1855 Proceedings - Grand Lodge of Missouri by Missouri Lodge of Research

PROCEEDINGS OF

TH.E GRAND LODGE OF THE

MOST ANCIENT AND HONORABLE FRATERNITY OF

STATE OF }I1SS0URI; CONVENED IN THE CITY OF ST. LOUIS, MaY; A. D" 1855 i A. L. 5855.

SAINT LOUIS, PRINTED BY U. NLEDNER

&, CO"

1'0. 4G THIJll.l 8TREEf. eORNER OF PINE.

PR,OCEEDINGS. The Annual (}ommunlratlon of the mBst Worshipful Grand LodA'e of Andent F rc-q and Accepted Masons of the State of Missouri, was held in the City of St. Louis, commencing on the Fourth Monday, 28th day of May, A. D. 1855. A. L.5855. Were present: M. L. S. CORNWELL, Grand Master, Rt. W. J. W. CHENOWETH, G. S. W., " " O~CAR F. POTTER, G. J. W., " " JOSEPH FOSTER, G. Treasurer, " l' A. O'SULLIVAN, G. Secretary, ,,& Rev. J. F. TRUSLOW, G. Chaplain, " HENRY E. VAN OSDELL, G. S. D, " B. GOLDSMITH, G. J. D., " A. ST1LLE, G. Tyler,

'V.

PAST

GRAN];)

OFFICERS,

Rt. W, Hon. S. W, B. CARNEGY, P. G. M., " B. W. GROVER, P. G. M., "

GEO. H, C. lVIELODY, P. D. G. M., JOHN D. DAGGETT, P. D. G. M" " S. F. CURRIE, p. D. G. M., " /A. T. DOUGLAS, P. G. W., " JOHN H. TURNER, P. G. \V., " S, H. SAUNDERS, P. G. W. The Mo~t Worshipful Grand Lodge of Missouri was opened on the Third Degree, in ample form. Prayer by the Rev. Grand Chaplain. The M. W, Granu Master appointed Bros. De Haven, Hunter, and Houston, a Committee on Credentials. The Grand Lodge of Missouri wa:i ca.lled from labor until half-past three o'clock, ,~

Half-past 3 o'clock, P M. The Grand Lod~e of Missouri- 'was called to Labor by the M. W. Grand Master.

GRAND LODGE A.. F.

MaSONS

Grand officers at their several stations. The Committee on Credentials reported the following Lodges represented, to-wit: Missouri, No.1, Bro. John D. Daggett, proxy for W. M. "Wm. Burden, Jr. W. " :B. Goldsmith, W.I"r. A. Suss, S.W. Meridian, " 2, n Charles S. Hamilton, W. M. Beacon, " 3, " William E. Dillard, W. M. and l'r. Williamsburg, " 8, J. W. " J. 'V. Crane, W. M~. W. S. SwimGeorge Washington, 9, " mer, S. W., J. H. l\fcAlpin, J. W. " Dan Conway, W. l\i• Smith, " 13, " Wm. '\-V. Reynolds, W. :M. .I1uburn, " 14, " T. K. Vau~han, W. M. Clarks-ville, 17, ~ " J. W. Hemphill, pro J. W. " Robert Cillnan, W. M. Palmyra, " 18, :, D. H.Moss, M. W. Paris Union., " 19, ~ " S. A. Rawlins, S. " W. Connor, W. M., pro S. and J.W. St. Louis, '" 20, " John 'V. Hanson, pro W. M. " James H ..McLane, S. W. Napfhati, " " James W. Burry, J. 'V. .,; N. P. Kunkle, 'V. M. St. John's, " 23, " H. E. Van Osd.ell, pro W. M. " 31, Liberty, S. and J. Vv. " H. E. Peebles, \V. M. and pro Lafayette, " 32, S. and J. W. " J. R. Clark, W. M. Jl'Ie1'CCt, " 35, " S. Houck, pro W. M., Cooper, " 36, ~ D. De Haven, pro S. "YV. " Alex. T. Douglas, vV. M. and. pro .:Mount M01·ialL, " 40, S. W., L. "~Yo Mitchell, J. vV. " Charles W. Stewart, VV. 1\-1. Jefferson City, " -13, 'I. D. J. l\1arqllis, pr. W. M. Bonlwmrne, " 45, J . H. HaH, pl·. S. W. Jl,Itlrl/w Washington, 46, " "Y. J. Brown, "Y. 1H. Davitl McKinney, J. W. Thomas Cmd, pro S. vV. " 48, Fulton, " J. 'V. Boulware, .T. VV. " 50, MidJlefo'JJn, " John "TN. Jam(;~, \V. 1\1. John H. Turner, W. '1\1. " 51, Liv'ingston, " J. F. Houston, pro "'rV. M. " 52, IVahu:ltJa, "

'V.

25'~

OFTRE STATl OF MISSOURI.

Weston,

" 53,

.arrow Rack,

" 55.,

" 56, " 60,

Platte,

.New Bloomfield, St. .'Alary's, Savanna, .Danville, Eureka,

.!lsI/ley,

" 75, " 76, " 77,

Lebanon, Polar Sta1',

" 79,

Bridgeton,

" 80,

:Ali/chell,

" 86,

Perseverance,

" 92,

St. .lIfarks,

" 93,

Greene,

" 101,

Relief, Miami, New .lIJad,·id,

" " " "

Plalfsburg,

Ve1'sailles, Foster,

Erwin,

Hennan, .!lthens,

" "

Constantine, " Plzamix, All of which i:i

J. H. Robinson, W. M. Stark M"nzee, J. W. " C. W. Pharr, W. M. " Rev. J. F. Truslow, pro W. M.

73,

Independe;nce.

J. W. Wm. Cristison, S. W. J. P. Howe, pro W.M.S. andJ.W• G. W. Eutler, S. W.

" " " O. H. P. Craig, pro W. M.

63,

H 71, " 72, ,~

James N. Burnes, pre S. W. G. W. McLane, pro J. W. Oscar F. Potter, pro W. M. Sand

A. l\letcalf, W. M.

N. Wall, W. M., C. H. Brenan, S. "V., T. E. Courtenay, pro J. W. J"mes H. Garrett, S. '.tV. 1\:1. "tV. L. S. Cornwell, G. M. pro W.M.

" "

~ ~

105, 106, 108, . 113,

" "

" " " "

B. W. Gorin, W. M. Thomas B~lts, pro S. W.

E. Lea, J. 'V. J. F. Schiefer, W. M. J. 'V. Chenoweth, pro W. lVI. T. W. Booth, pro S. and J. 'W. W. Killebruri, pi'. S. alld J. \V. D. Parsons, pro W. M., S. and J. W.

R.H. Hatcher, pr."tV.lH.S. and J .W. James H. Birch, Jr., pro W. M., S. and J. "V. " James Livingston, 117, " Isaac HUBter, W. 1\1. 119, " C. -YV. Horn, \V. M. " A. C. Erfurt, S. \V 121, " F. W. Rosenthal, J. 'V. " \V. Vogel, S. 'V. 123, " W. l\I. Albin, S. 'V. 127, " A. ~I. Bedford, 'V. M. " 'YilJiatn H. Goodin, J. 'V. 136, "'Villi:lIl1 Bolton, W ..M. respectfully submitted.

D. DE

HAYEN,

Js..~AC HlT~TEIl,

JOHN IIocsTON.

GRAND LODGB A.. F. A. MASONS

The M. W. Grand Master declared a qUaI urn present for the transaction of Lusiness. The M. W. G. Master then delivered the following address: My Brethren of the Grand Lodge of .Missouri: Through the kindness of the only living and true God, we are permitted once more to a:osemble in this HaJJi dedicated to purpcses of uniH!rsal ben~volence, by an in~tilution, whose leHdirlg tenets are"Brotherly love, relief and trulh,i' and whose characteristic is free and voluntary service. Let Ul) therefore return unto Him our devout thanks ftlr his superintending care over ns during the past Masonic Year; acknowledgin~ his ptovidence, and implore his aid in our present. delibetations. Not forgettipg the moral lesson taught u.s by the emblem that adorns the centre of the checkered pavement of our mystic temple, we meet a~ the representatives of the Subordinate Lodges throughout the S'ate, all haYing the same ends in view, that of "conciliating true friendship among thotle who might otherwise have remained at a per pel ual distance." I am gratified in being able to announce to the Grand Lodge, that as far as my information extends, the craft throughout our jurisdiction is bl~s~ed with pro!'perity and health. We are at peace with ourselves, and at peace with all our sigter Grand Lodges, no~hing of an unpleasant nature having transpired in any of our Masonic loelations that required del~islve action of me, except such as were of a local and temporary character, and nIl have, I believe, been amicably settled to the satisfaction of all parties, with slight exceptiollloC) and tho~e of but litlle importance. Notwithstanding, the craft laboring in the ~Tec;t have been blessed with comparative good health , yet we hear a voice coming up from the South, that one of our beaullful columns has fallen: Brother Edmund P. Hunter, Grand :Master of the Grand Lorfge ot Virginia, has been called by the Grand Master of the Universe, from labor upon earth, to partake of a fea.. t prepared for the righteous, in the Grand Lodge above. Brother Hunter was called from the active and responsible duties of the craft; he died with the Star of Masonry emblazoned upon his breast, an armorial more noble than that worn by the legion of honor, so milch prized durjn~ the early part of the present century. His virtue~ and talents called him to occupy the most distinguished rank amon~ his breth('rn of Virginia, and from that high position, he was cut off to enojys ble!'sings such as mor~ality is not permitted to tlee. May his virtues remind us of that "purity of life and conduct which is essentially necessary to our gaining admission"

0.,. 'I'D STATE OP MISSOURI.

to. the feast that he now so bountifully enjoys, when like him we shan have pa!lsed the Jordan of death, and arrived at the gates of the celes~ tial city, may we be enabled to pronounce the palsword, and receive th~ welcome-HEnter ye blessed of my Father." During the month ot July last I received a cnmmunication. from the Secretary of Liberty Lodge No. 31, furnishing me with a copy of a resolution passed by that Lodge, on the 24th June previous, in regard to the appointment of a D. D. G. M. for the Third Masonic District~ denouncing the action of the Grand Master, as being unmasonic 8nd illegal, therefore disregarding said appointment. I at once ordered said Lodge to expunge the said resolution from its records. or cease labor ender their Charter. Accordin.sly at a meeting held in the month of August following, of which but ten of the members were notified, said meeting, by the clsting Yote of the Worshipful Ml~ter, resolved not to expunge said resolution, tut suffer their Charter to be arrested. Subsquently upon the Petition of a number of Brethren at that place, having been members of the Lodge previously, promising a strict obedience to the laws of the Grand Lodge, &0., I restored to them their Charter and furniture. Recently I have received a communication from the Lodge informing me, that the action had in August last, was not a fair expression of the feelings of the members of that Lodge. I am now happy to state, that from informama'ion received from the D. D. G. M. of that District, the Lodge has never been more harmonious, prosperous and happy. I have, durin~ the Masonic Year, received a number of communications from various parts ot the State upon questions of Masonic law and uSllge, growing out of difficulties among the craft, which, I believe, have all been healed and peace restored. Seeming difficulties frequently arise in Lodges~ growing out of mere questions of expediency, that really involve no principle of l\tfasonic law or usage, except that of "who can best work and be~t agree." This being lost sight of, and s~range principles incorporated in lieu thereof. My advice to my Brel.hern has universally been: sacrifice eveIything but principle for !wrmony, to let no mere question of expediency destroy harmony, which is the cement and support of Masonry, but always sacrifice the less for the greater good. In obedience to a resolution of the Grand Lodge, at its lut communicatIon, I summoned the Brethren therein named to meet me at the Library Room of the Masonic College, on the 25th day of July last, and acquit themselves of the wrong camplained of in said resolution, by designating the Brethren and specifying the acts done, which were

GRAND LODGE A. J1'. A. MASONS

"calculated to reflect discredit upon the order." They promptly obeyed, and the persons designated were-Brothers B. W. Grover, A. Patterson, and myself. The acts were, that Brother Grover, as Grand l\-Iaster, had recommended the putting on an additio:lal story to the Boarding house of the Masonic College, wherein the Board of Curators transcended the appropriation made by the Grand Lodge, he promising to have the action of the Board approved by the Grand Lodge, at its next communication, and failed to do so. That Bro. A. Patterson had been appointed a member of the Buildb~g Committee, and acted as such for a time, afterwards refused to serve, and denied having taken any part as or being a member of said Committee, and myself, for the answer made to a suit brought against the Grand Lodge, by one of the mechanics employed by them in building the Boarding-house, upon a lien filed in the Lafayette Co. Court, all of which, with their arguments in the case, is on file in the Grand Secretary's office. Also, by authority of another resolution, passed at your last communication, I negotiated a loan for $1,500, upon a mortgage given upon the College property, in favor of Mr. Henry Thompson, of Johnson county, Mo. The note will be due about the 1st October next; also, three mortgages executed to several members of the old Board of Curators, for the d.mount of money advanced by them for building the Boarding-house, amounting in the aggregate, including interest for one year, to $2,058 41, which notes will be due about lst August next. The funds received upon the first named mortgage have been paid to Secretary of Board of Curators, and applied according to the direction of the Grand Lodge. I have endeavored during the year to ascertain as near as possible our financial condition, but for want of a uniform system of keeping the accounts and books of the different Boarus of the Grand Lodge, our true conuition cannot be arrived at with any degree of exactness. OUf endowment fund, as reported in 1853, to be $53,198 00, I find to have been greatly exaggerated. The a~ent appointed by the Board of Curators not yet having made his final report, nor in fact any report to the Board since his appointment, leaves the matter in doubt and uncertainty, as to the real amount now available. I am satisfied, however, that not more than $30,000, or $35,QOO can be relied upon as a sure source to meet the expenditures on account of the College. I have a~certaineJ from the Board of Curators, that there is now owing to the "fac.ulty of the College, individuals on contracts for the building of the Boarding-house, and for other incidental expenses connected there-

OF :rBE. STATE OF MISSOURI.

with, the sum of $ , to meet which we have the interest now due on the Endowment Fund, together with the tax on degrees, and such surplus as may be on hand after defraying the expenses of the present communication, 'estimated at $2,000, leaving a deficit of $ , to be provided for. It is well, my Brethern, for UI to consider our ways, and adopt some means whereby the Grand Lodge may be relieved of debt. The College is suffering more from pecuniarv embarrassment than from any other cause; it has during the past year been liberally patronised, as much so as any institution of learning in our State, and I feel confident that if once relieved of debt, and the endowment fund of $50,000 made complete, and placed upon a sure basis, the institution can live without further pecuniary aid from the Grand Lodge. The question then arises, hoW' can our debts be liquidated? how can the frater~ity relie've itself from a debt that hangs heavily upon it? I learn that we have about $1,700 ill the hands ofthe Grand Treasurer, besides about $600 due the Grand Lodge, by individuals which I have requested Bra. Grand Secretary to endeavor to collect. We also have unsold lands and town lots worth, say $800, but how much of the foregoing can be made wailable I am unable to say. We have the last payment made upon the old Marion property, amounting in cash to $2,100, heretofore set apart as a Library and Aparatus Fund; we also have in the hands of the College Fund Commissioners $1,773 ~2 principal, and one year's interest now due. Thus, my Brethren, you have the whole assets of the Grund Lodge before you, as well as its liabilities, as far as I am able to ascertain them. and in view of all the facts and circumstances, would it not be better for us to dissolve the Board of College Fund Commissioners, and appropriate that fund, as weB as the Library and Aparatus Fund to the payment of our debts, and thus relieve the continual clamor set up by our creditors. It may be argued by some, that the funds arising from the sale of the Marion property was; heretofore set apart sacredly, for a specific purpose, and that the College fund was created for the support of desti路 tute orphans-both in themselves laudable objects; but let us be just before benevolent. If the Grand Lodge has by resolution or otherwise, tied up her own resources, the sooner she frees herself from her shackles the hetter~ We are now boarding, clothing and eduoatiDg a number of orphan children at the Masonic College, from means derived from different sources altogether. The aparatus of the Masonic College, is more extensive and better than some other Colleges of

GlfAND LODGE A. F., A. MAs()NS

three times its age, and a library sufficient for ihpurposes for years to come. As for the condition and future prospects of our College, I would refer vou to the report of the Board of Curators, and would b~g leave to suggest, that a code of Laws for the government of the Board of Curatou and Endowment Fund Commis!iionerF be adopted at this communication, as the only laws now in existence for th.eir I!0vernment are those adopted for the College while locaetd in l\farion connty, not at aU applicable to its present organizal ion or wants. I would also suggest, that they be as ~pecific and defini'.e in d~tail as to be easily understood, And suffiaientJy stringent to hold each and all. responsible for the duties enjoined by them. The Grand Lodge is annually making large appropriations for the support of that institution, which is all, no doubt, disbursed according to instructions. Yet for want of a law to ~overn their lIystem of book k~epin~, one not familiar with the alLirs of the CoJlege, would be pllzzlei to ascertain lr trace out fully any appropriation made. In order, in part, to remedy this defect, I requested Bro. Grand Secretary, in April last, to yisit the city of Lexington, and make an examination and such sugl:!estions and instruct.ions as he might thmk would make the whole matter more sati:;;faetory, and also to assist the Secretary of the Board of Curators in making a settlement with the College Agpnt. I have requireri extra services of our worthy Brother, for which I hope the Grand Lodge will amply remunerate him. I have received reports from the D. D. G. Masters of the 2, 3, 4, 6, II, 12, 13, 15, 17, 18,19,21, an:! 24~h Districts, and am happy to state, that from them 1 learn that peace and harmony seem to prevail throughout the State; a general complaint, however, exists for the want of instrtlc'ion and a greater uniformity in the work and lectures, an evil to whichI wi:;;h to call the e!ilpecial attention of the Gr. L. I am aware that we have a law upon our statute book, requiring that no Lodge shall recommend any petilion for a di~pensa1ion for a new Lo~ge, unless the three officers named in said di!>pensation, are able to confer the Degrees, according tt) the work and lectures adopted by this Gran 1 Lod~e, a requi~ition, that in but few~ if any cases, can be complied with by either party. My Brethren, there is no dillguising the fact, there are but few, if any, Lodges within our jUli!ldiction, that can decide what the work of the Grand Lod~e of Missouri is. I presume that alluded to is the w'lrk reported by Ollr D~legat.e'J to the Baltimore Convention, ir. the year 1843, and only those Lodges that have been fortunate enough to receive the Lectures from those Brethren,

('I'

THK STA.TEOr MISSOURI.

know what it is, for it will be remembered, that the Grand Lodg-e has adopted a dIfferent text book from that recommended by said Convention. It is true we have had a. Grand Lecturer, annually appointed since that time, but how many Lodgt's have Leen instructed in the w~rk? 'Tis al~o true we ha\Oe twen1y-four D. D. G. Masters, but how many of them know the work as adopted by the Grand Lodge? 1he consequen(:e is, our whole sytltem of communicating instruction ha~ totally failed, and thick darkness seem to hang over the subordina'es, to d spel which will require years of toil and labor. The question naturl:Jlly arises, how can the end so devoutly wished for be accomplished? The increase of D. D. G. Milsters will not remedy the evil. First, from the tlifficulty of procuring the services of c,)mpetent Brethren; Second, from the great diversity of work which is prac'isec1 throughout the State; and Third, even though competel1t Brethren could be found to discharge the dutie~ of D. D. G. M., and were in possession of fhe work as authorized to be taught by the Grand Lodge. Their official visits, which they annually make to the suhordinates in their jurisdiction, are too limited to effect any permanent good. Therefore, if the Grand Lodge deem uniormiry in work important to the well-being of it~ subordinates, I hope that some measure may be adopted at this commullication, to accomplish so desirable an end--some plan whereby all itinerant lecturing may be discontinued, no lectures permitted except by authorised Brethren, and none authorized but those competent to teach. I would therefoI e beg leave to sug-gest. that some brother well skilled in the work, lfcturp.s and principles of our beloved institution, be employed by the Gr. L., whu shall devote his whole time in vi:oiting and lecturing the Lodges, spending as mnch time with each Lodge as in his discretion may be deemed necessary, having sufficient ~ulhority as to require obedience to hill teaching, and enforce his lawful commands, wi:h lluch restrictions with regnrd to cvmpensation as may not be too burthensome to the subordinate Lodges; that the Gr. L. should pay him a s:ated salary, contributions from the subordinate Lod/?;es should be paid iuto the Grand Lodg-e. It might be mad~ his duty to collect the interest on Scholarships from Lodges failin~ to send up their returns, also to increase the Endowment Fund of the Colleg-e by the sale of additional Scholarships to Lodges and individuals who have not aJrendy purchased, and perform such other duty as the Grand Lodge or Grond M;;ster Jnay require of him, not interfering with the main object of his appointment. I would also suggest the propriety ot constituting him the proper authority to decide questions of Ma~onic jurispru-

GRAND LODGE A. P. A. MASONS

dence for the subordinate Lodges, thereby having those questions settled, more consistent with the true principles and spirit of Masonry than the present-too prevalent practice. I allude to Masonic Publica路 tions, where columns are filled from month to month with queries and replies, divulging to the idle gaze of the world any difficulties that may unhappily exist in the subordinate Lodges; asking frequently such questions as in themselves are of no importance whatever. For example: "What part of a Lodge Room should the stove be placed ?" Prohibit the members of the subordinate Lodges from having queries published, that arise from difficulties or difference of opinion growing out of t he action of the Lodge. It is to be lamented that some editors and conductors of Masonic publications, have no more discretion than what appears to be among their less informed Brethren. Itmay, perhaps, require three or four years to carry out and accom路 plish the object referred to, but to my mind the amount of good to the fraternity would be inca.lculable. I conceive the perpetuity of the subordinate Lodges mainly depends upon the Masonic light and intelligence possessed by them, thus we need skilful artists in every Lodge, to fit, prepare and polish each piece of material introduced into the building. It i5 unnecessary for me to say to the intelligence of this Grand Body, that the Endowment of the Masonic College, depends upon the perpetuity of its present subordinates. Should a similar plan to the foregoing be adopted, I would further suggest the propriety of prohibiting the authorized Lecturer of the Grand Lodge from conferring Degrees, called by some, even in this country, "Adoptive masonry;" by others, "Female masonry," or side Degrees, thereby imposing upon the credulity and intelligence of our wives and daughters. How can any well informed Lecturer, who has an honesty of purpose in communicating the work of Masonry, divert the attention of his hearers with the so-called Degrees, and attach to them the name of l\1asonry; it is an attempted imposition upon the inteHigence of the craft. The rapid increase of our Lodges and members is a subject that requires serious attention, as days of adversity too frequently follow those of prosperity. In the languge of our P. G. M. McBride, in his report to me, as D. D. G. M. of the 11 th District: "We are affording too many facilities for making l\'Iasons; we are opening the door of the Lodge 100 wide; we are making Masonry too cheap to be properly appreciated," in which sentiment I heartily concur. We find too many of our Brethren in good standing, as they term it, with their own Lodge, whose habits will not bear the test of the Master'& emblem; dissipa-

OF THE STATE OF MISSOURI.

tion, drunkenness, gaming and profanity are evil~ we daily have to encounter. The name of that being who said amidst thunders and lightning upon the top of Mount Sinai-"Thou shalt not take the name of the Lord thy God in vain," is daily profaned by members of the Masonic Fraternity, who openly publish to the world, that" a Mason is bound by hilJ tenure to obey the moral law." My Brethren, how can these evils be remedied; there is not a lecture given, not an emblem explained, and not a charge or precept read in our Lodges, but admonishes the hearer of the importance and propriety of abstaining from the wicked vices above alluded to-vices, the practice of which is derogatory to the character of a Mason. I hope that all who are found guilty may be kindly admonished (for they are our Brethern) as often 3S there is any probability of reclaiming them, and if they still persist, cut them off, no matter how painful the operation. Unless the evil is arrested, we may look for another political excitement, dema... gogues will endeavor to ride into office by arraying the masses against our order; they will point to the vices and irregularities of our Brethren, and wield them as mighty engines to control popular prejudice, ignorance and bigotry. Purity of life and conduct of the members of a Lodge, will rear a column of strength that will withstand all the malice of a wicked world; it is the basis upon which we rest the perpetuily of our glorious conservative institution. \Ve must away with the too prevalent idea, that ~Iasonry will make a good man out of corrupt material, nothing short of the spirit of our Supreme Master can effect that change. We lay no claim to works of omnipotence, never admit an unworthy man, with the hope that Masonry will make him better; admit only good material. I wonld, my Brethren, as a general regulation, that the formation of Lodges were restricted to only one in a county, except in towns or cities, \vhere it may be necessary to have more; as it now is, our State is becoming dotted over with Lodges, at every village and cross-road, some of them scarcely able to keep alive, doing but little good for themsehes or the fraternity at large. I have recciyed the proceedings of the National lVlasonic Convention, held at \Vashinglon Cily durin~ the month of January last. A series of articles of confederation was adopted, "for the purpose of establishing a uni!y of interest, desig.ll and purpose ~mong the several Grand Lodges of the U. S." A great many objections thatherctolore have been urged by the Brethren opj:>csing a General Grand Lodge, [)Joe obviated. Tllil plan proposed is, that all difficulties existing between two or more Grand Lodges, that cannot be settled by their own

GIUND LODGB A. F. A. MASONS

action, shall be submitted to the several Grand I..odges composing 5aid confederation, and the concurrent decision thereon of two-thirds of the whole number shall ~eU)e the question authoritatively. The convention earnestly solicits the earl) action of the several Grantl Lodges upon the pl;m propol'led. Thus, my Brethre'1, I have endeavored to lay before YQU the con. di:ion of M:asonr)" within the jurisdiction of the Grand Lodge of l\fi.. IOUri, pointing out to your consideration what is believed to be evils of no small magnirude, and suggesting such remedies as, in my judgment, are best calculated to heal them. 1 lay no claim to any superiQr s~gacity or foresight above my Brethren, neither ha'"e I vanity enough to suppose that the remedies 1 have sUg'gested are the best that can be adopted. I will be pleased, if the Grand Lodge will adopt snoh measures as they may deem expedient aud necessary, Having performed my duty to the best of my ability, I return to you my sincere thanks for the high honor you have conferred in c.lling me to preside over your deliberations, and for your future harmony and prosperity you have my constant prayer.

L. S. CORN\VELL. Which was on motion of Bro. Houston, referred to a Committee of three, consisting of Bro~. Potter, Pettit and Houck. On motion of Bro. Peebles: Resolv~d, That the Representatives of Subordinate Lodges, be allowed to vote, and sit iii this Grand Lodge without their proper jewels. Adopted, On motion, The rt>ading of the minutes of the last communication of this Grand Lodge was dispensed with, the members being furnished with the printed proceedings. Adopted. On mo:ion of Brother Whitoomb: Resolved, That De leg:1tes from Lodges U. D. be allowed seats and be permitted to pa.rticipate in debate at this Convocation of the Grand Lodge. Adopted. The Chairman on Foreign Correspondence, Bro. J os. Foster, read his report, which was received and laid on the table for the present. The Grand Lodge of Mil'souri was called from labor until half past eight o'clock to-morrow morning. TU:ESDA. Y MORNING, 8 1-2 o'olook. The Grand Lodge of Missouri was called to labor by the M. W, Grand Master.

OF TIlE STATE O.. lfISSOURI.

Grand Officers at their several stalionâ&#x20AC;˘. Prayer by the Grand Chaplain. Minutes of yesterd~y's proceedings read and approved. The M. W. G. Master appointed the following Committees: U'!fini,hed BUline.tS.-Bros. J. W. Crane, Thomas Curd, Isaac Hunter. Chartered Lodges.-Bros. Oeo. Whitcomb, G. W. McLane, J. R. Clark, "lm. Bolton, S. Houck. Lodges U. D.-Bros. Jno. H. Turner, 0. H. P. Craig, B. Sharp, J. W. McAlpin, J. \V. Hemphill. Account.r.-Bro!l. H. E. VanOl'dell, J. N. Burnes, J. H. Birch, Jr. Ways and .iVeans.-Bros. A. Patterson, Geo. Pettit, H. E. Peebles, A. W. Bradford. Charity.-BroFo. J. Houston, J. F. Schiefer, S. H. Saunders. Applications and Communications.-Bros. C. Levy, C. 'V. Horn, J. W. Chenoweth. Masonic College.-Bros. S. W. B. Carengy, W. M. Reyonds, O. H. P. Craig, N. Wall, A. T. Douglas, B. W. Grover. Grievance.-Bros. H. E. Peebles, Isaac Hunter, D. Conway, W. H. Goodin, J. D. Daggett. A cammunicl\lion from the M. W. G. Master, in relation to ByLaws of St. Louis Lodge, was received and referred to a special Committee, consisting of the following P. G. Masters. B. W. GROVER, S. \V. B. CARNl:GV,

J OSl:PH

FOSTER.

Bro. Whitcomb offered the following: Resolved, That the action of the Grand Lodge of Kentucky, on the ... ubject of Border difficulties, be referred to a select Committee. The M. W. Grand Master appoLlted on said Committee: Bros. GEORGE W HITCOlllB, GEO. PETTIT, ROBT. H. HATCHER.

Bro. Raphnel offered the following: WHEREAS, This Grand Lodge has satisfactory evidence of the fact, 1hat by the great fire in the city of Weston, on the 8th of March last, Weston Lodge No. 53, lost everything belonging to said Lodgebooks, papers, &c., excepted, and is now engaged in rebuilding and re-furnishing their Hall. &solved, That the dues of Weston Lodge .No. 53, for the past year, be remitted by this Grand Lodge. Adopted.

GRAND LODGB A. P. A. MASONS

Brother Houston offered the following:

Resolved, That the Grand Lodge go into the election of its Officers for the ensuing year to-morrow morning at ten o'clock. Brother Burnes offered the followihg: Resolved, That the propo~ed amendment to the By-Laws submitted at the last Communication, and to be found on page 97 of printed proceedings, be now taken up and made the special order for three o'clock P. lIf. On motion of Brother Levy, The report on Foreign Corresponaence was taken up and after debate it was on motion ordered to be printed with the proceedings of the Grand Lodge. To the 1\lost lVorshipful Grand Lodge of Missouri: Your Committee on Foreign Correspondence again present their Annual Report for your approval. The proceedings of our sister Grand Lodges presented to us by the Grand Secretary, are full of interest to the reflecting Mason. On a careful perusal, we find but little difference of opinion on any important point-not more than may be annually looked for, while men are restricted to the use of words, those uncertain and too often feeble exponents of thought. Yet we may well rejoice to find that those differences, whether apparent or real, are discussed with a strongly marl.;:ed courtesy, but too seldom found without the bounds and influences of our Fraternity. "ALL H.UL:' then to those fraternal greetings of our sister Grand Lodges-those nnnual harbingers of "Peace on Earth and good will to men," may each returning year enlarge their sphere of usefulness - " lengthen their cords and strengthen their stakes ~'-until 19noranee and Sup~1路sWion, the only supports of the Tyrant and the B1路got, shall cease to exist, Rnd MAN: created in the likene~s and image of his MAKE:k, shall stand forth erect III the full force and power of his social and moral natures, ,. With none to molest or make him afraid."

CALIFORNIA. The business of this Gran~ Lodge was conducted in peace and harmony. The <!rldress of the Grand. Master, and the report of the Correspondence Committee are both interesting documents. From the former we make the foUowin~ extract: ,~ It is not sufficient, in examining the character {lnd qualifications of a candidate for our mysteries, that nothing can be said tlgdnst him. He should be recommended for his vi-dues, unspotted before the world, and pronounced well-tanned, true, and trusty, so that his Mason~c

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OF THE STATE OF MISSOURI.

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edifice may be erected with pleasure to himself and honor to the fraternity. 1 feel it to be incumhent upon me, at this time, to caution the several Lodges in this jurisdiction, touching the cnre which should be exercised in investigating the moral character of all applicants for our mysteries. 1 do this because facts have come to my knowledge which warrant the opinion that snch care ill not taken. The fact that so m:lny Masons have been made during the last year, is ~ufficient to awaken suspicion that 80me may have entered the porlals of our Masonic Edifice wi:hout that scrutiny which the principles and purity of our Institution demand."

MINNESOTA. Our Brethren of this Grand Lodge appear fully im pressed with the responsibilities resting on them as the hend of the craft in that jurisdiction, and~ doub~less, will fully adhere to the ancient rules of the order.

IO'VA. This Grand Lodge is engaged in the noble work of collecting a Masonic Library for the use of the craft in ,that jurisdiction, and have already far outstripped us, by procuring many valuable works on Masonry.

MAINE. Onr Brethren of this Grand Lodge, beholding as they do the first rays of the rising SUll, appear to follow the light of our Order dili. gently. The report of the Committee on Foreign Correspondence is a very able proJuction, filled with remarks on many interesting subjects, which, if perused as it should be, by all, is well calculated to impress the mir!d with much of the beautiful workings of our Order. May we have more reading Masons and then we shaJl be spared the pain of seeing so many stumble in their work, and fuil in their daily walk and conversation be-fore the world.

WISCONSIN. The proceedings of this Grand Lodge 'present the Craft in a prosperous condition in that jurisdiction.

NEW HAMPSHIRE. The Grand Master's address, and the report of the Correspondence Committee are well written documents, both calculated to effect much good for the Craft.

VERMONT. The proceedings of this Grand Lodge were harmoniously conducted under the supervision of Grand Master P. C. Tucker, whose annual address bears the impress of the Mason whose heart is in the right place-e,"er ready to perform his whole duty. We subjoin the fololwing from his annual address: 2

GRAND LODGE A. F. A. MASONS

" I said to my brethren of this grand lodge at our last communication tbat they might consider the office of grand master always resigned on my part, without any formal or periodical declared public resignation. If I have ever sought Masonie elevation 路itwas with a higher motive than to gratify any personal ambition. Limited in my sphere of usefulness by my position in life I have always found myself possessed of a disposition to do good where I could. This institution offered me the best means within my power. How I have improved it, must rest in the judgment of others. " So far as Masonic elevation and honor are concern~d, my strongest aspirations have been, for years, satisfied to the full; but I, by no means, whh it to be understood that Masonic honor has tired me of Masonic duty. Thirty-two years of Masonic life have always found me at some act.ive post, and it is my happiness to believe, lnat the time still reserved for me ill this life will not find me more sluggish than in the past. I prefer dying with the harness of industry upon me, rather than to die in the most palmy state of ugeless ease. I neither seek nor decline office. I am content to retire from my present elevation at any moment, and equally content to respond to any duty which my brethren, in their wisdom, may see iit to assign to my care. I have no inclination to keep myself too long in the way of the elevation of others. There are able brethren among us who have labored long with the old guard of the order, for our preservation and re-establishment in Vermont, and whom I would gladly see at your head. Whenever it pleases you to place them there-be it now or at any other time-I shall be found as industrious and sincere a laborer in the ranks as I have ever been in the oriental chair." We have also before us the proceedings of the Grand Lodge of Vermont for January, 1855. We should be pleased to extract largely both from the Grand Master's address and the report of the Correspondence Committee, but our space will not admit. Masonry can but prosper in the hands of our Br-ethren of Vermont.

NEW JERSEY. We extract the following resolution, so full of interest to every jurisdiction, and hope that our brethren will perfect their good work so happily begun: "Resolved, That this Grand Lodge recommend to the subordinate Lodges under its jurisdiction the creation of a voluntary subscription fund, to be sacredly devoted to the establishing of a charitable building fund for the purpose of purc:hasing the necessary land and erecting thereon a suitable building or buildings for a ' Home for Free Masons, their Widows and Orphans,' said fund to be created by the free will contributions of the members for that purpose; and all sums so collected to be transmitted to the Grand Secretary, at each annual communication of the Grand Lodge, with the usual reports of fhe secretaries, to be by him paid into the hands of three or more trustees, who shall be appointed by the Grand Lodge .to receive such moneys,

CF THE STATE OF MISSOURI.

and invest them to the best interest of said fund, as they may be directed by the Grand Lodge. "Resolved, That in the scheme thus proposed, the Grand Lodge recognises R means by which a Mason's charity may be exerted to the greatest advantage; and we earnestly recommend the plan as ene which commends itself to the thoughtful consideration of the subordinate Lod~es as a proper method of showing to the world the Yitality of Masonry and the activity of the principles which we profess. " Resolved, That a committee of three be appointed at this communication, to Jraw up an address to the subordinate Lodges on this subject, and that they be empowered to print - - copies of the same, for distribution among the Fraternity in this State, at the expense of the Grand Lodge."

DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA. The proceedings of this Grand Lod~e are mostly of a local character. The addresses of the Past and Present Grand Masters are full of interesting thoughts, well calculat.ed to impress the mind of every reflecting Mason. The present Grand Master, W. Brother Frailey, regards the present great prosperity of the Fraternity as our weakness instead of strength. In this we fully concur. vVe extxact the following from the address of the Grand Master of the Grand Lodge of Illinois, M. W. Brother W. B. \\Tarr~n: "I beg leave to recommend to the Grand Lodge that some strong and decided action be taken on the subject of Temperance. No Man who studies THAT BOOK, which has laid open on the ALTAR for thomands of years, can make use of intoxicating liquors without a violation of his Masonic obligations. I had hoped to have been present with you, and to have urged thi:, subject before your Grand Body, but as I may never leave my present bed of sickness, I wish to put my voice on record against the use of spirituous liquors. No man who understands his dUly to himself, his neighbor, and his God, can drink intoxicating liquor." "Vhat a great pity that Brother Warren had not turned the pages of that " open book," to i.he advice: of Paul to Timothy, and been adw"ised thereby to" drink no longer water but use a little wine for his present infirmities."

VIRGINIA. This Grand Lodge has been called to mourn the loss of Grand Master Hunter. The proceedings of that occasion are full of interesting reflections, well calculated to impress us " with the uncertainty of life and the vanity of all human pursuits." May we all be timely ad"monished that" here we have no continuing city." The Grand Lodge required its Subordinates to provide for the wants of his Widow and

GRAND LODGE A. F. A. MASONS

Orph~ns, and we doubt not that each will perform that great duty as becomes both men and Masons. The Craft in the Old Dominion are in a prosperous and healthy condition-steadily increasing. New Lodges are springing up, and old ones are redving, and preparing themselves for that great conflict against the wants and woes that press hard upon our race at every step. The G.rand Master's address is full of interesting thoughts, a perusal would be profitable to all. He strikes a good blow at itinerant beggars.

The Grand Lodge refused permission to Lodge Francaise to work in the French rite. The Committee to whom the subject was referred, remark: "There are some reasons which would induce us to wish the petition could, with propriety, be granted; but there are so many grave, and, as it appears to us, in:lurmountable objections, which cannot be laid before the Grand Lodge in a written report, that they deem it inexpedient to do so." An example, in the opinion of your Committee, worthy of the imitation of all.

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The Grand Master's address manifests clear views of the principles of the Order. We deem the following full of interest: " At our last annual Communication, Bro. Throop from a seled committee made the followin~ report, with accompanying resolutions, (see pages 56 and 57, proceedings of 1853) and the record of proceedings states that the resolutions were adopted. This is an error ofihe Secretary. The said resolutions were seconded by a majority of the members present and then ordered to lie over until the next annual Communication, unde)' the rule governing in such cases. Such was the decision of the presiding officer. " I hope that before final action is taken upon these resolutions the Brethren will well consider them in all their bearings. Under the impression that they were at once in force, much injury has been produced in various ways, and that. impression still remaining would have caused the withdrawal of some of our best members from various Lodg-es. "In answer to one communication npOll the subject, I replied, in part, " I doubt the proprie1y of reiterating in such a manner, principles which we know and declare to lie at thc very foundation of our time-honored institution. The adoption of such resolutions, forced upon us by modern organization, infant societies, and I doubt if they ever arrive at years of discretion, would be a tacit acknowledgment on our part that we have heretofore never respected the name of our Supreme Grand Master, and that our assertion that Tt'mpcrance is one of the cardinal virtues of our profession was an unmeaning ex-

pression, never

intende~to be ::~n

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lated merely for deception. Let us not be like the so-called Temperance Societies of the day-intemperate in our temperance. "The communication referred to with a copy of the answer, is herewith submitted-package H.

