Mason to pass them on the seas without giving him a strong grip-rescuing him, even, from the lion's paw of Briton.

Patriotically responded to by Thomas H. Garnsey, of this city, who, among other things, alluded to the many gallant exploits of the American Navy.

The Ladies-Our rivals in devotion to the principles of Masonry. Although knitting mittens now seems to be their mission, may they never give the mitten" to any Brother Mason,

Enthusiastically responded to by Lewis Barker, of Stetson, who urged the importance of Masonry to the sex, and also stated that they were supporters of the Order by their countenance and encouragement. His attention was first called to Masonry by a poem written by a lady, and he closed by reading it. We publish it for the benefit of those not present on the occasion.

BY MRS. SARAH Ꭲ . BOLTON, OF

INDIANAPOLIS,

On the occasion of Laying the Corner-Stone of the Grand Lodge Hall, Oct., 1848. Sons of a glorious Order annointed

To cherish for ages the Ark of the Lord,

Wearing the mystical badges appointed,

Come to the Temple with sweetest accord:
Come lay the corner-stone,

Asking the Lord to own

Labors that tend to His glory and praise-
Long may the Mercy seat,

Where angel pinions meet.

Rest in the beautiful Temple ye raise!

Bind up the broken heart,

Joy to the sad impart

Stay the oppressor and strengthren the just :—
Freely do ye receive,

Freely to others give

Great is your mission-" In God is your trust."

Go forth with ardor and hope undiminished,
Ever be zealous, and faithful, and true-
Still till the labor appointed be finished

Do with your might what your hands find to do.
Narrow the way and straight

Is Heaven's guarded gate,

Leading the soul to the regions of love.

Then with the spotless throng

Swelling the triumph song,

May you be found in the Grand Lodge above.

At the conclusion of the regular toasts, Daniel C. Stanwood, of Augusta, was called for and responded. He closed by reading a letter received by Lieut. J. A. Hall, Master of Alna Lodge, showing that the Grand Lodge of Louisiana had attended to the comfort of several Brothers made prisoners at Bull Run. The letter was received with demonstrations of applause.

Remarks were made and sentiments offered by Noah Barker, of Corinth; C. R. McFadden, C. M. Morse and J. M. Crooker, of Waterville; J. S. Bedlow, of Portland; C. P. Baldwin, of Fairfield; Alvin Haynes, of Mattawamkeag; Russell B. Shepherd, Jona. Burbank, E. F. Dillingham, of this city, and others; and an impromptu poem was recited by David Barker, of Exeter, which "brought down the house" with a rush.

Letters were received from R. W. D. D. G. M. Averill, J. W. Carr, Esq., M. Ex. W. Marshall, of Massachusetts, &c., &c.; and one was also received from B. F. Mudgett, Esq., of New York City, the first Master of St. Andrew's Lodge, which closed with the following sentiment :

The Present and Past Members of St. Andrew's Lodge-Though circumstances over which we have no control may deprive some of us of the great pleasure of meeting in the festivities of our Lodge on earth, may no circumstances over which we have control debar any of us from meeting in that Lodge above where the Supreme Architect of the Universe presides.

Among the many pleasant incidents was the accidental meeting of the six Barker brothers. They had not all met before under the same roof for twenty years, but fortunately they happened here together. They are members of the Fraternity, and joined in the pleasures of the evening. Their father was the second settler in the town of Exeter, and their mother now resides with Nathaniel in the old homestead. Noah is a resident of Corinth; Lewis lives in Stetson, and David, Daniel and Mark reside in Exeter.

The oldest is fifty four years of age, the youngest thirtynine, and they are the only male children now living. There are few instances where six brothers arrive at the age of manhood-all members of the same fraternity-brothers in name and brothers indeed, and meet together on the level in the Lodge-room.

After spending three hours at the table, it was proposed to close by singing, and the Brethren rose and sung with marked effect the beautiful song by Burns, Auld Lang Syne.

Thus closed the pleasures of the evening, and we believe that the occasion will be long remembered by every one present, and that they departed with a warmer feeling of brotherly love in their hearts, and a determination to pay still greater attention to the principles inculcated by the Order.

GRAND LODGE OF NEW HAMPSHIRE.

We have before us the proceedings of the Grand Lodge of New Hampshire at its semi-annual meeting in June and at its annual communication in December last. The Grand Master, M. W. Aaron P. Hughes, presided at both meetings. The only business of special interest transacted at the June communication was the adoption of a report on the ritual, from which we give the following extract: The Committee appointed at the last Annual Communication of this Grand Lodge, for the purpose of comparing the Lectures, as revised and adopted by this Grand Lodge in 1850, with those as promulgated by Bro. Rob Morris, of Kentucky, and claimed by him to be the original Lectures as taught by Thomas Smith Webb sixty years ago, ask leave to report, that having carefully compared the system as taught by Bro. Morris, with that as adopted by this Grand Lodge, and, as your committee believe, with unprejudiced minds, they have deliberately come to the following conclusions :

1. That as this Grand Lodge in 1850, at great labor and expense, did revise and adopt a system of Lectures and Work which has been disseminated among the subordinate Lodges in this jurisdiction, and now generally and uniformly understood and practiced upon, it seems to your committee inexpedient to make alight, immaterial verbal changes, without strong reasons and a full conviction that we are in an error.

2. That, on comparing the two systems, they find no material difference; in fact they are one and the same, varying only in verbal phraseology and, in a few instances, slight changes in the order of arrangement.

3. That, in point of grammatical construction and elegance of expression, your committee all agree that our ritual, as adopted and now generally taught, understood and practiced in this jurisdiction, is far preferable to that promulgated by Bro. Morris.

This was a sensible decision. The work of New Hampshire cannot be improved by strolling mountebanks and empiricks, and the less our Brethren of that and other States have to do with such pretenders the higher their Masonic character will rank.

