ANNUAL COMMUNICATION 1841.
The Annual Communication of the Grand Lodge of Maine, was holden at the Augusta House, in Augusta, on Thursday, the 21st of January, A. D. 1841.
Present—M. W. A. B. THOMPSON, G. Master.
R. W. THOMAS W. SMITH, S. G. Warden.
R. W. MOSES SAFFORD, Jr., J. G. Warden, p. t.
R. W. HEZEKIAH WILLIAMS, S. G. Deacon, p. t.
R. W. JEREMIAH FOWLER, J. G. Deacon, p. t.
R. W. BENJAMIN DAVIS, G. Treasurer.
R. W. P. C. JOHNSON, Rec. G. Secretary.
DISTRICT DEPUTY GRAND MASTER.
R. W. HEZEKIAH WILLIAMS, from the Fifth District.
Lodges represented:
| United, | by | A. B. Thompson. |
| Washington, | by | Jere. Fowler. |
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 proceedings of the last meeting were read by the Grand Secretary.
Adjourned to meet at this place on Thursday evening next, at seven o'clock.
Attest, PHILIP C. JOHNSON, Rec. G. Secretary.
Augusta, Jan. 28, 1841.
The Grand Lodge met at the Augusta House, according to adjournment.
Present—M. W. ABNER B. THOMPSON, Grand Master.
R. W. ASAPH R. NICHOLS, D. G. Master.
R. W. THOMAS W. SMITH, S. G. Warden.
R. W. J. L. CHILD, J. G. Warden, p. t.
R. W. BENJAMIN DAVIS, Grand Treasurer.
R. W. P. C. JOHNSON, Rec. G. Secretary.
R. W. MOSES SAFFORD, Jr., S. G. Deacon.
R. W. BENJAMIN FOWLER, J. G. Deacon, p. t.
R. W. J. T. PAINE, Grand Marshal, p. t.
R. W. F. WINGATE, Grand Steward.
R. W. HEZEKIAH WILLIAMS, Grand Tyler, p. t.
The M. W. Grand Master, on taking the chair, called the Grand Lodge to order, which was opened in due form, omitting the usual ceremonies.
The return of Washington Lodge, together with a communication from said lodge, in relation to the vote submitted by this Grand Lodge at the last Annual Communication, relative to an alteration of the by-laws, was read and ordered on file.
The Committee on Finance submitted the following report, which, on being read, was accepted.
REPORT.
The Committee on Finance, having attended to the duty assigned them, report—
That from the Treasurer's accounts, which appear to be correctly cast and properly vouched, the interest arising from the Charity Fund the past year, and received by him, is:
| Dividend on 5 shares in Freeman's Bank, at 6 per cent., | $30.00 | |
| Dividend on 20 shares in Canal Bank, at 1 per cent, | 20.00 | |
| Dividend on 10 shares in Portland Bank, at 1 per cent., | 10.00 | |
| Dividend on 10 shares in Casco Bank, at 2 per cent., | 20.00 | |
| Amounting in the whole to | $80.00 |
| The amount paid from this fund the past year, is as follows,viz: | ||
| Postage bill, for 1840, | $1.17 | |
| Severance & Dorr, for printing report, | 12.00 | |
| W. R. Smith & Co., for printing, | 1.50 | |
| P. C. Johnson, services as Rec. G. Secretary | 30.00 | |
| 44.67 | ||
| Leaving a balance in the Treasurer's hands of | $35.33 | |
To be applied towards the payment of the $102.88, which was due from the Charity Fund to the Grand Lodge at the close of the year 1839—or to be otherwise disposed of as the Grand Lodge may deem proper.
There has been received by said Treasurer, since his last settlement, on debts due the Grand Lodge, the sum of two hundred and fifty-seven dollars and forty-seven cents.
All which is respectfully submitted,
A. E. NICHOLS, per order.
R. W. H. Williams, M. Safford, Jr. and A. R. Nichols, were chosen a Committee to receive, sort and count the votes for Grand Officers, to be elected by ballot.
The Committee reported the election, by unanimous vote, of
M. W. HEZEKIAH WILLIAMS, of Castine, Grand Master.
R. W. THOMAS W. SMITH, of Augusta, Senior Grand Warden.
R. W. JOHN T. PAINE, of Sanford, Junior Grand Warden.
R. W. BENJAMIN DAVIS, of Augusta, Grand Treasurer.
R. W. PHILIP C. JOHNSON, of Augusta, Rec. Grand Secretary.
Which report was accepted.
