History Of Freemasonry In Ohio

From 1791 to 1912

by W. M. Cunningham and John G. Reeves

THE HISTORY OF THE MOST WORSHIPFUL GRAND LODGE
OF FREE AND ACCEPTED MASONS OF THE STATE
OF OHIO
From 1892 To 1912
INCLUSIVE

By W. M. CUNNINGHAM, M. A.,
Past Grand Master F.& A M., P. G. H. P. of Royal Arch
Masons, P. G. M. of R. and S. Masters, and
S. G. I. G. 33° Grand Historian.

VOLUME 3

Part II

Copyright, 1914 By J. H. Bromwell Grand Secretary Cincinnati, Ohio

1896

M.·. W.·. WM. B. MELISH, GRAND MASTER

Grand Lodge Convened at the Cathedral of the Ancient Accepted Scottish Rite, in Cincinnati, Wednesday, October 21, A. D. 1896, with M.·. W.·. William B. Melish, Grand Master, in the Chair, all the Grand Officers in their stations, Past Grand Masters O. A. Woodward, Wm. M. Cunningham, R. C. Lemmon, C. C. Kiefer, S. S. Williams, L. Burdick, I Goodale, J M. Goodspeed, Allen Andrews, and C. F. Clapp, Past Deputy Grand Masters Win Akers, J. L'H. Long, Emeritus Grand Secretary D. Caldwell and the representatives of 481 Lodge attendance; total attendance, 641.

The Grand Master read his annual address, reporting that in compliance with the orders of the Grand Lodge at its last session he had received competitive bids and awarded the contract for seven Past Grand Master's jewels to Michie Brother of Cincinnati, at the price of $650.00; and in January, 1896, presented, in the name of the Grand Lodge, a jewel to each of the following Past Grand Master of Ohio, viz.: Chas. A. Woodward, of Cleveland; Wm. M. Cunningham, of Newark; Reuben C. Lemmon, of Toledo; Chas. C. Kiefer, of Urbana; Jos. M. Goodspeed, of Athens; S. Stacker Williams, of Newark; and Carroll F. Clapp, of Warren. Each of these beloved Brethren acknowledged receipt of your token of appreciation in fitting terms, and returned you their heartful thanks for the honor conferred.

The committee charged with the duty of procuring jewels for the District Lecturers, to be the property of the Grand Lodge, and worn by the District Lecturers during their terms of office, reported they had procured twenty-five jewels at a cost of $375.00; and I transmitted to each District Lecturer the official badge of his office, and received due acknowledgment from each.

The District Lecturers visited 397 Lodges, and 101 Lodges were not visited, the expense being $1,079.47, an average of $2.72 for each Lodge visited this expense being paid from the Grand Lodge Treasury, an investment resulting in great good to Lodges.

The Grand Master constituted the following new Lodges which received charters at the last session of the Grand Lodge and installed their Officers:

November 1, 1895, Yondota Lodge No.572; November 8, 1895, Carthage Lodge No.573; December 11, 1895, Norwood Lodge No.576.

November 30, Gibsonburg Lodge No.575 was constituted by R.·. W.·. Barton Smith, Deputy Grand Master; November 25, New Burlington Lodge No.574, was constituted by R.·. W.·. Nelson Williams, Senior Grand Warden, as proxy for the Grand Master.

On July --, 1896, a dispensation was issued for a new Lodge at West Milton, Miami County.

On May 25, 1896, issued dispensation permitting J. B. Covert Lodge No.437 to move from Withamsville to Tobasco, and on October 2, 1896, they removed to a new and commodious Lodge room and have entered upon a new era of prosperity.

Venice Lodge No.200 found themselves without a suitable Lodge room, reduced in numbers, and in 8traitened circumstances, filed their annual report, paid their Grand Lodge dues, and surrendered their charter and effects to the Grand Lodge, and certificates of good standing were issued to the Brethren entitled to them and the charter and effects received by the Grand Secretary.

The Revised Code was placed in the hands of Brothers A. P. Crane, R. C. Lemmon, and L. Burdick of the committee to complete the index, compile and arrange the forms, etc., they being residents of the same city. The task assigned to Brothers Lemmon and Burdick was promptly attended to and placed in the hands of the printers; but the index was delayed, and finally placed in the hands of Brothers Burdick and Lemmon who promptly completed it and the completed book left the publisher's hands for distribution to the Lodges on February 10, 1896, and therefore it is to Brothers Lenimon and Burdick the thanks of this Grand Lodge are due for the large amount of work they were unexpectedly called upon to assume at short notice. The new Code contains 511 Decisions, 41 Resolutions, 92 Sections of a Code, 16 Rules of Order, 29 By-Laws, 17 Articles of the Constitution, and 6 divisions of the Ancient Charges, a total of only 712 items of law; and cost between $2,500 and $3,000. The books were distributed in the manner ordered by the Grand Lodge at its last session, and the prices fixed for those on hand are, paper backs, 50 cents; cloth bound, $1.00; leather bound, $2.00.

DECISIONS OF LAW

"The Grand Master has made no decision of during his term. This announcement may bring about a stroke of paralysis to some of our elder Brethren who have attended Grand Lodge for a score of years. The Committee on Grievances has only one case to worry over. The effect it will have on the learned and usually hard worked Committees on Jurisprudence and Grievances can not be foretold, but it is hoped they will conclude they are entitled to 'a day off' and spend the time enjoying the hospitality of the Cincinnati Brethren."

Coshocton Lodge No.96, some years ago granted dimits to a number of Brothers who preferred the dead fruits of Cerneanism to the fellowship of the Lodge. Nothing is known by the Lodge regarding the use, if any, made of them. Now these former members ask for duplicates of the dimits issued to them. The Grand Master advised the Lodge to make careful inquiry into the character of the Brother since the original dimit was issued. If he ever became a member of another Lodge he is not entitled to a copy. If he ever joined a so-called Lodge of "Cerneaus," or other clandestine body, either with or without a deposit of his dimit, he has forfeited his Masonic character, and his right to a copy of his dimit, and he should explain the loss of the original, and the reason for his protracted non-affiliation.

The Grand Master reports a number of personal visitations to Subordinate Lodges, among which was Cincinnati Lodge No.133, on October 30, 1895, on the occasion of the celebration of its Golden or Fiftieth Anniversary; the reception tendered the Grand Master by his own Lodge, Lafayette No.81, on December 30, 1895; on January 27, 1896, Monitor lodge No.445, on which occasion a beautiful Past Master's jewel was presented to Past Master Bugbee, who was taken by surprise, and set the audience in a roar by stating he had unwittingly, through the solicitation of Brother Hoyt, contributed to the purchase of his own gift, but discovered his mistake when the Grand Master presented a Past Master's jewel to Past Master Thomas Kite and announced this was the jewel to which Brother Bugbee had contributed; on August 24, 1896, Vattier Lodge, No.386, on which occasion the Grand Master, on behalf of the Lodge, presented to every living Past Master of the Lodge an elegant Past Master's jewel; on October 13, 1896, a reception to tile Grand Master by Mystic Lodge No.405, at which he was accompanied by R.·. W.·. S. G. W. Nelson Williams and M.·. W.·. Past Grand Masters S. Stacker Williams and C. F. Clapp, and Grand Tyler J. Randall.

Special proxies were issued to the following Brothers to dedicate the Halls and Lodge rooms of Lodges:

November 21, 1895, to W. Bro. Henry Moser, Hall of Mercer Lodge No.121; December 19, 1895, to R.·. W.·. Bro. Nelson Williams, Hall of Tippecanoe Lodge No.174; April 8, 1896, to M.·. W.·. Bro. C. F. Clapp, Hall of Mahoning Lodge No.394.

LITIGATION OF THE GRAND LODGE

Since the last session of the Grand Lodge the Supreme Court of Ohio decided the case of "Hershiser v. Williams" and affirmed the judgment of the Circuit and Common Pleas Courts, thus sustaining the authority of the Grand Lodge to forbid the members of the Fraternity from joining or attending organizations of the Cerneaus, or in any other way giving recognition to these spurious bodies.

It will thus be seen that the Grand Lodge is fully sustained in its right to pass the resolution which it did at Toledo, and in forbidding all affiliation with "Cerneaus." The courts place their decision upon the principle that the Grand Lodge alone has the right to determine what is Masonic and what is un-masonic conduct, and that when it has determined a question of this character the Masons are bound to observe the law as established by the Grand Lodge, and the courts will not help any one in rebellious attitude toward the Grand Lodge to which he owes his obedience.

This substantially ends all litigation in regard to "Cerneaus," and is an authoritative recognition of the right of Free Masons to govern themselves in all matters concerning the Fraternity.

LAYING CORNER STONES

On June 9, 1896, escorted by some three hundred members of Hanselmann Lodge No.208, and other Lodges, preceded by the First Regiment Band, the M.·. W.·. Grand Master laid the corner stone of the Sixth District School in Cincinnati, with due Masonic ceremonies, in the presence of several thousand citizens and school children.

On June 4, 1896, under dispensation from the Grand Master, the Master, Wardens, and Brethren of Highland Lodge No. 38, assisted by the R.·. W.·. Grand Chaplain, Rev. H. D. Ketcham, laid the corner stone of the new High School building in Hillsboro, in the presence of a large concourse of Masons and citizens.

On September 20, 1896, M.·. W.·. Past Grand Master Carroll F. Clapp, as proxy of the M.·. W.·. Grand Master, assisted by Perry Lodge No.185, and escorted by Canton Commandery No.38 and Salem No.42, Knights Templars, laid the corner stone of the High School building at Salem with Masonic ceremonies.

The terms of Brothers Jacob H. Bromwell and Chas. C. Kiefer, as Trustees of the Masonic Home having expired, they were, on December –, 1895, reappointed to serve as such Trustees for a new term of three years.

The Trustees of the Masonic Home having reported that the buildings would soon be completed but the general fund would be exhausted, and nothing left for furnishing, the Grand Master addressed a circular letter to the Subordinate Lodges calling their attention to this fact, and to the donations already made by a number of Lodges for furnishing rooms, and requesting subscriptions and donations for that purpose, which met with a prompt and generous response from a number of Lodges which contributed the sum of $5,766.50, of which $4,849.00 was to the furnishing fund, and $917.50 to the general building fund. The amount realized from Grand Dues ordered to he paid to the Home at the last session will this year amount to $7,957.06. This sum, in addition to the donations of the Chapters of Ohio, and that recently made by the Grand Commandery, will meet the balance due on the building contracts and place the Home entirely out of debt, with the furnishing, improvements of grounds and operating expenses to be met, and the Grand Master urges on the Grand and Subordinate Lodges to meet these in a plain business manner and calls attention to the Masonic outing given by the authority of the Masters and Wardens of Cincinnati in September last, when Chairman M.·. W.·. Levi C. Goodale and his committee paid to the Home over $1,200 as the profits of one single pleasure excursion on the river.

