Asylum, without the continuance of this tax. The craft do not require the coercion of law to compel their contributions toward a useful charity. They are generous; they are open-handed. For years they have poured their money like water into this enterprise; thus abundantly proving the benevolence of their impulses. Is it too much to say that after the existing debt shall have been paid, their further contributions shall be left to their own judgment? And can we not feel assured that when through wise management, the practicability and usefulness of the Asylum shall be fairly established, it will always receive the generous support of the fraternity, in full proportion as its utility shall merit?

To carry out the Grand Master's views the following amendments to the constitution, drawn up by him, were presented to the meeting.

Amend Section 40 of the Constitution by adding a new Subdivision, to be known as Subdivision 10, and to read as follows:

10. Whenever the indebtedness of the Trustees of the Masonic Hall and Asylum Fund, existing on the first day of June, 1886, shall be fully paid, the annual payment required by Subdivision 9 of this Section shall cease. Any lodge which shall have paid all sums due from it to the Grand Lodge may pay a sum equal to six dollars for each of its members, upon the number of members reported by it as of Dec. 31, 1885; and upon so doing shall from the end of the then current year be released and exempted from the said annual payment now required by said Subdivision 9.

Also amend said Section 40 of the Constitution by adding a further Subdivision, to be known as Subdivision II, and to read as follows:

II. All sums paid by any Lodge or by any of its members, and included within the statements of the Grand Master, dated respectively May 24, 1886, and June 1, 1886, and all sums hereafter voluntarily paid or contributed by a Lodge or its members, to be applied to the payment of the indebtedness of the Masonic Hall and Asylum Fund, shall be deemed payments on account of the aforesaid per capita

sum of six dollars; and whenever such contributions, made by any Lodge or its members, shall amount in the aggregate to the aforesaid sum of six dollars for every member of said Lodge, upon the basis of its membership on the 31st day of December, 1885, such Lodge shall, from the end of the then current year, be entitled to the exemption provided for in the last preceding Subdivision.

Also amend Section 40 of the Constitution by adding a new Subdivision, to be known as Subdivision 12, and to read as follows:

12. No new charge shall hereafter be imposed upon the Lodges or their members for the benefit of the Masonic Hall and Asylum Fund, except by an amendment to this Constitution, which shall not be valid until it shall have been submitted to and adopted by three-fourths of all the Lodges; and this Subdivision shall in no wise be amended except by the vote of the same number of Lodges.

These were approved by the Committee on Constitution. The Committee on Hall and Asylum also endorsed these proposed changes and recommended that instead of holding them over for a full year they should at once be sent to the subordinate Lodges, so that they might be immediately acted upon and then, if they met with approval, become at once operative. That this approval would be granted was evident from the practical unanimity with which the brethren present in Grand Lodge received them and with the closing of that meeting the campaign entered on its second and most practical period. Individual subscriptions were not lost sight of, but the craft was asked to listen to a plain business proposition, and sentiment to a great extent was given a merely secondary place on the Grand Master's programme. Within three months 592 Lodges had voted in favor of the adoption of the amendments to the constitution and they accordingly became law.

HE struggle, while it thus entered. upon a new and more hopeful phase, did not find any of the Grand Master's energy or determination weakened, even although the end was in sight. Every dollar of debt meant an interest charge and the sooner the entire debt was discharged the less the amount necessary to be met in the final settlement. The aim now was to get the Lodges to pay up their quota of $6 per member with as little delay as possible. The new struggle was clearly set forth by the Grand Master, and his officers followed suit. Whenever possible the deputies held meetings of the Masters of Lodges in their districts and discussed the situation, this time from the purely financial standpoint of the Lodges themselves. There was no need of appeal to sentiment. Pay up the quota and get rid at once of the fifty-cent tax was the simple formula set down, and if any sentiment was to be evoked in the cause it was to be aroused in the subordinate Lodges in dealing with their wealthier members. Each member owed a debt of $6. That had to be paid and his Lodge had to pay it or virtually remain not only amenable for the debt, but for that privilege would pay fifty cents a year, rather a high rate of interest. Some of the Lodges, of course, were able to meet this demand at once from their reserve funds, while others raised it jointly by an appropriation from their Lodge resources and a subscription sheet passed among their richer members. Not a few netted a considerable part, if not the whole, of the amount by means of entertainments, some

