xt7mcv4bpj01 https://exploreuk.uky.edu/dips/xt7mcv4bpj01/data/mets.xml Fitch, Elisha S. 1869 books b92-158-29919148 English Printed at the Office of the "Kentucky Freemason", : Frankfort, Ky. : Contact the Special Collections Research Center for information regarding rights and use of this collection. Freemasons Kentucky. Addresses delivered at the Grand annual communication of the Grand Lodge of Kentucky : held at the Masonic Temple in the city of Louisville, October 18th, A.D. 1869, A.L. 5869 / Elisha S. Fitch. text Addresses delivered at the Grand annual communication of the Grand Lodge of Kentucky : held at the Masonic Temple in the city of Louisville, October 18th, A.D. 1869, A.L. 5869 / Elisha S. Fitch. 1869 2002 true xt7mcv4bpj01 section xt7mcv4bpj01
ADDRESSES
DELIVERED AT THE
GRAND ANNUAL
COMMUNICATION
OF TEIR
GRAND LODGE OF KENTUCKY,
HELD AT THE MASONIC TEMPLE,
IN THE
CITY OF LOUISVILLE,
OCTOBER 18Tu, A. D. 1869, A. L. 5869.
FRANKFORT, KY.
PRINTED AT THE OFFICE OF THE "KENTUCKY FREEM ASON.-
1869.
IN GRAND LODGE,
October 21, 1869.
Resolved, That the Grand Secretary be directed to publish for distribution
one thousand copies, in pamphlet form, of the address of Grand Master, E.
S. Fitch, delivered at the opening of this Grand Lodge; his address at the
laying of the corner-stone of the Masonic Widows' and Orphans' Hoine; the
address of Grand Master Charles Eginton, delivered upon his installa-
tion into office; and the address of Past Grand Master Fitch in answer to
a vote of thanks by this Grand Lodge, for the able manner in which he
had discharged the duties of Grand Master for the past two years.
ADDRESS
OF
GRAND MASTER ELISHA S. FITCH,
AT THE OPENING OF THE GRAND LODGE,
On the 18th day of October, A. D. 1869, A. L. 5869.
Brethren of the Grand Lodge of the State of Kentucky:
Another Masonic year has passed away-a year of general harmony
throughout our entire Brotherhood, and of continued prosperity within our
own immediate jurisdiction. In consideration, therefore, of our increased
obligations to the Great Dispenser of All Good; and in view of this large
concourse of Free and Accepted Masons, permitted again to assemble in his
name; we humbly trust that the incense of grateful hearts has already
risen, in sweet accord, with the fervent and impressive invocation just ad-
dressed to the mercy seat in our behalf. While traveling through this vale
of tears, so thickly interspersed with the sepulchers of the departed, it is
certainly "but our reasonable service" to acknowledge with becoming rev-
erence the watchful supervision of that "All-Seeing Eye," which, in its
infinite ken, embraces alike the vast and the minute, which controls the
careering march of numberless worlds, and yet contemplates with compla-
cency, the toiling architects of the ant-hill-which directs the triumphal
processions of the starry hosts, and yet looks, with pitying love, upon a
"sparrow's fall ;" and which, therefore, while it has furnished, with its own
blissful glance, the halo of glory, in which cherubim and seraphim delightto
dwell, has, nevertheless, been ever kindly bent, even upon our own low estate,
and is still beaming benignantly upon the humble pathway which, as worms of
of the dust, we are destined to tread. While suitably impressed with a sense
of our dependence upon this infinitely powerful yet all gracious Benefactor,
and inspired with a lively sense of gratitude, resulting from this dependence,
and His unwearied goodness in all the past, let us also remember, that we
ADDRESS OF GRAND MASTER
are still only imperfect craftsmen working under His inspection as our
Supreme Grand Master; and should therefore labor assiduously upon those
infallible designs, drawn upon His trestle-board, as revealed by our Great
Light, and trust implicitly to the guidance of His unerring wisdom in all
time to cotne. We will thus become in the highest sense first prepared in
our hearts, as Masons are taught to be, for the solemn engagements and
responsible duties which lie before us.