" I am aware that in speaking thus feelingly upon the subjeot I may differ much in opinion with many of you who are honored and re路. spected members of org-anizations, the sole aim and object of which is to correct the evils of int emperance. But I cannot see any additional good that is 10 result from the adoption of these resolutions. They are nothing new with us, nnd their adoption will be a work of superogation. They are among the very first lessons that are taught the young initiate; they are reiterated ag-ain and again in the course of the severallectures; we have repeatedly passed resolutions similar in import, and to adopt these now will Le but to say virtun.lly that heretofore we have not endeavored to live up to the spirit of our moral teachin~s. Shall this be? Shall \'\'e condemn ourselves to ourselves, and to the world wiLhout? Shall we suy that heretofore we have only been pretending to be moralists, when we have claimed: and do now claim, and as we think, deserve to be considered, one of fhe gl eates!. safeguards of moraliLy, not only at this time, but" through the ages all along?" No, rather let the committee to whom 1his shall be referred, say truly, we need not these resolutioD拢, they are now and alw2Ys have been "part ~md parcel of our moral code, ~lnd it' \"e willllot live up to that as it has been, and is now, unchauged through long ages, the adoption of thc~e resolutions will not give us additional strength; we hn:ve already sufficient if we will but exercise it, more will not cause us to strive more, 'if we hear not Mo-es and the Prophets, lIeither will we be persuaded though one rose from the dead.' " Brethren, I recommend this SUbject. to your calm consideration. To suell of you as are members of other socIeties I would say, if in attending the meetings () those societies you have formed opinions, action upon which here will tend to the disparagement of our beloved and time-honored institution, it is your duty as Masoll!', und true and faithful members of the Craft, to lay aside your prejudices, move from your false p0sition, :md look solely to the honor and well-beillg of this Socit)', which through all the a~es of the world's history, has left a bright and shining mark along which we can look back and see most of the philanthropists and reformers that the wOlld has known; and the record thus far written of the nineteenth centur,r, up to this day, shows its full quota, alld we need not fear that our principles of morality are not now so l'trong as they were, that some vital principle has been struck from our moral code, and that it therefore needs additions and emendations. It is as strong- now as it ever has been, and as it can be made, and if we but live up to it as it is, no new society can lake from U3 any of our wellearned laurels; they may ,hare them with us; we will hail them, if true to humanity and morality, as co-workers with us and will bid them God speed in their glorious labors, but we should not submit to

'Ye legislate too hastily and too much.

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their dictation against our own better judgment where that judgment is right! if coolly exercised." To all who may remember the report of the majority of this Commit路 tee, last year, it is needless to say that the sentiments set forth in the above extract are fully endorsed by the Chairman of this Committee. The report of the Committee of Foreign Correspondence was presented by Brother A. M. Hune He concludes by congratulating the Fraternity on the prosperous condition of the Craft, beyond all precedent, in that jurisdiction. We extract the following: " In our own Stat9; the Craft are pro5\pering beyond precedent; our only fear is, that some bad men will avail themselves of the prosperity of the Institution and seek its my!'teries with unworthy motives. Your committee kn<1w that it is human to err, and that brethren and Lodges may receive unfitting- material for the great moral temple which we are building-; but time will test the character of every initiate-g-ood trees will bring forth good fruit, saith the book-aild we will judge of our brethren by their works. Happy are we to say that, we believe our brethren at home are moved by the spirit of noble emulation which our ritual commends, and our errors are those of ignorance rather than a disregard of the principles 01 Masonry." OHIO. We make the following extract from the address of the Grand .Master : "Among the' General Regulations of ancient York Masons,' it is provided, 'that no set or number of brothers shall withdraw or separate themselves from the Lodge in which they were made, or were. afterwards admitted members, un!e~s the Lodge became too numerous -nor even then, without a dispensation from the Grand Master or Deputy; and when thus separated, they mnst immediately join themselves to such other Lodges as they shall like best, who are willing to receive them, or else obtain the Grand Master's warrant to join in forming a new Lodge.' Such are the ancient landmarks of the Ordel. The Grand Lodge of New York, in June last, revised its Constitution, and under the head of' Ancient Land-Marks,' declares' it is the duty of every Master-Mason to be a contributing member of a Lodge.' " The Grand Lodge of Indiana, at its last session, ' resolved, tha.t it is the duty of every Mason to be a member of some Subordinate Lodge. and obey its By-Laws and Regulations relative to the payment of dues and contributions to the charity funds.' " The 6th general regulation of the Grand Lodge of Illinois declares that 'it is contrary to, and inconsistent with, the ancient usages and principles of the Order, to withdraw from a Subordinate Lodge without some good cause, or to reside in the neighborhood of a Subordinate Lodge without becoming a member thereof.' " Such, I understand, to be among the ancient landmarks of Ma. sonry. If so, they are still the landmarks; for we have no right to

OF THE STATE OF MISSOURI.

remove them-what they were, they still remain-they cannot be changed, or altered, or removed, without destroying the Order itself, and making' it other than Masonry. They stand now, as they have ever stoou, unchangeable a$ the Rock of Ages. Attempts have been made to innovate, but as well may man attempt to innovate on the fiat of the Almighty, and make darkness where God says, ' Let there be light,' as to improve on the primary truths, principles, and landmarks of Masonry." " As early as the 24th of October, 1733, the Lodge in Boston, the oldest Lodge in Ameri-ca, adopted a resolution, that' no brother that lives within or about this town, that is not a membep of this Lodge, shall be admitted as a visitor, before he has signified his desire of being a member, and paid his quarterages, or else make it appear that he is actually a member of a reguhr Lodge.' " Such was the construction put upon this Masonic law by the oldest Loolge in America, over a century ngo. An unaffiliated Mason was cut off from nIl the ri~hts and privileges of the Order. Viewing the subject in this light, I could not but regard the practice of residing within the jurisdiction of a Lodge without being' a member (If it, as an anomaly of modern times, unknown to ancient Craft Masonry. Acting, as I believe, in the spirit of these rules, regulations, and ancient landmarks, on the first of January last I issued a circular order to each of the Lodges in this State, commanding them to summon every Master Mason residing in their jurisdiction, and not a contributing member of some regular Lodge, to appear and show cause why they did not attach them~elves to some Lodge, or aid in its labors, or contribute to its funds; and on their failure to obey such summons, or show good cause, to suspend them from all the rights and priviIeg-es of Masonry. This order, I am happy to sny, aHhough by many disapproved, has been obeyed in the true spirit of Masonry, and with good results. " Old Masons have obeyed the sound of the gavel, which they had not heard for years,-again united with the Lodges, and received the fir!'t fruits of Masonic charity in the remission of their dues, and felt the warm sympathie& of the fraternity in the Lodge room, the place of their early love. "If a Mason ever requires the sympathy of his brethr~n, it is iil old age, when his head is blossomed with years, and his trembling feet totter, as he walks upon the level of time. It has been too long customary to dimit such, because to infirm to attend the Lodge, or too poor to pay dues. If too infirm to attend the Lodge, let the brethren show theIr regard for them, by helping them there. If too poor to pay their dues, let the Lodge remit them, but not dimit them out of the Lodge in their old age, because no 10ngE.'r useful. " This order wa!l issued on my own responsibilit.y, and from a conviction of duty; but I am happy that other Masonic authorities have since avowed the same doctrine. "The Grand Lodge of Illinois, at its last annual communication, adopted as rule 44, " Every non-affiliated Master Mason is under the high obligation to contribute annually, or oftener, to the Treasury of

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the Subordinate Lodge under whose jurisdiction he reside~. And any non-affiliated Master Mason who shall neglect or refuse so to contribute, unless excused by the Longe, after being duly notified of the DC tion of this Grand Lodge, on this subject, shall forfeit aU the rights, privilt'ges, and bel:efits of Masonry.'. "The Grand Lodge of Iowa, at its lastgralld communication, says, ' they shall forfeit all the rights, privileges, and benefits of Masonry.' "The Constitu1ion of the Grand Lodge of Missouri says, 'Nonaffiliating Masons have no cla:ms upon the charities of the Grand Lodge, or Subordinate Lodges.' "The Org::n of the Order in Kentucky says, 'If a Ma!'ion vohmtarily withdn:ws from the Lodge, he forfeits the privilege of' protection, sympathy. support; and interment,-which are secured to all worthy, affiliated l\fasons.' "At the session of the Grand Lodge of California., in 1852, they , resolved that all non-affiliated Master Masons who refuse to contribute to the support of the institution, unless prevented by disr.bi1i~y to dt) so, by so domg forfeit all the rights, privileges and benefits of the Order.' "The Grand Lodge of Indiana' resolved that no M[lster :1\1ason, who for the period ot six months shall reside in the vicinity of a Subordinate Longe, and shall neglect to affiliate himself therewith, ~hall be permitted to visit any Lodge under the jurisdiction of this Grand Lodge, be entitled to Masonic burial, or receive relief from the charity fund of the Order, or ullowed to assist at any public ceremonies or processions of the fraternity.' "The Grand Lodge of Florida requests the other Grand Lodges to recommend to their Subordinates not to grant relief to any applicant from Florida, unless he presents evidence that he is a contributing member of a Lodge, or gives a ren1;on wLy he i~ not one.' "Bro. Mackey, Gr;md Secretary of the Grand Lodge of South Carolina, ~(1Ys in his report, " a correct view of the eleemosynary responsibililies of a Lodge, and the respecfive claims of affiliated and unaffiliated brethren, would, I believe, justify the adoption, by this Grand Lodge, of such a resolution. " Such are some of the la1e decisions on this point, made by other Masonic authorities, and with, I believe, only two exceptions, since the issue of my order. " As I am aware that my order has been looked upon, by some; as an innovDtion on the ancient landmarks of Masonry, I have felt bound to give the subject more than a passing notice. I rojoice to !'e@ the brethren jealous to preserve the ancient landmarks, for in them is our only safety; the closer we adhere to them, the more prosperous we are. Rut we should be caref'ul that what we cling to is an ancient landmark, and not, itself, a modern encroachmeut on the original boundaries. " The whole is now submitted to your consideration, and I shall be happy to aid you in any measures that will restore the ancient Rule,

OF THE STATE OF MISSOURI.

and duty of every Master Mason being a member of a Lodge, and truly subjecting himself to its By-Laws." We rejoice to find that our Brethren are at last beginning to view the Fraternity in its true character. MASSACHUSETTS. We extract the following from the address of the Grand Master: "CONDITION OF THE FRATERNITY.

" I congratulate you, my Brethren, on the present state of the Fraternity in this Commonwealh. The year just closed, has been one of almost unprecedented prosperity. According to the returns made by the District Deputy Grand Masters, it appears, that tMee hundred and seventy have been initiated, during the p:'1St year, in eig ht Distric:s; no returns having been received from the eighth District. Of which number, one hundred and eighty were in the first District. These simple statistics express more forciuly than any words of mine can do, the gratifying fact, th,1t our Ancient Fraternity has secured a high place in the estimati:m ~Hld (;onfidence of the community. " Tbe general condition of the Lodges, in the several Districts, so far as I have the means of knowing, is, with few exceptions, highly prosperous. " "MOHAL QUALIFICATION OF CANDIDATES.

" As I h:lVe tllready stated, nearly four hundred persons have been made Masons witldn this jurisdiction, during the last year. "Vhetber this fact be a ground of congratulation or regret remains to be seen. If all the~e initiates proye to be â&#x20AC;˘ good men and true,' we may' well rejoice in our prosperity;-but if tlH:'y do not come up to the standard of our principles, then we have good cause to remember that ~uch apparent prosperity is but the antecedent of another day of trial and darkness. I feel it to be incumbent upon me to reiterate the caution contained in my last annual address, touching the c'ue which should be exercised, in thoroughly inv~tigating the moral character of all applic,ttions for the degrees. I do this, becnuse facts have come to my know led~e, which warrant the opini r)]1, that such care is not al wnys tak-en. The fnct, that so many have received the degrees, the last year, is of itself ~ufficient to awaken suspicion, that some may have en(~red the pale o! ~ur Fraternity wi~hout that thorough scrutiny, wlllch both the pr1l1Clples and the punty of OUl Institution demand. I ha~e b~en, informed that no l.ess t1?an. three persons 'who have recently applIed for Chapter degrees, m thIS CIty, have been rejected solely for moral causes. And yet, these three persons had been accelJted and made Master IVfasolls, in this j urisdiction--two of them I understand, in one Lodge. S.uch a fact is humiliating, but instructi~Te and admonitory. "It would not be extraordinary if the spirit of rivalry, amid so much success, should steal its way inlo some of our subordil{ate Lodges, and the desire to outdo each other in the amount of business done, should lie at the foundation of this hast)' and incomplete investigation into the moral character of candidates. --~=-::-~-------::=.-.=-=-=-=.:::::::=====::;::

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" There is another point on wllich I feel called upon to speak a werd of caution. I fear, th~tt among some, perhaps of the more inexperienced Brethren, the very unmasonic course may sometimes be pursued of inviting young men to become members of our Order. This is wrong-. Great care should be taken not to be forward even in recommenc.ling the institution to those, who are not members. When culled upon, we may on suitable occasions, express our opinion of its principles, and when requested to propose the name of a friend for initintion, we should cheerfully do this office; but beyond this, we should be careful not to go, In the way of offering inducements to the uninitiated to sitek admission. "There is one practice which now prevails, that may in some measure conduce not a little to a state of things that nll must deplore. It is this :-a Lodge feels at liberty to 1째nitiate without limit, but at the same time it most carefully restricts the number of its members. While the vote to give the degrees to certain candidates is decided without hesitation in the affirmative, the qnestion on admitting these same persons to membership would be decided as promptly in the .negative. A sale rule for all to adopt would be not to give the deg~-ees to any candidate, with whom they lIre not willing to associate, as a member of the same Lodge. TI:e distinction now so common between being made a :Mason in a certain Lodge, nnd being a member of that Lodge, tends to promote the evil which it becomes us to avoid." In the opinion of your Committee, our Brethren in Massachusetts had better at once return to the good old path,from which it would seem they have strayed, and admit and act on the principle that to make a man a Mason constitutes him a member of the Lodge so making him-and that the Lodge in a great measure is responsible to the whole Fraternity for his Masonic deportment. For if indeed it be true that our Brethren, under the jurisdiction of our elder Sister, would admit any m::m to the privileges of Masonry, whom they would reI use affiliation wilh themselves, they thereby perpetrate a great wrong, which they cannot too soon begin to remedy.

SOUTH CAROLINA. Our Brethren in South Carolina are moving steadily on in the g-ood WClrk of Masonry. We make the following- extract from the Report of the Grand Secretary, Brother A. G.Mnkey, who is charged with the correspondence of that jurisdiction. The beautiful sentiments it contains should stimulate us all to press forward in the great cause of virtue and benevolence: " In concluding this Report, I cannot again refrain fmm calling your attention to the striking fact, that in almost every jurisdiction of our widely extended Union, Grand Masters and Committ('es of Correspondence are impressing upon the Craft the absolute ~ ecessity of an enlarged knowledge of the principles, the design and history of Ma-

OF THE STATE OF MISSOURI.

sonry. Viewed no longer as it has been too long as a merely social institution, it is now a",~umin~ its original and undoubted position as a speculative science. While the mere Ritual is still carefully preserved as the casket should be, which contains so bright a jewelwhile its charities are still dispensed as the necessary though incidental result of. all ils moral teachings-while its social tendencies are still cultivated as the ten:Jcious cement which is to unite in symmetry and strength, so fair a fabric--the Masonic mind is everywhere beginning to look and ask for something, which, like the manna in the desert, shall feed us in our pilgrimage with intellectual food. The universal cry, throughout 1he length and breadlh of our land, is for ligllt, more light-our Lodges are hencpforlh to be schools-our labors are to be study-our wages are to be learning-the types and symbols of our institution are beginning to be inYe:o:.tigated with reference to their uliimaie meaning-our history is now trac~d by zealous inquiries to its connection with :1l11iquity-and the Mnsonic world is beginning to understand, in its true sense, that so often quo~ed phrase, that' lV1a.samy is a science of morality veiled in allegory and illustrated by symbols.' "The effect of this intellectual pursuit of Masonry, by which, thGugh 1hc specu1:ltive science is still filtther removed from the operative art, our operative origin is still more clearly understood~ and as a type more 1horoughly valued, is most ~ratifying and full of promise. The more a Mason becomes embued with a knowledge of the true meaning of the institution, the more does hi~ admiration and reverence of it increa~('. If I have any love for our Order-if 1 have any dev01ion to its interests, or any veneration for its peculiar system, lowe it all to the time thut I have ~pent, and the labor that I have employed in the investigation of its antiquities, its symbo.1i~m, and its science. Nor have I found in any part of our country a single Mason whose zeal and energy for Masonry wrs not in direct proportion to the know ledge he possessed of'its end and aim as a science of symbols. " It is not (0 be expected that every man can employ his whole h,bor or direct all his intellectual ~~bility to Ma:;onic s~udy.. Tbe inequality of conditions will prevent some from sparing the time to investigate, and the incqual'ity of mind will disable others from appreciating the entire science in all ilg relations. But surely there isno man so poor that he cannot indulge some hours of leisure in reading our elementary books now so common und so cheap, and as surely there is none so unintellectunl that he cannot appreciate tIle lessons of wisdom that thoE:e books convey. I beseech you to aid the Masters in IHacl, who have spoken from their respective Easts during the past year, in speedily hastening that happy time, when an igilOrant Mason shall be unknown in the mystic circle, which our chain of friendship embraces. " In asking you to unite in this glorious effort to redeem our Order -and in soliciting those who have not already made Masonry a study, to commence at once a course of Masonic reading, I invite you to no task of peril, of labor, or of fatigue. The path to which I point is one

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whose soil is smooth and fair-fluwers of fragrant smell and delicious hue will meet your gaze on every side-shady groves will arrest your admiration at every step--rippling hills, with their etherial music, will cheer your advancing face-the ascent, though great, will be too gradual to fatigue your pro~ress up the hill of learning, and beyond, upon its summit you will behold amid the gorgeous blllze of Divine light, the beautiful temple of Divine Truth and Divine Wisdom, cheering your advance ,with the prospect of an intellectual Mason's rest, and an intellectual Mason's reward." KENTUCKY. The Report of the Committee of Correspondence was presented by Brother Morris. In reviewing the action of our Grand Lodge, requiring the Lodges located in towns und cities jointly to form nnd contribute to a Masonic board of relief, Brother Morris takes occasion to sny, " We cannot reconcile this act with the proper independence 'with which each Lodge is clothed in the managp.ment of its own funds." If our Brother will reflect a moment, he may find that u11<.~er the peculiar organization of ~1asonry, every requirement of a Grand Lodge is at most only the joint action of the Subordinates that constilute it. Allll if so, we think he may be able to "roconcile" many things, which, under any other hypothesis, may appl'nr qnite irreconcilable. We also present the following extr.wt : "The n1tenlion of this committee has been called to a 'memorial of I~oJges 129, 1U\ and 108,' in the procf'e(~ings of Missouri for ]35'l, in which M.i1l's Point Lodge, N<d:20, a.nd Columbus LxIge, No. 173, both umler your jurisdiction, are declared 10 have made .Masons of many persons residing in this State (Mis~ouri.') They nre likewise accused of making Masons of material that co.u1d never be worked lip in the Lodges of Missouri, o.nd two instances are cited , 'where pe:itions have b:,'cn withdrawn from one of our Lodges (Mo.,) for tIle avowed'reason that they were afraid or the bbek ball, and the petitioners were mtl.de M<.lsons in the Kenlucky LodgES.' , Conceming the general charge of exceeding jurisdiction, the COIlstitution of the Grand Lodge of Kentucky, (art. LVI,) permit.s L~(lg(;s bordering on other States to recei"e maleri~lls from <'cross tbe line, proyided the applicants live nearer Kel1tncky Lodges thanoJ1Crs, and we submit to our Missouri sister whe:her, ill a spirit of fnltern~l cOI~rtesy, it \'\'ould not be better to rcciprOc,ite ,,,"iih us, and <H1opt tIllS law, r;~thcr than to require us to change a constitutional pro\'ision in force among us more than twenty years before the Grand Lodge of 1\-fissouri was org-anized. Before proposing un amendment to uur constitution on this subject: we await a reply. " ht regard to the charge of 'Working up improper material, it is but justice to say that the members of the two Lodges charged have unrmimOHsly declared to the clw'irman of th.is committee that it is a slander,

OF THE STATE OF MISSOURI.

and they chee1fully offer their retipedive catalogues of membetship 'in comparison of moraTity and Masonic fitness with any Lodge in Missouri. The oldest member of Mills' Point Lodge, No. 120, Brother Jesse Edmondson, Mayor ot Hickman, and a gentleman esteemed throughout the land for every moral and religious virtue, assures us that his Lodge has only taken in one member out of Kentucky, in the Inst 1hree or four years, and that one is a resident of nn island in the Mississippi river, at a great distance from any Lodge in MisSOUI'Ll'

We fraternally' submit, in answer to our Brethren of Kentucky, whether the paragraph in the above extract, especially that portion we have italicised, does not of itsdf constitute a conclusive argument why the Grand Lodge of Missouri,-evcn if there were no other reasons, should not recede from the position assumed, of complete and entire control over hcr rightful jurisdiction. Vv"'" e also append the following resolution: "Resolved, That the Grand Lodges in correspondence with this Grand Lodge, be reque~tcd so to tabulate their printed proceedings as that it will fully appear what is their membership, number of Lode,â&#x201A;Źs, progress in numbers, deaths, expulsions, &c., with such other statistics as may be valuable and proper for publication." On the subject contained in 1he above resolution, your Committee fear that our Brother IVlorris has not sufficiently reflected on the evil con~equences that may result from the acquisition of such statistical knowledge-consequences, too, without a single good, either directly or prospectively, to be obtained. Nor would the knowlerge desired by our 'Brethren, if it could be obtained with the same exacine&s as the enumerntion of the workmen at the building of the TEMPLJ::, add a single feather to the weight and influence of Free Masonry, but might, especially in the hands of injudiciou~ or designing men, frcm which even our Fraternity is not exempj", prove the opening wedge to j~~rs within, and distrusts without, which might be when too late, deplored. \Ve, therefore, Sciy to our Brethren, let us not waste our time and means in the ncqllisil.ion of what might prove wor::e than useless knowledge, but rather bestir ourselves in ceveloping the gred conservative principles and moral beautirs of Free Masonry, whicl! neE'd on}y to be understood 10 be admired by all. Here we may find ample room for all our spare time anI} means. Here also we may enp:age, or if already cng~ged, zealously and lawfully emulate each oHler, in our own proper sphere, without the fear of exalting our o\'vn selfpride above its proper measure, or of being the occasion of offence to any.

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ARKANSAS. The Report of the Oommittee on Foreign Correspondence, from the pen of Bro. Pike, is a full review 0 r the proceedings of Sister G. Lodges, and is a long and interesting document, calculated to do g-reat good to the Craft. We cannot, however, join in his desire to see the Grand Lodge of New York "try t.he experiment of constituting itself of a single representative from each Lodge." Because such a bod y, as we understand the rule, would not be a Grand Lodge of Masons. The rule is, that a Grand Lodge, consists of, and is formed by, the Masters anlI Wardens of all the particular Lodges. " We hope, therefore, that our Bro. Pike will not give the weight of his great influence in breaking the link by which Masonry of the present is connected with the past. For if once broken, another Babel, with all its confusions, will be erected on the foundation of that beautiful system of well balanced powers which exhibits, with but. few exceptions, the great wisdom of our present organization. III reviewing the opinions of Bro. Mackay, on the action of this Grand Lodge, on the subject of persons residing in this jurisdiction being initiated elsewhere, Bro. Pike brings to view the thought, on which we intended to remark, when we had the subject under consider3tion last year. That is the ability of a Lodge to try any Mason, for any of his conduct before he was made. If he may be tried for one offence, then indeed may he be tried for all, and if so, who can estimate the consequen~es that must follow. But coming', as this doctrine does, with the sanction of such eminent Brothers as King of New York, Mackey of South Caro~ina, and Pike of Arkansas, we may well pause before we sanction its oorrectness, even by a silent acquiesance. And whilst we may not hope successfully to stand against the great for-ee of such distinguished Brethren: still, a~ wise men may err, we cann0t forbear to enter our demurrer against a dOJtrine so much at war with the ordinary affairs of the craft. In our opinion no such power resides, inherent or otherwise, in the L ..,dge or the Fraternity-no, not even in the Lodge that made him, to expel any Mason for the offences committed before he was made, or even to take them nnder consideration. Nor is it at all necessary to t.he well being of' the .Order that any such power should exist. On his petition, he was or should hnve been tried according to rules made and provided, and the Lodge solemnly adjudicated on his requisite qualifications, and behind that awatd, if made according to the rule, (and, if not, it was not made at all in good faith) we are not to look. It is final, and unless we attack the error in his making, there can be no

OF THE STATE OF MISSOURI.

further adjudication. Like many other things with which we have to deal in this uncertain world of ours, it is done-we may regret and lament it-but the admission of the doctrine: that we can expel for acts committed while the Mason was a profane, is the greater of the evils. The true doctrine is, and the well being of the Craft requires it should be fully adhered to, that a Lodge can only try for Masonic offences, and those we all know, it is impossible for any man to commit before he is made a Mason, and no immergency or expediency can possibly allow of a different rule, at least so it appears to us with our limited knowledge of the rules of Masonry.

NEW YORK. The following f.xtract from the address of Grand Master \Valworth, will be read with interest: "Let me also impress upon every officer and member of this Grand Lodo-e and every Mason who love:- our institution, the duty in being circ~lmspect in nIl his words and actio:1s, ar: d of disco~ntenancing immoralities in others, as well as keepl11g Ius own whIte apron untarnished by a single :;tain. It was written by the pen of inspiration, under the dic1ation of the unerring wisdom of the Most High, that virtue exalteth a nation. And it is equally true that vice or immorality unrestrained, is not only a reproach to any community or any institution where it is allowed to exist, but it will sooner or later entirely destroy the peace and happiness of that community, or that institution. Let us, therefore, endeavor so to comluct ourselves, not only in our intercourse with each other as brethern, but also in all our dealings with others, who do not belong to the fraternity, as not to bring di~credit upon ourselYes, or upon the institutions of l\lasonry to which we belong. Recollect, my brethren, the parting declaration of that illustrious brother, who was first in war, first in peace, and who should always be fir~t in the recollection of every true Mason; that religion and moral'ity are the indispensable SUPP01째ts of all those dispositions and habits which lead to prospe1oity. One of the most distinguished of our Grand l\tIa~ters who ever occupied this erien al chair, who has long since taken his departure for the Grand Lod(?;e abO\'e, has also said that the insufficiency ofhurll<m laws for their intend~d dbjects were palpable from the daily operations ot society, and the accumulated experience of nges; that the efficacy of the law of public opinion was also limited, and had all the imperfections nUached to humanity; but that the sanctions of divine law supplied all these deficiencies, covered the whole area of human action, and reached every case, punished every sin, and recompensed every virtue. Its rewards and its punishments are also graduated with perfect jU5tice; and its appeals to the hopes and the fears of man are of the most potent character and transcendent influence. In view of these important facts, permit me, my brethren, to remind

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you that this Divine law is only found in the Bible, that great light of Masonry, which we are all taught to study and revere. And let me recommt'ml to you what the learned and pure-minded Sir Mathew Hale recommended to his children-to read seriously and reverently every day a portion of the sacred Scriptures, and make yourselves acquainted with the history and doctrines thereof. It is in the Bible alone that the Mason is fully instructed in all the great duties which he owes to his brethren and to his fellow-men, as well as in those duties which he oweg to himself and to his Maker, the Great Architect of the Universe, and the Grand Master of that Celestial Lodge above, in which every true Mason hopes, at a future day, to hold an unquestioned seat. The Bible instructs us in that general civilization which consists in subduing and controlling the passions, in cultivating the social virtues, and in regarding the rights of others as commensurate with our own. No where else do we find that ~'reat precept of true ch'Jrity and benevolence, to do unto others as we would that they should do unto us in Eke circumstances, urged upon our attention as an absolute and binding duty. By-a careful and diligent study of the Scriptures, the statesman, the scholar, and the Mason, as well as the Christian, will find himsdf a much wiser, if not a much better man. I hope, and trust thereFore, that this great light of mnsonry~ which exceeds all the other books in the weight of its authority, and in the extent of its usefulness; which has withstood the gross sarcasms of a Paine, and the more refined. wit of a Voltaire, as well as the separate and combined atlacks of a bast of other:s, many of whom prob,;bly have but seldom examined i:s inspired pages, will not only be found in every Lodge, where its presence is always indispensable, but it will also be found and studied at the social fireside of e"ery member ot the Fraternity, and that eaeh and every one of Ug, and every true Mason, may thereby, with the assi~tance of Di vine grace, be made wise unl0 sal vation." The report from the Committee 011 the condition of Masonry, adopted by the G. Lodge, sets forth the craft in the j uriscliction of New York in a high state of prosperity. The report however will speak for itself, much better than any comment we can possibly make. "R. \V. J. H. Perry, from the Committee on the Condition of Mas'onry, presented the following repor~ : The Committee on the Condition of Masonry, 'to whcm was referred so much of the addreis of the M. W. Grand Master as relates to the situation and condition of the Fra:ernily in this State, and to the subject of clandestine masonlc Lodges, beg leave to report: That they congratulate the Grand Muster and the Gr:Jl1d I"odge on the g-eneral prosperity and harmony of the Craft within our jUTlsdiction. Theya]so cancm cordially in the senliments expressed by our M.\Y.G. Master resp~cting what -should be the general conduct of' the Fraternity to make our prosperity permanent. With respect to the subject of clandestine Masonic Lodges, your

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OF THE 8T ATE OF MISSOURI.

committee recommend the exerci~e of pI udence and vigilance on the part of our loyal LodiZ'es and members, to prevent ingress into our Loil~e:o' of clandestine Mason!;, ns well as to prevent as far as possible, all l\hsonic intercourse wih them." We regret to notice that the Grand Lodge of New York, has refusel to comply with the req!\irementll of the resolutions of the Grand Lodge of Massachusetts, which were adopted by our Grand Lodge at its last session. The subject is discussei, at length, by a Committee, and by resolution the Grand Lodge of Massachusetts requested to re1race her steps. The arguments of the .C;>mmiUee will tuil, we think, to convince our Brethern of Mass3chusetts, ot any error in their position,' or to move them from their own steadfastness. And if our Brethren in New York shall, by a refusal to comply with a'rt->qnest so simple and easy, the efft'ct of which was desi~ned to protect, her own rights, not less thall the rights and interest of the Craft in every jurisdiction-and thereby facilitate the restoration' of peace and order to the Craft in her own jurisdiction-we SrlY, if she will thus thoughtlessly cut herself off from fraternal intercourse. on her let the responsibility re5t. We can bllt regret it, and will still hope that bet!er connsels may ere long prevail. Bro. Finlay M. King presen~ed his annual report on foreign correspondence, reviewing the proceedings of some twenty-five- siste.r Granel Lodges. The report is well digested, covers some eighty closely printed pages, and c0ntains much that is interes:ing to Masonry. Your Committee do not concur in all the conclusions of the report-our space, however, will not admit of a review. The majority and minori~y reports, on the division of that Grand Lo-'lge, are hoth long and instructive documents-the report of the m'jJriLy was adopted-and the subject of division we hope finally settled.

TEXAS.

I' I

From the wen written repJrt of the Committee on Foreign Correspon:lence we m1.ke the followi:1g extract: "We pJ.rticularly regret that this imprudent as~erti()n, as to 1he change or Masonic ritual, sho:lId have come from 'Bro' her Geilg-e, a,\(1 been aclopted, as it re:l.d~, by the Grand L1d!!;e of LOll;~i,\na. If it hrz8 b~en cha.nged, the power to change still exists, nnd i's rp.c1!?ni'ion by a brother of such justly acquired eminence, and by a Grand Lodge of 50 much experience and intelligence, will be well calculated to fos~ ter that spirit of 'progress and rdorm' which h:ts already ~o much obscured the old land marks. In science, in morals, in e1t1cnti t m, we claim to belong to the progressive p1.rty; in politic~, we rejoice in the

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GRAND LODGE A. F.. A. MASONS

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'Old Fogies;' we desire :10 change, and we recognise the existen'!e of no power to change those features of the Masonic I iiual, which mark the distinctiveness qf Masonry t 3S a system) and give it its uni路 versality in the three symbolic degrees. With this ritual, Masonry has outridden the storms of opposition which have assailed it, checked {he tears of distress. gIven protection to the fatherless and widow, and been the hand路maid of intelligence and piety for more than three thousand years. With it, as it has been, and ~till is, we are content, and we hope it will not be changed while the wants, the sufferings, and the depravity of man demand its existence.'" CANADA WEST. The proceeding路s of this P. Grand Lodge presents the Institution in a prosperous condition in that jurisdiction. CONNECTICUT. The proceedings (If this Grand Lodge are full of interest-of which those in relation to the Wooster Monument are not the least. The report of Brother SLorer, Ohairman of the Correspondence Committee, occupies one hundred and eleven closely printed pages, full of interesting arguments 011 mallyof the subjects of Masonry. We should be pleased to present some of the interesting views advanced by our brother, but we al'e admonished by the short-coming of the patience of our Brethren, to forego the pleasure. We have also perused the address, and the action of the Grand Lodge on the completion of the Wooster Monument. The Oration on the occasion was delivered by Hon. Henry C. Deming. Any of our Brethren who will read it will be fully remunerated for the time it may cost them. It is full of historical incidents of the life of that great and good man and Mason. FLORIDA. Our Brethren of this Grand Lodge are fully impressed with the 'best interests of the Craft. The Grand Master's Address, and the Report of the Committee on Foreign Correspondence, are interesting nnd instructive documents. We should be pleased to extract largely from both, but our space will not permit. MARYLAND. The Report of the Correspondence Committee, from the pen of our esteemed Brother Gillman, takes a comprehensive view of Masonry in all its bearings on the moral and social relations of life. In discussing the nature and position of the" Order" (" not degree ") of Pa~t Master, for our Brethren, of late, are becoming quite technical and seem to think" there is much in a name," Bro. Gillman procaed& to state, that the G. G. Chapt., at its last iession, disavowed

0]' THE $'XATE OF MlSSQWU.

its exclulUve jurisdiction over the" Order of Past MaUer." "And now it may be looked upon as at rest, and that too to the satisfac-

tion of all except such 路as are too often found seeking cause of complaint against the G. G. C., as in the case of the Grand Master of :Misaouri, in his terrible warning against the formation of a G. G. Lodge, wherein he calls upon the friends of the measure to read the fate of Craft Masonry, by looking at the career of that body, in not being able to coll':lct within its fold tbe Grand Chapten of Virginia, Pennsylvania, and Florida." On reading the above extract, the Chairman of your Committee was much puzzled to find which of the Grand Masters of Missouri our distinguished Brother referred to. He, therefore, commenced an examination of the proceedings of this Grand Lodge, and after running back to 1848,-the Chairman of your Committee then occupying the position of Grand Ma~ter, -- found in the Address of that year the following, to whi<,h the ~evere strictures of our Brother may possibly refer. We feel bound to make the extract, that all may fully understand the complaint of our Brother Gillman. " The :o::ubject of a Supreme Grand Lodge of the United States is one on which this Grand Lodge has frequently been called to act. The proposed Constitution together with the Address of the Committee will be laid before you. The arguments used by the Committee are as applicable to the whole Masonic world as they are to these United States. I find in them no reason why this Grand Lodge should change its former Yotes on that subject." '*' 'It '*' '*' "The evils of which the Committee complain will readily be admitted by all; but that those eyils can be corrected by the creation of a Supreme Grand Lodge (as the Committee seem to think) the two bodies to which they refer, to wit: the Grand Lodge of England and the G. G. R. A. Chapter of the United States, are a living refutation; for under the immediate influence of each of these the same evils now exist to an extent as great as they do under any other true Masonic organization." '*' '*' "It would be well to make an estimate, in order to ascertain the enormous sums that would be t.hu~ diverted from the Widow and the Orphan, without the return of even a partial equivalent, judging from the acts. and doings of an organization which the Committee SrlY, has existed more than half a century; and in which body there have been more discrepancies and less consistenc)r, in its course of prnceedings, than in any other Masonic body with whose ac~s and doings I am familiar."

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GRAND LODGE A.F. A. MAeONs

The above e"tr:-ct pre~ents, we premme, the thought which has called out at this late dry the strong denunciation of our Brother-of which it would be discourteous for u~ to complain, knowing 3S we do thM our digtingl1ished Brother Gillman (and we would not take, if we could, a feather from his influence) was the "power behind the throne," in that G. G. hody for some fifteen to ei~hteen ye3r~. 'Vet therefore, cheerfully grant to IHm the privilege of wir)" feeling!! under all criticisms of the works 01 ,his creation. And now as to who are" found ~eeking came of complaint," or whelher it be " the Grand Master of Missouri or the distinguished Chairman of the Committee uf Maryland, we cheerfully leave for others to decide. It should be remembered that "the Grand Master of lVlissOllTi" was commenting on a proposed Constitution for a Supreme Grand Lodge, explained and enforcec1ly the arguments of an able Committce (of which, we believe, Brother Gillman was the Chairm:lII), who had officially presented the subject lur the adoption of this Grand Lodge; and, surely, the remarks of a Grand :Master, under such circumstar.ces, ollght not to subject him to the unkind charge of being "found seeking CaL1SP. of complaint," &c. 'Vas it llllt his high duty to embrace that opportunity 10 show, if he could, the ralacioll~ argumeHt!! (If the Committee, not lcss than the t'vil tendencies of the creatiun of such a Supreme Body? On the other hand, CDn the Chairman of the Committee of l\hryland t who goes back, as we have shown, nearly seven ycars, to find an excuse for an unwarrantable attack, be acquitred of t1H~ charge whkh he has made of heing "found seeking cause of complaint," &c., by thus impugning the motives of the Grand Master of l\lissouri," which none but the Supreme Gr:md Master cnn possibly know?~ But, as we be~ore in~ imated, our Bro:her's long connection with the ~. G. Chapter entitle him to much, and we accord to him the privilege of "seeking cause of complaint" a~ainst any llody or perscn, in justific<1tion of the actll and doings of the G. G. Chdptcr.

