America.

and jurisdiction of a Grand Lodgo ; but , rocoivmg no recognition or support , has ceased to exist . On tho 13 th day of September , 1858 , V . E ., tho Supromo Council and Grand Orient of tho Argentine Ropublic , Valloy of Buenos Ayros , Auciont and Accoptcd Scottish Rito , was duly and regularly constituted by authority of tho Supromo Council and Grand Oriont of Uruguay . In 18 G 1 tho Provincial Grand Lodgo of England ( charter datod

May 24 , 1861 ) was duly organisod at Buenos Ayros , and has formed a vory important , complete and fraternal allianco with tho Supromo Council , by which permission is granted to tho Grand Lodgo of England to ostablish symbolic lodgos under their jurisdiction , throughout tho Argentine Ropublic . At tho timo of my visit tho Rev . John Chubb Ford , pastor of tho English church , was tho Deputy G . M ., and tho Masonic position of that body was of tho hihest characterMlato advicos inform mo that Bro .

g . y Ford had resigned , and Bro . Richard B . Masofiold , P . M ., would bo his successor ; if so , I can but congratulate that Grand Body in boiug so fortunate in having such a worthy and eminent Mason to prosido at their head . Tho formation of thoso two govorning Masonic powors for that jurisdiction has boon in ovory particular regular and logitimato ; and I found tho ordor and working of tho nativo lodgos under tho Supreme Council purer and more uniform than in any

othor part of South America . Soon aftor my arrival at Buonos Ayros I addressed an official communication to tho 111 . Bro . Jose' R . Poroz , 33 , Sov . G . Com ., informing him of tho objoct of my Masonic mission , and requested to know if tho Supremo Council desired to oxebango tho usual f ratornal relations of amity . I was at once received with tho most cordial greeting , and numerous invitations oxtondod to visit tho various lodgos undor thoir jurisdiction . A short timo previous

to my arrival a resident Bro . had returned to that city aftor a visit to this country , claiming to represent a Masonic Body of tho Ancient and Accepted Rito in this jurisdiction , but not having tho nocessary degree , or documents nocossary for that position , and the power from which ho hailod not being known to the Masonic Ordor as having any claims to logitimaey , his requost for recognition was respectfully doclinod , although considerable private influonco was used in his support . Sovoral membors of tho Council callod on mo , and oxpressod an oavnost desiro to

embrace that favourable opportunity oi establishing tho desired fraternal relations and oxebango representatives with this Council ; but upon tho subject boing brought officially boforo their Council , it was referred to a distinguished member of that body , thon in Now York , who had been previously commissioned to enter into amicablo relations with tho various Blasouie bodios in this country , and in duo timo tho subjoct will roeoivo propor attention .

Among tho many interesting and agrooablo Masonic coromonios I had tho pleasure of witnessing during my stay at Buonos Ayres , woro two , which I deem worthy of special mention , and woro colobrntod undor tho ablo management of tho Lodgo Union Italiano . Tho first was tho coromony of bajitism peculiar to tho Anciont and Accepted Scottish Rito . Tho lodgo was oponod in tho usual form , tho Grand Oflicors woro rocoivod with tho honours duo to thoir oxaltod position , and after tho regular businoss was

finished cautionary instructions woro givon , all Masonic labour coasod , tho doors wore opened , and sixteen boys , varying in ago from four to ten yoars , sons of tho mombors , woro admitted , accompanied by thoir mothers , and assembled round tho tablo containing tho articles roquirod in tho coromonios : tho Sov . G . Commander then dolivorod an oloquont and improssivo address rolativo to tho solomn duties and obligations of tho brothron for tho children thoy wero about to adoptand after appropriate

in-, strumental music , tho coremonics of baptism woro thon porformod by tho Sov . G . Commander , assisted by tho W . M . ; tho right hands of tho children wero dipped in pure water , and tho solemn , improssivo lessons aud oxhortations that followod , with tho other coromonios illustrating a proscribed course of action for thoir future guidance , and tho obligations of tho brothron over to watch over and protect thom through tho journey of life , was porformod in a manner that could not fail to mako a favourable and lasting

impression upon thoso prosont ; and whatovor difl ' oronco of opinion thoro may bo in regard to this Masonic coromony as long practised in various countries , I am convineod that its tendency is highly boneficial to tho Masonic family , and could bo profitably adopted by other rites and jurisdictions , instead of somo of tho useless and absurd coromonios now practised of appendant degroos . Tho othor important coromony alludod to will doubtless claim moro attention from , and bo . appreciated by tho fraternity in this country , as a token of osteom for tho character of ono who ,

