ U. D. OLEAN • • • • • . • • ......... ,. •.••..••.•••••• •• • • • · . • • .• • • • •• • • • · • • ...... U. D.

· "l'he Grand Council was opened in ~mplr JForm. ·On motion of R. P. ·Comp. HooLE, it was Resolved, That all Companion Select Mast'ers ·in good standing

be invited to take seats as ~"isitors in this Grand ·Council.

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'l'he GrM1d: Master then delivered: the. following Annual Address.

HONORED AND WORTHY COMPANIONS:

A year closes which has witnessed the:. planting of the seeds: of great results. for the cause ·of Gryptic Masonry.

The Glorious: Keeper of Israel; that hideth Himself; has mani­fested favor towards us in continued harmony and in: obvious adc vance towards a more. intelligent and· vigorous- use. of our moral instruction. I would not assume that placidity a11d silent ·har­mony are invariable: tokens of genuine strength. Arbitrary and imperious authority may givetemporary .. quietude;. moody discon­tent may silently bide its time, and crafty treachery may simper in disguise-while cruel plots are nursed. But. none· of these e''ils attend upon ou'r prosperity.· We hail it without n. misgivi11g. No. blemish of distrust jmpairs the perfectness of our thank-offering to· Him who· hath made peace in. our time. · I am· now prepared· to surrender· to you- the high sovereignty

with which your· favor has repeatedly and indulgently honored me .. I am gra~eful to every member of this Grand Body, n<lt only for the honorable position in which I have been continued, but for the unswerving. support,. respect, encouragement and aid universally bestowed.· I entreat you now to dismiss me as a good and faithful servant, as a gentle and considerate Master; Let the noble emu­lation of others have its scope and its· reward.. Let the faithful perseverance ·of the good workman be permitted a wider effect by the trust. of a higher station. · Let the interest of new Companions . be enlisted in our Grand Council work, and the very engagement 'vill enlarge their sense of its importance and· its labqr. I will not dictate to you your suffrages,:,but content· myself with acknowledg­ing. that. your gifts of honor have· more than filled my measure of merit, ancl that I desire to witness the' lustres of office upon an­other brow.

The report of duty discharged by my Right Puissant Deputy re­gales us with the intelligence that Hudson River·Council, No. 21,

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some .time delinquent and dormant, has resumed active functions ai'id determined to rekindle ~ light not to be quenched.

I have issued Dispensations for four new Councils. On the 1st of May for Chautauqua Council, at Jamestown, Chautauqua Coun­ty, and for Sandy Hill Council, at Sandy Hill, Washington County; on the 7th of December for Olean Council, at Olean, Cattaraugus County; and on the 26th of January, 1869, for Wyoming Council, at Pike, Wyoming County.

Applications for Warrants will be made by several Councils under Dispen~ation. I trust that their evidences of proficiency and use­fulness will find your favor.

The competent Committee to whom was referred the revision of our ritual for the three degrees conferred in Councils gave prompt and judicious attention to their serious duty. The result was reported to me,· and our ritual now ~tands complete, accepted. and promulgated by due authority, and in the possession. of our efficient Grand Lecturer. I recommend recourse to him for full .instruction. The object is uniformity in our exemplifications. We have approached the goal or' a long journey and a patient, pro­tracted effort. We have eschewed changes, but sought improve­ments. We have claimed that Cryptic Masonry must have its peculiarities, and yet ought to f1,ssimilate to the phraseology of the Chapter. 'Vanton diversities create needless confusion. Mere novelties of languag~ arc puerile. Language faithful to facts is wise. Our ritual now stands lipon this reasonable basis, simpler in expression, · easier to acquire, more conformable to Masonic usage,.more dramatically impressive, in cfoser fidelity to our 'tra­ditions, and bearing a desirable analogy to the work of other Grand Councils, almost identical with the rituals generally adopted. It

. is substantially whaflt always has been during the.sixty-two years of our Grand Council history, and yet relieved of some inelegancies and inaccura&ies which. time had stereotyped. Its exhibition has satisfied the critical scrutiny of other jurisdictions. They have in­dcirsed its propriety, and it now gives promise of being the nucleus around which will crystallize a beautiful uniformity in Cryptic Masonry throughout our land.

By your confidence I was delegated to the important mission of . representing you in an ussembln.ge of Grand Council delegates at

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St. Louis, simultaneously with the General Grand Encampment· and General Grand Chapter. · You had· fortunately provided for'·· substitution in the ·event of my inability fo attend. It was my purpose to hiwe participated in those delibemtions. My prepam-' tioris were niade with that intention arid d~sire; bu(sickness pros-trated me ·and ·cnained me to my plo'.ce. · The.-opportunity was lost, •• so far as my' personal attendance was concerned.·.· In yielding· to'· this interdict I consulted wisely your own interests, and _iratifted · myself by deputini:(our Right Puissmit Grand Lecturer to repre-sent us.·. He set forth upon very brief notice;·and admirably ac- . complished all that could have been done ill the prosecution of our own plan's .. To the ·particulars embraced· fu his report, submitted herewith, I would direCt your especial attention~ ' .

The. Convention for· Cryptic· Masonry to' represent the several' Grand Jurisdictions failed to. effect all that was contemplated in .. the original .'scheme. ' It did amount· to a valuable conference or' . Companions and to a comparison of views·and' projects from which:. each derived new animatfon,'and all received the·impress of the . most intelligent arid the best illumined,

Two measures to be· discussed and promoted in each jurisdiction were ventilated,· and are returned_ from the· centre· to be pondered and cherished by each sovereign·part. - · · ·

It was fust 'deemed opportune fo create in each Grand Coinman:O -· dery a disposition to restore a~d dignify the injlired and· discred; ited summit of Ancient Craft Masonry. That. crown of the olden mystery 'is treasured in the· secret ·r~cesses of the Council. : Its · legitimate custody, and; as experience has proved; its· only inimuc' · nity from· dishonor, is there. The York Rite mti.st dro'op into mer­ited disparagement,' unless it can 'consent to guard and foster' the Royal' and Select Degrees by Council obligations· and· by Grand Council symbolism. And chivalric Masonry abets 'and instigates this corrupting process so long as it 'disdains the advice' and sc'orris' ' the acc_redi,ting of those who· sustain the foundations of the Royal ·:· Arch by keeping unimpaiied the' cryptic walls. ' Reform will come; · it must come, or the Arch itselfwill'degenerate. And one of those· elements, not of wild and rash innovation; but of consistent and happy 'restoration, will be the gradual.conviction that the courteous Knight should be the well instructed Select Master. · The day is.·.,

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. not remote when this Gmnd Council will make its solemn appeal to the magnanimity of the Templar, and his heart, emancipated from prejudices, will respond with the generous acknowledgment that the justice denied· to our degrees shall henceforth be rendered.

Another· subject broached in those consultations of September last merits our noticer It is the rescue of the Royal ancl Select traditions from that patronage which is· but the prelude of disaster

· -the usurped jurisdiction of Grand: Chapters, or the temporary shelter of these degrees under capitular autho1iity. ·

I do not content· myself with the.merely evasive pr~position that Chapters have now all they can well maintain, ·and that more in­cumbrances.of labo1· would prove· the occasion of neglected,: slurred and imperfect labor. I omit an discussion· of the·right to encroach, or of the need: to absorb. Look we only at the mortifying fact that so meagre a proportion of cryptic light has been diffused through­out the territory which: we· occupy. Our theory would make Sub" ordinate· Councils as numerous and: acces"sible as well ordered and

· substantial Chapters• We do not average one• Council to five· Chapters.

Our Grand Lodge reports; in round numbers, 56,000 members. Of these one out of five advances to· the Chapter; But of Royal Arch Masons not one in seven attains membership in the Council. In Ohio every fourth Royal Arch Mason· is a Select Master. In l\Iaine and Massachusetts the same ratio subsists, while. in· Missis-· sippi; In<:J.frma and Louisjana about one-third of the Chapter mem­bership is also admitted to cryptic privileg<;i. Under this last pro­portion the consequence is greater vigor in Cii.pitular Masonry, and better material interested: in the Council. Recleem New York from her humiliating apathy,. and a hundred' gates will adorn the walls of the city of our solemnities; 5,000 Companions will guard, as cryptic obligation teaches. us to guard, the trust of the Royal Arch.

Our record cannot be· completed: without the melancholy recol-· lection of our illustrious ancl lamented dead. The hurrying c1wal­cade of cares fills ancl oppresses our minds with the thought. of !iv~ ing actors in these scenes and exactions of duty that levy their continued claim ui)on our powers. But we are not all action, nor all hope, though we delight to u,pply our faculties, and buoyantly rise

· in hope, bt1ffetin3 the wu,ves of present troubles. The benignity

that endowe4 us for action, and cheered us with imagination; has­fornished: .is with. memory, and _erected' that .monumental power. within us to be. a conspicuous portion of the present life and: the per­petual tokenc of the life to· come. It recalls the names; the images, t4e endowments, the virtues: of those· that thrilled. in these: excite­ment3 or sustained these cares, as companions in our· watch over treasured symbols, and' have anticipated' our. pursuing steps.in clos­i,ng the hours· of labor and entering upon the eternity. of refresh­ment. No human being is so degraded or insignificant that the volume- of the hidden· life is despised by the All-seeing. Eye. Every immo~tality is a particle in:. that-Star of the Universe, the luminary of Providence. And yet many Iii sharer in this human: lot vanishes away unheeded in his departing; as he was unobserved iu- his ca­reer.. To the unforgetting rqemory of God we consign· those who were, py the very gift of human nature, sublime, though the·wodd knew them not. But our memorial' is the tribute of clue recollec­tion fo~ men distinguished and. useful in their 'day, aud. named: now with gratitude for their·high qualities, and sorrow that in these earthly assemblies they are to be seen no more. The first of tliesa our losses- during the year 'vas that 0£ our Right' Puissant: Past Deputy Grand Master; Dr. AUGUSTUS WILLAitD, whose welcome presence hono~ed oudast Annual Assembly. He had filled in suc" cession three offices in this Grahcr.Council,. enlisting·with resolu­ti<:m anit ardor·iu- the effort to revive and honor Cryptic Masonry,. 1111d disseminate its ins.truction among. those worthy to receive it .. Eureka Council owed its- origin· and· perio'cl: of· brilliancy to· his· per­sonal endeavors, and almost swoons into discouragemei1t at hi~ loss. The adhesion of onr Right Pnissant Grand Officer to· the in­terests and support of the Cryptic Degrees was a most substantial aid in securing from the indifferent or the adverse a· proper respect for these neglected·. elements of Ancient Craft Masonry. His emi'-· nence in. the professfon: of. medicine;- whei;ein: he was no sciolist or

, pretender, and his rep~_te in the land as n; generous:and' lionorable citizen, gave· importance to his. e:immple.. Even this w11s enhanced by. the personal character of'' the good man, devoted' to· 11 useful life, and employing in his beneffcent work no other arts than those' of rectitude, fidelity and courage; In the critical era of onr Grand Council history he was· recoguiz'ed 118 a v~lu!\ble supporter, ' 'V l!

