This schedule shows the number of initiates in the subordinate bodies of each State in the jurisdiction, and indicates that while the aggregates vary but slightly from those of the preceding year, there has been a considerable increase in some States, which is substantially counterbalanced by the decrease in others. The statement will be found useful for comparison, and interesting as evidence of the continued prosperity and steady progress of the Rite in the jurisdiction under your charge. REPORT OF DEPUTIES. Reports have been received from the Deputies for all the States in the jurisdiction, and all these reports reached me before leaving my home for our meeting. These reports indicate that Councils of Deliberation have been held in the States of Maine, Vermont, Massachusetts, New York, Michigan, Illinois and Wisconsin. Printed proceedings of Councils of Deliberations have been received from those held only in the States of Massachusetts, New York, Illinois and Michigan. In their reports the Deputies all speak of the satisfactory condition of the Rite in their respective fields. Apparently no discord exists among the workman anywhere. These reports present but few subjects for the consideration of the Supreme Council. The Illustrious Deputy from Michigan presents the proceedings leading up to the action of the Council of Deliberation relating to the consolidation of the two Lodges of Perfection heretofore existing in the city of Detroit into one, to be known as Detroit-Carson Grand Lodge of Perfection. These proceedings are found at length on pages 18 to 23, inclusive, of the printed proceedings of the Council of Deliberation, and resulted in the adoption of a resolution, of which the following is a copy, to wit: "Resolved, by this Council of Deliberation that the Illustrious Deputy of this jurisdiction be, and he is hereby, requested to present the action of said Lodges to the Supreme Council of the Northern Masonic Jurisdiction of the United States of America, and request that Detroit and Carson Grand Lodges of Perfection be permitted to surrender up the charters now held by them respectively, and that a charter be issued by said Supreme Council to a Grand Lodge of Perfection in the Valley of Detroit, to be known as Detroit-Carson Grand Lodge of Perfection; said charter bearing date May 26, 1861, and that all members of both Detroit and Carson Lodges of Perfection, in good standing when said charter is granted, shall, by virtue of said membership, be members of said Detroit-Carson Lodge." The Illustrious Deputy for Michigan refers in his report to a case of attempted discipline, which is designated as the "McCord Appeal," and says: "In this McCord case, the Council of Deliberation failed to take definite action, and as the question is one of jurisdiction involving a construction of the Constitution of the Supreme Council, an appeal was entered and the Grand Secretary instructed to forward to you all the documents and papers in the case, to the end that the case will be fully disposed of and our Constitution vindicated." The papers connected with this case and to which the Deputy refers have been received and are herewith presented. A statement of this case and its history is not deemed necessary, as it is fully set forth in the proceedings of the Council of Deliberation and in the papers sent up with the appeal. The Illustrious Deputy for Michigan also calls attention to a preamble and resolutions adopted by the Council of Deliberation, following its action upon the McCord case, requesting action of this Supreme Council upon the subject to which it relates. The preamble and resolutions will be found upon page 28 of the printed proceedings of the Council, and are as follows: "Whereas, the regulations of the Rite regarding the evidence (residence?) does not require any definite term of residence in the district when application is filed, it seems in the best interests of the Rite that some time should be fixed. Therefore, "Resolved, That it is the sense of this Council of Deliberation that the postulant should reside at least six months in the jurisdiction of the Lodge of Perfection to which he applies; and, further, "Resolved, That the Illustrious Deputy be requested to present the Supreme Council a rule of action in compliance with the foregoing preamble and resolutions, if in his judgment such course shall be wise and desirable." Ill.. Bro.. NEWTON D. ARNOLD, the