Grand Lodge convened at Eureka Hall, Cincinnati, Tuesday, October 20, A. D. 1885, with Grand Master 3. M. Goodspeed in the Chair; all the other Grand Officers, and Past Grand Masters A. H. Newcomb, C. A. Woodward, W. M. Cunningham, and R. C. Lemmon, present, and over 400 Lodges represented. The Grand Master read his annual address, reporting the deaths of Past Grand Master William B. Dodds; Bro. Nathaniel Benjamin, a Past Grand Officer; and Bro. Oakley Case, of Mingo Lodge, No.171.

Dispensations were issued for new Lodges at the following places:
Canal Winchester, Franklin County
Greenwich, Huron County, to be called Greenwich Lodge
Centerville, Belmont County
Avondale, Hamilton County

A petition was received from Steubenville Lodge, No.45, and Meridian Lodge, No.234, to consolidate, which should be referred to a proper committee.

Proxies were issued to the following Brothers to constitute the new Lodges chartered at last session:

October 29, 1884, Bro. D. C. Winegarner, Alturas Lodge, No.537, at Millersport; October 24, Bro. S. F. Bartlett, Cortland Lodge, No.529, at Cortland; October 29, S. S. Williams, Ohio Valley Lodge, No.536, at Crown City; November 12, Bro. S. C. Kinsley, Roby Lodge, No.534, at Monroeville.

Also to the following Brothers to dedicate Halls and Lodge rooms to Masonic purposes:

October 29, 1884, Bro. S. S. Williams, the Lodge room of Patriot Lodge, No.496; February 24, 1885, Bro. Robt. Patterson, Lodge room of Evansport, No.511; August 21, Bro. H. H. Holch, Lodge room of Western Reserve Lodge, No.507.

All the above Brothers promptly performed the duties assigned to them.

Dispensations were issued allowing Lodges to move into new Halls or Lodge rooms secured by them, or to occupy rooms of other societies temporarily:

Xenia Lodge, No.49, to meet in K. of P. Hall, not being able to secure a suitable Hall since burning out; Green Spring, No.427, to move into their new Hall; Pharos, No.355, to move into their new Hall rebuilt since fire; Cardington, No.384, to occupy their new Lodge room; Flushing, No.298, to occupy the new rooms secured by the Lodge; Shawnee, No.526, to move into another Hall; Hoffner, No.253, to occupy I. O. O. F. Hall until theirs is completed; Sullivan, No.313, permission to rent a portion of their property to I. O. O. F.; Dover, No.489, to rent one of its anterooms for a library; Fayette, No.107, at Washington, C. H., authorized to meet in G. A. R. Hall, their Lodge room having been destroyed by a hurricane that destroyed part of the city September 8; Zaleski, No.472, having completed their Masonic building, the corner stone of which was laid by the Grand Master about a year ago, the Lodge was authorized to occupy it.

Authorized Covington Lodge, No.168, to appear as a Lodge and assist in the ceremonies of laying the corner stone of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church, at Covington.

The Grand Master on May 22, 1885, laid the corner stone of the new courthouse, at Carrollton, Carroll County, with appropriate Masonic ceremonies; Bro. Allen T. Brinsmade, of Cleveland, was the orator of the day. On July 16, laid the corner stone of the new courthouse, at Troy, Miami County; under the auspices of Franklin Lodge, No.14. The ceremonies were preceded by a parade in which Masons, Odd Fellows, Knights of Pythias and the Grand Army of the Republic participated.

On September 22, laid the corner stone of the new courthouse, of Belmont County, with proper Masonic ceremonies in the presence of a large concourse of Masons and citizens, the largest gathering that had assembled there. Commanderies of Knights Templars, St. Clairsville, No.26; Steubenville, No.10; Wheeling, No.1; and Cyrene of West Virginia, acted as escort of the Grand Lodge.

Appointed Bro. Levi C. Goodale my proxy to lay the corner stone of Hoffner Lodge, No.253, at Cumminsville, June 24; Hanselmann Commandery, No.16, K. T., acted as escort for the Grand Lodge.

Also constituted Bro. Chas. A. Woodward my proxy to lay the corner stone of the new Masonic Temple in the city of Cleveland, August 22.

These Brothers promptly performed the duties assigned to them.

The Grand Master reports fourteen decisions rendered by him on various subjects, which were referred to a Committee on Masonic Jurisprudence, who reported in favor of approving the same, and the Grand Lodge approved the report.

On September 8, a terrible hurricane swept over the town of Washington C. H. and vicinity, entirely destroying the Lodge room of Fayette Lodge, No.107, and the homes of many of its members. Authorized the Lodge to ask relief of sister Lodges, and authorized a draft on the Grand Treasurer for $200.00, for their relief.

The Deputy Grand Master presented his report stating he had made a number of visitations, installed the Officers of various Lodges, assisted the Grand Master at the laying of corner stones, etc. That he bad granted permission to St. Albans Lodge; No.491, and Acacia Lodge, No.464, to move into their new Halls, which were quite an improvement over the old.

Brother Atkins, Worshipful Master, returned and surrendered the charter of Mt. Washington Lodge, No.450, which was canceled, and the M.·. W.·. Grand Master directed to take charge of its Masonic property.

The Grand Treasurer submitted his report showing a balance of $10,873.39, in the general fund, and $575.00, in the charity fund in his hands.

Brother J. D. Cook offered a resolution to reconsider and reverse the decision of 1884 requiring eight members of a Lodge to be present to open a Lodge, which was referred to the Judiciary Committee, who reported that the numbers three, five and seven as used are speculative or symbolical, they have no reference to the number eight necessary to open a Lodge or transact business therein, as decided by the M.·. W.·. Grand Master in 1884; which was adopted.

Brother Octavius Waters, Grand Representative of the M.·. W.·. Grand Lodge of Louisiana, presented a circular from that Grand Lodge proposing the adoption of an International Code as set out in the circular, which was referred to the Jurisprudence Committee, who reported that while they find much in the proposed measures to approve, yet until some convention or agreement is made between the several Grand Lodges, or some of them and Ohio, there is nothing requiring action by the Grand Lodge, which was adopted. The proposed 11 propositions will be found on pages 23 and 24 of the proceedings.

Brother R. C. Lemmon, P. G. M., offered as By-Law 15 of the Grand Lodge, a provision that the fiscal year should close August 31, each year; that the Grand Secretary should furnish blank reports on or before August 1, and the Lodges must forward their reports on or before September 30, or forfeit mileage and per diem, which was unanimously adopted.

The Grand Lodge of Quebec was sustained in declaring non-intercourse between its subordinate members and those of the Lodges of St. Paul, St. George and St. Lawrence of Montreal, who did not hold allegiance to or recognize said Grand Lodge.

The special committee on the consolidation of Steubenville Lodge, No.45, and Meridian Lodge, No.234, reported in favor and referred the matter to the Grand Master with full power to act, which was adopted.

The Grand Lodges of Kentucky and Ohio interchanged courteous greetings.

The decision of the M.·. W.·. Grand Master that nominations in Lodges should not be made for the election of Officers, was approved by the Grand Lodge.

The Committee on Accounts reported approving the donation of $200.00 to the sufferers of Fayette Lodge, No.107, by cyclone, and recommended a further donation of $300.00 to Fayette Lodge to assist them in procuring and furnishing another Hall, which was adopted and the appropriation made.

Charters were granted to the following Lodges, U. D.:
Black Diamond, No.538, at Wellston, Jackson County
Fort Recovery, No.539, at Fort Recovery, Mercer County
Madison, No.540, at Canal Winchester, Franklin County
Weyer, No. 541, at Centerville, Belmont County
Avon, No.542, at Avondale, Hamilton County

The Lodge at Greenwich was continued under dispensation.

Brother S. Stacker Williams, of Newark, was elected M.·. W.·. Grand Master; C. M. Godfrey, R. W. Deputy Grand Master; W. J. Akers, Cleveland, R.·. W.·. Senior Grand Warden; Leander Burdick, Toledo, R.·. W.·. Junior Grand Warden; Chas. Brown reelected Grand Treasurer, and J. D. Caldwell, Grand Secretary, and all were duly installed.

Columbus was first selected as the place of next annual communication, which was afterwards reconsidered and Cleveland substituted and selected, and Tuesday, October 19, A. D. 1886, fixed as the time.

The Committee on Foreign Correspondence submitted its report covering 110 pages (pages 25 to 135), reviewing the proceedings of all the American Grand Lodges, except Nevada and Wyoming from which no reports were received.

Brother Allen Andrews announced that the Masonic ceremonies of laying the corner stone of the new courthouse of Butler County, at Hamilton, would take place October 29, and be conducted by the M.·. W.·. Grand Master or his proxy.

Memorial pages were set aside in the proceedings to the memories of Past Grand Master William B. Dodds, Rev. William Earnshaw, Nathaniel Benjamin, Ex-President of the Masonic Veterans of Ohio, Oakley Case of Logan, Charles R. Woods of Newark and William B. Mason of Marietta, both veteran soldiers. The appendix contains a list of the officers and members of each Subordinate Lodge in 1885, covering pages 1 to 210, and which is very valuable for reference.

The Masonic Veterans' Association met in the banquet room of the Walnut Street House, and the banquet furnished by Bro. Col. Blount of that house, and the Secretary from funds received that evening. A number of members were received and welcomed. Bro. Wm. S. Phares was re-elected President and J. D. Caldwell, Secretary and Historian. The proceedings are printed on page 271, Grand Lodge proceedings.

Grand Lodge convened at Case Hall, Cleveland, Tuesday, October 19, A D. 1886, with Grand Master S. Stacker Williams in the Chair; all the Grand Officers and the following Past Grand Masters A. H. Newcomb, C. A. Woodward, Wm. M. Cunningham, R. C. Lemmon, J. M. Goodspeed, and C. C. Kiefer, present, and 460 Lodges represented.

The Grand Master read his annual address:

Announced the deaths of Bro. R. F. Richards, and R.·. W.·. Octavius Waters of our jurisdiction.

Proxies to constitute new Lodges chartered at the last session, and to install their Officers, were issued as follows:

Bro. F. H. Kirk, Avon Lodge, No. 542; J. B. Ryan, Weyer Lodge, No.541; J. M. Goodspeed, Madison Lodge, No.540; C. J. C. Wintermute, Fort Recovery, No.539; J. H. Johnson, Black Diamond, No.538; all of whom promptly performed the duties assigned to them.

The Grand Master installed the Officers of a number of Lodges, and dedicated the following Masonic Halls:

December 8, 1885, Hall of Avon Lodge, No.542, located at Avondale; December 19, Hall of Center Lodge, No.326, at Johnstown. This Lodge lost its Hall by fire only a few months before, but being insured was able to promptly rebuild an elegant Hall; January 12, 1886, Hall of Green Spring Lodge, No.427; August 28, Hall of Wakatomica Lodge, No.108, at West Carlisle. An old-time dinner was served in a grove at which more than five hundred partook of the hospitality of the Brethren; September 1, Hall of Stokes Lodge, No.305, at Port Jefferson, here, too, the hospitalities of the Brethren were unbounded.

Issued proxies to Brethren to dedicate Halls as follows:

December 17, 1885, Bro. D. C. Winegarner, Hall of Acacia Lodge, No.464; October 4, 1886, Bro. T. Z.Riley, Hall of Madisonville Lodge, No.419; which were promptly executed.

Several dispensations were issued permitting Lodges to occupy Halls with other societies where their necessities required it.

Dispensations were issued permitting the following Lodges to occupy new Halls, satisfactory evidence being furnished of their safety, viz.: Aurelius, No.308; Willoughby, No.302, Olive, No.210; Center, No.826; Wellsville, No.180; Bucyrus, No.139; Crawford, No.443; Bartlett, No.293; Harmar, No.390 , Center Star, No.11; Columbus, No.30; Humboldt, No.476; Wakatomica, No.108; Stokes, No.305; Vattier, No.386; Excelsior, No.309; McMillan, No.141; Miami, No.46; and Madisonvlle, No.419.

The Grand Master on October 29, 1885, with proper Masonic ceremonies laid the corner stone of the elegant new courthouse at Hamilton, Butler County, in the presence of a large assembly of Masons and citizens. Hanselmann and Miami Commanderies of Knights Templars courteously furnished the escort for the Grand Lodge.

