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¦ each other , have been numerous . There is no subject on which the Grand Master has had more painful difficulty than that arising from the unlawful and , sometimes , shameful conduct of lodges in seizing any ¦ material within their reach , and making Masons , or called such after their hasty and ill-considered work is

-over , regardless alike of the material they are getting into their own temple , and that they are foistering on to other and sister jurisdictions , or on to the fraternity at large . The repression of this evil , and the necessary executive acts , in consequence of the commission of the offence , have required much time and labor ,

and , it is hopod , will prevent its frequency for the future . The landmark touching the physical qualifications required of a candidate in order to become a Mason , is so brief and explicit , and without either exception or circumlocution , that it would seem as though it could be readily understood and obeved .

By the Constitution it . is required , " , that men , to be made Masons , must be at least twenty-one years of age , free born , of good report , hale and sound ; not ¦ deformed or dismembered , and no woman—no eunuch . " The ancient Gothic Constitution was equally p lain , and required him "to be without blemish , and to

have the full and proper use of his limbs . " The strict rule of the Holy Law is not only a landmark , but in this jurisdiction has the additional sanction , as we have seen , of a constitutional enactment . It seems to be supposed , however , that it can be evaded by collusion , fraud , or judicial blindness , or

disregarded with impunity , or dispensed with by vote of a lodge ,. or by the edict of the Grand Master . Holding the princi ples I have stated as the rule and guide to my official action on the question of the external physical qualifications of one seeking to be a Mason , and knowing nothing but the line of dutv ,

and trying to do it myself , and holding all others in Authority to the same strict rule , I have excluded or stopped the candidates , as soon as reported officially , being disqualified within the rule . . . . The question has ' been distinctly presented , whether a lodge could be compelled to contribute to the relief of a distressed brother . The duty imposed on a lodge is one

of charity and love , and it would seem to be one that no superior authority could compel its performance , or prescribe -the extent of the relief to be grant 6 d . There is a great error prevailing quite generally , that od ges of Free and Accepted Masons are in some respects beneficial societies , and partake of their

duties . Now this is totally erroneous . Our lodges are not founded for life , or health , or accident insurance purposes , nor for g iving relief or funeral benefits . If any one wishes to secure these objects , there are many excellent organizations to whicli he can resort and accomplish his object , and be certain of a fixed

and determinate sum , without any regard to the will , or the pleasure , or the feeling of the society which he has joined . But lodges of Free and Accepted Masons are not of that kind , and do not give , or profess to give , any such privileges or benefits . Their fees for initiation , and their charges for dues , are not based on

any _ calculation of the duration of health , or the liability to disease of the petitioner . These are wholly foreign to the objects of our Fraternity . If a lodge should , however , arbitralily refuse to grant , or should in a miserly way dole or stint , relief to a worthy and distressed brother in good standing , it having abundant

means to give relief without injury to itself , and without materially impairing its ability to comply with other calls on its resources , on complaint being made to tho Grand Master or Grand Lodge , and such facts appearing , no doubt such a total refusal to use the talent intrusted to their keeping would be remedied ;

for if none other existed , 'there mi ght be a repetition m fact of the ancient parable ofthe unfaithful steward to whom one talent was given , and who , instead of using it to spread li ght and relief on the earth by the increase thereof , went and digged in the earth and hid his lord ' s money . And when his lord came to reckon

with him for the use he had made thereof , finding him unfaithful , he took the talent which he had , and entrusted it to otiiers who bad done faithfully . In determining , as I have , that the Grand Master cannot , except in the exercise of extreme power over a wholly recusant or miserly lodge , compel the '' ranting of

relict to a distressed brother , I have no fear that our lod ges will thereb y feel themselves relieved from their lull Masonic obligation towards brethren so situated . When we look over the record of their charitable work in Masonry , about which or of which they have never made proclamation or sounded any trumpet , and which

, though noiseless has been efficient , we are reminded of what an ancient dramatist wrote of the good work of one in his own day , of whom he said' Ho Rliowereit his bounties on me like the Hours , That , open-handed , sit upon tho clouds And press tho liberality of Ueaveu Down to the laps of thnnklcss men . "

The powers , duties and prerogatives ofthe W . Master of a lodge have been the subject of many appeals to the Grand Master for direction and control . In general , these officers have been cautioned that , by their high ' positions they ought to be above envy of any one , and to decide all questions with strict impartiality . 'To be , of all things , patient with the brethren , remembering that there are many things that try the tcnipcrand quali-

