Danville, Me., Dec. 16, 1847. DEAR SIR AND BRO. :-I presume that you wish for information in regard to the progress of Masoury, and therefore state that since the revival of Masonry here, or rather within a few months, Tranquil Lodge, No. 29, has been revived, and is now in prosperous operation at Lewiston Falls, with flattering prospects of success. It numbers some thirty worthy Brothers. The officers are—Wm. Bickford, W. Master; Joseph Keith, S. W.; Win. White, J. W.; Archibald Lindsay, Treas.; Joseph Freeman, Sec'y; Geo. W. Chase, S. D.; Hiram Adams, J. D.; Mark Hill, Tyler. I will endeavor to add to the circulation of the Magazine. Respectfully and fraternally, yours, GEO. W. CHASE. MASONIC INTELLIGENCE. IRELAND. Dublin.-A great Masonic Congress took place in this city, on the 2d Nov., for an account of which we are indebted to our attentive Irish correspondent. At 11 o'clock, A. M. Prince Masons No. 4, held a Rose Croix Chapter. At "high noon"-The Provincial Grand Lodge of North Munster, held the quarterly convocation, (attended by the illustrious Br. Thomas J. Quinton, Sov. Gd. Insp. Genl. Treasurer of the Grand Lodge of Ireland, by the Lodges of the district, and by many visitors.) After the official business was disposed of, the Prov. Grand Master, Br. M. Furnell, worked the degrees of Craft-Masonry, for instruction, giving a lucid lecture thereon. At 1 o'clock P. M. he assisted at labor, The Triune Lodge. At 2 o'clock P. M., he worked the several grades of Royal Arch Masonry in ch. 333, exalting three Companions, thus affording the district a desirable opportunity of attaining perfect uniformity and legitimacy of ceremonial. At seven o'clock the Grand Officers, Provincial Grand Officers, the Officers of Prince Masons ch. No. 4, the Officers of Lodges No. 49, 60, 73, 107, 201, 208, 333, and several distinguished visiting Brethren, Colonel Sir Michael Creagh, F. M. Walsh, 338, Lisbon, &c. &c., were sumptuously entertained by the Provincial Grand Master, at whose hospitable mansion every arrangement had been made for the enjoyment and comfort of his Brethren, consummating one of those days of unmixed pleasure inherent to the associations of those who fraternize in the mystic union. North Munster.-The Emerald Lodge, No. 49, Charleville, (designated the Mother Lodge, in North Munster, whose ancient warrant of constitution, signed by Grand Master Lord Kingston, was granted 12th April, 1730, to Brothers Bruce, Roberts, and Donegan,) held a brilliant re-union on Thursday, Oct. 28th, at Copley's hotel, to testify their esteem and affection for their excellent Provincial Grand Master, Brother Furnell, whom they had specially invited previous to his return to the district last September. The labors were admirably conducted, and several degrees of Craft Masonry conferred, and the P. G. Master passed a well-merited encomium on the Lodge, for their undeviating conformity to the landmarks of the Order-for their uniform fidelity in the observance of the laws, and ordinances of the Grand Lodge of Ireland, for their strict circumspection and care in the admission of candidates, and for the mutual love and unity ever pervading their temple. The subsequent banquet was highly creditable to the "cuisine" of Copley's hotel. The Brethren vied with each other to give a zest to this intellectual and happy meeting, by the recital of many highly interesting Masonic anecdotes, and a handsome offering was raised for the distressed. It was truly cheering to witness three worthy members of the distinguished house of Bruce, nobly fostering the ancient temple, founded and dedicated by their ancestors, to universal philanthropy, morality and truth. UNITED STATES. OHIO. We continue our extracts from the proceedings of the G. Lodge of Ohio : The communication of the Grand Master was referred to the appropriate standing, or select committees, and the several matters therein recommended, were subsequently submitted for the action of the Grand Lodge. We give below such extracts from the proceedings as we think will be most acceptable to our readers, and useful for future reference. We begin with the following report from the pen of our talented friend and Brother, Wm. B. Hubbard, Esq., on the INCREASE OF LODGES. Bro. Hubbard, from the select committee on the Most Worshipful Grand Master's communication, made the following report, which was adopted: The select committee to whom was referred so much of the M. W. Grand Master's annual communication as relates to the rapid increase of Subordinate Lodges, and also the resolution explanatory (as stated) of the organic law on the subject of Masonic qualifications of petitioners, have had the same under consideration, and herewith report: That an opinion has obtained to some extent among the Fraternity, that the compliance with the imperative and preparatory requisitions of the organic law, as contained in articles 12, 13 and 14, gives the Masonic right to the petitioners, and, as a matter of course, to have the dispensation granted. In this opinion your committee do not concur. The provisions alluded to are deemed by your committee of vital importance in reference to the constituting of new Lodges. That they should be faithfully and rigidly observed, and carried out in practice; but that however strictly observed, they by no means take from the M. W. Grand Lodge, the Grand Master, or Deputy, the discretion of withholding their respective assents to the granting of the petition. The power that inherently resides in the Grand Lodge, of granting or withholding its assent for the creation of new Lodges, is, by article 11, vested in the Grand Master and Deputy Grand Master, severally, during the recess of the Grand Lodge. This, as will be seen by inspection, is a grant of power, which may be exercised or not, in the sound judgment and discretion of these respective officers, and agents in that particular, of the Grand Lodge. It