MISSISSIPPI. The proceedings of this Grand Lodge contain [rr.any interesting thoughts. The Grand Master's Address is a well conceived document. After his thanks to Almighty Gud, and a Fraternal salutation of Health, Peace, alld Union, within his own jurisdiction; he remarks: â&#x20AC;˘â&#x20AC;˘ It affords me no measured gratification to advert on this occasion to a practical illustration of the happy inlluence of our Im~titution upon

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OF TilE STATE OF MISSOURI.

the mass of our people at large. The preceding year has bepn marked by circumstances long to be remembered, fer the biaerress with which the parties were arrayed in the conflict for pre:!ominallce, and the personal strifes and contentions incident there'o, which seemed, in many instances, to threa!en seri(Hl!'ly the social relations of neighborhoods and of familie!'. The silent, but pO\\ierf'ul idluence of Free Masonry, in curbing' and temporizing the perturhed pas~ions, was then seen and felt. I am glad, of my own personal knowled~e, to testi"y that in sc\'eral instances, during that excitemen i , our Lodges clio nobly their rensonable service of healin~ dissensions amon~ ne:ghbors and friend!', by pouring into the breach the' oil and \yine' of peace and fraternal love. H Such is the benign province of Free IV[asonry; <1nd this, too, is more clearly demonstrated under our peculiar form of ci"il g'nventment. In a country like ours, where there is :lll(J\\'cd the brgoest amount of personal liberty, not inconsistent wilh the rig-hts of others -where there is freedom of thought and 0f opinion, the passions and prejudices of men h::lVe a more nmple sway, all(l 'lie rle~i~ns of the evil and ambiliolls cnll only he a\'cr(ed by raisin~ Iti~!1 the stawlnrd of moral :'e<.:titude, and errectjn~ a gener;d moral, tiS well as n general intellectual, culture nmong- the masses. Am I aS~llmi')g too milch when I cbim for our Instituti0n the exercil'e of n powerl'lIl ngenc), in ~{fect iJ'g this great and important work :llnO"g om people? Is not, and may 11Ot, its moral influence be seen and felt, not only in the varied relations of human life, bUl by the body or the commulli'y at Jar~e? Shall I be charged wi!h an undeserv(-d elllogillm npon our venerable Order, , ..·hen I allpge that it is peculiarly ndilpted to the ~eniu~ of our institution'l, llnd exists as an energetic, but llnobtTll~i\'e, agent, continually aidin~ in the maintenance and development of the great principles of civil :lntl religious liberty and equali'y? Free Masonry, in the ministration of her offices, acts not by ostentatious or coercive means; but silently and unobtrusively she operates IIpon the finer sensibilities of cur nature, and dispenses her b\e>sin~s 'a~ the dew of Hermun, and as the dew that descended upon the mountains of Zion.' "

•

" Permit me, Brethren, to cherish the fond hope th:lt Peace and Br0therly Love will perv;\/le Y/)lIr conl1:o;els, and that YOllr deliberations may be characterized by PRunE~cE and CIRCUM!"PECTION. Let not the spirit of innovation encroach IIpon the land mark .. of ollr venerable Ordpr, nor aspiring- ambition nllack the tnnlamenlal principles of our God-like In:,titutioJl. Free ~bsonry as it is, m.lY he tLe instrllment of great ~ood to depraved human n;lture; bllt de~troy her heautiful proportions, and yon sound the re<jllit>m of IH'r woefulness. \Ve kn-e milch more to renr from internal expansion than from external oppression. In this time of quiet and IInpnrallelkd advnllcement, CAUTlO!'l should be our w<ltch-woro. Forg-et this, and the evils ot' all inflated pro"perity may )·et paralyze the eJ)er~ie~ of a noble I n!'tit 11tion, which has ureasted the storms ot ages, and standing unJ.:!ullted

,~ j

GRAND WOOD A. II. A. 1U80NS

~~res ef persecution, has triumphantly erected its upon the ruin and of its foes."

banner

~hE\me

The Reports of the D. D. G. Masters are also interesting papers, detailing the condition of the Craft, in that jurisdiction, with a frankness worthy of imitation. The following extract from a Report presented by Brother W m. H. Hammett, c<mtains thoughts which should be fully impressed on the memory of ali: ,. Information of the most reliable character lead your Committee to fear that lhe interests of our venerable In!!f.itution are in danger of suffering, from the tno rapid increase in the number of Lodges. The reports of the D. D. G. ~lasters show that several of the Lodges can now scarcely work for W<lllt of sufficient members, and that for these Lodges there is left but little hope of relief, from the scarcity of material. A further increase of SUbOl dmate Lodg-es will make the Grand Lodge too large and too expensive a body. Your Committee therefore hope that no more Lodges will be created, unless in case of clear necessity. " The Report of the Committee of Foreign Correspondence, from the pen of our Brother "Vm. P. Mellen, is a full review of the opinions and positions of Si!'ter Grand Lodges on many interesting subjects. Brother Mellen, ho\vcvcr, presents ~ome views not in accordance with the opinions of your Committee. In discussing the jurisdiction of the" Past Master degree," showing its connection both with the Chaptcr and Subordinate Lodges, he seems to reach-to us-the novel conclusion that" a single Past Master may do it,"-that is communicate to the" Master Elect" all that is necessary to qualify him for his station of W. Master of a Subordinate Lodge. Brother l\tIellen holds with many others, that '" It is not properly a degree; it is only a part of the Installation ceremony of the Master Elect." Your Committee fear, judging from what they have gathered iT;. the last few years'路 experience, that most if not all the confusion and contention about this " de~ree," or "Order of Past M:;..ster," or, as some prefer to characterize it, "Installation Ceremony," is rather the result of entangling alliances and a thoughtless running after strange novelties, than from any desire to maintain the Unity and indivil'ibility of Ancient Craft Masonry. The doctrine advanced by Brother Mellen, that a "smgle Past Master," unaided by two or more competent brethren, can confer this part of the "InstaiIation Ceremony," or the" Order or degree of

OF 1lHB STATE OF MISSOURI.

Past Master," must be regarded by your Committee-with their present light-as innovating on the Clrder of things long established, and not only novel but dangerous to the peace and safety of the Craft;worse than the practice of Maryland, where the degree was conferred without regard to qualification for office, but for a fee, perhaps, more for the amusement of the Brethren. Nor is the practice of confeling it, under the sanction of the warrant of a Chapter, much more consistent, or safe, for under it all the honorary distinction and official identity intended to be corrfered, is annihilated thereby. And whilst we can but lament over what we may not be able fully to control~that is, that it was ever included with the degrees of a Chapter,-still, we may, if all were so disposed, take the advice of the Prophet: "Cease to do evil and learn to do well," by a zealous attempt to place things in a train that will eventually restore this "degree or Order of Past Master," or this paort of the" Installation Ceremony," to that place and di~nity where the indispensable wants and interests of the Craft require it, and where too it will be free from the bondage of all fee and fiction, not l~ss than its pres~nt alliances, all of which conspire to weaken the force and dignity of its own pristine powerâ&#x20AC;˘. In view of the whole, we may, perhaps, be safe in stating that the discord and confusion consequent on the supposed concurrent jurisdiction, forms no part of the beautiful and haTmonious system of Ancient Craft Masonry. AU attempts, therefore, at consistent reasoning on the subject, with such an hypo{hesis,must fail of any convincing effect. For, if Free Masonry be indeed an Unit-and wi~hout which its glory has departed-the idea of con'Jurrent jurisdiction is absolutely inadmissable. On this. subject, your Committee have their own "iews, not original, howeYer, with them, for then they would be useless, but gathp-red from a work published very many years ago. From this work, we learn that the three principal officers of the Lodge were aU participants to a certain extent in the" Ceremony of the degTee," or " Order of Past Master," or, if preferred, the ,. Ceremony of Installation." They were all placed under the same bonus to be faithful to the Lodge. The Wardens were invested with the means of official recognition and an additional TEST was imparted to the W. M. Elect, to enable him to demonstrate his claims to the honorary distinctions of a PA~T or PRES~NT MASTER.

This is the simple story about which our Brethren .have written so long and eloquently.

GRAND LODGE A. 1'. A. MASOl"S

1\by our Sister Grand Lodges 8peecilv discard the.iaea of conC1lTprincipl~5 of Free Masonry, and, with one accord, gra.~p the beautiful sentiment of our captive Brethren, which so earnestly led them to exclaim, H If I forget 0, Jerusal~m, let my riJ?ht hand forget its cunning." Let this feelJng of attr.c~ment to Craft Masonry be once more predominant, and di~cord and confusion, those It'gi:imate frui's of a divided allegbnce, H like the early dews and morning cloud," ,.,.ill vanish before the gilded rays.of the rising sun, as He diffuses light and lustre to all wit!.in his sphere.

rent jU'risdiction-reason hencdor1h en the simple

UNIFORMITY OF WORK AND LECTURES. This subject is attractipg the attention of many of our Sister Gralld Ludges, e:opecially our Brethren in Virgillia, who are zealo'lslyenga~ed in devisir.g the ,,,,oays and mrans to effect this desir. b'e t,bject. _ We have had some experience and anxiety, and labored mlH h for the accompli~hment of the object, ourselves, but our fears and labors have been exhaus!ed in the hitherto fruitless attempt. And, whilst we . now sincerely desire to see the time wIlen MasoTJs will all sFeak the s::me thing in Masonry, we are fully 3dmoni~hed by (lilT past experience, that such an event, to the extent of the hopes and wishes of our Bre'hren, if not imp()~sible, is absolutely impractic:.;b!e, on any plan hitherto pursued. The Teailon, per haps, may be found in the fact tllat HE who made us has st mped upon each his own personal identity, with such mal ked emphasis, that our difference in thought, memory, and all the mode~ of c()mmunicatin~ our ideas, are as varient as our natures: so varient that it is improbt:ble thC1t we shall ever be willing to maJ'e the personal sacrifice necessary for the attaining a uniformit y either in Masonry or in any of the affairs of life. Nor is it all necessary to the n(comp~ishment of 1he great oljects or our Fraternily, as we understand 1hem. A per:ect tlgreement in the great principles and historical facts, forming the basis of the Society. in the opinion of your Committee, is aU that we may reasonably hepe to accomplish. How can we expect to ~gree on tradi:ional sllbjec'8 whilst there remain!' such a diYersi'y of opinion on 1hat portion so fully developed in written hi~!ory. The fact is, we begin at the wrong end, the cap stone instead of the rOllndatjon, and often render that which is "implicifY itself, 3 confused and complicated ma~s, hardly digestible by the most reflecting mind. And yet each wonders at the ~tupidity of his fellow, when the truth is we have only told, nor dare we te!! Inore, than half our story. \

OF TUE STATE 01' MISSOURI.

Nor may we hope to be any better understood than those who have gone before us. If our Brethren would dispense wIth their hitherto heedless indifference, and but attain the unifhrmity of being reflecting Masons, we should have much to hope. Your Committee would not be understood as disparaging any efforts that may be made in this or any other jurisdiction, but, on the contrJry, would urge all to the diligent use of all lawful means for the ac~omplishment, as far as practicable, of so desir~ble an object. But, then, let us do it in the right way, begin at the right place. The first and great step towards attaining an uniformity, i!! this: The se\Teral Grand Lodges must first decide upon the text book t~ be Usp.d by all. That orlce llcccmplished, let all others be burned, or laid up as memorials of the past, and make it a penal offence, of a high grade, to be inflicted on any Mason who may attempt to get up another. A failure of unifllrmity here, ill a total failure, that will forever perpetuate itself. This is the beginning- of uniformity: let us have one text book or n<me at all. Let the Grand Lodges take this first step, and we are prepared to proceed, but until that is accomplishf'd we may in vain urge upon the Lodges the suhject of a uniformi'y of work and Lectures in Masonry; and we may add here, that so long as itinerant Masons are permitted to travel and Lecture, they will add to and endeavcr to embellish, or rather fill up their Lectures wLh unmeanirg incidents and verbiage, regardless of either fact or history, the novelty of which will be sure to attract the young antI ardent Mason. We must reverse the order of lhin~s hitherto pursued, if we would succeed; and send the Pupil to the Teacher-for one proficient 1\'lason in a Ludge is of more value, especially when his qualifications are' endors~d Ly known authority, than a host, when but half informed. One great error of many professed Masonic Teachen is this: they seem to forget the great aim and object of the Institution, and too frequently measun~ it by the stripling associations of the pge. They are quite expert in all the modern Orders, ns they are termed, such as !vInson's Daugllter. Holy Virgin, and Good S<:maritan, when, if lOU sound them on the solid principle!!, which constitu!e the glory of Masonry, they have nothing hut embellishments, or, rather, emp'ydelusions. Thf'Y have forgotten, perhaps they have never learned, the beauties of our pure and simple ritual, which, like the rude works of nature speak forth the Glory of their CREATOR ]I1ost when adOFned the least. They seem to forget, also, that could they succeed in their desires of embellishing, that, after all their effi)rts, it would be a spurious thing, t{uite unlike Free Masonry, and would be sure to slip

GRAND LODGB A. l!'. A. MASONS

thr.ough the fingers of Time, too much polished tQ be stayed by his rude grasp. The system of work and Lectures, adopted in 1843, in the city of Baltimore, which was reported to this Grand Lodge, and received its sanction and adoption, is, perhaps, as near the Ancient mode路 as we Moderns may hope to arrive. In fact, its great simplicity should commend it to all the lovers of uniformity. That work and lectures have been preserved in this jurisdiction as nearly pure as the' frail memory of man could rdain it. The unsuccessful efforts that have been made to fix it, and it alone, in the minds of our Brethren, has served to strengthen the opinion long entertained by the Chairman of your Committee, that no system, what ever may be its merits, will ever be fully understood or practised by a majority of our Brethren. There are so many obstacles to be subdued, besides our prejudices, which, of themselves, constitute a mountain of difficulties, requiriug more than ordinary efforts 10 surmount, that we are ever learning yet never able to come to the knowledge of the Truth. One great difficulty is to be found in the fact that so many Brethren have such an aversion to confess their ignorance of things which they should have learned in their l\-fasonic youth. Other~ are to be found who can't consent to sit and learn such simple things, but rcadill' assert that with the higher degrees they a.re really captivated, and in them they are fully proficient. But, alas! for the cause, when those who have traveled all the road, and learned and wondered, as they progressed step by step, shall try them, even there they are, to be found, utterly deficient of any knowledge of the ritual that will enable them to be of any service either to themselves or others, save, perhaps, they may count one, and even for that little service, except on extraordinary occasions, they are too often found wanting. We write plainly on these SUbjects, believing that it is best that "every J;I1an should speak truth wiTh his neighbor." Nor ought we to be at all surprised, when we remember that so large a number of our Brethren are members of some three or four, perhaps, half a dozen other Associations; and many others engaged, with all their powers, in cultivating other rites, to the neglect, perhaps, the exclusion of our own. To which we may add a Legion of others, who spend their time in working at what is termed, by way of distinction, we suppose, the side degrees, without deigning even a glance at the simple ritual of Masonry, only so far as they may assimilate and bring their fictions under the shadow of its wide-spread wings. With all these difficulties and estrangements, all must see that the obtaining of

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a uniform system of work and lectures, under our ritua1 7 mu;t be a difficult task, so long 85 those gJ:eat obstacles to its .accomplishment shall remain. And not only 80, but we re~rd the Fraternity, frQID the causes enumerated, and others that might be stated, in far greater danger than it has ever been, even under the most (lppressive circumstances through which it has passed. And,if so, it .bebooves all to be on their guar.d, or else our ancient identity must soon be lost, not, how.. ever, from any want of stability in itself, but from the divided support of its professed adherents. The remedy, if indeed there be any, wiU not be found, in the opinion of your Committee, in Legislative enactments of compulsory measures; it must be looked for quite elsewhere. Indeed, the very name of Free Masonry is but too often made the pretext for the abuse of it!') principles~nd that, too, by many who ought to be, aye, and by some who profess to be, teachers of its simple beauties; and this, perhaps, may in some degree account for the prevailing uniformity-that alarming ignorance of all that constitutes the value of Masonry. And yet, if the Grand and Subordinate Lodges will begin at the right place, that is at the beginning, we may have some reason to look forward to a better state of things; first, in a growing attachment to the Order, as the only Universal Association on Earth, urging tp a zealous cultivation of its Principles, with all our might, not only because it is so, but for its large and diffusive charity. Let us see to it, then, that in the futl,lre our Rule;rs and Teachers are selected from that Utile band whose allegiance, hopes, and interests are not divided, either by their prejudices or their preferences for those silly novelties of the age. This will be a beginning, and having begun, let us see to it, also, that all who are made Masons . learn, as they progress, the full requiJ ements of the ritual, before they are permitted to advance: learn it not, however, as such things are usually learned, only to be forgotten, but as men endowed by their CREATOR with power sufficient to analyze every thought and work, worthy of their esteem or pursuit. Since writing the above, we have perused an article int.he Magazine of Bro. C. W. Moore or Boston, which we appendprincipaUy for the information it affords : "The Higher Degrees in Ewope."-The Editor of the London Free Masons' Magazine, in answer to the inquiry of a correspondent, "on the eve of leaving' England for the Continent, whether the Templars, and other high degrees, would be of any service to him P" sa) s--and the information may be of service to SOme aI our Brethren

1-44 I --_.I I

GIl-AND LODGE A. F. A. MASONS

in this country, who may have occasion to "isit Europe-"lf your are about to reside or to stay abroad, we should recommend you to proceed. \Vhatever m'1Y be the deci:,ion in thi~ country, it is a f,~c., fhat none but those who have higher degrees than that of Royal Arch, mak.e any way in .Masonry abroad. Into the right or wrong of this we eLl not presume to enter. The Most Worshiprul the Grand Master~ and the Grand Lodges of the Continent have the right to act as they please. \Ve are asked a question, and we merely state what is a fact. The Knights Tern plar Degree i~ of but Hale use on the Con1inellt." Here i- a fact, strong-1y corroborative of the strength and truth of the op:ninns of your Commi~tee advanced above, and should suggest to our Brethren that the lime has fully arrived, if indeed it be not too lute, ",hi n we shollld look the mnnster, which has so long prowled abo1lt our c~mp, full in the face, and measure and meet the impending stru{:mle as becomes bo~h men and Masons. And the more we look, the more clearly !'hall we be able to comprehend~ unless illdeea we permit our~eh'es to be Llin(led, as hi,herto many have been by his wily urts, the evil cc.nsrquences !'lO much to be dreadd by nil the lovers of Ancient Craft of M:\!'onry. By a peru:-ul of the above extract we may fully grasp the fact as it really cxi~ts~ and with a little reflection we may analyze with certainty its etrectlS upon the Fraternity on tllis Continent, with all its witherilig influences upon the cause of l\Iasonry nnd humanity. TI.cre is out one succes~rlll remedy against the wily arts ot this insidioHs foe-the foe, which lil,e all other ~p~ems of fal~e philo!'opllY and vain prdensi()ns, heguiles men ont of their senses, and then leads them c:\p~i\'e ,It his will, and that is to be guided by our great light, "resist the en('my and he will flee from you." So it. has come to pass, aye, that e"'en the higher (Iegrees of our own ,"ile will not u,'mit a Mason, though good man and true, to Masonic Cd lo\\'shi p in the Old W orId? Verily we have fallen IIpon evil times, or Il',l)" it lIot ra~her be a retalialion upon the Grand Lodge of Engtl.nd for the t rH ly IVlasonic course pursued by her in relation to one of her 0\\"" offir'i;i1s who set her laws at defiance. But ~ll~h is the nature of man-such the sons of :I de~enerate race -th€y "'ill follow vain ~ha(lows and emp!y delusions, and arc slIre to be c;lptivalcd wilh thin~!' of' the man-eloU!', nyc, even :m inflated bubhle will !'lIffir:e pro\ ic]ed it be associated with 1he high, or the still more vaunting things which men are wont to call noble-yea, he

\,.l._=:.:d:..:r:.:.;.il=.lk=.'e=t=h=i=ll=v=a=l=li=")=':=l=ik=e a flOCtd.

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of THE- STATE OF

M[~SOURI.

But to what sort of Hhigher degrees" does the writer refer--and which our good Bro. Moore thinks "may be of ~ervice to some of our Brethern in this country who may have occasion to visit Europe." We suppose reference is had to the "higher degre f s" of another rite quite outside of legitimate Masonry, Qlmffil~ 3!1 modern as railroads and magnetic tele~raphs, certainly far more modern than the use of steam as a mo!or--": igher degrees," m(~de and provided for quite other things than those con~emplated by Free Masonry, fitted up to sustain the higher statiOfls in life and georgeously arrayed with the tinsel and !'how, so congenLl to poor thoughtless and self路inflnted humanity. Alas! that these "higher degrees," so incongenial with pure Free Masonry should find so many advocates who occupy such promi. nent positions under our simple and unpretending ritual; and some too, who assert that OHr system cannot be under!!tood without them, and who would presumptuously have us believe, that our Lion of the Tribe of JUdah, in all his strerg~h and generosify, must crouch and li<.:k the beaks of their double-headed eagle. The fact is, and it is useless to try longer to disguise it, that those of our brethern in this country who cultivate the "higher degrees," as they term them, but which in fact are nothing more than the vain philosophy of a roving Scotchman~perhaps a little improved by lheir still more modern possessors, have ever disregarded, with but few exceptions, the unity of Free M,lsonry, nnd are seeking, some of them, it is hoped innocen:ly, to esfablish an oruer rather above the poor simple souls that are content with the plain unpreten<1in~ ritual of Craft Masonry. This is the aim and object of the "higher degrees," the practical workIngs of which are clea.rly seen in the above extract, and we who luve the Ancient Oruer of Masonry just as ithas been transmitted to us by our Fathers, must bE'g:n, if we would perpetuate our trust, to regard and hold to a strict accoun:abili:y, aU who cultivatf- any other rite in Masonry as enemies to our c:mse, so long as tte)" may clJn~jnue to regard till'se "higher degrees" wi:h a favorable eye. Let them choose without delay between every o~her rite and ours. Because no man can serve ~wo masters. For that he will hold to the one and despise the olher, or else he will love t};e one and hate the other, is a fixed law of our being from which there is no escape. There can be no concord between the two. We may tolerate every other association without distrust, but there can be but one on this little ~lobe of ours legitimately Masonic. And however much that one may be divided by jars and di5cords, we may still reg?rJ it as but the effervescence of poor, frail humanity, and lament over it with

7 GAAlfD J,,()DG15 At. If. A. UASONS

promise of peace. But when the defire manifellts itself, as in this modern rite of "higher degrees," to supplant or to divide Free Masonry into serfs and Sovereigns, lords and lacquays, all the feelings of' our manhood inltinctively re-volt. . NORTH CA ROLINA. W eextraet the following from the address of the Grand Master, because we deem. the. remarks worthy of perpetual remembrance: "In some .instances I have diifered with well informed Brethren as to the meaning of "moral character" in our code. I can fix to it no meaning, when used Masonically, separate and apart from its genenl acceptation. Certain am I, that in our phraseology it is taken in ~li comprehensive a sense as it.is in any other association under the sun. Obey the moral law is the stern command of that ,ritual, handed down .through successive generations 1 frolD our illustrious founder, from whom nothing less could have been expected. "I have unwaveringly adhered to this test. in empowering Masons to work and conduct the affairs ofa lodge under my sanction. But while I have been disinclined to relax, or in the smallest de~ree lose sight of this great beacon light, established by the patriarchs of the order, I have as perseveringly tried to prevent 1he introduction of others. Such, for instance, as. the so called moral questions now so extensively agitating the public mind, and have allowed no declaration for or against them to be used as passports to our favor.. Inexperienced Brethren, in their great zeal to do good, are apt to require a little more than is required by universally acknowledged 1f..w. It has sometimes been a pleasant duty to take s.uch .ening Brother back to first principles and show him, that in most of these things, for more than three thousand years we have stood OR a platform as elevated in the scale of morality as any of modern date. It i~ tJle beautiful system of MORALITY, taught in our peculiar allegorical language, that bas given to Masonry all her charms. Divest her of this lite-giving principle and her gigantic form,. her beautiful proportions would soon crumble to dust, and a world witness the dying throes. of. an institution whose motto has ever been; peace 6nearth and good will to men. â&#x20AC;˘ * "The past year has been one on which we may look in after life without reproach. It has been a ~ood year, al)-! much has been acc)mplished for the good of Masonry. The initiations, the materials brought up for a place in the great fabric, never were better. Men of high grade, of moral worth, are the living speoimens of our labors.'" Our Brethren are zealously eng(\ged in the cause of education, that great and only base of morality, Âˇvirt.ue and civil liberty. May the It. ,hopeful

or THE STATB op. mSBOURt.'

blessings of Heaven rest upon them, and crown their labors with abundant success. The report of the Committee of Correspondence is from the pen of Bro. R. S. French. He regr~ts to find in the similar reports of Sister Grand Lodges discussions of Masonic principles, both in ~'bad temper and bad taste. But our brother should never forget that we are men; he should also remember that there is no accounting for "taste,~' the standard for which is not so very clearly defined, and must partake more or less of the times and circumstances by which we are surrounded. And as for bad temper, our language is not always a correct exponent. It is therefore wise, that. we should always place the most liberal and fraternal construction upon the language of our Brethren, and in that large Masonic charity, readily believe that none would willingly offend or be the occasion of offence to his Brother. The Grand Secretary has also furnished us with the Proceedings of the National Masonic Convention, held at Washington, D. C., January 3d, and 4th, 1855, which we herewith present fOI your consideration. I' To the National Masonic Convention.~ I'The Committee to whvm was ref~rred the resolution offered by the R. W. Bro. Smith, of Michigan, aud the substitute therefor, offered by the R. W. Bro. King, of New York, beg leave respectfully to submit the following Preamble and Articles of Confederation, as containing their conclusions upon said resolution and substitute, and as ernbodyin~ a plan for uniting the Crand Lodges of the United States upon a basis the least objectionable in its character and the most feasible and serviceable in its operations; and results, viz.: " PREAMBLE.

"For the purpose of establishing a unity of interest among the Grand Lodges of the United States-a unity of design and purposeand of securing mutual confidence between them, and promoting the general welfare of the Fraternity, said Grand Lodges do ordain and establish the following ARTICLES

CONFEDERATION.

".lJ.1"ficle 1. All matters of difficuty which may hereafter arise in any Grand Lodge, or between two or more Grand Lodges of the United States, which cannot, by their own action, be satisfactorily adjusted or disposed of, shall, if the importance of the case, or the common welfare of the Fraternity demand it, be submitted, with accompanying evidence and documents, to the several Grand wdges, in their individual capacitip.s; and the concurrent decision thereon of twothirds of the whole number, officially communicated, shall be held authorative: bindinj:!, and final, on all parties concerned. " .liTticle 11. 'Vhen any matter of difficulty shall arise, in any Grand

GRAND LODflB A. F. A. M.-\SONS

Lo~ge belonging to this Confederacy, between such Gr~lnd Lodge and its ~lIbordnates, of a revolu!ionary or other character, it shall be ~ub mitted, as pre~cribed in Article first, upon the request or direc.ion of the Grand Lodge in which the snme may have occurred. U ./Jrficle Ill. When a difficnl y shall have occurred between two 01' more Grand Lorlges, of the c:-;arac:er mentioned ill Articl~ first, it shall be 80 sullmitted upon the rt>quest or direction of either of the Grand Loc'ges immediately interested therein • .. Article IV. Any member of the Conreder~cy shall have the rii?ht to submit to the several members of the same, any qlle!'~ion of MaslInic jurisprudence, or Masonic ac'ion, contempla'ed within its own jurisdiction, which may be deemed by it of sufficient importance, to call I'or the united opinions (If the members thert'of; Plld in all such ca!'e~, the like action shall be had by the said Grand Lodges, ~s is herein provided in other cases, and the decision thereupon shall be conclll~i\'e. ,. •/Jrt'tcLe V. Each Grand Lodge belonging to this Confederacy, ~hHll lake action upon the matter so submit:ed 10 it, and m;ke a decision thereupon at its first Annual Communication, after the e"idfJlce and documents relating thereto shall ha\'e been received j unless for W:lnt of time or information it shall be unable to arrive at a decision, ane in this case it shall ha,'e unlilthe next Annual Communication, at which time a decision shall be made• •, Article VI. When any difficulty shall have arisen in any Grnnd Lodge, or between a Grand Lodge und ils subordinates, or between two or more Grand Lodges, as mentioned ill Articles second and third, the Grand Lod~e submitting smh difficulty, in manner as ofores(lid, shdl ~ive notice to the o:her party or parties concerned therein, of i:s in'en~ion to submit the same to tLe Conft>der~cy; and in c;.'se of the omission, negled, or refusal, of such o' her party or parties to supply the eviden(~e and documents rebting to such diffie lilly, in the Jnllnntr prescribed In Artide first, for three months from the time of the service of such notice, the mt'mbers of the COllfcdera('y m;lY pruct cd in the examinalion and dech;jon of the difficul y so submitted, lIpon the eviclence and d\.cumen~s before them: Provided, that whl n such difficui y exisls bet ween two or more Grand Lodie5', the Grand Lcd,g-e or Grand Lodges which shall llot have first decideu upon l'uc:h 8uL>mission, :-ha11 have three month~ afler i's next sl\ccee(:in~ Annual Communication, to supply such evidt'nce and ducllments as aforesaid. ,. Article VII. From and after these Arlic~es ~hall han been adopte(l by twenty of the Grand Lodges of the United ~ates, their provi~ion~ shall be con8idered ratified j and all matters there:n contemplated for adjustment shall then and thereafler take the course therein pres~ril~ed• •, .lJrticle VIII. No Grand Lodge, which shall have united in this Confederacy, in manner as afOl e~aid, shall wilhdraw there'" om, until it sh}\ll have given twelve months' notice to each and every member of the Confederacy of its intention to do so. U Article IX. These Articles mny be altered, revised, or amended,

OF THE STATE OF MISSCURI.

by proposition in writing, submitted by anyone Grand Lodge, and concurred in by two-thirds of lhe Grand Lodges in this Confederacy; and such alteration, revision, or amendment, sh~l1 be operati' e and binding ulJon each and every member of the Confederacy from the time of its adoption, in manner as aforesaid. All which is respectfully submitted. DAVID CLOPTON, FINLAY M. KING,

ALFRED AMES, CHARLES GILMAN,

A. C. WASHINGTON,

J Committee.

SMITH.

Jan 4, 1855.

"ADDRESS TO THE GRAND LODGES OF THE UNITED STATES."

"The undersi~ned were appointed a committee to present to your consideration, and for your action, the accompanying "Articles of Confederation," which \\,ere adopfed by the convention, that assembled in Washington City, on the first Wednesday in January. It wns matter of regret to the members of that Convention, that so few of the Grand L()d~es were represented; as, " in the mlllti~ude of counsel, there is wisdom;" and, more especially, as its proceedings were not considered obligatory upon any Grand Lodge, unless !'ubsequen:ly approved and ratified. Those who did attend, endeavored to arrange a plan that would, intrinsically, recommend itself to the favorable consideration of the several Grand Lodges, and secure, if possible, the co-operation of a sufficient number to guarantee a fair and impartial experiment. That a diversity of opinion would exist among the members of 1he Convention, was, naturally, to have been expected-,olherwise, they would have been more than human. Coming from different sections, viewing the condition of Masonry {rom different sland-points, and entertaining <:onftictin~ opinions of the economy of its government, the only thing remarkable is, that the Convention was finally unanimous in the result of its deliberations. Some believed that anything short of a General Grand Lodge, ivested with supreme powers, (original or appelnte,) in certain respects, or with certain defined limitations, would prove wholly inefficient; whilst others entertained ~pprehensions with regard to any national or~anization wha1ever. The former being assurtd that any attempt to form n. Supreme Grand Loclge ''\'ould be futile, at least for the present, and, that a sufficient number of the Grand Lodges, could not be induced to enter into such an organization, so as to endue it with efficacy, and secure unanimity with a spirit truly magnanimous and lVlasonic, yielded their pre-conceived opinions, and united with the other members of the Convention, in the effort to arrange and mature a plan, which, on the one hand, would leave unimpaired the supremacy and sovereignty of the Grand Lodges, and, on the other hand, would be efficient in promoting peace anel harmony, and effecting uniformity in the interpretation of the usages and customs, and in construction of the ancient constitutions of Masonry. The plan herewith submitted to you, is the result of this reconciliation of conflicting opinions.

GRAND LODGE A. F. A. MASONS

Since the formation and adoption of a National Constitution, the great want of Free Masonry, as it has existed. in the United States, has been a closer bond of union between tht" different G. Lodges. The condition of the Masonic In:-.titution in this country, is, to some extent, an anomalous one--very different from what it is in other countries, and under other forms of government. We have our respective Grand Lodges exercising jurisdiction co-extensive with the territorial limit.s of the State : nevertheless there is still need of some national arrangement, by which these Grand bodies shall be united in bonds of economy, as wpll as fraternity. As members of the same great political family, it is true that we cherish towards each other closer ties and warmer attachments, than to other und foreign branches of the Masonic Brotherhood; but then these exist ollly in our ~cnsibililies and feelings~ not in the reality of a prncticnl sySl em. To remedy this defect in the governmental organization of Masonry, and to supply the necessity of a more intimate union, and a rf'gular B.nd permanent intercourse, tr,e idea ot a National Grand Body was conceived and proposed by the Grand Lodge of Georgia, 3S early as 1790. A suficient number not having responded favorably, the eifort failed, and was abandon.. 路d. Since that period several attempts have been made to accomplish the S:lme design, but with like success. 'Whilst the history of those various propositions and efforts to organize a Supreme Grand Lodge, demonstrates (hat any further attempt would be ineffectual, it also shows, conclusively, that ever since the formation of our National Political union, the necessity of a National .Masonic union, of some character, has been recognized and felt by prominent members of the Fn\ternity. We cannot depart from the "ancient landmarks," or change the ritual and work of the Order. Notwithstanding this, Freemasonry has, in ull ages and in all countries, adapied itslf, in the economy and policy of its gOYernment, to the social and political institutions of the purticuh.r country and age, when and \""here it has existed. The chief element of i~s success, consists in this aJaptabili:y to the local customs and changes, and to the various phases of socie:y. \'Vhen the necessity arose of a departure from the originnl orga.nization of Operative Iv.Iasonry, and of one Grand Master for the whole Brotherhood in all places, it was this principle that put into operaticll the present system of Sptculutiye :Masonry and distinct and independent Grand Lodgel> in distinct and independant countries. In Europe, one Grand Lodge, co-extensive with each sovereign go"ernment~ was all sufficient, and most nearly assimilated to their political systems and principles. Not so in America: Here, existed separate Colonies-there, separate and independant States; hence, there must be separate and independent Grand Lodges. These, however, do not :mswer the full, wan~s of Masonry. As the political relation between the severa~ States IS of much closer intimacy thnn that which exists. between dIfferent co.untries so the Masonic relation between the Grand Lodges of the Dmtcd Stat~s should be of closer intimacy than that which exists between the Grand Lodges of separate and foreign countries.

OP~BE

STATE OF MISSOURI.

------------------It is not intended to be inferred from these remarks, that there ought to be a Supreme Grand Lodge, analogous, so far as it can be made, to our general government; for Masonry, whilst it ought to assimilate to the political institutions of a people, cannot be expected to reflect their exact im8ge. We do not infer from them, however, the necessity ot some plan-call it ,a. National Confederation, or by any other name, which will make that Union a living, active, working reality-a Union of brothers-of closer bonds of fraternity, of feeling and action-a practical Union, that will make these bonds more efficient for good, and illustrate a unity of interest. It is the privilege of the American people to behold, daily, an increased intercourse between the citizens of the various States, in the way of business, travel, and the interchange of Socialities. The manifold ways of inter-communication, .now erected, and in process and contemplation of erection, are lmiting, by routes more or less direct, each part of the country to every other part, and constantly opening new channels of commerce and travel. By these means we are also brought into frequent communication as Masons. A National Masonic Confederation will have the tendency to make this now frequent and increasing communicatioll more abundant in good and more effective in binding together the entire Order. We would not disparage the ~earness of the Universal Masonic Tie, or the strength 01 that cement which unites the whole Fraternity into a society of friends and brothers. Still no one can deny the operation, in Masonry, of thut princij)le \vhich forms a part or our human nature, and which receives, as dearer to us, those who belong to our immediate family, than those more distantly connecled-a brother, than a friend. 'Ve may go to the house of a iJospit..~ble neighbor or acquaintance, and feel all the ease and freedom of a welcome; but when we go to tl~e house of a brother, we feel that it is next to home. Likewise it is in Masonry. Those who realize that their interests and destiny are common, are bound by cords which draw them more closely together, and feel a sympathy otherwise unfelt and unknown; a more ardent desire to "promote each other's welfare." This feeling, too, is capable of expansion, and by means of a national organization, instead of being confined to the limits of a Slate, would be bounded by the limit~ of the Union. One of the greatest evils which has attended the condition of the Institution in this coun1ry, has been a diversity of opinion concerning Masonic Laws and Usages, and t}le proper jurisdiction and rights of the several Grand Lodges. Every di~agreementwhich has occurred between any of the Grand Lodges of the United Slat~s, has been produced by the assertion of a right by one, which another has denied; Of, a claim of jurisdiction, which another has resisted. If these were uniformly understood by all the Grand Lodges, this chief danger of alienation Qf feeling \'...ould be removed-each moving in the same direction, guided by th~ same landmarks, and observing the same great principles, it is impossible that a collision could ever result; entire harmony would prevail between them, just as in the solar system, where

GRAND LODGE A. F. A. MASONS

many planets move in concord, because each moves in an assigned sphere. Whilst great respect is entertained and manifested by the different Grand Lodges, for the well-considered opinions of each other; yet, these opinions, when expressed, carry with them no authority, but are free to be disregarded. To accomplish this great de!!'ideratllm, and secure that uniformity, whi~h is the support of Masonry, some plan must be devised, by which these opinions, wheh expressed upon proper occasions, will posse8s weight, and power, and obligation. Like judicial opinions, they must have the force of prec~dents ?f so!" emn adjudications; they must be the utterances of u trIbunal mtelligent enough to command respect, august enough to command deference, and strong enough to command observance, at least by its moral power. A tribunal of wisdom" beauty, and st1路ength. The Conventio.n believes that the plan herewith proposed will as nearly accomplish tIlls object as any plan can whose arrangement:- is compatible with the other rights and interests of the Grand Lodge:-. Having thus endeavored to demonstrate the necessity of a more complete Masonic Union than at present exists, it is proper for us to consider briefly, but more speoiilcally, the details of the scheme adopted by the Convention. By an investigation of the principles upon which the proposed Confederation is organized, it will be observed, that it fully recognizes the supremacy and sovereignty of each Grand Lodge. It does not disrobe them of any authority; it does not divest them of any power; it does not deprive them or any right: whilst it avoids the objections usually urged to the formation of a General Grand Lodge, it pro,'ides the means, the sure means, of obtaining their aggregate voice upon any disputed or debated question. 'Vithout great central power, which is prone to grow stronger, ahd to absorb all subordinate authority, unless properly checked and restricted, Masonic honor and faith are pledged to a regard to its duly expressed opinions and decisions. Thus, it is invested with a moral power, \vhich, with Masons, is more than physical force. The scheme, in one aspect, is simply this: Upon any occasion of difficulty or disagreetnent between two or more Grand Lodges, the one says to the other, , We will submit our matter of difference to the arbitrament of our sister Grand Lodges, who are our peers, and who, although disinterested in our particular case, have yet the highest interest ~n attail~ing the great end cf truth and right, and in protecting the umversalm1erests of Masonry.' In another aspect-when any internal commotion may happel1, the Grand Lodge, whose peace is thus disturbed, has the means, o.nd is herebv invited to take counsel, with her sister Grand Lodge. Thus simplified and considered, the scheme is not liable to the objections of those who entertain apprehensions concerning any National organization. N either are the Grand LodEes to incur the expense of sendin~ delegates to meet in some great ljouncil, there to reflect, deliberate, and decide, the matters which may be submitted to the Confederation.

OF THE STATE OF MISSOURI.

