E. H. ADDINGTON

40 APPENDIX—REPORT OF COMMITTEE
him by the Master of the Lodge or a Brother of the same, if within
the length of his cable-tow.' This obligation is taken under very
solemn and impressive circumstances and the candidate expects to live
up to it. He should not only answer and obey the direct orders of the
Master, but he should regularly attend the stated communications of
the Lodge; he should fit himself by study and practice to fill any position
that may be required of him, at the will and pleasure of the
Master, or the Brethren thereof; he should improve himself in Masonry
by studying the history of our Institution and keeping in touch with the
current events transpiring within the Order that redound to its glory
and honor; he should, make it as much of a business to get to the Lodge
room on time as he does to open his store or office or milk his cows
or plant his crop on time; he should leave his little troubles and cross
and cranky notions outside the ante-room and thus be fitted to enter into
sympathetic and loving fellowship with his Brethren, and make. his
presence there a joyful inspiration for genial and elevating companionship.
''
The Grand Secretary, B. W. Bro. John Fishel, reported on the
rolls 25,800 members, a net gain of 838.
The report on Foreign Correspondence was prepared by Bro. Irving
Todd. His review of our Proceedings is that of our convocation of
1910. He contents himself with a resume of our doings, and, by the
way, a very good one.
MISSISSIPPI, 1911.
The Grand Master, M. W. Bro. Walter M. Conner, wisely said in his
Address:
"We have much to be grateful for. Death has not invaded the
official family of this Grand Jurisdiction during the year. No pestilence
has stalked abroad in our land to strike terror to the hearts of our
people; we have reaped bountiful harvests, our people are happy, prosperous
and contented. It is true that some communities in our State
have not been so fortunate, owing to the invasion of the dreaded boll
weevil, but then let us not forget that our God is too wise to make mistakes
and too good to do wrong,, and that He will yet lead the unfortunate
ones out of the gloom and' despair of this misfortune into the
bright and happy sunshine of peace and plenty.''
There are many in Louisiana who see in the visitation of the Boll
Weevil to our cotton fields a very great blessing. It has compelled a
diversification of the crops, teaching the lesson of the unwisdom of
"putting all the eggs in one setting;" and has made Louisiana a great
'' hog and hominy'' State, and has led to a great increase in the cattle
and hay business; and it has led to a great change in the character of
our labor.
We note the following decision.
"July the 4th I received the following: 'Our Lodge has an applicant,
for the degrees in Masonry, who is an ex-convict . He is otherwise
all right. Does the fact that he has served a term in the State penitentiary
disqualify him.' Answer: Most emphatically yes. None should
be made a Mason except those under the tongue of good report and