meet his Brethren, and break with them the bread of union and fraternity. It was a primary object of Masonry to teach love to man and God, and all true and trusty Masons take the lesson to their hearts, and its beneficent influences are diffused for the benefit of the Brotherhood of society. The rite of the Consistory consists of thirty-three degrees, a sacred number, and her grandeur consists in unity. It harmonizes with the Union of thirty-three States of this Republic. Not one link can be taken from either without disorganizing the body, and degrading the music of regularity and unity into discord and confusion. Take away the unit and all harmony is lost forever; the system is destroyed, and its philosophy bereft of its happy consistency.

BROTHER CORNELIUS MOORE

Responded with peculiar felicity to the sixth sentiment. He had no thought of making a speech; there were so many sons of the old mother (Nova Cesarea Harmony Lodge No. 2,) about him who could do so much better. Moreover, he had to tread in the footsteps of Enoch, (applause,) our brother Enoch. But he was reminded that to-night the perfect number is complete. There are seven Lodges. In ancient Masonry there were seven rites, which make the perfect number. It is a sacred number. Beginning with the creation, we find the seven days, and we find seven permeating the sacred writings. He was extremely happy to refer the perfect number of Lodges in the city to the good old mother Lodge (Harmony). She sits like a matron surrounded by her offspring. Sometimes she frowns, and we bow to her commands; but usually she smiles. Her first born was the old Miami Lodge No. 46. Then the LaFayette, which like Helen in the Illiad of Homer, "She walks a Goddess, and she seems a Queen." Her's is a mystical number-133-sacred, because it is the 133rd Psalm, in which is the verse, "Behold how good and pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity!" Cincinnati Lodge stands midway between the three elder and three younger daughters, McMillan, Cynthia and Hanselman; coy with the former, teazed by the latter; a golden link binding them all together in harmony. Mr. Moore proceeded in a happy strain at too great a length for us to follow, and he was rapturously applauded throughout. We have seldom listened to a happier effort.

WOMAN.

Dr. Vattier responded to the last toast, "Woman," making some pleasant hits. He did n't know why he was called upon, unless it was

because he was the best-looking or the ugliest man in the house. He saw several who thought themselves equally good-looking, and he would n't like to be considered the ugliest-looking askant at several who would not be taken as models for a Phidias. He proceeded to pay a fitting tribute to woman, culminating in the scintillation- Woman is the only stopping-place between Earth and Heaven! He concluded by offering the following:

"Honor to Woman! To her it is given

To garland the earth with the roses of heaven:
All blessed, she linketh the loves in her choir.

In the veil of her graces her beauty concealing,
She tends on each altar that's hallowed to feeling,
And keeps ever living the fire."

The following telegram was sent to the Brethren celebrating at Lebanon :

CINCINNATI, DEC. 27, 1859. The Workmen of the Temple, in Cincinnati, to the Brethren in the Forests of Lebanon:

GREETING: Prepare your work, as did the Craftsmen of old, that when it comes to be set up in the Temple, it may present the impress of the Grand Master.

The following response was received, viz. :

LEBANON, DEC. 27, 1859.

The Hewers in the Forests of Lebanon to the Builders in Cincinnati:

Our work has heretofore received the commendation of the Overseers; may the blocks you offer, united with the timber we furnish, be fitted into a Temple more glorious and enduring than that of Solomon's; and, like it, receive the approbation of the Supreme Grand Master. We greet you, Fraternally. H. M. STOKES, G. M.

A volunteer complimentary to H. M. Stokes, Grand Master of the Grand Lodge of Ohio, was offered; and, after singing Burns' Adieu, the Brethren separated.

It is the general opinion in the East, that the initiatory practices of the several orders of Dervishes are of the same character as those of Freemasonry. At this moment the subject attracts considerable attention. An American gentleman who had been initiated among the Dervishes, obtained initiation as a Mason, to study the point, and he states to the Brethren that the connection is close. He has prepared for the press a history of the Dervishes. W. Bro. Azanavour, of Constantinople, states that he has ascertained the signs of one of the Dervish orders.-Hyde Clark, Smyrna.

TWO TRIALS FOR THE SAME OFFENCE.

THE following is taken from the proceedings of the Grand Lodge of Arkansas:

Charges were preferred against one C. L. Bruner, in Eropholic Lodge No. 84, for gross unmasonic conduct, too heinous to be printed in the proceedings. A trial was had. A motion made to expel him was lost-ayes 24, nays 14; a motion to suspend was lost by like vote. A simple reprimand was then administered. Some sixty days afterwards, a motion was made for re-hearing against him, on account of newly discovered testimony. The Master granted it, and the same charges were again preferred-an appeal was taken from the decision to the Grand Lodge. The matter was referred to a committee, the majority of whom reported in favor of sustaining the action and decision of the W. Master in granting the re-hearing; the minority of the committee made a report dissenting from the action of the majority, upon the ground that as the accused had been once put upon his trial upon the same charges, and convicted and punished by a reprimand, it was contrary to the institutions of Masonry, as it was to the law of the land, that a person should be twice tried, convicted and punished for the same offence.

We differ from the minority in their consideration of the matter in controversy, and fully agree with the majority, and with the W. Master -thinking the reasoning of the minority of the committee wholly inapposite.

