Chapter Committee, In The Room Of The Late Lamented

divers times and in different periodicals , of the meetings of nearly all the Masonic Grand Bodies in the country , and ib is a p leasure to us to be able to record that , almost without exception , these meetings have , been well attended , tho labours of the various Committees appointed

to report on matters financial , constitutional , jurisprudential , aud the like , have ably , promptly , and satisfactorily discharged their duties , while the numerous petitions

submitted for charters for neAV Lodges afford evidence that the influence of Masonry is extending cither in districts already occupied , or to now districts wherein Masonry has hitherto nob esbablished for itself a local habitation . All

this , we say , is intensely gratifying , but Ave do nob see there is anything special Avhich need occupy our attention now . The folloAving , however , are Avorfchy of record . On the 24 fch of June a new Masonic Temple at Buffalo , New York State , Avas solemnly dedicated to the purposes of

Masonry , and this occasion Avas made one of great rejoicing . Five Commanderies of Knights Templar Avere present , ancl aoted as an escort to the Grand Lodge . In the lino wero eleven Lodges , and the Grand Lodge was under the supreme direction of Grand Master Husted .

The ceremony of dedication having been rendered , Bro . the Hon . Judge Clinton , son of the eminent Bro . Do Wifcfc Clinton , delivered an oration , on tho value and beauty of Masonry . Afc the conclusion of his address the speaker was rapturously applauded . Iu the evening a recepbion Avas held

in bhe Temple , and Avas folloAved by a banqueb , ab which the Grand Master presided in person . Everything passed off most satisfactorily , while the procession through the streets in the forenoon attracted largo CTOAVCIS of spectators , Avho were hig hly delighted with the pageant .

An event even more interesting still , Avas bhe celebrabion on bhe same day , ab Mariebta , Ohio , of the hundredth anniversary of the American Union , No . 1 on the roll of the Grand Lodge of Ohio . We havo already quoted from the recently published records of New York Masonry , some

feAv particulars respecting the history of this old Lodge . Briefly AVO may state here—that thoWarrant of Constitution Avas granted by Bro . Richard Gridioy D . P . G . M . of the St . John ' s Grand Lodge , Massachusebbs , on 15 th February 1776 , and that it held its firsb meeting at Roxbury . It Avas

composed of officers and soldiers in Washington ' s army , Avhich it accompanied to New York . Ou its arrival , it applied to Deputy Grand Master Middleton for a confirmation of the Warrant . This was refused , bub a UBAV one Avas granted to it , under bhe bifclo of Military Union Lodge No . 1 , and

so long as ifc remained Avifchm tlie jurisdiction of New York ifc retained this title , but when outside it returned to its first love again , and became American Union . Its first W . M ., Bro . Joel Clarke , and obher of its members Avere killed or taken prisoners at the battle of Long Island , on 27 th

August , same year . Bro . Joel Clarke died in captivityand the next AVO hear of ifc is at Reading , Conn ., in 1779 , Avhen Bro . Parsons was W . M ., and Jonathan Heart S . W . In the summer of the same year it Avas located at Wesb Point , on the Hudson , and from 1781 to 1783 Avas at

Newburg . Subsequently the warrant Avas taken to Marietta , Wesb of bhe Ohio , by bhe W . M . Bro . Heart , and from bhis p lace a lebfcer Avas despatched to the Grand Lodge of New York , in October 1791 , in which the Lodge proclaimed itseli the principal Masonic authority in the territory West of bhe

Ohio . Nob very long after bhis—on 4 th November , Colonel Heart fell , ab bhe babble of Port Recovery , in Darke County , Ohio , but bhe Lodge survives him , and has lived to see the roll of Ohian Lodges exceed 500 . This is certainly a proud position to have enjoyed , and Ave offer , in all sincerity , our

fraternal congratulations to the brethren of American Union No . 1 , Ohio , on its celebration this year of so auspicious an event . The festivities were on a grand scale , and the address in honour of the occasion , Avas delivered by the Hon . Richard Vaux , Past Grand Master of Pennsylvania .

On the 14 fch June , Milwaukee , Wisconsin , was the scene of yet another grand Masonic celebration , tho occasion being the assembly in this city of the Wisconsin Grand Lodge . Unfortunately , tho weather Avas not all that could be desired , but everything was done to give a hearty

welcome to the brethren , and along the line of route the houses were decorated Avith the usual holiday paraphernalia . Eighb Commanderies , Avith 301 Kni ghts Templar , headed the procession , and these were followed by two

divisions , comprising together close on two thousand Master Masons . The fourth ancl last division was composed of Grand Lodge and Grand Chapter , aged members , and oth ^ ra . On reaching tha Park , the usual religious

Chapter Committee, In The Room Of The Late Lamented

ceremonial Avas observed , after which the Hon . A . R . R . Butler , who is not a Mason , addressed some very eloquenb , and ab the same time hearby words of Avelcome to tho assembly , Avords Avhich , coming from a non-Mason , were highly appreciated . Afterwards , Bro . the Rev . S . Fellows

delivered an address , Avhich was likewise applauded ; ancl , then , after sundry other ceremonies , the procession re-formed , and having returned to tho city , dispersed .