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fications ofthe W . Master , but he must be ever mindful to bemaster of himself , or he can never govern others fairly and faithfully ; that strife and contention must never be permitted in the lodge , and that , if attempted , it must be cut off , and he must rule absolute and inflexible Master of his lodge , so far as should be

necessary to work the lodge without confusion , and to enforce a due observance of the general rules and regulations of Grand Lodge . It is one of the plainest duties of the W . M . not only to preach peace , but to ensure or compel it . If confusion arise , he may lawfully repress it , awl must do so , using his entire Masonic

power ; ordering any brother to his seat , terminating debate , and , if necessary and order cannot otherwise be restored , peremptorily closing his lodge The W . M . has great power in a lodge ; and when wisely , temperately , and firmly exercised , it is productive of great good . I have seen it still a tempest ; and I am sorry

to say , when improperly exercised , I have known it to increase and intensify the storm . ... In July last I received an official communication from the M . W . Grand Master of Free and Accepted Masons of Cuba , requesting my fraternal assistance to aid and relieve him in certain difficulties recited by him . On examining

into tho facts , as near as I could ascertain them , it appeared that in 1853 Cuba had two existing and legally constituted symbolic lodges , whose warrants were granted by the Grand Lodge of Spain . * In May , 1859 , the Grand Lodge of South of Carolina granted a dispensation for a third symbolic lodge , located at

Santiago , and called San Andrews , and in . November 1859 this lodge was duly warranted by the Grand Lodge of South Carolina , and on the fifth December , 1851 ) , representatives from these three lodges assembled and organized the Grand Lodge of Cuba . This Grand Lodge subsequently united with the Grand Lodge of

Perfection , Ancient and Accepted Rite , of that island , and formed the Grand Orient of Colon , or Cuba . That body was recognized as a regularly organized and legitimate Grand Body in 1800 , by this Grand Lodge , by the reception of Bro . Andreas Cassard , as its representative near this Grand East , and at various

times since has received a like recognition , and so remains now . Before making any change of the existing state of allairs , I required further light in the matter , and so informed the G . M ., and received his letter in return , stating that renewed efforts were making to continue the Grand Orient . Hearing

nothing further from him , I presume the Grand Orient has been revived or still continues as before . On this subject I have received very great and valuable information , at much loss of time and trouble to him , from Bro . A . G . Goodall , of the city of New York , who has spared no pains to give me all the information in

his power , as well on this subject as on all connected with the several Grand Bodies in South America , the islands adjacent to and in the Gulf of Mexico , and in England , in all of which countries he has been an extensive visitor . It being his intention to visit the continent of Europe soon , I expressed to him my

desire to accredit him as special representative of this Grand East , near the Grand East of such Grand Bodies of the Fraternity with which we are in correspondence , as he should be able to visit ( luring the ensuing year . He accepted the appointment , and letters of credence have been issued accordingly .

. . . The relations of this Grand Bod y with our sister Grand Bodies in the United States and in foreign countries , are peaceful and harmonious , except , with the Grand Orient of France and with Hamburg . Tlie difficulty with the former will be presented hereafter , while that with the latter has been of so loner standing

as to have become chronic . It it is only necessary to state that no change has taken placein the apparent views of those controlling that Grand Body , and there will be no change in the attitude taken by this Grand Lodge on the subject , as it was the result of a firm determination on the part of all the Grand Lodges in the

United States , that no interference would be allowed with symbolic lodges here by Grand Bodies located in Europe . In February last I received official notice from the M . JV . Grand ' Master of Masons in the State of Louisiana , of the unlawful and clandestine establishment within that jurisdiction , of lodges professing to

act under the authority of a so-called Grand Council of the Ancient and Accepted Rite , claiming the authority to and actually making Masons , and conferring the three first degrees of Masonry ; and further statingthat said pretended Grand Council and the lod ges thus established , had been recognized as lawfiilly

established by the Grand Orient of France , and furnishing a copy of the decree of that Grand body to that effect . On examining the case in the most searching manner , and ascertaining the fiicts to be as alleged , on the 27 th of February , 18 G 9 , I addressed an official communication to Marshal-Mellinet , Grand Master of that Grand Orient , couched in kind and fraternal , but

firm and decisive language , protesting against the establishment of these bodies as unlawful and for purposes foreign to Masonry , and their recognition by the Grand Orient as uiifraternal , and certain to lead to the disruption of all friendly relations between that Grand Body and this , and also all the other Grand Lodges in the United States . That our Grand Lodges would

What Grand Lodge of Spuiu ?—l £ u . FREEMASON .