On May 27, 1886, at the request of the building committee of the First Baptist Church, at Washington C. H., Fayette County, he, with the assistance of Fayette and neighboring Lodges, laid the corner stone of n new church to be erected by that congregation.

Reports a satisfactory settlement and payment of the claim against Bro. A. H. Battin, who had suffered financial embarrassment, but had at the first opportunity paid the claim.

The Hall, charter and effects of Bartlett Lodge, No.293, was destroyed by fire, and on January 30, 1886, dispensation was issued authorizing the Lodge to continue work in the G. A. R. Hall in the village of Cutler, within their jurisdiction. The zeal of the Brethren of this Lodge is evidenced from the fact that they had a new Hall fitted up in a very short time, which I permitted them to occupy on May 22.

The same calamity befell Western Phoenix Lodge, No.296, and dispensation was issued authorizing it to meet in the Hall of Western Reserve Lodge, No.507. New charters are asked for at this session.

The matters of the consolidation of Steubenville Lodge, No.45, and Meridian Lodge, No.234, referred to me for action at the last session, was accomplished in due form and completed November 3, 1885.

Also of Alliance Lodge, No.271, and Conrad Lodge, No.494, was completed in due form on April 16, 1886; I being present and approving the consolidation.

On November 27, 1885, received an appeal from R.·. W.·. Bro. Z. F. Coombes, Acting Grand Master of Masons of Texas, on behalf of the sufferers by disastrous fire of Brethren in Galveston, and drew a draft for $250.00 on the Grand Treasurer for their relief, and directed the Grand Secretary to issue a circular to the Subordinate Lodges setting forth the necessities of our Brethren in Galveston and asking for contributions for their relief, and the result was highly gratifying. The Grand Officers reported that the donations from Ohio exceeded those of any other Grand jurisdiction, and the last draft of $100.00 was returned, the wants of our destitute Brethren having been supplied.

The correspondence on this subject shows the high appreciation by the Brethren of Texas of the prompt, fraternal and liberal relief sent by their Ohio Brethren.

Past Grand Master M. F. Mott, of Texas, in his letter says: "I am not unmindful of the fact that about 1874 the Masons of Ohio responded nobly for the appeal for help from the flooded districts in Louisiana, and the present evidence of sympathy for the distant Brethren makes us feel that the Brethren in Ohio have been made Masons in their hearts.'"

Recently received an appeal on behalf of the sufferers at Charleston, S. C. and vicinity, on account of the earthquake there, which is referred to the Grand Lodge for action.

Applications for dispensations for new Lodges were made from a number of places, but after careful examination the Grand Master declined to grant them as the adjacent Lodges who had given their consent were not self sustaining.

Dispensations were issued for new Lodges at the following places:

Shiloh, at Shiloh, Richland County
Argus, at Canfield, Mahoning County

The necessary steps having been taken the following Lodges were authorized to change their places of meeting:

January 18, 1886, Benton Lodge, No.418, from Benton Ridge to Rawson; August 28, Wakatomica Lodge, No.108, from West Bedford to West Carlisle; September 25, Eden Lodge, No.310, from Melmore to Bloomville.

In each case the consent of Lodges was obtained, and safe and suitable flails secured.

Reports eighteen decisions rendered. The 18th and last decision construes Rule 79 of the Code at length, and the Grand Master decides that under this rule the so-called "Cernean Bodies" are disbarred from the use or occupancy of the Lodge rooms of all the subordinate Lodges in this Grand jurisdiction holding allegiance to this Grand Lodge.

This decision was referred to the Committee on Masonic Jurisprudence, who reported as follows:

"Your Committee on Masonic Jurisprudence have had under consideration so much of the annual address of the M.·. W.·. Grand Master as relates to his construction of Rule 79 of the Code (noted therein as decision No. 18), respectfully report: That after careful examination of the subject, your committee recommend that the same be, and is hereby, approved.
J. M. Goodspeed,
Chas. C. Kiefer,
W. M. Cunningham,
B. D. Babcock."

Brother J. L. H. Long proposed, in lieu of the recommendation of approval of decision of Grand Master, No.18, a resolution as follows:

"Resolved, That this Grand Lodge, being composed of Ancient Masters only, is unwilling and does therefore decline to decide disputed questions of jurisdiction between bodies other than those which are of the York Rite of Masonry."

The resolution was disagreed to and the report and recommendation of the committee sustaining decision No.18, were adopted.

The same committee reported in favor of approving all the Grand Master's decisions from 1 to 18 inclusive, which report was adopted, as well as his appointment of Bro. William M. Cunningham as Chairman of the Committee on Foreign Correspondence.

During the year the Grand Master visited about sixty Lodges, some of them several times, and spent about a month imparting instructions to the Brethren.

The committee appointed at last session to prepare and report forms for bookkeeping and returns, etc., reported at length as to the books, forms, etc., prepared, and practically illustrated the system during the session, and their report and recommendations were adopted.

Brother B. D. Babcock, for the Masonic Craft of Cleveland, invited the M.·. W.·. Grand Master, Grand Officers and members of the Grand Lodge, to dedicate their newly completed Masonic Hall, which invitation was accepted, and the Grand Lodge reconvened at half past two o'clock P. M., October 19, formed procession, and under escort of Oriental Commandery Knights Templars, in due Masonic order marched to the newly erected building and dedicated it to the uses of Masonry in due and ancient Masonic form, after which Bro. Allen Andrews, R.·. W.·. Grand Orator, delivered an eloquent and appropriate address. The report of the dedication and the address of Brother Andrews will be found in the appendix to the proceedings, pages 181 to 184.

Bro. Daniel Warner, a member of Rural Lodge, No.328, born April 6, 1792, and over 70 years a Mason, in a written communication thanked the Grand Lodge for the donations heretofore made him in his old age, and his autograph letter was ordered printed in the proceedings and a donation of $50.00 voted him.

The Grand Lodge unanimously hailed and recognized the Grand Lodge of Free and Accepted Masons of Colon and Cuba.

The amendments of Section III, V and XIV of the Grand Lodge By-Laws as proposed by Bro. Allen Andrews at the last session (page 147, proceedings 1885), were taken up and with some verbal amendments were adopted and are now the law (page 47, proceedings 1886).

The Ways and Means Committee called the attention of the Grand Lodge to the state of its finances, and offered an amendment to Section XVI of the By-Laws increasing the annual dues to thirty-five cents, which was not agreed to, and several amendments were proposed fixing the dues at thirty, thirty-five and fifty cents, all of which under the rule lie over to next session for action thereon.

The Grand Treasurer's report shows a balance on hand October 19, 1886, $15,538.96, in general fund, and $525.00, in Charity fund.

Brother Sargent offered a resolution requesting the Grand Chapter of Royal Arch Masons of Ohio and the Grand Commandery of Knights Templars of Ohio, to adopt rules and regulations requiring members of those bodies or their subordinates to be and remain in good standing in a Lodge of Master Masons, which was adopted.

The special committee in the Battin case reported approving the settlement reported by the Grand Master; which was approved by the Grand Lodge.

The Committee on Accounts reported approving the action of the Grand Master in sending $200.00 to the Galveston sufferers, and appropriating $100.00 to the relief of the Charleston sufferers, which was adopted.

The committee to which was referred the portion of the Grand Master's address on the subject of visits to Subordinate Lodges, reported approving these visits and recommending that the Grand Master be required to visit in person or by proxy all Lodges that require such visitation, which was adopted; and a resolution that the Grand Secretary be directed to send a printed circular to each Subordinate Lodge in this state calling their attention to the adoption of this report and recommendation was adopted.

The memorials of Brothers Octavius Waters and R. F. Richards of Ohio; Theodore T. Gurney of Chicago; Luke F. Barber, late M.·. W.·. Past Grand Master F. & A. M. of Arkansas; and Thomas A. Doyle, P. G. M. of the Grand Lodge, and P. H. P. of the Grand Chapter of Rhode Island; are printed in the proceedings, pages 163 to 169.

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

Greenwich, No. 543, at Greenwich
Shiloh, No.544, at Shiloh
Argus, No.545, at Canfield

New charters were granted the following Lodges to replace originals destroyed by fire:

Bartlett Lodge, No.293; Western Phoenix Lodge, No.296; Sylvania Lodge, No.287; and Frankfort Lodge, No.309; their original charters having become illegible from water and other causes.

The action of the Grand Master in relation to dispensations, approved.

Brother S. Stacker Williams was re-elected M.·. W.·. Grand Master; Bro. Wm. J. Akers of Toledo, R.·. W.·. Deputy Grand Master; Bro. Leander Burdick of Toledo, R.·. W.·. Senior Grand Warden; Bro. Levi C. Goodale of Cincinnati, R.·. W.·. Junior Grand Warden; and Bros. Charles Brown and J. D. Caldwell, re-elected as R.·. W.·. Grand Treasurer and R.·. W.·. Grand Secretary; and all were duly installed.

The place of next annual communication was fixed at Columbus, but afterwards changed to Dayton, Tuesday, October 25, A. D. 1887.

The Committee on Foreign Correspondence submitted its report through Bro. Wm. M. Cunningham, chairman, covering 102 pages (49 to 150), and reviewing the proceedings of 46 Grand Lodges and several foreign jurisdictions.

Under the head of "District of Columbia, 1885," is given a report of the dedication of the Washington monument, at Washington, D. C., on February 21, A. D. 1885, by the Grand Lodge of the District of Columbia, F. & A. M., M.·. W.·. Myron M. Parker, Grand Master presiding. Representatives were in attendance from eleven Grand Lodges and several other Grand Bodies from other states, with many Subordinate Lodges of that and other jurisdictions.

General Services at the Monument.

1. The Hon. John Sherman, a Senator from Ohio, Chairman of the Commission authorized by the joint resolution of May 13, 1884, presided.
2. Music by the Marine Band.
3. Prayer by the Rev. Mr. Suter, of Christ Church, Alexandria, Va.
4. Remarks by W. W. Corcoran, Esq., the first Vice President of the Washington National Monument Society.
5. Masonic ceremonies by the Grand Lodge of the District of Columbia.
Grand Master Parker in his address, among other things called attention to a number of relics of General Washington then present, as follows:

"It is eminently fitting upon an occasion like this that we, as Masons, should associate with these ceremonies, certain historic relics with which General Washington was intimately connected, some of them over a century ago.

"This gavel, prepared for the express purpose, was presented to Washington and used by him as President of the United States, and also as Grand Master pro tern in laying the corner stone of the Capitol of the Nation on the 18th day of September, 1793. Immediately thereafter he presented it to Potomac Lodge, No.9, in whose possession it has ever since remained. It was used in laying the corner stone of this obelisk, July 4, 1848. Also the corner stone of the equestrian statute of Washington at the Circle, and at its dedication February 22, 1860. It was likewise used in laying the corner stone of the extension of the Capitol, July 4, 1851; also by the Grand Master of the Grand Lodge of Virginia, at the laying of the corner stone of the Yorktown monument, October 18, 1881, and at many other public buildings in various states.

"Here behold the Sacred Volume, belonging to Fredericksburg Lodge, No.4, of Virginia, upon which he took his first vows to Masonry, November 4, 1752; and here the Constitution of the Lodge signed by him.

"Here the Sacred Book belonging to St. John's Lodge No.1, of New York, upon which on the 30th of April, 1789, he took the oath of office as the first President of the United States.

"Here the Great Light belonging to Alexandria Washington Lodge, No.22, of Alexandria, Virginia, upon which he, as the Worshipful Master of that Lodge, received the vows of the initiates made by him.

"This is the apron worn by him, which was wrought by Madame Lafayette, and presented to him by that noble lady, the wife of the distinguished General Lafayette, Washington's compatriot, friend and Masonic Brother.

"This golden urn contains a lock of Washington's hair, which was presented to the Grand Lodge of Massachusetts in 1800, by Mrs. Washington, and has been transmitted by every Grand Master of that Grand Lodge to his successor immediately after his installation.

"This lesser light is one of the three candles which were borne in Washington's funeral procession by Mexandria Washington Lodge, No.22, and was taken into the first tomb of Washington, at Mt. Vernon, where on December 18, 1799, his mortal remains were deposited."

