Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Address Of The Grand Master, J. H. Graham, L.L.D., &C.
Masonic world , and the brief presentation and discussion of matters of special importance to the Craft 1 Perhaps some satisfactory arrangement may be made with the Grand Secretary , aided by the Chairman of the Committee onForei Correspondence
gn , to issue such as the recognized organ of the Grand Lodge ? I would suggest the advisibility of appointing a Committee to consider the matter .
It is exceedingly important that officers of Lodges should bear in mind the inadvisibility of asking for Dispensations to Pass and Raise Masons in less time than that prescribed by the Constitution , except in most urgent cases . Every Apprentice
should faithfull y serve his allotted time , in order that he may be full y instructed , and no Worshi pfnl Master should on any account omit the lectures and charges in the several degrees ; and I have reason to fear that the spirit of " office seeking " is
unfortunately manifesting itself on the part of some who have not the requisite qualifications for the high and responsible duties of Masters of Lod ges and rulers in the Craft . It is generally better by far for lodges to elect old and efficient officers
than to elect those not well qualified , as it will too often happen that over ambitious and ill-qualified candidates for office will , after election , fail to prepare themselves to perform their important duties as they ought , and most of the labors of the lodge will have to be performed by past officers .
This should not be ; and I must acl monish you effectually to suppress the reprehensible and uumasonic practice sometimes occuring of " canvassing " for office . Nothing is farther from the spirit aud principles of Freemasonry , or more subversive of the best interests of the Craft
, than " canvassing " for office personally or through others either in private lodges or in Grand Lodge . It ought to be an impassable barrier to advancement in office among Freemasons . The great principles of our Order , and the laws laid down in
our ancient constitutions in regard to these things are so well known and understood , especially by the older and more experienced brethren , that there is need only of calling your attention to them in order that they may be fully realized and faithfully practiced by the Craft .
The requirements of the Constitution and the interest of the Craft demand at least one annual official visit to each lod ge from the District Deputy , for the purpose of counsel , instruction and inspection . To perform these duties satisfactoril
y , requires , in most of the rural districts a very considerable amouut of time and outlay of money , and therefore , in the absence of any constitutional regulation , it seems in most instances to be asking
too much of these officers to necessitate their bearing the whole of the expense of these official visits , and I beg to advise each lodge to pay to the Deputy the actual expense of at least one official visit made per year . In this way these worthy officers will
be materially aided and encouraged in the discharge of their important duties . The exclusive sovereignty of each Grand Lodge within its own territory must be maintained . It is the foundation and copestone of our Grand Lodge existence ,
aud the primal source of our unity , harmony and prosperity . The irregular interference of certain European Grand Orients or assemblages , in certain jurisdictions on this continent , the establishment of a clandestine lodge by one of these in the city of London , England , and the intermeddling of officious
innovators with the " body and established " order" of Freemasonry , under the pretended guise of reform and progress , deserve and should receive the severest condemnation . In accordance with a resolution passed at the last annual communication of
Grand Lodge , I appointed a committee consisting of E . W . Brothers O'Halloran , Stearns , Copelaud , Tait and Isaacson , to confer with delegates ( if appointed ^ from the lodges , four in number , in the city of Montrealstill continuing in allegiance to
, the Grand Lodges of England and Scotland . I exceedingly regret to report that no conference has been held , chiefly on account of the non-co-operation of jsaid private lodges . It did not appear to me that the Resolution referred to as passed
at last session in restricting the action of the Grand Master in the matter to one particular course of action , was well calculated to facilitate the consummation so earnestly desired by many leading mem-
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Address Of The Grand Master, J. H. Graham, L.L.D., &C.
Masonic world , and the brief presentation and discussion of matters of special importance to the Craft 1 Perhaps some satisfactory arrangement may be made with the Grand Secretary , aided by the Chairman of the Committee onForei Correspondence
gn , to issue such as the recognized organ of the Grand Lodge ? I would suggest the advisibility of appointing a Committee to consider the matter .
It is exceedingly important that officers of Lodges should bear in mind the inadvisibility of asking for Dispensations to Pass and Raise Masons in less time than that prescribed by the Constitution , except in most urgent cases . Every Apprentice
should faithfull y serve his allotted time , in order that he may be full y instructed , and no Worshi pfnl Master should on any account omit the lectures and charges in the several degrees ; and I have reason to fear that the spirit of " office seeking " is
unfortunately manifesting itself on the part of some who have not the requisite qualifications for the high and responsible duties of Masters of Lod ges and rulers in the Craft . It is generally better by far for lodges to elect old and efficient officers
than to elect those not well qualified , as it will too often happen that over ambitious and ill-qualified candidates for office will , after election , fail to prepare themselves to perform their important duties as they ought , and most of the labors of the lodge will have to be performed by past officers .
This should not be ; and I must acl monish you effectually to suppress the reprehensible and uumasonic practice sometimes occuring of " canvassing " for office . Nothing is farther from the spirit aud principles of Freemasonry , or more subversive of the best interests of the Craft
, than " canvassing " for office personally or through others either in private lodges or in Grand Lodge . It ought to be an impassable barrier to advancement in office among Freemasons . The great principles of our Order , and the laws laid down in
our ancient constitutions in regard to these things are so well known and understood , especially by the older and more experienced brethren , that there is need only of calling your attention to them in order that they may be fully realized and faithfully practiced by the Craft .
The requirements of the Constitution and the interest of the Craft demand at least one annual official visit to each lod ge from the District Deputy , for the purpose of counsel , instruction and inspection . To perform these duties satisfactoril
y , requires , in most of the rural districts a very considerable amouut of time and outlay of money , and therefore , in the absence of any constitutional regulation , it seems in most instances to be asking
too much of these officers to necessitate their bearing the whole of the expense of these official visits , and I beg to advise each lodge to pay to the Deputy the actual expense of at least one official visit made per year . In this way these worthy officers will
be materially aided and encouraged in the discharge of their important duties . The exclusive sovereignty of each Grand Lodge within its own territory must be maintained . It is the foundation and copestone of our Grand Lodge existence ,
aud the primal source of our unity , harmony and prosperity . The irregular interference of certain European Grand Orients or assemblages , in certain jurisdictions on this continent , the establishment of a clandestine lodge by one of these in the city of London , England , and the intermeddling of officious
innovators with the " body and established " order" of Freemasonry , under the pretended guise of reform and progress , deserve and should receive the severest condemnation . In accordance with a resolution passed at the last annual communication of
Grand Lodge , I appointed a committee consisting of E . W . Brothers O'Halloran , Stearns , Copelaud , Tait and Isaacson , to confer with delegates ( if appointed ^ from the lodges , four in number , in the city of Montrealstill continuing in allegiance to
, the Grand Lodges of England and Scotland . I exceedingly regret to report that no conference has been held , chiefly on account of the non-co-operation of jsaid private lodges . It did not appear to me that the Resolution referred to as passed
at last session in restricting the action of the Grand Master in the matter to one particular course of action , was well calculated to facilitate the consummation so earnestly desired by many leading mem-