Notes On American Freemasonry.

NOTES ON AMERICAN FREEMASONRY .

( Continued from page 386 ) . FLORIDA . M . W . Henry J . Steward , Grand Master , in his Annual Address , " congratulated the brethren

apon the privilege they enjoyed at the close of another Masonic year , of assembling around the sacred altar of Masonry , blessed with health , with peace , and as a people , with prosperity , and as Masons Avith a spirit of love for each other ,

devotion to the cause , good will and charity towards all mankind ; that love , devotion , good will and charity which should ever characterize members of our cherished Order . "

He thus refers to the late civil Avar in the United States : — "We have passed through a severe and trying ordeal . The din of musketry is no longer heard on the tented field , the clash of arms has ceased , and although there may still

be strife hi the political arena , yet our Northern brethren Lave reached forth their hands for fraternal fellowship , saying , c Peace be unto you' ! Not doi-Lutiug , as Thomas did the Saviour , Ave eagerly . grasped those hands thus extended , and

bid Lhevo . welcome unto our holy temples and around out * sacred altars . Thus has the wound been healed , the Avidow's heart made to rejoice ,. and the orphan ' s tear wiped aAvay . How pleasing then and delightful the thought to him who can claim to belong to an Order fraught with so much influence , and so wonderful in its character . "

Past Grand Master Thomas Brown died at Tallahassee on the 24 th day of August , 1867 , in his eighty-third year . He Avas born in Westmoreland (' .-u ; jty , Virginia , on the 25 th of October , 1 / 85 . His father was a lieutenant in the first

militia company , commanded by George Washington . Thomas himself Avas an Aide-de-Camp io General John P . Hungerford , AVIIO commanded the Virginia quota of militia mustered into service in the war of 1812 . In 1817 , Thomas Brown

was elected a member of the Virginia Legislature and re-elected for tAvo successive terms . He removed from Virginia to Leon County , Florida , in 1827 , and was afterwards a member and Speaker of the House of Representatives of the territorial

government of Florida . He was a delegate to the convention which organized the State government . He Avas also a member of the first legislature that

was elected under the constitution , and was , in 1849 , elected Governor , and served in that capacity for four years . His Masonic history is not less distinguished than his civil . He was made a

Mason in Hiram Lodge , No . 59 , in November , 1806 . When , in 1825 , the Marquis La Fayette visited the Lodge in which Washington was made a Mason ( Frederick Lodge , No . 4 ) , he was present . He was also a member of the Masonic Convention

which assembled at Tallahassee in 1830 , and organized the Grand Lodge of Florida , and was the first Junior Deacon thereof . He served for eight years as Grand Secretary ; and in 1849 was chosen Grand Master . He was for seven years Chairman of the Committee of Foreign Correspondence . Bro . Brown was an upright politician , a faithful

Mason , and a godly man . Bro . Dr . W . M . C . Hawkins , who had been previously elected M . W . G . Master , was duly installed into office by M . W . G . Master Steward . The Grand Lodge having adopted a new

constitution which is printed with their proceedings , Ave give the Second Section of the First Article as containing good Masonic law , and sustaining- the vieAV taken by the Grand Lodge of Pennsylvania , of the position of each Grand Lodge .

" The jurisdiction of the Grand Lodge of Florida extends over all the recorded Lodges of Free and Accepted Masons within the political boundaries of the State , and within Avhich it is the supreme Masonic head and authority . Its jurisdiction also

extends to any State , Province , or Territory in Avhich no Grand Lodge of Free and Accepted Masons exists , in Avhich it may charter particular Lodges : Provided , That its jurisdiction and authority over Lodges so chartered ceases , as soon as a Grand Lodge is legally constituted in such

State , Province , or Territory . " They also adopted one hundred and eighty-two permanent rules , resolutions , and regulations , Avhich compose a body of Masonic law for that jurisdiction which appears to cover any case of an

ordinary character , although some may arise that they do not apply to . Number of lodges , 44 ; Total Number of Members , 1 , 783 . GEORGIA .

After alluding to matters of interest to the Masons of that jurisdiction , the Grand Master , in his address , says : " My experience , acting as your Grand Master