Believing you to be thus prepared, brethren, permit me in the honored
name of Masonry to greet you with a hearty fraternal welcome on your
annual return to this Graud Hall. As the scattered members of one com-
mon household feel a rapturous delight in revisiting together the old paren-
tal home1 thus living over again the springtime of life in awakened reminis-
cences, so, as Craftsmen who for a season h ave been widely dispersed, it is
natural that we should feel jubilant and joyous in thus reassembling in our
old Masonic homestead, to revive the interesting associations of other days,
and to perpetuate those friendships which have been developed and purified
under the benign influences of our Royal Art. On such occasions a livelier
sense of fraternal obligation and attachment seems to pervade our mystic
band-a host of associated memories and treasured sympathies throng and
thrill the Masonic heart, and conspire to signalize and to hallow the time
and place of our reunion. In the vicissitudes of every-day life it is often
the case on returning to the old familv mansion front which we have wani-
dered,
"Pursuing fortunes slippery ba,"
that the heart is saddened by the melancholy changes which time has
wrought, the scenes of dilapidation and decay which meet the eye on every
hand. In the descriptive language of Irving, whilecontemrplating the deserted
home of Roscoe, it is often "like visiting Eome classic fountain which once
welled its pure waters in a sacred shade, but finding it dry and dusty, with
the lizard and the toad brooding over the shattered marble."
On our return, however, to the old Masonic Temple to-day, our hearts
may well be filled with joy and rejoicing, for there are no such sad sur-
roundings to check our happy greetings; no such scenes of desolation to
deplore or to mar our fraternal congratulations. Changes, it is true, have
occurred in this old Masonic home, but they are such as we contemplate
with exulting pride. They are changes that have been wrought by the
cunning hands of enterprise and art and not by the corroding tooth of time
or the defacing finger of decay.
During our absence the skill of operative Masonry has been invoked, as
you perceive, to improve and embellish this sacred retreat, and the architect
and artist seem to have vied with each other in rendering it more beautiful
and attractive than ever before.
4
ELISHA S. FITCH.
May we not indulge the hope that all inspection of our speculative
Masonry during the same period may indicate a corresponding improvement,
and that as the designs of the operative Craftsmen have added strength and
symmetry to this material structure, so the designs of our noble Art will be
found to have contributed to the securitv and harmony of that mystic temple
devoted to the cause of brotherly love, relief and truth.
INSPECTION OF TnE WORK.
Tuhe supervision of this work of speculative Masonry, as it rnay come up
in the official returns of the Subordinate Lodges embraced in this jurisdic-
tion, will constitute an important part of your duty. The Grand Master, not
being invested with the divine attribute of ubiquiity, as it would sometimes
seem that the Craft imagine him to be, is generally cognizant only of such
defective work- or gcross irregularity as in the estimation of those immedi-
ately interested may call lor his oflicial advice or interposition. To your
inspection, however, through appropriate comtnittees, the entire work of
the year must be submitted, and, as skillful and vigilant overseers, it is your
province to examine critically the respective trestle-boards of each W. M.,
and to decide impartially upon the designs which be has planned or per-
initted the Craft. under hiim to execute. To accomplish any practical good
in this direction toward the establishment of the desired uniformity, it is
all-important that this work of revision should be thorough and discrimi-
nating, and that every presiding officer or Subordinate Lodge found to be
delinquent should be duly admonishei or justly reprehended for any depar-
ture fromn the established laws and usages of the institution.
DISPENSATIONS.
In pursuance of the policy indicated in my last report, 1 have not thought
proper to add to your labors in this respect by granting Dispensations for
the formation of new Lodoes during the past year. It will be remembered,
however, that previous to our last grand commuication a Dispensation was
granted to Mlilford Lodge, at Mtilford, Bracken county, but in consequence
of some irregularity, (of which the G. M. was not at the time advised,) this
Dispensation was subsequently revoked, but without prejudice to the appli
cants. Tbe brethren at Milford having since renewed their applicatioon
unvitiated by any informality, a second Diwpensation was issued to said
Lodge on the 18th of January last. This is the only new Lodge for which
any Dispensation has been granted since our last communication.