put a special tax of six dollars on their members, and many, especially in the first year of the new campaign, quietly tried to fold their arms and do nothing. But the energy of the Grand Master soon disturbed the inertia, dissipated the force of the arguments of the pessimistic brethren who still doubted the possibility of success, controverted all rumors calculated to influence the weaker or less well-informed brethren and soon in every Lodge the question of the payment of the quota was the main topic of discussion. The Grand Master continued his visitations throughout the State, learned through his Deputies the exact financial standing of every Lodge and devoted much of his time and a considerable degree of his natural finesse to inducing those able to pay with little or no trouble to do so at once. He felt assured that when half the Lodges had paid their quota the end was not very far off. At the meeting of June, 1887, he was able to report that 238 Lodges had paid and been released from the 50-cent tax. Not only that, but with what the Trustees had saved out of their income, and the receipt of donations the indebtedness had been reduced to $184,868.84. The Grand Master had received from all sources up to that date for the payment of the debt $232,206.12. In October, 1887, the campaign for that Masonic year was inaugurated by the issuance of another encyclical, stating anew the condition of the debt and urging the Lodges to co-operate to the end that the last dollar of indebtedness should be lifted. That year was productive of as much genuine hard work as either of its predecessors, and while

success was in sight not a single strain was relaxed on that account. Those who were assoIciated with the Grand Master even now wonder at the extent of their labors, at their spending night after night and day after day, visiting, writing or consulting. The year's cam⚫paign had not long begun before 300 Lodges

had paid their quota and from many others. came a request that the time limit for the payment, which had been fixed for December 31, 1887, might be raised and they be permitted to subscribe their share as soon as possible. This was granted, subject to the approval of the Grand Lodge (which was duly given), and it may be said that from that time on the situation so far as that point was: pay when you can, and as soon as you can, but until you do pay the 50-cent tax will be kept up. There is no other way to get release from that. By June, 1888, 432 Lodges had paid in full, while of the 285 which had not thus contributed, 119 were credited with payment in part. The debt had then been reduced to $69,500, and toward meeting that $30,086.98 was in the hands of the Trustees. The end was in full sight. That was one of the most memorable meetings the Grand Lodge had ever held and signs of jubilation were on every side. The debt was practically paid off, the wonderful effort of the Grand Master seemed on the eve of accomplishment and the Asylum did not appear to be so very far off. No wonder that a resolution was passed declaring that should the debt be entirely cleared before the next meeting of the Grand Lodge, the Grand Master was "empowered to appoint such committee or committees and make and carry out such other arrangements as he may deem expedient to appropriately celebrate the consummation of this great undertaking." At the meeting of 1889 the Grand Master announced that not only was the entire debt cleared, but that a balance amounting to $18,033 had been paid over to the Trustees of the Hall and Asylum Fund. The following little table, then exhibited, showed the total amount which the Grand

Out of 718 Lodges on the roll 503 had paid. their quota in full and 90 in part. That left 215 which had not contributed, or apparently made no effort to contribute. It may be here stated that at the meeting of 1898 only 68 Lodges, it was announced, remained amenable to the tax. The other 628 Lodges had all paid their full quota.

This wonderful result, it must be confessed, was not accomplished without some painful experiences, painful because they show that honest, well-meant endeavor can be made the subject of falsehood, detraction and calumny, even on the part of those who by their obligations to the craft and their supposed devotion to its interests might have been expected to have been above using such means to thwart an effort which was simply in the interest of paying lawfully contracted debts. From time to time anonymous letters were circulated among the Lodges reflecting on the probity of the Grand Master and his associates and calling in question the singleness of his purpose. Old stories about the financial rottenness of the entire finances of the Hall were re-vamped and it was even alleged that the main object was to build and equip a new hall of palatial magnificence for the New York brethren.

Then there were statements made that the whole movement was simply an advertising scheme, a bid for office on the part of many and a movement by a clique to control for

years to come the destinies of the Grand Lodge. Terrible stories were told of widows and orphans being deprived of their income by the calling in of the 7 per cent bonds, even the law was evoked to declare that they had to run to full maturity, and on the strength of this several petty brokers in the financial district endeavored to make a little money by speculating in them. Some of these scandalous reports found their way into the daily newspapers of the city and attracted wide attention outside the fraternity, while the most virulent appeared in a sheet published by a member of a city Lodge. These things were annoying, sometimes they called for explanation, as on Nov. 2, 1887, when the Grand Master issued a special encyclical bearing on some of them, and the publisher and editor of the Masonic newspaper in question found himself outside the Masonic breast works. Even as the end approached the bitterness of such jackal-like howls seemed to increase in virulence and intensity, nor did they even cease when on April 16, 1889, the last debt resting. on the building was declared satisfied and the craft was in full and free possession of a building which had cost over $2,000,000, and which that year had yielded a revenue, in the shape of rents, of $58,224.99.

on

But annoying as such charges and baseless assertions were, they amounted to little more than specks on the fair surface of the balance sheet of barely four years' determined effort and the heart of the fraternity was with the Grand Master. This was notably seen April 24, 1889, when, in accordance with the orders of the Grand Lodge, the last dollar of indebtedness having been paid, the craft throughout the State held a jubilee or day of thanksgiving. It was a fitting expression of joy and one which was probably unique in the history of Freemasonry. The Grand Master, in setting aside the day, said:

Upon the evening of that day let the brethren throughout the State assemble, either in their usual places of meeting, or elsewhere, as may be found

most convenient, and let every part of our broad jurisdiction echo with one universal acclaim of praise and thanksgiving to the Most High!

