Introduction

First, to set the stage with a history of the Grand Orator's office, and let us learn something of the rich heritage of wisdom and grace, since the lessons of the past can teach us to adapt our actions to the demands of the present. It was not until 1856, at the 7th Annual Communication, that Grand Master William H. Howard appointed John F. Morse the first Grand Orator; then in 1857 authorization was obtained "to procure suitable jewels and regalia for the Grand Orator"; and that the 1859 revision of the Grand Lodge Constitution was the first to list the Grand Orator among other Grand Lodge Officers. Then, as still defined today, the Grand Orator's function was "to deliver at each Annual Communication an address to the Grand Lodge, upon matters appertaining to the Craft." (Above Information from Grand Oration by Auri Spigelman, Grand Orator 1995)

The following Orations were scanned from the Proceedings of the Grand Lodge of Free and Accepted
Masons of California. Every effort has been made to insure that the contents of these orations are correct as given. Some spelling of words were different in the older orations, the meaning does not change. For different reasons some years were not published in the proceedings and are not available.

We hope that these orations will give an incite of the past and an education for the future. Some Masonic Historians of today may not agree with information contained in these “Orations” remember they were written with the knowledge they had available at the time.