In consequence of disastrous conflagrations which have visited certain
localities anrd consumed Lodae Charters in their ravages, it has become my
duty to grant the following special Dispensations, empowering the Lodges
thus interrupted in their work to resume their labors, viz:
To Ion Lodge, No. 301, at Potts' Mill, Jessamine co., Feb. 1;
To Bigham Lodge, No. 256, at Marion. C'rittenden co., March 20;
5
ADDRESS OF GRAND MASTER
To Mt. Vernon Lodge, No. 14, at Georgetown, Scott co., June 14;
To Morrison Lodge, No. 76, at Elizabethtown, Hardin co., Aug. 28.
I have also granted like Dispensations to the following Lodges, whose
charters have been lost:
To Columbus Lodge, No. 173, at Columbus, Hickman co., April 3;
To Monticello Lodge, No. 431, at Monticello, Wayne co., Sept. 15;
These dispensations having now expired by constitutional limitation, it
will devolve upon you to renew them, or supply charters in their stead, as
in your judgment may seem expedient. In regard to all those lodges, which
have been unfortunately despoiled of their charters, I would recommend the
donation of duplicates by this Grand Lodge, upon payment of the Grand
Secretary's fees.
Quite a large nuimber of petitions for new Lodges have been received and
dulv considered, and in withholding all further dispensations I fear I may
leave unfortunately subjected myself to the censoriousijudgment of many good
brethren throughout the State, whom I personally esteem and honor, and
would delight to serve in any matter involving simply a personal responsi-
bility. But while I sincerely regret their disappointment, and would not
willingly perpetuate any of the grievances, real or imaginary, of which they
complain, I nevertheless feel sustained in the negative policy I have pursued
by the highest interests, as I conceive, of the fraternity in this jurisdic-
tion.
By way ot self-vindication, permit me to say that in many instances the
petitioners themselves have unwittingly defeated their own purpose by put-
tiDg the case too strongly, or proving too much; for, in addition to the usual
loran of appeal, it would often be represented to the Grand Master, by way
of special inducement, that many members of an adjoining Lodge would
procure dimits and affiliate with the proposed new Lodge, as soon as organ-
ized; and yet, upon an examination of the annual returns, it would turn
out in evidence (as lawyers say) that the aforesaid adjoining Lodge was it-
self too feeble to undergo any depletion, and yet remain self-sustaining. In
all such cases, therefore, the establishment of the new Lodge would perhaps
involve the suspension or embarrass the work of an old one, and the result
would be, that while adding to the number of our Lodges, and thereby in
curring the expense of separate organizations, there would be but little, if
any, addition to our aggregate membership, and no commensurate increase
whatever of the general prosperity.
In other cases it was very apparent that the applications for new Lodges
were prompted by General Regulation No. 15. According to the represen-
tations of the parties, a large majority of them had been for many years
the victims of something like chronic coma-a sort of Rip Van Winkle
sleep-on the subject of Masonry, until their working tools had become
6
ELISHA S. FITCH.
