from all other person and persons and corporate body or bodies, all the books, records, vouchers, parchments and papers, together with the seal and all the moneys of every description in the hands or possession or under the control of any such Past Grand Officer." Fearing that this demand might prove unavailing, or at all events to strengthen it, the following resolution was also passed: That a committee of three be appointed for the purpose of securing the legal and equitable rights of the Grand Lodge of the State of New York in relation to the conduct of the late Grand Secretary and late Grand Treasurer, and that they be authorized to see such judicial proceedings instituted as they may think proper and to employ such counsel as they may deem proper, after finding judicial proceedings necessary and expedient. The committee appointed under this resolution comprised Joseph Enos, John Brush, and Charles G. Haines, but neither the demand nor the resolution proved to be worth the paper on which they were originally written. It was "bad politics" to put at the head of such a committee, if serious results were intended, the man who had been the immediate cause of the division and about whose personal honesty grave doubts were entertained. After revising the constitution and ordering the revision sent to the Lodges for approval, arranging for the representatives to be paid by their Lodges, the amount so paid to be deducted from the Grand Lodge returns; authorizing several payments for rent and service-an item to Enos under the latter category-the Country Grand Lodge adjourned on June 10. Two Lodges of emergency were called the same month, one at New York on the 12th, when Enos made Hooper Cummings the new Grand Chaplain, a Mason at sight, and one at Poughkeepsie on the 23d, when Deputy Grand Master Brush performed the same office for the Rev. Dr. John Read, who afterward was also appointed a Grand Chaplain. In spite of the long agitation for the Grand Lodge to meet at Albany or some place other than New York it is a significant sign of the real weakness and lack of cohesion on the part of the Country Grand Lodge that its second meeting, June 2, 1824, should be convened in the same city. Of course one reason for this may have been that the sinews of war were in New York and hope may have been nourished that by meeting in this city the Grand Lodge here existing might be brought into submission, if not into union. But whatever the reason, it was a token of weakness which would not have been exhibited except under the most slipshod sort of leadership. According to the records, when the Grand Lodge was called to order by Enos on the morning of June 2, 1824, the following Lodges were represented in Tammany Hall by their officers or duly appointed proxies. We give the list in full, as we did that of the City Grand Lodge, as it shows the strength of the country forces: Solomon's, No. 6. Hamilton, No. 144. Clinton, No. 151. Warren, No. 155. Zion, No. 172. Yates, No. 178. Mount Moriah, No. 245. Morning Star, No. 250. Dutchess, No. 253. Salina, No. 327. Hector, No. 331. Genesee Union, No. 332. Prattsburgh Union, No. 372. Thus the roll included, actually, 105 Lodges. As the City Grand Lodge at a like. period in its career had only thirty-one, the numerical strength of the two parties can be seen at a glance. Of these thirty-one Rensselaer attended the first meeting and then, apparently, became defunct, while Homer, No. 74; Horizontal, No. 82, and Phillipstown, No. 351, dropped off after the first meeting and joined the Country, leaving practically twentyseven Lodges. But these twenty-seven carried with them the funds, the records and all that made up a Grand Lodge, while the others. started out with nothing but their numbers. Had the numbers been ably led they might have accomplished much, but generalship was lacking, and, although claiming to be the Grand Lodge of the State of New York, they failed even to win recognition to any extent among the sister Grand bodies. Besides, even in point of numerical strength, they were comparatively weak. Out of the 105 Lodges enumerated in the above list ninety-eight were existant at the time of the division and enlisted under their banner, and these, with the thirty-one under that of the City, made up together 129 Lodges. When the split took place there were 358 Lodges on the roll. Thus 229 Lodges are not found enrolled on either side. Owing to the confused condition of the data these figures may not be absolutely correct, but they are approximately so, and close enough to show that, while the City Grand Lodge carried with it all the Lodges in its territory, the Country Grand Lodge did not. Allowing on a liberal estimate that out of the 229 Lodges unaccounted for on the roll of either, 100 were either defunct or so reduced in numbers or vitality as to be in what a modern American statesman has described as a condition of "innocuous desuetude," there still remained 129 Lodges unaccounted for, all of which should by their geographical position have been found in the Country Grand Lodge. At this meeting, on June 3, Enos was again elected Grand Master, receiving 212 votes to 71 cast for Stephen Van Rensselaer and 20 for Joseph Brush. The other officers were practically the same as in the former years, except that, Charles G. Haines having declined the Grand Secretaryship, John W. Oakley was elected in his place. The new constitution was adopted, 1,000 copies ordered printed, and thirty warrants constituting new Lodges were granted. As before, however, some of these Lodges had appeared on the City roll. So far as can be learned from the minutes the committee appointed to demand the funds and records from