The Masonic And General Life Assurance Company Limited.

of the Company , who explains that although the Association in question is not a Masonic Institution , its directors , nnd other officials are Freemasons , who have won the confidence of Freemasons , and all who assure with them . He explains that the first-named correspondent , " in a moment of

displeasure and irritation , voluntarily offered his shares , on which £ 100 was paid , to any one who would take them for £ 25 , which offer the writer immediately accepted , and the transfer was duly signed . Thus he considers the loss can hardly bo termed necessary . The second epistle he prefers

to leave to answer for itself , merely remarking that the Company may lie congratulated on having , as is therein stated , done some business . The writer of this latter sentence takes the agent to task in an after communication , and points out that such business , in his opinion , had been

obtained through the Company , " advertising on Masonic insignia , thereby causing it to be thought and accepted a = * officially and authoritativel y Masonic , supported and guaranteed b y Grand Lodge . " On what ground can any Mason form such an opinion as is manifested in these

letters ? Or , why should he assume that the use of a Masonic emblem shotild make Grand Lodge liable for all that may arise by reason of brethren neglocting common business caution ? Were such to bo the case , we fancy our governing body would soon have such a list of claims

before them as would drain their resources , even if they had the wealth of Croosus at their call . No ; for some reason or other , our brethren are disappointed , and now they seem hardly able to make their abuse loud or strong enough . As they appear to attach so much importance

to things being done Masonically , we would ask them how they justify such a course of action . In answer to the charges made by these shareholder of Jersey , the Managing Director of the Company sends a tabulated statement , wherein he shows that " The Masonic

and General Life Assurance Company Limited " occupies a most favourable position among the various offices who carry on a similar class of business . The figures which he gives are , with the exception of those of his own Company , taken from a lately issued Blue Book , so that wc have

Government guarantee that these are correct . While in the case of " The Masonic and General " they arc taken from the valuation report of Mr . W . S . B . Woolhouse , whose statement is characterised as a strictly independent one . W / j would rathor have had all the figures from the

same soil roe , as by that means wo should have been able to form a . better opinion of the standing of the Society , which by its title tries to identify itself with the Craft ; wc might then be in a position to judge whofchcr it should be supported for the sake of such connection . As it is , we can

onl y ask our friends to give it tho preference if , after duo enquiry , they find it bears comparison with those offices whose titles are not Masonic ; but we assure the Directors

that so long as they make use of the name and symbols of Freemasonry simply to advance business ends , it will bo impossible for thom to justify themselves in tho eyes of Freemasons .

Grand Chapter Of Pennsylvania

GRAND CHAPTER OF PENNSYLVANIA

THE book of Proceedings of this grand bod y for 1878 contains particulars of the Quarterly Communications that were held during the past year , and the various questions that were discussed , as also those of the Annual Communication held at Philadel phia on 27 th December , when Alfred It . Potter Grand High Priest presided ,

supported by several Grand Officers , Past Grand Officers , and representatives of subordinate Chapters . Grand Chapter was opened in solemn form , and various matters of local interest were disposed of . The Grand High Priest , in reviewing the two years of his official connection with the

Grand Chapter , summarised the various acts he had performed in the discharge of the duties appertaining to the office . He had personally constituted three new Chapters , and two others had been formall y opened by dispensation . In reading the reports of the several D . D . Grand Hi gh

Priests , he had been pained to learn from them of the indifference on the part of Companions , members of Chapters , to the voluntary duties they assumed when

entering the Institution . He was aware that Capitular Freemasonry , like all other institutions , was suffering from the depression of the times , but that should bo no reason why Companions ought not to assemble in their respective

Grand Chapter Of Pennsylvania

Chapters , if for no other purpose than to encourage each other in the work of life before them , to develop the princi ples taught , and to do good unto all men . He had

learned that in some instances Chapters had not mot for months , simply because there was no work ; but he was pleased to be able to record other cases where great interest had been taken in the duties of the degree . He had visited

all the Chapters and Mark Lodges meeting in the Philadel phia Temple , and had also travelled some thousands of miles in his work of inspection of the Chapters of the Jurisdiction . He desired to express his thanks for the honour which had been done him in electing him to the

high office , and also for the support he had received both from the members and subordinate officers . Companion William C . Hamilton was now duly installed a 3 Grand High Priest , as were also tho following : —Companions H . P . John G . King , A . R , Hall G . Scribe , T . R . Patton G .

