SECTION xn.

THE GRAND STEWARDS.
The history of the origin of the office of Grand Steward is very fully developed in the various edi- tions of the Book "of Constitutions, and especially in the fourth, or that published in the year 1769. Formerly it was the custom of the Grand Wardens to make the necessary arrangements for regulating and conducting the Annual Grand Feast. But to relieve these officers from this extraordinary trouble, it was ordered in 1721 that they should " take some Stewards to their assistance."' No Stewards were appointed, however, until 1728, when the office was conferred on six brethren, wrho performed the duty of managing the Feast with such satisfaction to the Grand Lodge as to receive the thanks of the Grand Master. Six others were appointed in the follow- ing year, after which we find that no more were
* In tho.se Grand Lodges which have a Grand Pursuivant, but no Sword Bearer, the sword should be borne by the former officer.
21*
490 GRAND STEWARDS.
nominated until 1728. The appointments appear to have been at first made especially for the Annual Feast, and at the meeting of the Grand Lodge pre- vious to it, so that as yet they could scarcely be considered as having taken the rank of permanent Grand Officers. But in 1728, it was resolved that the office should be revived, (which perhaps rather meant that it should be placed upon a permanent footing,) and that the number should be increased to twelve. In 1731, the Grand Stewards, who had been previously appointed by the Grand Master, were permitted to nominate their successors, and finally, in 1735, the Past Grand Stewards were, on petition, constituted into a Master's Lodge, to be called the " Stewards' Lodge," and to be placed as such on the registry of the Grand Lodge. This Lodge was also permitted to send a deputation to the Grand Lodge, consisting of its Master, Ward- ens, and nine members, each of whom was entitled to a vote. But the Stewards of the current year were not allowed to vote, or even to speak in the Grand Lodge, unless desired. The modern Consti- tutions of the Grand Lodge of England have in- creased the number of Stewards to eighteen, and continued the Grand Stewards' Lodge, which is, however, now represented only by its Master, Wardens and Past Masters. It has no power of making, passing or raising Masons, and is not en- titled to a number, although it takes precedency of all the other Lodges.
All of this has been greatly simplified in this
GEANB TILEE. 491
country ; and the Grand Stewards, who seldom ex- ceed two in number, are generally appointed by the Junior Grand Warden. They are possessed of no peculiar privileges. Formerly there was in New York, and still is in Maryland, a Grand Stewards' Lodge, which acts as a committee on the Masonic Hall, on the by-laws of Lodges, and on certain other matters referred to it. It consists of the Grand Officers and Past Masters from the Lodges in Balti- more, and meets during the recess of the Grand Lodge. I know of no other state in which such an organization exists.
The duty of the Grand Stewards is to attend upon the tables during the hours of refreshment, and to assist the Junior Grand Warden in managing the Grand Feast, in iurisdictions where this ancient usage is observed.