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deriyed additional advantages from his participation with us, because it was conceded that he had been deservedly eminent and influential in other Masonic· relations. When the problem was to rescue our secret traditions from general oblivion, and to vindicate our jurisdiction against assumption and encroachment, his aid was worth ten thousand men. He knew all the legitimate functions of Capitular Masonry; he was versed in the fortunes of the craft dur­ing the terrific ordeal that confused and contaminated all degrees; and his unqualified support of the Cryptic authorities rallied the wavering, roused .the despondent, and set the wheels of salutary progress in motion. The debt of recollection and grateful praise due to such a faithful associate we cheerfully nn:lered during the. last few years of his declining vigor, no_r shall we fail to renew our tributes now that the sacredness of .death vails the human form and enrobes with recompense the released spirit.

Similar terms of commendation inight be applied to our Right Puissant Companion, Dr. BRADLEY PARKER.· He died at his resi­de:µce in Brooklyn on the 16th of the month just closed, an hon­ored citizen, a zealous Mason, an upright and influential man, use­ful in his generation, and peaceful in his death. The office last filled by him in this Grand Council was that of Grand Illustrious Master, the third in our order o( officers. On retiring from this station in 1861, he still retained his solicitude on our behalf, and persevered in his cordial attachment to institutions that serve to il­lumine and consolidate the virtuous and the worthy. We bow to the decree that has terminated his labors, with the fortitude that Masonry inculcates and the submission that faith imparts.

The fatal shaft that has reached the ripe and declining spared not the younger and the immature. One of these has fallen in the flush of a promising manhood. · It was the fortunate auspice of Owego Coun~il to undertake its novitiate in Cryptic work under a youthful Master, who commanded the respect as he deserved the favor of discerning dompanions clustered around him. Because I must admire such uncorrupted integrity; because I feel the sa­credness of such an undefiled conscience; because I honor fervent zeal the.more when it heeds. the restraints of moderation, I cannot suppress the sigh that attests the early fate of him who will live UJ>On. our ?!(Cords as first entrusted with the Warrant of Owego i

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Council, a man of purity, piety and prudence, RoYAL A. ALLE:'il.·~· Upon the embowerecl cliff that overlooks the Susquehanna sleeps his mortal frame;. in serener heights by the m1irgin of the river cif. life reposes his untroubled spirit.

Other Grand Jurisdictions have met their calamities. We can- · not pause to linger upon such themes. Nor· can we omit to· men-'; tion the sorrow that has 'befallen our whole M1tsonie brotlierhood in Tennessee. Companion CHARLES A. FULLER, of Nash~ille; had for twenty years faithfully discharged the responsible duties of' Grand Recorder. His-associate~ place him upon record :is one in­dustrious in acquiring extraordinary ·Masonic knowledge, and bril­liant in its communication by speech and by pen, to the honor of the Craft and the credit of his own illustrious name. We arc bound to him by the ties not only of common knowledge in the Cryptic science, but those of nativity. He was born at Springfield, Otsego County, in this State. We cannot claim the privilege of having witnessed his progress in Masonic usefulness, but we CaJ?. bede'w his dust with our tear of sympathy ns ·we recollect that he sprung· from our own soil; and earned the affection and esteem of our uni­versal brotherhood.

" Time c annOt teacJ:t forgetfulness While Grief's full hrnrt is feii by fame."

The dread catastrophe that h~vers in the very atmosphere of Masonry is DEATH. But the Light that beams through the same atmosphere.is LiFE-Life at the'coinmand of the Master-Life·ris~ ing out of t)le ashes of the dead.

,: To C.ie, i8 Janding on some silent shore Where billows never beat, nor tempests rear; Ere well we f~el the friendly stroke, 'tis o'er."

One of the ever-hon01~ed patrons of Freemasonry has condensed. it~ instruction into these few golden syllables: "w c know that we. have passed from death unto life, because we love the b:r~thren.'" · ·

Companions; be this our ideal. Let us be faitnfnl to this ex~:. alted pattern. ·It will admit diversities of sentiment. It toleriit'es; kind and enthusiastic discussions. It prompts us to be manly)i~sf;·· that there may be play for brotherly concession. . But if harbors no malignities, permits 'no hypocrisies,' and endures no;·frauds'.'·' Whenever niy name shall wear the funereal drapery upoh you~'rec~·

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ord, and the silence and darkness of the grave shall forbid me to vindicate myself, let the fidelity to which wo are pledged be the surviving voice to attest that fervency and zeal were the imperisha­ble inmates of my heart.

On motion of IL P. and Rev. Comp. w Ell:lT ER, the Ad­dress was. referred to a Committee of three, to apportion the matter eo1itainccl therein to the appropriate Committees. The Grand .!\faster appointed as said Committce-

R. P. and Rev. J. G WEBSTER, T. Ill. W. P. DURANT, T. Ill. G. !<'. WILTSIE.

The Grand Lecturer prescuted the followi11g report, which was, oa motion, received and referred to the same Com­mittee:

To THE M. P. REY. CHAHLEs H. PLATT, GHAND M~sT1m ·oF THE GllAND COUNCIL OF THE STATE OF NEW Yomr:

I have the honor to report that, during the past year, I have .vis-ited and imparted the work of t4.e Council as follows:

Southern Tier, No. 16, Elmira. Binghamton, " 24, Binghamton. P11lmyra, " 2G, Palmyra. Owego, " 30, Owego. Hudson Hiver, " 21, Kingston.

Many of the Councils in the Jurisdiction are suffering for the want of proper attention on· the part of the officers, who either ab­sent themselves from the regular assemblies, or neglect to perfect themselves in the rituals. It is to be deplored that such is the case while .so many means are provided to enable the Councils to secure a correct ki10wledge of the beautiful ancl impressive cere­monies of Cryptic Masonry.

The work as aj)proved by you h>1s given entire satisfaction to all .who have examined it, and has awakened enthusiasm ancl zeal among those of the votaries who have the Cryptic Rite at heart.

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On the 11th of .September last I received your proxy autho;izing me to represent ysiu r1t the Convention called to meet in St. Louis at the time of the meeting of the Grnncl Encampment and Gen­eml Gmnd Chapter. .While deeply regretting that the str1te of your health ·prevented you from being in attendance, and where, I. am confident, you conld have done so much ·good, I accepted the proxy with great misgiving, and resolved to at least see that the Empire State was rep1·esented in the Convention. On arriving there I found great difficulty in ascertaining who hr1d cr1lled the meeting, and 'ivho were the representatives. ' After mr1nifcsting, I trust, a proper degree of p1ttience, I succeeded· in assembling a number of Companions for delibemtion. The amount and n(1turc of the business before tho Grand· Encampment and General Gmnd Chapter seemed to engross the entire time and attention of the representatives. It WftS found to be impossible to accomplish l1ny thing definite, and, after consultation, it was clecidecl to bring the subject of recognizing the Council Degrees and making them pre­requisite to the orders of Knighthood before the several Stat.e Gmnd Commancleries, and thus pave the way for some decisive tiction at the next triennial conclave, to be held at Baltimore in

' 1871; and it was thought that if the Companions of the Cryptic Rite only exercise proper fervency and zeal, the representatives to. that c.onclavc can be so instructed as to secure the desired recog­nition. If this is to be clone, no time should be lost. Correspond­ence should at once be opened with the several State Grand Councils, that all may act promptly, harmoniously and effectively; and the result will be that the Councils will be· placed where they rightfully b~long, thus ·perfecting the chain and adding stability anc1 strength to the Grand Masonic plfln.

I would respectfully suggest that something may be clone by the Grnncl Council to facilitate the formation of Com1cils. I find many· cases where the Companions would be glad to orgitnize. Councils, were it not attended with the loss of time and expense in visiting ner1i'est Councils to receive the Degrees. It seems to me tlrnt the Grauel Master should be allowed to appoint a proxy to make R. and S. Masters at sight, for the purpose of forming new G1,1tncils. There is no good reaso~1 why there should not bq a Council wher­ever there is a Chr1pter. Indeed, I contend such should be the

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case, that the instruction imparted to the Companion of the R. A. may be completed in the history of the S. V. In fact the R. A. is· incomplete without such instruction.

With my personal acknowledgment~ for the honors you have conferred on me, and my best wishes for the ultimate success of Cryptic Masonry, I remain, etc ,

J. H. CHASE, (}i·and Lecturer.

'l'he Grand Recorder presented the following Annual Report, which was, on motion, received and referred to the Finance Committee:

To THE G11aND CouNCIL OF ROYAL AND SELECT MaSTEns

OF THE STATE OF Nmv YonK:

Your Recorder presents the following as his Annual R~port of the receipts during the past year.

Received during the iast Annual Assembly ............ $822 43 April 4, 'GS, for back dues, Hudson River Coun-

cil, No. 21 ............................. . June 25, 'GS, Dispensation,. Chautauqua Council.

25, " Sandy Hill ' Jan. 12, 'G9, Olean Feb. 1, 'G9, for S9als b Certificates ..... , ....

31 50 20 00 20 00 20 00 13 50

Total receipts .. ·. . . . . ................. $927 43 .

All of which !ms been paid over to the Gmnd Treasurer and his receipt taken therefor.

Respectfully submitted, J. SHOVE, Grand Recorder.

The Grand Treasurer presented the following Annual Report, which was received and was also referred to the Finance Committee:

To THE Ga.t'S'O CoU'S'CIL Ol' RoY.tL AND SELECr MASTERS

oF THE STATE OF NEW YonK:

The Grand Treasurer respectfully presents the followiug report of t!ie fin~ncial affairs of the Gmnd Com~eil:

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1868. Feb. 4. •ro Cash; Balance on haml. ............. · .. .

-June20. 27. 30.

1869.

" Beccived from Graµd Becorder ... .

Jan. 30. IntcrcBt .. .' .... : ................ .

1868. Feb.

Sep.

1869.

- CR. 5. By Cash paid Wal'rants from 101 to

136, omitting 125 .............. $92G 83 5. By Cash paid M. P. ·Bev. Chas. II.