Grand Master Parker also gave an interesting resume of the Masonic history of General Washington, which will be found on pages 65 to 67 of the proceedings.

It will be remembered that the Grand Lodge of Ohio at its annual communication of 1849, appointed a committee to procure and forward to Washington, D. C. "a suitable block of Ohio marble to be laid in the monument now being erected in Washington City, to the memory of our illustrious Brother, George Washington" (page 58 original proceedings, page 72 of Vol. 2 of reprint), which committee reported at the next annual communication that they had performed the duty assigned to them, giving a full description of the block of marble and the inscription thereon and an engraving of the same (pages 38 and 39 of original proceedings of 1850, pages 126 and 127 of Vol.2, reprint).

This memorial tablet was shipped to Washington, D. C., and duly placed in the monument, where it remains as a token of respect from the Grand Lodge of Ohio.

The Masonic Veterans' Association met at the Hawley House, enjoyed an elegant banquet and social time, received a number of new members, re-elected W. S. Phares, President and J. D. Caldwell, Secretary.

The proceedings are published on pages 184 to 186 of Grand Lodge proceedings.

Grand Lodge convened in the Grand Opera House, Dayton, Tuesday, October 25, A. D. 1887, with M.·. W.·. Grand Master S. Stacker Williams in the Chair; all the Grand Officers, Past Grand Masters A. H. Newcomb, Wm. M. Cunningham, C. A. Woodward, Chas. C. Kiefer, and P. D. G. M. C. M. Godfrey, present, and 483 Lodges represented.

The Grand Master read his address, reporting the deaths of a number of Grand Officers in sister Grand jurisdictions.

That the following Lodges having secured and furnished safe and suitable new Halls they were permitted to occupy them:

Steubenville, No.45; Pleasant Ridge, No.282; Cedar, No.430; Ehenezer, No.33; Adelphi, No.527; Gallia, No.469; Winchester, No.236; Cheviot, No.140.

The Grand Master dedicated the following Masonic Halls:

May 24, Hall of Ionic Lodge, No.438, at Bellaire; June 15, Halls of the Masonic Bodies at Hamilton, Washington Lodge, No.17, Hanselmann, Reed, Miami, Hamilton and Richmond (Indiana) Commanderies Knights Templars, acting as escort of the Grand Lodge.

There are three cases of occupancy by Lodges of Halls of other societies which should receive attention, as they have been dragging for years, viz.: Xenia, No.49; Ashley, No.407; and Rome, No.535, Winchester, No.236, was recently permitted to move into its own Hall.

On November 4, 1886, at Mansfield, the Grand Master, in the presence of an immense concourse of Masons, Odd Fellows, Knights of Pythias, members of the Grand Army of the Republic and citizens, laid with due Masonic ceremonies the corner stone of the new Intermediate Penitentiary of Ohio, Bro. J. B. Foraker, Governor of Ohio, delivering the address.

On November 7, laid the corner stone of the new First Baptist Church at West Jefferson, assisted by the Brethren of Madison, Chandler and other neighboring Lodges.

On December 21, at Paulding, laid the corner stone of the new Paulding County courthouse, assisted by the Brethren of Paulding, Van Wert, and Antwerp Lodges.

On May 18, 1887, at New Lexington, assisted by the Brethren of New Lexington and neighboring Lodges, laid the corner stone of the new courthouse of Perry County. Lancaster Commandery, No.2, of Lancaster, furnished an escort of fifty swords.

Received an application from Findlay Lodge, No.227, to lay the corner stones of five private manufacturing establishments in that city on June 10, 1887, and at once notified the Worshipful Master of the Lodge, "That while in accordance with ancient usage Grand Lodges perform the ceremonies of laying corner stones of public structures, such as courthouses, asylums, churches, etc., it is not proper that we should perform such ceremonies for private enterprises," and directed him to recall the invitations to other Lodges, and reconsider their action in accepting the invitation to lay these corner stones; which was done. This matter was referred to the Committee on Masonic Jurisprudence who reported, approving the action of the Grand Master in this matter, and the Grand Lodge adopted the report.

Issued proxies to the following Brothers to perform Masonic ceremonies:

October 21, 1886, M.·. W.·. C. A. Woodward to lay the corner stone of an Israelitish Temple at Cleveland; October 30, Bro. W. S. Matthews, to constitute Argus Lodge, No.545; Bro. W. J. Akers, to constitute Greenwich Lodge, No.543, and Shiloh Lodge, No.544, and install their Officers; May 31, 1887, Bro. G. D. Smith, to lay the corner stone of the Methodist Episcopal Church, in the town of Mantua; June 4, Bro. H. M. Lash, to dedicate the flail of Zaleski Lodge, No.472, to Masonry; June 23, Bro. I. N. Hathaway, to dedicate the Hall of Western Phoenix Lodge, No.296, to Masonry; due reports have been made by all these Brothers of the performance of the duties assigned to them.

Application was made for a dispensation for a new Lodge at Berlin Heights, Huron County, but after careful examination the Grand Master refused to grant it.

Also for a new Lodge at Wyoming which was not granted, but granted permission for Glendale Lodge, No.186, to remove to Wyoming on the application and almost a unanimous vote of Glendale Lodge.

Granted dispensation for a new Lodge at Dunkirk, Hardin County.

The Hall, charter and effects of Bartlett Lodge, No.293, were destroyed by fire, and dispensation issued to continue work and meet in the G. A. R. Hall until their Hall could be built.

On January 1, Hamilton Lodge, No.409, surrendered its charter, books, etc., which were received and placed in the hands of the Grand Secretary.

The Grand Master arrested the Charters of Harrison Lodge, No.219; Kreider Lodge, No.197; Clarington Lodge, No.263; and Antioch Lodge, No.286.

A general Masonic convention was held in Chicago, Wednesday, June 22, 1887, and continued in session three days, which was attended by the Grand Master, who joined in the call for the same. Twenty-five Grand Lodges were represented, numerous important subjects relating to Masonic procedure, etc., were discussed, and the following resolutions adopted with but one dissenting vote:

"Resolved, That the Grand Lodge of Free and Accepted Masons is the supreme and governing power in and over Freemasonry within its territorial jurisdiction; and that the landmarks of Freemasonry, together with the laws, edicts, statutes and regulations of such Grand Lodge, constitute the only law and authority for the government of Freemasonry within said jurisdiction, and all constituent Lodges, all members thereof and Masons residing within said jurisdiction, must obey and conform thereto.

"Resolved further, That there is no authority or power in or over Freemasonry above the legitimate and duly organized Grand Lodge F. & A. M., nor is it within the power of any body, organization, or collection of Masons to assume to exercise such power or authority."

A copy of the call and the full report of the Grand Master is printed in the proceedings, pages 21 to 23.

The attention of the Grand Lodge is called to complaints that improper matter has been published in certain Masonic and other publications to the detriment of the Masonic Order and its members, and the action of the Grand Master in relation thereto; also to the acts of insubordination on the part of Hiram Lodge, No.1, on the roll of the M.·. W.·. Grand Lodge of Connecticut.

Rendered four decisions, the fourth of which is as follows:

"4. Inquiries having been made by a large number of Brethren as to the legality of certain bodies in this jurisdiction claiming to be Masonic, which go under the name of Cerneau Bodies of the A. A. S. Rite.

"Answer. A reference to my decision, No.18, made last year, and approved by the Grand Lodge, has in most cases been a sufficient answer. But a more specific answer has been requested by some who are members of such bodies, and who desire a direct answer to the question, 'Are they regular and legal or irregular and illegal?' To such, the answer has been as definite as could be desired, viz.: That they are irregular, illegal, and un-masonic, and ought not to be countenanced or recognized in any manner by Brethren under obedience to this Grand Lodge."

Reports visiting one hundred and seven Lodges some more than once, and at many of them count; meetings where several Lodges were in attendance and one hundred to one hundred and fifty members present.

Received invitations to attend and participate in the centennial celebrations of the Grand Lodges New Jersey and Maryland, but was prevented from attending either. Bro. Chas. A. Woodward represented this Grand Lodge at the latter.

The Grand Master visited the Grand Lodge Kentucky in session in the city of Louisville, October 18, 20, 1887; and was received with all the honors courtesies and hospitalities due the representative this Grand Lodge.

Calls attention to the fact that outside the print abstracts of the proceedings, this Grand Lodge has no written history, and has kept no record of the many zealous and eminent Brothers who have served Officers and members since its organization, during which time we have had thirty-four Grand Masters, all of whom are dead but eight, and of how many of those who are gone has even an effort at obituary been written? Let us have biographical sketches of the zealous Brethren who brought Grand Lodge into existence, as well as those who have fostered it during these long years.

Unfortunately this valuable and timely suggestion and advice passed unheeded, and our Grand Lodge and the Brethren of this Grand jurisdiction have lost much that was interesting and instructive of the early history of Masonry in Ohio.

Acting on this suggestion of the Grand Master a Committee on "Our Ohio Masonic History" composed of Bros. C. C. Kiefer, D. C. Winegarner and L. F. VanCleve, was appointed. Afterwards, on motion, G. M. S. Stacker Williams was added to the committee and made chairman.

The Deputy Grand Master submitted his report, stating he had installed the Officers of a number of Lodges, assisted the Grand Master in the ceremonies of laying corner stones, constituted Greenwich Lodge, No.543, and Shiloh Lodge, No.544, and dedicated their Halls to Masonic uses.

A number of Grand Officers from sister Grand jurisdictions being in the city, a select committee was appointed to escort and present them to the Grand Lodge, and the following were duly presented, received and welcomed with due Masonic honors and escorted to seats in the east:

Brother William Hacker, Past Grand Master of Indiana; Bro. J. Soule Smith, Grand Master of Kentucky; Bro. James A. Staton, M. Ex. Past Grand High Priest of the Grand Chapter of Kentucky; Bro. W. H. Smyth, R.·. W.·. Grand Secretary of Indiana; Bro. Theodore S. Parvin, R.·. W.·. Grand Secretary of Iowa.

A telegram was received from the Grand Lodge of Georgia extending most cordial fraternal greetings, which was promptly replied to in the same fraternal spirit.

The Grand Treasurer submitted his report showing a balance in the general fund October 22, 1887, $12,964.07, and in the charity fund $475.00.

Resolutions were presented and adopted requesting all the present and past Grand Officers of this Grand Lodge to prepare and furnish the Grand Secretary as promptly as convenient, for preservation and reference, a brief statement of their Masonic history, including the several offices they have held.

The Committee on Returns report the number of Master Masons in good standing October 1, 1886, 32,092; on October 1, 1887, 33,289.

The Jurisprudence Committee to which was referred the matter of the insubordination and revoking of the charter of Hiram Lodge, No.1, in Connecticut, report sustaining the action of the Grand Lodge of Connecticut in revoking the charter, and interdicts all intercourse or visitation between the Masons of Ohio and the members of said Hiram Lodge; which was unanimously adopted.

The same committee reported that any member of the Masonic Fraternity who refused to appear and testify before any Lodge or committee acting under the Code is in contempt of the laws of the order, guilty of un-masonic conduct, and subject to charges and trial therefor. A motion was made to recommit, which was lost, and the report was then adopted.

The same committee reported in favor of approving the action and decision of the Grand Master in relation to refusing to lay the corner stones of private business buildings at Findlay, which report was adopted.

The same committee reported that finding the decisions of the Grand Master in conformity to law, and to the rules and regulations of this Grand Lodge, and in harmony with Masonic usage, they recommend that said decisions, each and all, be approved.

Brother Stoddard moved to recommit to the Committee on Jurisprudence the fourth decision of the M.·. W.·. Grand Master with instructions to report adversely to the decision of the Grand Master, in that regard, and recommend that this Grand Body take no action in regard to the contending Scottish Rites.

A point of order was called, which was overruled by the Grand Master, and an appeal being taken, the Chair was sustained.

