Masonic Hall and Asylum Fund for the unexpired term of R.. W.. EDWIN H. HAMMER, resigned. M.. W.. FRANK H. ROBINSON, Grand Master, resumed the Chair. The following telegram was read: M.. W.. EDWARD M. L. EHLERS, LOS ANGELES, CAL., May 3, 1906. Grand Secretary, Masonic Hall, N. Y. Please express to Grand Lodge my deep and sincere appreciation for telegram of sympathy. Grand Jurisdiction of New York has a very warm spot in my heart for its most generous contributions. Relief work now well organized and effective. San Francisco and other nearby cities shall arise, phoenix-like, and build better than before. MOTLEY H. FLINT, Grand Master. REPORT OF COMMITTEE ON FINANCE. M.. W.. JAMES TEN EYCK, from the Committee on Finance, presented the following report, which was received and its recommendations adopted: To the Grand Lodge: The Committee on Finance submit the following report, and recommend that appropriations be made as follows: Membership in general, Masonic Relief Association United States and Canada.... Music furnished Grand Lodge. Surety Bond, Grand Treasurer. Grand Librarian.... Committee of Foreign Correspondence and Translations. Grand Treasurer, clerk hire. Grand Lecturer, travelling expenses. Grand Secretary, clerk hire. Committee on Antiquities.... C. H. Koster, decorations. Custodians of the Work. Der Fuhrer, publication of addresses, Grand Lodge Officers.. Officers ... Expenses Standing Committee on Hall and Asylum Fund... Commission of Appeals, expenses of meeting April 23, 1906, per diem and mileage.... $400 00 65 00 125 00 1,000 00 600 00 300 00 3,480 00 900 00 500 00 25 00 232 39 50 00 200 00 238 60 Amos H. Stephens, legal services rendered Grand Lodge.. Almet R. Latson's services in examination of books and accounts of Grand Lodge... 50 00 265 00 Inasmuch as the Grand Master when at ceremonials needs the assistance of a chaplain, and at times no chaplain is available at the particular place of such ceremonial, it is recommended that the bills of the Grand Master for expenses of the chaplain be allowed, and that the sum of $200 be set aside for that purpose and be paid by the Grand Treasurer, upon the certificate of the Grand Master. Your Committee would also recommend that the Grand Treasurer be and hereby is authorized to pay upon the certificates of the Grand Secretary the necessary expenses connected with the office of Grand Master, Grand Secretary and Grand Treasurer, including postage, printing and stationery for the ensuing year. R.. W.. TOWNSEND SCUDDER, Deputy Grand Master, presented the following resolution: Resolved, That the question of the treatment or disposition of the Fraternity's real estate holdings in the City of New York be left with the Trustees of the Hall and Asylum Fund, and that they be invited to associate with themselves in solving the problem confronting the Craft in reference thereto, M.. W.. J. EDWARD SIMMONS with full power to act as to them may seem for the best interests of the Fraternity. W.. HENRY M. LOVE, Trustee of the Masonic Hall and Asylum Fund, offered the following amendment, which was not adopted: Resolved, That before proceeding with any building or rebuilding on the property recently purchased the Trustees of the Hall and Asylum Fund submit to the several Lodges a detailed report of plant's cost and probable revenue, and that the same be subject to the approval of the Grand Lodge before so proceeding. On motion, the resolution of the Deputy Grand Master was adopted. REPORT OF THE COMMITTEE ON UNFINISHED BUSINESS. W.. ALBERT M. ROEHRIG, from the Committee on Unfinished Business, presented the report of said Committee, which was received and ordered printed in the Proceedings: To the Grand Lodge: The Committee on Unfinished Business begs to report that all unfinished business from the last Annual Communication has been disposed of at this Grand Lodge. The Grand Officers were installed in their several stations by M.. W.. JOHN STEWART, Past Grand Master, assisted by R.. W.. ROBERT JUDSON KENWORTHY, Grand Marshal. M.. W.. TOWNSEND SCUDDER, Grand Master, addressed the Grand Lodge. A portrait of M.. W.. FRANK H. ROBINSON, retiring Grand Master, was presented to Grand Lodge by several brethren, through M.. W.. WILLIAM SHERER, Past Grand Master. R.. W.. S. NELSON SAWYER, Deputy Grand Master, in the Chair. M.. W.. TOWNSEND SCUDDER, Grand Master, nominated for Chief Commissioner of Appeals: R.'. W.'. ALTON B. PARKER, in place of R.. W.. ALTON B. PARKER; and for Commissioners of Appeals: R.. W.. LORENZ ZELLER, in place of R.'. W.. EDGAR E. EMERSON; R.. W.. JOSEPH J. LITTLE, in place of R.. W.. HENRY A. POWELL, and R.. W.. ROBERT H. Roy, in place of R.. W.. THOMAS PENNEY which nominations were confirmed by Grand Lodge. These minutes were read and approved, and the One Hundred and Twenty-fifth Annual Communication of the Grand Lodge of the State of New York was closed in Ample Form, with prayer by R.. W.. CLARENCE A. BARBOUR, Grand Chaplain. AUEAters PROPOSED AMENDMENTS TO THE BOOK OF CONSTITUTIONS. Amend Article I., Section 3, to read as follows: SEC. 3. This Grand Lodge shall be composed of all its Grand Officers, the Past Grand Masters, Past Deputy Grand Masters, Past Grand Wardens, Past Grand Treasurers, Past Grand Secretaries, and one representative from each Lodge, who shall be the Master, one of the Wardens in the order of seniority, or a proxy duly elected by the Lodge, the members of the Commission of Appeals, the Trustees of the Hall and Asylum Fund, the Custodians of the Work, and all Past Masters of Lodges under this jurisdiction who were elected and installed and served one year in the chair of Master prior to the 31st day of December, 1849, and the members of the Standing Committees, but no one can be a member of this Grand Lodge unless he be a member of some Lodge within its jurisdiction. Amend Article I., Section 5, to read as follows: SEC. 5. The following officers, namely: A District Deputy Grand Master for each Masonic District, six Grand Chaplains, Grand Marshal, Grand Standard Bearer, eight Grand Sword Bearers, eight Grand Stewards, eight grand Directors of Ceremonies, Senior Grand Deacon, Junior Grand Deacon, Grand Lecturer, Grand Librarian, Grand Historian, Grand Advocate General, Grand Pursuivant, and Grand Tiler, shall be appointed by the Grand Master at the Annual Communication, or within thirty days after the close thereof, to hold office during his pleasure, or until their successors are appointed. Amend Article I., Section 7, to read as follows: SEC. 7. The Commission of Appeals shall consist of a Chief Commissioner, who shall preside in said Commission, and six Commissioners, all of whom shall be in good Masonic standing, and, when duly nominated and confirmed, they shall hold their |