America.

long and ancient record—in the gratitude of the widow and orphan , in the thanks of the stranger and the sick , in its gifts to science , and its services to morality . Poets tho most inspired , philosophers the most profound , divines the most devout , and statesmen the most patriotic , have been proud to lay their garlands upon its altar . One case in point will illustrate this . I know of no historic fact more memorable or instructive than one which occurred iu this city several years ago ; and I do not stop to that it did occuralthough I am aware thatas

prove , , one large volume has conclusively proved Napoleon Bonaparte was not a man bufc only a myth , so a feeble controversy was maintained upon the fact I am about to mention , until the learned and lucid argument of one who being present shall be nameless , and whose name if I spoke it must be uttered in French , became ' the end of controversy . ' I mean the laying of the corner stone of the capitol of this great republic by him whom no title could honour , aud whom we delight to call simply

George AVashington . Amongst all the great and honourable deeds of his life he never did a wiser ; for when the founders of our antient Craft cast about for a symbol , they did not select the badge of royalty , the kingly tromi or the imperial purple , but they adopted this apronthe symbol of labour—teaching us so that society rests upon its mon while despotism and imaginary dignities are temporary , and have within themselves the seeds of decay miht well bo cherished

. Freemasonry g by AVashington , for it was the oldest form of that conservative republicanism he loved so much and served so well . '' But I must let tho theme pass , and restrict myself to offering the greeting of the Grand Lodge , ivhose servant I am , to the four classes into which this assemblage may be divided . 1 st , the ladies ; 2 nd , tho citizens ; 3 rd , the members of this church ; and , 4 th , tlie craftsmen . 1 st . To the ladies I can onl that should be tbe

y say , woman staunohest friend of Freemasonry , for Freemasonry is the staunchesfc friend of woman . It does not indeed invite her into its mysteries , bufc it watches for her interests and honour with untiring devotion . AVouian is always mentioned in the teachings of the Craft with profouudest respect and tenderest delicacy . If I had time I could eite many instances iu which , when all else failed , Freemasonry has saved widows ancl orphan daughters from wantand all its horrid train of possibilities

, . " 2 nd . To the citizens , it is only necessary to say thafc , while Freemasonry lives , patriotism ancl loyalty can never die . Eschewing politics m its Lodges , our ancient Craft has ever been found true to the government under which it resides for the time being . None but a recreant Mason can ever be a traitor .

" bra . The Church aud Freemasonry meet face to face iu a way that symbolizes their relations . AA e are here in our working apparel to servo you ; ^ wo come to assist you in preparing the material temple for the dwelling of the Almi ghty . Our Lodges are dedicated to St . John , and as he was tho forerunner of the Messiah , so would we go , go out into the wilderness levelling the rugged hills and causing precipitous valleys to be filled for the passage of your truth aud your glory . As there are attached to those grand old cathedrals of Europe certain cloisters without

the church , so we would furnish a cloister where those may walk who , beholding through your windows the brilliant lights , faintly hearing the choral hosanua that swells to your loffcy dome , may , if thoy never enter your stately building , at least have shelter from the pitiless storm , and learn to reverence your altar . Do you ask me what has Freemasonry clone for the church , I answer it has clone what Solomon did—it has ' built the house for the Lord God of Israel . ' AAlienever you see a specimen of that beautiful order of architecture—the Gothic or any of its

modifications—know that that is the gift of Freemasonry to the church . Go into foreign countries , travel on the continent of Europe , and when iu Strasburg , Cologne , Meissen , Munich , Milan , Prague , or Paris , you have seen the noblest church , that is the gift of Freemasonry to the church . Alsit London ; stand under the shadow of thafc stupendous pile known as the Cathedral of St . Paul—mark its swelling dome and cloud cleaving cross , walk in amazement through its glorious colonnade , enter the building and pass through transept , aisle ancl nave ; then

descend into its silent crypt , and while you are surrounded by tbe sleeping dust of earth's mighty ones , you will see a modest slab bearing a Latin inscription , ivhich may be rendered thus : — ' Beneath lies the Builder of this church , who lived above ninety years , not for himself , but for the public good . Reader , wouldst thou behold his monument , look around . ' That Builder was Sir Christopher AVren , Grand Master of Antient Freemasons in England . " To the moral services of Freemasonry to the church , I can make

Only the slightest allusion , for tbe disappearance of the sun again . warns me to be brief , ancl indeed if I had weeks instead of moments , tho time would still be too short . I have mentioned the point , however , because as in the broadest glare of the brightest day there will be narrow valleys and obscure ravines into which the illumination can never penetrate ; so I have recently read in . the public journals that in a State , otherwise enlightened , a clergyman refused Christian burial to one of his flock , because , by the request of the deceased , his Masonic brethren proposed

to render him the last customary mark of respect . I was pained by this —pained not for Masonry , for you can neither add to nor take away from its glory— -but pained for my profession , pained for my humanity ; and I here declare that I know of no more efficient and faithful friend of morality and Christianity than Freemasonry . " 4 th . Brethren , exhortation from me to you would be out of place ; and on an occasion so public I can only express tho hope that we who have to-day performed this service may so apply the moral gavel to

our own characters , that the rough corners of our passions ancl busts may all be knocked off from our ffves , and when wc are presented for the inspection of the Almighty Grand Architect , may his plumb , square and level enable Him to pronounce us ' well formed , true , ancl trusty , ' and may He pour upon us the corn of plenty , the wine of refreshment , and the oil of His grace . " Finally , nothing ' remains but for me to close these Masonic ceremonies by invoking the blessing of Almighty God upon this concourse , for the

that every man and woman may be fitly hewn and prepared Masters use ; upon'the members of tbis church that each of its members may be a lively stone in the spiritual temple ; upon the workmen engaged in erecting this edifice that life aud limb may be preserved ; aud upon the Craft , that the blessing of heaven may rest upon us and all Free and Accepted Masons all over the world , and may the graoe _ of the LQI-CI Jesus Christ , the love of God our Father , aud the communion and fellowship of the Host Ghost be with you all now and for evermore . Amen . "