Calls attention to the deaths of M.·. W.·. Past Grand Master Asa H. Battin, who served as Grand Master from 1872 to 1874, and died at Steubenville, June 3, 1896, and Bro. W. H. Sedgwick, Sr., District Lecturer of the nineteenth District, who died at Grandville, October 24, 1895.

In January last the Grand Master permitted New England Lodge No.4 to reinstate to membership Eros. Michael Slattery, Horace F. Smith, and Cicero Ellsbree, who were members of the Lodge when its charter was arrested, and had filed with said Lodge oaths of fealty to the Grand Lodge of Ohio and to New England Lodge, this in accordance with authority given by the Grand Lodge as appears on page 82 of proceedings of 1894.

The Lodge rooms of Royalton Union Lodge No.434, of Lyons, and Frankfort No.309, of Frankfort, with their charters and effects, were destroyed by fire. The Grand Treasurer submitted his report showing a balance on hand October 15, 1896, $25,292.21, which includes the $7,957.06 due the Masonic Home out of the Grand Dues, and which is the only out standing liability of the Grand Lodge so far as unpaid bills are concerned.

The Grand Secretary reported that notwithstanding the depressed condition of business, and the increase in the Grand Lodge dues, the net increase has been gratifying and the membership, August 31, was 40,839. His report contains a detailed statement of the receipts and disbursements, and shows that in addition to the extra donation of $5,000 to the Masonic Home at the last session, the Grand Lodge had a number of extra expenditures the past year.

M.·. W.·. Bro. T. S. Parvin, Past Grand Master and the present Grand Secretary of the Grand Lodge of Iowa, was introduced, received and welcomed, that responded in fitting terms, alluding to the fact that he had received his initiation into the mysteries of our Order in N. C. Harmony Lodge No.2, of Cincinnati, and his very great pleasure in meeting with the Grand Lodge on this occasion.

Rev. Bro. J. M. Walden, Bishop of the Methodist Episcopal Church, a Mason of many years standing, was introduced and welcomed, and responded in an eloquent manner.

The Trustees of the Scottish Bite Bodies tend the use of their Cathedral to the Grand Lodge during its sessions free of charge, which was accepted with thanks.

A charter was granted to West Milton Lodge No.577, located at West Milton, Miami County.

A duplicate charter was issued to Frankfort Lodge No.309, located at Frankfort, Ross County, in lieu of the original destroyed by fire along with their Hall and effects, October 10, 1896.

The Committee on Charters reported against granting a dispensation for a new Lodge at Clarington, Monroe County, which report was approved by the Grand Lodge.

The Committee on Masonic Jurisprudence to whom was referred portions of the Grand Master's address, reported as follows:

Approving the position taken by the Grand Master on the subject of lost dimits, and his clear and cogent statement of the law, and the reasons for it, we recommend the following be adopted as the true interpretation of the law on the subject:

"Where a Brother applies to a Lodge for a copy of a dimit granted him for the reason that he has lost the original one, it is the duty of the Lodge, through a committee or otherwise, to make careful Inquiry. If the Brother, after receiving the dimit, ever became a member of a Lodge, he has no right to demand, and should not receive, a copy of his dimit; and if, while on dimit, the Brother had been un-masonic in his conduct, no copy should be granted him. If he feels injured by the action of the Lodge, his remedy is to petition or memorialize the Grand Lodge;" which was adopted by the Grand Lodge.

On the subject of "Physical Qualifications" they report in substance, that perhaps the Grand Master should not be required to pass upon the question whether a given defect disqualifies the applicant, but this should be left to the Lodge; and recommends the following as the true construction of the law on the subject:

"A candidate for the Degree of Entered Apprentice should be able, physically as well as intellectually, to receive and impart all the essentials for Masonic recognition, and this the Lodge may determine;" which was adopted by the Grand Lodge.

On the subject of the occupancy of Masonic halls by Chapters of the Order of the Eastern Star, the same committee reports: "That Section 79 of the Code as amended in 1894 and 1895, and as reported and printed in the new and revised volume, is the law in regard to the attitude of Masonry towards the Order of the Eastern Star, and supplants all resolutions and decisions heretofore made on the subject. Chapters of this society, when constituted as specified in that section, may use Masonic property with the permission of the Masonic bodies occupying the property, and with the consent of the Grand Master, and not otherwise;" which was adopted by the Grand Lodge.

The Committee on Charters and Dispensations reported against approving a By-Law submitted by Science Lodge No.50, having for its object exemption from the payment of dues of such of its members as have been paying dues for twenty-five years; which report was adopted by the Grand Lodge.

The Committee on Necrology submitted testimonials of the private and Masonic lives and character of M.·. W.·. Past Grand Master Asa H. Battin, and Bro. Dr. W. H. Sedgwick, Sr., which are printed in the proceedings.

Brother Barton Smith of Toledo was elected M.·. W.·. Grand Master; Nelson Williams of Hamilton, R.·. W.·. Deputy Grand Master; E. C. Gulliford of Cleveland, R.·. W.·. Senior Grand Warden; E. L. Lybarger, Spring Mountain, R.·. W.·. Junior Grand Warden; R. R. Rickly, R.·. W.·. Grand Treasurer, and J. H. Bromwell, R.·. W.·. Grand Secretary, and they, with the appointive Grand Officers, were duly installed.

Columbus, Ohio, was selected as the place, and Wednesday, October 20, A. D. 1897, as the time for holding the next Annual Communication of this Grand Lodge.

The proposed amendment to Section 2 of the Code, laid over from last session, which fixed the amount of the Subordinate Lodge dues at not less than $2.00 annually, was taken up and adopted.

The Committee on Accounts reported fixing the amount to be paid Bro. A. P. Crane for his services on the Code Committee at $350.00 and that of M.·. W.·. Bro. R. C. Lemmon at $150.00; which was approved.

A resolution was adopted instructing the M.·. W.·. Grand Master to appoint the Worshipful Master of each Lodge in the state a committee to solicit donations of fifty cents from each member of his Lodge for the use and benefit of the Masonic Home.

A committee of three was appointed to carefully examine the Revised Code, and report to the next session any omissions, errors, conflicts, etc., and any corrections necessary to make the same conform to Masonic Law.

Two proposed amendments were offered to Section 79 of the Code: One to strike out all after the words "Grand Lodge" in the thirteenth line; and the other to strike out the words "with the consent of the Grand Master" in that section; both of which were laid over to the next annual session.

The following resolution was unanimously adopted: "Resolved, That the R.·. W.·. Grand Secretary be instructed to procure a suitable jewel for presentation to our retiring R.·. W.·. Grand Master, as a token of the appreciation of the Grand Lodge F. and A. M. ( the State of Ohio, of his labors in its behalf."

The Committee on Foreign Correspondence report covering 348 pages, and reviewing the proceedings of 62 English speaking and 11 non-English Lodges, is printed in the proceedings.

The M.·. W.·. Grand Master in his address pays the following compliment to M.·. W.·. Bro. Wm. W. Cunningham and his reports:

"It is pleasant to note the kind words said concerning the chairman of our Committee on Foreign Correspondence, M.·. W.·. Bro. Wm. M. Cunningham, and the high esteem and respect accorded him and his work for this jurisdiction. It may be that his reports are not read as fully in Ohio as they deserve, but the reading Masons, and learned Masonic critics through-out the world accord him a high position among Masonic scholars and writers."

1897

M.·. W.·. BARTON SMITH, GRAND MASTER

Grand Lodge convened at the Auditorium of the Board of Trade, Columbus, Ohio, Wednesday, October 20, A. D. 1897, with R.·. W.·. Bro. Nelson Williams, Deputy Grand Master, in the Chair, the Grand Master being unable to be in attendance; all of the Grand Officers present, except the M.·. W.·. Grand Master, Bro. Barton Smith, and Bro. Merwin Jackson, W. Senior Grand Deacon, who were unavoidably detained; and Bro. Jacob Randall, Grand Tyler, who had died since the last session. The following Past Grand Masters C. A. Woodward, W. M. Cunningham, R. C. Lemmon, C. C. Kiefer, J. M. Goodspeed, S. S. Williams, L. Burdick, L. C. Goodale, Allen Andrews, C. F. Clapp, and W. B. Melish; Past Deputy Grand Master J. L'H. Long, and Emeritus Grand Secretary J. D. Caldwell and the representatives of 486 Lodges, and 24 District Lecturers present, making the total attendance 623.

The Deputy Grand Master read the Grand Master's annual address, reporting:

The death of Colonel Charles Fowler Baldwin, R.·. W.·. Past Junior Grand Warden, who was born January 6, A. D. 1837, and died at Mt. Vernon, Ohio, October 23, A. D. 1896. His funeral services were conducted by the Grand Lodge, M.·. W.·. Bro. C. F. Clapp acting as Grand Master, on October 26, 1896, Mt Zion Lodge and a large number of visiting Masons joining with the Grand Lodge, and Clinton Commandery No.5, Knights Templars, acting as escort.

Also announces the death of our Venerable Grand Tyler, Bro. Jacob Randall, who died September 13, 1897.

Commends the District Lecturer system, and compliments the District Lecturers on their zeal in the performance of their duties, and the good results from their visitations and supervision of the work.

He had permitted the Order of the Eastern Star to occupy Lodge rooms for ceremonial and social purposes when the terms of the law had been strictly complied with, and did not find any difficulties or harm arising therefrom. Calls attention to the two propositions pending to amend Section 79 of the Code: one to exclude this Order entirely from the Lodge rooms; the other to grant permission to make use of them with the consent of the Masonic bodies occupying them and not requiring the consent of the Grand Master; and suggests a modification of the latter so as to more particularly define the purpose, tenure, and conditions of the occupancy.

Calls attention to the remnant of the Cernean litigation, three eases in Cleveland, which were decided in favor of the Grand Lodge in the Circuit Court of Cuyahoga County, February 27, 1897, and taken by the seceding plaintiffs to the Supreme Court on error, which court refused to allow them an injunction.

Calls attention to so-called "Degree Peddlers" and says: "Confidence operators are still fleecing the unwary. Under authority of a self-constituted Grand Lodge, so-called Lodges are formed, and an expelled Mason is eking out a precarious existence by pretending to confer Masonic Degrees. His victims are usually those whose characters or habits prevent them from ever becoming Masons."