is not made an obligatory duty on the part of those officers to grant the dispensation, although otherwise formally correct, or it would have said so; and your committee entertain the belief, in accordance with the ancient usages of the olden Book of Constitutions, that our organic law necessarily implies that the Grand Master, or Deputy, should carefully examine into the nature of the application, the proposed location of the intended Lodge, the proximity it bears to other Lodgeswhether a reasonable support may be expected for it, without, in its progress, injuring the progress and means of adjacent and chartered Lodges-whether such new Lodge, if established, would probably become a burden to the Grand Lodge, instead of a benefit to it, and whether, in fact, and upon a careful survey of all matters relating to it, the Grand Lodge and Masonry in general would be benefited by the admission of the applicant into the family of subordinate Lodges. It is believed, then, on the part of your committee, that the exercise of a sound discretion on the part of the high functionaries, dictated by a knowledge of all the circumstances attending such new application, will rarely result in the granting, improperly, of a warrant of dispensation to establish a new Lodge. But if, for any cause, a dispensation is issued that ought not to have been, the provisions of Masonry are fully adequate to the correction of the error. An imperious duty devolves upon the Grand Lodge, to revise all the doings of its chief officers in its recess, and to approve or disapprove them as it may appear correct, expedient and proper. Sec. 4 of the by-laws points out the course to be pursued in regard to all Lodges working under dispensation, and to grant or withhold charters as the facts developed may justify. Numerous other provisions are to be found throughout our rules and regulations, which, if faithfully observed on the part of the Grand Lodge, will sustain, keep and preserve none but competent and useful subordinates. The present is a period, in the history of Masonry in this State, that may well arouse the most vigilant caution on the part of the Grand Lodge and its officers, as to the admission of new Lodges, and your committee most heartily concur with the M. W. Grand Master in the views by him expressed on this subject. The rapid increase of new Lodges may be considered as an index to the public mind on the subject of Masonry, and that she is no longer unpopular, but popular as an institution. Now is the time, then, for redoubled care and vigilance on the part of those who are intrusted with power and authority to keep and preserve our Order free and uncontaminated. And your committee have, therefore, designedly brought into view and consideration the powers and duties of the grand officers and of the Grand Lodge, to the end that they may be exercised in the true spirit of our institution, and thereby be and remain the anchor and hope of our safety now and evermore. In accordance with these views, and in aid of the various checks and guards that are to be found throughout the whole body of our laws and usages, for the non-admission of improper Lodges, your committee offer and recommend for adoption the following resolutions : Resolved, That the "Masonic qualifications," in addition to the "moral character," required in article XII, relates to the full number of eight named therein, and means that each understand the work of the first three degrees. Resolved, That the standing committee on Charters and Dispensations be instructed to report against the granting of a Charter for any new Lodge when, upon careful examination, it is probable that such new Lodge will, in time to come, be a constant expense or burden to the Grand Lodge. Resolved, That in the opinion of this Grand Lodge the standing Committee on Charters and Dispensations have the undoubted right to report in favor of, or against the issuing of a Charter on a dispensation heretofore, though regularly, issued, as they inay judge for the just interests of the Grand Lodge, of the subordinates working under Charters, and of Masonry in general; and in case such Committee report against the issuing of a Charter to a Lodge applying under Dispensation, they must state and set forth, succinctly, their reasons for such rejection. Resolved, That the M. W. Grand Master, and Deputy Grand Master, in the recess of the Grand Lodge, have the undoubted right, and it is their bounden official duty to grant or withhold warrants of Dispensation for new Lodges, as to them, in the exercise of a sound discretion, may appear for the best interests of Masonry, and although the applications for such dispensations may be formally cor rect. Resolved, That it be recommended to, and required of each subordinate Lodge, by its by-laws, to provide that every applicant for a higher degree shall, before being balloted for such advancement, be examined in open Lodge, and be thus found qualified by a knowledge of, at least, the work and lecture of the degree or degrees by him then possessed. Resolved, That it be recommended to the subordinate Lodges, uniformly, to provide, by their by-laws, that the fees for conferring the first three degrees shall, in no case, be less than twenty dollars. All of which is respectfully submitted. LODGE JURISDICTION. We commend the following report to our readers, for its sound views and true Masonic spirit: Bro. Burr, from the standing committee on Grievances, made the following report, which was agreed to: The committee on Grievances, to whom was referred so much of the Worshipful Grand Master's annual communication as relates to the suspension of Salem Lodge, No. 97, beg leave to report: That after a full and careful examination of papers put into their hands, they are forced to adopt the unwelcome opinion that Salem Lodge, No. 97, have knowingly violated the XV. rule of the Grand Lodge for the government of