Platt for attendance. C~yptic Con­vention at St. Louis, per Hesolu-tion G. C. February 4th, 1868... 94 GO

By Cash paid Quota G. ·c. toward· Cryptic Convention. . . . . . . . 5 00

$242 23 87 00

822 43 80 50 24 50

18 G9

$1,275 35

$1,02G 43

Jan. 30. To. Balance on lrnnd. . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . • . $248 92

All of which is respectftiUy· submlttecl,

HENHY F. L. BUNTING, Grand Trcasimr.

New York, January 30th, 1860. ·

'fhe Grand Master appointed the following Committees:

Orede11tials and Relllrns. U. P. JOSIAH SHOVE, R. P. JOHN HOOLE,

R. P. JACKSON-H. CHASE. .

lVarrants· and Dispei1sations •. H. P. DANIEL WOLFF, R. P. SEYMOUH H. STONE,-

T: Ill. )ViVI. · B .. CHANDALJ;i.

Constitutions and By-Laws. T. Ill. BEES. G. WILLIAMS, H. P. JOSEPH B. CHAFFEE;

T. Ill. J. A. SUMNER ..

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Grievances and Appeals • . T. Ill. DAVID F. DAY, T. Ill. H. W. McIXTIRE,.

'r. Ill. HOWARD COCKBURN.

Finance. T. Ill. IL M. DRAKE, R. Ill. JOHN B. SACKETT,

T. Ill. EDWARD H. BROWN.

The Committee on Credentials and Hcturns presented the following lteport. wltieh was, on motion, received, and the Committee was discharged:

Tu THE M. P. GRAND CouscIL o~' It. AND S. MASTERS OF THE STATE OF N~:w Yo1uc

The Committee on Credentials and Returns report that the fol­lowing Councils have macle correct returns and paid dues, and their Representatives are entitled to seats in this Grand Council:

Columbian .. No. 1 .... WM. S. PATERsos .......•. ; . . M. · Union. . . . . . . " 2 .... H. E. GrLBEl<T...... . . . . . . . . Proxy. Brooklyn .... " 4 .... JOHN Sm:vrLLE.............. M. Adelphic ...• " 7 .... Jo1IN T. MARTIN....... . . . . . M. Central City. " 13 .... E. H. BROWN . . . . . . . . . . • . .. . M. Bloss . . . • . . . " 14 .... II. B. HARVEY , . . . . . . . . . . . . . M.

A. W. RICHARDSON . . . . . . . . . . Dep. M. Brnce. . . . " 15 ... W. H. McCoY. . . . . : ........ P. C. of W. Southern Tier " 1G .... H. W. McINTIRE . . . . . . . • . . • . M.

EDWIN SPENCER . . . . . . . . . • . . . Dep. JIJ. Buffalo . . .. . " 17 .... S. M. EvnY. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Proxy. King Hiram. " 18 .... J. H. HvsKINS •.. . . . . . . . . . . . l\I.

H. Ill. DRAK>: .•.•............ Dep. M. D01;ic . . . . . . . " HJ ..... \V M. B. CRANDALL. . • . . . . . . . M.

WM. SHEl.P ................. Dep. M. Keystone ... " 20 ... DAVID F. DAY . . . . . . . . . . . . . . M.

JoHN B. SACKETT ...... '. .... .-P. C. of W. Hudson River '.' 21 .... Uow AHD Co'crrnunN ........ , . M. De WittC!inton" 22 .... JACKSON A. SUMNER . . . . . . . . . Jlf.

JOHN J. l\'IAnTrn ............... Dep. M. S. 1\:1. CRAVER .............. P. C. ofW.

.•

'·

1'7

Ontario . . . No. 23 .... W. P. DuRANT . . . . . . . . . . . . . . M. Binghamton .. " 24 .... 0. F. 'PAIGE .. , .............. P. 0. ofW. Dunkirk ... :.·. " 25 .... W. H. WYMAN ......... .'.... :M. Po1mym ...... " 26 .... M. o~ EINLEY .. .' . .. . .... .... . l\'L Batavia .... ·. " 27 ..... J .. M. SnoWERMAN ........... Dep .. _M. Mohawk . . . . " 29 ... ,JOSEPH CHADWICK . . . . . . . . . . . M.

L. D .. SANBORN. . . . ... . . . . . . . Dep. M. Owego ...... " 30 .... J.B. JunD .................. Dep. M.,. Kfog Solomon " 31 .... G. FRED. WILTSIE.... . . . . . . . M. Chautauqua .. U. D ..... A. A. Bu~LIN ... :. . . ... . . . . . . . M.

G. W .. NoRTON .. : ....... ,. ... P .. C. of \Y. Olean ...... U. D ..... F. L. STOWELL .............. .

Respectfully submitted,

J. SHOVE,. JNO. HOOLE, J. H. CHASE,

Comm Wee.

The Committee on UnfrnishedBu~ine~s reported verbally that there had been no business left unfinished ii.t. the las.t

' Annual Assembly for them to act on, and, on motion, t)1eir report was received and the committee was discharged.

'l'he Special Conirpittec on the Address of the Grand Ma~ter presented their report, and, on motion, it was re­ceived, ancl the· recommendations therein contained were

adopted.

To THE l\'L P. GRAND CouNCIL OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK:

The Committee to which was referred. the Address of. the M. P. Gmnd Master, also the. report. of tae· Grand Lecturer, beg leave 1•espectfully to report:

That they have examined the documents referred to, and find· them complete and satisfactory, evincing a degree of prosperity for Cryptic Mas•;mry in this Jurisc1iction which warrants our congmtn-

18

lations to him under whose wise, able and judicious Grand Mas­tership it has reached it.

Your Committee would recommend that a memorial page of our printed Transactions be \).evoted to the meritorious dead who have been taken from the number of' those Past Grand Officers of this Grand Council, so touchingly alluded to in the M. P. Grand Mas­ter's Address.

Touching that portion of the Address which refers to the making cif the Cryptic Degrees a prerequisite to the confening ·of' the orders of Knighthood, your Committee would recommend the adoption of the following resolution:

Resolved, That the Grand Council be earnestly requested to urge upon the representatives to the Grand Commandery of this juris­diction the proper recognition of the Cryptic Degrees, in accord­ance with the Address of the M. P. G. M. and the recommenda­tions contained in the Report of the Grand Lecturer.

The Committee would also respectfully recommend that the Grand Recorder be directed to have printed three hundred copies of the M. P. G. M. 's Address, aside from the ~·egular Proceedings.

Your Committee would also recommend that so much of the Address as refers to the revised work be refer~ed to the whole body of the Grand Council, earnestly commending it to their best en­deavors, one and all, that it_ be disseminated and_ followed.

All of which is respectfully submitted. JOHN G. WEBSTER, W. P. DURANT, G. FRED. WILTSIE.

'l'hc_ Committee on Foreign Correspondence presented the following Report, which was, on motion, received and or­dered spread a_t length upon the minutes.

To THE l\fosT PUISSANT GRAND COUNCIL OF

RoYAI, AND SELECT MASTERS oF THE STATE OF NEw YoRK:

The undersigned, your Oommittee on Foreign Correspondence, respectfully report: That they have received and had the pleasure of reviewing the Proceedings of the following 11amed Grand Coun­cils: .Alabama, 1867; Arkansas, 1867-8; Connecticut, .18G8; Iowa,

19

1867-8; Illinois, 1867-8; fodin.na, 1868; Kentucky, 1867; Louisi-. anrt, 1868; M;iine, 1868; !lfassrtchusetts, 1868; Missouri, 18G7; Mis­sissippi, 1868; 'l'ennessee, 18GS. From the' general tone of these proceedings, the cryptic section of .the grert~ Mrtsonic temple.of.the United St11tes seems to be sound rtncl unimpaired. "It still lives" rtnd has.an emphatic and active being, and is exerting its mystic . power and influence in 11 m11nner ''that good may come out of it." The Gmnd Bodies having. exclusive control of the ci·yptic niys.tc­ries thus far retain int11ct their controlling powers and jurisdictions, notwithstanding the many attacks and attempts, .in _some infected localities, to superinduce their dissolution, for the avowed purpose of surrendering their inherent rights and vestments to the several . State Grauel Ch11pters. Why any Companion or bocly claiming Masonic loyalty to our branch of l\fosonry have a desire to be con­tinually agitating. the subject, with. a view to eventually cause our '•Masonic stone of foundation" to crumble into ruins and pass into oblivion, we must confess ourselvess at litter loss to divine, unless it arise from a smouldering hatred they entertain toward capitulltr bodies, and they thus seek ltn opportunity to gltin a " sweet mor­sel" of revenge by lumbering up the Subordinate Chltpters,. by forc­ing upon them the elimination ·of the .Cryp~ic Degrees, thus virtue ally producing such a conglomer~~\9u- of affairs that the neophyte seeking for "further promotion," when informed what labyrinthian path.she must travel and wlia.t a,maz)ng scones and trials he must necessarily pass through before reaching the goal of his desire, would shrink back aghast and " flee as from the. wrath to come." With the same propriety might these persistent croakers seek to amalgamate the cryptic and capitular '."ith· the symbolic degrees. Should such an attempt as the one last referred .to ever be ·made, a friend at our elbow suggests that, should .he be present, he will . move an amendment to the effect that the mysteries of the "Sons of Malta," tho " Order One Thousand and One," tho." Knights. of' Pythias," and "Eclampsus Vitus" be 1i"<Jded thereto, in order to produce one of· the most ponderous and gigantic combinations of mysteries the world ever contained. Verily the inventive genius of the biped man lmoweth no rest, an~ is boundless in its Hspira-. tions. for aggmndizement and eclat .. It utterly ignores the long established maxim that "It io not in the power of any. man or,

20: .

body of men to make innovations in the body of Masonry." When shall we be allowed to settle down in quietude, and enjoy in its an­cient purity the mystic boon our venerable fathers bequeathed us, with the faith that we ~n turn should transmit it unimpaired to our successors? Away with. these ritual tinkers! say we; avaunt ! and let well enough alone. Talk of Subordinate Chapters confer­ring seven degrees! Would not that be a state of affairs strongly reminding one of the condition of one of old tiine who \Vas said to have been possessed of seven devils? We trust our Chapters inay. never become pregnant from such a cause, ending in such a result~ If there is any cause for complaint with reference to our venerable brotherhood, we cannot see that it rests with those of the Ancient. and Accepted Rite, and the Scottish Rite has long since surren­dered its claim to authority over us, if we may believe the enun­ciations of such of its adherents as are addicted to writing on the subject, whose final conclusions may be summeil up to correspond with the terse phrase, "So mote it be."·

In order to give a correct idea of the existing non-uniformity of crypti~ nomenclature, as shown by the proceedings of the several before na~ed Grand Councils, we shall give literal extracts from the same of the assemblage and opening thereof, and will com­mence with-

ALABAMA.

