Detroit, and were largely attended. The annual addresses of Grand Master Metcalf were admirable documents. Some of his remarks are as appropriate to-day as when they were uttered a quarter of a century ago. A few extracts, here given, are worthy of preservation and frequent perusal. After a summary of our progress for ten years, he he said: And thus briefly we may summarize the statistical history of Masonry in Michigan for ten years. But is this all? Ah, no! But who can write that unwritten history of Masonic charities and Masonic helpfulness that illustrate its career? During the dark and dreadful four years of war, when not only states but families were rent asunder-when brother was arrayed against brother, friend against friend, Mason against Mason-who can tell (when the battle paused) how many sick were comforted, how many wounded were succored, how many dead were decently buried by enemies who were guided by the light of Masonry? Who can tell how many who met in battle as foes, and by the fortunes of war were wounded or made prisoners, after the battle was over found in the hail of distress or in the shibboleths of Masonry a charm more powerful to relieve than all other influences? Who shall record the kind offices rendered by Masons to the dying? the kind messages and tokens of love sacredly conveyed to the loved ones at home? In short who can properly portray the halo of human kindness that Masonry shed over every camp and every battle-field of the war? So, too, who shall tell of the widows and orphans of soldier Masons kindly cared for and cherished by the Brotherhood at home? Or what eye has seen, or what pen delineated, the gentle surgery of Masonry since the close of the war, whereby many scars of civil strife have been soothed and healed and the way to peace has been made smooth and easy? Yes, my Brothers, Masonry has a history of its work during this dark and stormy period, which fills many a volume, but they are volumes whose pages are human hearts, and whose precious binding is human memory. To such records all Masons are content to trust their history. THE DANGERS OF PROSPERITY. I cannot feel that I have discharged my whole duty to you, and to this Grand Jurisdiction, if I retire from this high post of observation failing to warn you, and all who love Masonry, of dangers to our beloved institution that lie in wait—of insidious and unsuspected dangers, against which we cannot too soon be on our guard. Little, if any, mischief or damage has yet come of them. The cloud may yet be on the horizon, and no larger than a man's hand; but there is danger in the cloud. All human experience teaches that the purity of individual character is never more in danger than when exposed to the influences of great prosperity. The seductive temptations that lurk in wealth, honor and power, assail poor human nature on its weakest side, and danger is all the greater because no danger is suspected The tendency that comes with prosperity to relax that rigid observance of selfdenial, or self-control, and of circumspection, in which were laid the foundations of success, too often saps the very foundations on which men have built; and the structure which has been so painfully and laboriously carried on to completion, comes tumbling on the heads of its architects, as a penalty for their violation of the fundamental principles on which their edifice was constructed. Divine wisdom has also taught us that he who thinks he stands should take heed lest he fall. The dangers that, from the heights of prosperity, menace individuals, for manifest reasons hang even more imminent over all associations of individuals: this is true of states, parties and churches. When they grow wealthy and powerful they become corrupt. The same is true of Masonry; and Masonry in the United States, my brethren, never so popular or so prosperous as now, was never in such danger as now. Venerable men-you, whose station in this Grand Lodge indicates the purity of your lives, the wisdom of your counsels and the confidence of your brethrenyou, whose whitened heads betoken that you are veterans in this service-I appeal to you, is it not true that Masonry was never so pure as when it was neglected and scorned by the world? For the best of reasons this must be so; because only the true and the steadfast can withstand the indifference and the contempt of mankind. Not so pure, but yet true, it stood against persecution; for the reason that, mingled with our better nature, there is an element of obstinacy, or perverseness if you will, that stands by a good but unpopular cause. But now, when prosperous gales blow us treasures from every port, and the sunshine of popularity fills our coffers with wealth-now, when the badge of a Mason ostentatiously worn, is thought to be a universal passport, and our significant emblems a good business card!-now, when our secrets are merchandise, and our most sacred mysteries put money in the purse-now, my brethren, we are in danger. When the pure, saddened by our laxity, are silent; when the chivalric, finding no further occasion to defend us, are indifferent; when the unworthy, prompt to turn our credit to account, are able to coin it for selfish and base purposes; when the body of the brotherhood, confident in our principles and organization, and glad of our prosperity, are ignorant of the threatened evil-then we are in danger. Do not misunderstand me. Masonry is not in desperate straits, but some of the influences which flow from our popularity and prosperity unless checked will be our destruction. The danger is none the less, because it is new danger-one of which Masonry has had no experience-for the aversion of which she has no precedents to guide her. She now must trust to her principles and to the purity and the wisdom of her sons. But first of all the danger must be