ANNUAL COMMUNICATION. 1840.
The Annual Communication of the Grand Lodge of Maine was holden at the Augusta House in Augusta, on Thursday the 16th of January, A. D. 1840.
Present—M. W. A. B. THOMPSON, G. Master.
R. W. A. R. NICHOLS, D. G. Master.
R. W. 0. B. DORRANCE, S. G. Warden, p. t.
R. W. J. L. CHILD, J. G. Warden, p. t.
R. W. J. C. HUMPHREYS, G. Marshal.
R. W. P. C. JOHNSON, Rec. G. Secretary.
R. W. BENJAMIN DAVIS, G. Treasurer.
R. W. MOSES SAFFORD, Jr., S. G. Deacon, p. t.
R. W. I. R. CHADBOURNE, J. G. Deacon, p. t.
R. W. F. WINGATE, Grand Steward.
R. W. A. H. PUTNEY, Grand Steward. p. t.
R. W. E. WHITE, G. Sword Bearer, p. t.
R. W. S. LAKE, G. Tyler, p. t.
DISTRICT DEPUTY GRAND MASTER.
R. W. J. L. CHILD, from the Third District.
Lodges represented:
| Portland, | by | J. B. Cahoon. |
| United, | by | J. C. Humphreys. |
| Ancient Land-Mark, | by | 0. B. Dorrance. |
| Eastern, | by | I. R. Chadbourne. |
| Felicity, | by | Sewall Lake. |
| Phoenix, | by | N. M. Lowney. |
The Most Worshipful Grand Master, on taking the chair, called the Grand Lodge to order, and the same was opened in due form, omitting the usual ceremonies.
The proceedings of the last meeting were then read by the Grand Secretary.
A communication from Bro. David Shepherd, District Deputy Grand Master of the Seventh Masonic District, was read and ordered on file.
The return from Hermon Lodge was read, and ordered on file.
R. W. I. R. Chadbourne, J. L. Child and O. B. Dorrance, were chosen a Committee on Foreign Correspondence.
The Committee on Finance submitted the following Report, which, on being read, was accepted:
REPORT.
The Committee on Finance, having attended to the duties devolving upon them in virtue of their office, report:
| That the income arising from the Charity Fund, the past year, is: | ||
| Dividend on 20 shares in Canal Bank, Portland, | $20.00 | |
| Dividend on 10 shares in Bank of Portland, | 20.00 | |
| Dividend on 10 shares in Casco Bank, Portland, | 10.00 | |
| Dividend on 5 shares in Freeman's Bank, Augusta, Total, | 32.50 | |
| $82.50 | ||
| The amount paid from this fund the last year is as follows viz: | ||
| To Smith & Robinson for printing, | 4.50 | |
| William Hastings' bill, | 14.00 | |
| To L. Severance, for 1838 and 1839, | 4.50 | |
| To L. Severance, for 1840, | .75 | |
| Postage bill, | 1.87 | |
| To Recording Grand Secretary, | 30.00 | |
| Total, | $55.62 | |
| Balance, | $26.88 | |
| The Charity Fund borrowed of the Grand Lodge, Jan. 17, 1839, the sum of | 129.76 | |
| And the above balance of the Charity Fund, being applied to its payment in part, viz: | 26.88 | |
| Leaves still due to the Grand Lodge the sum of | $102.88 |
It will be seen by this statement, that nothing can be distributed in charity the current year, and that the Charity Fund is deficit in the sum of eighty-eight dollars and thirteen cents, to meet the claims of the Grand Treasurer upon it. There are several notes due the Grand Lodge, some of which may be eventually collected, and are in the hands of an attorney for that purpose; but no part of these can be realized at present.
January 16, 1840.
A. R. NICHOLS,
FRED. WINGATE,
Committee on Finance
Proceeded to the choice of Grand Officers.
R. W. Benjamin Davis, N. M. Lowney and A. H. Putney, were chosen a Committee to receive, sort and count the votes for Grand Officers to be elected by ballot; which Committee reported that the following brethren were unanimously elected.
M. W. ABNER B. THOMPSON, of Brunswick, Grand Master.
R. W. THOMAS W. SMITH, of Augusta, Senior Grand Warden.
R. W. STEPHEN WEBBER, of Gardiner, Junior Grand Warden.
R. W. BENJAMIN DAVIS, of Augusta, Grand Treasurer.
R. W. PHILIP C. JOHNSON, of Augusta, Rec. Grand Secretary.
R. W. A. R. Nichols, Frederick Wingate and Benjamin Swan were chosen a Committee on Finance.
Ordered, That the Grand Lodge remit all dues from the subordinate lodges under its jurisdiction, up to the present time.
Voted, That when this Grand Lodge adjourn, it adjourn to meet at this place on Thursday evening next, at seven o'clock
Adjourned. The Grand Lodge was then closed, omitting the usual ceremonies.
Attest, PHILIP C. JOHNSON, Rec G. Secretary.
Augusta, January 23, 1840.
The Grand Lodge met at the Augusta House, agreeably to adjournment.
The Most Worshipful Grand Master, on taking the chair, called the Grand Lodge to order, which was opened in due form, omitting the usual ceremonies.
The Committee on Foreign Correspondence submitted the following report, which, on being read, was accepted:
REPORT.
