The Masonic Year 1877.

M . W . G . M . Van Slyck , Rhode Island , M . W . G . M . Edward B . ROAVO , Connecticut ; Past Grand Masters Bros . Josiah H . Drummond ( Maine ) , N . P . Bowman ( Vermont ) , Thos . A . Doyle ( Rhode Island ) , and Bro . Henry Clark G . Secretary , Vermont . An address , setting forth the occasion of

tho gathering , was delivered by the Grand Master , and an oration by Past Dep . G . M . Charles L . Woodbury . Both these were attentively listened to , aud the latter must be looked upon as a really valuable contribution to the history of the Craft . The Grand Lodge was then called off to the

banquet , at which about 2 o 0 brethren sat clown . Grand Lodge Avas resumed at 9 p . m ., and closed in tho usual form . Bro . Sereno D . Nickerson P . G . Master acted as toast mas - ter , ancl tho toasts , one ancl all , wero received with

enthusiasm . So ended this most eventful day , to the gratification of tho whole Craft . We offer Massachusetts our AA-armest congratulations on their having entered on the second century of their existence .

To Massachusetts , too , must this year be aAvarded the palm in tho Avay of Masonic public manifestations . On the 17 th September , Avas solemnly dedicated the monument raised on Boston Common to the Army and Navy . At the invitation of the City Council , the Grand Lodge attended

for the purpose of fulfilling this imposing duty . The Most Worshipful Grand Master Bro . Percival Lowell Everett , attended by his Grand Officers , presided , and no less than 25 , 429 brethren took part in the procession . The Grand Master Avas escorted by a select body guard composed of

about 200 Sir Knights of the Boston Commandery , the total number of Sir Knights forming the body guard Avhich acted as escort to the Grand Lodge and Master being 1293 , while their musicians brought the figure up to 1599 . The Templars Avere under the personal direction of tho R . E .

Rev . Henry Rugg Grand Commander of the Grand Commandery of Massachusetts and Rhode Island . The procession was six miles long . The head of the column moved off from its place of assembly at twenty minutes past

eleven , and the Grand Master reached the monument at tAventy minutes past five . The ceremony was then performed , after Avhich the Grand Master delivered a long ancl able address , in Avhicb he lauded the patriotism of those to commemorate Avhose services the monument was erected . Grand

Lodge then returned to the Masonic Temple , ancl Avas closed in ample form at half-past six . Another celebration of a similar character was held in Providence , Rhode Island , on the occasion of the dedication of the monument to the pious memory of Roger Williams , founder of the State and city . The brethren were ranged in two divisions — the first

composed of Knights Templar , the second of Craft Masons , the Grand Master and his officers , in carriages ancl escorted by forty mounted knights of Calvary Commandery , bringing up the rear . The procession , including police escort and band , numbered about 700 persons . At the site

of the monument there Avas a vast gathering of people , and among them sixteen hundred children of the public schools . The ceremonial Avas ably ancl impressively conducted b y Grand Master Cutler , assisted by his officers . The customary speeches Avere delivered , the prayer of dedication Avas

offered up by President Robinson of BroAvn University , and Professor Dinan made an eloquent oration appropriate to the day . The Graud Master , Avith many of the brethren

and ladies and their friends , dined al fresco , —the tent in which it had been served having been blown down—after Avhich the Grand Lodge Avas escorted to the Temple , ancl a most successful display Avas brought to a conclusion .

The General Grand Royal Arch Chapter of the U . S . held its twenty-third triennial Convocation on the 21 st-24 th August at Buffalo , N . Y ., the R . A . Masons of that city fulfilling the duties of hosts right royally . The Hon . Geo . W . Clinton delivered the address of Avelcomo , aud the

M . E . General G . H . P . Hon . E . H . English responded most heartily . The General Grand Chapter Avas then opened by M . E . Comp . English , ancl a great variety of business transacted . Previously , hoAvever , Comp . English delivered an address , in which he revieAved the principal

circumstances Avhich had happened , and the decisions he had made during his G . G . H . P .-ship . It is not necessary , however , Ave should do more than state that a grand banquet Avas held on the evening of the 22 nd , and that on the 23 rd an excursion Avas made to Niagara Falls . The G . G .

Officers for the current term include M . E . Comp . John Frizzell G . G . H . P ., Robert F . BoAver Deputy G . H . P ., Alfred A . Chapman G . G . K ., ancl Noble D . Larner G . G . S . A feAv clays later—28 th-30 th August—the tAvenfcieth triennial Conclave of the Grand Encampment of Knights

The Masonic Year 1877.

