ELISHA S. FITCH.



this Grand Lodge. Having but a few moments since received a copy of
said report, my examination has necessarily been too hurried and imperfect
to justify any comments, and I therefore leave it in the hands of the proper
committee of the Grand Lodge to suggest such action in regard to the inter-
ests of this Grand Body in said Company as they may deem expedient.
             MASONIC WIDOWS' AND ORPHANS' HOME AND INFIRMARY.
  1 am happy to announce that the "Masonic Widows' and Orphans' Home
and Infirnmarv," which for some time has had "a name" only, now rejoices in
the prospect also of "a local habitation." The policv of the Board of Trus-
tees of this institution has been, as you are aware, to solicit donations and
subscriptions for the laudable enterprise, but to take no steps toward the
purchase of any site or property, or to make any permanent investment of
the funds thus realized, until the whole amount necessary to complete the
buildings and endow the charity, had been secured and rendered available.
This policy seemed to be sanctioned by considerations of prudence, and was
pursued with a view to secure confidence in its general management and fi-
nial success. After an honest experiment ot this policy had been made how-
ever, it was found that such abundant caution, on the part of its founders,
operated rather as an hindrance than an help, to the enterprise, and that,
instead of inspiring confidence, it was calculated to beget distrust, and was
often used as an argument against the whole project, defeating further sub-
scriptions, and often becoming a pretext for withholding the payment of
sums already promised. It wvas then determined by the Board of Trustees
-embracing some of the most prudent and sagacious business men of the
State-that this stumbling block should be removed-that the achievement
was worthy of their best efforts, even though involving personal responsi-
bilities, and had already elicited too much of sympathy and hope, to be
permitted to languish, much less to fail of its purpose, and therefore thev
have wiselv resolved to commit themselves an(l the Brotherhood of the
State to the success of the glorious work.
  Accordingly, in addition to the generous donation of a liberal minded
brother of this city, they have negotiated for some adjoining lots, and thus
procured an eligible Site for the proposed "Home," the corner-stone of which
will be luid, with appropriate ceremonies, during our present Grand Com-
munication, and they will at once proceed to erect a suitable building for
the comfort and welfare of those homeless widows and orphans whom our
deceased brethren have confidently committed to our fraternal care and pro-
tection. 1 feel assured that these philanthropic brethren will now be sus-
tained and encouraged as they deserve to be by the whole Masonic fraterni-
ty in this jurisdiction ; that we will consider it our enterprise, as well as
theirs, and accept the responsibilities it imposes. Thoroughly impressed
with the necessity of this great public charity, and the ability of our Breth-



13