Treas ., J . Thompson G . See . The newly installed G . H . P . then delivered an address , thanking tho companions for entrusting the Royal Craft to his supervision for the ensuing Masonic year , and referring to matters of interest which came under his notice . He then appointed the

subordinate Officers , and various Committees of Grand Chapter . Other formal business was disposed of , and among the items which form the Appendix we may mention the Report on Correspondence , which deals with

forty-one Grand Chapters , being all that the Grand Chapter of Pennsylvania is in correspondence with , except that of the Grand Mark Lodge of England , and ends with a brief summary of the whole .

Grand Lodge Of Tennessee.

GRAND LODGE OF TENNESSEE .

THIS Grand Lodge held a Lodge of Sorrow , in tho Concert Room of the Masonic Temple , Nashville , on the 12 th November 1878 , to the memory of the late A . J . Wheeler P . G . M . and to " their Dead " of the past year . M . W . Americus V . Warr , Grand Master , presided , and was

supported by Jonathan S . Dawson P . G . M . S . W ., J . C . Cawood P . G . M . J . W ., Rev , Robert A . Young Chaplain , George H . Morgan S . D ., M . H . Webb J . D ., Benjamin F . Haller and Thomas 0 . Morris Stewards ; other Officers . Past Grand Officers and members of the Grand Lodge

being present . The Hall was heavily draped in mourning , and in tho centre of the stage was a catafalque , at the angles of which wore seated four brethren in charge of lights . Immediatel y above hung tho portrait of M . W . A . J . Wheeler P . G . M ., the frame of which was covered

with crape . In the rear , and hanging upon the stage scenery , were three white shields with black borders . On the one on the right was the name " Slovor , " in the centre " Our Dead , " and on the left " Worsham . " Every seat

was occupied , a large number of ladies being present . At the conclusion of the usual ceremonies au address was delivered by Bro . Henry J . Lynn P . M ., Memphis , on " The Life , Masonic Character and Death of A . J . Wheeler P . G . M ., and from it wc extract the following : —

Andrew J . Wheoler wa 3 born ' 1 th February 1833 , m the town of Norridgewoek , near Portland , in the State of Maine . His father , who was an active Mason , as was his father before him , died but three- years since , at his home , at the age of 89 . These brethren have handed down a tribute to onr Order in the form of an old

Masonic apron , which was worn in Lodge by our Brother , and which , please God , his surviving son hopes to wear some day with equal honour . At the age of fourteen he left the parental roof , to learn the trade of a printer . In 1851 he left his native State , went West , and located in the town of Evansville , Indiana , where lie

carried ou the business of bookselling with his oldest brother . In his twentieth year he came South , and located in Memphis , Tennessoe , whore he at once secured work as a printer in the office of the Appeal . Here ho remained several years , rising in due season to the position of local editor on that famous journal , then under the management of

McClanahan , Trousdale and Dill ; and it was here he learned the uso of his vigorous and spicy pen . After this he scoured the position of chief clerk , or deputy in the office of Marcus J . Wright , Clerk aud Master of the Chancery Court of Shelby county , and remained in this office for eight years . While employed in this office , on the

20 th of October 1858 , he was initiated into the mysteries of Masonry , and on 25 th March 1859 he was raised to tho sublime degree of Master Mason . About tho year 1870 there were brought to public notice two enterprises of stirring moment to the Masonic Fraternity . For many years the Masons of Memphis had entertained the hope

of building a grand Masonic Temple , and Bro . Wheeler was tho master-spirit of that great enterprise ; the work on the building , which was so sadly broken up by the epidemic of 1873 , was but just resumed , under our brother ' s general care , in July last , with the brightest prospects for completion ere this time , when MemphiB