we do want to make this an invitation to the craft. It has been discussed and passed upon by us. We wish to devote finally all our revenues for that purpose. Meanwhile, of course, some of the revenues of the Grand Lodge must be devoted, as they would be and are being applied now to the same purpose at Utica. I wish to leave this matter with you, brethren, with the suggestion that it may be thought over and perhaps receive some definite action today looking to its final development and establishment in the not distant future. We are animated just as you are with a feeling of our responsibility toward these wards who are passing out into the world and sometimes becoming, so far as you and I are concerned, invisible and who sometimes entirely disappear. We would have them somewhat longer in our care and keeping, and when they finally do go out into the world to fill their allotted place there it is our hope and desire that they will be fitted and fully equipped as men and women competent to care for themselves and competent to be a credit to us and our fraternity. And we want to feel that they will have achieved this under our auspices, under the auspices of Free Masonry and under the ægis of our flag and to become an honor to our country. THE GRAND MASTER: Now, brethren, in reference to the splendid, comprehensive presentation by Most Worshipful Past Grand Master Freifeld of the suggestion of the Brooklyn Guild of what they are willing to do, it seems to me that that is one of the best things that has ever been presented to this Grand Lodge. I have been preaching for this whole year wherever I had the opportunity that every man of us who is a Mason ought to do something for others. I have been trying to awaken in the hearts and consciences of fellow Masons some sense of personal responsibility for their fellow men, and I have been suggesting various ways-only as suggestions-hoping that out of all these various talks and conferences something would evolve in a constructive way. I thank God this is the first step of importance. But do you realize, brethren, what it may mean? This, to be sure, is only by the Brooklyn brethren and is for the time being suggested as only applicable to the children at Utica. But it is a splendid, uplifting idea. But does it not also present to every man here and to every district here the thought, the opportunity that here will be created down in this great center, splendid in its advantages, a place where we can from our own different communities send other children that may be just as much in need as those in Utica? And does it not occur to you that we will be glad to join with the Brooklyn brethren in sending down here a number that will add to that happy colony and that we will be equally glad to bear our portion of the expense? This will afford a splendid opportunity for all our Masonic brethren, wherever they may be, an opportunity for unselfish service. Brethren, we have listened here to patriotic sentiments. We are the present rulers of this great country, but has it come to your minds that the future of this country is dependent upon the young? The children of today will be the men of tomorrow. Are we fitting them to take the great responsibilities that may be thrust upon them? Does this furnish an opportunity? It seems to me that it does. But, brethren, before finishing this part of the proceedings I want to say this and I want to give due credit to others than the Brooklyn Masons-not in rivalry, not in any sense in competition, but as an expression of a like purpose. The Seventeenth Masonic District has already sent out communications to every one of its Masters asking for a conference to consider the question as to how best they can help in this further education and development of our children, and they are soon to have a meeting. Here are two splendid examples by two splendid districts from two splendid sections, rather, worthy to be followed and emulated, and I have no doubt that they will be. Brethren, if this meets with your approval, I will refer the subject matter of Brother Freifeld's suggestion to the Hall and Asylum Committee. REPORT OF THE COMMITTEE ON JURISPRUDENCE. M.. W.. TowNSEND SCUDDER, from the Committee on Jurisprudence, presented the report of said Committee, which was received and its recommendations adopted. To the Grand Lodge: The Grand Lodge at its communication of 1916 referred the report of the Judge Advocate, submitted at that session, to the Committee on Jurisprudence for consideration, and for its recommendations to this Communication of the Grand Lodge. Annexed to the report of the Judge Advocate, and as a part thereof, were twelve formal opinions, all approved by the Grand Master. The report and these opinions are printed in the Grand Lodge proceedings of 1916 on pages 165 to 190 inclusive. The questions involved therein and in the decisions of the Grand Master based thereon, relate to jurisdiction of lodges over candidates, the rights and relations of individual masons to their lodges, and to administrative affairs of lodges. No important questions of fundamental law are involved, but inasmuch as, under the new rule, these decisions do not become a part of the law of the Fraternity until adopted by the Grand Lodge, your committee reports in conformity with the resolution of the Grand Lodge. It is of opinion that the decisions of the Grand Master set forth principles of masonic law applicable generally to the Craft in this jurisdiction, and summarizes these principles as follows: 1. That a member of a Lodge who has been unaffiliated for nonpayment of dues, may, upon payment to the Lodge of the amount of dues for which he was unaffiliated, apply at any time for reinstatement; that the Lodge is bound to act within a reasonable time upon his application, and that if it refuses to reinstate him, he becomes a non-affiliate and is entitled to a certificate showing that he has paid his indebtedness to the Lodge; and he may then apply for affiliation to any other Lodge in this Jurisdiction. That the Lodge has no authority to return the money paid by the member in liquidation of his dues. 2. A Lodge has jurisdiction over a candidate who is in the military service of the United States and stationed within the territorial jurisdiction of the Lodge. He does not, however, by his presence in the Jurisdiction in such capacity only, acquire a legal residence therein, and if he is discharged from the service before initiation in the Lodge, the latter loses jurisdiction over him. 3. That the removal of a Lodge from the village named in its charter to another village, with the sanction of the Grand Master, in conformity with the provisions of Regulation 10 of the Constitution, operates to change its meeting-place, but does not change its territorial jurisdiction over candidates as against another Lodge which has not given its consent to such change of jurisdiction. Under such circumstances its jurisdiction must be determined by an air-line, starting from the place where the Lodge was chartered. 