though not a Mason , suffered an untimely death in the canso of his country . Tho news of tho assassination of President Lincoln was rocoivod at Buonos Ayres with the same feeling of horror that was so spontaneously manifested throughout tho civilised world ; tho dotails of tho national funeral which soon followed gavo tho information that tho Masonic Order had generally participated in paying tho last sad rights to the lamented dead , from which it

was natural that foreign brethren should infer that ho was a Mason , and as an appreciation of their deep sympathy with iho fraternity in this country Lodges of Sorrow woro held in France , and other countries ; in imitation of this truly fraternal feeling tho brethren of Lodgo Union Italiano held a Lodgo of Sorrow o tho 17 th day of July , 1 SG 5 ; thoy extended to mo an official ! , invitation to assist in tho ceremonies and to act as chief mourn el in representing our country . Not knowing at tho timo that Mrr

Lincoln was not a Mason , I acceptod the invitatation , and parlici-. pated as requested . Tho lodge-room was elegantly draped hi mourning , with special aud appropriate enibloms tastefully arranged , and extracts from our rituals suitably displayed . Tho catafalquo in tho centre of tho room was richly decorated in . black with tho insignia of tho Ordor , and the namo of him whoso , sad fato it represented , whilo four American Brothers , ono at oach cornerwero stationed as mourners during tho solomn and

, improssivo ceremonies porformod by tho Master Oflicors and brothren of tho lodgo , tho effect of which loft a most grateful and improssivo recollection on thoso of our countrymen that woro present . At the conclusion of tho ceremonies 111 . Bro . Hooter F . Va-rala delivered a vory eloquent address on tho lifo ,. character , and public sorvices of Mr . Lincoln , a printed copy of which I present with tho other documents .

REPUBLIC OP UHUGUAY . Tho o ' arly history of Masonry in this country remains in that obscurity' similar to tho other South Amorican States , no authentic account being as yot givon . Botwoon the yoars 1 S 20 and 1 S 5 C lodgos woro working at various places , but principally at Monte-Video , undor authority from tho Grand Bodies in France and Brazil ; thoir work , however , is said to have been vory irregular ,, causod , no doubt , by tho constant disturbed state of socioty ,

resulting from tho civil revolutions for which that country has boen rather famous . In 185 G authority was obtained from tho Supreme Council and Grand Orient of Brazil , Valloy of Lavradio , Rio de Janeiro , to establish a govorning Masonic power , and tho samo year tho Supremo Council , 33 , and Grand Oriont of Uruguay Ancient aud Acceptod Scottish Rito , was regularly constituted at Monto Video , and has sinco eontinuod its authority uninterrupted . All tho ostablishod lodges at onco obtained

charters from and affiliated under tho authority of tho Grand Oriont , oxcojit two , boing Lodgo Los Amis do la Patria , which was working undor a charter from tho Grand Oriont of France ,, in tho modern Rite , aud French language , and Acaeia Lodgo working undor warrant from tho Grand Lodgo of England , in . tho York Rito aud English language , and still continue thoir labours undor the samo authority . About this date there seomod to havo boon a fresh impetus givon to tho Order in that jurisdiction , and now lodgos and chapters wore organised in most of tho towns throughout the

country , until tho number reached thirty-four working bodies ,, among which was Georgo Washington Lodgo , located in Entro-Rios . But political discord and civil revolution had again seriously interfered with thoir poacoful labours , and compelled , many to eloso thoir portals , which will again bo open to labour for tho benefit of socioty , thoir country , and humanity , when , peace onco moro roigns in placo of tho doadly strife of civil war . Tho brightest and most important opoch of tho history in

that jurisdiction which dosorvos honourable mention and illustrates practically tho principles and sacred mission which Masonry is sometimes callod upon to fulfil in giving aid and succour in tho timo of distress to suffering humanity . During tho year 1857 tho city of Monto Vidoo was visited by that torriblo scourgo tho yollow fovor , and tho opidomic spread to such an . alarming extent that tho govornmont and city authorities lost that courago so requisite during such an ovont , and did nothing

in tho way of assistanco to the Suffering and dying poorer classes . A committoo representing tho different lodgos was formed , who obtainod funds , and gavo medical assistance , food and . propor attondaneo to thoso in nood , and , like good Samaritans , did all in thoir power to alloviato tho suffering of tho destitute , who had no other sourco of relief . Tho committoo was merged in tho Sociedad Filantropica , and also rocoivod contributions from those not connected with tho Order , who recognisod and appreciated the laudable principle and good work in which they .