Reports a number of decisions on the questions of Annual Dues, Objections to Candidates, etc., which were approved by the Grand Lodge.

Special proxies were issued to the following Brothers to lay, with Masonic ceremonies, corner stones of Masonic and public buildings:

July 13, 1897, to Bro. E. C. Gulliford, the corner stone of the Alliance Christian Church at Alliance, Ohio; September 23, 1897, to Bro. S. W. Courtright, the corner stone of the new Methodist Episcopal Church at Leesburg, Highland County; October 18, 1897, to M.·. W.·. Bro. L. Burdick, the corner stone of the Court House at Upper Sandusky; May 12, 1897, to R.·. W.·. Bro. Nelson Williams, the corner stone of the new Masonic Temple at Washington C. H., Ohio; all of which were attended to on the dates named.

Reports the appointment of Bros. Henry Perkins and George D. McBride as Trustees of the Masonic Home.

"The Ohio Masonic Home, the glory and pride of Ohio Free Masonry, is completed, and was, on the first day of April, A. D. 1897, opened for the performance of its great duties and purposes. Its very success, however, and its importance brings to us new cares and responsibilities, and imposes upon us new burdens."

In compliance with the instructions of the Grand Lodge at its last session the Grand Master issued a circular to the Master of every Lodge in the state calling attention of himself and Lodge to the action of the Grand Lodge requesting a donation of fifty cents from each member of the Lodge and urging prompt action, which was followed by another, and reports that in response, up to October 1, A. D. 1897, the amount realized was $5,806.15, contributed by 295 Lodges, which has enabled the Home to carry on its work until this time.

He is of the opinion this manner of providing for the maintenance of the Home can not be depended on, and suggests that some action be taken toward providing a permanent endowment fund sufficient for that purpose.

Commends the generous hospitality of the Masons of Ohio and the cordial, fraternal reception and wecome accorded him everywhere, and says: "The devoted loyalty of the Masons of Ohio is above description. No king ever received more ardent welcome or more cheerful obedience than is accorded to the representative of the Grand Lodge of Ohio."

Reports that as his proxy, M.·. W.·. Bro. Charles A. Woodward, on May 5, 1897, dedicated the beautiful new Hall of Ellsworth Lodge No.505, at Cleveland.

The R.·. W.·. Deputy Grand Master, Nelson Williams, submits his reports: The sudden death on November 11, 1896, of Bro. Rev. Thomas J. Melish, Eminent Grand Prelate of the Grand Commandery of Ohio, Knights Templars; Right Illustrious Grand Chaplain of the Grand Council Royal and Select Masters of Ohio; and Excellent Grand Chaplain of the Grand Chapter of Royal Arch Masons of Ohio, and a member of Ohio Consistory of the Ancient Accepted Scottish Rite, and having attained the Thirty-third and last Degree of that Rite. He was seventy-five years old. His funeral was conducted by the Grand Commandery of Ohio, Knights Templars.

Also the death of Bro. Harvey Vinal who died at Springfield, February 17, 1897, at the age of eighty-nine years, ten months, four days. He was a Past Grand High Priest of the Grand Chapter of Royal Arch Masons of Ohio, and his funeral ceremonies were conducted by Clark Lodge No.101, R.·. W.·. Bro. Nelson Williams acting as Worshipful Master.

Also the death of Brother Jacob Randall, who served the Grand Lodge as Tyler from October 19, 1864, until his death, having served as Junior and Senior Grand Deacon at different times before 1864, and he held similar offices in the Grand Commandery and Grand Chapter of Ohio. His funeral was conducted by Peed Commandery, and was attended by representatives of all the Grand Masonic Bodies in the state.

As proxy of the Grand Master he constituted West Milton Lodge No.577, at West Milton, in due and ancient form, on November 19, 1896, and on December 28, 1896, dedicated the new Masonic Hall of Xenia Lodge No.49, at Xenia; and on January is, 1897, dedicated the new Lodge room of Hamer Lodge No.167, at Wapakoneta, and installed the officers; and on May 12, laid the corner stone of the new Masonic Temple at Washington C. H., Fayette County. During the year visited thirty-three Lodges, in all of which he was received with that fraternal warmth and friendship which is characteristic of our Brotherhood.

The Grand Secretary procured the Past Grand Master's jewel unanimously voted by the Grand Lodge at its last session to the retiring Grand Master William B. Melish, and at his request I presented it to M.·. W.·. Brother Melish in "due and modern form" at the banquet which closed the annual reunion of the Ancient Accepted Scottish Rite in Cincinnati, February 25, 1897, and he "looked thankful, and acted thankful."

The R.·. W.·. Grand Treasurer submitted his reported showing a balance on hand October 15, A. D. 1897, $$626,401.88.

The R.·. W.·. Grand Secretary presented his report showing the present membership 41,713 a net gain of 874 during the past year, and a table showing the membership, and net gains in each year from 1887 to 1897, ten years, which shows the total gain during that time 8,885, or an average of 888 each year.

The amount due the Masonic Home from the 15 cents per capita tax is $6,256.95.

Brother Wm. B. Melish, on behalf of the Trustees of the Masonic Home, invited the Grand Lodge to visit the Home the afternoon of the first day of the session on a special train provided for that occasion, which was accepted and the entire Grand Lodge to the number of over 600, spent the afternoon in an inspection of the Home.

Corinthian Lodge No.111, was granted a duplicate charter in lieu of the original which had become so discolored that it is almost illegible. The Grand Secretary was authorized to correct the date of the duplicate charter issued to Wellsville Lodge No.180, in 1854, by erasing 1854 and inserting 1849, the date of the original charter, the "1854" having been inserted by clerical error. A duplicate charter was issued to Bloomfield Lodge No.422, in lieu of the original destroyed by fire.

The Committee on Jurisprudence report that the Grand Master's decisions and Opinions on the questions of "Conflict of Laws" and "Objections, are in conformity with law and should be approved, which was approved.

Brother Nelson Williams was elected M.·. W.·. Grand Master; Bros, E. C Gulliford, R.·. W.·. Deputy Grand master; E. L. Lybarger, R.·. W.·. Senior

Grand Warden; F. S. Harmon, R.·. W.·. Junior Grand Warden. Bro. R. R. Rickly, re-elected R.·. W.·. Grand Treasurer and Bro. J. H. Bromwell, R.·. W.·. Grand Secretary.

Columbus was selected as the place, and Wednesday, October 19, A. D. 1898, as the time for holding the next Annual Communication of the Grand Lodge.

The Superintendent and Secretary of the Ohio Masonic Home submitted his report, showing the total expenditures to April 1, 1897, the date of opening the Home . . . . . . . . . . $167,443.42
Disbursements since-
Betterments - House . . . . . . . . . . $1,596.22
" Barn, etc. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1,156.27 . . . . . . . 2,752.49
Maintenance - General . . . . . . . . $1,995.54
House . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4,065.20
Barn, Grounds . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .263.90 . . . . . . 6,324.64
Total . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $176, 520.55

Furnishing Account -
Expended at opening, April 1,
1897 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $7,115.05
Since . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .247.67
Total . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $7,362.72

Number of inmates now in Home-Men, 29; women, 9; boys, 9; girls, 9; total, 56.

Average cost per month for maintenance of Home $,1,054.10, or $12,649.28 per year.

Total number of rooms for all purposes, 134. Total number of bedrooms, 81, of which 17 are attic rooms and not suitable for summer use, leaving 64 available for all seasons.

The Committee on Charity reported recommending a donation of $4,000 from the funds of the Grand Lodge for the Ohio Masonic Home for its maintenance, which report and recommendation were adopted.

M.·. W.·. Bro. Wm. M. Cunningham submitted an amendment to Section 16 of the Grand Lodge By-Laws increasing the per capita tax on each member from 50 to 60 cents per year, which under the rule lies over until the next session.

The Committee on Jurisprudence reported the two amendments offered at the last session to Section 79 of the Code for consideration and action by the Grand Lodge.

The first amendment to strike out all after the words "Grand Lodge" in the thirteenth line, which would exclude the Chapters of the Eastern Star entirely from the Lodge rooms, which was taken up, voted on and lost, and the amendment rejected.

The second amendment offered by Rev. Thomas J. Melish, to strike out of said section the words "with the consent of the Grand Master;" so as to permit the Masonic bodies occupying a Hall to grant permission to the Eastern Star to occupy the same without requiring the consent of the Grand Master, was taken up, voted on and duly adopted, and is now the law.

Brother Jobn Blyth on behalf of the Grand Chapter of the Eastern Star returned thanks, and announced he had authority to say that said Grand Chapter had donated $100 from its funds to the Ohio Masonic Home.

The following resolution was adopted:

"Resolved, That the Grand Secretary express to the M.·. W.·. Grand Master, Barton Smith, the regret of this Grand Lodge that he was unable to be present at this Annual Grand Communication."

The special committee appointed at the last session to examine the new Code and report any omissions, errors, conflicts, etc., and recommend any corrections necessary, reported as follows:
"We have made a comparison of the new Code with the old Code, and find that, although there are discrepancies, the new Code is an improvement over the old. We would therefore make no recommendation;" which report was adopted.

M.·. W.·. Bro. W. M. Cunningham called attention to the fact that statements had been published in the Columbus daily papers that there was a probability of a consolidation being effected between this Grand Lodge and the bogus so-called Grand Lodge of Ohio, presided over by one Justin Pinney, calling himself Grand Master; denounced all such statements as false, and made appropriate remarks by way of caution and admonition against allowing the members of said bogus Grand Lodge and members holding allegiance to it, being given any recognition by the legitimate Masons of Ohio.

The R.·. W.·. Grand Chaplain, Chairman of the Committee on Necrology, asked leave to print their report in the proceedings without reading the same, which was granted and the report was so printed.

A resolution was adopted authorizing the incoming Grand Master, Nelson Williams, to procure and present to the retiring Grand Master, M.·. W.·. Barton Smith, a Past Grand Master's jewel, the Grand Secretary to draw a proper voucher for the payment of the expense thereof.

The Committee on Foreign Correspondence presented their report which is printed in the appendix to the proceedings, covering 336 pages, reviewing the proceedings of 60 English speaking and 11 non-English speaking Grand Lodges.

If any Mason interested in the history or literature of the Order will glance over the index to this valuable paper he will become convinced of its merit, and will not lay the volume down until he has read every page of this report.