The Grand Master opened the annual communication in a neat address, from which we extract as follows:

OUR COUNTRY.

While we, as a body, are in this most happy and desirable condition, we turn to our country with sorrow and sadness. The people of this great nation, once so happy, prosperous and united, and now arrayed against each other, and the very

arms that we had supposed were to be used only in the defence of our common country, are now being used in a fatricidal war-of all wars the most disastrous to a nation.

At the time of our last annual communication, we, as a people and a nation, were more prosperous than at any period since the formation of our government. Every branch of industry was in a condition that seemed at least to indicate that it was so firmly rooted that no revulsion in business, however severe, could injure it. I need not add that all those appearances were deceptive, as a few short months have proved.

The commerce of our country had reached almost a fabulous amount. Our agricultural products were all that the heart of man could desire or wish. But now the stern reality of civil war is upon us, and while we all know and feel that our ancient institution will outlive this revolution, as it has all others, we cannot, as Masons, but feel that a direful crisis is upon us. It has come in the Providence of God, and we are to meet it as a rebellion, notwithstanding our friends, kindred and Brothers are engaged in it, for if there is any one plain duty inculcated in Masonry, it is that we are bound most solemnly to stand by the government under which we live. I would, in this connection, call your attention to that part of your agreement which so clearly points out our duty.

"In the State you are to be quiet and peaceful; true to your government and just to your country. You are not to countenance disloyalty or rebellion, but patiently submit to legal authority, and conform with cheerfulness to the govern. ment of the country in which you live." Such, Brethren, was your agreement, and I have not the remotest idea but that every Brother in this jurisdiction will carry it out to the letter.

I have sometimes felt that the great misfortune that has befallen us might come, and if it did, that there was one body of men that could do much to reconcile the difficulties that exist more in imagination, in my judgment, than in reality. The angry passions of men have much to do with the present critical position of our country; and, as Masons, we are in duty bound to make every exertion to assuage the storm that is now desolating our land. The institution of Masonry has its members in every part of our country, and it can more readily reach them than any organization in the world.

We have no right to meddle or interfere with the political affairs of the nation, but whenever any question arises that affects the institution of which we are members, it is our duty to consider it. That the precepts taught by Masons have always tended to soften the hearts of men, is a truth that every Brother will assent to. And such being true, it has occurred to me that no injury could result to the Institution, and that great good may come out of a convention of Masons, not to consider the political questions of the day, but to determine what our duty may be in this emergency. And I would suggest the propriety of holding a National Convention of Masons at Washington, sometime next winter. And if the Grand Lodge thinks well of the suggestion, it will be for it to determine whether delegates should be elected.

The Grand Lodge did not think it expedient or useful to adopt the recommendation of the Grand Master touching the proposed convention.

ITINERANTS.-WORK.

There are very few suggestions that I desire to make at this time. The institution of Freemasonry was never more prosperous than at this moment. Where

there are so many, it would be very strange if some of them were not selfish, and I am sorry to say that I have no doubt but that we have many who have become members for selfish purposes. These individuals show themselves in various ways. They always appear under the guise of great disinterestedness for the good of the Order. Perhaps he may be an author, represents that he has got the only genuine work extant, and that his Lectures are of the same description, and that all others are spurious. This Grand Lodge was visited within the last year by one of this class of Masons, who had not attained the age of twentytwo years. His Masonic knowledge corresponded well with his Masonic age. This evil has been going on several years, producing nothing but confusion in the Work and Lectures. Each author makes a little innovation upon long, and what is believed to be well established work. And many Lodges have spent much valuable time in discussing the discrepancies of the work as published, each one having a few adherents. Discussions of this kind are very liable to end in anger and ill feelings. The time thus spent should have been devoted to our own Work and Lectures.

This Grand Lodge has adopted the "Masonic Trestle Board," and the Work and Lectures connected therewith, and, until otherwise ordered by the same body, must be used in this jurisdiction.

There is hardly a week passes but some one calls for a subscription for some kind of a Masonic book, magazine or newspaper, and if you do not subscribe they broadly intimate that you are no Mason. All such persons should be treated with contempt. There are publications that are worthy of your support, but the publishers never go about demanding your aid, or appealing to your sympathy for support.

Another class of men I recommend you always to avoid: that is, paid Masons, of all "men or Masons," the most despicable. They always have a new book, and assume to be in possession of something that is known to but few;-they will perform if you will pay. When you meet with such a fellow, keep an eye on your coat and hat.

Masonic Mendicants have been on the increase for the last fifteen years. They have become almost a scourge to the Order. While we rejoice at the increase of Masonic charity, we deplore the evil and annoyance of traveling applicants for Masonic aid. I recommend to each Brother and subordinate Lodge a careful inquiry into each applicant's appeal for charity (if he be a stranger) before contributing.

THE HIGHER DEGREES.

That the "Blue Lodge" is, to the great body of Masonry, what the heart and lungs are to the human body, I am more and more satisfied every day of my life. It is the only essential Lodge in Masonry. We are apt to be desirous of getting "higher up" in the Order ;-a very great mistake. The best workmen are very liable to be drawn into the "Upper Degrees," and their loss is severely felt in the "Blue Lodge." I trust no Brother in this jurisdiction will be so much dazzled with the tinselry of the “Upper Degrees" as to forget his duty to the first and most important Lodge-the "Blue Lodge."

The proceedings mostly relate to matters of local interest, and while they indicate a high degree of prosperity in the Lodges under the jurisdiction, they would not be of particular interest to the general reader. We were however surprised to find the following on page 323 of the proceedings :

"M. W. Peter Lawson, of Lowell, P. G. Master, of Massachusetts, was introduced, and took a seat in the East."