Page 328 - Cornelius Hedges Story

315 The Cornelius Hedges Story

had codified and published a new edition of the code, 500 copies,
and distributed the same. The custodians of the work had settled
and agreed upon the work and put it in shape to be disseminated
without a Grand Lecturer, whose office was abolished. Though the
Lodges had been requested to express themselves and instruct their
representatives on the subject of reducing the paid representation
to one from each Lodge, the majority in favor of the change was
not up to the constitutional requirement and the consequence
was that the bill for mileage and per-diem was of appalling
magnitude, nearly double that of the previous year, the result of
meeting at a point so far from the center. The demands for charity
seemed to be increasing and the portion of receipts set aside for
that purpose was increased to 15 per cent. Helena was selected
as the next place of meeting, largely on grounds of economy, and
Brother James H. Monteath of Butte was elected Grand Master.
In spite of the continuance of general depression, the year that ended
with our Thirty-first Annual Communication in October, 1895,
showed a fair increase of members 137 bringing the total to near 2,500.
The number of Lodges increased by two, though one of these was but
a revival of one previously existing at Bozeman, the metropolis of
the rich Gallatin Valley. The other, appropriately named North Star,
was in the northeastern portion of the State on the line of the Great
Northern Railroad at Glasgow, the county seat of Valley County.
Grand Master Monteath was absent much of the year at the East,
and it was during his absence that the death of Past Grand Master
Hickman occurred, and a Special Communication was held at
Helena, July 20th, to pay funeral honors to the deceased, Deputy
Grand Master James H. Mills pre-siding. Brother Hickman’s death
was inexpressibly sad. No one of the craft was more generally
and sincerely beloved and honored. His death was the result of
maltreatment of an accidental wound. Past Grand Master Sanders
delivered an appropriate eulogy. The acts and decisions of the Grand
Master were approved and some legislation perfected that had failed
in many previous trials. Of such was the amendment which made
a single ballot elect for all three degrees. Grand Lodge dues were
reduced to $1.50, but no corresponding reduction was made in
expenses. Some appealed cases, of which there have been very few in
our history, occupied considerable attention The election resulted in
the advancement of Brother James H. Mills to the position of Grand
Master. Brother Mills was even then a veteran editor, widely known,
an elegant writer, a gentleman andscholar, universally respected.
Without any change in the law and with a very full attendance, the
mileage and per-diem was nearly a thousand dollars less than at.