Grand Lodge Of Massachusetts.

as read and confirmed , and certain formal business having been disposed of , the Grand Master road his annual address , in which he reviewed at length the events of the year . The Grand Treasurer ' s accounts were satisfactory , the receipts , including a small balance from the previous year ,

amounting to 79 , 983 dollars 18 cents ., while the expenditure reached onl y 63 , 813 dollars 31 cents ., leaving a balance of 10 , 169 dollars 87 cents . The gross indebtedness of Grand Lodge was stated as 295 , 550 dollars , but deducting cash in han I and rents uncollected , this sum was reduced to

278 , 925 dollars 91 cents ., being less by 12 , 055 dollars 80 cents , than it was the corresponding period of 187 G . Tho expenses in respect of District Deputy Grand Masters and Grand Lecturers , amounted to the modest sum of 274 } dollars . The number of initiates

for the year ended 31 st August 1877 was returned as 1 , 03-5 , and the total number of members in the jurisdiction as 26 , 226 , there being 219 Lodges and two under Dispensation . Six special Warrants were issued , two for the

installation of the Deputy Grand Masters for districts 7 and 9 , three for the formal healing of as many persons , nnd one for the Constitution of Hnelen Lodge at Santiago , Chili , S . A . The returns to theso warrants wero in all

respects satisfactory . Bro . Everett then enumerated the principal features of his administration , namely , his establishment of a new system of trials for Masonic offences , tho restoration of the ritual to its original purity , the preparation of a Trestle-board , and the celebration of the

centenary of the Grand Lodgo in March of last year . Tho Reports of tho Audit Committee , and of the Grand Treasurer , were then submitted , after which tho Grand Lodge proceeded to the election of a Grand Master , it being announced that tho total number of votes that could be cast

for any candidate was 540 . The election fell on Bro . Charles A . Welch , the only candidate , whereupon a Committee was appointed to wait upon that brother and conduct him to the Grand East , where he gracefully acknowledged the few words of congratulation addressed to him by the Grand Master . Bros . William II . Chessman and Irvine

B . Saylis were then elected Grand Senior and Junior Wardens respectively , and Bros . JohnMcClellan and Chas . H . Titus wore re-elected Grand Treasnrer and Recording Grand Secretary , Tho Directors and Audit Committee were then elected . After which Bro . Marshall P .

Wilder presented to Grand Lodge , a printed copy of the eulogy pronounced before Grand Lodge on the 11 th Feb . 1850 , in the Old South Meeting House , by Hon . Timothy Bigelow , this gift being acknowledged by a vote of thanks to the donor . The various committees then

submitted their reports , amongst thorn being one to propose a memorial of the late Bro . William J . Savin M . D ., Past Grand Senior Warden , whose death almost at the moment when he was on tho point of being installed as E . Commander of the Springfield Commandery of Knights

Templar was noticed some timo ago in these columns . Grand Lodge was then closed in ample form , and met again at a Stated Communication on the 27 th December , when the Grand Master elect was duly obligated and installed in office , after which Past Grand Master Everett presented the Grand Master with the Golden Urn containing a

lock of Washington s hair , the said urn having been presented in 1801 to Grand Master Dunn at his installation , and at the installation of his successors had been religiously confided to the care of each , to bo preserved during his term of office , and then handed to the custody

of his successor . The Grand Wardens , Grand Treasurer , and Recording Grand Secretary were then installed in their several offices by Grand Master , who afterwards appointed the other Grand Officers , amonp ; whom Bro , Abraham H . Howland as Dep . G . Master and Bro . Geo . P .

Sanger as Corresponding G . Secretary must be noted . Theso having been invested , proclamation was made that Grand Lodgo was folly constituted for tho transaction of business . Then the Recording Grand Secretary delivered sundry reports as to the condition of the

Craft in Massachusetts , and the Committee on Charity submitted theirs . From this last it appears that the receipts and disbursements amounted in each case to 1 , G 97 | dollars . Bro . Sereno D . Nickerson , Past G . M ., then , on behalf of the Winslow Lewis Lodge , presented

Bro . Percival L . Everett P . G . M . with a very elegant Past Grand Master ' s Jewel , and the gift having been suitably acknowledged , the brethren adjourned to the banquet-room , for the purpose of celebrating the feast of St . John the Evangelist , and Grand Lodge was closed in ample form

Grand Lodge Of Massachusetts.