Deputy for Rhode Island, in his report, refers to the fact that the Fraternity of Providence, including the Ancient Accepted Scottish Rite, have met with a severe and irreparable loss, by the destruction of Free Mason Hall, by fire, March 19, 1896, the loss being practically total. He states that the charter of Solomon's Grand Lodge of Perfection is known to have been destroyed by the fire; that the charter of Rhode Island Council of the Princes of Jerusalem has not been found, and it is supposed that that was also destroyed; and that the charter of Rhode Island Consistory has been lost for many years, and he recommends that the Supreme Council supply to each of these bodies a duplicate or new charter in place of the one lost and without charge therefor. DISPENSATIONS. On the 12th of November, 1895, a dispensation was issued, upon the petition of a constitutional number of brethren, for opening and holding a Lodge of Perfection at Canton, in the State of Ohio, to be known as Canton Lodge of Perfection, with first officers as follows: HENRY A. WISE, 323⁄4, T. ́. P.. Grand Master. HENRY A. KENNEDY, 32°, H.. of T.. Deputy Grand Master. ANTHONY HOUSEL, 32°, Ven.'. Sen.'. Grand Warden. TOM WEBER, 32, Ven.. Jun.. Grand Warden. This Lodge of Perfection commenced its labors with the assistance of Ill.'. Bro.. DAVID N. KINSMAN, who has been appointed for that purpose by the Illustrious Deputy for Ohio, and I am informed will report at this session. March 12, 1896, a dispensation was issued to a competent number of brethren to open and hold a Chapter of Rose Croix at Augusta, Me., to be known as Emeth Chapter of Rose Croix. First officers as follows: CHARLES K. TILDEN, 32', M... W... and Perfect Master. The Illustrious Deputy for Maine reports that the Council of Deliberation, held in that State on the 6th of May last, approved of this dispensation, and voted its recommendation to the Supreme Council that a regular charter be issued to said Chapter. July 17, 1896, a dispensation was issued upon the petition of a competent number of brethren for opening and holding a Lodge of Perfection at Coudersport, Pa., to be known as Coudersport Lodge of Perfection, with first officers as follows: WARREN B. BRIGHTMAN, 32, T.-. P... Grand Master. WALTON K. SWETLAND, 32°, H.. of T. ́. Deputy Grand Master. MILTON J. POTTER, 32°, Ven.'. Jun.'. Grand Warden. The constitutional fee accompanied each of these petitions, and was transmitted with the petitions to the Grand Secretary-General. The Deputy for Pennsylvania, Ill.'. Bro.'. ANTHONY E. STOCKER, reported to me by official letter, bearing date July 22, 1896, that he had appointed Ill.. Bro.. JAMES ISAAC BUCHANAN, 33, of Pittsburgh, to take official charge of the bodies of the Rite at Pittsburgh and Erie, and also at Coudersport, in case the dispensation asked for should be granted; and Ill.. Bro.'. JAMES H. CODDING, 33°, of Towanda, to take like charge of the bodies of the Rite at Bloomsburg, Scranton and Towanda ; and Ill. ́. Bro.. FRANK M. HIGHLY, 33°, of Philadelphia, to take like charge of the several bodies of the Rite located at Philadelphia, Harrisburg and Lancaster, stating that his failing health caused him to take this step in the interests of the Rite. This action was taken under the authority conferred upon Deputies by Section 7 of Article 36 of the Constitution, and was reported to the Grand Commander, together with a copy of the commission issued to the Illustrious Brothers named, as required by the constitutional provision relating thereto. The report of ILL.. BRO.". STOCKER, with a copy of the commission issued by him to the brethren so appointed, is herewith presented. On the 20th day of August last I appointed Ill.. Bro.. NEWTON D. ARNOLD, 33, of Providence, R. I., as Deputy of the Supreme Council for the State of Rhode Island, to fill the vacancy then existing in that office, the appointment to continue until the present meeting, and until a successor shall be chosen by the Supreme Council. VISITATIONS. Immediately after the close of the last session of the Supreme Council at Buffalo, partly induced by the earnest solicitations of some of our warmhearted brethren from New Hampshire, and partly by other considerations of a personal character, I visited and spent some ten days in the “Old Granite State." While there a meeting of St. George Chapter of Roise Croix, at Nashua, was held, and I enjoyed the high privilege