No additIonal expense is entailed upon them. When any occal!oion may arise, requiring the action of the Confederation, each Grand Lodge decides Jor itself, in its own hall, at il~ regular commnnica:ion, and according to its own judgment, unbiassed by the pre!>enoe or influence of pal ties interested. Instead of the wisdom, leal ning and intelligence, of a limited number of delegates, there will be the 3ggregate wisdom, learning and intelligence, of all the members of all the Grand Lodges, each excrcisin~ its individual iutellects. There can be no danger of any usurpation of Power. The Confederation, either upon the request of one member, or a mnjority of the members, or otherwise, cannot take jurisdiction oE any matter without the voluntary submission of one of the parties involved. Any decision that might be made, However unanimous, \1I,'ithout a compliance with the provision of the Articles, would be " coram non judice"-a mere assumption without legal or moral force. The committee deem it unnecessary to review all the del ails of the plan, but simply to present its prominent features. The Convention did not expect to ma~ ure a perfect plan. It is an experiment. Time must develop the deficiencies, and ample provision is made for the alteration or amendment of the Articles. One other consideration: It is recognized as a well settlrd principle in the Masonic jurisprudence of this country, lhat the jurisdiction of a Grand Lodge extends with the territorial limits of the Slate in which it is located. The Grand Lodges uf other countries do not recognize or observe this principle. They claim the right to organize Lodges and exercise po,..'er ill all places. Upon the m~lintenance of this principle, as between our own Grand Lodges, depend their peace and harmony; and, upon its observance, by foreign Grand Lodges, so far as relates to the United States, depend lhl' preservation of' peace and harmony between them and our Grand LoJges. W ilhout it. we are liable every day to have Lodges established in our midst, under the authority of some Grand Lodge. Accustomed to listen to the voice ot a supreme head, only, an expression of this sentiment, by the several Grand Lodges of the Union, individually, will not have the same effect upon them, as its expression by an orgOln;zalion having the air and sembhu1ce, at least, of natioll<11ity IlInd snpremacy. Hence, to secure ourselves against invasion from abroad, two thirgs must co~cur-a national objection and opposition, and a more thorough unIOn. We hope that the Grand Lod~es will consider the plan worthy of a tl ial, and that a Nationa.l confederation may be found a wall of protection--a cord of Union-the means of preserving: peace and harmony, promoting the general welfare of the Order, aBd exciting that noble (contention, or emulation, who can best work and best ag;ee. DAVID CLOPTON,

A. C.

S;ltITH,

FunA y 1\1. KING, CllARLE!'

B. B.

GILMAN,

FRENCH."

'54

GRAND LODGE A. F. A. MASONS

It will be seen that only Six Grand Lodges were represented in the Convention. In presenting the above articles of Cunfederation, proposed for the adoption of the several Grand Lodges, and the Address of the Committee, explaining and enforcing the same, we feel somewhat embarrassed, when we remember the Address of a similar Committee, 31reatly referred to in this Report. And yet we know not, under existing circumstances, how to avoid the expression of our own views on a suhject of such vital interest to the Fraternity. "We cannot, therefore-even though it 1nay be attended w1th difficulty and dangel-shrink from the expression of our views, fully, (reely and honestly, regardless of every consideration, except the duty we owe ourselves and to the Fraternity. As we understand the 3ction of the Convention, the base of the proposed Articles or Confederation is contained in the Preamble which heads the Report. This Preamble contains some four or five distinct matters. First, "For the purpose of establishing a unity of interest among the Grand Lodges of the United States." Second, "A unity of Design-and purpose-and of securing mutual confidence between them, and promoting the general welfare of the Fratp.rnity. " Now, it has never yet occurred to us, in all Olir reflections on the subject of Masonry, that there could exist any division of "interest " among our Sister Grand Lodges. We had suppo!'ed that on this subject, whatever might be our minor differences, as to modes and forms, that the Grand Lodges of these United States were a UNIT, set apart by solemn dedication, in very deed, to Universal benevolence; and that "to soothe the unhappy, to sympathize with their misfortunes-to cOlnpassionate their miseries) and to restore peace to their troubled minds, is the great aim of legitimate Free Masonry." ., On this BASIS we form our Friendships and establish our connexions." If our Brethren, who so much desire to form this G1'and Confederation, have any other interest for which they wish to establish " Unity among the Grand Lodges,"-and it may be that the developments of this" progressive" and cumulative age, have created many, besides those taught in our beautiful ritual-or. if there be any new light, whose rays have just reached our Brethren, or any important Princi~le discovered by them, among the rubbish of the wear and tear of ages, then such a " Grand Confederation " may, for aught we know, be both useful and necessary. But for the purposes legitimate to our

OF THE STATE OF MISSOURI.

Institution, as your Committee understand its principles, no such Confederation can be either useful or desIrable. Our Brethren should remember, that though we live in a progressive age, and must to some extent progress with the men and things with which necessity associates us, still, as Masons, we are bound to hold to the links which connect with the past, nor dare we yIeld to the seductive influences by which we are surrounded. They should remember, also, that our individuality as Masons~ and the ennobling and unobtrusive characteristics of Masonry are too sacred .to be thoughtlessly placed in jeopardy by any attempt to establish a new and untried organization-our pride of antiquity should be a sufficient barrier. Nor can your Committee can.ceive of any" Unity of Design" other than to culti'vate to the largest extent, the great principle of Universal Brotherhood, being" linked together by an indissoluble chain or sincere affection-the heart and tongue join in promoting each other's welfare and rejoicing in each other's prosperity." And on this principle, surely, every Grand Lodge is full of "interest and Unity." Is it not the burden of all our cares- the "warmest aspiration of all our hearts? In the opinion of your Committee, the great means of" securing mutual cunfidence " -if indeed it be at such a low ebb, as our Brethren of the Convention seem to think, which we are by no means prepared to admit-is to be sought for in a constant intercourse and mutual greetings in the Subordinate Lodges-and not where our brethren of the Convention seem to have placed their hopes and ~spirations. The fact is, as we have elsewhere stated, we too often bc 6 in at the wrong place-lean too much towarq.s large and powerful organizations, with their coer路 oive and too often oppressive laws, when the only hope of the Unity and perpetuity of the Fraternity 1'esis on the sympathetic affections of that great Masonic heart, the Subordinate Lodges-each healthy pulsation of which sends forth its peaceful and healthful influences to the farthest extremities of civilized Earth. Let us, therefore, begin anew here, and learn to be content with the simple beauties as they have been handed down to us from" time immemorial," nor any longer indulge in the vain attempt at that National .JvIawnic grandeur which has so long eluucd the grasp of its giddy pur~uers. For pure Free Masonry is but the reflection of Divine truth, drawn from thence and veiled in alle~ory by its founders, and was neVf:r intended for parade and show, either imaginary or real; and before we seek to stamp upon it any other than the simple impress left by our fathers, we may well pausa and reflect, lest, peradventure, that which befe} Ancient Israel, to whom God gave a KING, in his anger, and took away in his

GRAND LODGE A. F. A. MASONS

wrath, should also befal our beloved Institution. Let us then be wise, ere it be too late, and learn to be content with the simplicity of Free Masonry. In the opinion of your Committee, the best means of " securing mutual confidence in the Grand Lodges," are to be fonnd in a constant intercourse with each other, in the Subordinate Lodges; and if we fail to secure it there, we may in vain look for it by the creatirm of a Grand Confederation, or of any other Supreme or General Grand Organization. We must not invert the natural order of things, if we would succeed in securing the mutual confidence of each other, or of the World. Nor should we undertake, by any means, to bring into discredit, by new and unauthorized creations, or "experiments," the simple though quite efficient means already existing, and which Hlany fail to see, being blinded by the glitter and show of those imaginary things far above the reach of mortals. In the Subordinate Lodges, then, those nurseries of the Craft, alone, may we rationally hope to " establish," or rather perpetuate a Unity of intere.~t, design, and purpose, and of securing mutual confidence, and of promoting the general welfare of the Frate'mity-because it is here our Brethren are prepnred by frequent intercourse with each other for the active and legitimate duties of Masonry. This is the foundation: if we build wisely here, our work-though it may not be as finely polished as many seem to desire-yet, if built according to the established rules of the Order, it will be sure to stand that great day that must try every man's work of what sort it is. May we then ever keep in view that" higher," that paramount law of Masonry, "ere the evil days draw nigh, when we shall say we haye no pleasure in them." So far 35 our own experience goes, the great body of Masons require not to be coerced in, but to be shown the old paths of Masonry, and when clearly perceived by them they will walk therein with alac# rity ann delight. The difficulty is not to get willin~ Pupils, but Practical Teachers. Let us not, therefore, try any new" experiments," for they are not required for any of the legitimate purposes of Free Masonry. And may we not well consider the bare admission that they are experiments, proof beyond cavil, that such things form no part of Ancient Craft Masonry. And does not the fact, thus admitted, and the legitimate deduction from it, if there were no other reasons, render it impossible for us either to countenance or approve them? Nor is such an organization required for any of the purposes specified in the Address of the Committee, or for any other purpose that your

OF THE STATE OF MISSOURI.

Committee can now conceive; nor would it work out any of the things contemplated, but, on the contrary, would surely prove a splendid failure, if for no other reason, because there is nothing for it to do. But even if it would work, as by charm, and were the members of this Grand Lodge unanimous for its adoption, still that paramount law, to whose high behests all must yield a hearty obedience, would interpose its resistless power. There is no power in this Grand Lod~e-and we much question the eXIstence of it iiI others-to form any such alliances, or to create, or assist in creating, any Body superior to itself. The powers of this Grand Lodge are clearly defined in the Constitution, by which it exists, in its o'wn undivided sovereignty, conferred on it by the voluntary grant of the Subordinate Lodges of this jurisdiction-to be held and exercised by her at their will and pleasure. According to this Constitution, " The Grand Lodge of Missouri shall be the SUPREME Masonic authority within the State at: Missouri," and by the Ancient Constitutions and usages of the Fraternity, is, and shall be invested with ALL the original essential powers and privileges belonging to the Ancient Craft; ~specialJy to enact and enforce all laws and regulations for the governmwt of tiLe Fraternity-to hear and determine all questions of dispute, &c., &c. Nor is there any power in this Gnmd Lodge, whereby it could po~sibly delegate its powers and prerogatives of sovereignty to a "Grand Confederation of Grand Lodges," or to any other Body, Supreme or Subordinate. It must remain the final resort. We give our Brethren, full credit for the best of motives in relation to this Confederation, but still we can but believe that they have in their great zeal altogether mistaken the means for the accomplishment of the end proposed. The fact is, there is nothing for such an organization to do that is not now much better done without it.Our ,Brethren are looking too high, wandering a!nong the stars or their more eratic companions, the comets-so to speak-for means of Masonic culture and stability, which lie, it would seem, unobserved by them, yet already within the grasp of even the young initiate. Those means and appliances may be more simple than the high aspirations of our Brethren desire, not quite so finely polished and furnished as similar appliances of surroundin~ associations. But then we should never forget that our system of moral and social culture, with all the means of its perpetuity, was Jevised and tempered by those skilful craftsmen, our ancient Brethren, whose work has been fully tested by a long series of ages. And though we, in our self sufficiency, suffer them to lay idle among our unfinished works, yet it is not beoause of their ill

GRAND LODGE A. F. A. MASONS

adaptation to the work designed, but rather because our Brethren have been diverted from their use by that aspiring spirit, which for more than sixty years has been devising- some new and untried creations. But thanks to the providence of God and the genius of M~sonry, thus far weha,:e been saved in our ancient simplicity. vVhat the best "interest" of Masonry now requires is nothing of the kind proposed, but a prudent, careful and faithful performance by each of the practical -duties everywhere acknowledged by the craft. For the plan of Free Masonry, as it has existed for ages, in all its principles and details, is of universal application, perfect in all its parts for the purposes designed. And like those beautiful architectural structures of ancicnt Greece, perhaps also the work of our brethren, each omission or addition by us in its construction, either in detail, principle or proportion, can but manifest our ignoyance and presumption, and is :mre to mar that symetry and beauty which has been so universally accorded by the wise and good of all ages. Let us therefore take the advice of that great patriot and statesman, and timely learn to "let well enough alone." Free Masonry is also as extensive as the wants of man, at least so far as his moral and social relations are concerned, and like a great tree whese foliage is a perpetual green, all the nations of eartIi, who acknowledge the Mason's God, without a fear of the distinction of sect, creed or party, may now gather in social and fraternal concord under Ole refreshing shade which its wide spread branches afford. It is also so plain and simple, both in what it teaches and in what it requires, that even the young initiate may readily understand not only its precepts, but their practical effects on all the multiform relations of life. Then why is it that our Brethren are so constantly urging-yea, almost forcing their untried expe1'iments on that system which has so successfully resisted for so many centuries the wily assaults of all its enemies ? Would that your Committee had the eloquence of an angel, that they might successfully warn our Brethren to beware. There are also features in the "articles" proposed which cannot be adopted, in the opinion of your Committee, without bringing great trouble into the bodtf of Masonry, between the Grand Lodges and their Subordinates, and yet itis gravely argued in the address of the Committee, that a Grand Lodge gives up none of its power, by adopting the articles of confederation. But we think the difficulties contemplated in the second and sixth arti~les would in mnny cases, if not all, render a Grand Lodge powerless for all the practical purposes of discipline in its -own jurisdiction. Strange feelings oppress the

OF THE STArE OF MISSOURI.

mind "f your' Committee at this point, but whether our Brethren of the Convention might 110t just here have felt equally as strange, we are not prepared to say. They may ha.ve doubted, hesitated, perhaps counted the cost, but the old motto--risk all to save all-seemed to prevail, and they boldly staked the peace and harmony of the fraternity on what they doubtless deemed the sure success of the adoption of their "experiment." In the opinion of your Committee, this branch of the articles proposed, if there were no others, would of itself constitute a sufficient reason why the ';experiment" should not be tried; for unless we are greatly deceived in our estimate of men and things, if this system was put to practice, which we earnestly hope may never be the case, it will be the direct cause of more mischief to the Craft than any are now prepared to estimate-be~ides chnnging the pI esent peaceful state of affairs existing in almost every jurisdiction to such an extent, that neither the Grand or Subordirlate Lodgt:s, or the "National Confederation" itself, nor all combined, would have any claim to the peaceful name of .,1lfasonic-but would present a kind of mixture and confmion that would soon bring the entire fraternity into disrepute if not disgrnce. We hope therefore, that our Brethren in every jurisdiction will unhesitatin~ly place on the plan of this "National Confederation" their seal of disapproval. Not onlybecause of its inutility and manifest inability to accomplish any good for the craft, but because of the innovations and additions necessarily required in the paramount law, to make it effective even for evil. In closiJ.lg our review of the proceedings of our sister Grand Lodges, we remark that the labor of a Correspondence Committee is far greater than many of our Brethren may suppose. The ohject doubtless, if there be any worthy of the cause of Masonry, is to keep this jurisdiction fully informed as to what is ~oing on in the Ma~onic world. To do this effectually, it is not only necessary to give the actions of. sister Grand Lodges, but in many cases the reasons set forth which induced the action, in order that our Brethren may understand the principles involved. And to this end long extracts are found far more available, and much better suited to the purpose than any comments which the present Chairman of your Committee could possibly make; besides, there is much less danger of miss representing the views of a Brother, which we all so justly dispise, when we let him speak in his own language. Hence, a large portion of such reports are usually extracts from Sister Jurisdictions. It has been the great aim of your Committee to be just to all-to be frank with their own and with the opinions of others. "There they

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GRAND LODGE A. F. A. MASONS

have differed, they have endeavored to be courteous, yet sincere in giving their own simple views, when fully matured, and when they were ignorant, and knew that they were so, they have deemed silence the most prudential course. We have kept the great object of the Unity and indivisibility of Free 1\-Iasonry always before us, free from all sectional considerations, or alliances, whether social, religious, or polit.ical: of all these we would admonish our Brethren to beware, and let Free Masonry stand on its own merits-aye, let it stand alone, arrayed in its own simple armor, and if it must fall before the progressive age of a demoralizing world, let it be our great duty to see to it that its death is natural and alone; let us, therefore, not permit any of the progressive creations of the da), to be allied with it, to any, even the most limited, extent, either really or apparently. We have endeavored to keep before us the thought, that what is once true in Masonry, is always true. Our great object, therefore, should be to find it, and, havin~' found, we should cling to it with the tenacity of lifeyea, in the language of Solomon, we should" buy the truth and sell it not." And did we not buy it at a dear rat.e, in years that are past Dnd gone? Let not the Craft, therefore, in any jurisdiction, complain about the great price we then paid for it; but let all public reference to former adversity, or present pro~perity, henceforth cease, and all our efforts turned to the performance of some practical good, even to our enemies, if indeed there be any. And let us be ever ready and willin~ to fredy extend to all the privileges we .so justly claim fur our own beloved Institution. Nor mny we alltici pate any evil from \\-ithout, so long as we truly cuILivate and practice the beautiful and simple principles of the Order. The danger all lies within, and we may boldly ask" who i~ he that shall harm us if we be followers of that which is good ?"-and are not the principlos and workings of Masonry positively good ?-let us then cullivate and practice them faithfully, in perfect contldence that we shall receive a full reward; and then, it we should be ca.lled to suffer, as some of our eminent and farseeing Brethren seem to think, we shall be prepared to render good for evil, as hitherto we have done. But in the performance of duty we have nought to Iear :-let us, therefore, follow peace with all men, and harmony among ourselves, rc~ting assured that the GOD of the Mason" will not forget our work and labor of love which we have showed towards hi~ name, in that. we hnve ministered" to the wants and woes of the Widow and the: Orphan, and do mini~ter. Fraternally,

JOSEPH FOSTER.

OF THE STATE OF MISSOURI.

The Committee on Grand Master's Address, made the following Report: To the Most W. Gtand Lodge of Missouri: Your Committee on the Grand Master's Address beg leave resflectfully to report, that they have carefully examined the document submitted to them, and recommend that so much of the Address as relates to Liberty Lodge No. 31, be referred to a Select Committee. So much as relates to Work and Lectures, to a Select Committee. So much as relates to Financial concerns of Grand Lodge be referred to Committee on Finance. ' And so much as rrlates to a NationalMasonic Convention to a Select Committee. O. F. POTTER, Chairman. Memorial of Bro. Garlichs, Past D. D. Grand Master, and late a member of Liberty Lodge No 31, was received and referred to a Select Committee, consisting of Bros. W HI TCOllIB, J. H. TURNER, J. W. BURNES, B. SHARP, S. H. SAUNDERS. The Grand Lodge of Missouri was called from labor until three o'clock this afternoon. TUESDA y AFTERXOO~, 3 o'clock. Thc Grand Lodge of Missouri was called to labor by the M. W. Grand Master. Grand Officers at their several stations. The following" Special Committees" were appointed by the M. ""V. Grand Master: Work and Leciures.-Bros. A. O'Sullivan: O. F. Potter, D. De Haven. On .National Masonic' Convention.-Bros. A. T. Douglas, J. N. Burnes) J. H. Robinson. The proposed amendment to the By-Laws, which was printed with the proceedings and submitted to the Subordinate Lodges, was taken up and, after discussion, the same was rejected. A Communication was received from the old Board of Curators of Masonic Collrge, which, after being read, was, on motion, referred to a Committee of three, consisting of Bros. CAR~EGY, DAGGETT, " REYNOLDS.

GRAND LODGH A. 11. A. lVIASO'lfB

Bro. "rhitcornb presented a certain Preambl~ and Resolution, which was, on motion, laid on the table for the present. Bro. Van Osdell offered the following, which was, on motion, adopted. Resolved, That the next Annual Communication of this Grand Lodge shall be held in the city of Lexington, under the provision of Sect. 1, Article I, By-Laws of the Grand Lodge. The foll<,wing Report from Bro. P. Draper, Agent for the sale of Marion College property, was read and adopted. To the M. \V. Grand Lodge of Missouri: The undersigned, Agent for the sale of Marion College property, fraternally reports, that, since the last Grand Annual Communication, he has collected of the purchaser of that property, on account of the judgment against him, heretofore reported, the sum of $2300 00, of whiL~h he has p':lid over to the Secretary of the Boa.rd of Curators, $2100,00; to Brother J. O. Broadhead, his fee in prosecujing suit, $100 00; thus leaving in his hands, after deducting some other small items, $108 24; all of which will appear by his account current, herewith submitted. In his last report, your Agent: mentioned that an appeal had been taken from the judgment of the Circuit Court of MadoH county, with reference to about $ 250. Up to this time, the final decision on that appeal to the Supreme Court has not been asoertained, anel hence the above named ba};lllCe has been retainecl, to provide for the costs of that appeal, which will, of course, depend on the final issue. All of which is Fraternally submitted. P. DRAPER, Agent. P.

Agent, In Account with Grand Lodge of Mo. May, 1852, To bala.nce, as per report, this date, Ap, 9,1855, To Cash of R. Knox, on Judgment, DRAPEll,

Dr. $9 69 2300 00 $2309 69

CONTRA.

By oash paid sundry postages, $ 0 45 March 15,1854, By cash, Justice's fees for deposition of A. Patterson, 1 00 April 9, 1855, By cash, James O. Broadhead, attorney's fees, 100 00 By cash, Jno. 'Villiams, Secretary Board of Curators, 2100 00 2201 45

----d

OF THE STATE OF MISSOURI.

Balance in hands of Agent. $ 108 24 P. DRAPER, Agent. E.&O.E. Louisiana, May, 1855. A Resolution in relation to the arrest of Charter of Ringgold Lodge, was presented by Brother Burnes, and, on motion, referred to a Special Committee; consisting of Br08, Burnes, Conway and Saunders. The Grand Lodge of Missouri was called from labor until 9 o'clock to-morrow morning.

W EDNESDA Y MORNING, 9 o'cl<>ck. The Grand Lodge of Missouri was called to labor by the Grand Master. Grand Officers at their several stations. The minutes of yesterday's proceedings were read and approved. A memorial from Memphis Lodge, in reference to the sale of a Scholarship in the Masonic College, was read, and referred to Committee on the College. Memorial of Greene and Taylor Lodges received, and referred to Committee on Chartered Lodges. The hour having arrived for the Election of Officers, the GrandLodge proceeded with that duty, which resulted as follows: M. L. S. Cornwell, G. Master. R. W. Oscar F. Potter, D. G. Master. " J. vV. Chenoweth, G. S. V'll. " Henry E. Van Osdell, G. J. W. " John D. Daggett, G. Treasurer. " A. O'Sullivan, G. Secretary. On motion of Bro. Homton, It was Resolved to instal the Grand Officers elect this evening at eight o'clock. Bro. James had leave of absence for the remainder of the session. The proposed amendment to the By-Laws read the first time. The Committee on Memorial of St. Louis Lodge No. 20, made the' following Report, which was, on motion, adopted. To the M. W. Grand Lodge of Missouri: The undersigned, Select Committee., to which was referred the Memorial of Bros. Hubbard, Rowe, and Miller, from St. Louis Lodge No. 20, together with the Communication of the IVI. W. Grand Master, in relation to the subject matter contained in the Memorial, have had the same under consideration, and have instructed me to subJUit the following Report: That, in the opinion of your Committee, Arti..

'V.

GRAND LODGE A. F. A. MASONS

cle 9, sec. 1, of the By-Laws of St. Louis Lodge No. ~O, which requires that the Charity funds of said Lodge shall be appropriated to beneficiary members of said Lodge, their Widows and Orphans, and "for no other purpose whatever," is not only unconstitutional, but violates the true spirit and genius of Masonry; and without entering into the many controlling reasons which occur to your Committee, for the opinion here given, we recommend, that St. Louis Lodge No. 20, be required to repeal the obnoxious Article in their By-Laws. The By-Law in question, in the opinion of your Committee, having been, from its inception, unconstitutional, and violative .of the broad principles of Masonry, was not only inoperative, but absolutely void. B. W. GROVER, On behalf of Committee. The Grand Lodge of Missouri was called from labor until three o'clock this afternoon.

THkEE O'CLOCK, P. M. The Grand Lodge of Missouri was called to labor by R. W. Benj. 路W. Grover, P. G. M. Grand Officers at their several stations. On motion, the sum of fifty dollars was appropriated to the relief of the Widow of a Master Mason. The Grand Secretary read his Annual Report, which was !eceived and, on motion, adopted: GRAND SECRETARY'S OFFICE, l or the Grand Lodge of :Missouri, S ST. LouIS, May 28th, 1855. A. L. 5855. To the Most Worshipful Grand Lodge of A. F. A. Masons of the State of Missouri : BRETHREN--In accordance with the eleventh Section tenth Article of the By-Laws of this Grand Lodge, I now proceed to lay before you a report of my acts as Grand Secretary for the past year. Dispensations for the formation of new Lodges have been issued from my Office, as follows: July 1st, 1854, To Thomas P. White, and others, to open a Lodge at the town of Milton, Rando I ph county, to be called Milton Lodge. By order of R. W. John H. Turner, D. D. G. Master Eighth Masonic District. July 26th, 1854, To Thomas McDowell, and others, to open a Lodge at the town of Cassville, Barry county, to be called John Dade

(IF THE STATB OF MISSOURI.

Lodge. By order of R. W. W. K. Lathim, D. D. G. Master SeVenteenth Masonic District. August 3d) 1854, To 'Vm. Florence, and othen, to open a Lodge at the town of Newark, Andrew county, io be called Round Prairie Lodge. By order of R. W. N. B. Giddings, D. D. G. Master First Masonic District. . Chivington, and others, to open a August 4th, 1854, To John Lodge at the house of Matthew R. Willker, in Wyandott Territory, to be called Kansas Lodge. By order of Most Worshipful Grand Master. August 28th, 185-1, To Wm. A. Darr, and others, to open a Lodge at the town of Windsor City, Carrol county, to be called Windsor City Lodge. By ordel;"' of R.o W. Joseph Chew, D. D. G. Master Fourth Masonic District. Sept. 25th, 1854, To Samuel H. Saunders, nnd others, to open a Lodge at the town of Otterville, Cooper county, to be called Pleasant Grove Lodge. By order of R. W. Oscar F. Potter, D. D. G. Master Fifteenth Masonic District. Oct. 6th, 1854, To John W. SmitlJ, and others, to open a Lodge at the town of Smit.hfield, KaJ~sas Territory, to be called Smithfield Lodge. By order of R. W. N. B. Giddings) D. D. G. Master First Masonic District. Dec. 13th, 1854, To Thompson J. Kelly, and others, til open a Lodge at Linn Creek, Camden county, to be called Lmn Creek Lodge. By order of R. W. Thomas Monroe, D.D. G. Master Nineteellth Masonic District. Dec. 16th, 1854, To Robert Faulkner, and others, to open a Lodge at Spring Hill, Livingston county, to be called Spring Hill Lodge. By order of R. W. R. H. Dickey, D. D. G. Master Sixth Masonic District. Dec. 16th, 1854, To Geo. W. Edmonston, and others, to open a Lodge at the town of Concord, Calloway county, to be called Calloway Lodge. By order of R. W. H. lVlcBride, D. D. G. Master Eleventh J.\.fasonic District. Dec. 30th, 1854, To G. B. Mitchell, and others, to open a Lodge at the town of Buffalo, Dallas county, to be called Buffalo Lodge. By order of R. W. J. W. Chenoweth, D. D. G. Master Eighteenth Masonic District. Dec. 30th, 1854, To Richard R. Rees, and others, to open a Lodge at the town of Leavenworth, Kansas Territory. By order of R. W. D. P. Wallingford, D. G. Master.

'V.

GRAND LODGE A. F. A. MASONS

Jan. 9th, 1855, To James B. Mitchell, and others, to open a Lodge at McGee College, Macon county, to be called McGee Loog-e. By order of R. W. John H. Turner, D. D. G. Master Eighth Masonic District. Jan. llth, 1855, To Joseph N. Savage, and others, to open a Lodge at the town of Flint Hili, St. Charles ~ounty, to be called Flint Hill Lodge. By order of R. W. B. Sharp, D. D. G. Ma~ter Twelfth Masonic District. Feb. 14th, 1855, To Wm. Howard, and others, to open a Lodge at the town of Middleburg, Mercer county, to be called Middleburg Lodge. By ,order of R. "V. James McFerran, D. D. G. Master Fifth Masonic District. March 13th, 185fl. To Edward 'Vinsor, .and others, to open a Lodge at the city of Lexington, Lafayette county, to be called Lexington Lodge. By order of M. '\-V. G. Master. March 13th, 1855, To Thos. J. Jones, and olhers, to open a Lodge at Rose Hill, Johnson county, to be called Cornwell Lodge. By order of M. W. G. Master. March 31st, 1855, To Wm. Ashbrook, and others, to open a Lodge at the town of Salem, Dent county, to ~e called Melody Lodge. By order of R. W. N. Eldridge, D. D. G. Master Twentieth Masonic District. May 10th, 1855, To Chas. A. Goshen, and others, to open a Lodge at the city of. Nebraska, Nebraska Territory, to be called Gidding Lodge. By order of R. \\~. N. B. Giddings, D. D. G. Master First Masonic District. [NOTE.-It is the request of petitioners that the Grand Lodge authorize this dispensation to continue in force until Annual Communioation 1856.] There is yet in the hands of Bro. John B. Brown, P. D. D. Grand Maiter, twenty dollars for dispensation of Martha Washington Lodge. I have written to him repeatedly on the subject, but thus far without effect. There are yet Twelve Lodges who have not paid dues for the year 1854. I would respectfully suggest for the consideration of the Grand Lodge, the propriety of having the Masonic year end on first day of May, in each year, and that the Subordinate Lodges be required to forward their returns to the Grand Secretary, so that he may have time to examine them, with a view to the correction of errors, as to JUDount of dues, &c. Respectfully submitted. A. O'SULLIVAN, G. Secretary.

OF THE: STATE OF MISSOURI.

On motion of Bro. Van Osdell, it was Resolved, That Lodges under the jurisdiction of this Grand Lodge be required to make up their returns ending on the first day of May, in each year, and transmit said returns immediately thereafter to the R. 'v. G. Secretary. Adopted. Bro. Whitcomb, from the Committee upon the request of the Grand Lodge of Kentucky, ,. In regard to Border jurisdiction," made the following Report, which was, on motion, adopted. To the Most Worshipful Grand Lodge of the State of Missouri: Your Committee, to whom was referred the reque!lt of the Grand Lodge of Kentucky, in regard to the question of" border difficulties" between the Subordinate Lodges, would respectfuliy report, that upon investigation of the subject, they find that at the June communication of this Grand Lodge for the year A. L. 5853, the Masters of Constan. tine, Foster, and New Madrid Lodges, presented a memorial, alledging that some of the Kentucky Lodges were conferring degrees upon persons residing in this jurisdiction, and s(\metimes of material that could never be worked in our Lodges, and stating that in bringing the matter before the Grand Lodge they wished for such instructions as might be necessary to ~uide their future actions, and if it was considered wrong on the part of the Kentucky Lodges that proper representations be made to the Grand Lodge of that State. This Grand Lodge, in taking action upon the subject, laid down what they conceived to be law upon the subject, as follows: "The term G. L. jurisdiction we define as holding Masonic control, complete and entire, over all the Masons affiliated and non-affiliated, and the wi?ows and orphans of deceased Masons, together with all persons who are residents within the geographical boundaries of' the jurisdiction of any G. L. of Ancient, Free and Accepted Masons, who are, by the old charges and regulations, worthy and well qualified to receive the honors of Masonry." Taking this to be Masonic law, they issued their edict to meet the above case, as follows: " No re~ident who may travel from this into another jurisdiction, and there be made a Mason, shall be permitted to visit any Lodge within this jurisdiction; and the Lodges are hereby prohibited from holding any Masonic intercourse with all such persons, under any pretence whatever." They also represented路 the case to the Grand Lodge of Kentucky, claiming the privilege, as they clearly had the right, of deciding upon the fitness of material in this jurisdiction, and closing with these words: " We hope that the rights which we so cheerfully ~uarantee to all, may be fraternally extended to us, and that our gallant Brethren of'

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GRAND LODGE A. F. A. MASONS

Kentucky will see the propriety, if not the necessity, of letting the Lodges under this jurisdiction exercise the undoubted right to judge of the character of all applicants who reside within their jurisdiction. In this way alone can harmony be preserved." It was supposed by us that 1he Kentucky Grand Lodge would immediately remedy the grievance, both as a matter of right and of courtesy to a sister Grand Lodge~ and also for the more important reason of keeping bad material out of the temple, especially as it left the Kentucky Lodges liable to the imputation of making merchandize of the degrees and admitting forei~ners to our order merely for the sake of the fees. No notice was taken of our request at the next Communication of the Grand Lodge of Kentucky, nor until since the last meeting of this Grand Lodge. Since then we have been informed, in very few words, " that the constitution of the Grand Lodge of Kentucky permits her Lodges, bordering on other States, to receive material from acrOS8 the line,:' and that their constitution being twenty years older than ours, we ought to adopt a rule that would fit their constitution, instead of asking them to alter their regulations and change their practice. After due deliberation upon thIS subject, we feel constrained to report adverse to the requirement of the Kentucky G. L., because we .think this G. L. is right upon this subject; with our P. G. M. Grover, we believe" that such a wide departure from all well settled Masonic law and usage ought to be firmly discountenanced." Bro. A. G. Mackey, of South Carolina, whose views are endorsed by the M. E. G. H. P., of Maryland, Bro. B. B. French, says, in his "Lexicon of Free Masonry," a work which should be in the hands of every Mason, that "the territorial limits of a G. L. are determined in general by the political boundaries of the country in which it is placed. Thus, the territorial limits of the G. L. of South Carolina are circumscribed within the settled boundarie-s of the State-nor can its jurisdiction extend beyond those limits into the neighboring States. A G. L. is invested with aU power and authority within its jurisdiction." Dr. Oliver, a father in Masonry, says: "The jurisdiction of a G. L. extends over every Lodge within its. territorial limits." The Ancient Landmark, high authority everywhere, says: "We hold that under the present conventional and constitutional regulations of American Free Masonry, a Lodge in New York has no more right to admit persons resident in Missouri, than the said Lodge would have to remove en masse to St. Louis and exercise her prerogatives." The G. L. of Rhode Island says: "No principle of Masonic juris-

OF THB STATE OF MISSOURI. .

prudence is more fully established in this country than that of G. L. jurisdiction, which give,; to every G. L. the exclusive right through-' out the State, and we will not countenance those who assume. such illegal powers; nor recognize as Masons those WIIO are made by them," The G. L. of Wisconsin, advocating the Missouri rule, says: "That fraternal courtesy which is due from one Grand Lodge to another, as well 3S a due regard for the interesb of the order, points out this as the 01)13' proper course." The G. L. of Connecticut, speaking of the G. L. jurisdiction, says: "This act of injustice should be met by emphatic rebuke by every American Grand Lodge." The G. L. of Illinois has an edict, "That no Subordinate Lodge in their jurisdiction should confer any of the degrees on citizens residingin another jurisdiction without the consent of such jurisdiction, first asked and obtained." The G. L. of FIQrida, speaking of "a man desirous to become a Mason, and having reason to believe that he will be rejected by the Lodge in whose j uiisdiction he resides," goes to another and is initiated, says: "we conff'ss it directly violates one of the landmarks of the Order. " P. G. M. Mitchell, of the Signet, whom Bro. Clark, of the Mirror and Keystone, "regards as more than common authoriiy in all questions and upon all subjects affecting Masonry," in speaking of the Missouri resolutions, says: " We regard them as worthy of imitation everywhere." G. M. Philip C. Tucker, of Vermont, in his apology to New York, for the making of one living over the line, says: the Lodge violated a well established rule." The G. M. of Connecticut says: "I consider the act of conferring the degrees upon a non-resident, a breach of .Masonic rule. " Judge Lewis, G. H. P. of the Grand Chapter of New York, expresses the same sentiment in regard to "our Canadian neighbors, who have been in the habit, sometimes, of taking in candidates from this side of the line." M. W. David Clopton, G. M. of the G. L. of Alabama, says: "It was with feelings of regret that I received from t.he G. Sec. of the G. L. of Tenn. a complaint that one of our Lodges had invaded the jurisdiction of that G. L., and violated the rights of a Tennessee Lodge, by initiatin~, passing and rai~ing candidates wh(l were citizens of Tennessee." No G. L. in the Union has maintained a more rigid position

GRAND LODGE A. F. A. MASONS

in reference to the right or practice of the Subordinate Lodges conferring the degrees upon persons residin~ in another jurisdiction. "The only apprehension for the institution l which the intelligent Mason ev~r entertains, has arisen from the admission of unworthy members. This evil has been greatly increased by persons going temporarily into other States and there being permitted to receive the degrees and then return to their places of residence. It gives me pleasure to communicate to you that the G. L. of New York has adopted regulation forbidding the Subordinate Lodges to confer the degrees upon anyone who has not been a citizen of the State fot twelve months preceding, and I am of opinion that the adoption of a similar regulation by all the Grand Lodges would greatly tend to preserve peace and elevate the order." Our worthy Grand Secretary, Bro. A. O'Sullivan, in an able report to this G. L., says: "That every G. L. is sovereign and independent a:1das such, they exercise undi~puted control, not only over the Lodges and Masons within their geographical limits, but over all those who are eligible to be made Masons; that their Subordinates have the inviolable right to jud~e of the character of all applicants who reside within their jurisdiClion; and that, in general, these geographical limits have been held inviolate in this country, and may be set down as common law usnge." That old veteran in Masonry, our own P. G. M. Foster, not oIlly concurs in the same views as regards jurisdiction, Lut also deems the parties so made "clanuestine Masons." He says: " We are unable to draw any distinction between a Mason made fraudulently and one clandestinely made." So thinks the G. L. of Rhode Island, for she" will not recognize such as Masons." So thinks the G. L. of Illinois, for she pronounced as clandestine those made at the Nauvoo Lodge, by the celebrated Mormon Prophet, Joe Smith, though working under one of her own Charters, because they were not made according to the Ritual. So thinks Bro. Mitchell, of the Signet, for he says': "The Illinois G. L. did right," and the act of the Missouri G. L. is worthy of imitation everywhere." So thinks the Ancient Landmark, for, speaking of one made in another jurisdiction, wilhout the knowledge or consent of the Lodge where he lived, and also of one made by G. M. Hyam, of California, outside of a Lodge, says: "We believe both to be clandestine, and can treat them in no other way."

OF THE STATE OF MISSOURI.