Brother J. L'H. Long took the floor and urged the adoption of the amendment; but on account of the lateness of the hour, he had leave to take the floor tomorrow morning to close his remarks. The discussion was resumed Wednesday morning by Brother Long, in a lengthy argument advocating the adoption of the amendment offered by Brother Stoddard. Bro. C. C. Kiefer followed opposing the amendment. Bros. C. A. Woodward, L. F. VanCleve, L. F. Lyttle sup ported the decision of the Grand Master, and the report of the committee sustaining it.

Brother Stoddard supported his amendment with earnestness.

Brother Allen Andrews, Grand Orator, closed the discussion in favor of sustaining the Grand Master's decision.

The question being on the adoption of the amendment, the vote was taken by calling the roll of Officers and members, and resulted ayes 230; nays 544. The amendment was declared lost. The report of the committee was adopted and the fourth decision of the Grand Master was declared approved. The vote on this matter will be found on pages 43 to 70 of the proceedings.

Brother J. Soule Smith, M.·. W.·. Grand Master of Kentucky, in eloquent leave taking, expressed hearty thanks for the cordiality of his reception and that of his associates.

The action of the Grand Master in arresting the charters of Antioch Lodge, No.286; Kreider Lodge, No.197; and Clarington Lodge, No.263; were each approved.

The committee to whom was referred the subject of "Improper Masonic Publications" reported severely censuring the so-called Masonic periodicals which have been published and the members of the order who have secured the publication of libelous matter attacking the character of Masons and Masonry, and also the members of the order who, when summoned, refuse to testify when their evidence is necessary to vindicate a Brother and punish a wrongdoer before a Masonic tribunal, and especially censuring the Masonic Review for its publication attacking this Grand Lodge and its Officers for the proper discharge of their duties in enforcing the laws and edicts of the Grand Lodge, and offered the following resolutions, which were unanimously adopted by the Grand Lodge, viz:

"Resolved, That the Grand Lodge severely condemns the un-masonic newspaper and magazine publication referred to in the address of the Grand Master, and reminding its members of their sacred duties to each other, as well as to the best welfare of the craft, that newspapers or so-called Masonic magazines of the character in question be neither read nor patronized hereafter by the loyal and true hearted.

"Resolved, That the Grand Master be requested to exercise the powers vested in him by the Constitution for the enforcement of the preceding resolution, and name, to those properly interested, the obnoxious newspapers and magazines, either now existing or which may hereafter be published."

The amendment to Section XVI of the Grand Lodge By-Laws increasing the Grand Lodge dues from twenty-five to thirty-five cents per year, was adopted, and the dues are now thirty-five cents.

The action of the Grand Master in the matter of the surrender by Hamilton Lodge of its charter and taking up of its effects, was approved. A duplicate charter was issued to Bartlett Lodge, No.293, in lieu of the original destroyed by fire.

The dispensation for a new Lodge at Dunkirk was continued for a year.

Dispensations were granted for new Lodges, as follows:

Leipsic, Putnam County, and at Proctorville, Lawrence County.

Dispensations for new Lodges were refused at Berlin Heights, and at Chester, Geauga County.

The removal of Glendale Lodge, No.186, from Glendale to Wyoming, approved, and its location at Wyoming made permanent and the name changed to Wyoming Lodge, No.186, and a new charter issued in that name.

Ordered that official correspondence be in closed envelopes and not on postal cards.

The Grand Lodge approved the official visitations of Subordinate Lodges, and the instructions in and inspections of the work by the Grand Master.

Brother William B. Melish presented the following resolution, which was unanimously adopted, viz:

"Resolved, That the Grand Master be requested to prepare extracts from the proceedings of this Grand Lodge covering his decision regarding illegitimate Masonic bodies, the report of the Committee on Jurisprudence and the action of this Grand Lodge approving same, and such other matter as he may select, and that the same be sent to the Masters of the Subordinate Lodges prior to their annual meetings with instructions to read the address at that meeting that the Masons of this jurisdiction may be fully advised of the action of the Grand Lodge."

Brother C. C. Kiefer proposed to amend Rule 1 of the Code by striking out all after the word "installed," and insert "within sixty days thereafter," so as to require the Officers of a Subordinate Lodge to be installed within sixty days after their election, and the vote being unanimous the amendment was adopted, and is the law.

Brother W. M. Cunningham presented the following resolution increasing the number of lecture districts and district lecturers from six to fifteen, which was unanimously adopted:

"Resolved, That the number of Grand Lecturers be increased to fifteen instead of six, and that the M.·. W.·. Grand Master be, and is hereby authorized to divide the state into fifteen districts instead of six, as at present, and he is hereby authorized to appoint the number of Grand Lecturers as provided therefor in this resolution."

The Grand Master subsequently redistricted the state into fifteen districts and appointed the district lecturers, pages 91 and 92 of proceedings, for new districts.

The Committee on Foreign Correspondence, covering 119 pages, 93 to 211 inclusive, is printed in the proceedings, and is worthy of a careful study.

The name of West Side Lodge, No.498, was changed to Halcyon Lodge, No.498; of Madison Lodge, No.540, to Potter Lodge, No.540; and of Benton Lodge, No.418, to Rawson Lodge, No.418.

Brother S. Stacker Williams was re-elected M.·. W.·. Grand Master; Bro. Jacob L'H. Long was elected R.·. W.·. Deputy Grand Master; and the balance of the elective Grand Officers re-elected to their present stations; and all were duly installed.

Toledo was selected as the place, and Tuesday, October 23, A. D. 1888, as the time of holding the next annual communication of the Grand Lodge.

The Grand Commandery of Ohio Knights Templars at its annual conclave held at Columbus, October 11, A. D. 1887, took cognizance of the resolution adopted by the Grand Lodge at its 1887 communication, requesting the Grand Commandery to require Knights Templars in this jurisdiction to keep in good standing in Subordinate Lodges, and adopted a preamble and resolution declaring that while by reason of it being in conflict with the Code of the Grand Encampment of the United States it was powerless to enforce such a regulation, yet it was in sympathy with such action, and non-affiliation was discountenanced, and so far as possible commanderies in this jurisdiction should enforce means to prevent it, which action was certified by the Grand Recorder Sir John N. Bell, to the Grand Lodge, and is printed on the inside cover of the proceedings.

On pages 250 to 264 inclusive, will be found a detailed statement of the counties and Subordinate Lodges in each of the new lecture districts (fifteen in number), together with the names of the Masters and Secretaries of each Lodge and the number raised in each during the past year, and the present membership, all valuable for reference. Number raised in the state 1,833.

The Masonic Veterans' Association held its meeting at the Phillips House, the banquet being served in the dining room of the hotel, at which the veterans, their honored guests the Grand Officers from Kentucky and Indiana, and a number of other invited guests partook of an elegant banquet prepared for the occasion, and joined in the festivities, speechmaking, wit, humor and repartee prevailing.

The Grand Officers present from Kentucky and Indiana, were elected honorary members of the association.

Brother Brenton D. Babeock, Vice President, presided in the absence of President Phares, detained in Illinois.

A large number of veterans were received and welcomed as new members.

W. S. Phares was re-elected President, and John D. Caldwell, Secretary and Archivist.

The proceedings are on pages 268 and 269 of the printed proceedings of the Grand Lodge.

Grand Lodge convened at Memorial Hall, Toledo, Tuesday, October 23, A. D. 1888, with Grand Master S. S. Williams in the Chair, the other Grand Officers, Past Grand Masters W. M. Cunningham, C. A. Woodward, R. C. Lemmon, and C. C. Kiefer, and Past D. G. Master C. M. Godfrey present, and four hundred and seventy-eight Lodges represented.

The Grand Master read his annual address, reporting his actions for the year.

Announces the deaths of Bro. George A. Granger, Past Master of New Lexington Lodge No.250, and district lecturer of District No.11, who died in March; Bro. John Jamison, who was born in Lexington, Ky., October 25, 1793, initiated in Clermont Social Lodge No.25, May 28, 1820, which shows him to have been a Mason within about a month of sixty-eight years. He was the last Surviving charter member of Batavia Lodge, No.104, organized in 1837, and died April 19, 1888; M.·. W.·. Brother Alexander H. Newcomb, Past Grand Master, who served as Grand Master 1869, 1870, 1871, who died August 28, A. D. 1888, and was the Senior Past Grand Master in this jurisdiction at the time of his death.

A special communication of the Grand Lodge was convened August 30, and he was buried with full Masonic ceremonies and honors.

In other Grand Jurisdictions: Alabama has lost her Grand Secretary R.·. W.·. Bro. Daniel Sayer, who was born in Franklin County, Ohio, in April, 1808, and served as Grand Secretary and Grand Recorder of the several Grand Masonic Bodies of Alabama for many years.

Massachusetts mourns the loss of the distinguished Masonic scholar and jurist, Past Grand Master William Sewell Gardner; and Kentucky, the genial and affable Dr. Robert Morris, Past Grand Master and Masonic Poet Laureate.

Satisfactory evidence of the safety, etc., of new halls of the following Lodges having been furnished, they were authorized to occupy them: Orange, No.406; New Lisbon, 65; Winchester, 236; Greenwich, 543; Magnolia, 20; Goodale, 372; and Augusta, 504. Proxies were issued to the following Brothers to dedicate new Halls as follows:

Brother J. H. Moore, the Hall of Orange Lodge No.406; Bro. W. P. Curtis, Hall of Rural Lodge No.260, and Greenwich Lodge No.543; Bro. Jesse Purnell, Hall of Weyer Lodge No.541. Bro. J. H. Bromwell, to lay cornerstone of the town hall in Loveland; all of whom promptly performed the duties, assigned to them.

The Grand Master on June 26, 1888, in the presence of and assisted by the Brethren of New Lisbon Lodge No.65, and of Salem, Leetonia, Columbiana, East Liverpool and other Lodges, and with the further assistance of M.·. W.·. Bro. Joseph Eichbaum, Grand Master of Masons of Pennsylvania, and R.·. W.·. Bro. S. L. Fisher, P. J. G. W., of Ohio, dedicated according to Masonic usage, the elegant new Masonic Hall of New Lisbon Lodge No.65, and on June 27, assisted by Brethren of New Lisbon, Wellsville, and other Lodges, performed a like service for Riddle Lodge No.315, at East Liverpool. On this occasion they were honored with the presence of our Brother, Judge Joshua Riddle, for whom the Lodge was named.

A large number of applications were made for dispensations to jointly occupy halls with other societies, but only the following were granted:

Lawrence Lodge No.198, whose property was destroyed by fire, to occupy the Knights of Pythias Hall;

Sharonville Lodge No.204, to accommodate the K. of P. Lodge a short time while their hall was being repaired. The same privilege was granted West Union Lodge No.43, and Xenia No.49.

Reports the rearrangement of the state into fifteen lecture districts, and the appointment of the district lecturers therefor, in accordance with the action of the Grand Lodge at its last session.

Made a large number of personal visits to Lodges for the purpose of inspection of the work, books and procedure, and also delegated a number of competent Brothers for that purpose, all of whom performed the duties assigned to them resulting in much good to the order.

On June 21, 1888, laid with Masonic ceremonies the cornerstone of an extension of the courthouse of Pickaway county at Circleville, assisted by a number of Grand Officers and Brethren of Circleville and surrounding Lodges.

On August 16, 1888, assisted by the Grand Officers and the Brethren of N. C. Harmony Lodge No.2, and of the other Lodges in Cincinnati and vicinity, laid the cornerstone of the new city hall of Cincinnati, with full Masonic ceremonies, and according to Ancient usage, N. C. Harmony Lodge was opened in the Masonic Temple, the Grand Lodge received and welcomed, and an old-fashioned Masonic procession formed and marched to the foundation of the city hall, where the ceremonies were performed in due form and an eloquent address delivered by R. Grand Orator Bro. Allen Andrews. M.·. W.·. Bro. John Corson Smith, Grand Master of Masons of Illinois, honored the occasion with his presence and assistance. Trinity Commandery K. T. furnished the escort for the Grand Lodge.

Received invitations to attend the centennial celebrations at Columbus and Marietta in my official capacity, but declined to appear except as a private citizen, as did not deem it proper to do so in my official capacity.

Dispensations for new Lodges were issued as follows:
January 11, 1888, Lodge at Holgate, Henry County
March 15, 1888, Lodge at Danville, Knox County
May 21, 1888, Lodge at Montpelier, Williams County

Application for a Lodge at Minerva was irregular and recently completed and is referred to Grand Lodge for action.

