The Masonic Year 1878.

shows that the brethren are earnest in all their undertakings , and sincerely anxious for the Avelfare of the Craft . Tho processions on occasions of unusual interest ; may or may not impress the outside Avorld Avith the Avorth of Freemasonry , but however this may be , Ave know things

are flourishing when AVO find tho Grand and subordinate Lodge meetings are AVOII attended , the Avork Avell clone , and every care taken—as a rule , that is to say—to carry out the principles of Freemasonry in their integrity . No doubt our American readers -will pardon us if AVO find sundry

formidable obstacles in the shape of considerations of timo and space to giving a complete sketch of the doings of the forty and odd Grand Lodges in tho United States . We read about them with pleasure . We hear much of New York , of Pennsylvania , of Virginia , Massachusetts , Columbia

( District ot ) , Rhode Island , Illinois , & c , & c „ and Avhat we hear is always a source of satisfaction . But during tho year that is now coming to an end , there have been few unusual events occur . The Centenary of a Grand Lodgo ,

even in a country Avhich can boast of so many Grand Lodges as the States , does not come every year . The centenary celebration of the Grand Lodge of Virginia Avas due in the month of October , but thus far wo know not if there has

been anything more than the formal reference Avhich was made to it last year in the Grand Master ' s annual address , Avith which reference he coupled tho suggestion that something should be done to mark so important an anniversary . We do know , however , that in all the Grand Lodges of

Avhich AVO have read accounts—and that means nearly all of those existing in the United States—the addresses of the Grand Masters have been , taking them altogether , eminentl y satisfactory . We knoAV , also , that a Grand Lodge of the Royal Order of Scotland , with Bro . Pike as Grand Master ,

has been established at Washington , for the purpose of enabling American brethren to become acquainted Avith the principles of this interesting degree . We know , also , that Templar , Arch , and Cryptic Masonry , as well as the Ancient and Hi gh Accepted Rite , are

all in a flourishing state , and , alas ! that we should have to record it , Ave know that many eminent Masons have passed aAvay to that country from whoso bourne no traveller returns . If then Ave find a difficulty in saying more than Ave have said of living American Masonic

celebrities , Ave can at least find space enough to express our deep SOITOAV and sympathy for some of those brighter luminaries of the American States , Avhose light has been extinguished for all time . How could we p jssibl y forgive ourselves if , for instance , wc allowed this

summary to close without a reference to Bro . A . J . Wheeler , Past Grand Master of Tennessee , and editor and publisher of the Masonic Jewel of Memphis in that State . During the recent visitation of that terrible scourge of the southern parts of North America , the yellow fever , Bro .

Wheeler remained at his post , and as Secretary to the Masonic Board of Relief was enabled to do much gxxl for others . Bufc this , alas ! he did at the sacrifice of his OAVU life . It must be some satisfaction to his family and friends , Avho so deeply mourn his loss , that he died at the post of duty

from disease contracted in the performance of thafc duty . Let us hope that the monument he had erected to himself during these eight years past—the Masonic Jewel—may still live to be a perpetual memorial to his worth . To his family and to his brother Masons we offer our tribute of

respectful sympathy . Nor must we omit mention of the Rev . Chas . Titus , Recording G . Sec . of Massachusetts , Avho died only a short time since , after a someAvhat long and painful illness . He had been necessarily absent from the post of duty at the latest Communications of his Grand

Lodge , but it did not occur to us that his absence Avas more than temporary . However , he , too , has passed away , and his Grand Lodge has done what in ifc lay to show its

gratitude for his valuable services b y interring him with Masonic funeral rites . But he is not the only distinguished member whose loss the Grind Lodge of Massachusetts has had reason to deplore . Bro . Isaiah Thomas , Past Grand

The Masonic Year 1878.

Master , Bro . John M'Clellan are both gone , and these equally Avith Bro . Titus were honoured by Grand Lodge with Masonic funerals . The same Grand Lodge , too , buried Bro . Hon . F . Welch , Past Grand Master of Nebraska and a member of Congress , Avhile Now York has had to deplore the loss of Sir Knight Orrin Welch , Past Grand

Commander of Knights Templar of thafc State , and Grand Warder of the Grand Encampment of the United States , and that of M . E . Past Grand High Priest Comp . Ezra S . Barnura , and Indiana is still mourning the death of Past Grand Master Hazelrigg . These are among the most

distinguished of American brethren , deceased during this year ; in all cases Ave offer the expression of our sympathy Avith their families and friends . A few words remain to be said on the subject of Masonic literature . We have already enumerated the chief

American Masonic periodicals , and it will suffice if we say that one and all of them retain thoso admirable characteristics which havo so favourably impressed us . The second part of the Proceedings of the Grand Lodgo of Pennsylvania has made its somewhat tardy appearance this year , and is in

course of being reviewed at the present time . We have said that , considering the miserable support accorded to the first number by tbe brethren of Pennsylvania , we are surprised it should have been published at all . Great credit is duo therefore , to the Library Committee of that G .

Lodge for having pursued their task under circumstances so discouraging . Our contemporary IJ 6 Monde Maconnique now in the twentieth year of its existence , is a model of careful writing , and though Ave are compelled to differ on sundry essential points , Ave are sensible of its

many and great merits , and congratulate it on its evidently prosperous state . At home , we can point to another Masonic Cyclopaedia , edited by our Rev . Bro- A . F . A . Woodford , which does great credit to his assiduitydiligence , and ability , and a Avork is

, now in the press , and will be published shortly , the subject being " The Four Old Lodges , " and treated Avith eminent ability and judgment by the author , Bro . R . F . Gould , P . M . Moira , No . 92 . It is a revised and enlarged

edition of the series of papers on the subject Avhich have appeared in our columns . The work of publishing tho Ancient Warrants has been interrupted by Bro . Constable ' s absence from England , but as soon as time Avill permit , that zealous brother will resume his labours . For ourselves ,

of whom Ave reserve our notice till the last , we have no reason to complain of the increased support we have received during the past year . On the contrary , we are very grateful for such additional support , and it will be a pleasure as well as a duty for us to throw increased energy and ,

if possible , increased ability into the Avork AVO have been engaged upon for now four complete years . At the same time AVO think it only just to ourselves to point out that brethren should do Avhat they can to help us in Avhat ; is truly a labour of love . We have made many and great

personal sacrifices , not of time and labour only , but hke-Avise of money , in order to keep up the standard of our reputation . We must leave it to others to say whether or not we havo succeeded . If Ave may accept the great increase Avhich has occurred in the number of friends and

supporters as a proof in either direction , AVO must perforce incline to the belief that our efforts have been appreciated . Still Ave might do better if our field of operations were enlarged , and hence our appeal to brethren to co-operate with us in confirming our position as a recognised organ of

Masonic opinion . Wo do nofc claim fco be exclusively tbe representative of Craft interests , but Ave shall steadily pursue our labours , and it shall not be our fault if the FREEMASON ' CHRONICLE does not retain an honoured place in the foremost 'auks of Masonic literature . Wo shall

cheerfully contii ue our sacrifices , and let , the brethren help us to make then : as light as possible . With these words we make our boAv a id exit , till we reappear again before our readers Avith tt 3 insignia of Vol , IX . imprinted on our pages . Vivite et valete !

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