Under our Grand Constitutions there is no appeal if any Lodge refuses to release jurisdiction when requested, and in order to deal with this difficult situation your Committee unanimously recommends that Part IV, Article III, Section 9, of the Grand Constitutions be amended by adding the following new paragraph after the words "and he shall attach thereto the seal of the Lodge."

And provided further, that in case a Lodge so requested refuses to release jurisdiction over an applicant and the Lodge requesting such release feels that an injustice is done the applicant or the Lodge; in such cases the Lodge requesting such release of jurisdiction shall have the right to appeal to the Grand Lodge, and in all such cases such appeals shall forthwith be referred by the Grand Secretary to the Commissioners of Trials who shall have full power and authority to make a full and careful enquiry into all the circumstances, and if in their opinion Masonic justice demands they shall have the right and authority to direct the petitioning Lodge to receive and act upon the application referred to or, if they so decide, to dismiss said appeal.

In all such cases the decision of the Commissioners of Trials shall be final.

Respectfully submitted,

EDWIN B. HOLMES,

LOUIS C. SOUTHARD,

WM. F. DAVIS,

EMERY GROVER,

WILLIAM H. EMERSON.

The report was accepted.

The M.W. Grand Master ruled that the amendment submitted by the Committee was so radically different from the one submitted to it for

consideration that it must be regarded as a new proposition. The original amendment was specific in its application; the new one is general. He therefore declared that the proposed amendment would take the usual course and referred it to the same Committee, consisting of

It was voted that the recommendation of the Committee be accepted with regard to the proposed amendment to Part IV, Article III, Section 9, and the amendment be rejected.

REPORT OF COMMITTEE ON AMENDMENT RELATING TO DISTRICT CHARITY FUND.

The constitutional notice not having been sent to the Lodges, this amendment was referred to the June Communication.

REPORTS OF COMMISSIONERS OF TRIALS.

R.W. Albert L. Harwood, President of the Board of Commissioners of Trials, submitted the following reports:

CASE OF JAMES T. POLSON.

To the Most Worshipful Grand Master, Wardens, and Members of the Most Worshipful Grand Lodge of Masons in Massachusetts:

In the matter of complaint of

ST. PAUL'S LODGE

vs.

BROTHER JAMES T. POLSON.

Brother James T. Polson was formerly a member of St. Paul's Lodge, but is at present unaffiliated, he having been discharged from membership in St. Paul's Lodge for nonpayment of dues.

The following charges were preferred against Brother Polson by said St. Paul's Lodge, to wit:

1. That he was guilty of the crime of forgery, to which charge he pleaded guilty before the Superior Court in our Commonwealth about April, 1911, and was sentenced to a term in the Massachusetts Reformatory.

2. That he has abandoned and deserted his wife and two small children and entirely neglected to provide for their support.

The whereabouts of said Brother Polson are unknown to his family or to any member of St. Paul's Lodge. Your commissioners therefore proceeded under the provisions of the Grand Constitutions which provides: "If the residence of the accused is unknown, the commissioners may proceed to examine the charges and accusations ex-parte.

In the case of unaffiliated or sojourning Masons if the Board of Commissioners shall determine the charges require investigation, the Board shall thereafter proceed in the same manner as required in the case of an affiliated Mason whose Lodge has determined that the charges require investigation."

From the Court records and evidence presented at the hearing given by your Commissioners in the above case, they find that said charges are true, and recommend that Brother James T. Polson be expelled from all the rights and privileges of Masonry.

The report was accepted, the findings and sentence were approved, and James T. Polson was expelled from all the rights and privileges of Masonry.

CASE OF GEORGE F. KINGSBURY.

To the Most Worshipful Grand Master, Wardens, and Members of the Most Worshipful Grand Lodge of Masons in Massachusetts:

In the matter of complaint of

CALEB BUTLER LODGE

VS.

BROTHER GEORGE F. KINGSBURY.

The complaint charges that Brother George F. Kingsbury, a member of said Lodge from March 8, 1902, to the first week in September, 1914, has been and is an habitual drunkard by the use of intoxicating liquors.

That by said use of intoxicating liquors he has been found guilty and suffered the following penalties and fines: House of Correction, East Cambridge, one term, six months; State Farm at Bridgewater, five terms; fined $15 twice; served a term in the Fitchburg jail.

That during the first week of September, 1914 he was on the streets of Clinton in an intoxicated condition begging for twenty-five cents and claiming to be a member of Caleb Butler Lodge.

From documentary and oral evidence presented to your Commissioners they find the foregoing charges to be true, and recommend that he be expelled from all the rights and privileges of Masonry.

The report was accepted, the findings and sentence were approved, and George F. Kingsbury was expelled from all the rights and privileges of Masonry.