Notes On American Freemasonry.

continue to be a post of honour , and not emolument ; that it will never be sought after for lucre or gain . Let the honour conferred upon the occupant by the position , be the sole reward . This Committee receives the information

necessary to enable them to write the history of the order in that jurisdiction , by having the history of each Subordinate Lodge written by a brother competent to perform the duty , and transmitted to them .

The folloAving resolutions in relation to the recognition of spurious Lodges in Louisiana , by the Grand Orient of France were passed . " Besolved , That the Grand Lodge of Maine most earnestly protests against the action ot the

Grand Orient of France , in recognizing spurious Lodges , established within the jurisdiction" of the Grand Lodge of Louisiana . " Besolved , That the Grand Orient of France is fraternally besought to reconsider and rescind its

action in this matter , inasmuch as this Grand Lodge must hold that Masons who recognize clandestine Masons , are clandestine themselves . " "Besolved , That the Grand Secretary be directed to forward copies of the proceedings

containingthese resolutions , to the Grand Orient of France , with a letter under seal of the Grand Lodge , requesting tbeir immediate consideration . " Number of Lodges in this jurisdiction , 150 , number of members , 14 , 121 ; admitted during the year , 650 ; rejected , 148 .

MAKYLAND . Amongst the proceedings of this Grand Lodge , we find an appeal from Monumental Lodge , No . 96 , attracting considerable attention . It appears that a dispute arose between two

members of that Lodge , iu relation to the reception by one of them of a sum of money , claimed by the other to belong to him . After the matter had been decided by the Subordinate Lodge , the case was removed to the Grand Lodge by appeal .

The Grand Lodge dismissed tbe case , because it was the opinion of that Lodge that the charge preferred against the brother having grown out of a dispute in relation to holding funds improperly by Brother F , is not a proper subject of

adjudication by a Lodge , but should be left to the determination of x , be civil courts . We think the Grand Stewards' Lodge showed their good sense in the action taken by them in this

case . Lodges , Subordinate or Grand , are not tha proper tribunals to adjudicate upon such matters :, unless the parties agree to submit to their determination and final arbitrament , and even then , their assuming jurisdiction is perhaps generally followed by bad feeling , and produces discontent in the Lodge .

MINNESOTA . At the Sixteenth Annual Communication , fiftytwo subordinate Lodges were duly represented . A resolution was adopted inviting all Masons , in good and regular standing , to seats in the Most Worshipful Grand Lodge during its session . The new hall was then dedicated in due Masonic

form ; after Avhich Bro . C . T . McMasters , D . Do L . L . D ., Grand Chaplain , . delivered an address ; from which we make the following extracts . After giving a sketch of Asiatic history , and the relations existing between Jerusalem and Tyre , the

building of Solomon ' s Temple , and the number of workmen employed , he continues : — " Here were thrown together people of different nationalities , diverse languages , and opposing interests . But it bec & me necessary that they should

speak , at least on some subjects , a common language like the language of modern science , and that their interests , as far as possible , should ' be harmonized . Accordingly , a society was organized , the object of which was to unite strangers as

friends , to enable them to understand each other in technical language , though speaking different vernacular tongues , and to unite people of different nationalities into a band of brothers . In this

society it is tolerably clear that the God of Israel Avas to be recognized , and the law of Moses received as the rule of faith and morals . When Solomon first proposed the alliance , Hiram rapturously exclaimed , ' Blessed be the Lord this day ,

& c . ' This was equivalent to an acknowledgment of Israel ' s God ; and many think that Hiram had embraced the Jewish faith , since Israel ' s God alone was called the Lord . Israel , I presume , was to furnish the moral and religious elements of the

society , while the Phoenicians were to teach the aits and sciences ; and all were pledged , to be good men , and to continue as Apprentices and Craftsmen in the art , until they should be accomplished workmen . " It Avas a Polytechnic Institute , in which morals , religions , and all the arts , especially those