So thinks our learned and distinguished companion, Albert Pike, G. H. P. of the G. C. of Arkansas, for he says: "It has become Masonic law-if there be any such thing as Masonic law-that it is clandestine and unmasonic to invade another jurisdiction." With such high authority, which could be increased by dicta from almost every Grand Lodge and Grand Master in the United States, your committee deem it inexpedient to comply with the request of the Kentucky Grand Lodge j yet that we may not be deemed unnecessarily strict with our sister Grand Lodges, we would recommend for adoption tlle rule of the Indiana Grand Lodge. That" Lodges in adjoining States have permission to receive and act upon petitious from applicants residing in this State, when there is no Lodge convenient to the residence of the applicant, upon their obt.'l.ining permission of the Grand Master of this State," and we would add, "or of the Lodge in whose jurisdiction the applicant resides." We believe that this rule, if adopted by the different Grand Lodges, will remedy the evil so much complained of, both in this and other jurisdictions, and we therefore recommend, that the Grand Lodge submit the same to her sister Grand Lodges, and fraternally request them to adopt it, and as Kentucky claims as a constitutional right the nnmasonic privilege of making l\-Iasons of our citizens, without our consent, that this Grand Lodge request her, as a matter of courtesy to us, to require her Subordinaf es to conform to this rule, and also that our Lodges have permission to receive as members such of those initiated in Kentucky, <Yl they may deem fit and proper to receive. If, however, this Grand Lodge differ from your committee, and see proper to adopt the recommendation of the Kentucky Grand Lodge and permit them to make Masons of' those living in this State, then we would recommend, as a means of preventing any conflict of jurisdiction, that the line be drawn distinctly through our counties, half way between the Lodges. and that all east thereof belong to Kentucky, and be subject to her edicts, and all west thereof to belong to this Grand Lodge, and to it alone, so that our brethren may know distinctly what part of the temple they are to build, and not have our material-be it good or bad-put upon the wall, against the will of the overseers, and without the knowledge of the workmen who are daily at work in our quarries. One word in regard to the charge made by the G. L. of Ky., in regard to the memorial, which your committee in behalf of their respective Lodges, presented to your honorable body, two years ago, a charge which we regret to find coming from our brethren, and which we

GRAND LODG. A. F. A. MASONS

would not notice, if silence could not be construed into acquiescence; they say: "In regard to the charge of' working up improper material,' it is but. justice to the two Lodges charged, to say that it is a slander, and they cheerfully offer their respective catalogues of membershlp, in comparison of morality and Masonic fitness 'Wtth any Lodge in .Missouri." This is 8 gra\'e and serious charge; if it be true, then have we traduced the character, and spoken evil of our Brethren, which we ought not-and certainly did not intend-to do. We must confess) however, that we are at a loss to understand our Brethren in this charge of slander-certainly we spoke th~ truth-this no one will pretend to deny-applications were withdrawn from one of our Lodges, for the avowed reason that they were afraid of the black-ball, and the applicants were initiated in Kentucky,-material was worked up by them which we would not-and wilt not-receive. There is now residing in our State a fellow Craft, made in a Ky. Lodge, years ago, who was Jtopped because he was not under the tongue of good report. We do not give his name, deeming it a paramount law in Masonry, as. well as morals, to do no harm if we can do no good, and not leave men who seek to associate with us, worse than we found them, by publishing their names, as do our Kentucky Brethren, with their residence, occupation, ege, heighth, weight, and other marks, like so many runaway negroes; but those who wish the name can have it, upon application. Ana her resident was made 3n E. A., and stopped there, why, it is not necessary to say-except tha.t it sustains our statement; and, there is still another case, which affiliates closely with the whisky bottle. Now, if these are good material why have they not finished their work? If not, why are we branded as slanderers, for performing the unpleasant duty of calling the attention of the Grand Lodge to it? Perhaps, the old English maxim is made the rule," the greater the truth the greater the libel." If so, we must plead guilly, and throw ourselves upon the mercy of our Brethren, trusting that we may never have another opportunity of slanderin~ them b) telling them the truth. We mUllt al80 most respectfully decline comparing our members with our Kentucky Brethren, like Barnum's collection of babies, or beasts at a cattle-show. Weare bad enough; would to God that we were better......that every block in our part of the temple was exactly square, and perfectly fitted to its place. We do not and cannot expect to cumpal'e with Lodges twenty years our seniorlC; yet we are trying to be faithful in our work-hoping with a Mason's hope, trusting with

OF THE STATE OF MISSOURI.

a Mason's faith, that when it is over-when we present our specimens -they will be found to be square, and receive the approbation of that overseer, without whose approval the workman laboreth but in vain. We wish here to assure our Kent ucky Brethren that we entertain no feeling of dislike or ill-will towards them. We thought them wrong, and no doubt they thought us equally so. We stated the fact to our Grand Lodge in as mild and courteous language as we could well use; slanderous though it may be~ and we are sorry, truly sorry, that our worthy and beloved Brethren have taken offellce thereat, and attempted to place upon our brow the felon's brand. We cannot retaliate. We would not if we could. We intend, so far as in us lies, to obey the orders of our Great Master, by 10l'ing our brethren as ourSelves. Respectfully submitted. GEORGE WHITCOMB, GEORGE PETTIT, RICHARD H. HATCHER. Bro. Charles Levy, from Committee on Applications and Communications, made the following report, which was on motiQn adopted: To the Most Worshipful Grand Lodge of the State of Missouri: The Committee on A pplications and Communications make the following report: They had before them the application of Bro. Wm. Cnmeron, Professor of Lang'uages, Masonic College, which they recommend be referred to Board of Curators of Masonic College. A petition to the D. D. G. M. 24th District, duly recommended for a dispensation, to hold a Lodge in the westem part of the City of St. Louis, to be call('d Occidental Lodge, has been refl'ned by him to this Grand Lodge for their action, as it was presented to him only a few days PI ior to the meeting of this Grand Lodge. In his communication accompanying the said petition, he recommends the Grand Lodge to grant their request. Your Committee are opposed to a too great increase of Lodges, unless it can be clearly demonstrated that the creating such Lodge will tend to the "firmly establishing the honor, glory, and reputation of the institution," which they believe will be the effect of establishing this Lodge; the Lod~e in St. Louis recommending the petition says.: "We do so without consulting our Sister Lod~es in this city; because at a meeting convened by the Order of the D. D. G. M. it was deC'lared to be the opinion of the Lodges then convened, that a Lodge located in the western part of the city will advance the interests of the Order." The D. D. G. M. fully concurs

GRAND LODGE A. F. A. MASONS

in their views. Your Committee therefore recommend that a dispensation be granted. A memorial has been presented by BoUver Lodge, in which they set forth that a Brother "who had never served as Warden, had been elected and installed as W. M. of said Lodge, on the 27th December last. Doubts arising and expressed by the members at the time of installing the officers was waved, as a statement was made that the D. D. G. M. had installed Brethren as W. M., who had not served as Wardens, and Bro. Rains, who had also objected, withdrew his objection, giving notice that he intended carrying the same to the G. L. for its decision, which he presents in the shape of Queries (some of which, like too many which your Committee believe to be growing evils to the Fraternity, are propounded to the various Masonic periodicals) are too plain to require an answer; one or two of whIch we select as an illustration: "Did the G. L. have the ancient charges and regulations published as law to govern the G. L.?" '.' Is the violation of them a violation of Masonic law?" In reply to the question, as to who are eligible to the office of W. IH. to the law and testimony, we quote from old charges, art. 4: "No Brother can be a Warden until he has passed the part of a Fellow Craft; nor a Master until he has acted as a Warden." Comment is needless, as we are bound to these charges as Masons have been in all ages before us. He further states, that the W. M. is now and will be absent at least six months if not lon~er; the Sr and Jr. W. are preparing to leave, and mure than probable, not to return, asking, "what are we to do under the circumstances." We refer him to the 27 sec. art. 4, By Laws G. L.: "N 0 Louge shall be opened for the transaction of business in the absence of the "V. M. and Wardens, unless there be a Past Master present to preside." He asks if the Lodge acted right in installing the Brother, because the D. D. G. M. has so done under like circumstances at some previous time, to which we answer, no. We have answered the questions propounded. Your Committee state, in connection, that Bro. Rains had communicated with Bro. G. Sec. on the above subjects, who replied ill full, citing the law and giving other information thereon, of which the Lodge was informed previous to the installation, by which the Lodge should be governed. A short time after the installation, Bro. Rains addressed the M. W. G. M. on the same subject, who replied in an able, clear and concise manner; they involve a few of the above named questions, and one other-as to the power and duties of the D. D. G. M. We agree with the reply of the M. W. G. M. that, "they have just such power or authority as is conferred

OF THE STATE OF MISSOURI.

upon them by the Grand Lodge, having no authority to set aside or suspend any By-Law that is in accordance with the By-Laws of the Grand Lodge, so far as countenancing a departure from the By-Laws of a Subordinate Lodge, he must use his discretion. In arresting that departure it may sometimes be necessary from the nature of the case to ratify or heal a departure by the Lodge, but never sanction a wilful violation of law." Your Committee are of opinion, that when a Lodge violates the laws which govern them, the most charitable construction is, that it is more the sin of omission than commission, arising from the want of the knowledge of the said laws by the Brethren acting under them. The same may apply with equal force to D. D. G. M. or any other Grand or Subordinate officer. There was a time through men's ignorance the G. L. may have winked at it, but the G. L. hav.,. ing made ample provision, by furnishing the Lodges with the Constitution and By-Laws of Gr~nd Lodge, the "Old Charges," and "Old Regulations," it is the duty of every Brother to obtain a copy : it is therefore our duty to the Fraternity to ask them to learn to keep and obey the law; we shall then save much time and labor, which is now spent by the subordinate Lodges, Grand Officers, and the G. L. in settling the things which ought never to occur, believing that all that is necessary for your Committee to do in tne premises is now done, that of calling the attention of the Lodges to existing laws, to which they will heartily endeavor, no doubt, to emulate each other m carrying out. Respectfully submitted, CHARLES LEVY, J. W. CHENOWETH. Bro Burnes, from Special Committee on Ringgold Lodge, made the following report, which with accompanying resolutions were adopted: 1'0 the M. W. Grand Lodge A. F. and A. M. of the State of Missouri: The undersigned Chairman of the Select Committee, to whom was referred the resoJ 11tions concerning the arrest of the Charter of Ringgold Lodge, No. 27, introduced yesterday, is instructed by said Committee to report as follows : Your Committee have satisfactory evidence of the most unhappy cirGumstances surrounding said Lodge. These circumstances have divided and estranged the members of said Lodge, and now it is almost impossible &ogeta quorum present at any regular meeting; besides which the most yiolent public contention is prevailing among the members, to all extent, in fact, so great as to deprive your Committee of the last hope of &aid Lodge doing any more good to the Fraternity. Satisfied, therefore, of these facts, and at the express request of the Master of said

GRAND LODGE A. :F. A.. M.\SONS

Lodge, and in accordance with the recommendation of the R. W. D. D. G. M. of that District, and for the non-payment of the dues of said Lodge to this Grand Lodge, your Committee instructed me to report back the resolutions as offered yesterday, . and recommend their adoption, which is now very respectfully submitted. J AS. N. BURNES, Chairman of Select Committee. Introduced by Brother J. N. Burnes. Resolvea, That the Grand Lodge having satisfactory information that Rin~gold Lo:1ge, No. 27, has failed to pay the legal dues to this Grand Lodge as required by law, and being satisfied of the wishes of the Members and ~raster of said Lodge, the Charter thereof is hereby arrested, and said Lodge stricken from the roll. Resolvea, The D. D. G. 1\1:. of the proper district shall proceed to collect the property of said Lodge, and effect a settlement with the Secretary and Treasurer thereof, which he shall report to the Grand Secretary, and he shall hold the property, jewels and effects in trust, for the use and benefit of Weston Lodge, No. 53, until such time as Ringgold Lvdge may be revived. On motion, the Committee on Liberty Lodge was increased to five by the addition of the following-Bros. Burnes, Saunders, Sharp. A communication was received and read from the R. W. S. W. B. Carnegy, D. D. G. Master. Referred to Committee on Lodges, U. D. Bro. John H. Turner, from Committee on Lodges U. D., made the following report, which was on motion adopted: To the M. W. Grand Lodge of the State of Missouri : The Committee on Lodges U. D. ask leave to report as follows: Windsor City Lodge correct, and recommend a charter to be granted. Concord Lodge, correct, still the By-Laws are imperfect, yet do no conflict with the By-Laws of Grand Lodge. Recommended a Charter. Kansas Ledge, K. T. proceedings are not fully Masonic, to-wit, as regards the action in the initiation of W. Walker, which was first receiving and referring to Committee, receiving Committee's report, and ballot., then deferred till meeting 9th November, and before the ballot was taken, the petition withdrawn, and at the next meeting November 20, they initiated said Walker, which your Committee think was not legal, however recommend a chatter. Round Prai~ie Lodge, recommend a Charter, still the balloting for a Brother at same meeting of his petitioning is not correct.

OF THE STATE OF MISSOURI.

Lexington Lodge,proceedings are correct, and recommend a Charter be granted. Springhill Lodge found correct, and recommend, on their returning the dispensation a Charter be granted. McGee College Lodge, find all right, and recommend a Charter be granted. Middlebury Lodge correct, aside from the custom of a motion to adjourn a Lodge, which is unmasonic, as the power to close a. Lodge is only in the W. M. We recommend a Charter. Pleasant Grove Lod~e found correct, and ask a Charter for same. John Dade Lodge, work correct, finding no By-Laws in the returns, referred to D. D. G. M. Chenoweth, of 18th District, and learn he furnished a code of By-Laws, which are not in conflict with the laws of this Grand Lodge. We recommend a Charter be granted. Flinthill Lodge, proceedings correct, except the Secretary shows his Lodge adjourns, instead of clo"'es. Recommend a Charter. Smithfield Lodge, Kansas Territory, work substantially correct, still the proceedings do not show the examination of applicants ill open Lod~e on preceding Degrees, of which a Secretary should always take notice. We recommend a Charler in the name of Smithton Lodge, as such is the wish of the W. M. Oregon Lodge, Transcript, By-Laws, Dispensation, are all proper and correct. Recommended a Charter. Linn Creek and Buffalo Lodges, proceedings are prepared with un- . usual care, and indicate that the officers and members are surely master workmen. Charters are recommended. Milton Lodge-The Secretary has not been sufficiently careful in his minutes, your Committee are left to infer from a knowledge of the skill of the officers that the work of the Lodge has been regular and proper. . Secretaries f\1.i1 to name the meetings as regular or called, thereby causing your Committee the trouble of examining an almanac to ascertain if the initiations, ballotings and elections were in conformity with the requirements of the Gra:nd Lodge, also fails to state how ~he candidates for passing and raising were examined as to their "proficiency in preceding degrees;" however your Committee are of the opinion that these defects are only omissions of the Secretary, and on the Lodge returning the dispensation, we recommend the Grand Secretary to furnish a Charter. To Yancy Lodge we also recommend a Charter be granted.

GRAND LODGE A. F. A. MASONS

All of which we most respectfully submit. JOHN H. TURNER, Chairman. Bro. Connor offered the following, which on motion was adopted: Resolved, By the M. Worshipful Grand Lodge of A. F. A. Masons of the State of Missouri, that the sum of three hundred dollars paid by St. Louis Lodge No. 20, for the Scholarship in the College at Lexington, in this State,be and the same is hereby loaned unto the new Lodge, for which a dispensation has been granted by this Grund Lodge, to be instituted in the western portion of the city at' St. Louis, at the rate of six per cent per annum interest, until such time as said Lodge is able to refuud the flame without injury or detriment to her prosperity and successful operation in disseminating those most excellent principles of our time honored institution.

Resolved, That the Grand Treasurer be instructed to loan the sum of three hundred dollars (so soon as the same sh;lll have been paid over by St. Louis Lodge) to Occidental Lodge U. D., upon the bond of two or more responsible persons, duly executed to the Grand Lodge of Missouri. The Grand Lodge of MissoUl i was called from labor until eight o'clock this evening. WEDNESDAY EVENING, 8 o'clock. The Grand Lodge of Missouri was called to labor by R. vV. Hon. John F. Ryland, P. G. M. Grand Officers at their several stations. Bro. Peebles offered a Preamble and Resolution which was read, and, on motion, the Report of the Committee on Lodges U. D. was ordered to be reconsidered. The hour having arrived for the Installation of the Grand Officers, the Han. Bro. John F. Ryland proceeded to install M. W. L. S. Cornwell, G. Master. R. W. Oscar F. Potter, D. G. Master. " J. W. Chenoweth, G. S. Vl. " Henry E. Van Osdell, G. J. W. " John D. Daggett, G. Treasurer. " A. O'Sullivan, G. Secretary. W. B. Goldsmidth, G. S. Deacon. W. Isaac Hunter, G. J. " W. A. Stille, G. Tyler. Bro. Ryland delivered an interesting and instructive Discourse to

OF THE STATE OF MISSOURI.

the Grand Offict'rs and Members of the Grand Lodge, which was listened to with marked attention. Bro. Houston offered the following, which, on motion, was adopted. Reso/vecl, That a Committee be appointed to recommend suitable persons to fill the vacancies that occur in the Board of Cm-ators of the Masonic College, at this time. The M. W. Grand Master appointed on said Committee, Bros. J. F. Houston, J. F. Ryland, and B. W. Grover. Bro. Peebles offered the follo'wing, which was, on motion, adopted. Resolvea, That every Subordinate Lodge under the jurisdiction of thi~ Grand Lodge, be required to present a copy of their By-Laws at the next Annual Communication of the Grand Lodge. The Grand Lodge of Missouri was called from labor l.mtil nine o'clock to-morrow morning. THURSDA Y MORNING, 9 o'clock. The Grand Lodge of Missouri was called to labor by the M. W. G. l\tlaster. Grand Officers at their several stations. The By-Laws of Erwin Lodge was received and referred to a ComBros. C. LEVY, mittee, consisting of A. T. DOUGLA.S, S. F. CURRIE. A Memorial from Smith Lodge was- received and referred to a Committee, consisting of Bros. BURNES, HANSON, REYNOLDS. The Committee on Liberty Lodge made a Report, which was, on motion, laid on the table until three o'clock this evening. Report of the Board of Curators read and referred to the Committee on the College. To the Most Vlonhipful Grand Lodge of Migsouri: The Board of Curators of the Masonic College, in their Annual Report, beg leave to assure the Grand Lodge, that the College is in a good healthy condition, but, notwithstanding, the number of Students admitted to recitation is less than it was at this time of the last Collegiate year. This fact is mainly attributable to the short crops in our State, and the general depression in the monetary affairs of the country. For confirmation of this opinion, we need only refer to the number of Matriculants in our sister institutions of learning.

GRAND LODGE A. F. A. MASONS

But we are of opinion that there is still another cause of declension in the numerical strength of our catalogue, and that is the present imperfect organization of the Faculty. Students are now awaiting the action of the present convocation of the Grand Lodge, in reference to the election of a President,-determined to enter the Institution if a Presidenf. be elected, and, in the event of a failure in this matter, to go from Lexington to some other College. It will be seen by reference to the Report of the President pro tern., of the Faculty, made to the Board of Curators, hereunto appended, and forming a part of this Report, that a change in the entire organization of the Faculty, putting it upon the University plan, is suggested. This .plan has worked well, and for a long time, in the University of Virginia; but that it would do so in ollr College does not now appear quite clear to the minds of your Board; 'and, to say the least of it, it is an experiment, and of such we have had several, already, in the history of the Masonic College of Missouri; some of which, we are sorry to saYI have not inured to the credit, honor, or prosperity of our beloved Institution. '" e, therefore, enter upon further experiments most reluctantly. At the Semi-Annual Meeting of the Board, held on July 26th, 1854, it was found necessary to allow our Secretary a compensation for his services, in order to secure a sufficiency of his time to discharge the duties incumbent; and believing that justice required that the former Secretary, Bro. W. J. Pigott, should also be paid, we passed the following resolutions: ResoLved, That we pay Bro. W. J. Pigott one hundred and fifty dollars, for his services during the past year. Resolvea, That we allow our present Secretary one hundred and fifty dollars per annum, for the future. And the more certainly to secure the attendance of the distant members of the Board, and to subserve the ends of justice, it was Resolvea, That the necessary expenses of the members of this Board, living out of Lafayette county, incurred in attendance on the meetings of the Board, be paid out of the Contingent Fund. And, in consequence of the great advance in the pnce of provisions, house rent, servant hire, etc., since the salaries of our Professors were fixed; as well as the strong efforts made, at other points, to induce one of the Professors to leave the College, we deem it expedient, just and prudent, to ask your M. W. Grand Body to favorably consider the following Resolution, and Report of a Committee, thereupon raised: Resolved, That the Board of Curators memorialize the Grand Lodge

OF THE STATE OF MISSOURI.

on the increase of the salary of each Professor in the Masonic College, three hundred dollars, for the ensuing year. At a lVIeeting held in February, 1855, on motion of Bro. Van Osdell, the President of the Board appointed a Committee of three, to memorialize this M. W. G. Body, in reference to the salaries of said Professors. The Committee reported as follows: The undersigned were appointed a ·Committee, by the Board of Curator~ of the Masonic College, at their Me€ting in February, 1855, to Memorialize the Grand Lodge on an increase of the sal'ry of each Professor, in our College, three hundred dollars per annum, to commence with the beginning of the present Collegiate year, dating from the first Monday in Oct., 185..! . The Committee would state, that they have well considered the subject, and conclude that the increase of salary, above mentioned, is actually necessary, for the interests of the College, and as an act of justice to the Professors. That the present salaries, although they may have been sufficient at the time they were fixed, are now wholly inadequate and insufficient to support them and their families. This is owing to the great advance upon all the necessaries of life, health, or eomfort. That other similar Institutions of learning have increased the pny of the Faculty, and if our College is worthy of, and we desirous tu continue the services of our present competent faculty, we mUl;;t pay them as liberally as others do. Your Committee would, therefore, urge upon the M. W. G. Lodge the utmost necessity, as well as the im portance of increasing the salary of each Professor, as above asked for by the Board. . (Signed,) JOSEPH CHEW, ~ WILLIAlIJ: HUNTER, Committee. A. M. TUTT, To the end, that, under the pressure of circumstances, beyond the control of the Board, no Professor may feel at liberty to abandon his post, the following was passed: Resolved, That in the opinion of this Board, no Professor has the legal or moral right to leave the College, during term time, or resign his Chair during the term of his election, without the previous consent of the Board of Curators. In the further disc11arge of duty, your Board have visited the College premises, and, so far as is practicable in the nature of existing circumstances, inspected the several departments thereof. But it must be very evident to this Honorable and highly intelligent

GRAND LODGE A. F. A. MASONS

body of Masons, that a set of inexperienced men, in Collegiate duties and exercises-unat;quuinted with the different systems of instruction, modes of teaching. and plans of government used in Colleges, are not competent judges of the efficiency or inefficiency of a system of teaching, or routine of Cnllege exercises; nor could they make an intelligent report upon these things, had they ample lime to examine the subject: much less, then, are they able to do justIce to this matter, under existing circumstances, as we are able to give the subject a mere cursory examination. Therefore, to attempt a report, or oIfer a suggestion~on this part of our duty, would not inure to the credit of the Board, or do justice to the College. . Your Board are required, by resolution of Grand Lodge, to meet at least twice a year, perform many important, and ::;ome vcry unpleasant duties, assum~ responsibilities, subject themselves to much abuse and personal inconvenience; to perform acts that require time m~d labor, both mental and physical, of no inconsiderable amount, with a fair and (judging from the past) probable prospect of being most unceremoniously turned out of office, ere the expiration of the two short years, of honor (P)-at our own expense, and all merely for the glory of the thing! This thing is most egregiously wrong, both in principle and practice. We hope, therefore, t1lat this M. vV. G. Lodge, will, in its clemency, excuse l~S for not reporting on this p"rt of the duties incumbent, and accept the assurance of the Faculty, that all things }wrtaining to the mental and moral culture of the Student, in our College, are done upon the most approYed plan, "And they are honor:~ble men." The present Collegiate year \\'as, by the unanimous eoment of the Faculty and Curators, shortenea one month; the object of which was to close the labors of the School before the hot weal her of July set in, and give to the Students of the Masonic College t.heir long:el' vacation in July and August, as other Colleges of our State do. The College year will, herer.ncr, begin on the first Monday in September, inste;1d of October, as heretofore. l\1any Studellts in attendmlCe at our Institution, have sisters in the" Lexington Female Collegiate Institute," who are released from School about the last of June, and it is very desirable to aU concerned, to permit the brother to ::ccompany the sister home ;-this, however, was 110t practicable under the former arranger ment. From the abridgement of time, it became necessary for the several Professors to increase their efforts to bring their classes up to the pre-

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scribed limits of the course for the year; this, your Board are gratified in saying, has m,ost faithfully been done. Perseverance, zeal and fidelity have characterized the acts of the Faculty, during the year; and, in fact, they have not confined themselves to thp prescribed hours of College duties, but some of them have lDecn laboring H in season, and out of season." The undersigned has spent hours with the long tried, well skilled, true and trusty Professor of Mathematics, at hard labor, in the Laboratory of the Col"lege, in the dead hours of the night, while, no doubt, those who would rejoice to see our President pro tem. hurled with disgrace from the exalted position he now occupies among men and Masons-a position to them unattainable-were locked in the ~mbrace of Morpheus, or may be, phlllning the ruin Qf our beloved College. From all the facts and statistics that your Board were able to collect, it is plainly apparent to them, that in the present arrangement and distribution of labor, the Chair of Languages falls short of having its equal proportion of the labor, care, and Juties; this opinion, howeyer, may be erroneous, owing to the possibility of your Board not being competent to se~ IlIld appreciate the more arduous task of instructing a dozen boys in the abstrusitics of Greek and Latin, than in governing and instructing a chapel-full of boys, engaged in the acquisition of the rudiments ()f science. Among the Students, peace and harmony prevail; a strong desire and manifest disposition to obey the laws, rules and regulations of the Institution is very apparent. The undersigned thinks more so tha.n at any former time, that came under his observation. The Buildings.-Of these we have hut little to say. We are pained, however, to bear testimony, that unmistakeable evidences of carelessness, on the part of those to whom this matter, of right, belongs, are very manifest--in the chalking, marking, scratching, and cutting, upon the walls, doors, windows and furniture of the College; no doubt, much, and, perhaps, most of which defacement and injury was done years ago; but the dirt, dust, and litter, so generally distributed over the building, may, in our opinion, have accumulated within the last two or th,ee years. Your Board found the furniture in the Chapel so poor, that they opened a correspondence with IVI:. W. Joseph Foster, last fall, whereby they ascertained the cost of suitable seats and desks; but finding more claims upon the Contingent Fund than they had calculated on, they were oompelled to abandon the enterprise, for want of funds. If your M. Body can devise ways and means whereby this de-

'V.

GRAND LODGE A. F. A. MASONS

sirable object of refurnishing the Chapel can be attained, without embarrassment, we路 most urgently press the necessity for new seats and desks, for the dilapidated condition of what little furniture there is now in the Chapel, is wholly inadequate to the wants :lnd comfort of the Students in the Preparatory department. The Boarding HOtlse.-This building is covered with a felt, tar, or composition roof, and, from deep snows melting upon it, and heavy rains falling on it, we find some leakage; this will, of necessity, have to be remedied, or greater injury will ensue. The internal appearance of taste, comfort and cleanliness, in thi!! building, bears evidence of the faithful care and unfiring attention of woman. Brother Currie and his excellent lady deserve our commendation for tlIe manner in which they have conducted the affairs of the boarding house, through the most trying season of scarcity and want of provisions, ever experienced in our section of the State. Their boarders 8peak of them in hi~h praise. Here the poor Orphan finds both a Father and Mother; and, no doubt, but long after they have gone to reap their reward, elsewhere, for toils, vigils and cares, these Orphan Boys will pronounce their names with grateful remembrance, and pray for blessings to descend upon their posterity. The College grounds still lie unadorned, excepting from the labors of our President pro tem., in planting a number of small forest trees, which, ultimately, will afford fine shade, and much adorn the grounds. We hope the day is not far distant, when the means will be in the hand s of the Curators, and a determination of will to do ample justice in this matter. Your Board have found it rather difficult to get the Curators: generally, to attend the Stated Semi-Annual Meetings; indeed, some h.lve not entered upon the active duties of their office, at all-others have been present but once, so far. This dereliction, the undersigned think 5, arises mainly from two causes; first, the Board is too widely dispersed,-mcll have to travel too far to get to the College; and, secondly, they are expected to work faithfully, assume responsibi~ities, and pay their own expenses. We would, therefore, suggest that our successors be allowed some slight remuneration for their actual services; and that the next Board be selected from among Masons living within a reasonable distance of the College. Furthermore, we are of opinion, that the present plan of electing a whole new Board, every year or two, is not the better one, but would most respectfully suggest, that, hereafter, the tenure of office be so ar-

OF THE STATE OF MISSOURI.

ranged that some part of the Board becomes vacant, annually, and refilled by the G. Lodge, while the major part hold over, and; thus, have no more" old Boards," or "new Board~ ;" Provided, however, that the Grand Lodge reserve to herself lhe right to remove from office all such as fail to enter upon the active duties of their stations; and thus, by pruning and planting, finally, get a fruitful and working Board. Furthermore, your Board finds it to be difficult to ascertain, always, the precise law intended to govern them, in all their acts and doings, as the code adopted and published in 1844, is not well adapted to circumstances, and organizations now existin~, and.the numerous resolutions, rules and edicts of the G. Lodge, made to remedy this defect, are scattered through the printed proceedings, for a space of years, and hence net always available when most needed; we, therefore, would respectfully suggest the propriety of the adoption of a revised code of Laws, to govern the College, Curators, and Endowment Fund Commissioners; and to the attainment of this desirable object, of a plain yet comprehensive set of By-Laws.

It was believed that the whole amount of liabilities of the Board was furnished in our last year's Report; but, since that time, accounts that had been alIo\,red by the former Board, of which we had nQ record, have been presented. These DCColmts, together with the amount ot interest, cost in suits, &c., have amounted to some five or six hundred dollars. We now find the aggregate of our liubilities, as far as ascertained, to be $9,749 88, as follows: Amou.nt due to Faculty, $3,806 25 " "Individuals, 1,321 45 " of Mortgage on College, 3,558 41 " of Note in Bank, at Lexington, executed by L. S. Cornwell, H. E. Peebles, and John Williams, 400 00 Amount of Note in Bank, executed by John F. Ryland, and W. H. Russell, 160 00 Amount due S. F. Currie, for Board of Beneficiaries, &c., 503 77

$9,749 88 The notes to Bank, above mentioned, were given. to raise money to payoff some pressing claims, and to prevent other Law suits. To the payment of the above we have on hand,

GRAND LODGE A. F. A. MASONS

Cash, per account of Secretary of Board, Library and Apparatus Fund,

$138 50 2,100 00

- - - $ 2,238 50 Balance liabilities unprovided for, $ 7:511 38 The Grand Lodge will perceive that we have attempted to lay before it the路 whole liability, the inadequacy of some part ot the machinery, the difficulties in the way of the free acts of the agents of your Body; and respectfully suggest such changes aud improvements, as we honestly think would inure to the goou of the College, and redound to the honor, harmony and perpetuity of this Most Honorable Fraternity. Respectfully and Fraternally submitted, H. E. PEEBLES, Vice President of the Board of Curntors, and Chairman of Com. of Superintendence. Report of Professor Patterson, President pt. of the Masonic College, was also read and referred to the Committee on College. To the Board of Curators of Masonic College: The undersigned presiding officer pro tem. fraternally submits his second annual report: During the currrent year commencing October 2d, 1854, the number of students admitted to recitations in College up to this date, is 136. Of these 30 are matriculates, the remainder students of former years; sons of Masons 64; of others 72; aver[lge age 16 years. They hail from 24 countie!', dispersed through all sections of the State, and from Illinois, Mi!>sissippi and New Mexico. Beneficiaries of the Grand Lodge seven, from the Masonic districts of 1853, numbered 3, 4, 5, 7, 11, 12 and 15; of the Grand H.. A. Chapter 1; of Chapters and Lodges 10, admitted by faculty, as per resolution of Grand Lodge passed in 1851-3. Beneficiaries in all 21. Admitted on Scholarships owned by Chapters and Lodges 20; owned by individuals 53; total on Scholarships 73. In collegiate department 40, of these 18 pursue a regular course, and 22 are irregulars. In preparatory department 96, of whom some 20 are expected to take a regular course. In common with other public schools of the State, our numbers are less this year than at the same date last year. This is accounted for, in part, from the short crops and money pressure so oppressively felt throughout the country; in part, from the fact that the Lexington "City Free School," put into operation last fall under favorable auspices, has taken a few who otherwise would have been with us. To this may be added that a few applicants have been rejected, because of

OF TilE STATE OF MISSOURI.

their known idle habits in former years, and the want of proper cooperation on the part of parents. Our rule is to admit or retain none among us except those who attend punctually, profitably improve their time, and set a salutary example to those around them. About 20 have lodged in the College edifice, and boarded, some at Bro. Currie's, on the College premises, and some elsewhere. Of the 25 to 30 boarders at Bro. Currie's, the larger proportion have lodged there. They are subject and conform to the rules governing those who lodge in College. No complaints ~gainst the fare in that estnblishment have come to the ears of the undersigned, and he is satisfied there is no just cause for any. As a home for the orphan or orderly student, it is second only to the paternal roof itself. A quiet, orderly, law-abiding spirit has characterised the students of the current year. If any little injury has been done to the property, such as the breaking of a. lock, or a pain of glass, or the loss of a key, or if a student has been guilty of improper conduct. in violation of law, in nine cases out of ten the offender voluntarily presents himself before the presiding officer! makes a candid a'vowal of the whole affair, and so far as he can, makes reparation for the wrong. Such is the tone of what may be called public opinion iF! the school, that it is deemed mean, cowardly and dishonorable among the students themselves to act otherwise. Hence the task of governing iuch an establishment is comparatively easy; nay, as a whole, it is a positive pleasure. For who can daily look upon the honest [:.lees and manly bearing of so large a number of young men and boys, governing their actions by reason and principle, instead of impulse or passion, and not feel an abiding sense of gratification. The daily routine at business in College is as follows: At half-past eight o'clock, A. M., the students arc assembled in the Chapel for worship, which consists in reading the scriptures and prayer. The roll is called, absences noted, and excuses from absentees received. This through, at the sound of the gavel the students repair, some to recitation, and others to their quarters to prepare for recitation. Six hours per day is the regular time allotted to each Protessor for hearing recitaHons. By some of them seven, and even eight are sometimes spent in that way, as the wants c-[ the classes may require. Young men of both departments who do not lodge in college are allowed to occupy rooms for day study, two, three, or four toa room. A large proportion of the younger members of the Preparatory department study in the Chapel under the immediate eye of our indefatigable Prof. Davis. The remainder of that class of boys study in the room, and

GRAND LODGE A. F. A. MASONS

under the direction of our Assistant Professor J. E. Ryland. The Professors of Mathemathics and Languages receive their classes at stated hours, in their respective recitation rooms. From daylight till 12, A. M.-From 2 to 5, and from dark till nine, P. M., are stuJy hours, the requisite time for breakfast only excepted. From 12 to 2, and from 5 till dark, P. M., are hours for recreation. The Collegiate and preparatory students are each arranged into three divisions for exercises in declamation and composition. One division of the latter declaims on every Friday from 3 to 4, P. M., and one division of the former from 4 to 5, same days. One division of each hands in compositions every Monday morning, which are returned with criticisms on the next Monday. These exercises are regularly kept up throughout the year. During the present session, for the first time, students have been allowed the whole of Saturday at their own disposal. Each student is required to aHend church at some one of the places of worship in the city on Sabbath morning, and report the fact at 1'011 call, on Monday morning. Each goes to the place of his own choice or that of the parent or guardian. While sectarianism in religion and partizanship in politics are carefully excluded from recitations, chapel, and all other public exercises of the College, freedom of thought and the right of private judgment are accorded to all wilhout restrain.t. The two literary societies meet every Friday night to debate, declaim, read e~gays, &c. These exercise::; are conducted with spirit, and productive of much good. Books are issued "from the library every Friday evening to such as desire them. The library is in reguln:r receipt of the series of publications issued by the Smith路 sonian Institution, 'Vashington City, and our acknowledgments are due to Hon. H. S. Geyer and Hon. J. G. Miller for some three dozen volumes of public documents received during the year. The attention of the Board is respeetfully invited to one disad~ vanta~e under which this enterprise ha81abored from the begining. It arises from the smallness in number of those who have had the leisure or inclination, or ability to study amI comprehend its practical workings, devise plans for .its advancement, and give per~onal attention to their execution. Presidents have depended upon Boards of Curators, and they upon the Grand Lod~e, and that body in its turn upon both the others, and all have too often found themselves leaning upon broken staves, so far as sound practical counsels are conoerned. See official reports of by-gone years in confirmation of this. To the Board of Curators and the Faculty under their direction. has the

I I

OF THE STATE OF MISSOURI.

