ral years past may be attributed, in part, to the want of competent Masonic education in the officers of Lodges, who, from this cause, are unable to communicate full and correct instruction to the candidate for Masonry they must admit; hence it is that a very general want of information in regard to Masonry, to the beauty, regularity and completeness of the work, and the valuable lessons taught by it, exists among the Craft. Very many persons, therefore, who would be valuable acquisitions to any society, and who have become Masons in the expectation of mingling with those in whose society they might not only enjoy the pleasure of social intercourse, but derive benefit from the great moral lessons taught by our interesting ceremonies, and explained in that beautiful and comprehensive language peculiar to ourselves, upon their admission into the Order find themselves doomed to disappointment, and either absent themselves from the Lodge, or, if they do attend, the repetition of the same routine of proceedings, without life or spirit, discourages many, who either withdraw altogether from communion with us, or, remaining in membership, feel but little of that interest in the Order that should actuate every Mason. This has been, in some measure, the condition of the Masonic Order in this jurisdiction. The Grand Lodge perceived the evil, and applied its energies to effect a cure. She is striving to instruct the Craft throughout the State, and I trust that the effort she is making will be assisted heartily by the Lodges under her care; by strict attention and earnest effort to obtain instruction; by exacting complete proficiency before advancing a candidate; by informing themselves as to the ancient landmarks of the Order and of the provisions of the Constitution, By-Laws, and Regulations of the Grand Lodge and of their own, and by particular care in regard to the qualifications of candidates for Masonry previous to their admission; always remembering that on the acts and conduct of each individual member the harmony of the Lodge, its usefulness and prosperity, in a great measure depend. The prosperity of a Lodge is not to be estimated merely by the number of Masons it may make, by the value of its treasury, nor the work that is done; but it is to be measured by the sterling truth of its members, and their proficiency not only in the Masonic work, but in a thorough and complete knowledge and continued practice of the great lessons in morality, of brotherly love, kindness and charity, uprightness of conduct, prudence and trustworthiness, which are taught in all our ceremonies and lectures.

The selection of officers is also a matter of vital importance, but more especially in the choice of Master. No member of a Lodge exerts so great an influence upon its character and well-being as the Master; to him the officers and members look for the good government of the Lodge, the initiated for their Masonic education, and all, from the least unto the greatest, depend upon him for instruction, assistance and advice in the performance of their several Masonic duties. It is, therefore, a question of the greatest moment in whom to confide this important trust.

In selecting a Master, all partiality, all mere matter of courtesy, should be disregarded, and the character, ability and Masonic proficiency of members should be the only recommendation that ought to be considered when making a choice. His character, that the brethren may have the benefit not only of precept, but of his example, to incite them to improvement, and his ability and Masonic proficiency, that he may be able to instruct the brethren in the great principles of the Order; and as the Master is looked upon, and should be the guide and teacher of the brethren, and is in some degree responsible for the good conduct of the Lodge over which he may be called upon to preside, I believe that the success of the Lodge and the progress of the brethren in attaining Masonic knowledge would be promoted by continuing that officer from time to time, unless, for some important reason, a change be deemed advisable by the Lodge.

The report of the Committee on F. C. refers to matters mostly of local interest. It pays Bro. H. G. Reynolds, the Grand Secretary of Illinois, the following well deserved praise:

The lengthy and valuable report on Foreign Correspondence is from the pen of their Grand Secretary, Bro. Harman G. Reynolds, which is fully equal to any of those we have had the pleasure of reading.

We should judge that Masonry in New Jersey was in the hands of those who would carefully guard it and promote its interests.

A GENERAL GRAND LODGE.

DURING the past few years the subject of a General Grand Lodge has been considerably discussed. As the subject is one of much interest, we lay before our readers the following extract from the address of the G. M. of Minnesota in October last:

"At our last Annual Communication, a resolution was adopted, approving the proposition of the Grand Lodge of Maine, with reference to a meeting of representatives in Chicago, in September 1859, to attend to the formation of a General Grand Lodge of the United States; and further, that this Grand Lodge would, at the proper time, select its representation.' As the meeting will be held before our next Annual Communication, the representation must be elected at this.

6

As the previous action of Grand Lodges upon the subject of a General Grand Lodge was had before our Grand Lodge came into existence, I have, from such records as my library affords, made, and herewith present the following compilation.

The first proposition, or rather the germ of this matter, is found in the proceedings of the Grand Lodge of Pennsylvania, who, at an emergent meeting, in January, 1720, nominated or proposed General WASHINGTON as G. G. M. of Masons.

