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( Contents , PAGE . FREEMASONS' MAGAZINE : — Notes on American Freemasonry—No . 1 —( coutd . ) 361 History of Freemasonry in Portugal 364 The Haughfoot Lodge and Speculative Masonry—By R . S .... 366 Masonic Jottings—No . 18 307 Masonic Notes and Queries . ' 36 S

Correspondence 369 Masonic Sav ings and Doings Abroad 370 MASONIC MIRROR : — Masonic Moms 371 GRAFT LODOE M E ___ . II . GS . - — Metropolitan 371 Provincial 372 Scotland 375

Hoyal Arch 375 Knights Templar 378 Supremo Grand Council 33 ° 378 Obituary 378 Address by Bro . Jas . A . Birch , P . M 379 Scientific Meetings _ . 380 List of Lodge , & c , Meetings for ensuing week 380 To Correspondents 380

Notes On American Freemasonry.

NOTES ON AMERICAN FREEMASONRY .

LONDON , SATURDAY , MAY 7 , 1870 .

No . 1 . —GEAND LODGE OF MASSACHUSETTS . ( Concluded from page 345 ) . We shall conclude our notice of the interesing proceedings of this Grand Lodge with some extracts from the " Reports of the Grand

Lecturers : — From our remarks in preceding numbers our readers ivill be aware that in the State of Massachusetts , and ive believe in most , if not all , the other states , Grand Lecturers are appointed by

the Grand Lodge , ivhose duty it is , on the recommendation of the District Grand Masters , to visit the lodges under their charge , and inspect the

working , giving instruction where needed , according to a form of ritual decided upon by Grand Lodge , which at the close of each annual communication holds Avhafc is termed a Grand Lodge of Instruction .

In some instances ive find ( perhaps on account of the remote location of the lodges ) delegates attend before the Grand Lecturer , and with him carefully rehearse the ivork and lectures . We can readily conceive that this is an

admirable vvay of securing " uniformity of ritual , " and where this system is faithfully carried out there can scarcely be any great variation in the working of lodges under one jurisdiction .

The Senior Grand Lecturer of Massachusetts is Bro . E . Dana Bancroft ; he is assisted in his duties by two Junior Grand Lecturers , Bro . Cephas Brigbarn and A , F . Chapman .

The Senior Grand Lecturer , Bro . Bancroft , reports , his business had been such that during the year past , he had not until recently been able to devote much time to instruction in the ivork ancl lectures in the three degrees . Delegates from .

Mount Zion Lodge , Barre j Chicopee Lodge ., Chicopee ; Morning Star , Montacute , and Athelstane , Worcester , and Mount Vernon , BelchertoAvn , had visited him . He had been much gratified with the ability of the brethren representing

those lodges , and had no doubt that they would thoroughly communicate the result of their conference to the members of their respective lodges . On December 3 rd he visited Artizan Lodge ,

Winchendon , where the work of tho Entered Apprentice degree ivas rehearsed during the afternoon . On the same evening , at a regular meeting of the lodge , he initiated a candidate , and installed the officers of the lodge for the year ensuing . On the same occasion the District Grand Master

made his official visit to the lodge , and by his presence ( says the Grand Lecturer ) added much to the interest of the occasion . The lodgo appeared well , and will compare favourably with , other lodges in the jurisdiction .

On December 9 th , the Grand Lecturer states that , assisted by his associates , the work and lectures of the three degrees were exemplified before the Grand Lodge . They were ably supported hy the brethren who filled tlie several offices on that

occasion , and were complimented by having a large and attentive number of the brethren present during the clay . This is the " Grand Lodge of Instruction " previously alluded to , and wl . ic . i appears to have occupied the whole day , and at

ivhich nearly 700 brethren were present—a convincing proof that the example of the Grand Lodge in giving attention to the subject of correct working is not lost on the individual mem

bers . On the 14 th December , the Grand Lecturer visited Aberdour Lodge , Boston , and installed the officers ; " after the installation , the neiv officers conferred the degree of M . M . very impressively ,

previous to which , the candidate was examined in the lecture of the F . C . degree , and deservedlyreceived the approbation of the W . M for his proficiency . It was very gratifying to witness the correct ivorking of this lodge . The W . M . has been a diligent student in tlie work and lectures of the lodge , and is already an accomplished pre-