"The Grand Council of Royal and Select Masters of the State of Alabama held its twenty-seventh annual assembly at the Masonic. Hall, in the city of Montgomery, commencing on Wednesday, the 4th <lay of December, A. D .. 1867, A. Dep. 2867. Present, EuGENE V. LE VERT, Grand Puissant," with a full corps of officers, and i·ep­resentatives of nineteen Subordinates. The Committee on Foreign Correspondence reviewed the proceedings of the Grand Councils of Vermont, Illinois, Ohio, Kentucky, Tennessee, Massachusetts, Mississippi, New York, Connecticut, Maine, Indiana and Michigan, from which they quote h~rgely and upon which they comment freely. Much of the heretofore long agitated subject of the pater­nity of Cryptic M11sonry, and the contemplated surrendering of the s~nie to Grand Chapters; is reiterated at length. The address of ~he Grand Puissant treats only of local matters, of which, amo_ng

21

other things, he says: "During the year which J:i,is elapsed since our 1ast assembly we have witnessed many scenes calculated to depress.and afflict us; the u~settled state.of the country, the blight­ed harvests, the great scarcity of. provisions, the depreciated cur­rency of the country and impoverished condition of our citizens, together with the ravages of° death, all, all conspire to fill us with -gloom." We trust that the state of ~ffairs as then existing has materially changed for the better, an.cl that our Companions oft.he Grand Council of Alabama have found consolation and encourage­ment in the improved condition of the whole country.

Rev. EUGENE V. LE VERT, of Marion, was re-elected Grand Puis­~ant; DANIEL SAYRE, of Montgomery, was re-elected Grand Re­corder.

" The ninth Annual Assembly of the Most Puissant Gmnd Coun­cil of Royal and Select Masters of Arkansas commenced in the city ·of Little Rock, on 'Saturday, the 14th day of Novemper, A. ·D: ·1868, A: Dep. 2868, at ten o'clock k M., and was opened in due and ample form by the Most Puissant Grand Master, H. FLAN­IGAN," assisted by a ·full c011)s of officers. Sixteen Subordinate Councils were represented. The proceedings contain n~ address from the Grand Master, and no report on Foreign Correspondence, and show but little except the regular routine of business. We observ~ one thing, however, that· s~ems somewhat strange and ".mixed" to us. To elucidate we qu.ote from the· proceedings: ·".Compal).iOn L .. J. w1:.:.DER, wlio had been previously'eleeted by this Grand Council to receive the Degrees of Royal· and Select Mas-

'· ter, ·being in waiting, was introduced and honored with the Degree of Royal Master in due and ancient form, and received the lecture

· pertaining to the degree. Labor was. dispensed with in the Degree of Royal Master for the purpose of laboring in the Degree of Select Master. Comp. L. J. WILDER, who had previously received the De­gree of Royal Master in this Grand Council, being in waiting, was .introduced and raised to the Degree of Select llfaster; in due 'and ancient form, and received the lecture and charge pertaining to the degree." ·All of which being interpreted into the vernaculai· of

22

New York, we suppose·would signify that said Companion was re­ceived as a Royal Master, and grettfd as a Select Master in due form.

l\1. P. H. FLANIGAN was re-elected Grand Master; R. P. W. D. BLOCHER w<J.s re-elected Grand Recorder.

CONNECTICUT.

" The Annual Assembly of the Grand Council of Royal and s.;­lect Masters of the State of Connecticut was held at Masonic Hall, city of Hartford, on Tuesday, the 12th day of May, A. Dep. 2868, A. D. 1868," and was opened in ample form. Present, T. I. Comp. W. W. LEE, M. P. Gr. Master, and a full staff of officers, and the Representatives of twenty Subordinate Councils. The Committee on Foreign Correspondence reviewed the proceedings of the Grand Councils of Alabama, Al'lmnsas, Florida, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Massachusetts, Michigan, Mississippi, Missouri, New Brunswick, New York, Ohio, Pennsyl­vania, Tennessee and Vermont, in an elaborate and courteous man­ner. The proceedings of Connecticut show that she has nineteen tictive Subordinates, with an aggregn.te nu-mber of 1645 live mem-bers. ·

"T. I. Comp. STEPHEN T. B4nrLETT, of Bridgeport, was elected M. P. Grand ]\faster. T. I. Comp. J. K. WHEELER, of Ha1iforcl, was re-elected Grand Record~r."

IO\VA.

"The Most Puissant Grand Council of Royal and Select Masters of the State of Iowa convened in Grand Annual Assembly in the hall of.Capital Council, No. 9, on Monday the 19th day of October, A. D. 1868, A. Dep. 2868, at eleven o'clock, A. M.," and was opened in Ample Form by "lli. Comp. W. E. WooDWARD, Most Puissant Grand ]\faster," assisted by a full staff of officers and the Repre­sentatives of nine Subordinate Councils. From the address of the Grand Master we quote the following as pertinent to the subject referred to in our opening remarks: '' T?e history of Cryptic Ma­sonry in our jurisdiction for the past year is uneventful and of little importance;· save as it suggests the necessity of prompt and radical legislation in order to infuse new life into our Councils. The re-

\ .. I

•.

23

tired situation· in which they grow hides theµi from the·cye of the Masonic traveler, whose aim,. in these days, appears to be to P.ass as rapidly as possible through the ave1mes of· our mystic temple, rather than to expfore its hidden recesses: and search out its beau­ties. As long as the degrees of Royal and Select Master are con­

. ferred in independent Councils, and are not made a requisite qual­

. ification for the reception of either the Royal Arch or the Red · Cross, there will be sleeping ·guards mnoi:tg the Arches; and labor

in t)le secret vault cannot progress. That this is not the fault of our jurisdiction is shown by the position they hold in otlier States, in many of which they are under the pr~tection of the Chapters; or made an item of suitable proficiency in the Commanderies. The hot haste ~f our neophytes of the present day to climb tlie Masonic ladd~r will invariably lead them to neglect ·such degrees as are consid~rea .of seco;,dary inipo~tance; or placed in secondary posi­tions .. It is beyond doubt that the cryPtic degrees must b!J placed in the regular line of Masonic. promotion, or sooner or later expi~e.

. Their present status is anomalous, and is not sustained. by their · history or t~~ir symbolism, and the 'Grand Councils in which their

organization is preserved are little more than nurseries of empty honors. .

"In view of their condition, and with an enrnest desire to achieve the ·g~eatest ·possible good from the cryptic degrees by sec~ring

- for them the largest possible prosperity; I recommend that; ·if they cnnnot be placed in the regular line of Masonic promoti<in, that we take the necessary steps to 'su.rrender our State orgariizations, and restore the degrees to the Grand and Subordinate Chapters, or to the A. and A. Rite; to which they originally belonged, and which still has jurisdiction over them.,; These latter words of waniing it would be well to heed, and guard against the cause which may tend to produce such a course.' 'fhe former or introductory. por-

. tion of the subject is a correct statement of affairs in many local­ities, as ·many have learned with regret, and emphatically "hits the nail on the head." ·

The. Commit.tee on Foreign Corresponden9e review the proceed­ings of the Grand Councils of Alabama, Arkansns, Kentucky, Mas­sachusetts, Maine, Michigan, Mississippi, Missouri, New York, New BruU:swick, Tennessee and Vermont, in a ve1·y elaborate and

24

patient manner. We find in the proceedings of the Grand Coun­cil, near the close thereof,. the following, which may be of interest to New Yorkers, viz.: "Ill. Comp. "\VooDwAnD, from the committee to .whom was referred the subject of the Degree of Super-Excellent Master, reported that the committee hacl the pleasure of announc­ing the presence of Ill. Comp. JorrN SrrEVILLE, of New York, an ac­complished Master in Cryptic Masonry, and requested Ill. Comp . . SrrEVILLE to present and explain the clegrec.

" This Ill. Comp. SHEVILLE accordingly did, obligati11g and communicating it to a large number of Illustrious Companions, Royal and Select Masters, who were present.

"After which, on motion of Ill. Comp. LANGRIDGE, it was " Resolved, That this Grand Council accepts and adopts the rit­

ual of the Degree of Super-Excellent Master as just communicated in this Grand Council, and authorizes that it be communicated or conferred as occasion may justify in the Councils of this'jurisclic­tion. '

'~ Resolved, That the thanks .of this Grand Council be and are hereby.returned to ·Ill. Comp .• TouN SHEVILLE for his valuable ser­vices in explaining ancl communicating to us this beautiful and impressive degree."

Ill. Comp. JosEPH A. Hunsu, of Iowa City, was elected Most Puissant Grand Master; Ill. Comp. W. B. LANGillDGE, of Musca­tine, was re-elected Grand Recorder. ·

ILLINOIS.

"At a Grund Annual Assembly of the Grund_ Council of Royal and Select ]\fosters of the ~tate of Illinois, helcl in Masonic Hull, in the city of Sp1-ingfield, on Thursday the 8th day of October, A.D. 1868," A. L. 5868, Y. D. 2868, at three o'clock P. M., present, Th. Ill. Comp. DANIEL G. Bunn, Grand Puissant," and a full staff of officers. The " Grand Puissant," in his address, says: " So far us I have been able to learn, throughout our jurisdiction the best of harmony prevails and we are gradually increasing in numbers, ancl the several Couucils have been steadily engaged in their labors, and have been doing good." He reports having issued four Dis­peirnations. to establish Subordinate Councils.

I

I .l,

The· Committee on Foreign ·correspondence reviewed the pro~ ceedings of Maine, ·verniont, ·~1:assach11setts, · O~nnecticut, New York,· Alabama,· Mississippi; Louisiana; Tennessee,. Kentucky, Ohio, Michigan, Iowa, Missouri, Arkansas and Kansas. In· the.re­view of the proceedings of the Grand Council of New·York the committee; in .referrini('to a "'·question of jurisdictiOn of a Cou·ri­ci!,"·which was asked bya Companion··and· referred to the Com­mittee on· constitutions· and ·-By.Laws, ·gets-into a:merry nioo_d· of mind arid· telis a "yaril" that -tli:~y·are reminded· of; at the'expense of the departed· Sage ofLiildeinvald> 'We· are· at ioss to detern:iine which is the more entitlecrto' a bro'ad.griri; the'•(knobof the yaril;'' or the idea of illtroducing'. it' irit.O:'. such' ·a· grave d~c~~ent. as this report, for 'the purpose of slily-sticking pfos into 'oui-'Committee ... ·

.• ' ' JOHN' MILES PEARSON; of Godfrey, was elected 'Grand Puissant; JOHN .CARROLL REYNOLDS,. of . Springfield,: wii:s'. ele~t~d . Grand "ri~::· corder.·~ .' · · ·. · · · · · · ·. · · · · ·

.• .--·,· ·,· ....