It is true, that so far as the law is concerned, it is the salvation of our country, and absolutely necessary to the interests of society, that when a matter has been once adjudicated, a final rest should be put to it. The reason is simple. The law does not pretend to prescribe a course of morals, or conduct to any individual in the community, so long as it does not interfere with the conducting of the matters of state. Thus, many offences against morals and strict right, so long as private, are ignored by the law. Each individual in the community is, however, entitled to its protection, and, therefore, where his rights are interfered with, the law interposes in his behalf-gives him a forum where he can obtain redress. He must there seek it-when he does so, he must abide by its decision. If not, and he would be allowed to renew his complaint again and again, government would come to a stand still, for it would be unable to afford redress, from the multitude of applications for its interposition. Besides, it is but a matter between the offender and the party injured. It in no manner affects the great body of society. Others are not bound to notice the offender, even if he is acquitted by the law. His interests and others are in no wise affected; there is no privity or connection between them; and the community pursue their proper course, with no thought of the offence, or heeding it, except the loathing one feels for a villain. But in Masonry

it is different. As long as the offender remains in the society, he must be treated as a worthy member of it. We proclaim to the world that our Order is based upon the principles of justice and true moralitythat our institution is one that advocates the doctrine of love for our fellow man-that as to one another, we are brothers-that we rejoice with one another's success, that we sympathize with each other's woe, and in distress and misfortune, solace and comfort him. Then, if one who has committed an offence, that is described as too vile to be printed, can, because he has merely been reprimanded on account of not sufficient testimony having been produced, set that forth as a bar to further action, after sufficient testimony has been procured, and the other members of the Order are bound to treat him as a Brother, and to hold him forth to the world as a man, good and true, it is giving the lie to the principles of our Order, as proclaimed by us. This cannot be so. His connection with our Order is a living blot upon it-his offence is a continuing one against its principles, and we maintain that we have a right to exclude him from it when his offence can be proven, as much as in social life, one person has a right to refuse social connection with one whom he knows to be a scoundrel, although he may have been tried for the very offence by the laws of the land, and acquitted.

There is much reason to doubt the correctness of the conclusion arrived at by the majority of the committee. The defendant was found guilty on the first trial, and punished by reprimand. Why, then, should new evidence be necessary to prove his guilt? If he had been acquitted on the first trial, the reasoning of the committee would have much force, but on the case under consideration, its soundness may well be doubted.

MINNESOTA.

THE Grand Lodge of Minnesota held its last annual meeting in October. Bro. Pierson, G. M., gives the following account of Masonry in his jurisdiction:

"The act organizing the Territory of Minnesota, was passed March 3, 1849. The Governor arrived here in May following, and soon thereafter, the other Territorial Officers. In the seventh number of the Minnesota Chronicle,' issued July 12th, 1849, appeared the following notice:

MASONIC.-All members of the Order who may be at St. Paul, on Monday next, (the 16th inst.) are fraternally invited to attend a convocation to be held at the American House, at 74 o'clock, P. M. Punctual attendance is requested.

B.

"In response to the call, a goodly number assembled in the school house, and resolved to apply to the Grand Lodge of Ohio, for a Dispensation. The petition was signed by Bros. C. K. Smith, J. Hughes, D. F. Brawley, A. Goodrich, Lott Moffett, W. C. Wright, J. C. Ramsey, John Conden, Albert Stilton, John Holland, Levi Sloan, and J. A. Atkinside.

"The Dispensation was granted Aug. 4, 1849, appointing Bros. C. K. Smith, W. M.; Jer. Hughes, S. W.; and D. F. Brawley, J. W. Meetings were regularly held during that and the following year; considerable work was done; many of our best citizens date their reception of Masonic light to that Lodge. A charter was granted January 24, 1853. October 12, 1850, a Dispensation was issued by the Grand Master of Wisconsin, to a number of brethren residing at Stillwater, to open St. John's Lodge, and appointing Bros. F. K. Bartlett, W. M.; Benj. Allen, S. W., and Wm. Holcomb, J. W. June 9th, 1852, a charter was granted by the Grand Lodge, numbered 39, on their roll. St. John's Lodge was the first Lodge chartered, though St. Paul was the first under dispensation; the latter was chartered last of the three which formed the Grand Lodge.

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During the year 1852, a Dispensation was granted by the Grand Master of Illinois, for Cataract Lodge, at St. Anthony, appointing Bros. A. E. Ames, W. M.; Wm. Smith, S. W., and Isaac Brown, J. W. A charter was granted October 5, 1852, by the Grand Lodge, numbered on their roll 121. This Lodge had the honor of furnishing our first Grand Master, in the person of M. W. Bro. A. E. Ames.

"Feb. 23, 1853, the delegates of the three Lodges met in convention, and formed a Grand Lodge. At the next session, two charters were granted; the next, one; the next, two; the next, ten; the next, six; and the last, four; making twenty-five Lodges chartered since our organization.

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In September, 1853, a Dispensation for a Chapter of Royal Arch Masons was obtained, and chartered by the name of Minnesota Royal Arch Chapter No. 1, at St. Paul.

"In August, 1857, a dispensation was obtained for Vermillion Chapter, at Hastings, and in January, 1858, for St. Anthony Falls Chapter, at St. Anthony, each of which was granted a charter at the recent meeting of the General Grand Chapter, at Chicago. I presume a Grand Chapter will be formed the present month.

"In June, 1857, a charter for a Council of Royal and Select Masters was obtained from the Grand Council of New York, which soon