even more rusty and useless than was the fowling-piece or the old Dutch
hunter among the highlands of the Hudson after lying by his side during
his twenty-years' nap in the humid atmosphere of "Sleepy Hollow." But,
having been suddenly aroused by this general regulation, and galvanized
into something like Masonic activity again, they are all at once very forci-
bly reminded of their isolated condition, and evince a new-born desire to
enjoy the sweet fellowship of the fraternity ! But alas! they are not "con-
venient" to any regular Lodge. The nearest is "at least five or six miles
distant," and, to meet with their brethren and thus enjoy the privileges of
the institution they have always so much loved and venerated, thev are
compelled to perform this wearisome journey of five or six miles, and that,
too, often over nothing better than a plank road or a macadamized turnpike;
and, therefore, having become somewhat rheumatic, we suppose (as old Rip
did,) during their lone stay in the profane world, and not being ab!e to be-
take themselves to the "iron horse" and speed away in a twinkling to some
commodious Lodge.room, the Grand Master must forsooth establish anoth-
er Lodge within sound of their own dinner horn, or possibly "the cause of
Masonry will suffer any irreparable loss!" I need not say that under these cir-
cumstances I have not felt disposed, as your official representative, to offer
any such premium to Masonic inertia, and more especially to elevate those
who had bees so long the demitted drones of an old hive, into the dignity
and authority of king bees in a new one. Itoccurred to me, in view of
your recent legislation (whether expedient or not) in regard to this class of
Masons, that it will be neither just nor consistent to reward with special fa-
vor their palpable and persistent dereliction of duty.
I presume that many, if not all of these applications, will be renewed dut-
ing the present session for your decision, and while I certainly have no dis-
position to forestall your action in regard to any of them, but cheerfully
and confidently commit the responsibility into your hands, I would never-
theless respectfully urge the necessity of more than usual caution and dis-
crinmination in multiplying Lodges in this jurisdiction.
While we are annually complaining, and very justly too, that our subor-
linate Lodges are doing too much work and receiving too indiscriminately
those who are knocking at their doors, may it not be possible that, as a
Grand Lodge, we are acting inconsistently and quite as indiscreetly in grant-
ing by wholesale, as has been too much our habit, the multitudinous peti-
tions which from year to year are found crowding our Grand Secretary's ta-
ble While I believe, and am willing to concede, that there are some por-
tions of the State which may not be sufficiently supplied with Lodge facili-
ties, and which may even, perhaps, be embraced by some of the petitions
referred to the Grand Master, yet I am quite as well satisfied that we are
forming Lodges far too rapidly and promiscuously for the general good of
Masonry in this Commonwealth.
ADDRESS OF GRAND MASTER
I had scarcely reached home from attendance on our last Grand Commu-
nication, before I received an importunate request from one of the oldest.
and best conducted Lodges in this jurisdiction, to interpose my official au-
thority and prevent the organization of a Lodge which had just received a
dispensation at your hands, alleging as important reasons that its proposed
officers were wholly incompetent, that as the recommending Lodge they
had been taken by surprise, and that there was clearly no necessity or suit-
able material for another Lodge in that locality. This was a Lodge to.
which I had previously refused a Dispensation; but the Grand Lodge having
overruled my decision, I of course did not feel at liberty to assume the res-
ponsibility sought to be imposed by this request, or to permit this old
Lodge "to take advantage of its own wrong" in defeating the organization
in pursuance of your dispeinsation. The work of this Lodge, U. D., will
necessarily undergo your inspection, and I trust will prove better than an.
ticipated-such work as we are authorized to receive. I have alluded to
this instance only by way of abundant caution and to suggest the reflection
that if the Grand Lodge is thus liable to e.r, with all the representatives of
surrounding Lodges present to ftirnish the needed light, much more so is
the Grand Master, whose decision is of necessity almost solely influenced
by an exparte representation of the case.
Such cases also suggest very forcibly the propriety of the recommenda-
tion on this subject, made in.my last report (which is now a pending amend-
ment of the constitution,) that it be required as an indispensable prelimi-
nary to the granting of any dispensation, that the proposed Master and
Wardens shall undergo a satisfactory examination in open Lodge, and that
this fact shall be duly attested by the nearest Lodge granting certificate of
recommendation. The official experience of another year has only more
fully demonstrated the expediency of some such provision, that will practi-
cally test the capacity of Lodges U. D., for the work we authorized them
to do.
IMPROPER DEPLETION OF GRAND TREASURY.
The pernicious consequences of an indiscriminate exercise of the Lodge-
making power, are not limited to the respective communities in which they
are established; but they are also very sensibly and disastrously felt in
their depleting influence upon our Grand Treasury.