Those desiring information on the subject of Masonic Homes will find reports of fifteen such institutions; on the subject of Clandestinism, ten; Cerneauism, ten; Antiquity of Freemasonry, nine; Anti-Masonic Congress, three; Method of Wearing Apron, two; Cipher Rituals, thirteen; Freemasonry, thirteen; Grand Lodge Sovereignty, seven; non-affiliation, fourteen; and other subjects too numerous to mention.

The Ohio Masonic Veterans' Association held its annual meeting at which eighty-two Venerable Brethren were present; S. S. Williams, President; E. Morrell, Secretary.

A large class of candidates was elected, received and welcomed; the usual banquet enjoyed. The Secretary reported that the proceedings of the Association from 1872 to 1891, inclusive, had been printed pamphlet form.

The death of Venerable Bro. Thomas J. Melis Grand Chaplain, and Venerable Bro. Jacob Panda were reported, and a committee appointed to dra a memorial for each.

1898

M.·. W.·. NELSON WILLIAMS, GRAND MASTER

Grand Lodge convened at the Auditorium of the Board of Trade, Columbus, Wednesday, October 11 A. D. 1898, with M.·. W.·. Bro. Nelson William Grand Master, in the Chair, all the other Grand Officers in their stations, the following Past Grand Masters Bros. Wm. M. Cunningham, P. C. Lemmon C. C. Kiefer, J. M. Goodspeed, S. S. Williams, Leander Burdiek, L. C. Goodale, Allen Andrews, C. F. Clapp, and William B. Melish, Past Deputy Grand Masters Wm. J. Akers and J. L'H. Long, and Emeritus Grand Secretary J. D. Caldwell, present, and the representatives of 486 Lodges in attendance Telegrams conveying the fraternal greetings the Grand Lodges of Kentucky and Missouri were sent, and proper responses received.

The Grand Master read his annual address, calling attention to the destruction of the U. S. S. Battleship Maine in Havana harbor on February 16, A. D. 1898, and the resulting war with Spain, and congratulates our country on its glorious victories in the cause of down trodden and oppressed humanity, and our Order on the fact that the man whose hands are guiding the destinies of this nation is a member of one of our Subordinate Lodges, and is paying loyal obedience to the Grand Lodge of Ohio.

Reports the reappointment of Bro. John M. Stull and M.·. W.·. Leander Burdick as Trustees of the Ohio Masonic Home for terms of three years.

Reports the appointment of twenty-five District Lecturers and the fact that they visited and inspected all of the 500 Lodges in the state except 27, of which 11 were in one district and 12 in another; in 19 of the districts every Lodge was inspected. The total cost of the visitations was $1,202.21, an average of $2.55 per Lodge.

The charters of eleven Lodges were burned during the past year, eight of which were lost in the fire which destroyed the Masonic Temple in Cincinnati last November. On November 17, A. D. 1897, dispensations were issued to N. C. Harmony Lodge No.2; Lafayette No.81; Cincinnati No.133; McMillan No.141; Cynthia No.155; Kuwinning No.356; Excelsior No.369; and Vattier No.386, all of Cincinnati, permitting them to continue work until this communication of the Grand Lodge.

Last year the charter of Oliver Lodge No.447, at Caledonia, was destroyed by fire, and dispensation issued for work until last session, but no charter granted, and the dispensation was continued to the present session.

Dispensations were also issued to the following Lodges whose charters were destroyed by fire to continue work until the present session:

December 6, 1897, to LaGrange Lodge, No.399, at LaGrange
January 13, 1898, to Oberlin Lodge No.380, at Oberlin
July 23, 1898, to Grand Rapids Lodge No.289, at Grand Rapids

Four other Masonic Halls burned during the year, but their charters were saved.

On June 17, 1898, Eureka Lodge No.233, at Washington, Guernsey County, surrendered its charter and effects, which were shipped to the Grand Secretary, the Lodge not having held meetings for some time.

Dispensations were issued for new Lodges at the following places, viz.:
December 25, 1897, Enterprise Lodge, to be located at Sycamore, Wyandot County
March 5, 1898, Flat Pock Lodge, to be located at Payne, Paulding County
April 18, 1898, Peebles Lodge, to be located at Peebles, Adams County

At the instance of the Grand Lodge of Colorado and the request of her sister Grand Lodges, the Grand Lodge of Virginia has assumed the conduct of the proper commemoration of the one hundredth anniversary of the death of George Washington, the services to take place at Mt. Vernon, his former home, on December 14, A. D. 1899, and an invitation was extended to the Grand Lodge of Ohio to participate in the observance which the Grand Master accepted on behalf of the Grand Lodge.

The Grand Master on September 8, 1898, arrested the charter and effects of New Vienna Lodge No.160, on account of the dissensions existing in the Lodge, and the charter, books, seal, and jewels were forwarded to the Grand Secretary.

The Grand Master officiated in laying the corner stones of the following Masonic and public buildings in accordance with the Ancient Masonic forms and ceremonies:

On December 3, 1897, at the request of the Thirteenth District Improvement Association of Cincinnati and the Officers and Brethren of Hanselmann Lodge No.208, the corner stone of a new public school building about to be erected by said Association in Cincinnati. He was assisted by M. Past Grand Masters Levi C. Goodale and Wm. B. Melish and the Officers and Brethren of Hanselmann Lodge and many other Brethren of Cincinnati.

On June 2, 1898, on invitation of the First Baptist Society of the city of Columbus, extended through the Officers and Brethren of Columbus Lodge No.30, laid the corner stone of a magnificent new church to be erected by said Society on East Broad street in the city of Columbus, in the presence of two hundred and seventy-five Master Masons, of whom sixty were Knights Templars of Mt. Vernon Commandery No.2, and a large concourse of citizens M.·. W.·. Bro. S. S. Williams and R.·. W.·. Bro. B. B. Rickly were present and assisted.

The good people of this church organization generally, not having always been in the deepest sympathy with our Fraternity, the Grand Master was glad of an opportunity to show the minister and members of this society that their liberalized sentiment, as expressed by their invitation, was highly appreciated.

On July 10, 1898, on invitation of the First Universalist Church Society of Cincinnati, through Walnut Hills Lodge No.483, assisted by Past Grand Masters Levi C. Goodale, Wm. B. Melish and Allen Andrews and other Brethren, laid the corner stone of a new Universalist Church building in Walnut Hills, Cincinnati. The addresses of M.·. W.·. Bros. L. C. Goodale and Allen Andrews were instructive, forcible and eloquent. I have assurances from the pastor of the church that our services were highly appreciated, and that the Fraternity was receiving unstinted praise from the members of his congregation.

On August 28, 1898, at the request and with the assistance of the Officers and Brethren of Shelby Lodge No.350, laid the corner stone of the First Evangelical Lutheran Church to be erected in Shelby. The pastor, Rev. W. H. Singley, who is himself an enthusiastic Mason, paid a glowing tribute to our Fraternity.

On August 31, 1898, assisted by a large number of the Grand Officers, Past Grand Master W. M. Cunningham, Governor Asa Bushnell, Brigadier General Haskell, over one hundred Knights Templars, over live hundred Master Masons, and in the presence of a large concourse of citizens, laid the corner stone of the magnificent new Masonic Temple in the city of Columbus, in due and ancient form. Worshipful Bro. John E. Sater, Grand Orator, delivered a short address descriptive of the proposed Temple and Worshipful Bro. D. N. Kinsman an historical address of great interest.

It may be well to state here that at the time of planning and erecting this Temple it was prophesied that it would be sufficient to provide for the needs of the Masonic bodies of Columbus for fifty years to come, but within ten years of its completion it was demonstrated that it would be necessary to enlarge it, and the bodies purchased two lots immediately adjoining the Temple on the north, and have now, (1913), finished an addition to the Temple and this structure now completed is the largest edifice devoted to exclusive Masonic purposes in the world.

On September 24, 1898, at the request of the Board of Education of Sharonville Special School District, through Sharonville Lodge No.204, laid the corner stone of the public school building now in process of erection in that village.

M.·. W.·. Bro. J. H. Bromwell was present and delivered an eloquent address.

On June 30, 1898, M.·. W.·. Bro. C. F. Clapp, acting as proxy for the Grand Master, with the assistance of R.·. W.·. Bro. R. E. Roberts, Grand Marshal, Bro. O. P. Sperra, District Lecturer, Bro. John M. Stull, President of the Board of Ohio Masonic Home, and in the presence of over one hundred Master Masons belonging to Newton Falls Lodge No.462, and adjacent Lodges, and five hundred citizens, laid the corner stone of a public school building to be erected in the village of Newton Falls. Bro. R. E. Roberts delivered a splendid oration, which was highly appreciated, he having been at one time the Superintendent of Schools in this village.

The Grand Master dedicated the following Masonic Halls in due Masonic form:

January 25, 1898, the new Halt of Frankfort Lodge No.309, at Frankfort.
May 9, 1898, the new Hall of Wayne Lodge No. 569, at Waynesfield.
May 18, 1898, the new Hall of East Palestine Lodge No.417, at East Palestine. R. E. Robert V. Hampson, Grand Commander of the Grand Commandery of K. T. of Ohio, was present.
June 22, 1898, the new Hall of Dresden Lodge No.103, at Dresden.
June 24, 1898, the new Lodge rooms of Perry Lodge No.185, at Salem.

Reports a large number of visitations and inspections of the work of various Subordinate Lodges and occasions of celebrations of semi-centennial and other important Masonic events at alt of which he was received and welcomed in the kind and fraternal manner becoming the representative of this Grand Lodge.

The Grand Master made ten decisions, which were referred to the Jurisprudence Committee and approved, and the committee referring to his suggestion preliminary to Decision No.1, on the subject of "physical qualifications" reported the following declaration, which was adopted by the Grand Lodge.

"Resolved, That a candidate for the Degree of Entered Apprentice should be able, physically, as well as intellectually, of himself, and without exterior aid or assistance from another, to receive and impart all the essentials for Masonic recognition; and the question as to his sufficiency in such respects is a subject presented to the Lodge petitioned for its determination."

Under the head of "Clandestine Masonry" he calls attention to the fact that members of the Clandestine Lodges organized by the bogus and clandestine so-called Grand Lodge organized at Worthington, had been making efforts to visit and impose themselves upon the legitimate and regular Lodges of this and other states, and their members, and in order to warn the craft against and protect them from these intruders and imposters, he had issued circular letters containing a list of the names and location of the irregular clandestine, and un-Masonic Lodges as far as could be ascertained, and warning the Officers and Brethren that all members or adherents of said clandestine Lodges or the so-called Grand Lodge must be excluded from all regular Lodges of Masons, and to exercise the utmost care and vigilance in the examination of all visitors before they are admitted, in addition to requiring the test oath of every applicant and satisfaction that the visitor is not a member or adherent of any of such clandestine bodies before admitting him; copies of which circular letters were mailed to each Lodge with instructions that they be read in open Lodge, and copies kept posted at the Secretary's desk and in the Tyler's room.