Messrs. Hicks and Bogert were so unsuccessful, if they ever seriously attempted their task, which is doubtful, that they did not submit a report of their doings, or refer, except indirectly, to the legal assistance they had been authorized to employ. This meeting was much more friendly disposed toward the city brethren than its predecessor and probably the influence of De Witt Clinton, who was present at the session of June 10 did much toward bringing about that happier sentiment. At that same session the good Brother Oliver Rose introduced the following: Whereas, Sundry brethren, members of this Grand Lodge, have seceded and organized themselves into a body and assumed the title of the Grand Lodge of the State of New York; and Whereas, This Grand Lodge while it highly disapproves of their proceedings, still acknowledges them as members of the great Masonic family acting under erroneous views and impressions; and Whereas, Masonic charity induces the belief that some well-meaning brethren are misled by them; therefore Resolved, That a committee of members be appointed to confer with those brethren, ascertain the cause of difference, and what steps (not inconsistent. with the dignity of this Grand Lodge) it will be prudent to take toward healing the differences; and report their doings and opinions to this Grand Lodge. This was rejected after some debate and the following, submitted by John O. Cole, Master of Temple Lodge, Albany, was substituted and accepted: Whereas, Certain Lodges under the jurisdiction of this Grand Lodge have seceded from the same; Resolved, That a committee be appointed to consider and report to this Grand Lodge what course it is advisable to pursue in relation to the said Lodges. In accordance with this Brothers Cole, Ezra S. Cozier (Utica), Grove Lawrence (Camillus), Jacob Van Benthuysen, K. H. Van Rensselaer (Otisco), Henry Waterhouse, and D. E. Brown, Junior Grand Deacon, were chosen as the committee. Had Enos not been reelected the course of that committee might have been easy, but that obstacle still remained, and while it did so formed a barrier to all hopes of progress in the path of union. The committee, in fact, accomplished nothing. This was probably foreseen by some-certainly it was perfectly understood by Enos-and just before the Grand Lodge adjourned another committee was ordered the Deputy Grand Master, Grand Secretary and Grand Treasurer "to take such measures as they shall think expedient to recover the funds and property which of right belong to this Grand Lodge and to employ such counsel and institute such proceedings as they shall think proper for the recovery of the same." This was undoubtedly prompted by Enos, who seems to have had perfect control over the meeting. Indeed it is wonderful how this man, with his personal character besmirched, should have exerted the undoubtedly great amount of influence he wielded over a body of men one of whose first principles was rectitude of conduct and purpose. But the moment when his power seemed greatest in reality marked the beginning of his downfall. He was, Masonically speaking, living a double life, and when the truth as to his personal honesty began to be apparent his descent was rapid. The stories of his financial dealings began to be brought home to all the Lodges which owned his sway and their repudiation of him came so fast that, although he remained Grand Master until the close of the term for which he was last elected, it was because no meeting took place at which he could be deposed. But he never presided again over a meeting of the Grand Lodge, and when the country forces once more assembled the gavel was wielded by his subordinate official. Before that meeting the brethren had to a great extent broken away from his influence and had informally taken steps to bring about a union. On Feb. 4, 1825, a meeting of fortyseven representatives of Lodges throughout the State (seven being from the city) was held in the rooms of Temple Lodge, Albany, to discuss the existing state of affairs and try to restore harmony. The spirit of this gathering can best be understood from the following preamble and resolutions, which it discussed and adopted: Whereas, This meeting deeply deplores the unhappy differences which at present exist between the Lodges and Masons in this State; therefore, Resolved, That Clarkson Crolius, Elisha Gilbert, Jonathan Eights, Joshua Bradley, Jacob Van Benthuysen, Lebbeus Chapman, John F. Sibell and John B. Scott be, and they are hereby, appointed a committee for the purpose of conferring together upon the aforesaid unhappy differences and, if practicable, devise such measures as may be necessary and proper to be adopted in order to restore harmony among the Masonic family of the State. Resolved, unanimously, That the committee named in the preceding resolution be requested to meet at Washington Hall, in the city of New York, on the Monday next preceding the first Wednesday in June next, at 12 o'clock at noon, and in case any member of said committee does not attend said meeting, that the members of said committee then present shall fill such vacancy. Resolved, That this meeting will use all their individual influence and exertions to bring about a union of the Masons of the State of New York. As a result of this the committee met in New York on May 30, 1825, two days prior to the opening of the annual meetings of the rival Grand Lodges, and adopted the following: Whereas, This committee feeling a deep interest in the prosperity of the Fraternity throughout the world and more especially in the restoration of harmony among the great Masonic family in the State of New York, do profess and pledge themselves to be actuated by