4. Where a Lodge has a meeting-place for its regular Communications, its request to be permitted to hold special Communications at some other place in order to expedite the conferring of degrees, does not create such an emergency as authorizes the Grand Master to grant a dispensation therefor. 5. Where the by-laws of a Lodge contain a provision that any amendment thereto must be adopted at two successive annual Communications of the Lodge, such provision cannot be waived merely by the unanimous consent of the members present at an annual Communication, so as to enable an amendment to be finally adopted at such single Communication. 6. That when the members of a Lodge are summoned for the purpose only of conferring life membership upon one of their number, an assessment cannot be legally levied against the members at such Communication. 7. That a by-law of a Lodge, which requires the Secretary in the notices of Lodge meetings to state the names of candidates for proposal, election, initiation and affiliation, is valid. That the Master of a Lodge bas no judicial authority to determine the validity or invalidity of a bylaw of the Lodge. 8. A by-law of a Lodge, which provides for life membership therein, and that members in such classes shall be exempt "from the payment of further dues," does not exempt such members from payment of assessments duly levied by the Lodge. 9. That the length of time that a summons shall be served on the members of a Lodge before the meeting at which it requires them to attend, should be determined by the Master, due regard being had to all the circumstances. There is nothing in Masonic Law which requires that it shall be served sufficiently long to enable members to respond who have removed from the territorial jurisdiction of the Lodge and to distant places. 10. That members cannot vote by proxy at a meeting of the Lodge. 11. That the effect of a failure of a member to pay a Lodge assessment is not the same as failure to pay Lodge dues. For the latter the member is subject to unaffiliation: for failure to pay an assessment, he is liable to charges, trial and punishment. We have carefully considered the foregoing decisions, concur in the interpretation of the law as therein enunciated and applied, and recom mend that each of the said eleven decisions be approved by the Grand Lodge. The Grand Master also decided, for a twelfth decision, 12. In balloting upon candidates in a Lodge, it is the universal custom that the ballot be examined by the Wardens before it is declared by the Master, and should be followed as a rule of procedure. Failure to do so is an irregularity, but does not of itself render the ballot void. Consequently, where a ballot upon a petition for initiation was properly cast and examined only by the Master and declared by him cloudy, in the absence of fraud or mistake, the ballot is valid, and the candidate stands rejected. Your Committee is of opinion that the universal custom of displaying the ballot for inspection by the Wardens before it is declared is an ancient landmark. This landmark is a wise precaution to conserve the truth and sanctity of the ballot. Inspection of the ballot by the Master only prior to the declaration of the result thereof, renders impossible of proof arbitrary and unconstitutional conduct on the Master's part. In view of the foregoing premises, your Committee is unable to recommend approval of decision No. 12. Your Committee having considered the request of the Gran Logia Cuscatlan of San Salvador for recognition, and the recommendation of the Committee on Foreign Correspondence that this application therefore be granted, and an exchange of representatives be arranged, approves the said request, it appearing that the book of constitution and by-laws of the Gran Logia Cuscatlan of San Salvador, and its forms and ceremonials harmonize with the principles and standards of the Grand Lodge of New York. Fraternally submitted, JOHN W. VROOMAN, WILLIAM SHERER, TOWNSEND SCUDDER, ROBERT JUDSON KENWORTHY, Committee. GEORGE FREIFELD, REPORT OF THE COMMITTEE ON BICENTENARY OF THE FIRST GRAND LODGE. M.. W.. TOWNSEND SCUDDER, from the Committee on Bicentenary of the First Grand Lodge, presented the following report, which was received and ordered printed in the Proceed To the Grand Lodge: The special committee on celebration of the Bi-centenary of the First Grand Lodge of Free and Accepted Masons in 1717, reports that the purpose of the appointment of your committee was to prepare for the celebration of the 200th anniversary of the Grand Lodge of England, the mother of the Grand Lodge of New York, which anniversary will occur on the 24th day of June, 1917. In the course of correspondence on this subject with the Grand Lodge of England, it was learned that the plans for the great celebration of this event, marking a milestone in the history of Freemasonry, had been temporarily abandoned in Great Britain, and the celebration postponed' until after the close of the war. Your committee was further advised that, in so far as the date of the anniversary might be noted, such action as might be taken would be left to the lodges in England individually. It therefore seems to your committee that the proprieties demanded that we, also, confine ourselves to a modest commemoration of this great event, postponing to a more auspicious time the formal celebration heretofore planned. With this purpose in view, and at the suggestion of the Grand Master, it has been decided to hold commemorative exercises on the Home grounds at Utica on the occasion of the annual official visit of the Grand Master, which, by a happy coincidence, falls this year upon the date of the 200th anniversary of the founding of our Mother Grand Lodge. These exercises will take the form of an address by R.. W.. Brother Albertson, Grand Chaplain, through whom our Grand Lodge will, on this occasion, issue to the world its message of brotherhood, and to these exercises a fraternal invitation is extended to all. Fraternally submitted, TOWNSEND SCUDDER, Chairman. On motion of M.. W.. TOWNSEND SCUDDER the following was adopted: Resolved that the Trustees of the Hall and Asylum Fund be, and they hereby are instructed, to devote all of the net revenue derived by such Trustees of the Masonic Hall & Asylum Fund from the real property of the Fraternity, not required for the payment of fixed charges and other expenses of management of the same, to the maintenance and support of the Home at Utica. And be it Further Resolved that whenever the Hall & Asylum Fund shall contain a sum of money in excess of the demands upon said fund,. |