GRAND LODGE

630 Proceedings of the [April,
ordered to be deposited with Springfield Lodge, No. 4, subject to the call ot
the brethren of Vandalia, when they shall again organize a lodge at that
place.
Lodge.
On motion of Bro. George Davis, a dispensation was granted Vitruvius
The committee on the New York difficulties presented the following re­
port, which was accepted and the resolution adopted:
The committee to which was referred so much of the Grand Master's
address as related to the difficulties in the Grand Lodge of New York, would
submit the following report:
There now exists in New York three bodies claiming to be Grand Lodges,
and as it is inconsistent with the spirit of Masonry that more than one Grand
Lodge of Ancient York Masons should exercise jurisdiction within the limits
of any State, it vitally concerns the Fraternity at large to inquire into the
causes of the present anomalous state of things in the Empire State; and
here the committee would remark that it is eminently proper to make the
inquiry searching and thorough, for New York has hitherto maintained a
controlling position towards her sister Grand Lodges. Did a trivial innova­
tion find its way into the Constitution of a Grand Lodge, New York was the
first to condemn the wrongdoers; did any unfortunate conflict of opinion
arise between the members of a Grand Lodge, which could but be settled
among her own members. New York was the first to give prominence to the
difficulty, and by making a "mountain out of a mole-hill" produce discord
and strife, where but for her officious intermeddling brotherly love would
have prevailed.
When the fell spirit of demagogue anti-Masonry swept like a tornado
over the northern and eastern portions of our Union, our brethren of Ver­
mont, as faithful followers of the true lights of Masonry as the world ever
saw, were compelled to yield, for a time, to the storm of malice, ignorance
and hatred. But with the " lapse of time " this spirit gave place to a better
feeling, and light was again seen in the East. The clouds of error and su-
l>crstition that so long hovered over the Green Mountain State were rolled
away, and the Masonic "star that never sets" was again visible in the east
ei 11 horizon. Thanks to an overruling Providence and the moral courage of
her noble-hearted Craftsmen, that star now shines with an undimmcd lustre,
giving a pure and radiant light to the votaries of Masonry wheresoever dis­
persed in our country. May she long continue as the " bright particular
star" in the Masonic constellation! It strikes your committee, that the hand
of friendship should have been extended to Vermont when she was emerg­
ing from her grievous troubles, that she was particularly entitled to that
charity which is taught as one of the first lessons in Masonry. But what
was the course of New York ? The very first State that should have said to