Notes On American Freemasonry.

WISCONSIN . At the Annual Communication of the Grand Lodge oi this State , the M . W . Bro . Harlow Pease , Grand Master , opens his address Avith the mention of those " Who , since our last meeting , have gone

out from among us to return no more for ever . " He then notices the formation of the first Lodges in Wisconsin and the Grand Lodge of that State , whose first Grand Communication was held at

Madison , January , 17 th , 1844 . In referring to the Grand Lodge of Louisiana , he gives the following lucid statement of a pending difficulty . " A controversy has arisen between the Grand

Lodge of Louisiana and the Grand Orient of France , Avhich has assumed such proportions as to demand the consideration and action of all other

Grand Lodges in the civilized world , and which addresses itself with peculiar force to those existing on the American continent . A spurious organization styling itself the " Supreme Council of the A . and A . S . Rite , in and for the Sovereign

and Independent State of Louisiana / has been established at New Orleans , which , disregarding some of the essential landmarks of our Order , assumes control over the symbolic degrees , and ignoring the Grand Lodge of Louisiana and set '

ting at defiance its authority , arrogates to itself the power to establish Lodges of symbolic Masonry within that jurisdiction . This so-called Supreme Grand Council was established in 1858 , Left to its own resources , frowned upon by all intelligent American Masons , and recognized by none

of them , it languished into utter insignificance , and soon would have sunk into oblivion . But on the 5 th of November , 1868 , to the surprise of the universal Masonic Avorld , the Grand Orient of France , actuated by motives which it is impos =

sible to fathom , promulgated a decree based upon a previous report of ' A . Hamitte , 33 ^ member of the Council of the Order / recognizing the Supreme Grand Council of the A . and A . S . Rite , of the Sovereign and Independent State of

Louisiana , with all its usurpations of Masonic authorit y , establishing official and friendly relations with it , tendering aid and co-operation , and the assurance that the ties which henceforth unite these two Masonic powers will be ultimately strengthened by the reciprocal appointment of representatives . By this course , the Grand

Orient of France is exerting her influence in aid of an unjustifiable attempt to invade and usurp the jurisdiction of a sister Grand Lodge , and to overthrow her legitimate authority . The facts briefly narrated present a case Avhich calls for the

prompt and decided action of every American Grand Lodge . " The Committee on Foreign Correspondence made a very brief report , in which they say that they have carefully examined the proceedings of a

number of Grand Lodges , at their last annual communications , snd then cite " the few subjects to which they call the attention of the Grand Lodge as an evidence of the intelligence , prosperity , and healthy condition of the Craft in the

several jurisdictions . The more important subjects then briefly discussed are " Incorporating Lodges , " and "Physical Disqualifications . " In regard to the latter , it seems that the Committee

on Foreign Correspondence had given it " as their opinion that an initiate subsequently maimed could be advanced . " The question Avas referred to the Committee on Masonic Jurisprudence , who reported adversely . The Committee on Foreign

Correspondence , in this report , adhere to their opinion that maimed initiates can be advanced . The Committee on Jurisprudence , in relation to the matter of the interference of the Grand Orient of France with the prerogatives of the Grand

Lodge of the State of Louisiana , reported : " That the several Grand Lodges in this country have exclusive jurisdiction over the symbolic degrees of Masonry within their several jurisdictions , and that in such symbolic degrees none but the ' Ancient

York Rite / is recognized as legitimate / ' and a resolution was adopted -discontinuing all Masonic relations with the Grand Orient of France during the continuance of this interference .

Whole number of Master Masons , 8 , 551 ; initiated , 1 , 079 ; amount of dues , 5 , 308 dollars . Amongst the proceedings of the several Grand Lodges Avhich have been noticed , there are none of

more interest than those relating to the difficulties existing betAveen the Grand Lodge of Louisiana and the Grand Orient of France , arising from the organization in the former Scate of a body Avhich arrogates to itself the imposing title of the " Supreme Council of the Ancient and Accepted Rite in and for the Sovereign State of Louisiana . Tin-