America.

AMES IC A .

Extracted from the "American Freemason "

GBAND BODIES OF INDIANA . The Grand Council of Boyal and Select Masters met at Shelbyviile , on Tuesday , May 20 , 1856 . This was the first grand annual communication of this grand body . The number of councils represented was eight—and this is being rapidly increased . "Very considerable attention is directed to this branch of the Order in Indiana . It will probably be but a short time before a council will be found in the immediate neighbourhood of each Chapter in the State .

The Grand Chapter met at Shelbyville on Wednesday , the 21 st May , 1856 , a very full representation present . TJnder the very able and active administration of M . E . Companion William Hacker , G . H . P . for the past year , Capitular Masonry has flourished without precedent in Indiana , and is in a very healthy condition . The number of dispensations issued to new Chapters is ten , all of

which came up and asked for Charters , which were granted . The address of the G . H . P . is an able document , comprehending many matters of interest to the Craft , besides much that is local in its nature . A lengthy and

luminous report from Comp . Babh , of the Committee on . Foreign Correspondence , was read . The business of the Grand Chapter was transacted in great harmony . The Grand Lodge met at the Grand Hall in Indianopolis on Monday , the 26 th May , the G . M . and Dep . O . M ., both being absent , R . W . Lewis Burk , S . G . W . in the Grand East . There was a very full attendance , very few of the two hundred Lodges of Indiana being unrepresented . There was a considerable amount of local business transacted , and but little of much general interest to the Craft .

The project of building up a mammoth Masonic School was before the Grand Lodge , and was warmly advocated , but the sense of the Grand Lodge is wisely against the scheme . The subject was referred to a committee , which will report upon it next year . That which is undoubtedly the wisest plan is generally favoured , to wit : the idea of leaving the education of the indigent children and orphans to the subordinate Lodges in each neighbourhood , where it can he well and cheaply accomplished through the generous system of free schools in such successful operation throughout the State .

The Grand Lodge decided to increase the per diem of the delegates to two dollars . The discussion upon the simple proposition to pay an additional fifty cents , per day , showed the dangers to a Masonic Grand Lodge of possessing any extraordinary revenue . A want of temperate feeling and manner is more likely to be seen in discussions respecting the revenues , than upon any other subject likely to arise . The want of funds is not half so dangerous as an excess .

GRAND LODGE OF NEW YORK . The Grand Lodffe of the State of Now York , closed its annual communication , June 7 th , 1856 , after one of the most harmonious sessions which it has ever held . Among a vast amount of other business transacted , the following distinguished Brethren were duly elected to fill the various offices , and were subsequently installed by W . 1 L Milnor , P . G . M . : —John L . Lewis , Jun ., M . W . G . M . ; Robert Macoy , D . D . G . M . ; Finlay , M . King , G . S . W , ; James Hyde , J . G . W . ; James M " . Austin , G . Sec . ; Charles L . Church , G . Treas . : D . IT . Van Sice ,

G . Pursuivant ; Sowal Fisk , G . Tyler ; W . II . Drew ( of Buffalo ) , G . Lecturer . The M . W . G . M ., Joseph 1 ) . Evans , delivered his annual address , which was received with much unanimity , with the exception of a single subject , and reflected much credit upon him as a vigilant observer of current events , and a devotion to the trusts which had been intrusted to him . . 11 is official acta were all confirmed without a dissenting voice . His associates , LVW . G . Sec . James M . Austin and II . W . G . Treas . Charles L . Church , presented each their official reports , which wore subsequently found to be correct in every particular , and showed the