Later in tho day , excursions wero organized , and in the evening a ball Avas given at the Academy of Music , and also a festival at Quentin ' s Park . In fine , the celebration proved a greab success .

Those are a feAv onl y of tho public festivals Avhich have been held in different parts of the United States during tho year . Wore we to give particulars of all of them , Ave should find it necessary bo enlarge thenarro \ v limits of our space to those of a large octavo volume . We wish , indeed ,

it were in our power to record at some longbh how bhe various Grand Bodies and subordinate Lodges have conducted their labours , and how they have met in various places , at divers times , and for particular purposes . In such case might Ave find space bo dilabe on bhe eloquenb addresses delivered by

the moro eminent brethren , to chronicle how worth y brethren—such , for instance , as the Immediate Past Grand Master of New York , Bro . Ellwood Thorne—were made the recipients of handsome , aud in some cases cosbly , testimonials to the eminent services they have rendered in

the cause of Freemasonry . All this we should wish to do , but AVO cannot . We can only conclude this brief aud necessarily imperfect record of United States Freemasonry by saying that , taking into account all the circumstances , tho Craft has prospered for the most part during the year now

so shortly about to close . We trust the future may bo as productive of good as the past , ancl even though our American contemporaries may occasionally have cause to lament a certain degree of apathy in respect of Masonic

literature , Ave firmly believe they will , sooner rather than later , begin to enlarge the sphere of their operations , and not only Avork hard for the Craft , as thus far they have generally done , but also encourage that Masonic literature to Avhich AVO are indebted for the materials of this sketch .

We Avish our brethren in all parts of the United States Avhafc , in England , Ave designate "The Compliments of fcho Season , " and may tho Great Creator of all things shower down upon them , one and all , His greafcesb blessings ! The Grand Lodges in British North America are to be

congratulated generall y on tho even progress they have made during the year . The Grand Lodge of British Columbia has some ei ght Lodges , Avith an aggregabe membership of close on 300 . In Canada bhere are over 300 Tiftrirttaa r * nrl TTQVTT VII- \ QY % 1 TT l (\ ( iflM IvIfiartTAC ! TVTcmr Tti » ii rta « rioL " Lod and nearl 16000 MasonsNew Brunswick

ges , very y , . has 30 Lodges , and jusb over 2 , 200 brebhren ; Nova Scobia 70 Lodges and 3 , 295 brethren ; Quebec 37 Lodges and 2 , 704 brethren ; while Prince Edward ' s Island musters a very respectable contingent , in the shape of eight Lodges .

One deplorable event has happened , during bhe year , within the jurisdiction of the Grand Lodgo of Canada . Certain brethren , conceiving themselves to be aggrieved , have been guilty of the heinous Masonic offence of erecting bhemselves into an independent Grand Lodge . All their

proceedings , so far as Ave have been able to follow them , have been most irregular . A fancied grievance , or ib may be a real one—in which case bhis offence , againsb Masonic usage and courtesy is all the greater—Ave say a real or fancied grievance has induced certain brethren , placed

under the jurisdiction of the Grand Lodge , to meet together irregularly , and proclaim bhemselves bo be , wibhin bhe jurisdiction of bhis Grand Lodge of Canada , an independenb Masonic Body . Thus far , AVO rejoice bo say , bhis conduct has met with its just reward . Their advances toAvards a

friendly inbercourse Avibh neig hbouring Grand Lodges have been repelled Avith scorn , so far ab leasb as Masons pcrmib themselves to exhibit that feeling . Ib may be the erranb brebhren Avill see the ignominy thab abbaches to their conduct , and in such case , no doubt , bhe Grand Lodge

of Canada will receive again the repentant Craftsmen . Wo hope so , but in the meantime Ave sincerely trust that all American Grand Lodges will follow the noble example set them by the Grand Lodges of New Brunswick and Maine , and repel summarily the advances of bhese mosb irregular Ontarian brothers .

We have now traversed , as nearly as circumstances permit us , the the Avhole field of Masonry . We have shown that , though the year has not been productive of any particularly

brilliant results , tho progress mado has bean solid and