the pure motives of brotherly love and friendship in the discharge of the high and responsible duties which devolve upon them; and while they recommend the following resolutions to the unbiased consideration of the brethren in general and more particularly for the consideration of those brethren who are members of and compose the Grand Lodge of the State of New York, this committee would earnestly beseech that, whatever may have been the cause of dissension and disagreement out of which have grown so many difficulties and conflicting interests, the brethren should now lay aside for a moment all improper feelings, if any exist, and endeavor by the united exertions of every brother to place the Fraternity and its concerns on its true foundation, which, if accomplished, will not only be the means of producing love and harmony at home, but of conferring honor and respectability on the Fraternity abroad. Resolved, That it is desirable that all animosities heretofore existing among the great body of Masons in this State be forever obliterated. Resolved, That a general meeting of the representatives of Lodges be held to-morrow evening, Tuesday, May 31, at 8 o'clock, at Tammany Hall. Resolved, That we cordially and respectfully recommend to that meeting that a committee, to consist of four members from the city of New York and four from other parts of the State, be appointed for the purpose of nominating suitable persons for Grand officers for the ensuing year. Resolved, That, in the opinion of this committee, the place of meeting of the Grand Lodge should be permanently fixed in the city of New York. Resolved, That this committee has viewed with feelings of the most anxious solicitude the attempts to reconcile the conflicting differences that unhappily exist in the Masonic family of this State and do earnestly desire that every brother will use his best exertions and influence in putting an end thereto. The meeting of representatives was duly held on the evening before the Grand Lodge meetings and adopted the following as the result of quite a lengthy discussion: Resolved, That it be recommended to the two bodies styling themselves the Grand Lodge of the State of New York to appoint a committee of conference on the subject of the differences now existing; that the committee consist of five from each body. Resolved, That the proceedings of this meeting be presented to each of the said bodies by the committee of eight. The third meeting of the Country Grand Lodge opened in Tammany Hall on June 1, 1825, 116 Lodges being represented, the list being headed by Mount Vernon and Masters', of Albany, the latter appearing for the first time. Deputy Grand Master Brush presided, and after the Committee on Credentials had made a report and that report had been accepted the first business, apparently, that came before the meeting had reference to the question of union-the question which was then undoubtedly uppermost in the minds of the brethren, city and country alike. Ezra S. Cozier submitted the resolutions of the meetings of representatives at Albany and New York, and the efforts for effecting a healing of the division, and when he concluded the following preamble and resolution were adopted by a unanimous vote: Whereas, Certain differences exist between the Lodges in the city of New York and this Grand Lodge; therefore, Resolved, That Brothers Ezra S. Cozier, Leland Howard, Joseph Cuyler, John O. Cole, and Platt Adams be a committee to confer with such brethren as may be appointed on behalf of said Lodges respecting the said differences, with a view to a settlement of the same. This was hardly the spirit, however, in which a union could be effected and "the Lodges in the city of New York," although they engaged in several conferences on the subject, would not come to terms, so this committee was in time discharged and the efforts for union, apparently, ceased. Even the paper effort to acquire the funds, property and records in the hands of the city brethren was renewed, but the committee appointed at this meeting to attend to the same was reduced to a solitary individual, the Grand Treasurer, yet a significant indication of the sentiment of the meeting was seen when on a motion to substitute Albany for New York as the regular meeting place of the Grand Lodge the change elicited only a single favorable vote. A committee was appointed to nominate the officers for the year, so as to "maintain good order and harmony," and this committee seems to have been made up of those who were strongly in favor of union on equitable terms and those who appear to have simply been willing that the Lodges in the city of New York should come into their fold as Lodges. The latter, however, predominated and seemed anxious to preserve the prestige of Enos. At all events, as they could not, under the circumstances, present that individual's name for re-election, they did the next best thing, and, being a majority of the committee, presented a slate made up of those more or less friendly disposed to him. John Brush (Poughkeepsie) was nominated for Grand Master, Clarkson Crolius for Deputy. Nathaniel Allen (Genesee) for Senior Warden, and Jonathan Eights (Albany) for Junior, while Ebenezer Wadsworth (Brainard's Bridge) was nominated for Grand Secretary and Welcome Esleeck (Albany) for Grand Treasurer. When the election, however, came before the Grand Lodge, the slate was badly smashed and Stephen Van Rensselaer of Albany (who was not present) was elected Grand Master, John Brush had to be content with second place, Ezra S. Cozier of Utica was chosen as Senior Grand Warden, and Eliel T. Foote of Jamestown as Junior Grand Warden. The rest of the slate went through. |