America.

of a like kind . On casting my mind back to my Masonic birth-day , I find that sixty eight festivals of St . John ' s day have past ; yet I am prepared to say the moment of regret that I was a Mason has never flitted across my mind ; but , on the contrary , I can say it has ever been a solace , a comfort , and sure foundation . Brethren , I can say with our worthy patron , " it is good lor me to be here . " Although a furious tornado has passed over our Masonic Mount , yet our hallowed Order stands unshaken . As the howling , angry winds tries the strength of the timber on the mountain top ,

hoarsely shaking and bending many almost to the earth , yet as it passess they return with a mighty spring to their perpendicular standing , the better prepared to withstand a more severe shock . They have been tried and found able to stand ; the timber is of fine and consolidated texture ; the heart is sound ; the roots have struck deep into the earth ; the tendrils thereof have laid hold of the abiding Rock of Ages , and their tops are aspiring to-Heaven ! But , alas ! in the same grove we see many mutilated ; instead of comparing with the plumb-line in beauty of standing , are bending in disorder , casting their fruit and unhallowed seeds to cowans and eavesdroppers .

NORTH CAROLINA . BENTLEY BRIDGE . —At the last communication of the Grand Lodge , a charter was granted for holding in this town a Lodge of the brethren under the designation of St . Paul's Lodge , and on the 5 th of January , the D . G . M ., Br . Green , installed its first officers . The Lodge is in a flourishing condition , and the members are fully determined to admit no material which will not pass the square . The above determination of the

members of this new Lodge is surely worthy of all praise , and we hope it may be extensively initiated . AVe should have no cause to fear from the large increase of initiates wherever Freemasonry is planted at the present time , if all Freemasons would come to the same determination . We have no doubt that the members of this Lodge will pursue the course they have resolved on . They have taken the proper step to become intelligent Masons , and this is a sure guarantee that they will also be bright . OHIO .

CIIILLICOTHE . —At the annual communication of the Grand Lodge of Ohio , lately neld in this city , the M . AV ., G . M . Br Zacius V . Bierce , gave to the brethren a most interesting account of the proceedings of the Grand Lodge for the past year , and of his own labours to promote the welfare of the Order . He concluded his address in the following terms . In closing this communication , and with the present session my official connection with the Grand Lodge , I have the pleasing consciousness of restoring the charge entrusted to me untarnished , and the ancient landmarks still well

defined . It has been my aim and . object , by discipline , to maintain the moral reputation of our Order , that Masonry may not be regarded as a post for characters to lean on that are too rotten to stand alone . Intemperance and profanity I have treated as sins that required reproof , admonition , suspension or expulsion . If tolerated in our Lodges , we may as well lay aside our claim to the designation of a moral institution . To preserve the ancient landmarks , promote the morals and preserve harmony and uniformity , I have devoted over two months of my time in visiting

Lodges and attending on the business of the Order , besides what I have spent in my office ; travelled over twenty-five hundred miles , written over one thousand letters , decided one hundred and nine cases of Masonic jurisprudence which were submitted to me , granted seventeen dispensations for new Lodges , and expended over two hundred dollars in money . No one can discharge the duties of Grand Master properly and efficiently , short of devoting at least two-thirds of his time to that service . There being now two hundred and sixty Lodin the stateancl over five

ges , thousand miles of travel , to visit them all would require all his time ,. Finally , brethren , having discharged the duties entrusted to me to the best of my abilities , I must ask you to charitably attribute any defects in my administration to the head , and not to the heart ; and I shall be happy to aid you , in the choice of my successor , in selecting one who , with more means at his command than I can control , is willing to devote them to the cause of Masonry and the consequent good of man .