Notes On American Freemasonry.

providence of God are committed ta the charge of our Order . Let us , then , as faithful craftsmen , labour to build up this noble charity , giving to it willingly all the assistance in our poAver , remembering that even as we do it unto the least of these

children we do it unto Him who is the Father of us all . So shall our work be accepted . " The Grand Secretary in his report states that he has inaugurated the project of a Grand Lodge Library , and thus far has met with success .

"That all Entered Apprentices and Fellow-Crafts Avho shall neglect or refuse to advance , for the year from the date of their initiation or passing , shall be struck from the record of the subordinate

Lodge where they have received said degree . " The Grand Secretary read the following resolutions , , which were offered for the consideration of the Grand Lodge and referred to the Committe on Jurisprudence :

Resolved , That the acts of entering , passing , and raising a candidate in a regular Lodge of Masons , constitute the person so entered , passed , and raised a member of the Lodge in which these ceremonies took place ; and that while we recognize the

propriety of his signing the bye-laws of said Lodge , we do not consider a failure on his part so to do as in any wise depriving him of the membership acquired through his being raised to the sublime degree of a Master Mason .

Besolved , That the Worshipful Masters of subordinate Lodges Avithin this jurisdiction be , and they are hereby required , to make diligent inquiry as to Avhether any non-affiliated Masons reside within the penal jurisdiction of their respective

Lodges ; and that when it shall become kuoAvn to any of such Worshipful Masters that any such nonaffiliated Masons reside within their jurisdiction , they shall cause them to be notified that unless they make application to , and join the nearest

Lodge , they shall be disciplined by being suspended from all Masonic intercourse , and their names published to all Grand Lodges Avheresoever dispersed around the globe . Resolved , That all regular Lodges in this

jurisdiction are hereby required , through their officers , to notify all Entered Apprentices and Fellow-Crafts Avithin their respective jurisdictions , that unless they advance to the degree of Master Mason before the next Annual Communication of this Grand Lodge , their names will be stricken from the rolls , and all Lodges and Masons

prohibited from holding any Masonic intercourse with , them until they shall comply with the requirements of this resolution . Lodges in the jurisdiction , six of which are U . D ., 20 ; initiated during the year , 177 ; passed , 150 ;

raised , 128 ; applicants rejected , 63 ; number of Master Masons , 1 , 714 . NEVADA . The Grand Master made a brief address , containing chiefly an account of his official acts during

the recess . The following extracts are made from it : — " In June last I received a communication from Bro . J . F . Hallock , Worshipful Master of Lander Lodge , No . 8 , asking the folloAving questions : —

" Does the loss of the index finger of the right hand , disqualify a man for receiving the degrees of Masonry ? ' To which I replied , in substance , no ; that although authorities on this , as Avell as many other subjects pertaining to the ancient

regulations , are conflicting , I can perceiA T e no valid reason Avhy the fraternity should be deprived of a valuable acquisition , through so trifling a physical defect . Yet , I am sensible to what abuses this , or the slightest infringement upon the ancient

regulations , is liable . It might , with some degree of plausibility , be urged that if the loss of one finger fails to disqualify , the loss of two fingers should not ! and if not , why reject him Avho has none ?

"To this I reply , that when the defect is of a character such as not to interfere with ritualistic requirements , objections should not be had ; and Avhile the loss of one finger Avould not prove a bar , the loss of all certainly would .

He also says : —The experiment adopted at our last Annual Communication , of abolishing the fee for affiliation , has worked beneficially , aud beyond our most sanguine expectations . '" The following remarks are worth transcribing

and are very sensible : ' I desire to say a few Avords touching upon the propriety of Masonic testimonials ; a custom Avhich , by its universal character , belongs to this age and country , and Avhich I feel called upon to condemn . It creates

a suspicion that there is some hidden reason for it . Its gushing spontaneousness is an empty pretence , and the surprised recipient , responding to the unexpected favour , either has the manuscript speech in his pocket , or a well-conned speech flows from his lips , declaring his inability to express the tumul-