Refers to the edict issued by Grand Master Christian Dam, of the Grand Lodge of Peru, South America, removing "The Great Light in Masonry," the Holy Bible, from the altars of its obedience and substituting therefor the Constitution of the Grand Lodge, that but few Lodges in Peru obeyed this decree, and at the Annual Communication of the Grand Lodge held June 12, A. D. 1898, the Grand Lodge defeated Brother Dam and elected Bro. J. A. Ego Aguirre Grand Master, revoked the decree, and restored the Holy Bible to their altars. Our Grand Master had prepared a proper edict on the subject in his usual felicitous style, but receiving information of this action, filed it away for "future reference;" but a number of distinguished Brethren from Maine to California exhausted the entire vocabulary in publishing decrees condemnatory of the action of Brother Dam and to which the Masonic student desiring to further investigate the subject and the beauties of the English language on occasions of this kind, is respectfully referred.

The Past Grand Master's jewel voted to the retiring Grand Master, M.·. W.·. Bro. Barton Smith, of Toledo, at the last Annual Communication, was procured, and by arrangement, on the evening of January 28, 1898, at the banquet at the close of the work of the midwinter meeting of the Valley of Toledo Ancient and Accepted Scottish Rite, the Grand Master, Nelson Williams, on behalf of the Grand Lodge, presented the jewel to M.·. W.·. Bro. Barton Smith, with proper expression of the high regard and esteem in which he is held by the Masons of this state and elsewhere, to which Brother Smith responded feelingly and eloquently, expressing his sincere thanks for this remembrance and tribute.

The Grand Master on June 9, 1898, received through the Secretary of New England Lodge No.4, F. and A. M., the petition of H. A. Pletcher, a former member of said Lodge, for reinstatement in said Lodge and this Grand Lodge, in which petition he forever renounces all connection with or allegiance to all clandestine bodies and declares his allegiance to the Grand Lodge.

On October 18, 1898, he received a similar petition from Daniel W. Wright who was the Worshipful Master of New England Lodge No.4, at the time its charter was arrested, and afterwards became the first Grand Master of the so-called Clandestine Grand Lodge organized at Worthington, and who also renounced all connection with and allegiance to said Grand Lodge and all bodies declared clandestine by our Grand Lodge, and pledged his allegiance to the latter. His renunciation of the spurious Grand Lodge and its subordinates and adherents is the most stinging rebuke which could be administered to these misguided men.

These petitions were referred to a special committee, which made a lengthy report reviewing the facts and the true Masonic spirit which should govern these cases, recommended charity and forgiveness, and the adoption of the following resolution:

"Resolved, That the requests of Daniel W. Wright and H. A. Pletcher be granted, and that they be reinstated as Masons;" which report and recommendation were adopted by the Grand Lodge.

The Grand Master congratulates the craft on the completion of the Masonic Home as follows:

"On an elevation overlooking the enterprising city of Springfield and crowning the most beautiful spot in the neighborhood stands our magnificent monument to the beneficence of Ohio Free Masons. Finished according to original designs, and paid for, it rises in beauty and grandeur to please the eye and gladden the heart of every Brother who is privileged to look upon it."

Refers to the detailed report of the Board of Trustees, says the most important question is how to provide for its maintenance, and urges the amendment of Section 16, increasing the annual dues to sixty cents per member, and the appropriation of one half that sum to the Home.

The Grand Treasurer submitted his report showing a balance on hand October 15, 1898, $24,484.15.

The Grand Secretary presented his report; the net membership, August 31, 1898, being 42,848, a net gain for the year of 1,135, and bringing the average gain for the last eleven years up to 908. He recommends the preparation of a duplicate set of Subordinate Lodge Annual Returns, and the deposit of one set at the Masonic Home for preservation. The amount of per capita tax due the Masonic Home is $6,377.20. Recommends he be authorized to sell a portion of the old Grand Lodge Reports on hand.

On motion ordered that where Special Dispensations had been issued to Lodges whose charters had been destroyed by fire, allowing them to continue work, they might retain them as historical mementoes after the Grand Master had cancelled and properly indorsed them.

An invitation was extended to Grand Lodge and the ladies accompanying them, to visit the Masonic Home at Springfield on a special train this afternoon, which was accepted, and about 500 availed themselves of the opportunity.

The Committee on Accounts reported the Grand Treasurer's and Grand Secretary's accounts correct that the Grand Secretary report the cost of duplicating the Subordinate returns to the next session of this body, and approving the sale of part of the old proceedings; which was adopted.

Duplicate charters were issued to the following Lodges in lieu of their originals destroyed by fire, viz.:

N. C. Harmony No.2; Cincinnati No.133; Cynthia No.155; Excelsior No.369; Oliver No.447; Oberlin No.380; Lafayette No.81; McMillan No.141; Kuwinning No.356; Vattier No.386; La-Grange No.399; and Grand Rapids No.289; and their dispensations extended ten days and until these charters can be issued.

The committee finds in case of some of these Lodges the names of those in the original charters are lost, the minutes having been destroyed, and recommend hereafter the committee report the names of the charter members, which shall be printed in the proceedings, thus preserving these charter names.

Charters were granted for the following new Lodges:

Dalton No.578, at New Vienna, Clinton County
Enterprise No. 579, at Sycamore, Wyandot County
Flat Rock No.580, at Payne, Paulding County
Peebles No.581, at Peebles, Adams County

The recall and arrest of the charter of New Vienna Lodge No.160, by the Grand Master, was approved and made perpetual; and on the petition of thirty-five Masons in good standing, residing in New Vienna and vicinity, a charter was granted to them establishing a new Lodge at that place to be called Dalton Lodge No.578, and the Masonic property formerly belonging to Vienna Lodge No.160, now in the hands of the Grand Secretary, except the charter and books, was donated by the Grand Lodge to Dalton Lodge No.578; which report and several recommendations were adopted by the Grand Lodge.

The application for a dispensation for a new Lodge at Corning was referred to the incoming Grand Master for his investigation and action.

The Grand Lodge refunded and donated to Dalton Lodge No.578, the charter fee of $100 paid by said Lodge for its charter, the same having been paid by the former members of New Vienna Lodge No.160, who applied for this charter.

On recommendation of the Committee on Foreign Correspondence the Grand Lodge recognized the Grand Orient of Belgium as an independent Grand body, and extended fraternal recognition, with an exchange of Grand Representatives.

The Most Excellent General Grand High Priest of the General Grand Chapter of Royal Arch Masons of the United States, M.·. W.·. Bro. Reuben C. Lemmon, was introduced, received with Grand Honors, and welcomed, and responded in a touching manner, thanking his Brethren and Companions of the state of Ohio, for their loyal assistance and support in all his Masonic work.

M.·.Ex.·. Companion Brenton D. Babcock, Grand High Priest of the Grand Chapter of Royal Arch Masons of Ohio was introduced, received with Grand Honors and welcomed, and responded in a suitable manner.

On recommendation of the Committee on Charity, the Grand Lodge appropriated $6,000 for the use of the Masonic Home, and on motion of M.·. W.·. Bro. Levi C. Goodale, the per capita tax to the Ohio Masonic Home for the year 1898 was fixed at thirty cents instead of fifteen cents, as at present.

The proposed amendment of Section 16 of tho By-Laws, increasing the annual Grand Dues on each member of Subordinate Lodges from fifty to sixty cents, was taken up, and unanimously adopted, and the Grand Dues fixed at sixty cents annually.

Brother E. C. Gulliford, of Cleveland, was elected M.·. W.·. Grand Master; Bro. E. L. Lybarger of Spring Mountain R.·. W.·. Deputy Grand Master; Bro. F. S. Harmon, of Akron, R.·. W.·. Senior Grand Warden; Bro. Ike M. Robinson, of Chandlersville, R.·. W.·. Junior Grand Warden; Bro. Ralph R. Rickly, re-elected R.·. W.·. Grand Treasurer, and Bro. H. Bromwell R.·. W.·. Grand Secretary.

Columbus was selected as the place, and Wednesday, October 25, A. D. 1899, as the time for holding the next Annual Communication of the Grand Lodge.

The Grand Lodge voted to become a member of the General Masonic Relief Association of the United States.

The special committee on the Washington Memorial Service reported in favor of authorizing the Grand Master, who shall hold office at that time, or his duly authorized proxy, to attend as the representative of this Grand Lodge; which was adopted.

The report of the Superintendent and Secretary of the Masonic Home was presented and is printed in the proceedings. Number of residents, men, 43; women, 15; boys, 18; girls, 13; total, 89. The cost of maintenance of the Home for the past fiscal year was $15,693.73; a detailed statement of which appears in the report.

Received from the executor of the late Mrs. Elvira Ainsworth, of Lodi, Ohio, the sum of $950.00 of the $1,000 bequeathed by her to the Home for library purposes, and $100.00 donated by the Grand Chapter of Ohio, Order of the Eastern Star.

A Past Grand Master's jewel was voted to M.·. W.·. Nelson Williams, retiring Grand Master, and a committee of which M.·. W.·. Wm. B. Melish was chairman was appointed to procure and present the same on behalf of the Grand Lodge.

The newly elected and appointed Grand Officers were duly installed.

The Committee on Foreign Correspondence presented their report covering 274 pages, and reviewing the proceedings of 60 English speaking and 11 non-English speaking Grand Lodges; and containing another interesting letter from that distinguished author and eminent Mason, R.·. W.·. Bro. William James Hughan, of Torquay, England, and containing a number of important facts and items appertaining to Masonry, among which is the fact that out of the two hundred and sixty-six men who went down to their death in the Battleship Maine, eighty-three were Masons; and in reviewing the different proceedings, comments on the subject of Cerneauism and Clandestinism 19 times; Book of the Law, 9; Freemasonry, 11; Masonic Homes, 11; Making Masons at Sight, 6; Antiquities of Freemasonry, 7, etc.

Attention is also called to the un-masonic action of the Grand Lodge of Washington at its last session which was in effect the recognition of Negro Lodges and their authority to confer Masonic Degrees. This is the first and only recognition of Negro Masonry by any Grand Jurisdiction in the United States.

The recognition above referred to is limited to Negro Lodges holding charters from the Grand Lodge of England.

M.·. W.·. Bro. Wm. M. Cunningham, chairman, in commenting on this action, says:

"As R.·. W.·. Brother Upton was a member of the committee having the subject of colored Masons under consideration, his labor in behalf of Negro Masonry has evidently been a success.

