Grand Lodge Of Massachusetts.

GRAND LODGE OF MASSACHUSETTS .

WE have received , and acknowledge fraternally , copy of Proceedings of G . L . of Massachusetts at certain Special Communications held on 14 th and 19 th January respectively , and at the Quarterly Communication on 9 th

March . The meeting on 14 th January was held in Winchester for the purpose of consecrating to Masonic purposes the new quarters of the William Parkman Lodge , and the subsequent installation of the neAvly-elected officers . That on the 19 th of the same month was convened for the

consecration of the new Masonic Hall of King David Lodge , at Taunton . Grand Master S . C . Lawrence presided on both occasions , and in both instances Grand Lodge was most hospitably entertained at t' e end of the proceedings . At the regular Quarterly Communication on 9 th March ,

JBro . b . u . Lawrence G . M . occupied the throne , and among the G . Officers who were present to support him were Bros . Edwin Wri ght D . G . M , P . Lyman Winship G . S . Warden , Nathan S . Kimball G . J . Warden . Traov P .

Cheever Recording Grand Secretary , George P . Sanger Corresponding G . Secretary , the D . D . G . Masters of the majority of the Districts , Rev . Joshua Young G . Chaplain , W . D . Coolidge , Charles C . Dame , W . S . Gardner , Spreno D . Nickerson , R . L . Everett , and C . A . Welch

Past Grand Masters , and the representatives of ninety-nine Lodges . The special feature of the gathering was the reading of the Report on the late Past G . Master Heard which , it is needless to say , was couched in eulogistic language , but at the same time in language that was no

more than justly complimentary . So highly , indeed , do we think of this Report that we give elsewhere some particulars of the account contained therein . The other business being purely of local interest it is unnecessary we

shonld give particulars . Suffice it to say , that everything passed off in the most satisfactory manner possible , and Grand Lodge having been closed in ample form , the brethren dispersed , highly edified with all they had heard and seen at the Communication .

Freemasonry In Rhode Island.

FREEMASONRY IN RHODE ISLAND .

THE Ninety-first Annual Communication of the Grand Lodge of Rhode Island was held at Masons' HaU , Providence , on Monday , the 16 th May . Most Worshipfnl Brother E . L . Freeman Grand Master occupied the throne ,

and was supported by a very numerous gathering of Past and Present Grand Officers , and representatives of the Lodges in tho jurisdiction , among them being Past Grand Masters Bros . Johnson , Hutchison , Van Slyck , and Cutler ,

while the principal absentee was Past Grand Master Doyle , "who is still suffering from the effects of an accident he met with some months ago . The reports of the Grand Secretary , Grand Treasurer , ancl Finance Committee were

presented and adopted , the last two being of the most satisfactory character , ancl showing that , as regards its finances , he Grand Lodge was in a roost admirable condition . In e re port of the Committee on Foreign Correspondence it

was recommended that the so-called Grand Lodge of New kouth Wales should not be recognised as an independent organisation , and the recommendation was unhesitatingly

adopted The report of the Library Committee was like-Jwe presented and adopted , the sum of two hundred V rS w a PP P riated for tne wants of the current year . \ ye would remark , in passing , that , considering the

Freemasonry In Rhode Island.

limited area of the Masonic jurisdiction of Rhode Island , the grant of so considerable a sum as . 840 towards the requirements of the Grand Lodge speaks volumes for the interest taken by our Rhode Island brethren in Craft literature , especially when we bear in mind the fact that the

wealthy Grand Lodge of England , with its 1800 active Lodges , and 10 , 000 initiates per annum , has magnificently resolved on appropriating annually the enormous sum of £ 25 towards improving the resources of its library . The mother Grand Lodge of the world doles out £ 25 yearly in

promoting Masonic literature ! The Grand Lodge of the smallest of the United States of America spends £ 40 on the same beneficent object . Comment is unnecessary . The other business included the delivering of the customarv addresses by the Grand Master , and the election of

Grand Officers , the chief of whom included Bros . Thomas Vincent Most Worshipful Grand Master , George M . Carpenter jun . Deputy Grand Master , James M . Davis Grand Senior Warden , Robert S . Franklin Grand Junior Warden , Clinton D . Sellew Grand Treasurer , Edwin Baker Graajid

Secretary , Rev . H . Rugg Grand Chaplain , Benjamin A . Reynolds Grand Senior Deacon , and W . H . Perry Grand Junior Deacon . We may add that the Grand Secretary was requested to procure a Past Grand Master ' s jewel and apron , to be presented to the retiring Grand Master , Bro .

Freeman , in recognition of the valuable services he had rendered to the Craft in Rhode Island during his tenure of the Grand Mastership . As to the Grand Master ' s address , it proved to be a most eloquent , and at the same time satisfactory , exposition of the work accomplished by Bro .

Freeman during the period he had presided over the destinies of Freemasonry in his State . Such addresses are almost unknown in England , but they undoubtedly have a value ,

ancl those of our readers who would like to judge for themselves as to the character of the speeches will do well to consult the pages of the Freemasons ' Eepository , to which we are indebted for the above particulars .

The Late Bro. John T. Heard P.G Master Massachusetts.

THE LATE BRO . JOHN T . HEARD P . G MASTER MASSACHUSETTS .

WE refer elsewhere to the Report of the Committee appointed last December by the Grand Lodge of Massachusetts to draw up a memorial sketch of the late Bro . John T . Heard P . G . Master of that jurisdiction ; and considering the valuable services our deceased brother

rendered to the cause of Freemasonry , we cannot do better than give a short summary of tbe particulars the Committee have succeeded in compiling . Bro . Heard was born in Boston in May 1809 , and consequently at the time of

his death in December 1880 had exceeded his seventy-first year . His maternal grandfather , John Perkins , a charter member of Columbian Lodge , Boston , was initiated into Freemasonry in St . John ' s Lodge , Boston , in 1766 , and

died in Waldoborough , Me ., about the year 1824 . Bro Hoard himself was initiated in Columbian Lodge , on 20 th February 1825 . In 1846 he filled the office of Jnnior Deacon , and from that time forward , with the exception of

the years 1848 and 1849 , until his retirement from the Grand Mastership , in December 1859 , he was continuall y in office in his own , or in Grand Lodge . Thus ,

in 1851 and 1852 he was Grand Marshal , and in the same years Junior and Senior Warden respectivel y in Columbian Lodge . In 1854 and 1855 he presided as W . M ., and raised as many as sixty-eight candidates .