".The Grand Council of Royal' and .. Select 1\fosters oHhe Stitte'of Indiana assembled in Annual Ocimniunieatii:iri at the Mas~nic Han;· in the:city of Fort Wayne, .·on .Tuesday the·:·.2oth day.of October/ A..D.: 1868; A. Dep .. 2868."'. .. . . , . The Grand Councihvas opened· in.Ample Form: by Coriip'."THos:·

PATTISON, M. P. Gmnd Master, who, in his address, reports":tlie· issuance'of six· Dispensations for the :.establishiug·of:'SubOrdinate Councils. in his jurisdiction. He also. reyie\vs, in a very laconic style, the proceedings. of the Grand Councils of 'Alabama; ·Arkiii:isas; Connecticut, :Qlinois, Iowa, .KanSl\S, Kentucky, Louisiana; Maille;: Massachusetts,. Michigan/. Missouri·,'· New,:<Yoi-k; '.:New ,Brunswick;:• Ohio, Pennsylvania, Tennessee arid Vermont;.and says:"" Tlie g~n~· eral tenor of" these . propeedings ·show ·that: Cryptic :11fasonryc'every­where is in a harmonious and: prosperous condition, with the .excep­tion of the agitation in some quarters in' reference· to.the· addition' of the.Degree of Super-Excellent Master to the Council Degr~es. Several of the Grand Councils ha,ve adopted it, thus creating a · source of discord in this branch of our Order. Whether it will be wise for iis to follow' their exam pl ii will ·be for you :tc;· deterihirie. ;, 'The1stibject was s-qbsequently brought up; in the coui:~e· ~f th~\-

2 . . - _,, .!,;fl: ,.,

26

business of the Grauel Council, ancl the degree exemp!ifi'ed and communicated to the members of the same by Past Grand Master M. P. Comp. WILLIAM HACKER, after which the following preamble ancl rcsolutio'n was presented, and, after "due consideration, u..,an­imously adopted," viz. :

"Whereas, The so-called Degree of Super-Excellent Master hav­i.ng been a<,lopted by some of our sister Grand Councils as a regular. constituted degree, and by others authorizecl to be conferred as a supplementary or side degree, and having now receiveil that so­called degree and seen its merits fully exemplified, and being thus prepared to vote upon the subject understandingly; therefore, . " Resolved, That we see nothing in the so-called Super-Excellent Master's Degree to justify this Grand Council in adopting it as a regular constitutional degree in om cryptic rite, or to authorize. it to be conferred in our Councils as a supplemental or side degree, believing that all the merit there is in said degree is contained in E~ preceding degree in the Chapter organization."

From the foregoing your Committee deduce the following con­clusion, viz. : That the " Chapter organizations" of the State of In­diana are pregnant with much more which pertains to legitimate Capitular Masonry than iilrn organizations of this or other like jurisdictions. But whether this superabundant Chapter matter, V{hen b~ought to light, cai1 claim legitimate parentage, is somewhat debatable.

We observe that the Grand Council of Indiana, by standing res­olution, i·ecogµize as legally ~onstituted bodies, the Grand Councils of Kansas an cl New Brunswick, an cl extend to them a hearty gre'et­

_ing and welcome to t4e family of Grand Councils. It also adopted the representative system, and authorized the issue of commissions to Hepresentatives to sister Grand Councils.

Comp. THOMAS PATTISON, of Amora, was re-elected M. P. Grand Master; Comp. JoHN M. BRAMWELL, of Inclianapolis, was elected Grand Hecorder.

KENTUCKY.

'· " At a Grand Annual Comµiunication of the Grand Council of -Royal and- Select M~sters for t)le ~t!lte of Kentµc_ky, begun ap.q

I j

held at Masonic Temple, in the City of.Louisville, on Wednesday, Oct(lber 23, A. D. 1867, A. L. 5867"- .

The Grand Council was opened in form by " Comp. PHILIP SWIGERT, G. P.," with competent assistance, and. the representa­tives of seventeen Subordinates. The proceedings contain no ad­dress of the "G. P." . The Committee on Foreign Correspondence review the Proceedings of Arkansas, Alabama, Connecticut, In­diana, Illinois, Louisiana. Michigan, Massachusetts, Mississippi, Maine, New York, Tennessee rind Ve1·mont, to each of which they pay a passing tribute.

Comp. PHILIP SwmEnT, of Frankfort, .was re-elected "G. P:" Comp. A. C. HODGES, of Frankfort, was elected Grand Recorder.

LOUISIANA.

" The Most Illustrious Grand Council of Royal and Select M~s" ters of Louisiana assembled in the Grand Lodge Hall, City of New Orleans, on Thursday, 13th February, 1868, at 12 o'clock, M."­

And was opened in ample form by Ill. Comp.' SAMUEL MANNINO Tonn, Most Puissant Grand ]\foster. Seven Subordinates were represented.

The Grand Master gave a brief address, reviewing lucidly tho affairs of his jurisdiction. .

The Committee on Foreign Correspondence acknowledge the re­ceipt of the Proceedings of the Grand Councils of Alabama, Con­necticut, Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Michigan, Mississippi, Maine, Massachusetts, New York, Ohio, Tennessee, Vermont and New Brunswick, upon which they give no extended report, or nothing of interest to the Craft abroad.

Ill. Comp. J. Q. A. FELLows, of New Orleans, was elected M. P. Grand Mastei;; Ill. C01i;ip. GusTAvus SONTAG, of New Orleans, was re-elected Grand Recorder.

MAINE.

". The M. P. Grand Council' of Royal and Select Masters for the State of Maine assembled at Masonic flall, iu Portland, on Wednes-· day, the 6th. day of May, A. L. 586e, A. D. 1868, A. Dep .. 2868, at ~ o\ilock in tA\l afternoon"=

28

·And " wus opened in umple ;:form" by EDWARD P. BURNHAM, l\f. P. G. Muster, officers und representatives of eleven Subordinute Councils. In the uddress of the M. P. Grand· Master we find the

-following: "Although the Cryptic Rite is much weuker thun C11pit­ul11r Musonry in Muine, yet substuntial progress .has been· made. Beside increasing in the number of Councils and the members ·.Of the sume, we huve udopted a Constitution and By-Laws, forms for installution of officers, and defin..e.d their titles, stutions, insigniu und jewel~; and forms for constituting Councils. The Super-Ex~ cellent hus been added to the regular Council Degrees, and 11 rituul has been established. If the Council Degrees were in a direct and continuous line in the series of degrees composing the system practiced in the United States, the prosperity of the Councils would be more certuin. As it is;. c11ndid11tes for Orders of Knight­hood often ignore the Council, und . pass by on the other side. This cun onl;fbe remedied by the co-opera.tion of the Grand Com­mandery ;" ·

The Committee on For6ign Correspondence reviewed in an elabo­rute and thorough manner the Proceedings of twenty-nine Grund Councils, namely"'. A111bam11, Arkansas, Culifornia, Connecticut, Florida, Georgia;· Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, ·Louisiana, Mussachusetts, ·Michigan, Mississippi, Missouri~ ·New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, New Bruns­wick, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, Tennes­see; Te:Kas, Vermont and Wisconsin, which shows that our Com­panions· of Muine, notwithstundiugthey are situated at the extreme "Northeastern Boundary," are en rapport with a very largeymber of the Grand Cryptic Bodies of our land. The report of ·~omp. DR'i:rl\f11tOND produces a reul •' Drum·mond Light," by means of the intensity of which is discovered a vast amount of what has trans­pired within th~ "Vaults" of the" Select and Faithful" .workmen of the land. It is a compendium of reul value to the "Ven..!!r11Me Brotherhood" of our Order.

ID. Comp. J osrAH H. DRUMMOND, of Portland, was elected M. p. Grand Master; m. Comp. IRA BERRY, of portland, Will> re;elected Grand Recorder;

. /

'

29 .····

MASSACHUSETTS.

-~<.The.Annual Convocation.of the.Grand Council of Selecf und Royal Ma~ters· of Massachusetts .was held· at· the New Masonic Temple, in .the City of Boston, on Wednesday; December,llth,

·A. D. 1867, A: Dep. 28G7. The .Grand Council was opened in.um, ple :.form at" 10. o'.clock, A. M. , Officers present: WM. P.· ANDER-_,­SON, M. P. Grand Master;. SOLON THORNTON, , Grand. Recorder; Rev;.JoHN-.P. RonrnsoN, Grand Chaplain; CHARLES G .. ,JACKMAN, Grand .Captain· of the Guard; GEORGE· H. PIKE; Grand Tyler; CHARLES EDWARD PowEns, Grand Lecturer." , ;•.

Nine Subordinate Councils were represented. The M. P. Grand Master gave.:a'beautiful address, ·reviewing the.state. of affairs in his- juri~diction, , ·The··Cori:im.ittee on Foreign· Correspondence, Compal'.\ion E.; B. MOORE, reviews in a very courteous· and comprehe1wive · manne'r the· Pr()ceecliiigs.of the. Grand Councils· of Arkansas, ·:connecticut, Ia,diana, .. Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Mi.chigan, New.Brunsw~ck, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Tennessee and Vermont. New Yo~k ·is not ii:icluded in the favored list; why,.we cannot say. Certainly not for wa!1t of proper facilities of c.c;mveyance, or extreme remote dis-tance from Massachusetts. " c .. The .pamphlet of Proceedings of the .Grand· Council of Massa­chusetts, instead of consisting of "little slips, ... as they have been facetiously·terined by. one of her n~ighboring Grand Recorders, is a most?Jomely and respectable sized volume, and its typograph~?a} . executl'on-is exceedingly neat and beautiful. It contains, beside n.

record of transaction of business; its Constitution, Orcler,of·Cere­monies for constituting and ·dedicating new Conncils, forllls:for in­stallation of officer~.· and many other matters of interest ·generally, · and: an::so:plain that "he who runs may read" .and oe satiSfied, . 'without going "to Massachusetts to see if there are ·really. any Royal-and Select Masters there.''.•. · · · . . . · .. Ill .. Comp. -CHARLES· EI>wARD l'owmis, of Boston, was elected M. P. Grauel Master, and Ill. Comp. So~oN TI!onNroN-, ·of.Boston, Grand Recorder.. ··

30

J\USSISSIPPI.

"At the Tenth Annual Convocation of the M. P. Grand Council of Royal and Select Masters of the State of Mississippi, held· at Natchez, on Friday, the 24th day of January, A. D. 18G8, A. Dep. 2868"-

The Grand Council was opened in ample form by Ill. Comp. J. 0. LUTHER, M .. P. Grand Master, and competent assistants.