of attending and meeting there the two Active Members of the Supreme Council, ILLUSTRIOUS BROTHERS CURRIER and BUNTON, and nearly every Grand Inspector-General in the State of New Hampshire, and a large gathering of the brethren of the thirty-second grade. The 18° was conferred in a manner which challenged criticism. Such a gathering of Scottish Rite Masons as that assembled at the meeting of St. George Chapter of Rose Croix on this occasion is rarely to be met with. A visit to New Hampshire and a few days' intercourse with the brethren of the Rite there will be quite sufficient to convince any reasonable man that the personnel of the Rite in that State is far above the average, and that the honor and interests of the order may be safely entrusted to the keeping of those who make up its membership. For myself, I owe a personal debt of gratitude to the members of the Supreme Council and other brethren of the Rite in New Hampshire for all the kindness and hospitality bestowed upon me and mine from the time we entered the State until we passed beyond its borders, which, it is not probable, can ever be adequately discharged. In June last I had the good fortune to spend an evening with the Lodge of Perfection, of New York City, at the Scottish Rite Temple, where any brother of the Rite is always sure of a cordial welcome, and an enjoyable and interesting evening. On this occasion the ninth degree was exemplified in full form, the Lodge being officered for the purpose by Past Thrice Potent Grand Masters only. The officers of the Supreme Council present were cordially received and welcomed. On the evening of the 3d of June last, in company with Bros.. CLINTON F. PAIGE, 33°, Grand Secretary-General; CHARLES T. MCCLENACHAN, 33°, Grand Master-General of Ceremonies; WILLIAM R. HIGBY, 33°, Grand Standard Bearer; DANIEL SICKLES, 33°; WILLIAM HOMANS, 33°, and ROBERT A. SHIRREFS, 33°, Active Members of the Supreme Council, I attended the meeting of New York Council of Deliberation, Ill.. Brother CHARLES E. IDE, Deputy for New York, presiding. The report of the Deputy for New York shows how cordially your officers and members were received. FOREIGN RELATIONS. The most friendly and satisfactory relations continue to exist between this Supreme Council and those of other jurisdictions with which we are in correspondence. No controversy has arisen between any of them and ourselves. It is to be hoped that the condition of amity and true fraternal friendship which now exists between this and all other legitimate Supreme Councils of the Rite may grow in strength with coming years and be perpetuated for all time. The Supreme Council of Mexico held a meeting on the 21st of December last to celebrate the thirty-fifth anniversary of the installation of the Supreme Council of the thirty-third and last degree, Ancient Accepted Scottish Rite for the Masonic Jurisdiction of the Mexican United States, at the City of Mexico, at which time, it was said, “would take place the solemn act of distributing the decorations conferred by that Supreme Council upon the Very Illustrious and Powerful Brother, GENERAL PORFIRIO DIAZ, Grand Commander, ad citam, of that body. A most courteous and cordial invitation was extended to the Grand Commander and others of our Supreme Council to attend, a translation of which is presented. This meeting occurred at a time when it was impossible for me to make the requisite journey, and I was, therefore, obliged to decline the invitation with sincere regret. The meeting, however, was held, and, notwithstanding no one from our Supreme Council was able to be present, our sister Supreme Council conferred upon your Grand Commander, Grand Secretary-General and Grand Master General of Ceremonies, the high honor of honorary membership in the Supreme Council of Mexico, and, as they were not present at the meeting, our Illustrious Brethren of the Supreme Council of Mexico caused to be delivered to each of your officers, thus honored, the official Patent and Jewel of the rank thus conferred upon him. We, upon whom this favor was thus gracefully conferred, cannot look upon this friendly act of the Supreme Council of Mexico as so much a personal honor to ourselves as individual members, as it was a high compli ment paid to the Supreme Council, whose servants we are. It would seem to be eminently appropriate for the Supreme Council to recognize it as such in some appropriate manner. |