subordinate Lodges, in this, that the said Salem Lodge received the petitions of two persons who resided within the jurisdiction of Somerset Lodge, No. 76, and, after having asked of that Lodge permission to act upon their petitions, and had received a refusal to their request, proceeded to confer upon the applicants the several degrees appertaining to their Lodge. The action of the Most Worshipful Grand Master, in suspending Salem Lodge, meets with the cordial approbation of your committee. No Lodge should be permitted to violate, with impunity, the rules and regulations of the Grand Lodge to whom they owe allegiance, and a wilful departure from her ordinances should, in all cases, meet with prompt and effectual action by the Grand officers who are intrusted with their preservation. Your committee cannot refrain from giving, at the present time, a word of friendly admonition to the Brethren of Somerset Lodge, No. 76. The jurisdiction of this (Somerset) Lodge appears to reach within a few rods of the door of the Hall of Salem Lodge, and had the reasonable request of Salem Lodge been decided by the golden rule, “ do unto others as you would that they should do unto you," no discordant sound would have disturbed the workmen of our mystic temple. Your committee are convinced that the zeal of the Brethren of Salem Lodge to extend the principles of the Order, in their immediate vicinity, caused them to err, and that the error was more of the head than of the heart. Believing that the broad mantle of a Mason's charity should be extended over erring Brethren, when convinced of their faults, we recommend the adoption of the following resolution: Resolved, That the Most Worshipful Master be requested to restore to the late Master, Wardens and Brethren of Salem Lodge, No. 79, the charter of their Lodge. All of which is respectfully submitted. J. N. BURR, B. WORK, Committee. RESIGNATION OF THE GRAND LECTURER. We take great pleasure in laying before our readers the following from the highly interesting communication of the able and accomplished Grand Lecturer of the State, declining a re-appointment to the office, the arduous duties of which he has discharged, for the last four years, to the unanimous acceptance of his Brethren: And now, dear Brethren, having taxed your patience in the rehearsal of what I have had to regret, I must now crave your indulgence while I repeat a few things that I have had to admire, and that have caused my heart to leap for joy. I have seen the tears of the widow and orphan dried, and they fed and clothed. I have seen the prejudices of the female portion of our friends vanish like the dew before "the brilliant rays of the rising sun." I have seen the drunkard, the gambler, and the profane swearer excluded from a participation in our glorious privileges, I have seen the venerable patriarch, whose locks were whitened by the frosts of some seventy or eighty winters, re-enlist under our banner with the ardor of youth. I have seen an aged father surrounded by seven sons, all Masons. I have seen a father present, and his heart melted into tenderness, when his son, who was about to repair to the seat of war, received those instructions which would enable him, in case of distress, to summon a Brother from the enemy's camp. I have seen a father preside and confer the Master's degree upon his own son, and charge him never to disgrace a jewel intrusted to his care! And I have seen hundreds of our best citizens conducted to the Christian altar through the medium of Masonic teaching. These things so affected my nerves, that I declare to you, if I know myself, that they caused me to love the whole human race; and I would willingly have washed the feet of the humblest member of our venerable Order. Our institution is now in the hands of the best class of citizens of our State. It is to be found in the pulpit, the bench, the bar, with the medical faculty, and in all the ramifications of active business life, both public and private, and all engaged in endeavoring to correct the vices and purify the morals of those around them. Go on, then, dear Brethren, and may your course be onward and upward, until we shall all meet "in that Grand Lodge that 's far awa.” In conclusion, my ardent prayers are, that in selecting my successor, you may be guided by wisdom, and that the lot may fall upon one who can bring to his aid more talents, better skill, and more extensive usefulness. SAMUEL REED, G. Lecturer. Votes of thanks to the Grand Lecturer and Grand Master were unanimously adopted. A resolution was passed to omit in the printed proceedings the names of persons rejected. This is right,—and we are pleased to see this respectable Grand Lodge prompt to recede from a practice of so questionable propriety. Obituary. Pepperell, Dec. 15, 1847. SIR KT. MOORE:-The Masonic family are again reminded, that the leveller of the human race has swept from the roll of the living, two more of their workmen. They were formerly members of St. Paul's Lodge, in Groton, Mass. Their spirits have gone, I humbly trust, to join with kindred spirits in the Celestial Lodge above: Died, in Pepperell, Mass., Dec. 4th, Capt. JEREMIAH ELLIOTT, aged 78. Dec. 10th, Col. JONATHAN BANCROFT, in the 87th year of his age. Col. Bancroft served his country during the war of the American Revolution. He enlisted when quite a lad, under Lieut. Edmund Bancroft, of Pepperell, (his oldest brother,) as his waiter. His brother soon died in Charlestown, of the small pox, and was buried on the west side of Bunker Hill. After this heart-rending scene, young Jonathan had to take his pack and gun, without the instructions of an affectionate brother. He was stationed at West Point at the time of Arnold's treason. Two of his brother soldiers belonging to the same company helped row Arnold down the Hudson river, and put him on board the British sloop of war Vulture. He witnessed the execution of the |