Twenty-seven Subordinate Councils were represented. A brief ·address was delivered by the Grand Master, entirely local in its character. · The Committee on Foreign Correspondence review in an able and courteous manner the proceedings of the Grand Councils of Ar­kansas, Alabama, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, J):entucky, Louis­iana, Maine, Massachusetts, Michigan, Missouri, New Brunswick, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Vermont and 'Wisconsin.

Ili. Com. G. M. H!LT,YER, of Natchez, was elected M. P. G. Mas-ter; Comp. ·o. T. KEELER, of Columbus, was re-elected Grand Re- .• corder.

MISSOURI.

" The Grand Council of Royal and Select Masters of the State of Missouri assembled in '!'bird Annual Convocation, in the fourth year of its existence, at Masonic Hall, corner of Third and Chest­nut Streets, City of St. Louis, on Friday, the 11th day of October, A. D. 1867, A. L. 5867, Y. D. 2867."

.... The Grand Council was opened in ·solemn and ancient form" by Comp. J. A.H. LAMPTON as "Grand Puissant," assisted by a full corps ·of officers.. Four Subordinate Councils were repre­sented. The Acting " Grand Puissant" in his address reports hav­ing issued· four Dispensations to establish Subordinate Councils. The Committee on Foreign Correspondence review the Proceedings of the Grand Councils of Alabama, Connecticut, Indiana, Illinois, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Mississippi, New York and Tennes­see, and dwell at length on the subject of titled uniformity, etc.

Comp. THos. E. GARRETT, of St. Louis, was elected Grand Puis­sant; Comp. GEo. F. Gounr,EY, of St. Louis, was re-elected Grand

Recorder.

!

...

l

TENNESSEE..

"At a stated Annual. Meeting of th.e· Grand Council of Tennes~ see, Royal and Select Master Masons, begun and h'eld at the Ma­sonic Temple; in the City of Ntishvilie, on Wednesday, Sept9mber 30th, A: D. 1868; Anno Dep; 2868"- :

The Gni,nd Council was. cip~ned in ample form by Illustrious WILLIAM H. J\foLEsKEY,. Th. Ill. Gi;and.J\faster, assisted.by a .com­petent number of officers and the· representatives of forty-three Subordinate Councils. The address oCthe Grand J\faster was very brief ancl confined exclusively to inatte~s of local interest .

. The Committee on Foreign Correspondence ·review the Proceed­ings of the. Grauel Councils of Arkansas, Afabam~, Kansas, Ken­tucky, Maine, Massachusetts, Michigan, Missouri, Mississ.ippi, New Brunswick, Ne'v York,· Iowa, Ohio,. Pe.nnsylvania and Vermont, treating the same in a courteous ancl conciliatory manner. ·

Comp. DAVID CooR; Sr., of Lebanon, was elected Th. Ill. Grand l\Iaster; Comp. JOHN FmzzELL, of Nashville, was re-eleCted Grand Recorder. . · · ·

From NEw JERSEY We have i:u:ithirig direct, and it is only learned on this occasion by the perusal ·of the Pr.oceeaings of. the Grand Council of Illinois that then~ is.a Grand Council in that famed and historic land. In the report of the Illinois Committee on Corre­\>POndence, in the review of the Proceedings of ·the.Grauel Council of Massachusetts, they quote freely from the ·report· of the New Jersey Committee on Foreign Con-espondence, which emanates from the fertile brnin of R. Ill. Comp. T. J. ConsoN, Grand Re­corder. . In referring to MassachusE!tts, he facetiously remarks as follows: "This Grand Body sends us a slip containing merely the names of the Gmnd Officers, .by which it appears that WM.· P. ANDERSON. is Grand Master, and SoLON., THORNTON Grand Re­corder.'.! · He then mounts his prancing." Rosi1lante''.rmc1 .. lu~ges his Quixotic l:i.nce in a wo~derflll and fearful m·anuer at our Com­panions of the "Bay State," and really attempts to show, in .~ffect, that the Grand Co,mcil of l\Iassachusetts ~s nothing more nor. iess tha'u a huge '' -ivindmill." After a series of severe thrusts, a~d an apparent failure to impale ancl '.'gobble it up," he. apparenyl~ lays

32

back on his dignity in an exhausted condition, and seeks consola­tion in th~ following sentiments, ~hich he thus savagely utters: "We know that," [when t.he mountain wouldn't come to Mahomet; M11}io~et,]." like a s~msible follo:-v," [went to the mountain], .. " and we.think w~ shall have.to.goto 11.~assachusetts to learn whether there really are any Royal and_ Se~ect ~fostE)r.s there, or whether t_h_ese. little_ slips are me)'ely gqt_. up by_ some mythica\ personage signing-himself Solon_ ThorntQn, his.. ·mark, just. for the purpose of poking fun at.us." .

. Shades _of the great Confucius! -:Canj_t be that, after" going_to the mou.~.tai11/ .. M11homet .h[1s really turned _up again, and .settled dpwn, ''. iµcognito, '.' aµ10ng. the :humble .fisher·men of New Jersey? ~:' GreatiJ> Allah, but greater is l\fahomet_ his prophet." . :From. tile. same_:i:_;ource already .nailled, ·the Pro<Jeediug~. of Il!i­n,ois, hi his s9at_hing revie\V !?f. the Procee.~ings af the Grand dou_n,~ cil of New York, we fi,nd this _same "Knight of the Quill" attempt­iµg t<;> perpetrate some very facetio11s and funny things at the ex­pm;i.se. pf ~he C01µmittee .on: F.oreign _Corre~pondence, and, in his "Words of 'Wisdom," given in the form of advice, he falls into the same egregious error (as he had already done in his lunges at Mas­sachusetts), which.he _claims they):~a".e 9_ommitted, and in-_his ter­rible blows of chastisement and inyective wi~h whi(lh he_welts th~m ~ight.and °Itift,,i.n aga_in spealF_ing.()f "_l\Iahomet going to tlie Moun­tain,''.. he fails to make use of. the ','little marks" (" ") 'vhich he so curtly recomm!lnds-said .C.onunitte.i:i tq use, and which they_D?ost hµmbly beg leave to a~sure. '.'His :Ma_hometan Majesty" they always do use when using a literal quotatio.n ..

.. From tht) Fa~on µe parle,r of, t):lis :µiodern S!tge it. is concluded that he is a victim of that dreadfl.11. malady termed Flux de bouche, which s~metimes dest1·oys, by exudation, the source of intellect, which is said to be located in the.cranium. Verily, notwithstand­i~g, 'h~ seemeth like unto one possess~d of ponderous acquirements,

. and is no doubt. in possession of the· mysteries connected with that fearfi:tltragedy S(1icl to have been committed of old, which tradition: was handed down uµder the title.of "Cock Robin." As a mea~s of- soothing his ·agit:~ted .. n~rvotis ;system, we. would suggest. the na~e of ;'Mrs. 'Vinslow," that great _modern be.nefactress of in­fantile juvenility; and, to. quiet his mental efforvcsccnce, would

•

{

f I

33

recommend a careful perusal and.study of the .following standard works, viz;: " .. Charity.covereth a· multitude of sins;" "Know thy­self;'.'." Act:well thy.·pa~t;'.' "They that live.in glass.houses should ~ot throw stones· at their. neighbors,'? If the result do not ~st1per­.induce a·soporific infi~ence upon his Quixotic inspirations, then it is farther recommended· that '.'.Tom Brown'~ Jest Booli:" be ·.adminc istered in solution,. with quotation ip.arks infused ad .libitum, with full confidence. that the effe~t will eventuate in restoring the mind to its normal condition. ' . . . . ' . .

. In conclusion, your Committee .would again urge upon this l\:'.L P. Grand Council the vital importance due. its Subordinates of devise itig some means that shall result in making it compulsory that .the degrees of Cryptic )\fosonry shall inval'iably be in the line of legit­imate progression, and. must be acquired by all Royal Arch :IYfasons, preparatory to their eligibility to the Orders of Christian Knight­hood. Until such a progression shall have been established and Mo.sonically legalized in the Empire State, we fear that our Subor-

• dinate Councils will become greatly degenerated, and eventually reduced to poverty and ruin, as, by the present existing .modus operandi, much of the material belbnging to them by right is al­lowed to escape, by a single l~ap, from the Chapter to the Com­mandery, ·thus~_Y.irtually ignoring'.the ~eautiful connecting links in the chain of Masonkmystel'ies. Yop.r Committee understand that many State jurisdictions have the' requirements an:d prerequisites referred to already long established, and that our own State is one of the few exceptions to such.wholesome regulation. We ,believ~· all authors of popular modern· Masonb manuals or text~booll:s of the ·day agree in their classification and arrangeinent of the several degrees, in placing. those- of Royal !ind Select Master as the _con­necting links between the Royal Arch !ind the Order of Knight~ of the Red Cross. Such. being accepted as Iaw and gospel by the fraternity in generai, it can but only be aehowledged as an act of great· injustice to ·the· bodies having duly. delegated authol'ity over the degrees of Cryptic Masonry that.thEiir i'n,atel'ial should. thus be allowed to bid defiance and ],lass thEln:l b,y for i>omething, to them, more attractive in advance, It is found to be yery difficult to in­duce or persuade an individual who has attain(ld the .title of K. T. to pass the Circle of Perlection thereafter, the. argll.n:ien,t oii. h~li-

2•

34

part being that he does not feel inclined to take a retrograde step; that he has already attained the right to a position of honor on the pinnacle of Masonic acquirements; and that if there is any thing of importance remaining, which he has passed in his journey thither, his position by right entitles him to it sans ceremonie; and thus, with a proud toss of the head, hurls what he deems a huge bombshell at the solicitor, who generally retreats with silent disgust.

So long as the Subordinates of this Grand Council are held in strict subjection to its edicts and regulations, and render strict fealty thereto, ·so long they claim and expect a fostering care and jealous guardianship of their rights and interests.

'On behalf of the SubOl"dinate Councils of the State of New York we earnestly ask and hope that this ·Most Puissant Grand Council w!Jl take the foregoing subject into serious consideration, with a determination to correct the evil, if possible, and thus give them a renewed vitality and expectation of prosperity in time to come.

Respectfully submitted.

C. CRAIG, Committee.

The Committee on Warrants and Dispensations presented_ the following Report, and, on motion, it was received and its recommendations were adopted:

To THE M. P. GRAND CouNCIL OF THi,: STATE OF NEw YoRK:

Your Committee on Warrants and Dispensations would report that they have had under their consideration the petitions for War­rants, together with the returns made of work done, and they would respectfully recommend that a Warrant be granted to AN­

·soN A. BURLIN as T. Ill. Master, WILFORD W. BARKER as R. Ill. Master, and GEORGi,: W. NORTON as Ill. P. C. of the W., and their associate petitioners, for a Oouncil to be located at Jamestown, Chautauqua County, to be known and designated as Chautauqua Council, No. 32.