Under the head "Decision No.4, 1887," the Grand Master says: "The Grand Lodge at its last session said in plain words that certain organizations claiming to be Masonic were irregular, illegal and un-masonic. It also warned the craft in this jurisdiction not to countenance or recognize them in any manner; and that the Brethren throughout the state might know what the Grand Lodge did, it ordered by unanimous vote that this information be furnished each Lodge on our roll, prior to their annual meetings, and to be read thereat. To carry this order into effect I had printed in circular form the action of the Grand Lodge and mailed a copy to every Lodge in the state. The clear intent of the order was that the circular be read to the Brethren before the election of officers, and in nearly every case this was done, as certificates received show. In a few cases it was read after the election, and in some cases after the officers were elected and installed, and in a couple cases after all business was over and just before closing, and after many of the Brethren had retired. * * *

"I note a few facts: A number of Brethren who were members of those organizations were elected to offices in their Lodges, and feeling that while they retained such membership they were disqualified from serving in the face of the action of the Grand Lodge, fraternally asked their respective Lodges to excuse them. Others upon their election to Lodge offices, renounced their allegiance to the interdicted bodies, renewed their vows to their Lodges and to this Grand Lodge, and were installed.

"Complaints were lodged with me that certain Lodges had, in disregard of the Grand Lodge, elected to office active and persistent adherents of the illegal bodies; and that installation would breed discord and confusion and lead to further acts of contempt. But for all these acts, thanks to the great army of loyal Masons in Ohio, only a small number of cases of contempt came to my knowledge, and most of these were easily disposed of. * * *

"I felt it my duty to exercise my undoubted authority, and did, either by correspondence, by proxy or in person, suspend proceedings under the election of certain Officers in a number of Lodges. The situation was accepted and my authority respected in all Lodges but Coshocton Lodge, No.96, and Ahiman Lodge, No.492."

The Grand Master gives a detailed and lengthy summary of the action and proceedings of the disturbing element in these Lodges, resulting in suits for injunction being commenced, not by the Lodges, but by one or more of the dissatisfied Brothers of each of the Lodges. The case of Coshocton Lodge was heard in the circuit court during the first week of May, 1888, and a unanimous decision in favor of the Grand Master and the Grand Lodge rendered by the three judges of that court, after which the factious Brothers abandoned the hall and books, and under the dispensation of the Grand Master, Officers with proper qualifications were duly elected and installed. The charter was missing, and a dispensation was issued to continue work until this session unless it should be found in the meantime.

In Thornville Lodge, No.521, a month after the regular Officers had been elected and installed, certain members pretended to install other Brethren who took possession of the hall, books, etc., and have been conducting a clandestine Lodge, and obtained a temporary injunction against the legal Officers, which case was finally pressed to a hearing October 20, 1888, but the decision not yet announced.

Bucyrus Lodge, No.139, having sent out over the state an unauthorized and very discourteous circular, embodying transactions of the Lodge, I sent Bro. H. Brown as my proxy, August 9, to fraternally advise them to rescind their action. On his arrival he was served with a summons in an injunction suit brought by the Lodge against the Grand Master, and at the same time was served with a summons of like nature in an action brought by Crawford Lodge, No.443, and these matters are referred to the Grand Lodge for action.

Considerable comment and improper reports having been circulated through newspapers and anonymous circulars in regard to the action of Newark Lodge, No.97, the Grand Master deemed it just to give the facts.

The Grand Master visited the Lodge at its stated meeting in December, 1887, and suspended proceedings following the election of two Brethren, and forbade their installation, and after consultation it was agreed the vacancies be not filled until the stated meeting in February.

The Lodge thereupon, by unanimous vote, seventy-two members being present and all voting, adopted the following preamble and resolution, viz.:

"Whereas, unfortunate conflicts have for some time disturbed the unity and harmony of Ancient Craft Masonry, these conflicts arising from two distinct bodies, each basing its claim to recognition on the alleged basis of the three degrees of Masonry over which the Grand Lodge of Ohio has exclusive jurisdiction; and

"Whereas, these so-called higher bodies, by their counterclaims, have sown the seed of discord and made the path of duty doubtful to many good and true Brethren, especially among the young members of the fraternity, rendering some decisive action necessary by the body having the supreme right to decide who shall have the right to build on our foundation; therefore,

"Resolved, That inasmuch as said Grand Lodge has spoken thus relieving individual members of that unpleasant necessity, we hereby reaffirm our allegiance to the Grand Lodge of Ohio, and remembering our vows, declare that we will abide by and support the laws, rules, edicts, orders and general regulations of that body."

Within a short time thereafter, one member of the Lodge, assuming the authority to associate with his own name the name of another Brother, who afterwards repudiated this action, secured a temporary injunction.

The Grand Master suspended the Worshipful Masters of Olive Lodge, No.210, Mt. Olive Lodge, No.148, and Temple Lodge, No.28, and placed said Lodges in charge of the Senior Wardens.

A few Lodges actuated by unwise counselors without warrant issued improper circulars reflecting on the action of this Grand Lodge and its Grand Master, but subsequently rescinded their action except Bucyrus Lodge, No.139, Hanselmann Lodge, No.208, and Paulding Lodge, No.502.

A circular from Bro. C. W. Johnson, chairman of Masonic Relief Committee of Jacksonville, Fla., making an appeal on behalf of the yellow fever sufferers was received and a circular sent to the Lodges in Ohio, who responded with contributions amounting to $650.50 to this date, a report of which will be printed in the proceedings.

The Grand Master arrested the charters of the following Lodges:

Mt. Pleasant, No.216, on account of irregularities in the proceedings of the Lodge in admitting members, failing to hold meetings, etc.; the charter, jewels, books, etc., were deposited with the Grand Secretary. Kilgore, No.523, on account of failure to comply with the laws, rules and regulations of the Grand Lodge, the Lodge having initiated, passed and raised a number of candidates for $5.00 each, and some without fees, and other violations of the laws.

The Grand Treasurer submitted his report showing a balance on hand October 20, 1888, in the general fund, $14,934.37; and in the Charity fund, $425.00.

All the matters relating to the action of the Grand Master in the case of Crawford Lodge, No.443; Bucyrus Lodge, No.139; Ahiman Lodge, No.492; Coshocton Lodge, No.96; Newark Lodge, No.97; and Thornville Lodge, No.521; and the various suits brought against the Grand Master, were referred to the Joint Committees on Masonic Jurisprudence, Grievances, and Charters and Dispensations, which Joint Committee reported to the Grand Lodge at its afternoon session in substance as follows:

"The subject under consideration naturally divides itself into four inquiries.
"1. Did the Grand Master have any authority in Masonic law for his actions in the premises?
"2. If so, was this authority properly exercised in each given case?
"3. What motive or spirit prompted a resort to the civil courts of the state by certain Lodges, and what is the effect on our fraternity of these injunction cases?
"4 What action, if any, should now be taken by this Grand Lodge on each of the given cases?

"Of these in their order:

I

"We find that the Constitution of the Grand Lodge, Article IX, provides among other things: 'The Most Worshipful Grand Master has the power, at his discretion, to assemble any Subordinate Lodge, and to preside therein, inspect its work, and require a strict conformity to the rules and regulations of the order.' This authority is plenary, and in this and other jurisdictions has been repeatedly and is constantly exercised.

"In the exercise of his power the Grand Master has often in this state suspended Officers, and in a variety of ways exerted a supervisory care, and has again and again enforced obedience to the rules, regulations, edicts and decisions of the Grand Body."

(The committee here cite a long list of precedents in which this has been done, and the Grand Master sustained by the Grand Lodge.)

"It is unnecessary to further multiply authorities in support of a proposition so elementary and so well established.

"The inherent power of the Grand Master must be preserved in all its inherent vigor. He stands superior to the Lodge, and the latter must obey his authority, respect his order, yield to his objection, and comply with his requirements made in the discharge of his official duty.

"If a Subordinate Lodge, Officer, or member thereof feels aggrieved, it or he must come for redress to this Grand Lodge.

"In our order, as well as in all institutions, judicial and executive sovereignty, so far as its votaries are concerned, must, from necessity reside somewhere. With us it resides in this Grand Lodge. During vacation it abides with the Grand Master, subject, however, to be reviewed by this Grand Body, and by this Grand Body only.

II

"Our constitution therefore reposing this power on the Grand Master we next inquire: Did he exercise it properly?

"The Grand Lodge last year decided, in the most emphatic manner that certain organizations, then claiming to be Masonic, and thus hurtful to our fraternity, were, in fact, 'irregular, illegal and unmasonic, and should not be countenanced or recognized in any manner by Brethren under obedience to this Grand Lodge.' Substantially the same question was decided in the same way by this Grand Lodge the year previous. It is not necessary to review this decision; the question is settled and is no longer open to discussion. It must be obeyed the same as any other requirement of our laws and regulations. It may be proper to remark that the same controversy was decided in the same way by the respective Grand Lodges of Massachusetts, New Hampshire and Kentucky, where the same bogus bodies sought to gain a foothold.

"Since this rule requires that all Brethren under this jurisdiction ought not to countenance or recognize these interdicted bodies, it follows that whoever does so countenance or recognize such bodies is guilty of disobedience and insubordination to this Grand Lodge. Immediately on the adjournment of this Grand Lodge last year, these unmasonic Cerneaus and disloyal Masons entered into a conspiracy whereby the governing body of the Cerneaus issued certain circulars denouncing this Grand Lodge and resolving to employ the best lawyers possible to carry out a plan of warfare, foreshadowed in the circulars, against our Order. These also instructed all members of these unlawful bodies who were members of our Order to exhaust every means to have Cerneaus elected and installed in office in our Subordinate Lodges. The circulars also called for a meeting, styled 'a legislative rendezvous' to assemble in Columbus, January 12, 1888, to organize a new Grand Lodge in rivalry with this body. We regret to say that these enemies of Masonry succeeded in their designs in six Lodges, but we rejoice to add that they failed in all the other of the four hundred and eighty-eight Subordinate Lodges composing this jurisdiction.

"In Newark Lodge, No.97, there were two; in Ahiman Lodge, No.492, five; in Thornville Lodge, No.521, four Officers elected and acting under the instructions of the circulars ready to take the obligations of our order for the purpose, as expressed by them, to break it and do the bidding of the illegal Cerneau bodies. These our Grand Master forbade to be installed and ordered each of these Lodges to elect and install some suitable persons to fill the vacancies.

"Your committee is of the opinion that the facts warranted the action taken by the Grand Master, and recommends that the same be approved.

III

"As to the motive or spirit which prompted the resort to the civil courts in the five injunction suits:

"The committee review at length the right of a Lodge or member to bring a civil suit of this nature, instead of appealing to the Grand Lodge, and the spirit and illegal unmasonic conduct of the plaintiffs in these actions, at length, and say:

"'Your committees are therefore constrained to find that the members or Lodges who brought these actions were actuated by no desire to redress any wrong, but in pursuance of a settled plan to aid the interdicted Cerneaus in their warfare against legitimate Masonry."

IV - The Finding

"There only remains for these committees to report what action in their opinion should now be taken by this Grand Lodge.

"In case of Newark Lodge, No.97, we recommend that the Grand Master be sustained, and that no other action be now taken by this Grand Lodge.

"We find that Ahiman Lodge, No.492, has been guilty of insubordination and we recommend that its charter be arrested, and that it be stricken from the roll of this jurisdiction.

"In case of Thoruville Lodge, No.521, we find the attempted installation by J. D. Mitchell of Officers whose installation had been forbidden was illegal and all work done or proceedings had under those Officers are null and void, and that said body be declared clandestine, and Thornville Lodge required to expunge from its records all acts and proceedings of said illegal body, and so certify to this Grand Lodge within sixty days.

"We find in ease of Coshocton Lodge, No.96, that injunction suit brought by one of its members has been finally disposed of, the court wisely deciding that all questions of Masonic jurisprudence should be determined by Masonic tribunals, and that courts of the land had no right to interfere. Since this decision the Lodge and its members have complied with the orders of the Grand Master and we therefore recommend that no further action be taken and that a duplicate charter be issued on application of its Officers.