To the Most Worshipful Grand Lodge of Maine.
The undersigned, Committee on Foreign Correspondence, ask leave to report: That they have examined the communications received from the following Masonic bodies since the last annual meeting, viz: From Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Connecticut, Rhode Island, New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Maryland, for 1838-39; Missouri, for 1838-39; Kentucky, Alabama, for 1838-39; North Carolina, Georgia, Florida, Virginia, Louisiana and Ireland.
These communications were either extracts or entire minutes of Grand Lodges, giving the names of the Grand Officers elected, details of the finances, suspensions, expulsions, and reinstatements, in their respective bodies—funeral orations delivered on the decease of Grand Officers and private brethren distinguished for moral excellence and public usefulness.
Nothing is found requiring any action on the part of this Grand Lodge. The Committee recommend a continuation of the interchange of friendly communications with all the Grand Lodges in the Union; and also that a copy of the proceedings of this Grand Lodge be forwarded to the Grand Masonic Lodge of Ireland, with the friendly greetings of this Grand Lodge.
Per order,
JAMES L. CHILD,
O. B. DORRANCE,
Committee.
Ordered, That the Grand Secretary be authorized and directed to procure the printing of the requisite number of copies of the proceedings of this Grand Lodge, and forward one copy to each of the officers of this Grand Lodge, one copy to each of the subordinate lodges in this State, one copy to each of the District Deputy Grand Masters, and one copy to all legal Masonic bodies which are in correspondence with this Grand Lodge.
The M. W. Grand Master was then pleased to make the following appointments, which were announced by the Grand Secretary, viz:
R. W. ASAPH R. NICHOLS, of Augusta, Deputy Grand Master.
R. W. ZINA HYDE, of.Bath, Cor. Grand Secretary.
R. W. JOHN C. HUMPHREYS, of Brunswick, Grand Marshal.
R. W. MOSES STONE, of Jay, Grand Chaplain.
R. W. FREEMAN PARKER, of Wiscasset, Grand Chaplain.
R. W. MOSES SPRINGER, of Portland, Grand Chaplain.
R. W. MOSES SAFFORD, Jr., of Augusta, Senior Grand Deacon.
R. W. OLIVER B. DORRANCE, of Portland, Junior Grand Deacon.
R. W. NATHANIEL STEVENS, of Hallowell, Grand Steward.
R. W. W. L. WHEELER, of Augusta, Grand Steward.
R. W. FREDERICK WINGATE, of Augusta, Grand Steward.
R. W. SEWALL LAKE, of Bucksport, Grand Steward.
R. W. ICHABOD E. CHADBOURNE, of Eastport, G. Sword Bearer.
R. W. BENJAMIN SHAW, of Gardiner, Grand Pursuivant.
R. W. JOHN D. LORD, of Hallowell, Grand Pursuivant.
R. W. EBENEZER WHITE, of Gardiner, Grand Tyler.
DISTRICT DEPUTY GRAND MASTERS.
First District—R. W. Eleazer Wyer, of Portland.
Second District—R. W. Cornelius Holland, of Canton.
Third District—R. W. Luther Severance, of Augusta.
Fourth District—R. W. Amos H. Hodgman, of Warren.
Fifth District—R. W. Hezekiah Williams, of Castine.
Sixth District—R. W. Isaac Hobbs, of Eastport.
Seventh District—R. W. David Shepherd, of Sebec.
Eighth District—R. W. William Trafton, of Shapleigh.
Voted, That when this Grand Lodge adjourn, it adjourn to meet at this place on Thursday, the 6th day of February next, at 7 o'clock in the evening.
Adjourned. The Grand Lodge was then closed, omitting the usual ceremonies.
Attest, PHILIP C. JOHNSON, Rec. G. Secretary.
Augusta, Feb. 6, 1840.
The Grand Lodge met at the Augusta House, according to adjournment.
The Most Worshipful Grand Master, on taking the chair, called the Grand Lodge to order, which was opened in due form, omitting the usual ceremonies.
The following proposition was submitted by Bro. J. L. Child, viz:
Voted, That the 2d Section of Chapter V of the by-laws be so far altered, as that the Board of Trustees of the Charity Fund be authorized to distribute in charity, for the relief of poor and distressed worthy brethren, their widows
and orphans, such part of the principal of the Charity Fund not exceeding ten per cent. of the same, annually, as they may deem expedient.
Which, on being read, was ordered to be printed with the proceedings of this Grand Lodge, for the consideration of the subordinate lodges under its jurisdiction; and that the further consideration of the subject by this Grand Lodge be postponed to the next Annual Communication.
Voted, To adjourn.
The Grand Lodge was then closed, omitting the usual ceremonies.
Attest, PHILIP C. JOHNSON, Rec. G. Secretary.
The following brethren compose the Board of Trustees of the Charity Fund, viz:
M. W. A. B. Thompson, Grand Master, ex officio.
R. W. A. R. Nichols, Deputy Grand Master, ex officio
R. W. Thomas W. Smith, Senior Grand Warden, ex officio
R. W. Stephen Webber, Junior Grand Warden, ex officio
R. W. P. C. Johnson, Recording Grand Secretary, ex officio
R. W. James L. Child.
R. W. John H. Ingraham.
R. W. Benjamin Swan.
R. W. Daniel Clay.
R. W. Elias Bond.
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