Templar of tho United States Avas held at Cleveland , Ohio . The day previous Avas devoted to tho reception of the Sir Knights , and tho city Avas not only thronged , but , Avhat Avith tho uniforms of the Templars , the gay dresses of the ladies , and the decorations of the several halls and

principal streets , presented a very animated appearance . The first clay of tho meeting Avas chiefly occupied with the procession of the different Commanderies , and

their review by tho Grand Commander . The Conclave Avas opened , ancl Sir Knight Hopkins delivered his address , in which he revieAved the most noteworthy events Avhich had occurred durins' his term of office . On the 29 th there

Avas held the competitive drill for a series of prizes , tho first being a magnificent silk banner , Avhich was aAvarded to the Detroit Commandery No . 1 of Detroit ; the second a set of tAvelve solid silver goblets in handsome case , which fell to Raper , No . 1 , of Indianapolis ; and the third a

set of Commandery jewels , which was secured by only the narrOAvest of majorities over Damascus Commandery , No « 1 , of St . Paul by Munroe Commandery , No . 12 , of Rochester . The remainder of the meeting was devoted to the transaction of business , and the election of Graud Officers .

M . E . Sir Knight V . L . Hurlbntt being Grand Master for the next terminal period , and R . E . Sir Knight Walter A . Bragg Deputy Grand Master . Before the Conclave Avas

closed , Chicago , 111 ., and the third Tuesday in August Avere designated for holding the next Triennial Gathering . On the 20 th June the third annual Convention of the Sovereign Grand Council of the Order of the Red Cross of

Constantino of the United States Avas held in Rochester , New York . 111 . Sir C . L . Stowell Sov . Grand Master presided , ancl when he had delivered his opening address , the subject of the proposed treaty between the Grand Imperial Council of England and Grand Council of the United States Avas

discussed ; and ultimately the treaty , which was signed by Sir Knight Alfred Creigh , LL . D ., Past Grand Viceroy for England , Wales and Canada , and Sir C . L . Stowell Sov . G . Master of the Supreme Grand Council of the United States , Avas adopted . 111 . Sir M . J . B . Mcleod Moore , of

Canada , having been elected an honorary member with the rank of Past Grand . Sovereign , and . other business having been transacted , the Grand officers for the ensuing year were elected ancl installed , 111 . Sir 0 . F . Knapp being chosen Sov . Grand Master , J . J . French Deputy Grand

Master , and R . B . Smith Grand Viceroy . The Convention Avas then closed , to meet again in Philadelphia , on the second Wednesday in June 1878 . Another interesting event Avas the installation in public , in the Asylum of the Masonic Temple at NBAV York , of the officers of Columbian

Commandery , No . 1 , of that city . R . E . Sir Knight Charles Roome Past Grand Commander and a delegation of the officers of the Grand Commandery of the State having been introduced by Sir Knight E . M . E . Ehlers , Captain General ancl Generalissimo elect , Sir Knight Roome

installed the officers in a most impressiver manner . An elegant ring Avas presented to the retiring Commander Dr . Fleming ancl E . Sir Rev . J . E . Forrester , of Damascus Coinmanderv , No . 5 , having delivered an address on Templar

Masonry , tho Commandery Avas closed . A large number of ladies Avas present , ancl the hall Avas beautifully decorated Avith choice flowers , Avhich Avere afterwards distributed among the fair visitors .

As regards dedications ancl the other ceremonies of the year , Ave could fill a volume Avere we to record all which have taken place . However , Ave will mention the dedication of a new ancl spacious Hall at Keokuk , Iowa , by Grand Master Henry W . Roberts , on the 22 nd February .

The Hall covers an area of 51 feet by 110 feet , and Avas erected at a cost of 11 , 000 dols . But Avhat is far more noteworthy than the erection or dedication of new Hallsfor these are of frequent occurrence—is the strange fatality which seems to have attended these buildings , or buildings

connected with the ivories of Freemasonry during tho past twelve months . We have already spoken of the destruction of the Masonic Hall , St . John , New Brunswick , Avith all its reecn'ds and MSS . Among others on 20 th February , thafc at North Attleboro , Massachusetts , Avorth 20 , 000 dollars ,

> vas destroyed by fy-e . On the 27 th September , the offices of our esteemed contemporary , the Freemasons' Repository , Avere burnt to the ground , and all the plant , back copies ,

& c , & c , which Avere insured for a small amount only , Avero lost . But great as has been the loss of property , the losses by death are irreparable ; and among the distinguished brethren Avho have gone to their last rest must be mentioned tho name of Bro , Geo . Frank Gouley , G . Secretary