[Bro. John Dove, G. S. of Virginia, has in his possession a silver medal, struck in commemoration thereof, which he showed to me. On one side is the face of WASHINGTON, surrounded by the inscription, 'G. Washington, President, 1797.' On the reverse is a Masonic carpet, and the inscription, 'Amor, Honor et Justicia, G. W. G. G. M.']

No general action appears to have been had upon the matter. The Grand Lodge of Georgia, 1790, renewed the proposal; but after several ineffectual attempts to obtain a favorable response, the matter was dropped. The Grand Lodge of South Carolina revived the subject in 1799, and sent her proceedings to all the Grand Lodges, inviting their concurrence. In 1803 it was again mooted, but deemed impracticable by the Grand Lodges of Pennsylvania, New Hampshire,

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Massachusetts, New Jersey, Maryland, Virginia, and also by Georgia. These Grand Lodges, however, recommended a convention of delegates from the several Grand Lodges, 'for the purpose of forming a more intimate union, and establishing a regular and permanent intercourse' between them; but no convention was held.

The proposition was again renewed in 1809, by the Grand Lodge of Pennsylvania, with the same result-no general action was had. March 9th, 1822, there appeared in the National Intelligencer the following:

MASONIC NOTICE.-Those members of Congress who belong to the Masonic Fraternity, and those visitors of the city who are or have been members of any State Grand Lodge, are respectfully invited to attend a meeting in the Senate Chamber this evening at 7 o'clock, to take into consideration matters of general interest to the Masonic institution.'

Pursuant to that notice there assembled a large number of the brethren. Thos. Ross, of Ohio, was appointed Chairman, and Wm. Darlington, of Pennsylvania, Secretary.

A resolution was adopted, offered by M. W. Henry Clay, deeming it expedient and for the general interests of the Order to constitute a General Grand Lodge of the United States. A committee of correspondence was appointed, consisting of M. W. John Marshall, of Virginia, M. W. Henry Clay, of Kentucky, M. W. Wm. Winder, of Maryland, Wm. S. Cardell, of New York, M. W. Joel Abbott, of Georgia, John Holmes, of Maine, Henry Baldwin, of Pennsylvania, John H. Eaton, of Tennessee, M. W. Wm. H. Seaton, of Washington, M. W. H. C. Burton, of North Carolina, M. W. Christopher Rankin, of Mississippi, and M. W. Rev. Thaddeus Mason Harris, of Massachusetts.

The action had by the Grand Lodges was generally adverse to the project, particularly Kentucky, Missouri and Pennsylvania. Alabama laid the subject on the table. The Grand Lodge of Ohio (January, 1823) deemed the establishment of a General Grand Lodge inexpedient, but recommended a Grand Convocation of Grand Lodges,' for the purpose of

establishing uniformity of work, and recommended' such measures for the good of the Craft as they may deem expedient.'

The Grand Lodge of the District of Columbia, in 1823, adopted resolutions favoring the establishment of a General Grand Lodge, and transmitted with them an address to the several jurisdictions.

The only action with reference to this proposition was by the Grand Lodge of Ohio, who, by a vote of ayes 50 and noes 40, resolved that she disapproves the object of said resolutions and address."

The matter was dropped for fifteen years. In 1839 the following resolution was adopted by the Grand Lodge of Alabama: 'Resolved, That all Grand Lodges in correspondence with the Grand Lodge of Alabama, be requested to elect one delegate to meet in General Convention on the first Monday in March, 1842, in the city of Washington, for the purpose of determining upon a uniform mode of work throughout all the Lodges in the United States; and to make other lawful regulations for the interest and security of the Craft.'

On the day designated by the above resolution, delegates were in attendance from the Grand Lodges of Alabama, Connecticut, District of Columbia, Massachusetts, Maryland, Michigan, New Hampshire, New York, Rhode Island, South Carolina, and Virginia; several other Grand Lodges had appointed delegates, who did not attend.

M. W. Chas. Gilman, of Maryland, was elected President, and R. W. John Dove, of Virginia, and James Lawrenson, of the District of Columbia, Secretaries.

One of the first questions that came before the convention was upon the admission of delegates from Michigan. It was referred to a committee, who reported adversely to the recognition of the Grand Lodge of Michigan, which report was unanimously concurred in by the convention. The action of the convention, although acknowledged by the Grand Lodges (except Ohio) to be correct, was used, by those opposed to a