That one and all will joyfully unite in this celebration is not for a moment to be doubted, and conceiving it impossible to devise any form of commemoration which would be applicable to the widely varying circumstances that surround the Lodges in this great State, entire discretion is left to all as to the form of exercises which are to be held. It is, however, suggested that they be as far as circumstances will permit, uniform in their character, embracing appropriate addresses, music, and, above all, the offering up of our devotions to the Giver of every good and perfect gift.

The arrangements were in the hands of a committee composed of Frederick A. Burnham, William Sherer and Edward B. Harper, and, besides drawing up a programme which they desired the Lodges to follow, so as to insure uniformity to a certain extent, they caused a beautiful commemorative medal to be struck as an appropriate souvenir "of the great epoch in the history of the craft which this occasion is intended to mark." The programme submitted by the committee contained the following features:

I.

2.

Prayer.

Singing of "Old Hundred."

3. Reading of address by Grand Master. 4. Addresses, musical or literary exercises as may be arranged.

According to the memorial volume, 436 Lodges held meetings on the evening designated, but it is safe to say that there was not a Lodge which did not mark the day in some fashion. All the rooms in the Hall in New York were filled by joint meetings of the Lodges and in the Grand Lodge room was a brilliant gathering. All the meetings reported carried out in detail the programme submitted by the committee. At some the regular meeting of the Lodge or a special meeting was held, at others a public meeting was arranged for at which the speeches were the feature, at not a few the singing, but at all the same note of praise was struck of freedom from debt,

while the long-promised Asylum formed the theme of many voices. Many of the speeches were of the utmost interest, interest to a far wider circle than those who listened to them, and on every side the rare endeavor of Frank R. Lawrence was fittingly acknowledged. We would like to report the proceedings at many of these gatherings and to quote from a number of the speeches delivered, but such an attempt would be far beyond the purpose and limit of this history. A specimen must suffice, and for that purpose we select the one presided over by the Grand Master in person, as it was general in its composition and gave opportunity for him to close his extraordinary campaign and say to the brethren a parting word on its wonderful story. The programme prepared for the meeting was as follows:

cheering which accompanied his entry had subsided, the Grand Master said:

At this time the craft all over the State of New York are engaged in celebrating the happy event which interests us all so deeply.

It was deemed best that some form of exercises should take place in this hall in order that, without attempting to detract from the attendance of brethren at their own Lodges, there might still be a place where those who were not actively connected with any of the Lodges of the State might mingle and offer their rejoicings. It was for this reason, that the exercises to be held in this hall to-night were arranged, in addition to the many other events now in progress under the auspices of particular Lodges.

I invite, my brethren, your attention to the programme which has been placed before you, and I beg to introduce the R.:. W.:. John M. Worrall, who will offer the opening prayer.

The audience stood while the Grand Chaplain addressed the Throne in the following petition:

Almighty and ever-living God, who dwellest between the cherubim, Thou art the God, even Thou alone, of all the kingdoms of the earth; Thou hast made Heaven and earth; Thou who keepest covenant and mercy with Thy servants that walk before Thee with all their heart, accept our service; we honor Thee, we thank Thee, and praise Thy glorious name. Thou hast made of one blood all nations of men to dwell on all the face of the earth; Thou hast taught them to call Thee Father, and to regard one another as brothers; Thou hast declared how good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity, so in the endeavor to realize, even ever so feebly, this unity and fraternity, by kindness, and brotherly love, and benevolence, the organization of which we are a part, and multitudes of whom stand before Thee in glad worship this day, has been long banded together, to disseminate truth, to inculcate the principles of charity and to do works of mercy. Grant Thou, to bless, and to preserve, and to purify, and make more perfect all our Order, and extend more widely its power and influence for good. We thank Thee for all that we have been enabled, by Thy help, to do for our brothers; for the helpless widows and destitute orphans. Not unto us, but unto Thy name be all the glory and honor.

Now we have special reason for thanks and praise, that in this great commonwealth Thou has