Grand Lodge confided the man3gem~nt of the enterprise, in all its details, and to them she must look for results. Through their reports alone can that Grand Body be correctly and officially informed of the practical operation of measures adopted for its advancement, and by their plans and suggestions has that body, in a great measure to be governed in her legislation for the College. Constituted as the Grand Lodge is, this must be, in the nature of things. And yet the order of nature has too often been reversed. Practically, all wisdom and all knowledge have hitherto been expected to emanate, as if by magic from the halls of the Grand Lodge. That body has been expected to do all the thinking and all the planning, and foot all the bills without a murmur, whether she had reliable data upon which to act or not. And if, in the absence of proper information, she llas failed at any time to legislate when it was needed, or from the necessity of the case has been compelled to adopt the crude suggestions of those whose duty it was to furnish correct information and well matured plans, founded on practical experience; and these crude suggestions have led to injudicious legislatioo or injurious results, the ....ery first to cast blame upon the Grand Lodge and reproach upon her immediate ngents, have been those upon whose own shoulders, in all justice, the responsibility rested. And in the mean time, let the sin lie at whose door it may, the penalty has fallen upon the best interests of the Collegeo My Brethren of the present Board, "these things ought not soto be." It i~ well known that you have done much to have it otherwise, and are striving to do more, and therefore it is hoped will not be offended at the plainness of speech used in this report. Have you then any plans ? or, allow me to use the first person and include the Faculty. Have we any plans for the advancement of the College? or shall we go on hap hazard and hood winked, without knowing the beginning from the end, or whereabouts we ourselves stand? If the Board and Faculty do not think and plan and execute, who will 1 To whom does the duty more properly belong r They to whom the management of the enterprise has been committed are presumed to be most familiar with its wants, and best qualified to suggest wise legislation for its benefit. And, however the subject may have hitherto been ,,-iewed, upon them devolves the labor and responsibility. In the event of a failure, to whom will the Fraternity and the world look for the cause? Will it be to those who built and freighted the ship, and set her afloat under favorable auspices, or those to whose skill has been committed the direction of the voyage r Whose con-

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duct, in so sad a catastrophe, will be the burden of the widow's wail and the orphan's cry, and the heart felt sorrow of the good man and true? Ours, most assuredly! Let us see to it then, that our duty be faithfully and fearlessly performed. - Sundry topics have occurred to the undersigned as proper to be submitted to the Grand Lodge, in such form as the wisdom of the Board may devise, and, First-Our laws consist of a code enacted in 1844, for the government of a College with common refectory and farm attached, and sundry resolutions passed since that date. In the mean time the location has been changed; new circumstances surround the institution; a system of scholarships involving complicated financial operations is going into effect; new financial offices have been created, and the duties of theit incumbents but impel fectly defined. Many of these regulations are incompatible with each other and inapplicable to existing exigencies of the inst.itution. And hence we have heard ignorance of what the law is, gravely pleaded in excuse for failures in official stations, to execute its requirements. The Board, it seems to the undersigned, is the proper party to suggest the remedy; to mature and submit for the action of the G. Lodge, a system of regulations for the government of the College and all concerned in the management of its affairs, and providing for the collection, safe~keeping, investment and disbursement of its funds. Well matured suggestions from them will doubtless have weight with the Grand Lodge, as they have facilities for practical knowledge or. these subjects, such as are possessed by few others. In adjusting the details of these laws sundry matters of great practical importance requil e attention. One of these relates to the constitution of the Bonrd of Curators. The records of the Grand Lodge and of the Board show that within the last eleven years about one hundred different Brethren have been elected Curators of the College, that a majority of these never qualifi(;d nor entered upon the duties of the trust committed to their charge; that of those who did, only a bare quorum, ~r at most a me[lgre majority, attended punctually their meetings for business. And to this may be added, that of those who did attend, a very small proportion have been well informed in the details of the business. The work has generally been done by a few men, and endorsed by the majority under circumstaDces unfavorable to mature deliheration or rigid scrutiny. These facts can only be accounted for upon the hypothesis that brethrim generally have felt less interest in the success of the College

OF THE STATE OF MlSSOURI.

enterprise than they have had credit for; or, that they have missapprehended the importance of the Curatorship, and regarded the duties of the Board as mere formalities to be dispensed with at pleasure, and without serious detriment to any interests. The office is one of labor and responsibility, and without emolument. When dangers threaten or difficulties are to be encountered, it is the easiest thing in the world to let the brief tenure of a year or two glide bye and leave responsibilities and troubles to fall upon the heads of successors. The temptation to do so is strong and not easily resisted, and doubtless has not always been resisted. It is therefore suggested that the tenure of the office be extended to a term of not less than four or five years, that the names of members elected, who fail to enter upon their duties durin~ the first year be stricken from the list, and their places supplied by the next Grand Lodge; and that this process continue until a full Board of working -men shall be obtained. The extension of the tenure will enable the members to become' familiar with the complicated details of their duties, and to originate and give personal attention to the execution of important and salutary measures. It will also cause the responsibilities oE the office to be more sensibly realized. Another important subject is the constitution of the Board of Instruction. Will you recommend a continuance of the old organiz ation? If so, provision must be made to support a President and at least two Professors in the Collegiate, and a Principal and one assistant in the preparatory department. That less than two in the latter will not answer is abundantly shown by the statistics embodied in the last annual report of the undersigned, and by the records of the College. Have you then, or will you have for years to comc, the funds to support such a corps? If you have, where is your President? Eeho answers, where? The last eleven years' history of the 'College responds, where? Judging of the future by the past, eleven years more may elapse before that station shall be satisfactorily filled. In the mean time what is to become of your school? A Pro Tern. will not answer. True, for a few months or a year, in case of emergency, it may; but not for a longer period. A p~rmanent Pro Tem. is a paradox-an absurdity! 'Vith the idea is associated that of imperfect organization, and a corresponding want of confidence, no matter how welt the work may aeiually be performed. If you retain the office and title of President in your organization, you must have the man, actually at work in your College, or pay the forfeit in the depreciation of public confidence and the diminution of patronage. But suppose you have a President and a full corps, as abuve indica-

GRAND LODGE A. F. A. MASONS

ted, and the means to pay, the~e is another aspect in which the matter may be viewed. The catalogues published for the last six years, with that forthcoming for the present, show the aggregate members constituting all the classes, in all departments of the College, to be 942. Of these 272 were collegiate, and 670 preparatory students. Of the former 147 were regulars, and 125 irregulars, whose studies embrace the entire prescribed course, the' dead languages excepted. Suppose the number and character of students to be about the same for the next seven years. You will then have a President under pay for giving instruction to t~e regulars, and a portion of the irregulars, say in all 175 to 200; a Professor of Mathematics for all of both classes, say 275 to 300; a Professor of lan~uages for the regulars, say about 150; and two Preparatory instructors for, say 335 to 350, students each. Let it be borne in mind too that the real drudgery of the ancient languages falls upon the Preparatory teachers, and that the Professor of Mathematics has in charge, instruction in the natural sciences so called, and performs the dutielS of Professor of Chemistry, and has the use and care of the Laboratory and Cabinets in those departments. The above figures are based on the hypothesis that each professor restrict himself to the specific duties of his own chair. It is true this has not been strictly the practice heretofore, but there has been a very strong proclivity in that direction. Men who aspire to Presidential honors are generally too large to descend, with good grace, to the drudg-ery of preparatory instruction. The same may be said of many other Professors, in the absence of specific legal requirements on the subject. This aspect of the case shows a very considerable degree of inequality in the distribution of lahor, and some want of proper adaptation of means to the end. And yet, under the rigid forms of the old organization, it will be difficult to have it otherwise, as most Professors nre not naturally inclined to make sacrifices, or take upon themselves greater labors than those enjoined by the strict letter of t.he law. The above indications of practical experience lend to the conclusion that a judicious modification of the old organization would essen1ially promote the greatest good of the greatest numbers, an end which should constantly be kept in view. There are other considerations which go to sh engthen this conclusion. The beneficiaries of the Grand and Subordinate lodges and Chapters, and of individuals, and a large number of those availed of scholarships, if we may jUllge from the past, will enter as preparatory students, and when advanced will pursue an irregular course, that is,

OF THE STATE OF MISSOURI.

omit the ancient languages. The progressive and utilitarian spirit of the age is such as to incline a large proportion of the young men of the country who resort to our schools to apply themselves to those studies which are deemed of more immediate practical advantage: Mathematics, pure and mixed; the English sciences, and the application of science to the arts, and not Roman or Grecian classics find favor in thdr eyes. To this class of students time, and a thorough systematic course of mental discipline are as important as to those pursuing what is called a regular course. And yet when the accomodation of the latter is the basis for the arrangement of the classes, the best interests of the former cannot always be so carefully provided as is desirable, and as st.rict justice demands. The eff(lrt to avoid injustice in this particular, has occasioned much labor to some of our prOfe8!\OrS, in the way of extra classes, in days that are passed. But, estimate all these considerations as you will, the main question still recurs, have you the funds to meet expenses? In the absence of data from which to arrive at positive certainty on this subject, it is nevertheless believed, from wl~at is known, that for some time to come, your available means will be insufficient to support, at remunerat.ing salaries, such a corps as that above indicated. Retrenchment will t.herefore be necessary, not in the compensation allowed to each, but in the number of Professors employed. And this will necessarily lead to a modification of the organization, practically at least, whether theoretically sanctioned by law or not. As already shewn, the demands for preparatory instruction cannot be met by a less number than two. The retrenchment must therefore take place in the other departments, and necessarily result in a change of organization. With the idea of a regularly organized college, even on the most limited scale is associated in every man's mind the idea. of a Presidency and at least two Professorships. So long as either of the chairs are vacant, or one man is required, even nominally, to flll two of them, just so long will you fail to secure and retain the confidence of the public in the efficiency and permanency of your institution; and these two elementary ideas are at the foundation of all patrona~e. Already has it suffered enough from this source to have annihilated any institution less securely based than on the plighted faith of the Mason's Fraternity of Missouri. What then shall be done? What will you recommend to Grand Lodge on the subject ? Were the ansW,er left to the undersigned it would be as follows : Let your new code of laws provide for an organization on the

GRAND LODGE A. :F. A. MASONS

the University plan. For the present institute, say five Professorships; one of Mathematics and Mechanical Philosophy, including Astronomy; one of Ancient Languages and Literature; one of Mental and Moral Science, and "Belle Lettre ;" and one of Chemistry and Mineralogy, including Geology, and one of Modern Languages. Provide for the employment of such tutors as the exigencies of the school may from time to time require, in the discretion of the Curators and Grand Godge. Let each Professor have charge and be responsible for the advancement of all who study in his department, from the begining up. Let the course of study in each Professor's department be systematic and extensive, and be regarded theoretically as a distinct school. Let the student who accompli5hes' the entire course in any one of these departments or schools, graduate and receive a diploma from that department, without reference to his proficiency in the other departments, or the length of time he has been in attendance. The prospect of graduating in the departments of theIr choice, without being obliged to pursue studie~ for which they have no relish, will stimulate many to diligence and induce them to remain longer in school than otherwise they would. Let the Professors be elected by the Board of Curators, subject to the appro,-al of the Grand Lodge at the next communication after each election; and let the tenure of Professorships be not less than five years from the date of said approval. Let the course of study be prescribed, the students classified, rmd the labors of instruction distributed in accordance with a system of regulations devised by the Faculty, and approved by the board and Gralid Lodges. Under the general supervision of the Board, let the internal government of the College be vested in the Faculty. Dispense entirely with the office and title of President. Let one of the Professors be olected by the Board, for a stated period, as Chairman of the Faculty, to preside at their meetings, and perform executive duties, and be the organ of communication with the world. Let another Professor be elected for a stated period, Rector of the Preparatory School, to pre!'ide oV"er and govern the younger students, at their studies in the Preparatory school rooms. Under an organization of this kind the labors of professors can he equalized, and a classification made that will enable the snme number to accomplish a much greater amount ot work, and do it better than upon the old plan. As the theory admits of a gradual increase in the number of Professorships as the demands for instruction and

OF THE STATE OF MISSOURI.

the means to pay may justify, so also does it admit of retrenchment, should that be necessary at this or any other period. Your first care will of course be to get the Institution out of debt, and then keep it out. Let it be a maxim to employ no more teachers than you have available means to pay, promptly and liberally. A small number well compens3ted will do more service than double the number stinted in that particular. If you have not the means to employ four reg'ular Professors at first, employ three and a Tutor. The latter can be had at about half of what a regular Professor should receive. If your means will not admit of this, tuke two Professors and two Tutors, or even one of the latter, or three Professors alone. By any of these arrangements the work can be done and well done, much better than the same number on the old plan. â&#x20AC;˘ As the scholarship system has become a prominent feature in the College enterprise, a brief exhibit of the facts developed by the current year's experience may be interesting, and useful in future legislation on this subject. Of the 73 students admitted on scholarships this year, 23 were on the class of fOllr years; 2 on five years; lOon ten years, and 20 on perpetual scholarships. Am't paid into endownent fund by 23 scholarships of 4 yrs., $575 00 Aggregate tuition fees for these 23, at usual rates for 4 do. 2,160 00 Interest realized from fund paid in by these at 10 per cent. 230 00 Deficiency of receipts as compared with earnings, - $1,930 00 Am't of $575, funded principal at 10 per cent for 231-2 years, 1,930 00 Amount of same, at same rate, for 27 1-2 years, 2,160 00 Hence from the date these four years' scholarships commence to run, 27 1-2 years must elapse before the College -can realize the amount actually earned in four years, by teaching the holders of this class; and 23 1-2 years of that time, after the work has been done. This fOUf years' excresence on the scholarship system may be set down as one of the crude suggestions above alluded to. Again-Am't paid into fund by 20 of the 5 years class, $1,000 00 Aggregate tuitioll of these 20 for 5 years, 2,450 00 500 00 Interest on fund paid in by them at 10 per cent, Deficiency of receipts compared with earnings, - 1,950 00 Hence 14 1-2 years will be required for the College to realize from the fund paid in by this class, the amount earned by teaching the holders

GRAND LODGE A. F. A. MASONS

5 years; and nine and a half years of this after the work has been done. Again-Am't paid into fund by fen, of the 10 years class, $1,000 00 2,100 00 Aggregate of their tuition for 10 years, Interest realized from fund for these, 1,000 00 1,100 00 Deficiency of receipb below earnings, Am't of $1000 funded principal at 10 per cent. for 1 year, 1,100 00 Amount of same for 11 years at same rate, 2,100 00 Hence in 11 years the College will realize the amount earned by teaching the holders of this class 10 years. Again-Amount paid into fund by 20 perpetllals, $6,000 00 Aggregate tuition of these 1 year, at usual rates, 500 00 31)0 oq Interest on $6000 funded principal at 6 per cent., -

Deficiency of receipts, compared with earnings, 1 year. Interest on $6000 at 10 per cent for 1 year, From which deduct tuition as above,

140 00 600 00 500 00

Excess of receipts above earnings for 1 year, To which add the above deficiency, -

100 00 140 00

Gain per annum by fundin~ principal at 10 instead of 6 per cent, 240 00 Again-Aggregate amount paid into fund by the above 73, of all c1aises, 8,575 00 Agg:regate of tuition for these 73, this year, 1,740 00 Interest on 20 perpetuals at 6 per cent, $360.路00 Ditto on 53 of other classes at 10 per cent, 257 00 ---$61750 Deficiency of receipts below earnings, this year on 73, Scholarships, .1,122 50 Interest on :1;8575 50; the amount paid into fund by 73, at 10 per cent. 857 50 Which deducted from tuition $1740 leaves deficiency, 882 50 Deduct this from former deficiency, leaves gain by fund at 10 per cent. 240 00 Again-Suppose these 73 had all been perpetuals, the aggregate paid into fund by them would be, 2,1900 00 Interest on same at 10 per cent, for 1 year, - 2,1900 00 Aggregate tuition for same time, 1,740 00

OF TilE STATE OF MISSOURI. Exce~s

of receipts above earnings for one year on 73 Scholarships, To which adding the above deficiency for 1 year,

450 00 1,122 50

We have excess of receipts on 73 perpetuals over 73 of all $1,572 50 classes for 1 year, From the foregoing the inferences are plain. Sell no more four or five year scholarships. Allow none to exchange ten years on pcrpetuals, for 5 or 4 year Scholarships-this is often proposed, but should not be done. Continue the sale of 10 years and perpetuals with as much energy as possible. Offer every inducement consis~ent with good faith and the obligation of contracts, and the welfat:e ofthe Fraternity, to the holders of perpetuuls to pay up the principal. The difference between funding at 6 and :9 per cent as seen above, for afew Scholarships, for a single year is a considerabld item; for the whole number sold it will be qui~e a handsome sum. It is indispensible that efficient measures be resorted to for the collection and investment of this fund. It is our main depen:lence. But this report is alre:ldy unreasonably long and must be clos.ed. Many other important topics might be referred to, but thete is not room. The undersigned has given, in all frankness, his own opinions, without regard 1.0 conseqnences personal to himself. The Board of course will act upon theirs. He is aware that there are persons, who for reasons best known to themselves, have attributed to the undersigned aspirations for the Presidency of the College, and will doubtless attribute the suggestions in this report to kindred motives.路 It is therefore deemed due to himself to say, that no consideration can indlice him to accept of any other position than the chair he has for 10 years filled, ~nd this he a&ks not ~nd never will s('ek. And, should it be his fortune longer to fill it, he is neither to be muzzled, nor driven from his post by the machinations of those whose path he may cross in the honest and fearless discharge of his duties to the College and the Fraternity. All of which is respectfully submitted. May 1st, 1855. A. PATTERSON. Bro. Patterson, President pt. of College, presented a cude of law! for the Government of l\Iasonic College, which wa~ read the first time and ordered to a second reading. The committee on accounts made the following report, which was on motion adopted : To the M. W. Grand Lodge of the State of Mis!louri : The Committee on Accounts beg leave to Report, that they have 7

GRAND LODGE A. F. A. MASONS-

carefully examined the books of the R. W. Grand Secretary, and, after a rigid examination of the same, find that the Grand Secretary has received in year 1854, after P. P., and to present time on said year, the sum of, $546 50 Also, find that G. S. has paid out during the same time, as per vouchers on file, the sum of, 527 24 Leaving a balance on year 1854, of, He has received on year 1855, as follows: For Dispensations, Degrees, and Charters, From Chartered Lodges, on year 1855,

$19 26

$899 00 3,338 43

Leaving a balance in G. S.'s hands, due the Grand Lodge $ 4,237 43 at this date (June 2, 1855), The R. W. Grand Treasurer also laid before us a statement of his }'eceipts and disbursements, and we find that he was indebted to the Grand Lodge, at its last Annual Communication, in the l"um of (see P. P. of 1854, p. 78), $1800 24 We find also that he has received from the hands of G. S. the sum of (a~ per receipts), 597 33 Also, Int. on Scholarship of James Graham, 18 00 Making the sum of, We fiml that the G. T. has paid out, as per vouchers, exhibited, the sum of,

$2,41557 656 86

.Leaving a balance in G. T. hands, due Grand Lodge, $1,758 71 Your Committee cannot close this Report without bearing testimony to the uniform courtesy of our R. W. Brother A. O'Sullivan, in exhibiting all his bouks, papers, &c., which we have pleasure in stating are made up in the most satisfactory, clear and concise manner, entitling him to the thanks and gratitude of this M. W. Grand Lodge. It is also due to your Committee to report that the statement and vouchers of our R. W. Brother Joseph Foster, Grand Treasurer, were found correct and satisfactory, although it did not appear to your Committee that the R. W. Grand Treasurer kept any book in which were recorded the receipts and disbursements of his office, as Grand Treasurer. .With great diffidence and hesitation, we beg to suggest to the M. W. Grand Master of tllis Grand Lodge, that he attend to the requirement of the secend Section of ninth Article of our By-Laws, and re-

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and ~T::':;i1:J~~~/~~:.~ wu reru1ar1y ma.de outl but D\~laidt and the omlDjnioD was not dilcovered. u,:~i10~~U'r:t~:lN:e~~nc;;.reboune!

The GRnd Lodge of Missouri was eaUed frem labor until three o'cloak this afternoon. • TIIURSD.Y EVENING, S o'C11ook. The Grand Lodge of Missouri was ealled to labor by the l'I.t. W. D. Gr. Master. Grand OffiCClrs at their several stations. Rt. W. James H. Hibbard, G. B. Warden, Grand Lodge of nUnois, entered, and was invited to a seat in the east. The report of Committee ou Liberty Lodge was taken up for the purpose of amendment. Bro. A. T. Dou,las, from Committee on the propesed National Convention, made the following report: ~ the Most Wor.hipful Grand Lodge of the State of Mislourl : The uhdersigned, Spfoial Committee. appointed on the proceedings of the National Masl)uio Convention, held at Washin~n City during the month of January lalt. beg left.ve to report, that we have examined the prooeedings of eaid Convention, and upon duo delihera.tion would respectfully suggest that this Grana Lodge delay any aotion relative to the pla.ns adopted by said National Muonio Convention for the present. The object of said C~nvention seems to have been to adopt, a series of articles of confederation, and present the eame to the severa.l Grantl Lodges of the United Statee for their adoption. We furtber lI.l;k that the artioles of confederation, togetber with the address incorporated in said prooeedings, be read as a part of thi5 report. AU of whioh is respeotfully submitted, ALEXANDER T. DoUGLASS, Chairman. Preamble and resolutions of Bro. Peebles in relation to report of Committee on Lodges, U. D., was, on motion, I'8OOI1sidered. Proposed amendment to By-Laws read a seoond time. Ordered to a third readinR. Committee appointed to fill vaoanoi8ll in Board of Curators, made a report, whioh WU, on motion, laid OD the table for the present. Report of Committee ou Liberty Lodge was taken up, when Bro. Hughes oft'ered a serios of resolutions, whioh, aftl'r disonssion, were laid ou the table. Bro. Carneg}' then offered an amendment. whiob, togetber with the following report of the Committee, Wall then adopted. To the M~t Worshipful Grand Lodge (If the State of Missouri: Your Committeez.to whom was referred tbe petition of F. A. H. Garlichs, repmlentfng bimself as It a Committee of Liberty Lndge, J.'IIO. 31, appointed to vieit tb18 Gra.nd Lodge in regard to the arrest of their charter by the G. M., report that they have ellammed said petition and the pa.pers accompanying the same, and 0.160 have bad before tbem the representative of thl\ petitioners, Bro. Ga.rliohs,and upon U full inve~tigation as tb,y have been able to give the subject in 'be abort t'oMe allotted to them, they find tbat the M. W. G. M., in the disaharge of his duty, seleeted Bro. Van Oadell as a swtable person for his deputy in District No.3, he being at tba~ time Master of Liberty Lodge. Tba.t Bro. Van Osdell, in order to oomply with the wishes oftbe G. M., religued his oflioe of W. M. at the next meeting of the Lodge, and was re-a.ppointed D. D. G. M. arter his resigna.lion. We further find that afterwards the Lodge passoo a resolution" tha.t they considel'<'d the appointment of Bro. Vau Os:lell, D. D. G. M., unmuonic, illegal and oontrary to the provision, of the CODRdtotion of this Grand Lodge, and ordered the Seoretary to tra.nsmit a oopy of the resolution to the G. M. Upon reception thereof, G. M. Cornwell answered that he regarded the resolution as an. insult and indignity to the G•. !K., exhibitin~ a ~pirit of insubordination that GOuld not be tolerated, and ordermg them to expunge tbe resolutions from thelr mlDutes, or to cease labor under their oharter until this communioation of the G. L. Upon reception of this order, the Lodge appointed a committee to oonfer with the G. M., who, in their oommuniolltion to him, stated that the only reason for pllBsing the resolution was, tbat they deemed the appointment of their master to the office of D. D. G. M., a direct violation of the By-Laws of this G. L. The G. M. replied to the Committee as fonows: <I You confine yourselves to the striot letter without looking at the spirit and meaning of the law. Its intention is that no brother sball be D. D. G. M. and Master of a Lodge at the eame time. I did not expect that Bro. Van Osdell would accept the afpointment until he resigued his office of W. M. of your LocIge,and an appointment is not CO!Ilplete until aooepted.' Upon the reception of thb oommunioation from the G. M., the Lodge refused to obey the orders of the G. M. alld anrrendered her chart~r to the D. D. G. M., having apllOiu~ Bro. Garliohs to represent them before this G. Bome three monthe after, twelve of the brethren of Libertl Lodge petitioned the G. M. to restore the charter to them, &Jld promising to confirm to the rules and regulations 0 the Order. In compliance with their peti~ion, the G. M. restored the oharter to the petitioners, and directed the D. D. G. M. to set them to work. After being duly started in their labors they oomplied with the order of the G. M., ex· punged the obnoxious resolutions from their minutes, and put upon their reoord a statement that said resolutions were not a fair expression of tbe opinion of the Lodge-not being done at a regula.r meeting-that there were but ten· members present! the rest baving no notice of the meeting, and that even in that small number tbe res0lution was carried onl, by the casting vote of the W. M, pro. tem., and they also passed a resolutiou that they fally approved the aotlon of the G. M., and they hav~ returnod to this G. L. a list of members, and the D. D. G. M. reports that they are working in peace and harmony 11Dder their present organization. lIlueD are the f&Cts of the case u near llll we have been able to ascerta.in them. If we are incorreot in any partionlar, it fa far want of 1II0re definite iDfOllDation. It Wlia only at the earnest request of the brethren interested that we consented to aot upon luch insaffioient aud un&uthentloa.ted data. There is no oopy of the prooeedings ot tho Lodge before us prior to the restoration of the oharter, but we have taken Bro. Garlich's statement as &he ~~: f':trr~: ~~1a.~eh~ut~~:~ r:r:~nt the I.ocI&e in this mat&er, and that the reoOrd have been We think the whole difficulty bas arilen out 0(. purely teolmieal eonstruction of our rules. All His Honor Judp Welll, of the District Court, observesin one of biB decisions in a very similar ease, II rules are made to faoilitate bllli· DelISi 110& to obstruot ii, and if they are found obstruoting, great la.titude may be taken in construing them, beiDg careful that no party be injured thereby." In t"uis dootriDe we fully concur. Oar By-Laws and rules were madi far ~e good of tbe oraft, aDd if a risid adherence to the letter would work an injury, wo think a reasonable Iati· tade in OOIlstruing the rule aooording to its spirit m.y well be exercised, a'least by a G. M. It is a well noWJl tac~w.lt upon in our Grand Master'l addres-tbat tlle work fa far from perfeot in our Lodges. Our eloquat brotller from Gentryh81l alreadyltated to thie G• .L. "hat all must admit, that theD. D. G. M. frt'quently;merle but liW~ ally more, than thOl. hela fliqued to instruot. With lr:lch facts before him, it was the duty of tha

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11M .... where be Cla1l do the maG ~ tID tke fra&enlltJ. Wbaher tile Q. M.lll ta1dat Bro. V... OIdtU al4l. til, MIt teleotiou ia not for UI \0 sq. We }lrenme that at Iet8t be tbeugbt 10; and we tbmk with tbe G••• th.t If it were, treuurel'l aDd other fiDucial IlgeD., mllbt ~ the ruler iD thia laDd though he was elected, UnlellS he had ~eptei the office. Oar venerable Bro. Ryland would nIl\ be to-da1 Judge of our Supreme Court unless he bad taken the oath of ofIice, aDd our G. M. himself would not now be in &he oriental ehair unless be had accepted the oIioe to which he Will! elll!ted. Any olber position ia too abiurd to r~ulre notice. Like contracte and aU Cltber &wo-lided agreements, both sidee must eonBent before it 1s valid. U this view be eorrect, Bro. VaD Osdell was eligible to the ollice whtn he accepted the fame, for he bad resl8Ded hi, ollice and Wall no longer MaIIler of Liberty LOdge. We think that tbe act of resignation and plll,~ni the charter in the hands of tbe Grand Warden WII all tbat was neellBary to perfeat hiBmignation. If the Warden holds *be charter, he is for tbe time being actual Master of the Lodge. We do not sanotion the doctrine of the right to resign. Upo2l tbis llOint we give 110 opinion; but II tle ~ . of Liberty Lodge aut·hOfize suoh a proceeding, we think they are binding upon its members until tet aeide bJ proper authority. Nor do we tbink that Bro. Van Oroell's being ineligible at the time of bis seleoti01l by the Grand Muter vitiates the appointment. Hundreds of men are elected to ollioe and to tell.... in the LegiaIatare aDd to Congress wbo are at the lime holding offioe tbat rrnders them ineligible, but 88 tbey resilfD the lormfll ofIioe before they aooept and qualify for tbe new, tbe right to the eeat or to the olliee is uuiverl'ally admitted. ICthlD Yf1f/3 Committee ue rigbt in their oonclulrions, it '01l0W8 that the Lodge was mistaken iD its views, aud that the GlaBd Maater's appointment was Dot unmasonio, illegal and contrary to law as cbarged by tbe Lodge, and this heiDg the only objeotioo made t~ his act, tbe groundwork of the difficulty is removed. Upon the aot of the Grand Master in arresting tho charter, we would remark, 88 it bu been complained or, that there can be no qU8etir,n in rogard to bis power so to do. Wbether he exercised it wisely is not lor 118 to say; but we must be permitted to 8tate, that il a chuge by a Lodge of unmasonio Rod illegal conduct., even if it were true, whioh in thiS caBO it certainly was not,8oIld an expre88 r080lution not to obey him as G. M., was not a 8ufficient oaUS8 for the exerciee of b~ preroptive, we scarcely know of an aot of insubordination that would be. We deem U but simple justice to the G. M. to say we believe he done right in arresting tbe charter. . Since the appointment of Bro. Garliohs to repreIM:nt the Lodge, tbe cbarter has been rutored to Liberty Lodge a, it existed at the time of the arreet. Therefore we recommend tbat the testoration of tbe cbarter by the G. M. be approved, and that the acts of the Lodge 8ince it, restoration be apl'roved ud legalized. And we woald say to our biathren of that Lodge, that we fear tbe great lights are Dot upon their altar. It seems to U8 tbat they baveno' acted UPOD the fquare, nor been kfpt within due bounds by the comp_, aDd oertainly tbat great Iigbt which even shineth upon our altars ha8 failed to illuminate our brethren, when they fall out aDd differ on such an immaterial 'llbjeot liS the very technical one that has bern presented to UII; and we fraternally ncommend to thEm to tury tho hatchet-to let l'y-gones be by-gones, and to join together, all all masons should, and 18 all good mallllnl will, to build up high aDd strong our part of that great moral temple which is noW building .0 rapidly and .Pl'UdiDJ 10 widely bo~ in ear beloved oouuby and throughout the world. GEOR8E WBHCOXB, } J. B. TualuB, J. N. BUMI, Oomlllittee. B. SBARPJ:, - 8AUl'IDE81l, '1Ae Grand Lodge of Missouri Will ealled from labor until Dme o'clock to-morrow morning.

ilia aJl1lOintment ia not complete until it 18 accepted.

aa' with impunity, without giving bond, or taking tbe oath of ollice. President Pierce wouId not

. FRIDAT 11I081111'18, 9 o'clock. rhe Grand Lodge of MWouri was called to labor by the AI. W. Grand Master. Grand officers at their Beveral stations. ~e minutrs of yerterd..y'. proceedings were read and allproved. Br:o. Wbitcomb,from obartered Lodges, made the fo1lowmg report, whleh wllll,on motion, adopted. To the Grand LoJge of MiSBouri: ~e Committee on Chartered Lodges report th.t they have examined all tbe reports received up to &he prteeM time, and find that ninety·u Lodgeehave made their returns. Of tbue, eixty·six Lodges have Ialcl &heir d1Ull aDd ~e clear of any cbarge upon the books of &he Grand secretary. 'EhefollowiDg Lod~s Neoeho,81. Laclede, 83. Mount Temou, 99. Relief. 106. Golden Square, 101. Waverly, 114. }annin~n, 13%. Ridgley, 135. Carthage, lOS, in ~t. Plat~e, 66. Richmond, 61. Potter, 8'lIave IIlIl4le returns of theIr work, but paid no dues, ani the foHowlDg Lodges New LondOll,I1. F1orida,D. Me:doo,26• . Ringgold, U. Graham,88. Bethany, «. Fayette, 41, .Konticello,68. Lanoaster, 69. Os.:eola,61. loinia, &e. Landmark, 84. Rocheport, 67. Tebo, 680 A.18lIandria, 89. Eurek., 73. AahIey.16. .Lebanou,17. St. Josepb; 78. Roe.oke, 10. .JohnlOn,86. Olive Branch, 88. Priendsbip, see Boone, 96. Pleaaant l:liIl,97. Canton,100. . Heroine. 104. BulI,l1.. Sibley, 116. Cedar, lU. Gentryville,126. lrirksville,l28. Potoei, 181. Star of 'the West,133. WarrentoD,131, in a1110rtJ ~es, have failed to make an1 NPun to thia Grand Lodge: Ill_bo, 81, aad Doyer, 122, hal" aot rlbuDld the time of lbllir replar oommUDioatlou, .. req1IIrea by tIlIa GlaJai Lodge. Platte City, 66,eend80p very full returDs, bllho money, bYlJl! exhaUlted alI &heir luuds iD buil• • a room j, but as they sal that their credit is f1rIt rate, and \hat thej will hal'O the mORe1 in IOUl'IIll of a m-tIl, . . ~ e their clues WID llOOn be Mt.Ied. Madisoll, No. 91" has made laer !'lara in "trY bacl form; if lndae4 it be her retul'll,U it ia 110\ . . . bJ til. W. M. or attested by the Seore~. Bowevet,_ abe has III.et her11abilitielpromptly"weaugpA no ucep* .....airing her to do better neEt time. ~lede, No. 83, while Ihe hal tOJWOt UIe _e ~glleedfulto keepup our sylIttm, has been 1UlD~J' ~ timI1ar in laer returns, . . .he hllll re&unaed the Mark M8lIWrB in _r jViadictiOll, tbougla by 'Wha& aatbcdtJ Ibe \skee oharge of that degree, or plaoea tUm iD her letuml, II 'UJlknOWll io your CommitMe. • Boward Lodge, No.4, iIllik. manner!'lt1UDl the P8It .Maet.era made under Chapter Jvlsdietidb. o.tabII7 t:bfa II wrong, and yoe Committee delu i ~ auf proper to." that the ao-called PUt IIastAn made oader ___

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aeu.,

~~..!,~,ln~~~~~=-~·=.:~~lo~t~l~:"~~

'lite retanll of M&rcu8, 110 fa not 81gned by the W. II. u reqnirecl by ~ rules oftllb Gra1Id ~t'. 'W8 ~ they wW be more careCul in future without.an,. Curther sctiOli on our Pad. Marcil8, 110, retilrttl ... beloogillg to her J-tsaiction R. W. J. W. Morris, D.D. G. M. for tbe distriot, wben he is returned here by. St. Mark's Lodgl! U a mem1ler and Becntary thereof. With as muoh 'Propriety Marcus Lodge oonld have put in her reWl'UI, the G. M.; or an7 of tbe Grand officers as members tbereof, as sbe eouId the D. D. G. M. when he dld not beloug to the Lodge. We trust suob mistakes will not be made beresfter. Tlie returns oIBt. Marks, 93, and. Middletown, 60, are not made aooording to the requlrsment of this GIRd Lodge. We bope tbat hereafter they will give us no cause of C8tDplaint, and therefore we do not recommend ·au1 action upon the subject. . Roenoke Lodge, 70, bas misUDde~ tbe aetion of the Grand Lodge at its last communication, and did not the lImeunt due upon dogrees. She 118Ys, "as there i8 'no oolumn in the ptinted form of returns for the mOll81; she eupposes tbat it is not I'fqulred." As it Ie a mistake upon ber part, we euppose she will rectiCy it upon notloe. ThereCore we reoomJnend tbat the Grand Secretary be required to notify them of tbeir error. Constantine Lodge, No. l2ll, furnishes each of her members with a Masonio work as a text book, and also a oop, of Bro. Morris' papel'-the American Freemason. We tbink this attempt to spread light among the brethren wortbyof imitation. It is ODe great cause o£ tbose allomalous oreatures, noD-affiliated MRlIOIls being in our mids' tt1at tlley ar~ required to pay their money without any corresponding advantage, by ustnf a part 'Of the dues the;r P!ly to lumilh them with Masonio light. It. will remove their ob~eotion, and do wbat al must acknowledie is of vital importance in tbis day of rapid pl'9gtess-keep them posted up in the workings of our order. Very many of the Lodges oomplain tbat tbey cannot underlltand tbe roles!>f tbe Grand Lodge ma.de at ita las' oommunication, in n,gard to returns, and the returns show that Iwwever simple the form WHS intended to be, it is very frequently misunderstood. We, tberefore, recommend the propriety of adopUng another fonn of report of Sabordinate Lodges to embody more fully the work of said LOOges, and tocollect and compile more fully the statittiOl of the Order. Your Committee would oongratulate your body and tbe order throulhout the State, upon their proeperoui oond!tiou; aDd wbile we rejoioe tbat our belond institution is so flODrishing-is spreading so rapidly and 110 widely, we would respectfully suggeat to our brethren to forget not their duty-to bave their sentinels upon the outer walla, and to be eertain tbat they work in no material that will not make firm pillars in our temple. We eameBtl1 request them 'to remember tbat day~ of prosperity are always days of danger, and that it is not the quantitJ bu~ the quality of the material that is to give charaeter to our great moral edifice• .As a meaus of oarrying outour suggestions, we recommend the following resoluU01Is: Resolved, Tbat the Grand Secretary be requested to 90 amend the Corm of retuTJls as to show tbe time of COil(erring the degrees upon candldate!, and the admission of members, with columlll for the amount due from the Lodge for membenhip. college dues and other fees, and make such other amendments thereto as he a1lall deem ... oeseary to carry out more fuIly the intention of tbe Grand LOOge. Resolved, That the Grand Secre~ in making out bis tabular statement of the LOOges as required by th~ BJ!4ws, add tbereto tbe namherof initrations, passings aud raisin~, tbe a.dmIssions, deaths, dismiasions, rejemlOlII, luspenaions and expulsions, tbe amouut of Grand Lodge dues p&ld, tho number of members, and sucb other matWr as he lhall deem necessary to embody in one view tbe statilltics of tbe subordlna1e Lodges. All of which Ie reapeotrully eubmitted, GEORGE WIII'lCOXll, <lh6kme. A memorial from Atbens Lodge, No. 12'1t wall read and referred to Committee on Smith Lodge. The Committee on Lodges, U. D•• in relaboD to Lexington Lodge, U. D., made the following-repon, which, incorporating a resolution of Bro. Peebles, was adopted. To the Most Worsbipful Grand Lodge of Missouri: The Committee on Lodgel, U. D' l to wbom was referred baok so muoh of their report &9 rel&t~s to LemgtoJa, U. D., beg leave to make the followmgreport : We have given the proceedings and By-La.ws 1Io more careful eumination, and find that tbe work is all oo~t and in sccordanoe with the Bl La.ws of the Gralld Lodge. B_t the By-Laws in some respeots are objectionable, partioularl, artisle tbree, seotlon two, which allows an appeal from ~he 1ecislon of the Worsbipful Master, aDd article thirteen, whlob relates to the Cbarity Fund. We would, tberefore. recommeud that the By-Laws as above be so altered and amended as to strike out SD much of section two, artiole three, &ll allows an appeal from the deo1· sion of the W. M., aDd to .trike out all of article th1rteen, and recommend a charter be granted, wheD tllese requirements are eompliod with by laid Lodge. ~ully eubmitted,

pa,

arter

J_o. B.

TUBlUR.

Resolved, That the report of Committee on Lodge, U. D., be so amended as to strike 01lt the seotion of the ByLaws of Lexington Lodge1Jermitting its members to demit. Totbe MOllt Worshipful Grand Lodge of the State of Missouri: The undersigned, Committee of Lodges, U. D., to whom waa referred the reJlOrl of D. D. G. Master of 'he reventh Maaonio Distriot, in relation to the work and proceedings of Edina Lodge, U. D., and the actlou of \laid D. D. G. M. in tho premises, beg leave to report, that in the opinion of your Committee the R. W. D. D. Master.! S. 1V. B. Carnegy, in aathorising Edina Lodgel U. D., whioh bad failed through a mlsapprebension of the time 01 the meeting oC the Grand Lodge to retum ita ciispensation and proceedings at the last oommunicati01l, to oontiDUB to work under its dlspensation, did Dot exceed hie constitutional powers, or violate any of the ancien. 1IIl&ges of Masonry. Edina LOOge, U. D., bamg failed to make returu of its diapeDsati01l and work at this oommunicatlon of the 6. L., and this Committee being induced to believe from the reprOlientations of tbe R. W. S. W. B. CamegrJ that dley have been unable to do so throudl some unavoidable cause, recommend that tbeir diapeJ1l!&tion be OODunued lUlUI the next communioation of the G. L., unless the D. D. G. 1'4. for that Diatrict shalf for good Clouse euspend the laBle. ~tfully eubmitte<l J. H. TuBOR. Bro. Wbitoomb, from Commiu.ee on Chartered Lodges, made Ut. following report on Greene and Taylor Loqes,

.hiO~o~h:nii:~~~OF~edGl'&IldLod e of Mi,souri : Your Committee. to W~OUl was referre~ the petitio. of some of the members of Green and

Taylor Lodges to 1lo _ted, rellOrt that this IUhjeot be referred to the said Lodges for their aoti01l thereon, and if tbey agree upon &. pIQ O(UUlOll, aDd will oertify the same to theG. II. orhis deputy in that distriot, and surrender theirotiarlers, that 1ae be ntlloriHd to !!ADt them a·dispensation to work untiltJie next communication of the G. L. Provided{ tha' If tbere be in either Lodge seven aembeJa deBirous of holding their oharter, the same shall Dot be sarrendereca. GEO. WUI1'COBB. - - BoLlOIil.