"There being no Negro Lodges whatever holding charters as such from the Grand Lodge of England, the matter of color not being a prerequisite in that or other European Grand Lodges, * * * the inference is therefore unavoidable that the colored Lodges of the so-called 'Prince Hall', (African No.459), descent in the United States, are the colored Lodges referred to, all of which have been declared clandestine and irregular in Ohio, Massachusetts, and elsewhere, after the most careful and painstaking research as to their Origin and history by writers in both Grand Lodges.

"The warrant of the so-called 'Prince Hall' Lodge, which was illegal in its issue and an invasion of the jurisdiction of the Grand Lodge of Massachusetts, and the name of which was really African No.459 of Boston, was recalled before any considerable work was done in it, and became moribund after Prince Hall's death in 1807, and in 1813 was stricken from the roll of the Grand Lodge of England. See proceedings Grand Lodge of Ohio, 1875, 1876, 1877."

The fact is shown by a perusal of the reports of Foreign Correspondence of the Grand Lodge of Washington for some years past, that its author R.·. W.·. Bro. William H. Upton, has been the avowed advocate and defender of Cerneanism and Clandestinism, both white and colored, and we refer to the pertinent remarks of that eminent Masonic author and jurist, M.·. W.·. Josiah H. Drummond, Past Grand Master of Maine, and for years the chairman of its Committee on Foreign Correspondence, who, in his review of the proceedings of Washington in his report for 1898, speaking of the report of Bro. W. H. Upton, says:

"This report shows the caliber, characteristics, and character of its author so plainly upon its face that an extended notice of it would give it an importance that it does not possess. The fact, however, that it is published in the proceedings of the Grand Lodge of Washington, calls for one observation, that the author of it crowds more misrepresentations, actual and by implication or innuendo, into a given space than we have ever before seen. It is undoubtedly true that many of them are the result of his unconscious, gross ignorance of what he writes about; but there are many others for which this excuse can not be given."

As this matter will require some attention in next year's proceedings, we defer further remarks until then.

OHIO MASONIC VETERAN ASSOCIATION

Met in the Masonic Temple with the Officers and a large number of members present. S. Stacker Williams was elected permanent President for the remainder of his natural life. A committee was appointed to recommend a suitable badge for adoption at our next meeting to be worn by the members of the Association.

A large class of candidates was elected, received and welcomed; a collection taken for printing the proceedings, and a banquet provided by the local Lodges enjoyed.

1899

M.·. W.·. E. C. GULLIFORD, GRAND MASTER

Grand Lodge convened at Valentine's Theater, Toledo, Wednesday, October 25, A. D. 1899, with Grand Master E. C. Gulliford in the Chair, all the Grand Officers in their stations, and the following Past Grand Masters, C. A. Woodward, Wm. M. Cunningham, R. C. Lemmon, J. M. Goodspeed, S. S. Williams, Leander Burdick, L. C. Goodale, Allen Andrews, C. F. Clapp, Barton Smith, and Nelson Williams; and Past Deputy Grand Masters Wm. J. Akers and J. L'H. Long, and Emeritus Grand Secretary J. D. Caldwell and the representatives of 490 Lodges, present.

The Grand Master read his annual address, calling attention to the death of Bro. Enoch Terry Carson, who died at Cincinnati, February 23, A. D. 1899, and his funeral services, which were of the most impressive nature, were conducted in the Scottish Rite Cathedral, in which he had spent so many hours of his arduous labor in the cause of Masonry. Brother Carson was born in Hamilton County, Ohio, September 18, 1822, was made a Master Mason in McMakin Lodge No.120, December 15, 1845, and from that time until his death was an active worker in all the Grand and Subordinate Bodies in Masonry, both in the York and Scottish Rite, and at his death, was an active member of the Supreme Council of the A. A. Scottish Rite for the Northern Masonic Jurisdiction and the Illustrious Deputy for Ohio.

Also the death of Past Grand Master C. C. Kiefer, which occurred at Urbana, March 12, 1899. He was Past Grand Master of the M.·. W.·. Grand Lodge of Ohio, Past Grand high Priest of the M. E. Grand Chapter Royal Arch Masons of Ohio, Past Grand T. I. Grand Master of the Grand Council Royal and Select Masters of Ohio, and the Past R. E. Grand Commander of the Grand Commandery of Knights Templars of Ohio; an Honorary Thirty-third Degree member of the A. A. S. R., Northern Jurisdiction; ex-Grand Secretary of the Grand Chapter R. A. M. of Ohio; Grand Recorder of the Order of High Priesthood of Ohio; and a Trustee of the Ohio Masonic Home from its organization. His funeral obsequies were held at his home in Urbana, conducted by Harmony Lodge No.8, of which he was an honored member. The remains were then conveyed to Dayton, escorted by Reed Commandery No.6, Knights Templars, and interred under the ritual of the Order of Knights Templars, by that Commandery.

Reports that the Grand Representation between Tennessee and Ohio, heretofore existing, had been renewed and the Grand Representatives appointed. That 462 of the 500 Lodges bad been inspected by the District Lecturers at an expense of $1,145.60, the total amount of Lodge property reported being $1,197,959.17, and cash on hand, $419,600.93.

As to Clandestine Masonry, he says: "So far as I have been able to learn, Clandestine Masonry in Ohio is fast becoming a thing of the past. The Lodges are closing their doors, and the members openly renouncing their allegiance to these so-called Masonic bodies."

Recommends the purchase of a set of Consecration vessels and a committee was appointed to procure the same.

Calls attention to the action of the Grand Lodge of Washington in recognizing Negro and other Clandestine Masonry at its session of 1898, and the apparent renunciation of this at its last session, and to the fact that the whole subject is fully treated in the report of the Committee on Foreign Correspondence, to which he refers.

Salineville Lodge No.348, located at Salineville, Columbiana County, surrendered its charter, August 15, 1899.

Reports a number of visitations at which he was received with the honors due the representative of this Grand Lodge.

Issued special proxies to the following Brothers to constitute the Lodges chartered at the last session and install their Officers, all of which were promptly executed:

October 28, 1898, to Bro. S. B. Evans, Dalton Lodge No.578; November 10, 1898, to Bro. W. A. Belt, Enterprise Lodge No.579; November 29, 1898, to Bro. T. C. Wilkinson, Flat Rock Lodge No.580; November 22, 1898, to Bro. E. F. Draper, Peebles Lodge No.581.

Issued special proxies to the following Brothers to dedicate the following Masonic Halls and rooms, which duties were performed at the times stated:

December 24, 1898, to Bro. W. E. Holcombe, new Hall of Caledonia Lodge No.416; June 27, 1899, to M.·. W.·. Bro. Allen Andrews, Masonic Temple at New Holland; September 21, 1899, to Bro. T. C. Wilkinson, new Hall of Sager Lodge No.513; September 23, 1899, to Bro. John Blyth, new Hall of Mt. Gilead Lodge No.206.

The Grand Master dedicated the following Masonic Halls:

December 27, 1898, new Hall of East Townsend Lodge No.322; April 12, 1899, new Lodge rooms of Lorain Lodge No.552.

The Grand Master officiated in the laying of the corner stones of the following Masonic and public buildings, in due and ancient Masonic form.

May 18, 1899, the corner stone of the new Courthouse of Ottawa County, at Port Clinton, assisted by Oliver H. Perry Lodge No.341.

June 23, 1899, the corner stone of the Moore Masonic Temple, at Delaware, in the presence of Hiram Lodge No.18, (organized in 1811), and over 1,500 visiting Masons, their families and friends. The Moore Masonic Temple, together with the land on which it is situated is the magnificent gift of Bro. Sidney Moore to Hiram Lodge, and is to be finished with finest material in the best style known to art. Brother Moore was made a Master Mason in Hiram Lodge, February 12, 1856, and has passed through all the degrees in both the York and Scottish Rite, including the Thirty-third Degree.

September 28, 1899, the corner stone of the College of Physicians and Surgeons of the Ohio Wesleyan University, at Cleveland. The eleven Blue Lodges and three Commanderies, with bands of music, acted as escort for the Grand Lodge.

Issued proxies to the following Brothers to lay corner stones of Masonic and public buildings:

July 18, 1899, M.·. W.·. Bro. Nelson Williams to lay the corner stone of the Brumbach Library building at Van Wert; September 30, 1899, M.·. W.·. Bro. Levi C. Goodale to lay the corner stone of the new Masonic Hall of Avon Lodge No.542 at Cincinnati; both of whom performed the duties assigned to them.

Petition were presented to the Grand Master for the establishment of new Lodges at the following places:

At Collinwood, Cuyahoga County, by 39 Brethren; Toronto, Jefferson County, by 39 Brethren; both of which are recommended and referred to the Grand Lodge.

Also the petition of Gibson Lodge No.301, located at Birmingham, Erie County, for permission to remove to Wakeman, Huron County.

Also the petition of fourteen Masons formerly members of New Vienna Lodge No.160, whose charter was arrested by M.·. W.·. Bro. Nelson Williams in September, 1898, praying that the charter issued to Dalton Lodge No.578 be recalled, and the former charter of No.160 be restored.

Reports that the three Cleveland cases in the Cernean litigation, which have been pending in the courts for some years, were decided in favor of the Grand Lodge by the Supreme Court of Ohio, March 7, 1899, that court sustaining the Circuit Court in its decision in the case of Hershiser v. Williams, reported in 6 Circuit Court Reports, page 147, and which decision ends all the Cernean litigation in favor of the Grand Lodge.

Brother J. F. Wright, a former member of New England Lodge No.4, presented his petition to the Grand Master renouncing all connection with Cerneauism and clandestine Masonry, and praying for restoration to membership, which, after careful investigation, the Grand Master approved and granted, and his action in that behalf was approved by the Grand Lodge.

Deputized M.·. W.·. Bro. Wm. B. Melish to present the Past Grand Master's jewel voted to M.·. W.·. Nelson Williams at the last session, which duty was performed, and the eloquent response of Brother Williams is printed in full in the proceedings and is a gem.

Calls attention to the Ohio Masonic home, and the report of its Board of Trustees, and says in part:

"Let us then amply endow it, that it may meet every recurring want. It challenges the admiration of the Fraternity throughout the land. It has placed the Grand Lodge in the position of a public benefactor. It is the cynosure of a million friendly eyes, and the object of a thousand grateful prayers."

The Grand Treasurer's report shows a balance on hand October 15, 1899, $35,607.58.