"We find that Bucyrus Lodge, No.139, and Crawford Lodge, No.443, shortly after the adjournment of the Grand Lodge, in obedience to the illegal circulars sent out, as before stated in January last, without waiting to see whether the Grand Master would or would not make any order in regard to them, procured injunctions to issue, and held the writs ready to serve on the Grand Master should he dare to make an appearance in Crawford County. In August his proxy appeared and they served the writs upon him.

"We find that both these Lodges were guilty of insubordination and rebellion, and recommend that the charters of both be arrested, and that both Lodges be stricken from the rolls of this jurisdiction.

C. A. Woodward, C. M. Godfrey,
R. C. Lemmon, J. W. Chamberlin,
L. F. Lyttle, Allen Andrews,
Wm. M. Cunningham, Barton Smith,
C. C. Kiefer, W. B. Melish,
Fli Fasold, D. R. Arnold,
Dan Babst, Jr., Committee."'

Brother L. F. VanCleve, moved the adoption of the report.

Brother E. B. Finley asked for a division of the question, and that so much of the report as referred to the cases of Bucyrus Lodge, No.139, and Crawford Lodge, No.443, be considered separately; which request was granted by the M.·. W.·. Grand Master.

The R.·. W.·. D. Grand Master offered a preamble and resolution as a substitute for the report of the Joint Committee, but upon a point of order being raised, the M.·. W.·. Grand Master decided that the resolution was not in order. Brother Finley was, at his own request, permitted to withdraw his request for a separate consideration of the cases of the two Lodges previously named. The R.·. W.·. Deputy Grand Master asked that the report might be considered in four distinct parts, corresponding to the divisions into which it had been subdivided by the committee, which was permitted by the M.·. W.·. Grand Master.

The first three divisions were then considered and approved by the Grand Lodge, with very little opposition.

Upon the question of approving the fourth division of the report adopting the recommendations of the Joint Committee, a lengthy discussion ensued, participated in by Brothers E. B. Finley, J. W. Underhill and the R.·. W.·. Deputy Grand Master on the one side, opposing the adoption of the report; and Brothers Barton Smith, Allen Andrews, E. T. Carson, William Donaldson and John T. Sutphen on the other side, favoring its adoption.

On demand of Bro. E. B. Finley and four others, the roll of the members of the Grand Lodge was called upon the question of the adoption of the fourth division of the report, which resulted as follows:

Total number of votes cast, 991; in favor of the adoption of the report, 673; against the adoption, 318.

The report having been adopted as a whole, the M.·. W.·. Grand Master announced that in accordance with the vote just stated, he declared Bucyrus Lodge, No.139, Crawford Lodge, No.443, and Ahiman Lodge, No.492, to be stricken from the rolls of the Grand Lodge.

The vote on the fourth division is printed in the proceedings in detail, pages 52 to 82 inclusive, giving the vote of each Grand Officer and the representatives of each Subordinate Lodge.

Later in the session, pages 108 and 104 of proceedings, Bro. Charles T. Lewis offered the following preamble and resolution:

"Whereas, this Grand Lodge at its annual communication in October, 1887, declared the bodies calling themselves 'The Ancient Accepted Rite for the United States of America, its Territories and Dependencies,' and commonly called the 'Cernean Rite,' to be 'irregular, illegal, and un-masonic,' and that they 'ought not to be countenanced or recognized in any manner by Brethren under obedience to this Grand Lodge;' and "Whereas, Brethren subordinate to this Grand Lodge are still selling and conferring the Cernean and other degrees, pronounced to be irregular, to Master Masons in this jurisdiction, and are thereby violating the laws of this Grand Body; therefore,

"Resolved, That any Mason subordinate to this Grand Lodge, who shall hereafter take, or receive, or communicate, or be present at, or assist any one to take or apply for said degrees, or any of them, shall be subject, after due trial under the Code, to expulsion from all the rights and privileges of Masonry," which resolution was adopted by an almost unanimous viva voce vote.

Brother E. I. Betts offered the following resolution, which was unanimously adopted:

"Be it Resolved, 1. That a copy of the full report of a Joint Committee, to which was referred that portion of the address of the Grand Master relating to the installation of certain Officers in Subordinate Lodges and other matters pertaining thereto; and also the resolution introduced by Bro. Charles T. Lewis, relating to the so-called Cernean Masonry, together with the action of the Grand Lodge on said report and resolution, should be forwarded to the Lodges of this jurisdiction.

"2. That in each Lodge, on the evening of their first annual election hereafter, and before the election, it shall be the duty of the Worshipful Master to cause said report and resolution to be read in open Lodge, and require the Secretary to so certify under the seal of the Lodge, to the Grand Secretary, the fact of the reading of such report and resolution, as above, and the time when the same was done."

The Committee on Masonic Jurisprudence reported sustaining and approving the decisions and action of the Grand Master in the following cases, and matters, viz.:

"1. In the suspension of the Worshipful Master of Olive Lodge, No.210.
"2. In the suspension of the Worshipful Master of Mt. Olive Lodge, No.148, and the same be continued until the expiration of his term.
"3. In the suspension of the Worshipful Master of Temple Lodge, No.28, and the same be continued until the expiration of his term.
"4. In setting aside the election in Jenkins Lodge, No.471.
"5. In the matters of his correspondence and action with the several centennial commissioners.
"6. In his correspondence with the Grand Master of Virginia.
"7. In his arresting the charters of Mt. Pleasant Lodge, No.216, and Kilgore Lodge, No.523, and we recommend that said Lodges be stricken from the rolls of this Grand Lodge;" which report and recommendations were adopted.

Grand Master S. S. Williams as Grand Representative from Florida made a verbal report returning the thanks of the Grand Lodge of that state for the assistance rendered the fraternity and citizens of that state during the prevalence of the yellow fever scourge.

Grand Secretary Caldwell made a report showing he had received donations amounting to $649.50, which was afterwards increased to $664.50; sent to Jacksonville, $290.00; expenses, $6.00; turned over to the Grand Treasurer, $308.50, to be held for further calls.

A detailed statement of the contributors will be found on page 295 of the printed proceedings.

The Grand Master as the Grand Representative from New South Wales announced the healing of all dissentions between the various Grand Bodies claiming jurisdiction therein, and the consolidation of all into one harmonious and prospering Grand Body, and extending its fraternal greetings.

The Committee on Visitations and Instructions by the Grand Master and his proxies reported approving the action of the Grand Master on that subject, and recommending that this practice be continued so as to cover the whole territory within this jurisdiction as far as possible, which was adopted.

Charters were granted to the following Lodges, U. D.:
Danville, No.546, at Danville, Knox County
Montpelier, No.547, at Montpelier, Williams County
Leipsic, No.548, at Leipsic, Putnam County
Dunkirk, No.549, at Dunkirk, Hardin County
Proctorville, No.550, at Proctorville, Lawrence County

The applications for dispensations for new Lodges at Lorain, Amelia and Ashtabula Harbor, were not granted, and the application for a new Lodge at Minerva was at first declined, but afterwards reconsidered and referred to the Grand Master to act.

The dispensation for a new Lodge at Holgate was continued.

The charter of Augusta Lodge, No.504, having been destroyed by fire, a duplicate charter was ordered issued, in lieu of the original.

On recommendation of the Committee on Grievances it was ordered that such Lodges as had issued improper circulars alluded to in the Grand Master's address, and have not recalled the same, be required to do so, and certify their action to the Grand Secretary within sixty days, which was adopted.

Brother William B. Melish offered a preamble and resolution reciting that whereas Grand Master S. S. Williams had been compelled to devote nearly his entire time during the past year to the business of the Grand Lodge, therefore, as slight testimonial of our appreciation of his services to the craft, the sum of five hundred dollars be presented to him, which was referred to the Committee on Accounts, who reported favorably and the same was adopted and the appropriation made.

Brother J. H. Bromwell offered the following resolution:

"Be it Resolved, That a committee of three be appointed from this Grand Lodge to confer with like committees from the Grand Chapter R. A. M. of Ohio, the Grand Council R. & S. M. of Ohio, and the Grand Commandery Knights Templar of Ohio, upon the question of the establishment of a Masonic Home for aged and infirm Masons, their widows and orphans, and report to this Grand Lodge at its next annual session," which resolution was duly seconded and adopted; whereupon the M.·. W.·. Grand Master announced as such Special Committee, Brothers J. W. Iredell, Jr., Henry Perkins and C. C. Kiefer.

At the election of Grand Officers, Brother Leander Burdick, of Toledo, having received a majority of the 1,053 votes cast for Grand Master, he was declared duly elected to serve as Grand Master of Ohio for the ensuing year, and the following other Grand Officers were duly elected: Bro. Levi C. Goodale, R.·. W.·. Deputy Grand Master; Bro. Allen Andrews, R.·. W.·. Senior Grand Warden; Bro. W. F. Baldwin, R.·. W.·. Junior Grand Warden; Bro. Charles Brown, R.·. W.·. Grand Treasurer; Bro. J. H. Bromwell, R.·. W.·. Grand Secretary; all of whom were duly installed.

Cincinnati was selected as the place, and Tuesday, October 22, A. D. 1889, as the time for holding the next annual communication of the Grand Lodge.

The Committee on Necrology reported fitting testimonials to Past Grand Master A. H. Newcomb, Brothers George A. Granger and John Jameson, of our jurisdiction, and M.·. W.·. Past Grand Master Wm. Sewell Gardner of Massachusetts and Past Grand Master M.·. W.·. Dr. Robert Morris of kentucky, and memorial pages were set apart to each in the proceedings.

R.·. W.·. Bro. Levi C. Goodale offered the following complimentary resolution, which was unanimously adopted, and printed on a special page of the proceedings (page 110), viz.:

"Be it Resolved, That this Grand Lodge tenders to its retiring Grand Secretary, R.·. W.·. Bro. John D. Caldwell, its cordial thanks for the many years of service he has rendered to the Masonic Fraternity of this state, and sincerely hope that he may live long to enjoy the fraternal esteem and regard of his many friends and Brothers throughout this and other jurisdictions."

The Foreign Correspondence Committee made a verbal report, and requested permission to present their written report and have the same printed in the proceedings, which was agreed to; the report covering 157 pages (116 to 273), reviewing the proceedings of 40 Grand Lodges; replete as usual with many gems of thought and information.

The Masonic Veterans held their annual meeting on the evening of October 23, in the Toledo Temple. A very large number of new members were received and welcomed. An elegant and luxurious banquet was partaken of in the Templars Banquet Room, and short addresses delivered by Bro. Wm. T. Walker, Grand Commander of Knights Templars, Judges D. D. Jones, and L. H. Pike, Dr. Bond and Dr. Samuel Forbes.

Rev. L. F. VanCleve was elected President, and John D. Caldwell, Secretary.

Grand Lodge convened in the Scottish Rite Cathedral, Cincinnati, Tuesday, October 22, A. D. 1889, with M.·. W.·. Bro. Leander Burdick, Grand Master in the Chair; all the other Grand Officers filling their stations, and Past Grand Masters Chas. A. Woodward, Reuben C. Lemmon, Chas. C. Kiefer, S. S. Williams, Wm. M. Cunningham, and Past Deputy Grand Master C. M. Godfrey, and the representatives of 488 Lodges present.

Brother William B. Melish, chairman of the Committee of Arrangements, on behalf the three thousand loyal Masons of Hamilton County, extended greetings to the Grand Lodge and its members, and distributed a handsomely engraved and printed program of the entertainment that had been prepared for the three days of the session.

The Grand Master read his annual address extending his cordial fraternal greetings to the Officers and members of the Grand Lodge in the following eloquent and well chosen words: "It should be with hearts full of gratitude to Him who doeth all things well, that we are permitted to come together from all sections of our beautiful state, to meet upon the level with that warm, fraternal welcome that ever characterizes the hearty greeting which is always extended by the representatives of our Subordinate Lodges upon the occasion of our annual gathering.

"The representatives of the Lodges which assembled in annual communication fourscore years ago have multiplied a hundredfold, and today I have the pleasure of welcoming the representatives of nearly five hundred Lodges to this eightieth annual meeting, and to extend to you congratulations upon the prosperous condition of the Craft throughout this Grand jurisdiction.