The Oclmmlttee on Grleftllce made the fbllowtDg report, wldoh wu, on motion, eeparatelyadopted. Bro.Oraigwall ezc1lll8d from voting in the oaso oC Bro. Bolly, I1IlIpOJlded by Savanna LoClge. 'l'G the MOlt Wonhtpfal-Gnmd LOdge I _~m~ ~.!...~~~~; tll~ lIav! ~m!!!ed!!te~p!n ~ teat.lmon)' aocompanylnl the apjl8a1

aIMIl8 Q\'ly pvniIIuBnt, UHIref'~ b8rein YiolatiDg &be fo1lJteenth role fa BeotloD ODe, Article seventeen of tU BrLaw8 of the Grauel Lodge. We therefolerecommend the following: BeIolved, 7hatJohlllOD Lod~t No. 86, be, and is hereby) required to assess a punishment due the dence on John Davis, and until ROh punlSlUIlent be assessed the &aid .John Davis stand euspended from all tbe priti1.esea of

~urryCommittee

further report, baving examined tbe pxoceedings and evidence a.ocom,anyinll: it, from Savanna Lodge, 71, relatillll: to S118peD8lon of Bro. Ohu. F. Holly, togetber with hiB appeal to this Grand Lodge, it appears fIom said proceedings that the whole matter of dimClllty had been satisfaotorily adjusted between Bro. E. A. Don... lan, who preferred the charges, and·Bro. Holly, and this too with the assistance and approbation of a Special Committee of the Lodge. Notwithstanding a compa""tively8Dlall number of members and at a late hour, iDstud of JI1llP8nding further aotion upon &aid charge, proceeded to To',e upon them, ftndin~ Bro. Holly guilt)·, and IlUSpending him for one year, your Committee are of opinion that the aet of suspenSion under thll circumstances waa Improper and unjust, and recommend that Savanna Lodge, No. 71, be required to reverse its decision and dismiss the ohuge against Bro. Holly. Your Committee further report that having examined the prOceedings had by St. John's Lodge, No. 28, in the _ brougbt by J. P. MoMillan, of Dadley Lodge of Louisio.ua, against Robert Pratt, .. transient brother from Ireland, and from all the faci'lfand testimony to us submitted, are clearly of opinion that the Lodge gave a righ~ eoUi decision. . Your Committee on GrievanoEl beg leave further to report, they have enmined the papera carefully in the appeal of B. H. Phelps, from the decision of Ridgely Lodge No. ]35. and find no reasop why this Grand Lodge should not 8Ultain said L'lllge in her action in expelling said B. H. Phelps, ani offer tbe following r~solutiou for adoption: Resolved, That Bro. David Mock, W. M., of Ridgley Lodge, No. 135, is censurable for trying, aocording to his own admissions, to indnce the aocused to believe that a false statement was not a lie. In the cue of oemplaint of James McManus against the action of Missouri Lodge, No.1, the Committee find nothing in the papers submitted sufficient to ,iustify auy action of this Grand Lod,e. In the case caming up informally from thtl SeQretariof WaktLnda Lodge, No. 52, in relation to the expnlsion of Job Henderson, report that there is nothing legally before them upon which this Grand Lodge can act. All of whioh is respectfullY submitted, H. E. PEKBLES, Cbairman. DANIEL CONWAY, ISAAC HUIlTER, WHo H. GOODIN. The Committee to whom W88 referred the memorials of Smith and Athens Lodges, made the iollowinC repon, whioh was, on motion, adopted. To the Most Worshipful Gmnd Lodge of the State of Misrouri : Select CommIttee, to whom was referred the memorial of Smith Lodge, No. 13, beg lea,"&. respectfully to report, that after a careful and frsternal oonsideration of the appeal of the memorialists, your Committee can recommend that all the player be granted. We find, however, that Smith Lodge, No. 13, for the honor and benefit of the oraft bave involved about twentyBix mem hers of said Lodge in a debt of nearly fourteen hundred dollars for tbe erection of a Masonio building and hall. We. therefore, in collsideration of the public spirit manifested by thoEe brethren, and of tbeir present unfortunate condition, recommend that the dues of said LOdge to tbla Grand Lodge for the put year be remitted, aDd that for tbe eurrent year no dues sho.ll be levied. We also most rl'8pectfully recommend that the name of said Lodge be obanged from Smith Lodge, No. 13, in Clay county, to Rismg Sun Lodge, No. 13, in Platte County, and that the R. W. Grand Secre\ary alter the oharter uoordingly. We haTe also had before Uq the memorial of Athens Lodge, No. 127, and most respectfully report, that after a oareful and fraternal consideration of said J88t mentioned memorial, your Committee finds tbo.t silid Lodge is in a most unfortunate and embarrassing pecuuiary clroumstances, resulting mainly from a laudable Masonic spirit to ereot suitable building!! for MasonIC pur~es. We areooDlltrained ro recommend that £he dues of Athens Lodge, No.UT, for the year 1854 and 1855, be and are hereby remitted. Your Committee, not entirely WIthout misgivings 88 to the principles of this Grand Lodge remitting dUel!, is yet, ander the peculiar circumstances of this case, firmly of opinion that it is such a meritorious call 88 to be entiUed to the relief recommended above. Respectfully, cle., JAB. N. BURNES, Chairman. JIlO. W. lIARRISOI'l, W. M. REYIlOLDB. Bro. Grover, agent for the sale of Scholarships of Masonio College, pretel1ted a report which W88 read, and, OIl motion referred to Committee on Masonic College. The Grand Lodge of Missouri W88 called from labor antil three o'olook this afternoon. FBlDAY EVENI~Q, 3 o'clock. The Grand Lodge of Missouri WBS called to labor by the M. W. Grand Master. Grand oflicers at their senral stations. Proposed amendment to By·Laws read a third time, and ordered to be printed with tbe proceedings of Gnmd Lodge. Bro. Sharp offered the rollowing, wbich W88, on motion, adopted: Resolved. That the Grand Secretary shall, whenever Warrenton Lodge, No. 137, applies therefor and paya to bim theusnal fee,make out and deliver toEaid Lodge a charter to bear the same date of their old one which w881olt. Resolved, That Eaid Warrenton Lodge, No.l:l7, shall be allowed until the next communication of this Grand Lodge to pay in their Grand Lodge dues. The following preamble and resolution wall offered by Bro. Boothe, and, on motion, adopted. To the Most Worshipful Grand Lodge of Missouri : W1l8le88 Huab Stuart was, on the 28th day of December last, expelled from all the privileges of D1llI01ll1 bJ Greell LodJ:t, Bo.101.-Said Stuart being absent at the tIme of his trial, returned a few days after biB expullion t aDd uJr.e4 an appeal in his case, which W88 ~anted. After taking his appeal to this Grand Lodge, he retitioullCl U1e M. W. G. M. to set 88ide the action of Green Lodge, No.lOl, and grant him a new trial, setting forth as. reuon for asking a new trial that he did not wish to remain in the State until the sitting of the Grand Lodge. 'l'be Grud M88ter granted his request for a new trial, but said Stuart left the oountry before the order of the G. M. reached Green Lodge, and 88 the By·Laws of this G. L. require to .pvea brother hYing out of the State IIixt>' ~h~:f~ ~~tG~ ~h~~f:r.L<Idge did not act 1D this, because there was not time to give B.llved, That Green ~Je' No. 101, be required to proceed and try Did Stun .piIl, ill 800llIdaIIIe with th Glder fIl ~e M. W. Gl'IIII4 :Malter.

::: ::tV::::::::

~HE

STATE OF MISSOURI.

port to the Grand Lodge, before its adjournment, the bond of our R. 10 placing in that officer's hands, without delay, the balance of funds of this Grand Lodge, now in the hands of our R. W. Past Grand Treasurer, and also of our R. W. Grand Secretary. Regarding the funds of this Grand LoJge as a sacred trust to its officers, our zeal for their security will be the more readily appreciated, and, if necessary, pardoned. All of which is respectfully submitted. HENRY' E. VAN OSDELL, Chairman. JAS. H. BIRCH, Jr., JAS. N. BURNES.

W. Grand Treasurer, with a view

The By-Laws for Government of Masonic College was read a second time, and ordered to a third reading to-morrow. The Report of the Committee on the Memorial of Old Board of Curators was received, and, on motion, made the special order for this evening. Bro. Von Osdell, from Committee on Donation of Bro. J. ""V. Leonard, New "\ ork, made the following Report, which was, on motion, adopted: To the Most Worshipful Grand Lodge: The Select Committee, to whom was referred the Donation of Bro. J. W. Leonard, of New York, of the followin~ Masonic 'Vorks: Dictionary of Symbolical Masonry, Symbol of Glory, and Spirit of Masonry, beg leave, very respectfully, to report, that they have examined the above named Works, and find they possess a vast amount of most valuable Masonic information; and would recommend the following: Resolved, That the thanks of this M. W. Grand Lodge be tendered to Bro. J. W. Leonard, for his valuable Gift, and would recommend them to the favorable consideration of the Brethren of this jurisdiction. All of which is very respectfully submitted. HENRY E. VAN OSDELL, S. W. B. CARNEGY. Bro. Foster offered the following, which was, on motion, adopted. Resolved, That hereafter, and until otherwise ordered by the Grand . Lodge, the Grand Officers shall be chosen on the mornin~ of the third day of the Session, but shall not be installed into their offices until all other business before the Grand .Lodge has been entirely disposed of -which said installation shall close the Masonic year.

100

GRAND LODGE A. F. A. MASONS

The Grand Master added to the Committee on the College the fol路 lowing Brethren, J. M. HUGHES, GEO. PETTIT, BENJ. SHARP. The following Report of the College Fund Commissioners was read and referred to the Committee on the College. Messrs. A. J. COONS, J. B. ALLEN, and J. RowE, ) College Fund Commissioners, f In account with the M. \V. G. Lodge of Mo. To balance, as per Report of 1854, $1,773 92 To Interest collected, E. Dobyns' Note, 37 21 " "(bal.) Wm. Stacey's Note, 130 00

CO:'iTRA.

By balance due on Note of Wm. Stacey, $1,400 00 372 13 " Note of E. Dobyns, " Cash in the hands of J. Rowe, the Treasurer 169 uO of said Board, -

---$1,941 13 Respectfully

submitted~

J OSEPIt RowE, Treas. of Board of C. F. C.

Report of Board of Endowment Fund Commissioners rEad, as follows, and referred to a similar Committee: To the Most W. Grand Lodge of Missouri: The undersigned, the Board of Endowment Fund Commissioners, for the Masonic College, beg leave to submit the following Report: To Cash, Endowment, on hand, last report, $ 328 75 " Interest, "" 136 00 " Received on Endowment, since, 928 00 " " " Interest, " 1,665 67

$3,058 42 Jan. 5, 1854, By Endowment loaned W. P. Boulware, $500 00 Dec. 26, 1854, By Endowment loaned A. Patterson, 500 00 By C!lsh, Interest paid Board of Curators, 1,801 67 By Balance Endowment on hand, 256 75 ---:$3,058 42

OF TilE STATE OF MISSOURI.

101

The Board have received in addition, since their last Repolt, the following Notes from the College Agent: - $300 00 April 25, 1853. Littleby Williamson, 300 00 " 30," BE':acon Lodge, 300 00 May 10," Canton" 300 00 Sep. 13," D. R, Parsons, 300 00 Oct, 22, 1852, Stephen Stafford, 50 00 May 12, 1355. Charles Sterne, 18 00 " " " Stephen Stafford, 25 00 " H " Same, 50 00 Thos. G. Dobbins, " " " 300 00 " 3," Taylor Lo(lge No.5,

$1,943 00 Respectfully submitted,

W:r.r, P. BOULWARE, Secretary R. E. F. Commissioners.

The Grand Lodge of Missouri was called from labor until eight o'clock this evening.

FRIDA Y EVENING, 8 o'clock The Grand Lodge of Missouri was called to labor by the R. W. D. G. Mastel'. Grand Officers at their several stations. A response from Old Board of Curators was read, when a Report of Committee on said Memorial, together with certain Resolutions offered by Bro. Foster, was read, received and adopted. The Grand Lodge of Missonri was called from labor until 8 o'clock to-morrow morning.

SA TURDA Y

MORNING,

8 o'clock.

The Grand Lodge of Missouri was called to labor by the R. W.

D. Grand Master. Grand Officers at their several stations. The minutes of yesterday's proceedings were read and approved-. The following Resolution was offered by Bro. Chenoweth, which was, on motion, adopted: Resolved, That the sum of one hundred dollars be appropriated to the Grand Secretary (in addition to his regular salary), as a remuneration for his services in going to Lexington, and other extra duties

102

GRAND LODGE A. F. A. MASONS

performed by him, in accordance with the order of the M. W. Grand Master. The Code of By-Laws for the Government of Masonic College, was, on motion of Bro. Carnegy, referred to Bro. A. Patterson, and others, with instructions to report said By-Laws on the first day of next Annual Communication. The Committee on ., Work an"d Lectures," made a Report, which was, on motion, re-committed\ with instructions to Report on the first day of next Annual Communication. Bro. Van Osdell offered the following, which was, on moHon, adopted: Resolved, That R. Grand Secretary cause one thousand copies of the proceedings of the present Communication to be printed, and that he furnish each Subordinate Lodge, under the jurisdiction of this Grand Lodge, with a 5uitable number of copies. Bro. Carnegy, from Committee on College, made the following Report, which was, on motion, adopted:

'V.

To the M. Grand Lodge of Missouri: The undersigned, a Committee upon the Masonic College of Missouri, appointed by the M. W. G. Master, have had the various subje('ts submitted to them, under consideration. They have bestowed their best reflections on the various suggestions presented, and submit the following Report: Your Committee have had referred to them the Annual Report of your Board of Curators for the College. From this Report, it if:' apparent that the Brethren (Curators) have given due attention to the great interests and duties which devolved upon them. Your Committee, from this Report, receives assurances that the College, in its various departments, is in a healthy and prosperous condition-moving on silently unostentatiously-yet efficiently, safely and profitably-in its glorious purpose. That its faculty have proyen themselves faithful, efficient and true, to the transcendantly momentous dut.ies devolving upon them, dispelling the clouds of ignorance, illuminating the understanding, and drawing out the mind of )Oouth and training it to virtuous and useful development-the excellent fruits of whose labors, as evinced in the truly exemplary conduct of the Students-their ardent love of study-cheerful obedience to the rules of the College, and of good morals, (which we beg leave to commend in the strongest terms) is the highest and surest testimony which could be presented to our understandings and our judgment,

OF THE STATE OF MISSOURI.

103

and i~ conclusive-proving, beyond cavil, that the G. L. and Fraternity are able to conduct and sustaitl an Institution of Learning. The efficiency and prosf'erity of tItt' School is a source of the most pleasing reflection to every true-hearted Maso~-to every true-hearted man-and prove that doubts, cavils, suspicions, and fears, as to the result of the enterprize ought no 10nge1' to find place in the mind of any. Let no one, therefore, henceforth go about with expressions calculat(>d to dampen the ardour and pamlyze the exertions of such as labor in confidence and hope; but, rather fall into the nohle band of Brothers, who, through evil as well as Kood report, have stood up in its behalf, and through every difficulty and discouragement, succeeded in thus perfectin'g its consummation. The manner of organizing the Faculty of the College has been much discus,;ed and duly considered. Some Brothers have thought that we could get on well without filling the office of President; but your Committ~e have come to a different conclusion, and submit that a Faculty must ever be less efficient and less harmonious, without, than with, the control and aid of that officer. The School becc,mes, apparently, of less dignity, and subordinaHon to rules, orders, and discipline, finds a less imperative authority. But your Committee have neither time nor space to present all the arguments in favor of filling that Chair at once: it will neither increase the expenses nor number of Professors; and they offer the following Resolutions and recommend their adoption: Resolved, That the Grand Lodge proceed,"at its present convocation, to elect a Brother to the office of President of the Masonic College of Missouri, with a salary of twelve hundred doUar~ per annum, and two Professors, with a salary of one thousand dollars per annum, each. . Resolved, That the Board of Curators have power, at the request of the President of the College, to elect lind employ an Adjunct, to assist in the Preparatory Dppartment of the College, at a salary of not more than four hundred dollars per annum. Those recommendations are made because of the present pressure in the monetary affairs of the country, and the large expenditures indispensably necessary to enable the G. L. to keep faith with former engagements, and free herself from the temporary embarrassments thrown upon her, and for an explicit statement of which your Committee refer to the Grand Master's Address and the Report of the Curators. This state of our affairs would, at first examination, appear oppress-

104

GRAND LODGE A. F. A. MASONS

ive, to some, e:specially those who have ever looked upon the enterprize with disfavor; but when we contemplate also the large extent of present resourcel', the difficulty dwindles into compnrative insignificance. Your Committee haye not the requisite information, before them, by which to make up em explicit statement of the exact financial condition of the various educutional funds of the G. L; enough, however, is known to state, in general terms, that the annual income from those fund~ is amply sufficient 10 meet every demand arising frem the business of conduc~ing education on the plan above proposed. Those fllnJs, thus arising, and set apart for thi~ purpose, are not now all paid in, but. your Commi:tee have confidence that they will be paid in in reasonable time, and it is believed that there are ample menDS in hand, and due, to meet every present demand against the G. L., for expenses accruing for providing education. The fund specially set apart for the mrtintennnce and education of Orphans, is not yet adequate to the demands upon it; it is, however, increasing in amount, every year, and ere long may be sufficient to afford all the aid re1luired. On this subject, and as to the condition and number of this class of Studen~s, your Cummittee refer the G. L. to the excellent and explicit Report of Bro. Patterson, appended to the Report of the College Curators; and your Committee, in like manner, refer the G. L. to the Report of the Committee on Ways and Means, for an explicit account of the several funds of the G. L., their amounts, availability, &c.; and when all shall be known, )"our Committee are salisfieJ that no reasonable doub's can longer exist of our entire success. Soon, very soon, our liabilities will all be wiped out, and the sums arising annually from our educational funds, be amply sufficient to mp.et every accruing demand, 'without calling- upon our Brethren for the advancement of a dollar more. The subject of incrertsing the salaries of the members of our Faculty, respectively, has been brought to the notice of this Committee, and they would all be glad if the situation of the G. L. were such as to el:able your Committee to look upon the proposition with favor, but such is not the case, as they well know, or may see, by an examination of the subject. True, provisions and cost of living are of high price, but we must call upun those Brothers to submit, with the rest of us, to the privations incident upon a dispensation of Providenoe, and to remember that the very cause of this additional expense or living, disables the rest of us, in some degree, from compliance with that recommendation;

105

OF THE STATE OF MISSOURI.

-----------------and your Committee will not permit themsel"es to doubt, that those

ardent friends of the College, and the cause, will cheerfully submit to the privations of small wages, until such time as our nbili'y mny be such as to respond in a proper manner to all reasonable demands of this character. And for the rt'a!;ons above alluded to, it is hoped that the Board of Curators may be enabled to 0'b1ain the requisite assi!\tance in IceepiJlg their Records, without additional expense; but if they find they cannot Go so, your Committee rrcommend that a ~mall sum be allowed for that object; :md tIley offer the following re!'olution on the subject: Resolved, That the Curators be and they are hereby authorized to pay to their Secre~ary, out of any money in their hands, not otherwise appropriated, an annual s31ary not exceeding one hundred dolI<tr~. On the subj~'ct of Laws for fhe G(wernment of the College, your Commiltee recommend the foI!o\"'il1g Resolution: Resolved, That the Board of Cura1ors, toge:hor with the Fncul~y, shall have power, for the time beil'g, to enact and enforce all necessary rules, laws and rt'g"hbtions, for the government al;d control of the College Facu}"y, their own Board, and the Students reciting in it; and also for the pusse~sion, occllpation, safety nnd improYemEnl of the College, lands, building::-, and property belonging to tl'e G. L., at Lexington; provided, tllul they 81mB pass no law in derogation of the ByLaws now in force. .8. ",V. R. CARNF.GY, GEORGE PETTiT,

N. WALL, O. H. P. CRAlG, ALEX. T. D,lUGLAS.

1 I

Committee.

)

On motion of Bro. Carncgy, tile Grand Lo~lgc proceeded to tIle election of a President of Ma~onic College, which re!>ulted in th~ election of Bro. \Vm. T. Davis to that offict'. On motion of Bro. Carnegy, the election of Professors was referred to the Board of Curators; as was also the arrangement of the Faculty of the :Masonic Colle~e. The Grand Lodge of Missouri was called from labor until three o'clock this afternoon. S"'TURDAY AFTERNOON,3 o'clock. The Grand Lodge of Missouri was called to labor by the M. W. Grand Master. Grand Officers at their several stations. The Committee on Lodges U. D. made an additional Report,

106

GRAND LODGE A. F. A. MASONS

as follows, on Leavenworth Lodge U. D., which was, on motion, adopted: To the M. W. Grand Lodge of Missouri: The Committee on Lodges, U. D., respectfully Report that they have examined the work and proceedings of Leavenworth Lodge U. D. Kansas Territory, and find the same, to a great extent, informal and irregular; yet your Commiltee beirg satisfied tAat the Officers of said Lodge are capable of the very best work, and that the errors alluded to, are more the fault of the Secretary than of the other officers, your Committee recommend that a Charter be granted to said Lodge, under the name of Leavenworth Lodge, Kansas Territory. Respectfully submitted, JNO. H. TURI'ER, Chairman. The Revort of Committee on Memorial of Old Board of Curators, together with Bro. Foster's Resolutions, were, on motion of Bro. Chenoweth. re-committed. Bro. Garlichs presen:ed the following Memorial, which, together with the accompanying Resolution, was adopted: To the M. W. Grand Lodge of Missouri: The unde~signed would most respectfully represent that, during the year 1853, charges were preferred in Liberty Ludge No. 31, against Wm. H. McKowan-that an ex parte trial wa~ had in said case,.without giving to defendant any due notice of such charges being pending against him; that the Lodge was derelict in her duty, in not proceedit~g in the trial, according to law; that the evidence in the case was not taken down in writing; that the residence of W. H. McKowan, which is San Francisco) California, was known on the day of the trial to some of the members of the Lodge, and should, therefore, have been deferred, and he should have been notified of the charges pending, and a copy of the same be sent to him; that he was expelled from all the privileges of Masonry, without giving defendant a chance to be heard; and, whereas, 'trV. H. McKowan has addressed a letter to the undersigned, in the most respectful and feeling terms, in regard to said expulsion; thel erore, Resolved, That Liberty LQdge No. 31, having expelled Bro. Wm. H. McKowan, a Master Mason, and member of said Lodge, without notice, the same is void and of no effect, and the said Brother is hereby restored to all rights and privileges as a M. 1\-1. AU of which is most respectfully submitted.

A. H.

GARLICHl'I.

The Report of the Special Committee on Memorial of Old Board of Curators, as amended, was adopted, ns follows:

OF TIlE STATE OF MISSOURI.

107

[Bro. Foster's Resolutions, accompanying the same, were laid on the table.] To the M. W. the G. L. of the State of Missouri: The Special Committee to whom was refE:rred the response of Bros. Edward Windsor, G. Vl. Shewalter: C. R. Moorehead, Wm. J. Pigott, J. C. Reinehard, R. M. Henderson, Wm. T. Wood, F. C. Sharp, and Carc:y W Lambeth, have had the same under consideration, and submit the following Report: That, after the time necessarily employed in reading the lengthy paper (consisting of more than thirt.y pages) there is not left to your Committee (consistent with other pressing duties here) space for all that the various subjects, in the response contained, would demand. They (the res pOlldents) com plain of the ac~ion of the Grand Lodge last year, had in reference to certain statements contained in their Memorial, as found on page 67 of the proceedings had that year. Those statements were certainly of a grave character, and unexplained, and the facts on which they were based being wholly un, known, and not adverted to in the Memorial, might justly demand hy a Fraternity, sensitively jealous of their character, some explanation. Charges of this kind should seldom be made, and never without specifying the persons alluded to, which being there omitted, was properly adverted to as erroneous. The re;;pondents promptly obeyed the order of the G. L., in obeying the notice to attend upon the G. M., and designate the persons referred to by them, in the above mentioned allegations. The respondents submitted the mmes of Bros. Cornwell, Grover and Patterson, as the persons to whom they alluded in the allegations referred to, and proceeded, in their answer, to specify at great length the acts and words of each of those Brothers, as the grounds for those reflections. Your Committee, anxiously desirous to render strict justice alike to all, caused those Brethren to come before them, to listen to the reading of the answer, and to submit sHch remarks and explanat.ions of the acts complained of, as they might think just. The Committee learn from the said answer that the allegations set forth, last year, in reference to the acts of those Brethren, were made without auy intention on their part to impugn the motives of those Brethren, and had reference only to the fact and the effect of those acts. If this just, generous and explanatory remark had accom~ panied the allegations, unintentionally omitted by them, your Committee are sure no action of the G. L., like that complained of by the

108

GRAND LODGE A. F. A. MASONS

Memorialists, would ever have existed; and heart-burnin~s would ne\'er have prevailed-Hle kind fraternal soul-cheering influences of Brotherly love had never been arrested, nor the proud, noble and glorious School, reared and fostered by those Brothers, had never groaned under the influences arising out of mere mistake, misapprehension of motive, or result, or forgetfulness. The more your Committee have examined and learned respecting the actions of all the Brethren referred to in the premises, as well the res pondents as the three Brethren named by them, the more they admire, and the more they w.ould laud, the actions of each of the parties concerned; and your Committee s'ubmit that such, in their opinion, ought to be, and will be, the calm, deliberate judgment of the world, when the motives of all, as well as their acts, shall be fully understood. The Committee on the College, last year, in their Report, expressed the opinion that the Curators (respondent s) had not a legal claim ngainst the G. L. for a portion of the demand set up for erecting the boarding-house. That question, since that period, has been legally adjudicated, nnrl the question decided, and the legal liability of the G. L., upon that demand, fully established. This demand, however, by the same authori y, was denominated as one of high moral digmty, one (whether legal or not) which ought to be paid promp ly and wi!,h pleasure; and your Cummittee now would. reiterate the same senti~ent, and offer this acltlitional evidence of the unequivocal recogni~ion and sanction of that demand by the G. L. 811ch is a condensed view of the whole subject, as the same appears to your Committee; and your Committee respectfully, fraternally, and affectionately suggest to those immediately concerned herein, as well as to all, that we often e~pect too much from our Brethren-often set up a~ a standard, by which the conduct of others is to be adjudged, entirely too high for poor frc.:il humanity, though improved and embellished by all Masonic know ledge. II becomes us all to seek and succeed first in casting out the beam in our own eye before we intermeddle wi!h the mote in our Brother',s eye-first see that our own is squ<\re work before we harshly censure the skill of others. Our own happiness, prosperity nnd peace will ever be in exact proportion to the amount of the feelings of friendship and brotherly love which pervade our bosoms. Let us all, therefore, lay aside those weights that mar our journey, lessen our usefulness. and intercept our pleasure; and rising high ab~ve the errors, petulencies and trifles of life, go on in the glorious enterprizes; the accomplishment of whicR is the anx-

OF THE

srr ATE

OF MISSOURI.

109

ious wish and ardent hope of every true friend of Masonry and of man. Respectfully !;ubmitted~ S. W. B. CAllNEGY, ~ J NO. D. DAGGETT) Committee.

W. M.

REYNOLD~

The Committee on Ways and Means made the following Report, which was, on motion, adopted: To the M. W. Grand Lodge of the State of Missouri: The Committee on Ways and Means Fraternally Report, that from the Report of the Board of' the College, they find the liabilities of the Grand Lodge to be as follows: Amount due Faculty for salaries, $ 3,806 25 Balance for boarding.house and other improvements, 5,439 86 Due S. F. Currie: for board, &c., (Jf Beneficiaries, 503 77 Totalliabil~ties, $9,949 88 The Committee find the resources to be as follows: Due on loan to Bro. G. H. C. Melody, $354 00 Balance due from T. T. Ashby: Agent, 323 31 " in hands of G. Treasurer J. Foster, 1,75R 71 " in hands of G. Secretary O'Sullivan, 4,358 38 Cash in hands of College Fund Commissioners, 169 00 Cash in hands oi Board of' Curators, 138 50 Total resources, --$7,10190 From which deduct, as unavailable at present, 2,436 02

Amount actually available in cash, From which deduct incidental expenses of present Communication and G. Secretary's salary,

- $ 4,665 88 621 00

Balanc'e in cash, - $ 4,044 88 Which, deducted from amount of liabilities, leaves amount to be provided for, $ 5,905 00 For the payment of which your Committee recommend that the amount of Library and Apparatus Fund, in the hands of the Board of Curators be appropriated, which is $2,100. We also recommend that the Board of College Fund Commissioners be disbanded, and that the funds in their hands, amounting, as per their Report, to $1,941 ] 3, be applied to the same object. It is estimated, that from the twentyfive Lodges, owning Scholarships, that have not paid up the interest, there will be collecte<1, during the year, say, $450, which, with the

110

GRAND LODGE A. F. A. MASONS

resources above indicated, will be sufficient to meet the entire liabilities. It is further respectfully and fraternally recommended, that, in the contingency of any of the above indicated resources turning out to be unavailable, the M. W. G. Master be authorized to make such loans, on mortgage of the College property, as may be necessary to meet the demands for which the said property is now mortgaged, when they become due. All of which is fraternally submitted. A PATTERSON, ~ Committee. H. E. PEEBLES. 5 The Select Committee to whom was referred the selection of Curators for the Masonic College, made the following Report, which was, on motion, adopted; and the Brethren whose names are Ihentioned in said Report, elected Members of the Board for the ensuing two years: To the Most WOf!:hipful Grand Lodge of Missouri: The Select Committee appointed to recommend suitable Brethren fOf Curators in Masonic College, have given the subject due consideration; and recommend the following Brothers for the Board of Curators of Masonic College: M. W. L. S. Cornwell, Columbus, R. W. O. F. Potter, Arrow Rock, " H. E. Van Osdell, Liberty, " D. P. Wallingford, Weston, Bro. John \Villiams, Lexington, " Wm. Hunter, " " R. B. Bradford, " " B. F. Wallace, Independence, " John Lewis, Saline COUlllY, " Stephen Stafford. Carroll County. A. M. Tutt, Clinton, " " John H. Turner, Glasgow. All of which is respectfully submitted. B. W. GROVER, JOHN

HOUSTON.

Bro. Daggett offered the following, which was, on motion, adopted: Resolved, That the several Lodges chartered and under dispensation, who have failed to make returns at this Grand Communication, be required to do so without delay. The M. W. Grand Master made the following appcintments:

OF THE STATE OF MISSCURI.

111

R. W. JOHN S. TISDELL, D. D. G. M.-Savannah. District No. I.-Composed of Atchison, Nodaway, Hi>lt and Andrew counties. R. W. JAS. N. BURl'fES, D. D. G. M.-Weston. No. 2.-Composed of Buchanan, Platte, De Kalb and Gentry counties. Di~trict

R. W. HENRY E. V AN OSDELL.-D. D. G. M.-Liberty. District No. 3.-Composed of Clay and Clinton counties.

R. W. JOHN F. HOUSTON.-D. D. G. M.-Carrollton. District No. 4.-Composed of Caldwell, Ray'and Carroll counties. R. W. J AMES McFERRE~, D. D. G. M.-Gallatin. District No. 5.-Composed of Harrison, Mercer, Grundy and Davis

counties. R. W. R. H. DICKEY, D. D. G. M.-Brunswick. District No. 6.-Composed of Chariton, Sullivan, Adair and Livingston counties. R. W. H. M. GORIN, D. D. G.M.-Memphis.

District No. 7.-Composed of Schuyler, Scotland, Clark, Knox, Lewis and Putnam counties. R. W. JOHN H. TURNER, D. D. G. M.-Glasgow.

District No. 8.-Composedof Macon, Howard and Linn counties. R. W. JOHN RALL8, D. D. G. M.-New London. District No. 9.-Composed of Shelby, Marion, Monroe and Ralls

counties.

R. W. M. H. McFARLAND, D. D. G. M.-Louisville. District No. to.-Composed of L~ncoln and Pike counties. R. W. PRIESTLEY H. McBRIDE, D. D. G. M.-Columbia. D'istrict No. H.-Composed of Boone, Audrain and Callaway counties.

R. W. BENJ. W. SHARP, D. D. G. M.-Danville. District No. 12.-Composed of Montgomery, Warren and St. Charles counties.

GRAND LODGE A. F. A. MASONS

112

R. '\V. CYRUS OSBORNE, D. D. G. M.-Wellington. District No. 13.-Composed of Jackson and Lafayette counties. R. W. B. E. Morrow, D. D. G. M.-Columbus. District No. 14.-Composed of J ohnsol1, Cass and Bates counties R. W. OSCAR F. POTTER, D. G. M.-Arrow Rock.

District No. 15.-Composed of Saline, Pettis, Cooper und Moniteau counties. R. W. A. M. To-TT, D. D. G. M.-Clinton. District .!fo. 16.-Composed of Henry, Hickory, Benton and St. Clair counties. R. W. THOMAS JOHNSON, D. D. G. M.-Neosho. District No. 17.--Composed of Jasper, Newton, McDonald, Seneca, Lawrence, Barry and Cedar counties. R. W. W. R. LATHIM, D. D. G. M.-Greenfield.

District No. 18.-Composed of Dade, Green, Polk, Dallas, Stone, Taney and Laclede. R. W. THOMAS MONROE, D. D. G. M.-Versailles. Disl7iet No. 19.-Composed of lVIorgan, Camden, Miller, Cole and Osage countie&. R. W. A. METCALF, D. D. G. M.-Steelville. District .No. 20.-Composed of Gasconade, Crawford, Pulaski, Dent, Wright, Texas, Ozark and Oregon counties. R. \V. G. GEO. PETTIT, D. D. G. M.-Commerce. Diytrict No. 21.-Composed of Scott, Mississippi, Pemiscott, Dunklin, New Madrid, Butler and Ripley counties. R. W. J. H. WILSON, D. D. G. M.-Near Cape Girardeau. Dist路rict No. 22.-Composed of Perry, Cape Girardeau, Bollinger, Madison, Wayne, Reynolds and Shannon counties. R. W. LEWIS T. PIMM, D. D. (;. M.-Farmington.

District No. 23.-Composed of Jefferson, Washington, St. Francois and Ste. Genevieve counties.

113

OF THE STATE OF MISSCURI.

R. W. JOHN W. LUKE, D. D. 'G. M.-St. Louis.

District No. 24.-Composeu of St. Louis city and county and Franklin county. R. W. JOAD HOUGHTON,D. D. G. M.-Santa Fe.

Distr1:ct No. 25.-Composed of New Mexico. GRAND LECTURER. R. W. A. O'SULLIVAN. GRAND CHAPLAINS. Rev. A. V. C. SCHENCK, " J. F. TRUSLOW, " J. B. WRIGHT, " R. D. MORROW, " JAMES E. DRAKE, " JOHN G. FACKLER. COMMITTEE ON FOREIGN CORRESPONDENCE. JOSEPH FOSTER, P. DRAPER, GEO. W HITCOMD. Bro. Van Osdell offered the following, wbich were adopted: Resolved, That Rt. W. Bro. Charles Levy, Assistant Grand Secretary, be allowed thirty dollars for his services during the present Communication. Resolved; That the Grand Tyler be allowed forty dollars for his services during the present Communication. Bro. Peebles offered the following, which was on motion adopted: Resolved, That the College Fund' Commis:lioners be required to pay over to the Grand Treasurer all monies and assets in their hands belonging to the Grand Lodge, immediately. After the reading of the minutes and their approval, no further business appearing, the Grand Lodge of Missouri was closed in ample form. A. O'SULLIVAN, Grand Secretary.