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never consent that any organization whatever , whether lodge , council , or otherwise , shall be organized within the jurisdiction of an existing Grand Lodge , except by its authority , for the purpose of conferring those degrees , or any of them ; and that on this question there was perfect and absolute unity in opinion ,

sentiment , and action . The Grand Master was for this and other reasons , requested to withdraw the decree of recognition and inform me of his decision prior to the opening of this annual communication . As ample time as elapsed for the Grand Orient of France to have , at least , courteously acknowledged the

communication , and informed me of the decision thereon , or requested delay , we must assume that it is not intended to notice it , or comply with the request . I would therefore recommend that this Grand Body take such action in the matter as shall demonstrate to that Grand Orient , that , though we love peace , and would preserve

harmony with them , if we could , yet , that harmony , valuable as it is in itself , costs too much when it can only be secured or preserved by sacrificing the priceless honor and self-respect of this Grand Body , or the permanence and stability of the Craft , or a fundamental principle of the Fraternity . As all these must

be sacrificed by a submission to this act of recognition , I council this Grand Body to take such an attitude of dignified and determined resistance , as will cause the withdrawal of the recognition . [ The subsequent debate on this subject , with its result—the suspension of all intercourse between the Grand Lodge of New

York and the Grand Orient of i ranee—appeared in THE FREEMASON of last week . ] ... In closing this address , if any apology is necessary for its great length , it will be found in the magnitude of this jurisdiction , the great number of lodges and members within it , the multifarious aud important nature of the

questions presented for discussion and decision , and the necessity of submitting them , and in some cases the reasons on which the determination was made , to this Grand Body , in order , if found correct , they might be established as safe precedents for future action . . . Brethren , on entering on the performance ot the

duties of this distinguished position , I selected for my official seal the motto : Firm , Cautious , and Faithful , not only as a general guide to official action , but as assurance to the Craft of my intentions . If my brethren shall think that I have thus held the gavel and executed my duties , my labours will not have been in vain .

The Grand Secretary reported that he had received during theyear from the various sources 67 , 947 , 64 dolls ., which he had paid into the hands of Grand Treasurer . Twenty-seven new lodges had received warrants , and eight dispensations , since last communication . The number of lodges which paid dues last year was 618 ;

the number now on the roll is 635 . One hundred and ten lodges have incorporated their trustees , and five have special charters by the Legislature . The report of the Hall and Asylum fund showed

the receipts to have been 267 , 517 dols . 44 c . which was expended in purchases of property , etc ., and there is a balance due the Grand Secretary of 68 dols . 25 c . Among the purchases made was the piece of land opposite Booth sTheatrcfor 340 , 000 do \ s ., and 4 , 000 dols . for the lease .

lhe Grand Treasurer reported that his receipts were 72 , 388 dols . 83 c ; expenses , 67 , 469 dols . 99 c ; balance , 4 , 868 doIs . 84 c On Wednesday , the Grand Lodge was called to labour at 10 a . m . by the Grand Master , who has , we arc pleased to say , generally held his own gavel

during the session ; a very significant fact in view of the past . R . W . Bro . Frederick W . Herring , Secretary of the New York Board of Relief then submitted his annual report , showing that the receipts of that bod y were 6 , o 84 dols . 68 c . ; expenditure , G , 106 dols . 53 c . ;

balance on hand , 478 dols . 15 c . Foreigners and Masons from other States had been relieved , the following receiving the most ; New York receiving l , 170 dols . ; England , 394 dols . 13 c ; Ireland , 235 dols . 50 c . ; Scotland , 378 dols . ; Germany , 208 dols . ; France , 120 dols . ; Holland , l . lGdols .

A beautiful and appropriate address was delivered by R . W . Bro . the Rev . Fred . C . Ewer , Grand Chaplain . On Thursday morning , the order of the day being the election of Grand Officers , the M . W . John L . Lewis assumed the gavel in the Grand East .

The M . W . Isaac Phillips recommended the reelection of the M . W . Grand Master James Gibson , and that most worshipful brother was unanimousl y re-elected . Tho 14 . W . John II . Anthon was re-elected Deputy Grand Master ; and the following Grand Officers received the unanimous vote of the Grand Lodge for

re-election , viz ., Senior Grand Warden , R . W . Christopher G . Fox , of Buffalo ; . lunior Grand Warden , R . W . Edmund L . Jtidson , of Albany ; Grand Treasurer , M . W . John W . Simons , of New York ; Grand Secretary , R . W . James M . Austin , M . D . ; Grand Chaplains , R . W . Rev . It . L . Schoonmakcr , and R . W . Rev . Fred . C . Ewer ; R . W . Rev . John B . Webster , of Palmyra ( elected to fill vacancy occasioned hy the