Page 325 - Cornelius Hedges Story

For This And Succeeding Generations Gardiner 312

the services of a paid lecturer were dispensed with, after three years
of excellent services by Brother John C. Majors. The numbers of
standing committees, to which mileage and per diem are paid, were
also reduced. On the other hand, one new expense was added in voting
to become a member of the Masonic Relief Association of America.
The choice for Grand Master fell upon Brother Richard O. Hickman,
one of the oldest, best known and generally respected members of
the fraternity. It was in the closing hour of the session, after the
installation of the new officers, and many had withdrawn, that the
question was sprung to rescind the action of Grand Lodge in 1887
adopting the Webb work. It lead to a prolonged and heated discussion,
in which the friends of the adopted work proved for the time to
be in a minority, and the motion to rescind was declared adopted.
It was, however, voted that until Grand Lodge should adopt some
definiteritual, the Lodges might continue to work as they are now
doing. It was low twelve when Grand Lodge closed to participate in
a banquet at the McDermott House tendered by the generous craft
of Butte City. Without contest, the City of Deer Lodge was chosen
as the next place of meeting.
The Twenty-eighth Annual Communication was held at Deer Lodge,
according to decision at the previous communication, but a month
earlier by order of the Grand Master and the general wishes of the
craft, to avoid as much as possible the excitement of the general
election in November. The year, under the wise administration of
Grand Master Hickman, had proved a quiet and prosperous one.
Boulder Lodge was constituted undercharter and a dispensation for a
new Lodge at Kalispell was granted. The membership had increased
to 2,175, a gain of 167. Of the thirty- four chartered Lodges, all but
three were represented.
A stormy session was anticipated, judging from the closing scenes
of the previous communication, on the question of work. On the
contrary it was the most harmonious and profitable communication
on record. For this result the craft were indebted to the wise efforts
of the Grand Master and Grand Lecturer during the year. It had
been fought out in the Lodges during intermission in favor of the
Webb work, and when the decisive hour arrived to which all other
business was made to give way, the work was rehearsed by the Grand
Lecturer, and everyone who had a criticism to make was heard and
some changes were thus made, and then by a decisive vote of 62
to 13 it was adopted and imbedded in the constitution, not easily
subject to change. Such was the good feeling engendered by the