The Grand Secretary submitted his report, showing the membership, August 31, 1899, 44,201, a net gain of 1,353, the second highest of any one year in the history of the Grand Lodge, the net gain in 1892 being 1,441. Reports the receipts of the charter, jewels, and property of Salineville Lodge No.348.

Estimates that it will cost from $3,000 to $3,500 to make a duplicate of the Subordinate returns, binding same and supplying the missing numbers.

Calls attention to the fact that M.·. W.·. S. Stacker Williams would tender his entire Masonic library, consisting of several thousand Masonic publications, including complete series of Grand Lodge proceedings of the various Grand Lodges in America and elsewhere, probably one of the most valuable in the United States, and worth several thousand dollars, and suggests that the offer be accepted, and the library left in charge of Brother Williams as its custodian, and proper arrangements made and a standing committee appointed to provide for its care, and the expense thereof.

Reports the per capita tax due the Ohio Masonic Home at thirty cents per member as $13,260.39; and the sale of the surplus of old proceedings about five tons.

The Committee on Veteran Membership and By-Laws of' certain Subordinate Lodges exempting members from the payment of dues at a certain age or after they bad paid dues a certain number of years, made a lengthy report calling attention to the previous action of this Grand Lodge on this subject that such By-Laws were injudicious and at variance with its policy; which report was adopted.

The Committee on Grievance reported that the matter of disputed boundary between Harmar Lodge No.390 and Coolville Lodge No.337, had been settled by agreement, the lines being stated in the report, and that Harmar Lodge should pay Coolville Lodge fifty dollars in full settlement of all demands to date, which was approved by the Grand Lodge, and the boundary so fixed.

The Committee on Masonic Jurisprudence reported against the proposed amendments that a clear ballot on the petition for initiation should entitle the candidate to all three degrees; and to fix a time limit within which a rejected candidate could again petition, and the Grand Lodge approved the report as to both propositions.

Charters were granted to the following Lodges U. D.:

Collinwood No.582, at Collinwood, Cuyahoga County
Toronto No.583, at Toronto, Jefferson County

Gibson Lodge No.301 was granted permission to remove from Birmingham to Wakeman whenever a suitable meeting place is secured.

The application of Brethren residing at and near Corning, Perry County, for a dispensation for a new Lodge, was referred to the incoming Grand Master with the recommendation that he grant the same as soon as satisfied a proper hall has been secured.

A duplicate charter was granted to Thrall Lodge No.170 in lien of the original which has become indistinct by age.

The action of the Grand Master on the petition of J. F. Wright of New England Lodge No.4, for restoration to membership, was approved, and he was so restored.

The action of the Grand Master in arresting the charter of Salineville Lodge No.348 was approved, as were his several acts in constituting and dedicating Lodges, laying comer stones, visitations and dispensations.

Permission was granted Fairview Lodge No.446, to change its name to Kirkwood Lodge No.446.

The Grand Secretary was authorized to employ a clerk at not exceeding $40.00 per month, procure the necessary blanks, and at once commence the work of duplicating the Subordinate Lodge returns.

The Trustees of the Ohio Masonic Home presented their report in connection with that of the Superintendent, showing that at the date of the session there were 59 men, 26 women, 28 boys, and 16 girls, making a total of 129 residents; that the cost of maintenance, including betterments, during the past year was about $20,000.00. The amounts contributed by the various Grand Masonic Bodies at their 1898 sessions were:

Grand Lodge . . $12,377.20
Chapter . . . . . . . . 3,689.75
Council . . . . . . . . . .500.00
Commandery . . . .1,500.00
Total . . . . . . . . $18,066.95

In addition to this the Grand Chapter of the Eastern Star donated $100.00 in cash to the general fund; and at Christmas the Subordinate Chapters donated 545 cans and glasses of fruits and jellies, $79.90 in cash, and an infinite variety of articles for the use and enjoyment of both young and old.

Through the efforts of the ladies of Springfield, who gave a lawn fete on the grounds, military uniforms were purchased for the boys, and under the instruction of Bro. B. B. McIntyre, of Springfield, they have arrived at great proficiency in drilling and attracted much attention and applause during a Memorial Day parade in which they participated.

The Grand Lodge donated from its general fund the sum of $4,000 in addition to the per capita tax, for the use of the Home during the coming year.

The Committee on Grievance to which was referred the petition of former members of New Vienna Lodge No.160, praying for the recall of the charter granted to Dalton Lodge No.578, and the restoration to New Vienna Lodge No.160, of the charter arrested at the last session of this Grand Lodge, reported in favor of sustaining and approving the former action of the Grand Master, and the Grand Lodge in arresting the charter of No.160, and in granting the charter to Dalton No.578, which report was adopted by the Grand Lodge.

M.·. W.·. Bro. S. Stacker Williams, Past Grand Master, stated it had long been his intention to donate his Masonic library to the Grand Lodge and that for fear he might not live to be present at this Communication, he had executed a will a few months ago in which he devised the library to the Grand Lodge. He was glad, however, to be present to say that he now tendered it to the Grand Lodge as a slight expression of the sentiments which he entertained towards his associates n this Grand body.

Upon motion, and by a unanimous rising vote, the gift was accepted, and the thanks of this Grand Lodge tendered to M.·. W.·. Brother Williams.

The Grand Master named as a special committee on the library of Brother Williams, just presented, M.·. W.·. Bro. Nelson Williams, R.·. W.·. Bro. J. H. Bromwell and Bro. L P. Schaus.

The Grand Master appointed a special committee on the celebration of the Washington Memorial:

M.·. W.·. Bro. Levi C. Goodale and Bros. A. C. Cable and B. B. Avery.

The Committee on Necrology presented proper testimonials to the private and Masonic character of Bros. C. C. Kiefer, Enoch T. Carson, John H, Jones, and others, which are printed in the proceedings.

Brother E. L. Lybarger, of Spring Mountain, was elected M.·. W.·. Grand Master; Bro. F. S. Harmon, Akron; R.·. W.·. Deputy Grand Master; Bro. Ike M. Robinson, Chandlersville, R.·. W.·. Senior Grand Warden; Bro. W. A. Belt, Kenton, R.·. W.·. Junior Grand Warden; and Bros. R. R. Rickly and J. H. Bromwell re-elected Grand Treasurer and Grand Secretary respectively and duly installed.

Springfield was selected as the place and Wednesday, October 24, A. D. 1900, as the time of holding the next Annual Communication of the Grand Lodge.

A Past Grand Master's jewel was ordered purchased and presented to M.·. W.·. F. C. Gulliford, retiring Grand Master, and M.·. W.·. Bro. Nelson Williams, W. Bro. J. W. Neil and Bro. A. J. Davies appointed a committee for that purpose.

A committee composed of M.·. W.·. Bros. W. B. Melish and L. C. Goodale, and M.·. W.·. Bro. J. H. Bromwell, was appointed to procure a set of Consecration vessels for the Grand Lodge.

The Committee on Foreign Correspondence presented a special report of the action of the Grand Lodge of Washington on the Negro question, which recommended that, as the Grand Lodge of Washington now claims it had reconsidered its un-fraternal conduct, no further action was now necessary on behalf of this Grand Lodge.

The committee presented its general report covering 316 pages, and reviewing the proceedings of 60 English speaking and 11 non-English speaking Grand Lodges.

Under the head of "Washington" is given the so-called reconsideration of the action of the Grand Lodge on the negro question, the comments of a number of distinguished Masons thereon, as well as the telegraphic protests of a number of Grand Masters, and other distinguished Masons against the action of the Grand Lodge, to which all Brothers who are interested in the subject are referred.

The Ohio Veterans' Association met October 26, at the Masonic Temple, the Officers and a large number of the members present, President S. S. Williams in the Chair. But on account of his feeble health, he called on Venerable Brother L. Burdick to assist him. A large class of candidates was elected, received and welcomed.

A lapel badge button, displaying a square and compasses, with the figures "21," was adopted to be worn by the members of the Association. An elegant banquet provided by the local Lodges was enjoyed, and a vote of thanks tendered.

1900

M.·. W.·. E. L. LYBARGER, GRAND MASTER

Grand Lodge convened at the City Hall, Springfield, Wednesday, October 24, A. D. 1900, with M.·. W.·. E. L. Lybarger, Grand Master, in the Chair, all the other Grand Officers in their stations, the following Past Grand Officers, Past Grand Masters C. A. Woodward, W. M. Cunningham, it. C. Lemmon, J. M. Goodspeed, Leander Burdick, L. C. Goodale, Allen Andrews, C. F. Clapp, Wm. B. Melish, Nelson Williams, E. C. Gulliford, Past Deputy Grand Masters W. J. Akers and J. L'll. Long, and Emeritus Grand Secretary J. D. Caldwell and the representatives of 483 Lodges present; 20 Lodges not represented.

The Grand Master read his address, congratulating the craft upon the wonderful progress of Masonry in Ohio since the organization of the Grand Lodge in 1808, six small Subordinate Lodges having grown to over 500 active Lodges with a membership of over 46,000. Highly commends the District Lecturers for their active and efficient labors during the past year. He reappointed Bros. George D. McBride and Henry Perkins as Trustees of the Masonic Home.

Dispensations were issued for new Lodges at the following places:

April, 1900, Colning Lodge, at Corning, Perry County.

July 7, 1900, Temple Lodge subsequently changed to Garrett Wykoff at Lima.

Proxies were issued to the following Brothers to constitute the new Lodges chartered at the last session, and install their officers:

March 27, 1900, M.·. W.·. Bro. E. C. Gulliford, to constitute Collinwood Lodge No.582; January 4, 1900, Bro. Levi W. Inglebriglit, to constitute Tronto Lodge No.583; both of whom promptly performed the duties assigned to them on the days above named.

The Grand Master officiated at the dedication of the following Masonic Temples and Halls:

November 14, 1899, dedicated the new Masonic Temple at Columbus, in the presence of a large concourse of the craft and citizens of the city and vicinity.

January 2, 1900, dedicated the new Lodge rooms of Napoleon Lodge No.256 at Napoleon. January 12, 1900, dedicated the new Lodge room of Coshocton Lodge No.96, at Coshocton. January 26, 1900, dedicated the new Masonic Temple at Delaware, erected by Bro. Sidney Moore, and presented to Hiram Lodge No.18, by that earnest, loyal and generous Brother.
June 12, 1900, dedicated the new Masonic Temple of Avon Lodge No.542, at Cincinnati.

