Page 308 - Cornelius Hedges Story

295 The Cornelius Hedges Story

that all in present need of a Home can be better provided for without
one. That we shall have a Home as soon as it is really needed and
Brother Clark will be a generous patron and benefactor towards it,
we have never doubted. His judgment as to where, when, and how,
as in other things, may be relied upon. His Masonic administration
was able and successful. There was no rapid growth. In fact for
some years before and after his time we scarcely gained at all in
membership. As our placer mines slackened their yield, the mining
portion of our membership drifted away, many to Deadwood,
Dakota, in fact to every known gold field in the world. It is our
quartz mining, agriculture and stock-raising that has given us a more
permanent population, while the advent and extension of railroads
have fixed the location of towns.
The principal business of the session was the adoption of a code of
by-laws for subordinate Lodges and amendments to the constitution
in connection therewith. The communication lasted three days and
was busy all the time. One matter that gave me great satisfaction
was the reversal of the action of the previous communication in the
case of Miller, alias Osborn. The Grand Master and Bro. Knowles
were enlisted in his behalf and when the final vote was taken it was
unanimous that he be restored to the records in his true name and
granted a dimit.
Without my knowledge or any intimation to me, the Grand Lodge
raised my salary from $300 to $500. I was the only one that protested
that the Grand Lodge could ill afford the raise. This was the first year
that our Treasurer could report a balance in thetreasury. When it
came to the selection of the next place of meeting, the Grand Master
anticipating a controversy had the rules of order read, but the motion
designating Butte as such place of meeting was adopted unanimously.
Bro. John Stedman of Morning Star Lodge was elected Grand Master
and Grand Lodge was closed with the singing of Burns’ Adieu, led
by Bro. Duncan, and this custom was continued for many years.
The FifteenthAnnual Communication was held at Butte, commencing
October 7, 1879, with Grand Master Stedman presiding, and the
same number of Lodges on the roll and the membership increased
about 50, and the revenue increased proportionately. Bro. Stedman
was a native of Maine, had spent some years in British Columbia,
and while living there had taken the blue lodge degrees. He never
went higher, saying that all of the Masonry that he cared for was
contained in three degrees. He was a machinist and a master
workman. He was universally respected for his sturdy character and