There is a constantly recurring and increasing drain upon your resources
to continue in being many of the Lodges you have organized. Some of
these Lodges have been in existence for many years, but having only a
small membership, and located in a remote part of the State, they annually
receive more through their representatives, from the general fund, than they
contribute. If you will examine our last year's returns, you will find that
this was the case with a large number of our subordinates, and that in
8
ELISHA S. FITcnH.
some instances more than Jouble the amount was received by the represen-
tative than was paid in by his Lodge. It will become apparent to every
brother. who will take the pains to examine our Grand Lodge returns for
the last few years, that this annually increasing systematic depletion is be-
coming more and more oppressive, and calls loudly for some measure of
relief.
After a patient investigation of this delicate subject in all its various
bearings, I would respectfully suggest, as an amendment to the Constitu-
tion, that when any subordinate Lodge in this jurisdiction has had an ex-
istence of flve or more years, her representative shall not be allowed to draw
a larger amount, in mileage and per diem, than is actually paid into the
Grand Treasury by the Lodge he represents, as her dues to this Grand
Lodge.
The policy thus indicated would seem to be only just to tile (Grand Lodge,
while it would also be generous toward her subordinates. Its object is not
to create any distinction between Lodges in the estimution of this Grand
Body, or to establish any favoritism whatever. It only requires all her
subordinates to defray the expenses of their respective representatives, less
the amount of their annual dues to the Grand Lodze, unless said dues
should be in excess of said expenses, in which event the excess would be
payable to the Grand Lodge. Justice to this Grand Lodge, as well as to
Ler self-sustaining subordinates, demands some corrective of the evil conm-
plained of, and surely, if we desire to appropriate the 'jewel of consisten-
cy," we should take some step in this direction. For many years past this
Body has been legislating to rid the Lodges in her jurisdiction of the incu-
bus of individual drones so thickly scattered throughout our Masonic com-
munity ; and yet, during all this tinme, she has herself borne patiently with
whole hives of drones, which have annually been taking away from her
treasury more than they have contributed, and, while "having a name to
live," have been, for all practical and equitable co-operation, Masonically
"dead." Such a policy, we think, cannot be sustained either by justice or
expediency.
It is mv deliberate judgment that if, after a probation of five years, a Ma-
sonic Lodge is unable to stand alone and work successfully in this jurisdic-
tion, it might as well surrender its charter at once; but if not disposed to do
this, it ought at least, after that period, cease to be a charge upon the Grand
Treasury, and be willing, if necessary, to dispense with a representative,
rather than withdraw from the conmmon fund for his attendance, inore than
it has been taxed to contribute in common with her sister Lodgles.
It is bv no means the purpose of the proposed amendment to deprive the
feeblest Lodge of its right of representation in this GTrand Body-certainly
not. That right should be indefeasible, and preserved intact. I would be
quite as much opposed to the principle ot "taxation without representa-
9
ADDRESS OF GRAND MASTER
tion" in the Masonic government as in any other form of government.
But the practical question before us is, not whether any Lodge subject to
Grand lodge taxation shall be represented upon this floor, but whether such
Lodge shall be represented at the expense of the Grand Lodge, after every
dollar of her assessed taxes has been generously refunded to her by the
Grand Lodge. I think not. "Fiat juslitia ruat cerium."
IlCREASE Of FEES AND DUES OF SUBORDINATE LODGES.
In connection with this subject, and with this trite motto before us, let us
make a clean breast of the whole matter, and, if possible, thorough work
of the reform in band. It is a fact worthy of special consideration, that in
all our smaller towns and throughout the rural districts of the State our
subordinate Lodges have very generally adopted the minimum price of de-
grees, which this Grand Lodge has established by constitutional provision,
and hence we find, as a prevailing custom, that the degrees of Symnbolic
Masonry cost the candidate only twenty dollars, while the annual dues of
the mnembers are only about two dollars ! It will be seen at once that such
financial arrangenfent is well calculated to impoverish any Lodge, and that
unless her membership is unusually large, and the calls of charity unusu-
ally "few and far between," her treasury would be generally bankrupt.