They would also recommend that a Warrant be granted to JoHN T. $1u.w !lij T. lll. Master, HoRACEJ>, \YF;ST MR. Ill. Master, and

. ,, i!.,'

'.-: .:.· ~. , .. : .. ·.::: .

.35

MILTON B. Fom:s as Ill. P. o. of the W., and their associate-peti­tioners, for a Council to be locatecl at Olean, Cattamugns Culi.nty,

· to be known and designated as ·Olean Council, No._ 33.

Respectfully submitted.

DANIEL :woLFF, SEYMOUR H. STONE, W. B. CRANDAL.L,

Committee.

The Committee on Constitutions and By~Laws i)rcsentccl the following Report, which- was, on motion, receiYcd and. the resol~tion accompanying. tl-ic ~same was unanimously adopted as one of the Standing '·B.eguhttions or-this Grand Council: ·

To THE M. P. GRAND CouNCIL OF R. AND S. M. _OF THE STATE OF NEw Yomr:

The Comniittee to .whom was referred the subject of Constitution and By-Laws respectfully report,_ that after carefully examining the Constitution of this Grauel Cbi.~nci1;·we find ~o ·provision for the i~cipient steps towarcl organizi~g Subordinate Councils in this jurisdiction; and the present desire to multiply such organizations requii'ing that a rule be. established by this Gmnd ·Body to govern si"ich cases; we recommend the adoption of the following resolution:

Resolved, That hereafter all petitions in this jurisdiction for a Dispensa~ion to organize a Council should have inrlorsecl thereon the consent and recommendation of the nearest Council.

Respectfully submitted.

REES G. WILLIAMS; J. B. CHAFFEE,

. J .. A. SUMNER.

The Committee on(}rievan(les and .Appeals presented _the

follo"'.ingJ~,~po.rt, and, .o,n, m,oti<?n1 }t. ~V!J:~. r.eceiy~~.; " __ ... ,· .... ·

•.

.36

To THE 11[. P. GRAND CouNcn:, .oF R. AND .S. M. OF THE STATE OF.NEW YORK:

The Committee on Grievances and Appeals report that nothing requiring the action of this Committee has been brought before them.

DANIEL F. DAY, H. W. McINTIRE, HOW ARD COCKBURN,

Committee •

. The Committee on Finance presented the. following Re• port, .. and, on mo.tion, it was received and the recommenda­tions. embodied therein wei:e adopted:

•.ro TuE M. ·p, ·GitAND CouNcli. oF R. AND s. M: OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK:

Your Finance Committee would report that they have examined the Reports of the Grand Treasurer and Grand Recorder.

Your Committee would recommend· that, in view of the state of the funds of this Grand Council,· the sum of ten cents per mile by the usual traveled route be paid to the Grand Officers and Repre­sentatives of this Grii.p.d Council.

They would also recommend that the sum of one hundred dol­lars be paid to the Grand Recorder for his services the past year, and ten dollars to the Grand Sentinel.

They also recommend that the sum of t~enty-five dollars be paid to the Chairman of the Committee on Foreign Conespondence.

All of which is respectfully submitted.

H. M. DRAKE, J. B. SACKETT, EDWARD H. BROWN,

Committee.

The Grand Council then proceeded to the election of officers for the ensuing year, with the following result:

M. P. and Rev. CHAS. H. PLATT was re-elected Grand Master. R. P. JOHN BOOLE.,.......... Dep. Grand Master.

'·

R. P. JAMES McCaEnm .. was re-elected Grand Ill. Master. R. P. JoHN D .. ,VILLIAMS .... . ·. · · " " P. C. of the ,V. R. P. JOSIAH SHOVE ..... , , . , .. M. P: H.F. L. BuNTrnG. :: .. ;,

" Recorder, " .Treasurer.

'l'he above officers were then duly installed.

The Grand Master announced the following appointments:

R. P. DANIEL WoLFF ..... : . : ...... .' ......... Grand C. of the G. R. P. JOSEPH B. CHAFFEE .................... . R. P. and Rev. J. G. WEBSTER ............. ..

P. F. F, DRIGGS ••••••••••••••••••••.••.••

P. AMzA FULLER.' ....... , .............. , ..

Marshal. Chaplain; Steward. Sentinel;

All of whom were·duly installed by the Grnnd Master.

The. Grand Master appointed the following Committees:

On Foreign Correspondence.

· T. Ill.. CHARLES CRAIG, .. T. Ill. JOHN S. SHAW,

R. P. JAMES McCREDIE.

On Unfini~hed Business.

T. Ill. M. C. FINLEY, Ill. W. H. McCOY, .

T. Ill. JOHN SHEVILLE.

Special Finance Committee.

R. P. DANIEL WOLFF, R. ill. R. G. MILLARD,

T. Ill. JOHN T. MARTIN.

Grand Lecturer.

JACKSON.H. CHASE;.

On motion, th!J next Annual Assembly was ordered to be held in the city of .Albany, on the first Tuesday in Feb~ ruary, 1870, at seven o'clock P. M. .. .. · ·· ··

38

On motion, the Grand Recorder was· empowered to have two hundred and fifty copies of the Proceedings printed, to be sent in the usual manner to the· Snbordinate Councils and to our sister Grand Councils.

No furthe1; business appearing, the Grand Council was closed in ~mplt jf orm.

J. SHOVE, Grand Recorder.

"

39

Receipts at Annual Assembly.

Columbian Council, No. 1 ............................ : .. $44.50 Union Council, No. 2 .............................. .' .... 32.85 Brooklyn Council, No. 4 ................................ 40.00 Adelphic Council, No. 7 .................................. 115.13 Central City Council, No. 13 ....... : .................... 38.25 Bloss Council, No. 14 ........... : ........................ 101.2() Bruce Council, No. 15 .................................. 18.00 Southern Tier Council, No. 16 ........................... 55. 75 Buffalo Council, No. 17 .. : ............... · ......... · .... ·. . 62. 83 King Hiram Council, No. 18 ......... , ..... · .......... : . ..• 15.50 Doric Council, No. 19 ................................. 73.25 Keystone Council, No. 20 ............................... 27.36 Hudson River Council; No. 21. .......................... 17.25 De Witt Clinton Council, No. 22 ................. : .. . . . . . 40. 25 Ontario Council, No .. 23 ...... : .. . .. . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . .. 18. 65 Binghamton Council, No. 24 ............................. 20. 75 Dunkirk Council, No. 25 ................................ 49.25 · Palmyra Council,. No. 26 .......... : ..................... · 18. 39 Batavia Council, No. 27 ........................ · ......... 16.00 Mohawk Council, No. 29 ................................ . Owego_Council; No. 30 ............................... .

. King Solomon Council, No. 31. .................•........ Chautauqua, U. D ... : ...... ; . .- . . . . . . . . . . . . ............ .

Balance on Warrant ..... : ............. . Olean

'Wyoming, 1J. D., for Dispensation ........ ., ............. "

17.23 9.00

26.75 12.65 10.00 10.00 20.00

$910.84

ABSTRACT OF ANNUAL RETURNS OF SUBORDINATE COUNCILS UNDER THE JURISDICTION OF THE GRAND COUNCIL OF NEW YORK. . .

COUNCIL.· TOWN. COUNTY.

•

19 10

20 10 16 11

2 3

11 5.

15 9.

2

2 2 4 1

1 4 2

2 1

-6--1-75 62

28

14 4

1 1 1

70 174

66 181

36 93

100 31

128 45 27 G4 35 47 92 32 32

26 16 37 11)

.• ,·

OFFICERS OF SUBORDINATE·'COUNCILS-,.~.

UNDER THE JURISDICTION ·OF THE GRAND COUNCIL OF NEW· YORK.

1. COLUMBIAN .•• .- •••••• 2. UNION ............. ; 4: • . BROOKLYN ••.•.••.•.. 7. _ AJ>ELPHIC ......... .. 8: EUREKA. ......... : .••

13. CENTRAL CrrY' ..... -. . 14. BLOSS .... · ••••••••• :. . 15 .. BRUCE ............ ' • 16. SOUTHERN TIER .... .

,17. BUFFALO·., ..•..... ,. ;18. KING HIRAM •••••••

: 19. Donro ............. .. 20. KEYSTONE ••••••••••• 21. HUDSON RIVER •••••• 22. DE WITT CLINTON ••• 23."0NTARIO • •••••••••• 24. BINGHAMTON .• : •.. ~ 25. DUNKIHK .......... .. 26. PALMYRA ........... . 27. BATAVIA ...... ; .... :. :?S;'UTICA . ............. . 2!J. MOHAWK .• , ....••• 30. OWEGO ............ .

-31." KING SOLOMON ... ; , 32, CHAUTAUQUA ...•..•. 33. OLEAN .............. . U. D. WATERTOWN .... .. U, D. LYONS .......... . u. D. SANDY HILL ..••• U. D. WYOMING ••••••••

MASTEilB.

wm: S.' Paterson. Geo.".w: Southwick. J obit Sheville. John T. Martin.

No returns. Edward H. Brown. : Henry R:_Harvey. Charles.Craig •. ·H. W. Mcln•ire. , • -James Mccredie .. . Jame• B. Hoskins. : Wm. B. Crandall David F. Day.

· Howard Cockbnrn. · :­Jacksori-A. Sumner. W. P. Durrant. . Orlando W .. Earle.

.' wrii. Hiwyman. Mark C. Finley.

_Albert R. Warner. Re.es G: Williams. Joseph Chadwick. ·Daniel E. Comstock;.· O. -Fred: 'Wiltsie. Anson A. Burlin. Johns. Shaw.

No returns . . Joseph Wall ng. . F. G. Vaughn. Henry.H. Lyman;.

I

H. W. ,Steinhard .. -Robert Stephens. ·wm. R: Leonard. P. W. Ver Hoeven.

A. C. Wood. -. A. W. Richardson .. ·

Jason Collier . Edwin Spencer. John Brie~s.

· -H. M. Drake. Wm. Shelp. S. M. Ratcliffe. Wm M. Hayes. Johri J. Martin. J. T. Scoon.'

.. E. N.,Gil!espy. B. Rathbun.

· T. S. Jackson •. -J. M. Showerman. "

P,·C, OF.THEW.

Charles Van Holland" "John Schreyer .. ·A .. C. Willmarth.

-.'.Benj .. S.-Hill.

