"This would be contrary to the usages of civil law, under which each State legislates for those in its territorial jurisdiction, without regard to the law which exists in the State of former residence."

We will not discuss the principle of civil law enunciated, for the strict application thereof might have unsatisfactory results in some instances. We admit that each Grand Lodge legislates for those within its jurisdictional lines, but that fact would not prevent the establishment of a common understanding between Grand Lodges of giving the same force to a rejection within its jurisdiction, as held by the Grand Lodge, within whose jurisdiction the rejection originally occurred. It appears to us that this would be in recognition of the law and regulations of any Grand Lodge holding to the principle of perpetual jurisdiction and preserve a comity of feeling between all Grand Bodies. The preservation of harmonious relations is of vital importance and should override any technical objection.

M.. W.. WILLIAM GEAKE (Fort Wayne), Grand Master, and R.. W.. WILLIAM H. SMYTHE (Indianapolis), Grand Secretary, re-elected.

INDIAN TERRITORY.

26th Communication.

WYNNEWOOD.

August 8, 1859.

M.. W.. HENRY C. NASH, Grand Master, the representatives of seventy-nine Lodges, New York by M.. W.. JOSEPH S. MURROW, and M.. W.. WILLIAM M. EAGLETON, Grand Master of the Grand Lodge of Oklahoma, as a visitor.

The Grand Master, after brief reference to the action of the Grand Lodge of Washington, at its Annual Communication of 1898, "in recognition of negro Masonry," said that he had been "sorely tempted to follow the lead of other Grand Lodges in the severance of Masonic intercourse, but had managed, after considerable correspondence, to control his passions and refer the matter to the Grand Lodge for its deliberation." His opinion of the aforesaid action had been voiced in his reply to the request of W.. C. M. IRWIN, of Seattle, Wash., viz.: "Uncalled for, as proof shows they are clandestine. An innovation and violation of established landmarks in Masonry and social equality." In connection therewith he directed attention to the declaration adopted by the Grand Lodge of Washington (June, 1899), quoting in full the tenth, and said: "Your Grand Master is in about as much a fog in trying to construe these last resolutions as that memorable committee was in trying to solve the subject of negro Masonry in the first place." We beg to assure the M.'. W.'. Brother that there are others who labor under the same difficulty.

The committee having this subject under consideration made the following recommendation, which was approved:

"Your committee, upon an investigation of the resolutions of the Grand Lodge of Masons of Washington, adopted June 19, 1899, find that the Grand Lodge has receded from the position taken at its preceding meeting with reference to negro Masonry. We, therefore, beg to be relieved from further consideration of this subject."

We note the following decision to say that we fail to comprehend the propriety of the reason assigned:

"11. Question. Has a Lodge the right to rent its hall to other societies or for other purposes? Answer. If out of debt, no.”

The Grand Lodge voted to unite in the observance of the Washington Centenary, and M.'. W.'. JOSEPH S. MURROW—one of the oldest Masons in this territory-was appointed as the representative of this Grand Lodge.

The Grand Secretary, in his report, alluded to the slow progress made in accumulating a fund for an Orphans' Home-only $413 in about fifteen years. As to the practical success of such an undertaking, our brethren are the best judges. We note that during the session greater interest was evinced in the project, the fund was increased to $1,221.83, and a Board of Trustees ordered appointed by the Grand Master.

Our

R.. W.. JAMES E. HUMPHREY, Grand Orator, delivered the Annual Oration, treating particularly of the antiquity of Freemasonry. brethren will be interested in the following among his conclusions:

"Masonic emblems engraven, inlaid, or painted on the venerable piles of Masonry and mosques of India, the temples, obelisks, and tombs of Egypt, even to the date palm and coffin on the walls of the ruins of the Temple at Luxor, must have been placed there over five thousand years ago.

The ancient obelisk now standing in Central Park, New York, commonly called Cleopatra's Needle, was erected in the year 1591 B. C., before the Temple of the Sun at Heliopolis, in Egypt. This was over six hundred years before King Solomon commenced his famous temple. It was there before the Children of Israel emigrated from Egypt. It was in its place when Potiphar was the officiating priest, whose daughter Pharaoh gave to Joseph for a wife.

But why speak of the ancientness of this obelisk? I speak because of its undoubted evidence of being the work of Master Masons. That the polished cube found in the east angle corresponds with the Masonic emblem designated the perfect ashlar.