Such figures are greatly out of joint with the present times, however well
they may have suited the exigencies of the case when adopted by the Grand
Lodge. It is very certain that, with such inadequate fees and dues, many
of our Lodges need scarcely hope ever to be represented in this Grand Body
without the aid of the Grand Treasury. If, then, you would secure an
equal Tepresentation to them all, and at the same time relieve your treasury
of the annual tax now imposed for this purpose, you must advance the min-
imum price of degrees, or, which in my judgment would be more desirable,
abolish the minimum altogether, and establish a higher price for the de-
grees, and a higher rate of dues, and make them uniform throughout the
entire jurisdiction, and require all the subordinate Lodges to amend their
by-laws in harmony with such a regulation. This, brethren, I consider an
important change, and one which is imperiously demanded by the present
condition of the Craft in KentuckN.
IMPOLICY OF CHZAIENIXG MIASONRY.
It is a lamentable fact that a too rapid multiplication of Lodges has tended
only to cheapen Masonry, and this cheapening policy, in its turn, has tend-
ed only to lessen its dignity, to depreciate its comparative value and import-
ance in the estimation of the world, and to render the privileges of the Fra-
ternity a, matter of too easy attainment, and therefore, instead of the door
of our Mystic Temple being closly tyled to all save the worthy and well
qualified, it is virtually thrown wide open, and thus invites an indiscriminate
10
ELISHA S. FITCH.
rush from the inquisitive populace without. This is indeed a sad and most
deplorable perversion of the original design of the Institution, and one
which, as a Grand Lodge, we should not for a moment tolerate, much less
in any way sustain or sanctions In view of the unprecedented popularity
of the Fraternity, it behooves us to be more vigilant and guarded than ever
before.
Otherwise, brethren, the pure and beautiful stream of Masonic philanthro
py which for ages past has glided on in quiet majesty within its own ap-
pointed channel, bearing on its bosom the richest argosies of "Good men
and true," to gladden and bless the wasted and destitute portions of our
moral domain, may become, even in its fancied floodtide of prosperity a
wild and unmanageable torrent of popular passion and prejudice overflow-
ing its ancient embankments, only to gather up in its destructive course the
drift wood of our common humanity, and float upon its turbid waters the
worthless wrecks of a former glory and splendor. Such a catastrophe is not
more revolting than the danger is impending, and it becomes all our Lodges,
throughout the land, both Grand and Subordinate, to attend well to this
vociferous alarm at the outer door; to do all in their power to stay anai
direct the heady current of popular impulse which has already set in and
threatens to bear us away Irom our ancient moorings, and set us adrift without
compass or plummet, upon the shoreless sea of expediency. It is the man-
ifest tendency of the times to popularize everything, both in Church and
State, and the same dangerous leaven is at work in our Masonic Lodges.
Hence it is that we find such importunate and persistent appeals for new
Lodges, not only in our cities and larger towns, but also in every village and
hamlet, and at almost every cross roads and wagon stand in the State.
These Lodges, if established, must secure a membership, and to accom-
plish this the more readily, the fees and dues must be reduced to the lowest
possible rates, and if this vending of Masonry, in "cheap cash store," style
"at greatly reduced prices with a view to replenish stock," does not accom-
plish the desired purpose, the next step by way of "extraordinary induce-
ment" is to lower practically the standard of the qualifications of candi-
dates, until in some instances these proselyting missionaries would seem to
be almost ready to "go into the highways and hedges and compel them to
come in." So true is this, indeed to our shanme be it said-that already in
some portions of our jurisdiction there is scarcely any man in the commu-
nity who may not with perfect impunity petition a Masonic Lodge for ad-
mission. Our high standard of qualification is practically lowered, not only
by receiving into the Lodge those who are not worthy, but also, and per-
haps more frequently, by retaining in our fellowship those who have be..
come unworthy, who habitually and for years set at defiance the preceptive
teachings of the institution, and have even become offensive to the moral
sense of the general community in which they live.