· - Mead Belden. '-Edwin .Burlingame. W. H. McCoy. F. D. Ramsdell.-a. M. Farrar. T. B.- Barber. P. H. Marshall. J ohri B. Sackett. Robert ·Loughran.

:S. nI. Craver; W. D Burrill.­Clinton Fi-Paige. A.H. Libby.·. J. J. Wbite. .

. \Jbarles H. Monell. -: -:-..

L. ·D~ Sanborn. " · -oeoree Campbell. .. :_, ·. Jno.:B. Stan_~rough. · J. ·B. Judd

Isaac w. Baker. W. W. Parker. H.P. West.

Wm: G:- David:-' -Wm. A. Fox .

.. Geo. E. Copeland •.

- A. B Smith. · ": : -George W. Norton.

}!. B Fobes.

~eth' c.-searle. • J. Wm;·Wait.

- : Oaborn Randall .

RECORDERS.

Wm J .. Surre. _ Henry C. Parke. Edward Cooper. E. M. Alford. jr. R. P. Barnard. R. M. Beecher.

. David M. Ranken • George W. Hall. Wm. H. Browne. S. M.Evry. · John C.,White. John Alexander.

. Chriil. G. Fox. -Wm. H; Ttirner. ·Chas. T. Platto. Wm. N;- Smith.

·Geo. W. Seymour • - M. D. Cushing. E. W. Cummings.

"David Seaver .

George H~ Plantz. - Chs.M, Haywood.

Saml. W. Corwin. S. R. Lawson.

ADDRESS OF THE GRAND MASTERS AND GRAND RECORDERS

OF THE GRAND COUNCILS OF THE UNITED STATES.

STATE. GRAND MA.STER. ADDRESS. GRAND BECOBDEB. ADDRESS.

ALARAMA .............. Rev. Eugene V. Le Vert MHrion ............... Daniel Sayre ........... Montgomery. ARKANSAS .............. Harris Flanagin ........ Arkadelphia .......... William D. Blocher .... Little Rock. CONNECTICUT .......... Stephen T. Bartlett .... Bridgeport ... . .. .. .. .. J. K. Wheeler .......... Hartford. CALIFQRNIA •••••. ••••••••••..••....••.••••••.•••••••.••.••••••• :. L .. c Owen ............ San Francisco. FLORIDA ............................................................. Hugh A. Corley ........ Tallahassee. GEORGIA .............. Stephen D. Heard ...... Augusta ............. B. ll. Russell .......... Augusta. ILLINOIS .............. JohnM. Pearson ....... Godfrey ............... JohnC. Reynolds ...... :'pringfleld. INDIANA .....•.•....••• 'fhomas Pattison ........ Aurora .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . John M. Bramwell... . Indianapolis. IOWA ................... Joseph A. Hursh ....... Iowa City .............. W. B. Langridge ...... Muscatine. KrnsAs ............... Hichard R. Rees ....... Leavenworth .. .. • .. • .. Otto C. Beeler ......... Leavenworth. KENTUCKY ............. Philip Swigert ......... Frankfort .............. A.G. Hodges .......... Frankfort.

·LOUISIANA ............. J. Q. A. Follows ........ New Orleans ........... Gustavus 8ontag ....... New Orleans. MAINE ... , ............. Josiah H. Drummond .. Portland ............... l1a Berry .............. Portland, MASSACHUSETTS ..••.••• Charles E. Powers ...•.. Boston . . • • • • . . • • • . • • • • Solou Thornton.... . . • • Boston. JlrICBIGAN ............ J. T. Hayden ........... Hillsdale .............. O. Bourke ............. Detroit. MISSOURI. ............. Thomas E Garrett ..... St. Louis ... .. • .... .. .. George Frank Gouley .. St. Lon!s. MISSISSIPPI ............ Giles M. Hillyer ....... Natchez ............... 0. T Keeler .......... Columbus. NEW BRUNSWICK (Can.) Robert Marshall ....... St. John ............... D.R. Munro .......... St. John. NEW HAMPSBillE ....... John R. Holbrook ..... Portsmouth ............ !Luther W. Nichols .•••• Concord. NEW JERSEY ........... Charles Bechtel. ....... Trenton .. .. .. .. . .. .. .. T. J. Corson ........... Trenton. NEW YORK ............. Oharlee H. P;att ........ Binghamton • .. . . .. • .. • Josiah Sl:love .......... New York, Box 3737. NORTH CAROLINA ..•••.. Thomae B. Carr .•...•.. Wilmington .•••.•.•••• IH. H. Munson ......... Wilmrngton. Oaro .................. Charles Brown ......... Cincinnati....... .. .. .. John D. Caldwell ..... , Cmclnnati. OnEGON.. .. .. .. . .. . .. .. .. . .. .. .. .. • . .. .. . . .. • . . .. • • • .. .............. \ Benjamin F. Goodwin • Portland. PENNSYLVANIA ......... Alfred Creigh ........ Washington ........... !

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1~Cbristian Stolz ......... Heading.

RaonE lsLAND ......... James H. Al'mingten ... Providence .. .. . .. • .. • Clinton D. Bellew ..... Providence. l:!OUTH CAROLINA ....••• Albert G. Mackey .••••. Charleston . • • • • • • • • • • • H. W. Schroeder .•••••• Charleston. 1l'ENNESSEE •••.•••••••. David Cook, Sen ....... Lebanon ............... John Frizzell ...... -. .. Nashville. VERMONT ..•••.•••.•••• Squire Marcy ..•..••••• Hartland • • • • • • • • • • • • • • John B. Hollenbeck •... Burlington. 'VrscoNSIN .. ........... M.elvjn L. Young ...... Milwaukee .............. William T. Palmer ..... Milwaukee.

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REPRESENTATIVES NEAR SISTER GRAND COUNCILS.

JOSIAH H. DRUMMOND, of Portland, GuAND.CouNCIL OF MAINE.

Rev. THOMAS D. LAWSON,. of Bastrop, GRAND COUNCIL OF LoursIJ.NA .

Rev. LEVI H. CORSON, of Jonesville, GRAND COUNCIL OF MICHIGAN.

MARCUS HIGGINBOTHAM, of Jersey City, GRAND COUNCIL OF NEW JERSEY.

JAMES L. GOULD, of Bridgeport, GRAJ>!D COUNCIL OP CONNECTICUT.

D. ··R. MUNRO, of St. John, · GRAND COUNCIL O~' NEW BRU:\SWICK.

·oFFICERS .. OF GRAND COUNCIL.

1869.

M. P. CHARLES H. PLATT; Binghamton ... Grand Master.

R. P. JOHN HooLE, New York ..•••• , ..... Dep. Grand Master.

R. P. JAMES McCREDIE, Buffalo .... ,, .... Grand ill. Master.

R. P. JoHN D. WILLIAMs,.Elmira. ... . . ... P. C. of the W. R. P. JOSIAH SHOVE, Box 3737, New York.

M. P. HENRY F. L. BUNTING, New York .. .

R. P. DANIEL WoLFF,_New York ......... . R. P. JosEPH B. CHAFFEE, Binghamton .. .

R. P. and Rev. J. G. WEBSTER, Palmyra ..

P. F. F. DRIGGS, Dunkirk .... ; •.......

P. AMZA FULLER, Albany ......••..••.

n. P. JACKSON H. CHASE, Palmyra ....... .

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Recorder.

Treasurer.

C. of the Guard.

Marshal.

C).iaplain.

Steward.

Sentinel.

Lecturer.

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To THE MEMBERS OF THE'G~~N;'j''(J~~Nctt'·tii;. RJ;A:b.~ti Sk~ LECT MA.s;r:i;:Rs OF THE STATE c;>F NEw YORK:

In the ·midst of life we are in death: .. Scarcely have the :echoes of.you!'. retreating f(let ce(\sedJo reverbera,te fl'.om, the Wa!l.s of OUr Secret Vault ere the cry of distress iS heard, pr9-claiming "the death of our honored. and ·befoved Grand Master.

He had just· been with us in the Sanctum Sanct01•um;- where he had offered: up our united devotions to ·Deity, and.where the .designs had'been drawn out on the. Masonic trestle-board fc;>r the coming year, and as he.passed .out· from· thence. to.mingle igain with the Craft, he. was met.by t}Je: bright angel-of death summoning hiµi from .the scene of his .. ;labors to the.place of his great !eward. . . . . . . . . · .

So closely do the glories of the world that is to 'be at times impinge upon· the shadows of this world, tbat the spiritual minded oftentimes seem to be gifted with a spirit of prophecy, knowing, or rather feeling without clearly knowing, that their change is near.

Thus witness the touching appeal of our beloved Companioh to be relieved from the cares of the office he had so zealously and so conscientiously ·filled. for-the past six years, as also the closing_ sentence of h~s last address to us: "Whenever my name shall wear the funereal drapery upon your record, and the silence and darkness of the grave shall forbid me to vindicat(J myself, let the fidelity to which we are pledged. be the surviv'­ing voice to attest that fervency and zeal were the imperishable inmates of my heart ! "

The Most Puissant . and Reverend CHARLES H. PLATT die<! at his residence, in Binghamton, on Thursday, February 25, at 12.15 A. M., after a short but very painful illness, in the midst of a life fined to overflowing with acti~e useful:µess,

No words of mine can add to your appreciation of the loss thus sustained by the special branch of om· Masonic family of which he was the head in this State.

Who so earnest, so patient, and so persistent in forwarding its interests as he; who so affable, so courteous, so conciliatory when difficulties were to be encountered and smoothed away; who so well upheld our banner and with dignity contended for our rights against those upon whom conciliation proved to to be thrown away ? His motto was ever, "First pure, then peaceable."

Throughout the Masonic world his nam~ was for us a tower of strength, and we may truly say that in losing him we have lost not only the sympathizing friend and brother, but also the sure and steadfast guide and counselor.

Let us hope that the mantle he so long and so worthily wore. will fall upon shoulders as able and as willing as his.

J. SHOVE, Gmnd Recorder.

NEW YoBK, March 1, 186:J. ·

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~n Jllltmot,v OF

MOST PUISSANT AND REVEREND.

GRAND MASTER OF ROYAL.AND SELECT MASONS

OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK.

D.ied· February 25th, A. D. 1869.

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OF

RIGHT PUISSANT

AUCUSTUS WILLARD, M. D. PAsT DEPUTY GnAND l\iAsTEn oF THE GRAND CouNCIL

OF THE STATE. oF NEW Yo1m •

.. . ~IGHT PUISSANT .... - .... .. ~-

BRADLEY PARKER, M. D. FAST GRAND !LLUSTRIOUS l\iASTER OF THE GRAND COUNCIL .).. I I

. OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK.

:Died. J'a:n:u.ary 18~ 1080.