Political Influences Of Masonry.

lenge the battle . They would' look upon such a state of things as would compel it , as a great public evil . But should it be thrust upon them , acting in self-defence—a God-given right , under the first law of nature—they ought , and we

believe they would , vote as one man against the power or party that should seek to ostracise and overthrow them . —Masonic Trowel .

Notes On American Freemasonry.

NOTES ON AMERICAN FREEMASONRY .

( Continued from page 523 ) . VERMONT . The Grand Master stated that he has during the year granted eleven dispensations for the formation of new Lodges .

Speaking of granting dispensations to take the degrees , the Grand Master says : — " Were I to enjoin on my successor one golden rule to guide his official career , it would be to take strong ground upon this subject , and never let the ancient

regulations be dispensed Avith on any pretence . Real substantial cases of emergency are of the rarest ; apparent ones of the most frequent occurrence ; hardly one in which the personal good of the candidate—not the good of the Order—is the

primary object . " He stated that the condition of the Grand Lodge Treasury shows cash in hand to amount to 1 , 505 dollars , and a 1 , 000 five-twenty bond . The Charity Fund has a balance of 399 dollars .

The report contains much matter of local interest and shoAvs that the several Lodges under the jurisdiction of this Grand Lodge are in a flourishing condition . A complaint having been made by the Grand

Lodge of Canada against 'Frontier '' Lodge , No . 74 , that the latter had invaded their Masonic jurisdiction , and it appearing that heretofore the jurisdiction of each was measured by the distance between the respective Lodgesit Avas

recommen-, ded that hereafter the State line be adopted as the dividin g line between the two jurisdictions , and that it be recommended to the Grand Lodge to adopt the same line . The Committee on Foreign Correspondence , in

reviewing the proceedings of Grand Lodge state : — - " That it is with feelings of pleasure we again welcome amongst our correspondents the G 2-and Lodge of Virginia . * * * * The address of

their Grand Master was a brief but comprehensive document . In commencing he ' Congratulates that Masons can assemble around one commonaltar , and upon one common platform with its great mission in vieAv , " Peace on earth , good will towards all

mankind ; " expressing that true and beautiful sentiment that brotherly love , relief and truth , Avhen practised by a faithful and honest brotherhood , can soften the bitterest feelings that rankle in the human heart . This , by the help of God , we will do , and teach the nations of the earth this lesson , that will sooner or later be learned , that

the true interests and happiness of nations , as well as individuals , ia secured by dAvelling together in unity / " The Grand Lodge of Vermont , and the R . W . P . G . Lecturer , Bro . Willson , and others have

got into a dispute about the identity of ' the cypher ' ' and the nemonics / used in Vermont as the true Webb Lectures , as taught by him and Barney and Willson in 1817 . One of the disputants declares ' that the lectures are corrupted /

and another that the report of the committee on the W ebb Lectures had inflicted ' a deadly wound on Vermont Masonry /* * * * and believes that they most lamentably accomplished what they did not intend to do , the destruction of the credit of

Vermont Masonry , as to its long claim of having the pure Webb Lectures . " Number of Lodges , 85 . No return of number initiated , & a

VIRGINIA . The Grand Master , in his address , amongst much other matter that is interesting , states that since that the last Communication he has granted fourteen dispensations to open new Lodges , and

refers to the fact that many applications have been made to him to grant dispensations , enabling degrees to be conferred " upon the plea of emergency . " This he " almost uniformly refused , " because he thought " such applications should not

receive encouragement ,, as more evil than good is likely to result from the practice , and that , when our Order is multiplying , we should guard well the approaches to our sacred Temple , and see that all