seen and recognized. If all true Masons can once be aroused to a consciousness of the peril, before it is too late, I have no fear of the result. We must be outwardly indifferent to the censure of those whose praise we have no right to expect. In short, it is the imperative duty of all Masons to observe two rules towards the world-seek not its praise, nor provoke its censure; but, whether praised or censured-be silent. If its praise be just we cannot own it; if it be mistakenly given we cannot correct it. So too of its blame; if it be just we can only profit by it; if unjust we cannot prove it. In either case, therefore, silence is both duty and wisdom. Other Grand Lodges may not do this. Indeed, brethren, perhaps I ought to say, I do not expect this needed reform to be accomplished in a week or in a year. But if Masonry is to be preserved in its purity; some such course must be taken. If Masonry is worth the effort, her sons, I am persuaded, will save her-if she is not, then let her die, and let her epitaph be:-Here lie the mortal remains of Ancient Free Masonry. Contempt favored it-persecution purified it—but prosperity killed it. Grand Master Metcalf, following in the footsteps of his immediate predecessor, most strongly urged the importance of building a Masonic Temple by the Grand Lodge. He looked upon this project, as certain to become, ere long, a necessity. This matter having been laid over from the preceding year, was fully discussed, and the Grand Lodge voted not to enter into the undertaking, and again the "Grand Lodge Temple" proved to be only an air-castle. The code of uniform By-Laws for lodges, which was adopted in 1869 proved very unsatisfactory to many of the lodges, and in 1870 the same were repealed, so far as making them mandatory upon lodges was concerned, and they were given permission to work under such By-Laws as had been theretofore approved. After an exhaustive report by a special committee, the Grand Lodge decided not to enter upon the system of the appointment of representatives to other Grand Lodges. The Grand Lodge of Quebec was recognized and invited to fraternal intercourse with our Grand Lodge. On the question of paying a salary to the Grand Master, the Grand Lodge, through a committee, expressed itself in the following strong and sensible language: That so far as the office of Grand Master is concerned, we cannot, with our ideas of its dignity and honor, associate with it in any way or manner "a salary." This office is one of dignity and antiquity, and has been filled by Masons of distinguished renown in all ages from the origin of our order. Skill in the performance of our esoteric labors, evinced in the exercise of the moral virtues, Temperance, Fortitude, Prudence and Justice, culture in many of the liberal arts and sciences; these are among the distinctions associated in our minds with the names of our Ancient Grand Masters and their successors in all ages and climes. Kings and potentates have regarded it as a jewel in their crowns to be invited to fill the chair as successor to Solomon, and humble mechanics graced the order by filling that chair worthily. But who till now ever dreamed of soiling that high dignity by attaching to it a salary, by gauging its value and worth by a standard of dollars and cents. Your committee feel that the honor and dignity of that high office must not be tainted with the greed of gold, and that its intrinsic worth will be best preserved by making no innovation in this direction of all others, in the body of Masonry. The officers who were chosen to manage the affairs of the Grand Lodge for the year 1871, were: JOHN W. CHAMPLIN, Grand Rapids, M. W. Grand Master. R. W. Deputy Grand Master. R. W. Grand Secretary. R. W. Grand Visitor and Lecturer Grand Sword Bearer. Grand Pursuivant. Grand Steward and Tiler. Under Grand Master Metcalf's administration thirty-seven new Lodges were organized and commenced work. They were located at Bridgeport, Cambria, Coldwater, North Lansing, Ann Arbor, Detroit, East Bay, Northport, Ransom, Olivet, Mattawan, Menominee, Frankfort, Calumet, DeWitt, Midland, East Tawas, Elk Rapids, Grand Rapids, Unionville, Clayton, Vernon, Charlevoix, Cheboygan, Springport, Crystal, Ionia, Breedsville, Salt River, Benona, Vandalia, Marcellus, Harrisville, Baldwin, and Marshall. These brought the enrollment of Lodges up to two hundred and ninety-four. In these two years there 3,351 initiated, and the membership had increased to 22,172. CAPITULAR MASONRY. 1869-1870. The officers placed in charge of the Grand Chapter for the year 1869 were: WILLIAM L. WEBBER, East Saginaw, CHARLES H. BROWN, Kalamazoo, -HUGH MCCURDY, Corunna, LEONARD H. RANDALL, Grand Rapids, J. EASTMAN JOHNSON, Centreville, REV. WILLIAM STOWE, Port Huron, GEORGE W. WILMOT, Fenton, Grand High Priest. Deputy Grand High Priest. Grand Scribe. Grand Captain of the Host. A portrait and sketch of Grand High Priest Webber will appear in connection with his service as Grand Master. The administration of M. E. Companion William L. Webber was marked by that wise care and discrimination which have been his eminent characteristics through a long and successful life. He gave to Royal Arch Masonry the same careful attention that he would have bestowed upon a business enterprise of his own, and under his wise guidance the Chapters worked in harmony and prosperity. He granted only one dispensation for a new Chapter, that one being at Hastings. On his recommendation the Grand Chapter passed an edict requiring all candidates to be examined in open Chapter as to their proficiency, previous to advancement. "Father Blanchard," having again been elected Grand Lecturer after he supposed he had permanently retired, again took up this work and served for six years longer, making him eighteen years in this position in the Grand Chapter. |