L. Hill also appeared as representative of Liberty Lodge, No. 26. The Grand Lodge was opened in AMPLE FORM. The Grand Lodge then proceeded to the election of officers for the ensuing Masonic year. The ballot being taken, the following brethren were found to be elected : The Grand Officers elect all being present, were proclaimed and installed in solemn and AMPLE FORM. The Grand Master then appointed and installed additional Grand Officers, as follows: Wor. RICHARD A. CLAUGHTON, 66 GEORGE BAIRD, JOSEPH M. FERGUSON, 66 C. F. SCOTT, J. H. BROWNFIELD, Bro. TIMOTHY BLISS, Grand Chaplain. Grand Lecturer. Jun. G. Deacon. Grand Tyler. The following report from the Finance Committee was received and adopted: To the M. W. Grand Lodge of West Virginia: Your Committee on Finance respectfully report that they have examined the books and accounts of the Grand Secretary and Grand Treasurer, and find them correct. The financial condition of the Grand Lodge, as reported by the Grand Treasurer, is as follows: From January 26 to November 11, 1867, received from the Grand Secretary.............. July 12, 1867, received from the Grand Secretary.... Total receipts to date........ ..$ 875 16 214 35 ..$1,089 51 Disbursements during same period for which proper vouchers are exhibited..... 914 38 Balance in hands of Grand Treasurer................$ 175 13 Your committee recommend that the Grand Lodge do not take any action at its present Communication on the question of paying mileage and per diem to delegates to the Grand Lodge, but that Subordinate Lodges be requested to instruct their dele gates to the next annual Grand Communication on the subject; and they would also recommend that Subordinate Lodges pay the expenses of delegates to the Communications of the Grand Lodge. Your committee recommend that the bill of the Grand Secretary for postage on copies of proceedings of the Grand Lodge, circulars, letters, &c., amounting to $28.60 less cash for four copies of proceedings sold, $5.00, leaving balance due Grand Secretary, $23.60, be paid. In Article 13, Chapter IV., of the Constitution, it is provided that every newly-constituted Lodge shall be furnished with a Book of Constitutions at the expense of the Grand Lodge. Your committee would recommend that the Grand Secretary be authorized to purchase books which may be required, to meet the said requirement of the Constitution. Your committee would recommend that the salary of the Grand Secretary be fixed at three hundred dollars for the current year. E. H. COOMBS, The Committee on Masonic Jurisprudence, submitted the following resolution, which was received and adopted: To the M. W. Grand Lodge of West Virginia: Your committee to whom was referred the communication of Fairmont Lodge No. 9, respectfully submit the following resolution : Resolved, That it is the sense of this Grand Lodge, that all Subordinate Lodges in this Jurisdiction, which held charters from the Grand Lodge of Virginia, and worked under such charters, are legally bound for dues to said Grand Lodge, for and during the time they worked, and until said charters were endorsed by the Grand Lodge of West Virginia; and that such Subordinate Lodges, in the spirit of harmony, should adjust their dues with the Grand Lodge of Virginia. Respectfully submitted, E. C. BUNKER, Committee. The Committee on Dispensations and Charters submitted the following report, which was received and adopted: To the M. W. Grand Lodge of West Virginia: Your committee have carefully examined the records and pa pers presented by Lodges under Dispensation. We find that their records have been properly kept, and their proceedings (with the exceptions we note herewith) generally in accordance with our Regulations. We call attention to the following errors and irregularities: Jackson Lodge permits petitions to be withdrawn, which is irregular. We notice also, some irregularities in the By-Laws of this Lodge, which we have marked for revision and correction. Crescent Lodge commits the error of opening an E. A. Lodge, and calling off, for the purpose of opening a Master Lodge. Crescent and Middlebourne Lodges have appointed special committees to examine into and report the character of candidates, which is now contrary to our Regulations. Your committee recommend the adoption of the following resolutions: WHEREAS, A Dispensation was issued by the M. W. Grand Master to authorize the opening of a Lodge in the town of Mannington, in the county of Marion, by the name of Mannington Lodge No., and appointing William Hall, Worshipful Master; Thomas Hough, Senior Warden; Amos N. Prichard, Junior Warden; and said Dispensation having been returned, with the necessary documents, therefore Resolved, That a charter do issue for the permanent establishment of said Lodge, under the name and title of Mannington Lodge No. 31, and appointing the officers named. WHEREAS, A Dispensation was issued by the M. W. Grand Master to authorize the opening of a Lodge in the town of Ceredo, in the county of Wayne, by the name of Crescent Lodge No., and appointing P. H. McCulloch, Worshipful Master; George N. Osenton, Senior Warden, and M. L. D. Burns, Junior Warden; and said Dispensation having been returned, with the necessary documents, therefore Resolved, That a charter do issue for the permanent establishment of said Lodge, under the name and title of Crescent Lodge No. 32, and appointing the