The polished square corresponds with the emblem of that name. The rough block found in the west angle corresponds with the rough ashlar. "The stone with figures representing snakes is emblematic of wisdom; the axis stone is the trestle-board, and the stone adjacent to it bears a

Master's mark.

The piece of soft, white limestone found under the polished cube or perfect ashlar, was thought to be the emblem of purity.

An iron trowel and a lead plummet were found imbedded in its foundation."

Generally the address of welcome is voiced at the commencement of the session, but in this instance it was given on the evening of the first day's session, and at the same time we note "that the Grand Lodge entered upon the difficult and exciting task of selecting a place for the Annual Communication of the Grand Lodge in 1900. After a very close race, WAGONER was declared the victor."

A motion to appropriate fifty dollars for the purchase of a Past Grand Master's Jewel for the retiring Grand Master elicited considerable discussion-the opinions being very pronounced that any surplus funds of the Grand Lodge should be devoted to the purposes of an Orphans' Home.

Finally a suggestion prevailed that the brethren lay upon the altar private offerings to an amount sufficient for said purpose, and in the event of any excess it should be added to the Orphan Home Fund. We will let the Grand Secretary tell the outcome in his own words:

"The Grand Secretary has attended every stated Communication of the Grand Lodge since its organization. He has witnessed and experienced many scenes of brotherly love and good-will, but the scene that followed this proposition exceeded in interest, liberal giving, and enthusiasm anything he has ever witnessed. BRO. H. M. FURMAN led the interest, and by his wit, pathos, and power, brought up the entire membership of the Grand Lodge and the visitors present to the highest pitch of enthusiasm. It was high tide for the Orphans' Home. No pledges were asked, but there was laid upon the altar in cash $124.60. Then Past Grand Master NASH electrified the Grand Lodge by rising and with sincere emotion donated the $50 raised for his Jewel to the funds for the Home. The applause was deafening. By a rising vote the thanks of the Grand Lodge were extended to Grand Master H. C. NASI for this generous deed, and also for the faithful manner in which he has administered the affairs of the Grand Lodge the past year."

It was decided as the sense of the Grand Lodge that "hereafter no appropriation shall be expected to be made nor a private collection taken for a Past Grand Master's Jewel."

Receipts, $4,655; disbursements, $4,047.70, and balance $3,297.88.

Next Annual Communication, Wagoner, August 14, 1900.

on hand,

M.'. W.. P. B. ARTHUR (Leon), Grand Master, and R.'. W.'. JOSEPH S. MURROW (Atoka), Grand Secretary, re-elected.

56th Communication.

IOWA.

MASON CITY.

June 6, 189I.

M.. W.. CROM BOWEN, Grand Master, and the representatives of four hundred and forty-four Lodges.

The Grand Master had the gratification of announcing that the name of but one of the permanent members of this Grand Lodge had been enrolled upon the memorial scroll: R.. W.. S. C. DUNN, Past Grand Treas

urer.

Three new Lodges had been created under dispensation, although the Grand Master seemingly questioned the wisdom of the action. We think the tendency is to make too many Lodges. The Grand Master wisely decided to deny the application for a Military Lodge among the Iowa Volunteers stationed in the Philippine Islands. Apparently this was not entirely satisfactory, for a resolution was introduced that a charter be granted, but for good reasons the Grand Lodge reported adversely thereto, thereby sustaining the judgment of the Grand Master.

The Grand Master had abrogated the edict severing fraternal relations with the Grand Lodge of Peru. He directed attention to the great loss in membership by dimits, "the change in the provisions of the code, adopted two years ago, just beginning to become apparent." We do not consider

that the Fraternity is a gainer from enforced membership, nor do we believe in modernizing the Craft or of the Lodges attaching the features of a club with the necessary adjuncts. The perpetuity of our Institution will be best subserved by a strict adherence to the ancient usages and customs of the Craft. The Grand Master voiced his opposition to the proposition, and the Grand Lodge, coinciding, adopted the following:

"Your committee feel that they can not indorse the plan which results in the making of club-rooms of the apartments in use by the Lodge. We admit, and insist, that the Lodge-rooms should be made as comfortable and attractive as possible, and that all reasonable entertainment should be provided for our members to the end that attendance would be a pleasure to each and all, but those pleasures ought to be of such a character as to aid in the real work and objects of the Lodge; but we fail to see wherein the admission of billiard tables and the like could inure to the benefit of the Lodge, and are of the opinion that the ultimate result of so doing would be to detract from the attendance in the Lodge-room proper."