11
ADDRESS OF GRAND MASTER
"Can such things be,
And o'ercome us like a summer's cloud,
Without our special wonder !'
We may rest assured that such demoralization or our Lodges will do infi-
nitely more to prejudice and degrade the institution, in the estimation of all
thinking and sensible men, than all the fanatical conventions of political
clergymen which have met or may ever assemble for the purpose of Masonic
misrepresentation and abuse. This demoralization is indeed only the fruit-
ful cause and occasion of such conventions, and without it they would have
no stock in trade.
1 for one shall rejoice that the battering rams of bigotry have renewed
their assaults npon the institution, it it will only prompt us to fortify, as we
should, this only vulnerable angle of our venerable temple.
This will perhaps be considered a departure from the prescriptive "metes
and bounds" of an annual report, but brethren I have no apology to offer
for it. It is a digression necessarily made to notice a Par more fatal digres-
sion from the ancient landmarks of Masonry, and if I could only infuse into
the minds of the representatives present and, through them, into their re-
spective Lodges, the serious apprehensions which I myself entertain of the
evil complained of, and could stimulate them to a speedy and thorough
reform in this matter, I would most cheerfully subject my feeble report to
any amount of criticism, deserved or undeserved, which might be indulged
in by the scholar or the cynic. For I would then feel assured that I had
accomplished more in this one instance for the interests of the Fraternity in
this jurisdiction than in all the other service which I inav have rendered
during the whole of my officiasl term.
GRAND TREASURER'S REPORT.
The report of the Grand Treasurer for the past year presents a satisfactory
statement of our financial condition. According to this report, our total
resources amount to 84,347 14, instead of 78,006 92, reported for the year
1868, showing an increase in our favor of 6,340 22, after purchasing nine
more of the first mortgage bonds of Masonic Temple company, and leaving
only eight more of the aforesaid bonds now outstanding. The report of
the Grand Treasurer is well condensed, and yet sufficiently comprehensive,
and although necessarily a matter of figures, it is desirable that all the rep-
resentatives should make a careful examination of its contents, and especi-
ally with reference to the subjects already referred to as affecting the re-
sources of the Grand Lodge.
The Board of Directors of the Masonic Temple Company have distrib-
uted their report, and ask ifs reference to the Finance Committee, that the
condition of the Company, the necessity for the repairs which they have
made, and its general financial management may receive the supervision of
12
ELISHA S. FITCH.
this Grand Lodge. Having but a few moments since received a copy of
said report, my examination has necessarily been too hurried and imperfect
to justify any comments, and I therefore leave it in the hands of the proper
committee of the Grand Lodge to suggest such action in regard to the inter-
ests of this Grand Body in said Company as they may deem expedient.
MASONIC WIDOWS' AND ORPHANS' HOME AND INFIRMARY.
1 am happy to announce that the "Masonic Widows' and Orphans' Home
and Infirnmarv," which for some time has had "a name" only, now rejoices in
the prospect also of "a local habitation." The policv of the Board of Trus-
tees of this institution has been, as you are aware, to solicit donations and
subscriptions for the laudable enterprise, but to take no steps toward the
purchase of any site or property, or to make any permanent investment of
the funds thus realized, until the whole amount necessary to complete the
buildings and endow the charity, had been secured and rendered available.
This policy seemed to be sanctioned by considerations of prudence, and was
pursued with a view to secure confidence in its general management and fi-
nial success. After an honest experiment ot this policy had been made how-
ever, it was found that such abundant caution, on the part of its founders,
operated rather as an hindrance than an help, to the enterprise, and that,
instead of inspiring confidence, it was calculated to beget distrust, and was
often used as an argument against the whole project, defeating further sub-
scriptions, and often becoming a pretext for withholding the payment of
sums already promised. It wvas then determined by the Board of Trustees
-embracing some of the most prudent and sagacious business men of the
State-that this stumbling block should be removed-that t