Bros. Asaph R. Nichols, Frederick Wingate and Benjamin Swan, all of Augusta, were elected Committee on Finance.
R. W. A. B. Thompson, of Brunswick, Reuel Washburn, of Livermore, J. L. Child, of Augusta, Amos Nourse, of Hallowell, A. R. Nichols, of Augusta, and Edward Fuller, of Readfield, were chosen Trustees of the Charity Fund.
Voted, That the Grand Lodge remit all dues from the subordinate lodges under its jurisdiction, up to the present time.
Bros. James L. Child and Hezekiah Williams, were chosen a Committee on Foreign Correspondence.
The M. W. Grand Master elect, on taking the chair, was 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, S. G. Deacon.
R. W. OLIVER B. DORRANCE, of Portland, J. G. Deacon.
R. W. NATHANIEL STEVENS, of Hallowell, Grand Steward.
R. W. WILLIAM 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 R. 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. Frye Hall, of Belfast.
Sixth District—R. W. Jeremiah Fowler, of Lubec.
Seventh District—R. W. David Shepherd, of Sebec.
Eighth District—R. W. William Trafton, of Shapleigh.
The following proposition for an amendment of the By-Laws, submitted at the last Annual Communication, by Bro. J. L. Child, viz:
Voted, That the 2d Sec. 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,"
Was taken up and discussed at much length, by Bros. Child, Nourse and Thompson, in favor, and Bros. Paine, Washburn and
Fowler, against the amendment—when on motion of Bro. Nourse the following was submitted for the foregoing amendment, viz:
Voted, To strike out in Sec. 2d, Chapter V of the By-Laws, the words "and no part of the principal of said fund shall be expended for any purpose whatever," and substitute in lieu thereof the following words, " and may 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 three hundred dollars annually, as they may deem expedient"
And then the further consideration of the foregoing substitute for the proposed amendment was, on motion of Bro. Washburn, postponed to the next Annual Communication, and ordered to be sent out to the subordinate lodges, as a proposed amendment, agreeably to the provision of the By-Laws.
Voted, That the thanks of this Grand Lodge be tendered to the M. W. Past Grand Master, A. B. Thompson, for the faithful and acceptable manner in which he has performed the duties of the office of Grand Master, for the three years past.
Voted, That the Grand Treasurer be instructed to inquire into the condition and value of the stock in Banks, and other property held by the Grand Lodge, and report at the next Annual Communication what disposition can and ought to be made of the same, with a view to the best interest of the Charity Fund, to which it belongs.
The Committee on Foreign Correspondence submitted the following report, which, on being read, was accepted:
REPORT.
The Committee on Foreign Correspondence have had very little time to examine the communications submitted to them, but have cursorily looked through those from Massachusetts, Connecticut, New York, New Jersey, Maryland, Virginia, North Carolina, Georgia, Ohio, Indiana, Florida, Mississippi and Missouri, being all that have been received during the past year from Grand Lodges—and they had very little to awaken hope, in relation to the craft, or cheer the gloom that has been for years thickening upon our ill-fated but much injured institution. The brethren, amidst the persecutions and adverse events of the last fifteen years, seem to have departed from their "first love," and lost much of the freshness and joyousness of days of "auld lang syne." Whether a brighter day is ever to dawn upon the Institution, is matter rather for prophecy than calculation—but however this may be, it will always remain true, that "the white apron and white gloves" were fit
emblems of that purity of life, and high standard of morals, which the principles of the craft ever inculcated and enforced. The Committee recommend a reciprocation of civilities with other Grand Lodges.
JAMES L. CHILD, per order.
Voted, That the Grand Secretary be requested to procure the printing of the requisite and usual number of copies of the proceedings of this Grand Lodge, and forward one copy to each of the Grand officers, 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 with which this Grand Lodge is in correspondence.
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. Hezekiah Williams, Grand Master, ex officio.
R. W. A. R. Nichols, Deputy Grand Master, ex officio.
R. W. Thomas W. Smith, S. G. Warden, ex officio.
R. W. J. T. Paine, J. G. Warden, ex officio.
R. W. P. C. Johnson, Recording Grand Secretary, ex officio.
R. W. A. B. Thompson.
R. W. E. Washburn.
R. W. J. L. Child.
R. W. A. Nourse.
R. W. Edward Fuller.
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