"We are permitted to meet under auspices most favorable in this spacious and magnificent cathedral, with surroundings that should gladden the heart and cause it to pulsate with the warmest feelings of brotherly love and friendship."

The Grand Master announced the deaths of the following distinguished Brothers:
Dr. Leander Firestone, Past Master of Ebenezer Lodge, No.33, Wooster, Ohio, and for many years an active and prominent Mason, who died November 9, A. D. 1889, and was buried with Masonic honors and ceremonies conducted by the Grand Master, November 11.

Dr. George Hines Jordon, R.·. W.·. Deputy Grand Master of Virginia, and representative of the Grand Lodge of Ohio, near the Grand Lodge of Virginia, who died February 20, A. D. 1889.

Frederick H. Rehwinkel, Past Grand Commander of Knights Templars of Ohio, who died at Chillicothe, June 8, A. D. 1889, and was buried with Templar honors.

Sanford L. Collins, of Toledo Lodge, No.144, who was born April 5, 1805, in New York, made a Mason in Gaines Lodge, in 1826, moved west and located on land now a part of Toledo, in 1831. Affiliated with Toledo Lodge, No.144, in 1848, and during the same year became a Royal Arch Mason in Ft. Meigs Chapter, and a Knight Templar in Toledo Commandery and served as its E. C. for twelve years, and was elected as Deputy Grand Commander of Ohio K. T. in 1863; and in 1867 when a third Lodge was established in Toledo, he was honored by the selection of his full name as its title, Sanford L. Collins Lodge, No.396. He died February 3, A. D. 1889, and was buried with full Templar honors.

Jonathan N. Burr, Past Deputy Grand Master of Ohio, (1857), who had also served as Junior Grand Warden and Senior Grand Warden (1845, 1846, 1847), and who died while on a visit at the home of his daughter in Terre Haute, Indiana, September 7, A. D. 1889, and was buried with full Masonic honors by the Grand Lodge at his old home, Mt. Vernon, Ohio, assisted by the members of a number of Masonic bodies. He was born in Fairfield County, Conn., November 15, A. D. 1800, moved to Ohio, 1818, and settled in Mt. Vernon in 1825; initiated in Mt. Zion Lodge, No.9, October 7, 1825; passed, October 19, made a M. M. November 4, and was for many years its Worshipful Master; was the first High Priest of Clinton Chapter, No.26, and served as Deputy Grand High Priest of the Grand Chapter; was the first Knight Templar created by Clinton Commandery, No.5, in 1843, and assisted in the organization of the Grand Commandery of Knights Templars of Ohio, at Lancaster on October 24, 1843, and was elected its first Grand Captain General, and served as Grand Generalissimo 1854 to 1857, and was Em. Com. of Clinton Commandery 1855 to 1873.

Alexander T. Darrah, Past Grand Master of Illinois, who died September 4, 1889.

William Cowgill, Past Grand Master of Kansas, whose death occurred June 19, 1889.

This distinguished Mason formerly resided in Cincinnati, Ohio, and held membership in Cincinnati Lodge, No.133, F. & A. M. and Cincinnati Chapter, No.2, R . A. M.; made a M. M. in 1865, and received the Chapter degrees in 1866.

John W. Simons, Past Grand Master of New York, who had earned an enviable reputation among the craft of the whole world as a Masonic author and authority on Masonic law and procedure.

Salathiel C. Coffinberry, Past Grand Master of Michigan, died at his home in Constantine, Mich., September 20, 1889, aged eighty years. He was born in Lancaster, Ohio, February 20, A. D. 1809; was elected Grand Master of the Grand Lodge of Michigan in 1866, and served in that station with diligence and fidelity during the succeeding years of 1867 and 1868; retired from office with the full confidence and affectionate love of the craft, and it is said of him "Truly a just and upright citizen and zealous Mason has gone from our midst."

On the evening of April 12, 1889, as Bro. Jacob H. Coleman, the faithful Tyler of Moriah Lodge, No.105, was preparing the Lodge room for the meeting to be held that evening, a terrible windstorm burst on Powhatan Point, carrying death and destruction in its pathway, and destroying the building, and so injuring Brother Coleman that he died in a short time after being rescued from the debris of the destroyed building.

JOHNSTON DESASTER

On the morning of June 1, our people were astounded by the statement that a terrible calamity had befallen the residents of the Conemaugh Valley, on the western slope of the Allegheny Mountains, a catastrophe most appalling in its magnitude, whereby towns, villages and hamlets were engulfed by a rolling tide, forty feet high, rushing down with lightning speed, and carrying death and destruction to everything in its pathway. The distressing details of the loss of life and property are familiar to every one.

Feeling that a calamity so disastrous in its results would require immediate aid or assistance for the relief of the living and care of the dead, I assumed the responsibility of directing the Grand Master of Pennsylvania to draw on me, as the Grand Master, for the sum of two hundred and fifty dollars ($250.00), for immediate use among the destitute sufferers.

Masons in their individual capacity as citizens, also many Lodges have contributed liberally in money, food, clothing, and other necessaries for those who survived the disaster. As citizens we can all take a pardonable pride in the prompt action taken by our worthy Governor in furnishing shelter and other needed help at that critical time.

Many of the contributions made by the Lodges were sent to the Grand Secretary, and will be found in his report.

I trust my action may meet the approval of this Grand Body.

Soon after the close of the Grand Lodge the Grand Master called the attention of the Grand Master of Tennessee to the vacancy caused by the death of Past Grand Master A. H. Newcomb, the Grand representative of that jurisdiction, and made suggestions as to a suitable appointment in the following language:

"If you desire to fill the vacancy, and have no one in view upon whom you may wish to confer the honor, permit me to suggest and recommend Bro. J. W. Iredell, Jr., of Cincinnati."

To my surprise I received in reply a communication requiring an assurance from me which, in effect would show that the Brother whom I had recommended was not in sympathy with the loyal element in our Grand Lodge.

Correspondence followed, which ended in my recalling the commission of our representative near the Grand Lodge of Tennessee; and have turned the correspondence over to the Committee on Foreign Correspondence to make a full report on the subject.

In compliance with the action of the Grand Lodge at its last session a circular letter containing the report of the Joint Committee on "Cerneau Masonry" and the "Lewis Resolution," was issued and sent to every Lodge under date of October 27, 1888, with the required instructions as to reading and certifying the same, and the reports received by the Grand Secretary indicate that the order of the Grand Lodge was duly observed.

At the last communication of the Grand Lodge, Hanselmann Lodge, No.208, and Paulding Lodge, No.502, were required to recall and rescind certain obnoxious circulars issued by said Lodges.

On November 12, 1888, Hanselmann Lodge met and placed on record and adopted a statement assuring the Grand Lodge it had no intention of wrong or rebellion in its action, and adopted the following resolutions:

"Resolved, That in obedience to the demand of the Grand Lodge our circular of February 27, 1888, be, and the same is hereby, recalled.

"Resolved, That the Secretary be directed to transmit, under the seal of this Lodge, a copy of these resolutions to the M.·. W.·. Grand Master, to the R.·. W.·. Grand Secretary, and to each of the Subordinate Lodges of Free and Accepted Masons of Ohio.

F.A. Pfaff, Wm. Bloomberg,
Secretary Worshipful Master"

Official notice has also been received from Paulding Lodge, No.502, that said Lodge has also complied with the requirements of the Grand Lodge.

Learning that certain members of Lodges at Bucyrus and Newark were holding clandestine meetings, on March 12, 1889, the Grand Master issued and sent to each Subordinate Lodge a circular letter calling attention to the action of the Grand Lodge in adopting the actions and decisions of the Grand Master and the Lewis resolution, and making it a Masonic offense punishable by expulsion to visit or affiliate with the so-called Cernean body, and warning the Craft against any recognition thereof, and calling attention to the fact that said clandestine body had issued a circular declaring that:

"The expulsion from a Lodge of Master Masons on account of membership in this Consistory or Any Bodies subordinate Thereto, shall not affect his standing as a member of any of the bodies of this Rite;" and advising the Lodges, in his circular, that "No significance should attach to this, or any other resolutions purporting to come from said Cerneau bodies, as the actions had by the Grand Lodges of Pennsylvania, Kentucky and Ohio, have declared them illegal, irregular and clandestine, and continuing with this edict.

"It is therefore ordered that hereafter Masters of Lodges under the jurisdiction of the Grand Lodge of Ohio, shall instruct all committees sent out to examine visitors to include in the test oath, the following:

"Furthermore, I do not hold membership in, or allegiance to, any Cerneau or other Body claiming to be Masonic, that has been declared clandestine by the Grand Lodge of Ohio;" and cautioning Masters of Lodges that no former members of Ahiman, Crawford and Bucyrus Lodges, whose charters have been arrested, are to be permitted to visit in any Lodge, unless they produce the certificate of the Grand Secretary, under seal, of their present good standing.

On October 27, 1888, issued a special proxy and letter of instruction to Bro. Lewis Stremmel, authorizing and directing him to take charge of the charters and effects of, and formerly belonging to Bucyrus Lodge, No.139, and Crawford Lodge, No.443, and he called on J. W. Christie, former Worshipful Master of Bucyrus Lodge and Geo. Didie, former Worshipful Master of Crawford Lodge and demanded the same, when both refused to deliver any of the effects, and the next day served my proxy with summons in injunction in the civil cases, which are still pending. Counsel was employed to press these cases on our behalf, but the plaintiffs have postponed a hearing from time to time, by amending their petitions, etc.

A circular letter was promptly issued and sent to all Subordinate Lodges acquainting them with these facts and interdicting all intercourse, visitation and recognition of or with these illegal Lodges, unless they procured from the Grand Secretary proper certificates of good standing.

Many of the Brethren who were desirous of acknowledging their allegiance and fealty to the Grand Lodge applied to the Grand Secretary and received the required certificates to permit them to affiliate with other regular Lodges, and two appeared before the Grand Master at Toledo and renounced allegiance and membership in the Cerneau bodies and received certificates.

Upon receiving official notice of the action of the Grand Lodge of Ohio, in arresting the charters of Bucyrus, Crawford and Ahiman Lodges, M.·. W.·. Bro. Jos. Eichbaum, Grand Master of Masons of Pennsylvania, on December 15, A. D. 1888, issued and sent to the Worshipful Master of each Subordinate Lodge in that Grand jurisdiction, a circular letter and edict informing the Lodges of the action of the Grand Lodge of Ohio, and interdicting all communication with, or recognition of, any of these Ohio Lodges or their members, or visitation by them, or with them, and directing his circular be read in their Lodges, and copied in full in their minutes, thus fully sustaining our Grand Lodge and Grand Master in their action in the premises.

It is gratifying to know that the action and position taken by the Grand Lodge of Ohio, relative to the organization calling itself "The Ancient Accepted Scottish Rite for the United States of America, their Territories and Dependencies," has been approved by similar action in the Grand Lodges of Pennsylvania, Kentucky, Colorado, Iowa, Dakota, Utah, Oregon and the District of Columbia. Several Grand Lodges have gone a step further and require all Master Masons in their jurisdictions who are members of the "Cerneau bodies" to renounce their allegiance to and membership in said interdicted body, within a stated time under penalty of having charges preferred against them.

Official notice has been received of the organization of the Grand Lodge of North Dakota, June 13, 1889, and this and the United Grand Lodge of New South Wales request official recognition.

Special proxies were issued to the following Brothers, to constitute the new Lodges chartered at the last session, and install their Officers:

October 27, 1888, R.·. W.·. Bro. W. F. Baldwin, Danville Lodge, No.546; October 29, M.·. W.·. S. S. Williams, Dunkirk Lodge, No.549; October 31, Bro. J.Davidson, Proctorville Lodge, No.550; November 6, R.·. W.·. C. M. Godfrey, Leipsic Lodge, No.548; November 10, W. Bro. J. H. McIntyre, Montpelier Lodge, No.547.

Special proxies were also issued to the following Brothers to dedicate and consecrate the Halls of the following Lodges:

January 3, 1889, M.·. W.·. Bro. S. S. Williams, Hall of Wyoming Lodge, No.186; January 15, R.·. W.·. Bro. Levi C. Goodale, Hall of Price Hill Lodge, No.524; April 4, R.·. W.·. Bro. W. F. Baldwin, Hall of Licking Lodge, No.291, at Utica; all of whom promptly performed the duties assigned to them.