ANNUAL MEETINGS OF GRAND LODGES . OREGON . —The annual communication was held at Eugene city , June 13 th , was numerously attended , and the statements of the subordinate Lodges gave evidence of a most healthful progress . The officers elect are Amory Holbrook , G . M . ; J . R . Bailey , D . G . M . ; A . A . Smith , S . G . AV . ; AV . W . Fowler , J . G . W . ; E . AA ilcox , G . Treas . ; and T . AV . F . Batton , G . Sec . The installation ivas public .

ILLINOIS . —This M . AA . Grand Lodge , afc its annual communication , on the 6 th inst ., elected the following brethren : —Ira A . AA " . Buck , G . M . ; F . M . Blair , D . G . M . ; A . J . Kuykendall , S . G . AV . ; Silas G . Toler , J . G . W . ; AVilliam McMnrtry , G . Treas . ; and Harmon G . Reynolds , G . Sec . KENTUCKY . —This Grand Lodge commenced its session on the 18 th , aud the next day elected Harvey T . AVilson , of Sherburne , Grand Master , in place of Rob Morris ; Lewis Laiidrum , of Lancaster , D . G . M . ; B . J .

Hinton , of Paclucab , S . G . AV ; Hiram Bassett , of Maysville , J . G . AV ; A . G . Hodges , G . Treas ' . ; J . M . S . MeCorkle was , of course , re-elected G . Sec . Tho report on foreign correspondence was presented by the G . Sec , and abounds in passages of great beauty . The AA ' ebb work was adopted .

OHIO . —The Grand Lodge of this state convened at Columbus on the 18 th , and next day elected . Horace M . Stokes , of Lebanon , G . M . ; H . L . Hosmer , of Toledo , D . G . M . ; Geo . AVebster , of Steubenville , S . G . W . ; L . C . Jones , of Hartford , J . G . W . ; F . J . Phillips , of Georgetown , G . Treas . ; and John Caldwell , of Cincinnati , G . Sec .

GEORGIA . —The Grand Lodgo of this State commenced its annual session on AA ednesday last , 26 th inst ., at Macon , ancl we aro promised further particulars . KENTUCKY . —The Grand Council of Royal and Select Masters met afc Louisville , on the 22 nd , and elected P . Sivigert , G . P . ; Thos . Todd , D . G . P . ; Frank Tryon , G . T . J . ; J . M . S . MeCorkle , G . P . C . AV . ; A . G . Hodges , G . Recorder ; and Thos . Sadler , G . Treas .

TENNESSEE . —This Grand Lodgo met in annual communication at Nashville , October 4 th , aud elected John Frizzetfc , of AAluchester , Grand Master ; A . P . Hall , of Camden , D . Grand Master ; John F . Slover , of Athens , S . G . AA . ; Ambrose S . Read , of Denmark , J . G . W . ; AA . AV . Home , of Nashville , G . Treas . ; C . A . Fuller , of Nashville , G . Sec .

ST . JOHN ' COLLEGE , ARKANSAS . —This college , established by ^ the fraternity of Arkansas , was opened on the first of October . It is at Little Rock ; the building is finished , tbe ground upon ivhich it stands unencumbered , ancl tbe institution out of debt , but without funds . Tbe ground originally cost 0 , 000 dollars , and is now valued at 50 , 000 dollars . John B . Thompson , a graduate of the University of Virginia , is president of the faculty , and a scholar of fine attainments . The Craft m Arkansas have now till tbe requisites for the liberal education of their

sons . ( STATISTICS . The Grand Secretary of the Grand Lodge of Mississippi , R . AA . Bro . Daniel , has collected from the printed transactions of thirty-eight Grand Lodges , Canada included , a vast amount of interesting statistical information . AA e find by it , that there are in the United States and C ' anadas 4571 Lodges , of which 4068 return an aggregate of 194 , 918 members . Should the remaining 504 Lod be computedthey would return

ges , about 6000-more , making in all some 200 , 000 Masons contributing . During the vear there were 8279 dimissions , and 4802 affiliations , so that the former exceed the latter by 3477 , a fact we were nob prepared for . There were , however , no less than 25 , 691 initiations , and after deducting from the initiations and affiliations , tlie demitted , the dead , suspended and expelled , tbe Order has increased 17 , 150 . The most populous jurisdiction is New York , which has an aggregate

of 36 , 194 Masons . Next is Georgia , with 12 , 120 , followed closely by Ohio , 12 , 105 . Pennsylvania has 11 , 428 ; Illinois , 10 , 571 ; and Kentucky , 10 , 319 . New Hampshire and Rbode Island , both organized in the last century , the former in 1789 , the latter in 1791 , contain respectively , only 1881 and 1179 ; while Delaware , organized in 1806 , has but 513 Masons in her jurisdiction . AVe shall again refer to these admirable tables , for which the compiler merits tho thanks of tho fraternity . — Y . Courier .