The question of who is a Past Master had required adjudication. Under the law of this Grand Lodge a Master is permitted to resign his office, and hence the Grand Master had been compelled reluctantly to decide 'that one who had been elected and installed as Worshipful Master of a regularly constituted Lodge, and should thereafter resign during his term of office, became a Past Master when his successor had been elected and installed, and is entitled to all the honors and emoluments thereof." This question had arisen from the fact that some of the Lodges had adopted resolutions to the effect that all Past Masters should be presented with a Past Master's Jewel upon retiring from office. In order to obviate the financial difficulty the Grand Lodge provided by an amendment to the code "that no member shall be entitled to the honors of a Past Master until he shall have served one full year as Worshipful Master." No more onemonth termers.

Holding the opinion that by the action of the Grand Lodge of Washington, at its Communication of 1898, it had "recognized as legitimate Masons, with all the attendant rights and privileges of Masonry, those whom the Grand Lodge of Iowa had always held to be clandestine, within its jurisdiction," the Grand Master had submitted the matter to a special committee for consideration and report. Said committee presented an adverse report upon the action of the Grand Lodge of Washington, concluding as follows:

"Sincerely regretting the action of the Grand Lodge of Washington in renewing the agitation of a question deemed long since settled, and regarding such action ill-advised, and well calculated to disturb the harmony so essential to the welfare and prosperity of the Fraternity, the Grand Lodge of Iowa deems its present duty fully performed in expressing the earnest hope that on further consideration the Grand Lodge of Washington will rescind its former action, and place itself in line with the well-recognized doctrine and Masonic sentiment of this country; and placing upon record for the government of the Craft of our own jurisdiction that under what this Grand Lodge understands to be well-settled Masonic law and usage, and clearly expressed in our written constitution and laws, there can be no recognition of any pretended Masonic Lodge in Iowa not deriving its charter from our Grand Lodge, or of any irregular Lodge in any other Grand Jurisdiction, or of any pretended Mason claiming to have been made in any

such irregular Lodge, either in this or any other Grand Jurisdiction; such pretended Lodges and Masons being declared by our law to be clandestine."

It was recommended that each Lodge hold memorial services on December 14, 1899, in observance of the Centennial Anniversary of the death of Bro. George WashingtoN. This course was pursued in New York State, and doubtless the various reports will be compiled and form a volume, inspiring, interesting, and portraying, not alone an example of lofty patriotism, but also the character of a true Mason.

BRO. PARVIN's report as Grand Secretary (the fifty-third) and Grand Librarian (the fiftieth) are as comprehensive as usual. We infer that the library has outgrown its accommodations. We have enjoyed reading our brother's showing up of a certain co-operative assessment insurance company located in Chicago, Ill. The experience of every member thereof but illustrates the fact, "what fools we mortals are."

The report of the Trustees of the Grand Charity Fund showed disbursements for relief amounting to $3,398.49. Applications had been received for the continuous relief, the coming year, of twenty cases, in sums ranging from $25 to $300 each.

An amendment depriving Wardens of chartered Lodges and all Past Grand elective officers (except Past Grand Masters) of the right of attendance at the Grand Lodge was rejected.

Telegraphic greetings between this Grand Lodge and the Grand Lodge of New York are a matter of record.

The report of the Committee on Chartered Lodges should furnish food for reflection, especially the closing paragraph, having reference to the importance of a thoroughly competent brother being selected to fill the office of Secretary. We attribute a large percentage of the growth of unaffiliates to a neglect in this particular. We have heard the remark, "Grand Masters come and go, but the Grand Secretary holds for life." Application equally appropriate to the Lodge.

The proceedings are illustrated by a phototype of the elective Grand Officers for 1899-1900; also biographical sketch and portrait of M. W.. CROM BOWEN, Past Grand Master.

Receipts, $23,655.20; disbursements, $26,741.04, and balance on hand, $22,941.90.

Next Annual Communication, Cedar Rapids, June 5, 1900.

CORRESPONDENCE.

R.'. W.. and Rev. J. C. W. COXE, furnishes in his seventh report on Correspondence (132 pp.), one pleasant to contemplate, comprehending a critical survey of the proceedings of sixty-one Grand Lodges, New York for 1898 being included; the various addresses of Grand Master SUTHERLAND are rightly characterized as 'able, dignified, and interesting."

says:

In his introduction, referring to the Grand Lodge of Washington, he