Page 300 - Cornelius Hedges Story

287 The Cornelius Hedges Story

At this Communication I gave a historical address which is
published as an appendix, giving many items of early Masonic
experience when they were fresher in mind than at present. It is
a great pity that so many appointed for this service subsequently
failed to respond and contribute of their experiences that find no
place in the official record. There was a renewal of the old strife in
settling upon the place for holding the next Annual Communication.
The Helena Craft were anxious for it, as they expected to be in their
new hall. Bro. Weston was the first outside that small circle that
were present at the organization to attain the Grand Mastership.
There are yet three more successors of Bro. Weston that belong to
the original number — Bros. Sol. Star, J. R. Boyce, Sr., and Hugh
Duncan.
Hitherto our constitution and by-laws had been published with
every issue of our Proceedings. This year, the eighth, it was first
omitted. This frequent republication had a good effect in making
our Masters familiar with the law and the changes that were made
from year to year.
The Ninth Annual Communication was held in the new hall of
the Helena Lodges, October 6, 1873, with Grand Master J.
R. Boyce, Sr., presiding. Of the sixteen Lodges, all but one had
made returns and paid dues. Red Mountain Lodge, No. 12, had
succumbed to the adverse circumstances of a played-out mining
camp and surrendered its charter. Summit, No. 10, was preparing to
follow suit. The membership of the survivors was 633. Theaddress
reports general harmony and prosperity. Visitation to Lodges had
been more frequent than ever before. Two ugly cases of necessary
discipline had interrupted the general peace and pleasure of
the Grand Master’s experience. One Worshipful Master was
suspended for drunkenness. A protest against his installation on
this ground was disregarded. In the other case a Senior Warden,
charged with gambling, was acquitted by the Lodge, though the
accused confessed himself guilty. The Grand Master set aside the
verdict, ordered a new trial, and was personally present to see that
a verdict was rendered in accordance with fact. These experiences
caused the Grand Master in his address to dwell largely upon
the necessity of raising the moral standard and upholding it
consistently and resolutely. These cases of discipline called for
several reports and much discussion, in which the prerogative
powers of the Grand Master were pretty thoroughly canvassed.