PROPOSED

A~{ENDMENT

TO THE

BY-LAWS. Amend the 13th Section of the 4th Article of the By-Laws, by adding: "And prO\,ided further that when ever the whole amount of such Scholar~hip shall have been paid by any Subordinate Lodge, the Grand Lodge shall loan the money out, or invest the same in bonds of the State of Missouri, or such other bonds as may be deemed advisable, and Euch Lodges as may have paid in the whole amount of their Scholarships sh,tll thereafter be relieved from the payment of One Dollar for each De~ree conferred, as now required."

~~~~~~'-

A P -PEN- D _.------

I X.-

..\

118

APPENDIX.

The following Table is maile in accordance with the requi1'ements of Section 10, .I1rticle 10, page 20, "Book of Constitutions," Grand Lodge Missouri, for year 1854. ~

Names.

No.

I IVn~souri, 2,Mcridian, . . 3lBeacon, . 4 Howard, Tay ]or, . 6 Ark, . 7 Grover, . . • • illiamsburg ,. • 9 George Washington, }O Chapel Hill, . . 11\Pauldingville, . . 12 Tyro,. . . • • 13 Smith, . . . • 14 Auburn,. • • . 15 liCentral,. . 16lMemphis, 17 Clarksville,. . 18!Palmyra,. . 19,Puris Union, 20iSt. Louis, 211New London, 221 Wellington, 23 iFlorida,. . 24 Wyaconda, 25iNaphtali, 26,Mexico,. . 28 St. Johns, 29 lOsage, . . 30 ,Huntsville, • 31 ,Liberty, . 321 Lafayette, 33 Ralls, • 34 Troy, . 35 Mercer, . 36 Cooper, • • . 38 1Graham, . • 39tTUllY, • • . 40 Mount Moriah, 41 Bolivar,. . •

5l 8I w

8 4 13 7

.·

. . . . . . . .

. ·· · · · · ·

·· · · ·· ··· ·

13 7 1 12 6

II 4 3 11 2 6 13 4 21 19 4 12 4

-8

·s 'S~

6 8 8 4 14 6 1 13 6

7 5 3 14 6 1 10 8

..0't rn

rI}

..0 Q) 00

- - -- --

9 7 11 4 1 10

4 3 10 3 20 20 4 11 5 2 2

6 1 1 7 17 20 5 1 10 10

13 2 1 4 15 18 5 1 6 8

7 7

2 3

1 2 2 2 2

4 3 9 3

20' 19 7 10 6 2 2 3 7 2 4 14 15 5 1 5 9

G.>

1 2 5

1 2

5 1 1 2 4

2 1 2 2

2 3 4 4 3 3 2

2 2 3 3

3 1 5

1 2 1

1 2 6 2 5 2 2 4

1 2

"3 0

E-i

-- -- - -

2 1

lZ I 14 7

4 7 5 1 2 2 1 3

64 35 32 25 50 12 27 33 50 13 28 24 34 32 31 46 22 38 31 53 22 45 29 24 ·65 21 38 9 31 43 53 12 25 29 64 21 13 23 34

119

APPENDIX.

Continued. ..0 Q)

No.

~ ..... "8 l-l

Names.

42 Middle Grove, • 43 Jefferson City, 44 Rochester, • • 45 Bonhomme, 46 Martha Washington, . 47 Fayette,. . 48 Fulton, 5] Livingston, • 52 Wakanda, . 53 Weston, . 54 Douglass, 55 Arrow Rock, 56 Platte, 57 Richmond, 58 Monticello, . 61 Osceola, . 64 Landmark, 67 Rocheport, 68 Tebo, . 69 Alexandria, • 71 Savannah, 72 Dauville, 73 Eureka, • 74 Warren, 75 Ashley, • 76 Independence, • 77 Lebanon, 79 Polar Star, . 80 Bridgeton, 81 Neosho, • 82 Jackson, 85 Johnson, 86 Mitchell, • . 87\Washington, 88 01ive Branch, . 89 Friendship, 1 9o\prairie, • • 91 Madison, • 92 Perseverance, 93\St. Marks, • • 95 Acacia, • • 961St. Andrews,

· · ·· · · ·

· · · ·· · · ·· · ·. ·

·· ··

· .

· · ·

rn V)

Pot

13 6 2 7 1 9

7 25 2 3 12 1 3 7 6 5 2 5 19 1 3 7 1 13 6 8 8 18 1 2 1 7

26 3 3 11 3 7 6 7 2 5 21 1 3 8 1 15 7 14 4 19 1 2 1 7

8 3 1 4 5 2 :1 5

~ Q) rn

.... ..... ·8 Q)

"'C

rd Q) ~

·s

..0 Q)

-- -----7 9 1 2

18 7 2 7 1 6 13

· ·

"'C

..0

8 2 1 3 5

8 6

3 2 3 1

2 6 1 10 8 8 22 2 10 1 2 8 4 6 2 5 23 1 3 8 1 13 8 3 7 18 1 1 1 7 1 7 3 1 2 5 2 5

4 3 2 4 1 3 5

1 1 1 1 4 2 1

3 4 1 5 1

4 2

3 4

1 ~

11 4 4 2

3 2 2 1 1

4 2

1 4

5 3 1

3 3 1 1 3

25 1 11 31 25 1 56 1 31 64 105

1 1 4 7 6 1 1 2 3

1 1

34 55 46 30 35 49 27 22 19 62 16 33 55 10 51 44 62 25 69 23 44 35 38 24 30 37 33 32 38 19

120

APPENDIX.

C07Itinued. rd 4)

Names.

No.

'S;

c:l

rd 4) ..... ....

"'0

..0 4) fIl

'(; ~

:::

's 's "'0

-- -- - 9- ---99 ----------Mt. Vernon, 10 12 5 3 1 3 100 Canton, 3 · 1 12 10 10 101 Greene, ' · 102 Bloomington, · · 81 53 37 3 103 Carlh,lge, 104 Heroine, • 105 Relief, 106 Miami, 107 Golden ~q'nare, 108 New Madrid, 109 Montezuma, 110 Marcus, ' 111 Trenton, 112 Ezel, 113 Plattsburg, 114 Waverly, 115 ~ibley, 116 Daviess,

1 14 2 8

4 6 5 7 10 9

117 Versailles, 118 Hiram,

119 Foster, 120 Compass, 121 Erwin, 123 Hermann, 125 Gentryville, · 127 Athens" 128 Kirksville, 129 ('onstantine, 131 Potosi, 132 Farmington, 133 Star of the West, .. 134 Sarcoxie, 135 Ridgely, 136 Phrenix, ·

··

Total,

· · ·

4 6 3 7

3 1 4 1 2

10 1 3 1 2

1 2

7 15

5 2 6 13 2 7 17

4 2 5 9 1 7 13

1 7 5

6 5

4 4 1

14 6 14 9 3 6 3

12 3 13 8 3 6 2

4 12 6 3

4 4 6 2

13 2

5 2

1 2

4 1 2 4

4 4 1 7 4 5 1

. - . 7871707 672 196

Jm-

43 26 56 05 25 15 55 27 71 37 05 27 36 30 26 23 28 17 34 52 17 24

1 4 4 3

5 7 6 6

9 2 5 16 2

1 12 3 6 3 5 5 8 7

rod 4)

a E-4"0 ---- -dl

]6 13 39 27 43 24 24

46 1 1

27 33

--54 4014

]21

APPENDL~.

Grand Lodge of Missouri for the Year 1855. •

~ .~

.0 ~

.0 .~

o-d

-g c; ~ ~ ------------- -- ------ -- ---No.

Names.

1 Missouri, 2 Meridian, 3 Beacon, 4 Howard, . 5 Taylor, 6 Ark, 7 Grover, 8 Willinmsburg-, 9 George Washington, 11 Pa~lldingville, • • 12 Tyro,. • • 13 Smith, 14 Auburn, . 15 Central, 16 Memphis, • 17iClarksville, • 18 Palmyra, 19lPari~ Union, 20,St. Louis, • 22 W l' llington,.. • 24 j Wyaconda, • 25/Naphtah, 26 Mexico, l John, • 28\St. 29 O~age, . • • 30 Huntsville, 31 Liberty, • 32 Lafayette, 1

33 Ihlls,.

34 Troy,. 35 Mercer, l ~6ICooper, 38 Graham,

• . • •

•

89 Tully, .

•

40 Mount Moriah,. 41 Bolivar, 42 Middle Grove,. . 43 Jefferson City,. . 44 Rochester, . . . 4b Bonhomme,. • . 40 Martha Washington, 48,Fu}ton, . . • • .

9 4 5 14 4

·S

2 1

6 4 7 6

36 34 31 58

29 3 8

6 11

1 8 5

3 15 7

4 12 4

14 3 2 4

9 12 6

12 1 2 4 6 8 2

2 12

2 4

2 5 7 4 2

4 4

2 6 2 4 2

1 5 4

5 1 9

4 1 3 12

1 16 11 12 3 1

1 3 3 3

10 5 1 7 9 6

1 6

10 7

8 8 13

8 13 8

36 34

3 1 18 13 8

1 2 3 18 15

5 1

18 45 37

47 1 2

39 22

66 19 40

2 1 15

32 23 36 13 43

25 14 24

1 1 4

9 8 8 13 3

5 9 3

5 8

41 41

2 2

18 al

122

APPENDIX.

Grand Lodge of Missouri for the Year 1855.

No.

Names.

---1------·-----1-- -- -- __ -- --49, Haynesville, 50 Middleton, . 51 !Livingston, . • 52 I Weston,.. 54 Douglas,. . • 551Arrow Rock,. 56 'Platte, 57 Richmond, 58 Montice 110,.. 59 Lancaster, 60 New Bloomfield. 62 Mayesville, . 63 St. Mary's, • 65 1 Linn,. • 67 j Rocheport, 70 Roanoke, i 71 iSavannah, . • 72 Danville, 73!Eureka, • 74 j W"rren, • 75'Ashley, • . 76 l Independence, • 77 i Lebanon,. '. 79,Polar Star, • • 80 1Bridgeton, • • 81 Neosho,. • 82 Jackson,. • • 83\Laclede, • • 85IJohnson,.. • 80 Mitchell,. 87 Washington, • 90 Prairie, • . 91 Madil'on, • • 92 Perseverance, 93 St. Mark's, • 96 St. Andrews, • 199 Mount Vernon,. 101 Greene, . . 102 Bloomington, 103 Carthage, • • 104 Heroine, • 105 Relief, •

887

• •• •

322 324

532

1 1 1

11 14

11 11

19 332 9 9 14

664 13

•

33 17

3 17 1

1 100 18 1 32 1 61 2 56 36 33

27 30

2 1

14 15 15 622

665 11 9 9 16 17 17

1 2 4

565 17 16 15 1 1 1 11 7 6 24 18 14 16 15 13

23 63 16 35 68

9 48

13 15 13 567 8

•

9 4 13

1 1

9 10 8 833 19 12 18

4 3

223

5 7

1 8

1 11

2 4

3 1

664

5 9

3 10

867 323 3 2 1

222 423

19 11

17 12

15 8

1 1

3 5 1

5 1

. . 666

3 2

2 1 2

4 13

53 6E 16 67 26 36 40 26 53 38 35 35 35 35 42 68 50

Ii~ 41

123

APPENDIX.

Grand Lodge of ./lfissouri fOT the Year 1855.

I N~!___

Name_s_.

1i i

107Golden Square,. 17112 108 New Madrid, • 8, 4 109 Montezuma, 10 8 11 0 Marcus, • •• 6! 4 111Trenton, 18 15 112 Ezel, : 4 6 113 Plats burg, 5 4 114 Waverly, • , II5'Sibley,. ., 117 Versailles, 5 3 118 Hiram, 2 2 Ilg,Foster, 1 2 .., 2 1 120'Compass, 121 Erwin, ", 15 14 122 Doycr, 1 1 12:3Hermann, • +, 3 2 127 Athens, 8 6 129 Constantine, 16 I 10 132 Farmington, ,'3 i 2 135Ridgely,. • • • " 4! 4 136 Perenix,. • + • . ' 5 4 137 Warrenton,. + • " 3

5 7 4 12 4 4 3 4 2 1 10

3 7 3·

1 2

1 1 1 2 1 2

6 4

1 2 I

1 6

1 4 4 3 6

1 1

2 1 1 2

3 2 3 I 2 4 I 1 5

5 1 5

ill I j --1--------------;-- ---Total,

~ ~

] :5 . ~ ~__~~ ~ ~_

782 656 622

79 40 42 29 50 32 29 20 32 32 44 19 23 55 14 16 34 48 48 32 19 13

185 348 59 3848

124

APPENDIX.

Amount of Moneys Received by Grand Secretary after the publication of Proceedings of 1854.

22 Wellin/l;ton........................ 30 n untsville. 35 Mercer.............................. 52 Wakanda.......................... 61 O~ceola...... .•• 67 Rocbeport......................... 82 J,\ckson 87 Wasbin!!ton...... 93 St. Mark's........... 108 New Madrid............. 109 Montezuma...... 116 Davis ·.......... ]22 Dover............................... 125 Gentryville........................ 127 Athenp... 133 Star of the West............. Herman Lodge, for Charity, paid by Gra.nd Treasurer=--

8 4

7 4 10 4 4 4

18 18 18 18 18 18

9 17 6

c'l 43$ 00c.

50 15 00 22 50 66 9 34 60 00 66 21 34 64 00 16 8 341 29 00 50 9 00 31 50 33 8 67131 00 . 19 00 6 16 12 34 36 50 6 16 12 34j 27 50 7 00 14 00 38 00 2 83 5 67 15 00 2 50 5 00 7 50 4 33 8 67 30 00 6 16 12 34 32 50 2 16 4 34 29 50 1

17 14 5

30._139 I 61 126

30 00

73 11136 3454d 00

125

APPENDIX•

.11.. O'Sullivan, Grafl,(/, Secretary, in account with the Grand Lodge of .J-liBsouri-1855. ~

~ 'd ;d e

1855

No.

e'iii

.eo

0 '0 0

'(is

.!3

, 1D ~ ~

01"&4 ~~ -a1--------.__.__

1 Missouri •••..•.•.••••••••••.•..•• 2 Meridian•••..•..•••.••..•......• 3.Beacon •.•.•••••••••..•......•.•• 4'Howartl•.••••••...•..••..•.•.... 5 1'raylor•••...••••.••••..••.•..•••• 6·Ark.....•.••.•.•••••••.......•••• 7:0rover.•••.••.•••.••.••........••

32 13

13'Smith •.••••.•••.•••••...•...•••• 14:Aubllrn•••..••...•••.•••••.....• 15 ·(.Jentral . . 16 Mempbi.8 1f,Clar ksville . 18iPal~yrl\.: . 19iParui U01on .. 20 'St. Louia .

22 Wellington

24 W yaoonda . 25 1NlI.phta.Ii .. 28 St'. Joho8 . 30 Huntsville .. 31 Liberty.~ . 32 La.fayette, b. o. $4 50..•••• 33 Rall8 .. 35 Mercer . 36 ICooper . 39 'TUl!y, 40 Mount Moriah •••• 41 1Bolivar•. b. c.$3 50.. ..•.•..• .. 42jMiddle Grove 43;Jeffer8on City . 45; Bunhomme...... .••••• 46)Iarrba W R8bington•••••.••• 41iFulton, $15, b. c . 49: H1\:," nesville .. 50i Middleton . 51:l1vin~l<toD . 52 W,lkl\nda . 53' Wellton, dues remitted•••••• 54 [)olJll:ll\~8 . 55 Arrow 58 ~I onticello . (il) N t'w Bloomfield . 62 ~1l\Y8fine .

Rock....................

18 34

29 1

2 21

3 66 6 00 2 16

12 9

23 7

~~II ~~ ~~ ~~ 88

Ig 2 83 4 00: 6 9 3 5 6 5 2 5

5 67 10 50 8 00 33 00 83~ 15 67150 50 ~3i 13 67 55 50 50; 19 00 47 50 00: 6 00133 00 16' 11 34 54 50 50 13 00 70 50 50! 11 oot 39 50 83: 5 67! 15 50 66: 11 34/ 26 00

. I

3 5 5 5 4

00' 6 OOi 27 00 33 10 67i 26 00 66 11 34: 35 00 33 10 67i 32 00 50, 9 OOl 58 50

18 36

18 16 45

6 66' 4 83' 7 50, 2 661 7 83 6 00 7 83 6 501 3 66 10 66 6 16 5 33

$0 50 50 40 00 34 85 33 00 52 00 21 00 14 50 58 42 54 10

8 34 31 50 5 66! 11 34 1 49 00 5 83' 11 67 30 50

4 6

11 34 55 00 U 61 32 50 15 00 60 50 5 34 12 00 15 67 28 50 12 00 31 00 15 67 45 50 13 00 43 50 7 34 29 00 21 34 113 00 13 34 36 00 10 67 45 00 .7 34 12 00 12 00 22 50 4 34 12 50

12,Tjrl)

18 18 18

2685

';·

e:c

$01 21 00 12 00 11 34 10 34 18 6711 6 00 9 67! 13 00) 15 501

8:Wmil\msbur~ .•..••••...•.••••

Ie· ~ c; 1

$01 18 10 50 18 6 00 17 85 5 66 18 5 16 18 9 33; 3 00 4 83j 1692 6 50 7 75, 18 4 16,

9' Oeo. Wasbiogton, c. 25 b. c. 11: Pauldingville.••••••••...••••.•

$ 1

ico r3 .;::

\5000

-.:'::':. : :';: : : : : .-=--=::::::::::::==============================-&

126

APPENDIX•

.11. O'Sullivan, Grand &cretary, in account with the Grand Lodge of .Missouri-l 855. 1855

No·1 --/---$---$-0. -$-0-. -$-0-. -$-0-. $ c. 63 St. Marys....................... 44 :> 00 10 00 59 00 67.Rocheport...................... 18 4 00 8 00 30 00 70,Roanoke........................ 3 83 7 67 11 50 71 Savanna........................ 49 15 30 10 50 21 00 95 80 72 Danville....... .••• 18 2 66 5 34 26 00 nIEureka.......................... 5 18 5 83 11 67 40 50 74 Warren. 48 11 00 22 00 81 00 75/Ashley.......................... 18 1 50 3 00 22 50 76 Independence. 6 18 7 66 15 34 47 00 77 Lebl\non.. 38 18 8 83 7 67 82 50 79 Polar Star...................... 8 36 10 83 21 67 76 50 80 Bridgeton 18 2 66 5 34 26 00 82 Jackson 3 18 3 83 7 67 32 50 86 Mitchell.............. 18 3 83 7 67 29 50 87 Washington12 18 8 83 17 67 37 50 90 Prairie.......................... 18 6 16 12 34 36 00 91 Madison 18 4 OLl 8 00 30 00 92 Perseverance.................. 8 5 83 11 67 25 50 93 St. Marks 18 5 83 11 67 35 50 96 St. Andrew8 6 5 83 11 67 23 50 101 Greene.......................... 15 36 11 331 22 67 85 00 31 8 66 17 34 57 00 102 Bloomington 103 Carthage 18 4 66 9 34 40 00 3 9 00 18 00 30 00 104 Heroine, for 2 years •....... 6 66 13 34 20 50 105 Relief 17 • 6 66 13 34 31 00 108 New Madrid... .•.• 12 33 24 67 62 00 109 Montezuma, b. c. $16....... 25 110 Marcus .i,.4,..... 7 50 18 ~ 6836 199 36471 40 0000 74 27 00 18 il 111 Trenton, 'i' for last year.. 113 Plattsburg, $4 for last yr. 18 6 16 12 34,11 36 50 117 Versaille8 18 5 00 10 00 33 00 118 Hiram. 1 20 16 80 7 33 14 67 1 40 00 119IFo8ter........................... 5 3 16 6 34[ 14 50 120 Compass 18 3 83 7 671 29 50 36 9 16 18 34; 66 50 121 Erwin 3 1521Dover 2 2 33 4 611 9 00 127jAthen8.......................... 20 5 66 11 34 37 00 7 83 15 67: 56 50 129 Constantine.................... 33 136!Phoonix.......................... 13 3 001 6 00 22 00 131/Warrenton..................... 5 50 2 16 4 34 12 00

• For balance $19 see account of monies rec'd in 18M.

127

APPENDIX.

Monies Received after close of Communicat'lOn 1855. "lzl s:l

•

ce'O

No.

Na.mes.

...

J:l d Os;:l..

.cs:l '0 '() ~:l .... s:l ~ oS· ...

~rt

III CI1

J.<

4.1

i:i

.~ J.< d

,.Q

.S ~ 0 0

3 0

E-c

-- - - - - - -

$ $ $ $ c. $ c. $ c. 29 Osage.............................. 5 1 66 3 34 10 00 34 Troy .......""..................... 34 18 7 16 14 34 73 50 38 Graham............................ 11 4 Hi 8 34 23 50 44 Rochester......... 22 3 83 7 67 33 50 153 KansQ.s, for Charter.. 3 33 6 67 10 00 I 112 Ezell...................... 18 5 33 10 67 34 00 26 Mexico : . : : - _ _ _ 3 16 ~ 27 50 1

128

APPENDIX.

Rfcapit'Ulation. 1854. Amount received from all 80urces, on year 1854, after publication of Proceedings .. Amount received on year 1855, including amounts rcce~ved since the close Grand Lodge ..

Dr.

Cr.

$546 00 4,592 67

Credits. 1854.

1855. Feb. 6.

By paid for Printing Proceedings of Gr. Lodge, as per receipt.... " for Printing Returns for Lodges . Order of Gr. Master, favor " S. F. Currie..路 .. " Past Gr. 'freas., per receipt,

.., "

Expense of Office for past year .. Exp\m&e of Trip to Lexington a.nd Columbus, order of Grand Ma,;ter . Appropriation to Atheu~ Lodge . Appropr'n to Smith Lodge, " " Widow of a l\f. Mason . " Gr. Tyler .. " Assi8tant Gr. S~cretary .. Counterfeit Bill . IBy paid Gr. ~ecret"'ry'8 Sl~Jary and

Appropriation

Bro. Peebles, Agent for E. F. Com .. Gr. Treasurer, per receipt . on Account of P. P ..

E.E.

St. Louis, June 25th, 1855.

$254 00 35 00 120 00 31 00 20 00 46 19 40 55 69 50

81 50 50 40 30 20

00 00

500 00 3.707 98 - 23 50 69 45

$ 5,138 67; $ 5,138 67

..::::::::.::>.--=--:_.=========~=========-==.:=-====:::-=:=::=:::=================~,

129

APPENDIX.

Lodges U. D. I"~

•

I"" '"0 ,.£:c

.... be t:

= c: O~

1855.

I Po.

--; "0

------------------------ -- --

MILTON. Dispensation, Degrees, Charter. . JOHN DADE. Dispensation, Degrees, Charter. . ROUND PRAIRIE. Dispensation, Degrees, Charter. KANSAS. Dispensation, Degrees, WINSOR CITY. Dispensation, Dagrees, Charter. EDINA. Dispen~ation, see P. P. 1854, Degrees, •.• PLEASANT GROVE. Dispensation, Degrees, Charter. SMITHTON. Dis pensation, Degrees, Charter. CONCORD. Dis pensation, Degrees, Charter. SPRINGHILL. Dispensation, Degrees. LINN CREEK. Dis pensation, Degrees, Charter.

20 39

20 ~8

20 35

15 20 10 10

40 28

20 21 10

20 6

30 21

21 20 12 10 9

130

APPENDIX.

Lodges U. D. "00

s:: .• ~~ ~::l

1855.

nVFFALO. Dispensation, Degrees, Charter. McGEE. Dispensation, Degrees, Charter. FLINT HILL. Dispensation, Degrees, Charter. . LEAVENWORTH. Dispensation, Degrees, Charter. MIDDLEBURY. Dispensation, De~rees.. . • LEXINGTON. Dispensation. . . CORN'VELL. Dispensation. . MELODY. Dispensation. . GIDDING. Dispensation. . YANCY. Dispensation, see P. P. 1854, Degrees, Charter. OREGON. Dispensation, Degrees, Charter.

. .

....

"'bel

~ 0 0

3 0

f-4

-----$

21 10

20 12

8 10

20 22

2 20

12 20 135 10 165

131

APPENDIX.

Grand Officers present during the CommunicatIOn of the Grand Lodge.

M. Rt. " " " "

W. L. S. Cornwell, Grand Master. W. Oscar F. Potter, D. G. M. " J . W. Chenoweth, G. S. W. "Henry E. Van Osdell, G. J. W. "John D. Daggett, G. Treas. "A. O'Sullivan, Grand Secretary. " Rev. J. F. rruslow, Grand Chaplain. " B. Goldsmith, G. S. D. " J. Hunter, G. J. D. " A. Stille, G. Tyler.

Past Grand. O.fficers present du'ring the Communication of the Gr4M Lodge.

Rt. W. Hon. S. W. B. Carenegy, P. G. M. " " B. W. Grover, P. G. M. Joseph Foster, P. G. M., " George H. C. Melody, P. D. G. M. " John D. Daggett, S. F. Currie, A. T. Douglas, John H. Turner, S. H. Saunders,

" "

"" ,'" P. G. W. " " " "

&prumtativu of Subordinate Lodges in the Grand Lodge of Missouri.

1, Missouri,

17, Clarksville, 18, Palmyra, 19, Paris Union, 20, St. Louis,

l S

Bro. John D. Daggett, p. W. M. Wm. Burden, J. W. B. Goldsmith, W. M., A. SUSI, S. W. Charles S. Hamilton, W. M. William E. Dillard, W. M. and p. J. W路 J. W. Crane, W. M. W. S. Swymmer, s. W. J. H. McAlpin, J. W. Dan Conway, W. M. William W. Reynolds, W. M. T. K. Vaughan, W. M. J. W. Hemphill, Robert Cannon, W. M. D. H. Moss, W. M., S.A. Rawling, S. W. W. Connor, W. M. p. S. and J. W.

132 25, Naphtali,

.APPENDIX.

(

28, St. Johns, 31, Liberty, 32, Lafayette, 35, Mercer, 36, Cooper.

J. W. Hanson, p. W. M. James H. McLane, S. W. James W. Barry, J. W. N. P. Kunkle, W. M. H. E. VanOsdell, p. W. M., S. and J. W. H. E. Peehles, W. M. and p. S. and J. W. J. R. Clark, W. M. S. Houck, p. W. M., D. De Haven, p.S. W.

40, Mount Moriah,

43, Jefferson City,

45, Bonhomme, 46, Martha Washington,

48, Fulton, 50, Middletown, 51, I~ivingstone, 52, Wakanda, 53, Weston, 55, Arrow Rock, 56, Platte, 60, New Bloomfield, 63, St. Marys, 7], Savannah, 72, Danville, 73, Eureka,

75, Ashley, 76, Independence, 77, Lebanon, . 79, Polar Star, ~O, Bridgeton, 86, Mitchell,

Alexander T. Douglass, W. M. and p. S. W. L. W. :Mitchell, J. W. Charles W. Stewart, W. M. D. J. Marquis, p. W. M" J. H. Hall, p. S. w. W. J. Brown, W. M., David McKenny, J. Thomas Curd, p. S. W.,J. W. Boulware, J. W. John W. James, W. M. John H. Turner, \V. M. J. F. Houston, p. W. M. James N. B.. rnes, p. S. W. G. W. McLane p. J. W. Oscar F. Potter, p. W. M., S. and J. W. William Cristi::on, S. W. J. P. Howe, p. W. M., S. and J. W. G. W. Eurler, S. W. O. H. P. Craig, p. W. M. J. H. Robinson, W. M. Stark Manzee, J. W.

'V.

C. W. Pharr, W. M. Rev. J. F. Truslow, p. W. M. A. Metcalf, W. M. N. Wall, W. J.\t1. C. H. Brenan, S. W. T. E. Courtenay, p. J. W.

James H. Garrett, S. W. M. W. L. S. Cornwell, G. M.. p. W. M.

133

APPENDIX.

123, Herman, 127, .Athens, 129, Constantine,

B. W. Gorin, W. M. Thomas Betts, p. S. W. E. Lea, J. W. J. F. Schiefer, W. M. J. W. Chenoweth, p. W. M., T. W. Booth, p. S. and J. W. W. Kilburn, p. S. and J. W. D. Parsons, p. W. M., S. and J. W. R. H. Hatcher, p. W. M. S. and J. W. Jas. H. Birch, Jr. p. "lV. :M.,8. and J. W. James Livingstone, p. W. M. h.:wc Hunter, W. M. C. W. Horn, W. M. A. C. Erfort, S. W. F. W. Rosenthal, J. W. W. V ogel~ S. W. W. M. Albin, S. W. A. M. Bedford, W. M., Wm. H. Goodin,

136, Phamix,

William Bolton, p. ,Yo M.

92, Perseverance, 93, St. Marks, 101, Greene, 105, Relief, 106, Miami, 108, New Madrid, 113, Plattsburg, 117, Versailles, 119, Foster,

121, Erwin,

J. W.

C0@. --=::=-=--==:::-:-.-:::-:::::=:-:---:"'-:--.-":'._. - _._--- ---------_. _

..---

---_._":=.:-:=-::=--=-_._----

Grand Secretary"

Tabular Statement for .11. D. 1855, .11. L. 5855, Grand Lodge.

No.1 Names of Lodges. I Where held. 1 )Mi!'souri, - ,St. Louis, 2'Meridian, - South St. Louis, 3'B,~acon, - St. LOllis, {Howard, - ,New Franklin, 5 Taylor, - :~pringfield, - 'Newark, 6 Ark, - Calhoun, 7 Grover, S;WiIliamsbllrg, - iWilIiaJD5burg, 9 Geo. Washington, - ,St. Louis, ]0 CIHlpel Hill, - Chapel Hill, 11 Paul::Hngville, - Pauldingville, - .Caledonia, 12 Tyro, 13 Smith, - ,B:lny, 14 Auburn, • 'Auburn, 15 Central, - Smithville, 16 Memphi5, - 'Memphis, 17 Clarksville, - Ciarks\'ille, 18 Palmyra, - Pnlmyra, - Paris, 19 Paris Union, 20 St. Louis, - St. Louis. 21 New London, - New London, 2~ Wellington, - De Kalb, 23 Florida, - iFlorida, 24 'Wyaconda, -Lagrange, 25 Naphtali, - .St. Louis,

County. - iSt. Louis, do. do. - ,Howard, - :Greene, - Knox, - !Henry, - ;Callaway, -St. Louis, - iLafavette, St. Charles, -Washington, Clay, Lincoln, Clay, Scotland, 'Pike, Marion, Monroe, - St. Louis, - :Ral1s, Buchanan, - Monr0e, - Lewis, - ~t. Louis,

-I

4' per

.I1rtule X, ·&etioo 10, By-LafDs of the

J-I 0:> ~

Time of meeting. Date of Charter. First and third Thursdays, Sept, 4th, 1821 'Second and fourth Fridays, May, 1852 Fourth Thursday, 1849 " ISaturday before full moon, 1852 " Thursday before full moon, 1852 " ,Saturday after the full moon, 1852 " Saturday preceding full moon, 1852 " 'Wednesday before full moon, 1852 " S~cond and fourth Tuesdays, 1849 " IThursday before full moon, ]852 " Friday before full moon, 1852 " ISecond Saturday, 1825 Saturday before full moon, 1852 " Second Saturday in each month, " 1852 Saturday after full moon, ]852 " IFriday before tull moon, 1852 " Saturday before full moon, 1830 "

- ,....irst Saturday in each month, Fil'8t and third Tuesdays, - ,Saturday before full moon, • ,Third Saturday in each month, - Wednesday before full moon, Second and lourth Thursdays,

" " " "

1831 1835 183H 1837 1852 1852 1853 1839

t:.1

26'Mexico, • • Mexico, 2i/Ringgold, • • Camd~n Point, 281St. Johns,· • Hanl1lbal, 290sag-e, • • Little OS3.ge, 30 IHuntsville,. • Huntsville, 31!Liberty, • • Liberty, 32 Lafay.ette,· • Lexington, • 33 Ralls, • • Madisom-ille, 34 Troy, • • l'roy, 1 35lMercer, • • Princeton, 36Cooper, • • Boonville, 38 Graham, • • Pleasant Hill, 39 Tully, • - Tully, 40 Mt. Moriah, • Bremen, 41 Bolivar, • • Bolivar, 42 Middle Grove, - Middle Grove, 43 Jeffersoll City, • Jeffason City, 44'Bethany, - Bethany, 45 Bonhornme, - - Manchester, 46'Martha Washington, Washington, 47iFayette, - Fayette, 48 Fullon, • • Fulton, 49;Hayneville, • • Hayneville, • 50IMiddletown, - Middletown, 51ILivingston,. • Glasgow, ,1

52IWakanda,.

• Carrolllon, -

5H \Veston, • 54 l Douglass, • 11 _ _ 55!Arrow Rock,

• Wes'on, - Martha 5 ville, • Arrow Rock,

-IAudrain, - Platte,• Marion, • R\tes, Randolph, Clay - Lafayette, , - Ralls, • Lincoln, Mercer, ~ - Cooper, • Cass, - Lewis, - St. Louis, - Polk, - M(lnroe, • Cole, - Harrison, • St. Louis, • Franklin, • Howard, - Callaway, - Clinton, - Montgomery, - Howard, Carroll, _IPlatte,

-I

- Warren,

• Saline,

• IFirst ThursdtlY I - ;Saturday after full moon,

1852 1852 1839 1852 1840 1840 1840 1853 1841 1853 1841 1853 1853 1841 1853 1841 1854 1841 1853 1841 1842 1854 1854

- ,Saturday before full moon,

1842 1842

• •

\Third Tuesday, First and third Saturdays, Second Monday, Third Saturday, Second Saturday, First Monday &. third Saturday, Second Monday, Second Saturday, - ,Monday before full moon, • ,Fourth Friday, - 'Saturday after full moon, First and third Saturdays, - ,Saturday preceding full moon,

- ,First Saturday, - .Thursday before full moon, Saturday after full moon,

-First and Third Saturdays, Saturday before full moon, • Saturday before full moon,

:g trj

Z t::l

0-4

1842

1842 1842 1842

Grand &cretary's Tabular Statement for.l1.. D. 1855, .11.. L. 5855, as per .Article X, Section to, By-Laws of the Grand Lodge. No. I Names of Lodge!>. 56'IPlatte, • 57 Richmond, 58IMonticello,. 59\Lancaster, 60,New Bloomfield, • '61 Osceola,

62 Maysville, 63 Linn, 64 St. Mary's,. 65 L'mdmark, -

tr,

Rocheport, 68 Tello, 69 Alexandria, 70 Romoke, 71 Savannah, 72 Danville, 73 Eureka, 74 Warren, 7.) Ashley, 7H [n"ependence, 77 L~b'lnon, -

Z8!St JlIl'~ph,. ,9 Polar Star,·

80 Bridgeton,

Where held. ,Platte City, Richmond, Monticello, Lancaster, • New Bloomfield, Osceola,

- Maysville,

- Linn, - Perryville, - Warsaw, • Rocheport, -jClinton, - Alexandria, - Roanoke, - Savannah, - Danville • Brunswick, - Keytesville, • Ashley, - Independence, • Steelvillt',

-11~t . .J M~ph, - ~t LOlliS, ./Britlgetou,

cr.

County, Platte, Ray, Lewis, Schuyler, Callaway, • St. CI<lir,

Time of meeting-. Saturday before full moon, - ,Saturday after full moon, . • Saturday before full moon,

• De Kalb,

- 'First Monday and 2d SaturdaY,1

• • • • -

• -

Osage, Perry, Benton, Boone, HAnry, Clark, Howard, -rAndrew, - Montgomery, - iChariton, - 'IChariton, - Pike, - Jacbon, - ,Crawford, -I·~uchiln:.'n, - St. Luu's, Luuis,

-ISle

....,a 0:>

Date of Charter.

1842 1842 1842 1854 1854 No returns 1842

- 'Second Saturday, Fourth Friday, • 'Second Thursday, Third Saturday, - 'Friday before full moon, First Saturday -

1854

" 'Thursday before full moon, " " " "

1844 1844

-I- 'First Saturday Stlturrlay before full moon, - S(~con<1 Sa'urday,

-lTdI'd ~alurdilY,

1854 1854 1843 ]854 1843 1844 1844

- First nnd third Safllrchys, • Secfwd Hnd fllllrlh \Verlne:-days,! - Monday before full moon,

]846 1846 1846 1I::l46

1846 1846

~ ~

81lNeosho, 82 Jackson, 83 Lacled.e, 84 j Potter, 85 .Johnson, 80lMitchell, 87 Washington, 88 ',Olive Brauch, 89 Friendship, .. 90 IPrairie, .. 91 Madison, .. 92 Perseverance, 93 jSt. Mark's, .. 941Boo. "'. ..

AC3Cl.

96 ,St. Andrews, 991Mt. Vernon, 100 Canton, l 101 iGreene, .. 102 ,Bloomington, 103 lCarthage, 104 ;Heroine, 105 ;Relief, 106 ,Miami, 107 iGolden Square, 108 ;New Madrid, 109 'Montezuma, 110 Marcus, 111 ;Trenlon,

.. ,Neosho, Linneus, - ,LebaQon, Oak Grove, .. - ,Warrensburg, Columbus, - Greenfield, - Union, - Chilicothe, .. - Harrisonville, - Madison, - Louisiana, - Cape Girardeau, - Columbia, - Jackson, .. Shelbyville, - Mt. Vernon, - Canton, - Springfield, Bloomington, Carthage, .. Kansas, - Georgetown, - Miami, - Westport, - New Madrid, - Santa Fe, .. Fredericktown, .. Trenton,

N ewton~ .. - jFirst Saturday, no returns, .. - ,First Saturday, Linn, .. ~ - 'Laclede, Pettis, -,JfJhn!ion, - Second Monday, - \!Friday before full mOOD, - Johnson, • -/Dade, .. " " " . " .. Franklin, - jSaturday, -ILivingston, - IFirst Monday, - ICass ,- . Thursday before full moon, - MonroE', .. Second Saturday, • Pike, - Monday before full moon, - Cape Girardeau, - Tuesday before full moon, - Boone, .. - ~Fint Friday, - ICape Girardeau, - .INo returns, - First Monday, - 'Shelby, -ILawrence,.. • Tuesday before full moon, - 'Lewis, - S8turday before full moon, -!Greene, - Wednesday before full moon, .. Macon, .. • ,Friday berore~hird Sunday, -lJasper, .. • 'third Thursday, - Jackson, • -"Saturday before full moon, -IPettis, .. - Fir8t Monday, - Saline, .. .. ,Saturday before full moon, - Jackson, • - iSatul'day after full moon, - ,New Madrid, • ,Saturday before full moon, - iSanta Fe, N. Mexico! -jMadison, .. • iFourth Saturday, .. ,Grundy, .. • \Third Thursday, -

1847 1854

1854 1847 1850

1847 1847 1847

1848 1847 1847 1841 1848 1848

J849 J849 1848 1849 1849

i ~

1849 1849 1849

1849 1849 1851

1849

-l

Grand Secretary's Tabular Statement for .8.. D. 1855, .11. L. 5855, a8 per Article X, Sectioo 10, By-Laws of the Grand Lodge.

N0'1 Names of Lodges. 112\Ezell, • 113iPlattsburg,. 114lWaverly, • 1l5lSibley, • 116 Daviss, .. 117 Versailles," 118 j Hiram, .. 119.Foster, • l 120/ compass, • 121 Erwin, .. 122'Dover, .. 1231 Herman, .. 124 Cedar, • 125lGentryvilJe, 127 Athens, • l 128.Kirksville,.. 129 Constantine, • 131 Potosi, . • 132 Farmington, • 133 1j Star of the West, 134 Sarcoxie, • 135:Ridgely, • 136'phrenix, • 137jWarrenton, • 138j Round Prairie, l

Where held. • St. Francisville, ./Pluttsburg, . • Waverly, .. • 'Sibley, .. .. Gallatin, • Versailles, .. .. St. Charles, .. .. Benton, • Parkville, • St. Louis, • Dover, .. Herman, • Fremont, • Gentryville, .. Athens, .. Kirksville, .. • Charleston, • • Potosi, • Farmington, .. • Arcadia, • Sarcoxie, • Ridgely, • • Bowling Green, • Warrenton, • • Newark,

• • .. .. .. .. .. .. .. • .. • • .. • • .. • • • • • •

County. Clark,· Clinton, Lafayette, Jackson, Daviss, Morgan, .. St. Charles, Scott, Platte, St. Louis, Lafayette, Gasconade, • Cedar, Gentry, Gentry, Adair, Mississippi,· Washington, St. Francois, Madison, Jasper, Platte, Pike, Warren, Andrew,

• .. .. .. .. .. .. •

Time of meeting. Date of Charter. Saturday before full moon, 1850 1850 ,First Saturday, 1850 First Saturday before full moon, 1850 /8at. bef. full moon, 1850 First Monday, 1850 Third Saturday, 1850 ,Monday before full moon, 1850 First Saturday, 1850 'Wednesday before full moon, 1850 Second and fourth Friday!', 1850 'Saturday before full moon, 1850 Third Monday, 1050 'Thursday before full mOOD, 1851 No returns. 1850 'Second and fourth Saturday,

• ,First Monday, Saturday before rull moon,

.. 'First"Thursday, Second and fourth Saturdays, • 'Thllrsday before full mOOD,

1851 1851

1851 1850

1851 1851 1851

1851 1855

0:>

139iOregon, • 140,Smithton, • 141 Middlebury, 1421Pleasant GroYe, 143 Flint Hill, • 144,John Dade, • 145 Windsor City, 146 McGee College, 147 Buffalo, • 148jYancey, • 149'Lexington, • 15'llLeaVen WOrth, 151 Milton, • 152 Linn Creek, •. 153 j Kansas, • 15 4 lConcord, 1

• • • • • • • • • • • • • • • -

Oregon, · Smithfield, Middlebury, Otterville, Flint Hill, Cas!lville, Windsor City, McGee College, Buffalo, • Rutlidge, Lexington, • Leavenworth, Milton, · Linn Creek, \Vyandott, · Concord,

· -

• • • • • • -

··· ·- · -- ··- · - -

· ·

Holt, Kansas Ter. Mercer, Cooper, St. Charles, Barry, Carrol, Macon, Dallas, McDonald, • Lafayette, Kansas Ter., Randolph, Camden, WJ]andott Ter. C laway •

1855 "

1855

1855 1855 1865 1855 1865 1855 1855 1855 1855 1855 1865 1855 1855 1855

I ~

... c.

ct>

14f)

APPENDIX.

SUSPENSIONS. Geo. Washington, No.9; Jrio. Carlin, Henry Eads, P. C. Hovacker, A. P. Johmon, Chas. Miller, V. K. Rout, Chas. M. Scott. Lhfayette, No. 路32, Cary W. Lambeth. Weston, No. 52; Jno. Buchanan, Jamt:'s M. Estell, W. B. Graham, James F. Morton, Waru Thompson; non-payment of dues. Monticello, No. 58; Jas. B. Cravens; do. do. Maysville, " 62; Maron W. Frazer, 'Valter Burriss. Polar Star, " 79; John W. Hawley, W. H. Hurst, Geo. A. Gannett. Bridgeton, " 80; S. F. Bonfils. " 81; Jno. A. Q. Lewis, 'IN. H. Hord. Neosho, " 82; James W. Colgin, James Reid, non-pamyent of Jackson, dues. Mt. Vernon," 99; W m. H. Burns, for twelve months. "101; W. J: Cannefax, A. M. Julian. Greene. Plattsburg, " 113, F. C. Hughes, non-payment of dues. Erwin, H 121; John D. Voerster, time not defined.

EXPULSIONS. Central, No. 15; Wm. J. Oliphant; gross unmasonic conduct. Cooper, " 36; J. 1.\'1. Edgar. " " " Jefferson City, No. 43; William Stone (non-affiliated Mason), Wm. R. Vanover." Platte, No. 56; G. R. Weatherholt. Richmond, No. 57; Newton H. Jacobs (non-affiliated Mason). Neosho, No. 81; Jas. 8. Fowler, Jas. S. Rains. Jackson, " 82; David Jenkins; non-payment of dues and absence from Lodge. Johnson, No. 85; William S. Cranmer. Greene, "101; T. J. Whitlock. Plattsburg, No. 113; Robert Greer; gross unmasonic conduct. Rid~ely, No. t31; Benton H. Phelps." " ., Ezel, No. 112; John Davidson.

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APPENDIX.

141

The undersigned would fraternally call the attention of the Lodges to the proposed Amendment to the By-Laws, on page 114. The Resolution requiring Subordinates to make up their returns to First of May, in every year, and forward them immediately thereafter to Grand Secretary.

A. O'SULLIVAN, G. Sec. G. L. of Mo.