shortly after ten p . m . Appended to these Proceedings is the Eulogy on Washington , by Hon . T . Bigelow , already referred to , a short abstract of the Proceedings at tho Grand Feast , and an appendix containing tho Reports of District Grand Masters , returns of Lodges , arranged in

tabular form , showing the number of members affiliated to each , & c , & c , & c , and tables of the several Districts for tho current year . In short , the whole condition of Freemasonry in tho jurisdiction of Massachusetts is , as far as Returns

go , faithfully and completely described , in a manner which reflects the highest credit on the Recording Grand Secretary , and which will doubtless bo very gratifying to onr Massachusetts brethren in particular , and to Craftsmen everywhere .

Grand Lodge Of Virginia.

GRAND LODGE OF VIRGINIA .

THIS Grand Lodge held its annual Communication in Sfc . Alban ' s Hall , Richmond , on JOfch , 11 th , aud 12 fch December 1877 , and tho Proceedings , copy of which we beg to acknowledge receipt of , were very satisfactory . Grand Master Richard Parker presided , and was well supported by his Grand Officers , Past Grand Officers , and the

representatives of most of the subordinate Lodges . On the first day , tho Grand Master delivered his annual address , in review of tho events of the year . Tho Grand Treasurer ' s accounts showed a total of receipts amounting- to over 8 , 441 dollars , of which over 921 dollars formed the

balance brought forward from tho previous year . Tho expenses wero over 8 , 044 dollars , so that there remained a balance to the good of close on 397 dollars . Tho assets of Grand Lodge amounted to close on 74 , 553 dollars , from which , however , debts to the amount of 2 , 400 dollars were

to be deducted , leaving assets of the net value of close on 72 , 153 dollars . ' The rental for the fiscal year to 1 st November 1878 was estimated at 5 , 500 dollars . On the second day of the Communication , the Grand Master and certain of the Grand Officers for the ensuing year wore elected , and

those present installed in offico . The most important aro Bros . Beverley R . Wellford jun ., Grand Master , Peyton Skipwith Coles D . G . Master , R . Mnrrel Page G . Senior , and Mayo B . Carrington G . Junior Warden , Oscar M . Marshall Grand Treasurer , and William B . Isaacs Grand

Secretary . The Grand Master having then mado several appointments , among them being that of Bro . Jas . Evans as Grand Lecturer , a series of resolutions was submitted and adopted , having for object the erection of a suitable monument over tho remains of tho late revered Grand

Secrotary Bro . John Dove . Sundry reports wore then submitted . On tho third and last day Grand Lodge mot under the presidency of Bro . Beverley R . Wellford P . G . M ., who was well and numerously supported by the Grand Officers , Past Grand Officers , and the representatives

of subordinate Lodges . The Committee reported favourably on the Grand Master ' s address , and approved of the various recommendations it contained , after which the Committee of Jurisprudence delivered their report . The Committee on Finance and Investment reported that

the receipts from the estate of the lato Grand Treasurer , together with the balance from previous account , amounted to over 9 , 230 dollars , of which over 8 , 264 dollars had been paid out on account of Grand Lodge , leaving a balance duo to it of 965-i- dollars , against which there aro outstanding

in respect of Graud Lodge obligations about 900 dollars . It was also announced that the invested funds of Grand Lodge had been increased by a Richmond City six per cent , bond for 2 , 000 ' dollars . Various other reports were submitted , and sundry resolutions wero passed . TheD . D . G . M . ' s

were then duly appointed , and Grand Lodge Avas closed . Appended are certain returns of moneys paid to Grand Treasurer , as Avell as of moneys due , and returns of the various Lodges , shoAving their position and strength . From the latter , Ave gather that the number of brethren in 1877

in the jurisdiction of the Virginia Grand Lodge Avas 9 , 234 , or , alloAving for nineteen Lodges Avhich had failed to make any returns , the number Avas estimated at 10 , 108 . During the year , two Lodges had returned their charters , three wero declared extinct , two AA'ere located in W . Virginia , and six

Avere chartered at this Communication , Avhile two Avere continued under Dispensation . During the year , 121 members had died , and 89 been reinstated , 338 had AvithdraAvn , 11

been expelled , and 238 suspended . In an Appendix is the Report of the Committee on Foreign Correspondence , so that tho proceedings and history of Freemasonry for tho year that is past are complete in all respects .