Proxies were issued to the following brothers to dedicate the following Masonic buildings, all of whom, except Brother Love, reported the performance of the duties assigned to them:

November 22, 1899, to M.·. W.·. Bro. W. A. Belt, to dedicate the building and rooms of Dunkirk Lodge No.549, at Dunkirk;
November 22, 1899, to Bro. Alvin Love, to dedicate the new Lodge room of Felicity Lodge No.102. No report received from Bro. Love.
November 27, 1899, to M.·. W.·. Bro. N. Williams, to dedicate the new Masonic hall of West Milton Lodge No.577, at West Milton;
May 4, 1900, to Bro. A. E. Merrill, to dedicate the new Hall of Gibson Lodge No.301, at Wakeman;
July 14, 1900, to Bro. Harry Sims, to dedicate the new Hall of Carthage Lodge No.573, at Carthage.

Proxies were issued to the following Brothers to lay the corner stones of the following buildings:

December 15, 1899, to Bro. A. D. Thomas, to lay the corner stone of the Third Christian Church at Youngstown; July 18, 1900, to M.·. W.·. Bro. N. Williams, to lay the corner stone of the new Masonic Temple of Lima Lodge No.205, at Lima, which duties were promptly performed at the dates named.

Reports that the Grand Master, together with the committee appointed for that purpose, consisting of M.·. W.·. Bro. Levi C. Goodale, Bros. A. C. Cable and Benjamin B. Avery, and M.·. W.·. Bro. J. H. Bromwell, in pursuance of authority of the Grand Lodge to represent it at the centennial celebration of the Washington Memorial at the cities of Washington, D. C., and Alexandria, Va., December 14, 1899, attended these ceremonials, and participated therein; M.·. W.·. Bro. J. H. Bromwell responding for the Grand Lodge of Ohio at the banquet given in the evening after the ceremonies, and "right well did he maintain the reputation, not only of this Grand Lodge, but the great state of Ohio, by one of the most rhetorical, eloquent, and appropriate addresses that was delivered during the entire proceedings."

Only about one half the money appropriated for this purpose was expended, and the balance was returned to the general fund of the Grand Lodge.

Reports a number of visitations to Subordinate Lodges, among which are specially mentioned American Union Lodge No.1, Rufus Putnam Lodge No.364, Urania Lodge No.311, and New England Lodge No.4, on which occasion he was accompanied by Bro. Asa S. Bushnell, Governor of Ohio, who during the banquet informed the members of that Lodge that he had deeded the property which he held in trust for New England Lodge to a Trustee selected by the regular Lodge, and hoped they would soon come into "possession of their rightful inheritance." However, the Officers of the bogus clandestine Lodge instituted suit in the civil court to prevent the recording of this deed, and the regular Lodge from taking possession under the deed, which suit was litigated and heard in the Common Pleas, Circuit, and Supreme Courts of Ohio, and in September, 1907, was finally decided by the Supreme Court in favor of the regular Lodge, and the clandestine Lodge, in September, 1907, surrendered it to the regular Lodge who held its first stated meeting in the building since its surreptitious possession by the clandestine Lodge.

A full statement of the facts in relation to this controversy and litigation will be found in the first volume of this history, pages 108-133; therefore, further mention is unnecessary.

The committee appointed and authorized at the last session to procure a set of Consecration vessels performed that duty, and the bill, $60.00, was duly paid, and the action of the committee approved.

The Grand Master pays a beautiful tribute to that magnificent Masonic charity, the Ohio Masonic Home, highly commends the economical and business like management of its Officers and Trustees, and urges liberal donations and provision for its proper maintenance and improvement, referring to the detailed reports of the Superintendent and Trustees for the items of receipts and expenditures, and the present needs of the institution.

The Grand Treasurer submitted his report showing a balance in his hands October 15, 1900, $37,035.23.

The Grand Secretary presented his report showing the membership August 31, 1900, 46,348, a net gain the past year of 2,147. Reports progress in the duplication of the Subordinate Lodge returns; that the per capita tax due the Masonic Home of 30 cents, amounts to $13,904.40, and recommends an additional donation, a part of which should be placed in the endowment fund for investment. The total of the Grand Dues for this year is $35,593.45.

The Trustees of the Masonic Home submitted their annual report, together with a carefully prepared detailed statement of the financial and business transactions during the past year, and the needs of the institution. The report shows the number of residents 62 men, 29 women, 24 boys, 23 girls; total, 138.

The amount contributed by the Ohio Grand Bodies at their 1899 sessions were: Grand Lodge, $17,260.30; Grand Chapter, $4,261.50; Grand Commandery, $2,500.00; total, $24,021.80. The Grand Chapter, Order of the Eastern Star, donated $100.00, and in addition to this the Subordinate Chapters at Christmas, donated a large quantity of clothing, canned fruits, candies, toys, books, fruits, etc., and $256.73 in cash, and a number of other Masonic bodies and individual Masons made liberal donations, all of which were thankfully received and appreciated.

Charters were granted to the following Lodges U. D.:
Corning Lodge No.584, at Corning, Perry County
Garrett Wykoff Lodge No.585, Lima

The original charter of Scioto Lodge No.6 having become faded and somewhat mutilated, the Grand Secretary was authorized to certify a duplicate under the seal of the Grand Lodge, both charters to be delivered to the Lodge.

Duplicate charters were granted to the following Lodges in lieu of the origins destroyed by fire:

Monroe Lodge No.189, at Woodsfield; Orion No.353, at KingsvilIe; Somerton No.354, at Somerton; and Royalton Union No.431, at Lyons; and they were allowed to continue work under the special dispensations granted them by the Grand Master, until the charters were prepared and delivered.

The name of Epler Lodge No.458 was changed to Jackson Center Lodge No.458.

The Committee on Charters and Dispensations reported a resolution requiring all Subordinate Lodges hereafter constituted to adopt and use the uniform Code of By-Laws as laid down in the Code; which was adopted.

The Committee on Charity recommended the donation to the Ohio Masonic home of the sum of $2,000 to the general fund, and $5,000 to its endowment fund; which was adopted.

The committee on the S. Stacker Williams library reported that at the request of Brother Williams they had gone to Newark and formally took charge of the magnificent Masonic library donated by him to the Grand Lodge, consisting of about forty-three hundred volumes, pamphlets, letters, etc., including about fifteen hundred and fifty volumes of Proceedings of Grand Lodges, Grand Chapters, Grand Councils, Grand Commanderies, Supreme Councils, Consistories, and Councils of Deliberation, Constitutions of nearly every jurisdiction in the world, commencing with Anderson's original of 1723, and the Dublin Constitution of 1730, etc., of which about eleven hundred volumes are bound; the whole being in a suitable room which has been occupied by Brother Williams for that purpose for a number of years, and the committee arranged to keep it there at a rental of $48.00 per year. That they had expended $91.28 in binding 126 volumes and recommend that $100.00 be appropriated and expended each year for that purpose.

The Grand Lodge adopted the report and appropriated $48.00 for rent, and $150.00 for binding and other expenses.

The Grand Master was authorized to employ counsel in the case against New England Lodge No.4, in relation to the John Snow property, to assist and render all proper and necessary legal services in the litigation.

The Committee on Accounts report they have audited the books and accounts of the Grand Secretary and Grand Treasurer, and find the books have been kept in a thoroughly businesslike manner, and in every instance correct, and say, "Your committee esteem it a great pleasure to be privileged to audit the accounts, etc., of Officers who so thoroughly comprehend and perform their duties, and whose reports are models of completeness, conciseness, comprehension and correctness."

The amendment offered last session to Section XIII of the By-Laws requiring the Grand Master, Grand Secretary and Grand Treasurer at the close of each session of the Grand Lodge to select a bank in which the funds of the Grand Lodge shall be deposited in the name and to the credit of the Grand Lodge, etc., was adopted.

Brother Frank S. Harmon, of Akron, was elected M.·. W.·. Grand Master; Bros. B. B. Rickly and J. H. Bromwell, re-elected R.·. W.·. Grand Treasurer and R.·. W.·. Grand Secretary, respectively, and the other elective Officers each advanced one station. Cleveland was selected as the place and Wednesday, October 23, A. D. 1901, as the time of holding the next annual communication The Grand Officers were installed.

A Past Grand Master's jewel was voted to the retiring M.·. W.·. Grand Master, E. L. Lybarger, "who has discharged with such signal success the duties of his station as Grand Master," and M.·. W.·. L. C. Goodale was appointed chairman of the committee to secure and present the same.

The Committee on Foreign Correspondence presented their report which was ordered printed in the proceedings. The report covers 323 pages, reviewing the proceedings of 61 English speaking and 12 non-English speaking Grand Lodges.

A large portion of these reviews treats and comments on the ill advised and un-masonic action of the Grand Lodge of Washington recognizing clandestine and Negro masonry and its professed rescission of the same. A number of Grand Lodges severed their fraternal relations with the Grand Lodge of Washington, and interdicted visitation and fraternal intercourse with the members of its Subordinate Lodges; and refused to accept the so-called rescinding of its action as in good faith, or sufficient, while others, condemning the action in positive terms, and specially the Brothers who concocted and imposed the resolutions on the Grand Lodge, were inclined to spread the mantle of Masonic Charity over the mistake of their Brethren, and accept in good faith their professions of rescission.

These questions are discussed in this report under the heads of the various states as follows:

"Clandestinism and Cerneanism," 24 reports; "Negro Masonry," 29 reports; "Washington Hill advised action," 39 reports; and attention is again called to the Fraternal Correspondence report of 1899, where the subject is reviewed under topics, "Cerneanism and Clandestinism," 32 reports; Negro Masonry," 35 reports; "Washington ill advised action," 40 reports; and the telegraphic protests on pages 379 to 384, proceedings of 1899. These reviews, comments and pro-tests are too lengthy to even summarize here, but the Grand Lodge Proceedings of 1899 and 1900, containing them, are in the library or secretary's office of every Lodge in Ohio, easily accessible to all members, who are fraternally requested to carefully read and study this question in all its bearings and they will then understand and appreciate its importance to the Masonic Fraternity, and the invaluable services rendered the craft in general, and the Grand Lodge and Subordinate Lodges of Ohio in particular by M.·. W.·. Bro. Wm. M. Cunningham, then Deity Grand Master, and the other level headed Brethren of the Grand Lodge of Ohio in the 1877 session in preventing the Grand Lodge adopting similar ill advised action which would have resulted in bitter dissension in the Grand and Subordinate Lodges and placed in the hands of Clandestinism and Cerneauism, a weapon that would eventually have divided and destroyed the Grand Lodge and many of its subordinates. It is a matter of history that many, if not all the advocates of the recognition of the so-called African Grand and Subordinate Lodges, in a few years afterwards, when Cerneanism and Clandestinism raised their heads and attempted to invade the jurisdiction of the Grand Lodg