Notes On American Freemasonry.

posing that Grand Lodge , we feel confident that this will be the case , and that the said Grand Lodge will also , at no distant day , extend the right hand of fellowship to the Grand Lodge of Quebec " Resolved , That the Grand Secretary be , andhe ia hereby instructed to forward copies hereof to the Graud Lodges of Canada and Quebec . " Number of Lodges , 32 ; number of Members , 1 , 036 .

NEVADA . The Grand Master delivered a good address , devoted mostly to local matters . He says : — "In onr own jurisdiction , peace and good order prevail . The Lodges are performing their work creditable , and zeal in promoting the bests irrterests and honour of Masonry dwells in the heartsand is manifested in the conduct of the brethren at large

, So may it ever be , Reports the appointment of twelve Grand Representatives near the Grand Lodges of sister jurisdictions , and granted dispensation for one new lodge , and three special dispensations . Bro . Taylor presented an exhaustive report of forty Grand Lodges , our own not included . Of his epitome of Grand

Lodge decisions we shall have more to say hereafter . The Grand Lodge recognised the new Grand Lodge of Quebec , and " cordially welcomed " the same into the sisterhood of Grand Lodges , The following resolution was adopted , and we most heartily wish our own Grand Lodge would pass one like unto it : — " Resolved , That we recommend a discontinuance of the use of cotton or other cloth aprons in public , as they are inappropriate , and are not" emblems of innocence . " Number of Lodges , 14 ; number of Members , 977 .

NEAV HAMPSHIRE . Tho address of the Grand Master , is devoted to local matters entirely . He says , prosperity in an eminent degree has attended the Grand Lodge , and that neither discord nor confusion has been permitted to disturb its harmony during the past Masonic year . Bros . John R . Holbrook was elected G . AI . ; and Abel Hutchins , G . Sec . Number of Lodges , 86 .

NEAV JERSEY . The address of the Grand Master is an interesting document . He says : — "Since our hist assembling , peace has prevailed , over the length and breadth of our extended and rapidly growing country . No signal of war ' s alarms , to engage in foreign or fraternal strife , has fallen upon our ears . The brethren have

been permitted to pursue their usual avocations in peace and quietness . The labours of the husbandmen have been blessed , and our storehouses are overflowing with the abundant proceeds of the harvests . Pestilence has not stalked among us and caused the land to mourn , over the devastations of disease and death . The same kind Providence has watched ovei and blessed us as a fraternity , with a steady and judicious increase in the membership of our lodges , with still stronger attachment

to the principles and teachings of our ancient institution , and a greater disposition to exemplify , by precept and example , the tenets of our beloved order . But few of those entitled to membership in this Grand Lodge , under our constitution , have been removed by death since our last annual communication . He reports granting several dispensations to confer degrees out of time ; also eight dispensations for tho formation of as many new lodges ; has dedicated" with the assistance of the

, officers of the Grand Lodge , " two new Lodge rooms ; appointed seven Grand Representatives . He closes his address with these sound suggestions -. — " Masonry teaches us , first of all , paramount , indeed , of all its teachings , to put our trust in God , and to dedicate our lives , not only in principle or theory , but eminently in practice , to His service . It counsels to divide our time fairly between reli-

Notes On American Freemasonry.

gious duty , exclusively , and the ordinary duties of social life , but so to mingle religion with our social life as that a perfect harmony may be fully evidenced . " Masonry teaches us , in the symbolism of the common gavel , to divest our hearts and consciences of all the vices , aud even of the superfluities of life . It teaches us , by the symbolism of the lambskin apron , that purity of life and conduct is absolutely

necessary in order to obtain admission to the Celestial lodge above , and that tho Holy Bible , tiiat chief of the great lights of tbe Masonic life , is the inestimable gift of God to man . " Masonry inculcates everywhere , and in every way , duty to God as the chiefest [ part of the Alason ' s life , and teaches that we should never mention His sacred name but -with that reverential awe due from tbe creature to tbe Creator . It further teaches us to have charity to all mankindto regard the whole

, human race as one family , and that high and low , rich and poor , are equal in the sight of God , who sees the inmost secrets of the heart of pain . " Masonry commands us to aid and protect all , to soothe the unhappy , to sympathize with misfortune , and while " commending to his fatherly goodness all those who are any ways afflicted or distressed in mindbodyor estate' to evince our practical

in-, , , terest in those same afflicted and distressed ones . It commands Masons everywhere , and under all trials and temptations , to be good and true , to never deviate from the principles of justice , to to do unto their neighbour as they would that their neighbour should do unto them ; to do good unto all men .

" Masonry further teaches us as Masons , to be true , loyal , and devoted brethren ; that as Masons we should set apart some portion of each day ' s round for attention to the wants and necessities of a worthy brother ; that as Masons , sincerity and plain dealing shonld eminently distinguish us , and that the heart and tongue of all true brethren will join iu promoting each other ' s welfare and happiness ; that we should rejoice in each other ' s prosperity ; that Masons should be sociable creatures ,

that we must neither palliate nor aggravate the offences of the brethren , but iu tbe decision of every alleged trespass against our rules we are to judge with candour , admonish with friendship , and reprehend with justice . " Every where in Masonry , whether in lecture or symbolism , are found the breathings of virtue , of honesty , of self-denial , of justice , of charity , of hue manliness . By precept and example , it is your parts and duties to inculcate these lessons among those

over whom you are placed , that the members of our fraternity may be looked up to as patterns of these inestimable virtues , and so our beloved Order be everywhere , by its members , and by the outside world , to whom the veil of the temple of mystery has never been drawn aside , respected and honoured . Endeavour then , to impress upon the miudsaud hearts of the brethren , that their lives should be in accordance with these instructions , and that , influenced by those principles of our noble institution , they

will best discharge the duties that each and all owe to God , and to their neighbours , aud to do'this by the exemplification of such principles in your own walk in life . " Number of Lodges , 109 ; members , 8 , 3-13 .

Obituary.

Obituary .

BRO . JOHN PEARSON . It is Avith regret that Ave have this Aveek to record the death of Bro . John Pearson , of the Market Hill , an old townsman , and the oldest Freemason in Cumberland and AVestmoreland—perhaps one of the oldest in England .

Bro . John Pearson died at the ripe age of 86 years , on Saturday last , with the respect of all who knew him , and Avith . feelings of almost reverence of his brother Masons . Bro . Pearson's long and honourable career as a brother of the mystic tie connects the present Avith quite a past generation His family for generations back have been connected with Freemasonry , and his grandfather stood so hig h as a Mason in Cheshire that his portrait ivas engraved and published aboA-e three- quarters of a century