officers named. WHEREAS, A Dispensation was issued by the M. W. Grand Master, to authorize the opening of a Lodge in the city of Wheeling, by the name of Bates Lodge No. —, and appointing H. G. Harding, Worshipful Master; E. A. Russell, Senior Warden, and O. S. Long, Junior Warden; and said Dispensation having been returned, with the necessary documents, therefore Resolved, That a charter do issue for the permanent establishment of said Lodge, by the name and title of Bates Lodge No. 33, and appointing the officers named. WHEREAS, A Dispensation was issued by the M. W. Grand Master to authorize the opening of a Lodge in the town of Middlebourne, in the county of Tyler, by the name of Middlebourne Lodge No., and appointing Richard A. Claughton, WorshipMaster; James Burns, Senior Warden, and Thomas H. Sellers, Junior Warden; and said Dispensation having been returned, with the necessary documents, therefore Resolved, That a charter do issue for the permanent establishment of said Lodge, under the name and title of Middlebourne Lodge No. 34, and appointing the officers named. WHEREAS, A Dispensation was issued by the M. W. Grand Master to authorize the opening of a Lodge in the town of Jane Lew, in the county of Lewis, by the name of Jackson Lodge No. -, and appointing J. A. J. Lightburn, Worshipful Master; N. B. Bland, Senior Warden, and G. F. Sims, Junior Warden; and said Dispensation having been returned, with the necessary doc uments, therefore Resolved, That a charter do issue for the permanent establishment of said Lodge, by the name and title of Jackson Lodge No. 35, and appointing the officers named. Respectfully submitted, JOSEPH M. FERGUSON, Committee. The following amendments to the General Regulations were reported from the Grand Committee, and adopted: Resolved, That article 7, section 1, chapter 3 of the General Regulations, be amended so as to read "In all cases of advancement from one degree to another, it shall be necessary for the brother wishing to be advanced, to undergo an examination in open Lodge, touching his proficiency in the degree from which he wishes to be advanced; after which a ballot shall be taken on his proficiency, and if found clear, he shall be declared duly elected to receive the degree." Resolved, That article 2, section 1, chapter 6, of the General Regulations, be amended so as to read "In case of a vacancy by death or removal in the office of Master, the Senior Warden shall occupy the East, and fill the West by pro tem. appointments. If vacancies occur in both the East and West, the Junior Warden shall occupy the East, and fill the West and South by pro tem. appointments. Should vacancies occur in all the offices, then the Grand Master, or the Grand Lodge, may issue a Dispensation for a special election." Resolved, That article 13, section 1, chapter 3, be amended so as to read "A Brother shall not be a member of more than one Lode at the same time, and must always be a member of some Lodge," &c., (the further reading of the article remaining unchanged). The following resolution was introduced by Bro. H. R. Howard, and was unanimously adopted: Resolved, That the thanks of the Grand Lodge are due, and are hereby tendered to our brethren of the city of Wheeling, for the sumptuous entertainment provided for the members of the Grand Lodge, on the evening of the 12th instant. The Grand Lodge was then called from labor to refreshment until 10 o'clock, P. M. At 10 o'clock P. M. the Grand Lodge 1esumed labor, Present the same officers and members. The Working Committee submitted a verbal report, to the effect that they, during the day, had exemplified the work in the first and second degrees, in accordance with the Virginia ritual; and that they were now prepared to exemplify the work in the third degree. On motion, it was ordered that the Working Committee proceed to exemplify the work in the third degree, which was accordingly done. The following resolution was offered and adopted: Resolved, That the work, as exemplified by the Working Com. mittee before the Grand Lodge, be approved. The following resolutions were adopted: Resolved, That the Grand Treasurer be authorized to pay all accounts that are due, or may become due during recess, for printing, stationery and other necessary expenses of the Grand Lodge. "Resolved, That the Grand Secretary be authorized to have published not exceeding five hundred copies of the Proceedings of this Grand Lodge. The Grand Lodge was then closed until the second Tuesday in November, A. L. 5868, or during the will and pleasure of the M. W. Grand Master. THOS. H. LOGAN, Grand Secretary. WILLIAM J. BATES, Grand Master. The receipts from Subordinate Lodges in 1867 amounted to $805.50. Reports of membership from twenty-three Lodges are printed with the proceedings, and memorial pages are suitably inscribed for George W. Sights, who died November 3, 1867, aged fifty-seven years, and George Dulty, who died August 20, 1867, aged seventy-five years. In the tabular list of those who bad departed into rest during the year since the last Grand Communication appear the following names: George W. Sights, P. M., Ohio, No. 1, November 3, 1867 George Dulty, P. M., Ohio, No. 1, August 20, 1867; George W. Antes, Ohio, No. 1, March 20, 1867; Lemuel Moore, Wellsburg, No. 2, August 16, 1867; Lourie Wilson, Morgantown Union, No. 4, not reported; John Freese, Wheeling, No. 5, not report |