The following Lodges were permitted to remove to and occupy new and more commodious Halls, upon satisfactory evidence as to their safety and suitability for Masonic purposes:

November 6, 1888, Price Hill Lodge, No.524; January 23, 1889, West Union Lodge, No.43; February 25, Gage and Gavel Lodge, No.448; Chandler Lodge, No.138; March 19, Cortland Lodge, No.529; March 20, Licking Lodge, No.291; August 23, Moriah Lodge, No.105, at Powhatan Point, to take the place of the room destroyed by cyclone, April 12, 1889.

Dispensations for joint occupancy of Halls were issued, as follows:

November 9, 1888, Valley Lodge, No.145, to meet in Hall of Corinthian Lodge, at McConnelsville until their Hall could be finished; January 8, 1889, Black Diamond Lodge, No.538, Wellston, to occupy Hall of Knights of Pythias until they could procure another Hall, their rooms having been destroyed by fire January 6; March 20, Hudson Lodge, No.510, to allow Knights of Pythias to jointly occupy their Hall during repairs of the K. of P. Hall, not exceeding six months; July 23, Center Star Lodge, No.11, to occupy K. of P. Hall until their own was repaired.

Applications for the removal of the following Lodges were granted, all requirements having been complied with:

Ithaca Lodge, No.295, from Ithaca to Arcanum; Pural Lodge, No.328, from North Bloomfield to Orwell; and recommend the same be made permanent in both cases.

Dispensations were issued for the following new Lodges:

November 19, 1888, Tubal Lodge, at Minerva, Stark County
January 15, 1889, Lorain Lodge, at Lorain, Lorain County
March 18, 1889, Acme Lodge, at Newark, Licking County, this application was signed by P. M. D. A. Allen and 17 other late members of Ahiman Lodge, 7 of Newark Lodge, No.97, and three other Masons, 28 in all.

April 24, 1889, Swanton Lodge, at Swanton, Fulton County
June 6, 1889, Trimble Lodge, at Trimble, Athens County

June 11, 1889, Trinity Lodge, at Bucyrus, Crawford County. This application was signed by Bro. Geo. C. Gormley and seventeen others. Before the Brethren could organize, the rebellious faction served an injunction on them from the civil court preventing them from forming a Lodge in Bucyrus, and I directed them to employ Bro. S. B. Harris to assist Brother Babst in protection of our rights.

July 5, 1889, Harbor Lodge, at Harbor, Ashtabula County.

Special dispensations were issued to 42 Lodges to elect and install Officers.

The Grand Master reports a large number of visitations to the Subordinate Lodges made by himself, other Grand Officers and the District Lecturers; at all of which they were uniformly received, welcomed and treated with the highest expressions of loyal and fraternal respect and confidence, and hearty assurances of the earnest and unwavering support of the Lodges and their members in maintaining the honor, dignity, supremacy and exclusive jurisdiction of the Grand Lodge over the entire state of Ohio.

On invitation a special communication of the Grand Lodge was opened at Sandusky, June 24, 1889, for the purpose of performing the ceremonies of laying the corner stone of the new Masonic Temple the fraternity are erecting in that beautiful city.

Four Commanderies and seven Lodges made up the escort to conduct the Grand Lodge to the designated place; the buildings from the Lodge room to the Temple were profusely decorated; and the streets lined with people. The corner stone was laid by M.·. W.·. Leander Burdick, Grand Master, assisted by the Grand Officers, according to the rules of our ancient craft, after which R .·. W.·. Barton Smith, Grand Orator, delivered an eloquent address, and the afternoon was spent in partaking of a delicious repast prepared by the ladies, and a trip across the bay to Cedar Point.

MASONIC HOME

The Grand Master calls attention to the appointment at the last session of a committee to confer with a similar committee from the Grand Chapter and Grand Commandery upon the subject of establishing a "Masonic Home" for those who need and are entitled to our protecting care, and that the Joint Committee met at Urbana to determine what course to recommend, and he trusts their conclusions will meet with the approval of the Grand Lodge, and says:

"The time has arrived when the Grand Lodge of Ohio should husband its resources, practice proper economy in its expenditures, and commence to provide a fund that shall prove a nucleus for the purpose of building a Masonic Home for those who may require our care and assistance. We should erect an institution that may be regarded as a permanent monument to exemplify the true principles of charity and brotherly love, and prove to the world that the thousands of Masons in Ohio can accomplish a work worthy of the cause in which we are engaged, and of the great state we represent.

"I trust, however, that the plan recommended by your committee, or adopted by this Grand Lodge, will not be presented to the Lodges throughout the state in the form of a per capita tax upon the membership.

"We should not do anything that would have a tendency to induce the Brethren to withdraw from the Lodge to escape what they might consider more of a burden than they are able to bear. Masons should be generous and charitable, and their generosity should be voluntary."

The Grand Master rendered and reported 88 decisions on various Masonic subjects, and attention is called to the eighth, in which he sustains the action of Urania Lodge, No.311, in refusing to install two members who had been elected to office, and who admitted they were members of the "Royal Masonic Rite;" the fourteenth, which decides that any member of the Order in Ohio, who visits a clandestine Lodge, is guilty of a Masonic offense which subjects the offender to charges, etc., under Rule 57 of the Code, and the thirty-fifth, which announces the same rule.

Reports taking up the charter and effects of Ahiman Lodge and forwarded all, except the jewels which were loaned to Acme Lodge, U. D., to the Grand Secretary.

A RETIRED VETERAN

"In the haste, incident to the closing of the last communication of the Grand Lodge, a resolution of thanks was adopted expressing the esteem for the retiring Grand Secretary. It has occurred to me that, in parting with an esteemed Brother who has been an official part of this Grand Lodge during the administration of so many Grand Masters, we would do honor to ourselves by making some other expression of our regard for one who has been associated with us for so many years.

"At the annual communication of the Grand Lodge, held in the town of Chillicothe in the year 1852, John Day Caldwell was elected to the office of, Grand Secretary of this Grand Body. At that time there were some two hundred and thirty chartered Lodges on the roll. This zealous Brother has been successively re-elected, and has continuously served this Grand Lodge as R.·. W.·. Grand Secretary for a period of thirty-six years.

"The name of John D. Caldwell can be found on the charters of three hundred and twenty Lodges subordinate to this Grand Body, his services have been signalized by freedom, fervency and zeal. The "Record" shows that hundreds of thousands of dollars have passed through the hands of this faithful Officer, and 'every penny accounted for.'

"In the spirit of appreciation of services rendered, not for the pecuniary consideration, is it not fit and proper that some testimonial should be given by this Grand Lodge as a mark of our esteem for one who was ever ready to discharge any duty required? I trust this suggestion will receive attention at the hands of a special committee."

On March 16, 1889, I refused the request of Bolivar Lodge, No.82, to permit said Lodge to grant the use and occupancy of the rooms occupied by said Lodge for the purpose of conferring degrees styled "Eastern Star."

The Grand Treasurer submitted his report showing a balance in his hands October 19, A. D. 1889, in general fund the sum of $16,784.46, and in the charity fund $428.50.

The Grand Secretary submitted his report stating that under the authority of the Grand Master he had rented an office in the Masonic Temple, and fitted it up with desks, tables, typewriter, safe, etc., without any expense to the Grand Lodge, and had rented another room convenient to the office, for the storage of books, papers and archives of the Grand Lodge, which was necessary as the books now on the shelves are not less than 23,892, in addition to the Lodge returns from 1808 to the present, all of which had lain for several years in the cellar of the former Grand Secretary, and required several months of labor by the Grand Secretary and two assistants to clean, tie up in wrappers, label, catalogue, and arrange on the shelves. Recommends appropriations for binding the Grand Lodge proceedings, the unbound Subordinate Lodge returns, etc., and reports he has inaugurated and adopted a cash book, journal and ledger on the double entry system.

Reports the receipt and forwarding to the Grand Secretary of Pennsylvania of the sum of $291.75 for relief of the Johnstown flood sufferers, and says:

"This represents only the amount which passed through my hands. The bodies throughout the state in most instances sent their remittances direct to the local committee in Pennsylvania. Thus in Cincinnati there was not less than $1,200.00 raised and forwarded. A fair estimate from various sources of information which have come to us would make it safe to say that not less than $7,000.00 to $8,000.00 was sent from this jurisdiction to relieve the suffering caused by this disaster; in addition the Grand Master drew on the Grand Treasurer for $250.00 out of the charity fund and forwarded it."

The Grand Lodge of Ohio and the Grand Lodge of Kentucky exchanged telegrams of congratulations and fraternal greetings.

The Committee on Foreign Correspondence submitted its special report of the severance of relations between this Grand Lodge and the Grand Lodge of Tennessee, covering ten pages, carefully reviewing and reporting all the correspondence between Grand Master L. Burdick and Grand Master H. T. Ingersoll of Tennessee, and censuring Grand Master Ingersoil for his unwarranted, officious and un-masonic conduct, and commending Grand Master Burdick for his dignified, gentlemanly and Masonic conduct and forbearance in this matter, and recommending the adoption of the following resolution, which was adopted unanimously.

"Resolved, That the action of M.·. W.·. Grand Master Leander Burdick, in his official correspondence with M.·. W.·. Bro. Henry H. Ingersoll, at that time Grand Master of the M.·. W.·. Grand Lodge of Free and Accepted Masons of the state of Tennessee, in maintaining the dignity and honor of this Grand Lodge and the official position held by him as Grand Master of Masons in Ohio, be and is hereby approved."

It will not be out of place to state here that an examination of the Foreign Correspondence report of this and the succeeding year shows that in every Grand jurisdiction in which this matter was noticed the dignified and Masonic bearing and conduct of Grand Master Burdick is commended and approved; and the un-masonic conduct of Grand Master Ingersoll censured and condemned. In the "Correspondence" of Maine, Past Grand Master Josiah H. Drummond, one of the best authorities in the world on Masonic Law and Jurisprudence, reviews this matter fully, covering three pages, and sustains Grand Master Burdick, and closes his article as follows:

"We have a high regard for the Masons of Tennessee and great confidence in them; and we appeal to them to review their action in this matter and determine if they have not been put in a position that can not be maintained."

On report of the same committee, the United Grand Lodge of New South Wales; the Grand Lodge of Free and Accepted Masons of North Dakota; and the United Grand Lodge of Victoria; were each unanimously recognized and welcomed as sister Grand jurisdiction, and an interchange of Grand representatives recommended.

The Committee on Subordinate Returns reported, recommending that the Grand Secretary be authorized to have the returns for 1858 to 1885 bound in leather and to procure suitable filing envelopes for the years previous to 1858; that he be authorized to prepare and issue to the Lodges a handbook containing a number of specified items for information and assistance of the Masters and Secretaries; and the committee highly commends the Grand Secretary upon the prompt, efficient, systematic, and admirable manner in which he has collected, arranged and catalogued the voluminous records of Masonry pertaining to the Grand Lodge through a great number of years involving a great amount of extra labor, for which he is entitled to the thanks of the Grand Lodge; which report and recommendations were approved and adopted.

The Committee on Masonic Jurisprudence reported approving the several decisions of the Grand Master, all that he has done in the matter of the rebellion at Bucyrus, and authorizes him to push the injunction suits to trial; also approving as decisions his action declining to restore the charter of Kilgore Lodge, declining to allow Bolivar Lodge, No.82, to permit the use of its room for the conferring of the degree called the Eastern Star, etc., all of which were approved by the Grand Lodge.

Charters were issued to the following Lodges, U. D.:
Tubal, No.551, at Minerva, Stark County
Lorain, No.552, at Lorain, Lorain County
Holgate, No.553, at Holgate, Henry County
Acme, No.554, at Newark, Licking County
Swanton, No.555, at Swanton, Fulton County
Trimble, No.557, at Trimble, Athens County
Harbor, No.558, at Harbor, Ashtabula County

Dispensations were granted for new Lodges at the following places:
Queen City, at Cincinnati, Hamilton County
Weston, at Weston,