11 Sir Kt. Stapleton, from the committee on the subject, reported as follows: THE LATE SIR ROBERT SMITH. It having been announced to this Gen. Grand Encampment, that Sir Knight ROBERT SMITH, of Portsmouth, N. H., late Gen. Grand Sen. Warden, has departed this life, it becomes us to bow submissively to the mandate of the Supreme Grand Master, and to be instructed by his providence. Resolved, That while we lament the loss of our late Sir Knight, Robert Smith, we will endeavor to cherish a remembrance of his virtues-his Masonic zeal and uprightness. Resolved, That we deeply sympathize with the family of the deceased, and with the Fraternity of which he was a worthy member, in the loss of the husband and of a worthy Sir Knight. The resolutions were unanimously adopted. Adjourned to 8 o'clock tomorrow morning. THE GENERAL GRAND ENCAMPMENT Friday, Sept. 17. Was called to order at 8 o'clock. Prayer by the Grand Prelate. The record of yesterday's proceedings was read and approved. Sir Kt. Gould, from the committee on Warrants, reported, that a Charter be granted to St. Louis Encampment, No. 1. The report was accepted. This is the first Encampment in Missouri. The committee to whom the subject had been referred, reported that the Grand Encampment of Virginia, was not a legally organized body, and recommended that all intercourse between it and the Grand and subordinate Encampments recognising the authority of the Gen. Grand Encampment, be suspended. The report was adopted. The same committee, through their chairman, Sir Kt. Case, reported a resolution authorising the re-organization of the Encampment at Fayetteville, N. C. The report was adopted. The Grand Encampment then resolved itself into a committee of the whole, for the choice of officers. Sir Kts. Hammatt, of Mass., Sanford, of Conn.; and Gould, of Georgia, were appointed a committee to collect and report the ballots. The tellers returned the whole number of votes which might be legally cast, at 38. The elections then proceeded and resulted as follows: M. E. Wm. B. Hubbard, of Columbus, G. G. Master. 66 66 E. J. K. Stapleton, of Maryland, D. G. G. Master. 66 66 E. A. Raymond, of Massachusetts, G. G. Treasurer. 66 W. T. Gould, of Georgia, G. G. St. Bearer. S. W. Robinson, of Massachusetts, G. G. Warder. The election having been completed, the committee rose and reported the result to the Gen. Grand Encampment. The report was adopted. The Gen. Grand Recorder was appointed a committee to inform Sir Wm. B. Hubbard of his election. Sir Kt. Gilman made a communication in relation to Maryland Encampment, No. 1, at Baltimore. Whereupon the Gen. G. Encampment revoked the Charter of said Encampment, and directed that proceedings be instituted against the late Recorder of it, before Washington Encampment, at Washington, D. C.; which body was invested with full powers to try any charges that might be preferred against the Sir Kt. in question. And Sir Joseph K. Stapleton was authorised to restore the charter and reorganise said Maryland Encampment, whenever a sufficient number of proper persons shall petition him for that purpose, if in his opinion the interests of the Order in Maryland will be promoted thereby. Sir Wm. H. Ellis submitted the report of the committee of Finance, which was adopted. We are not able to state the details of the report. The balance in the hands of the Treasurer is $226 15., A communication was received from the Grand Encampment of Ohio, announcing the death of Sir John Barney, which we shall take the earliest opportunity to lay before our readers. Br. Barney was an intelligent and zealous Mason, and his loss will be sincerely regretted by all who knew him. Sir Kt. Hubbard presented a communication from the Grand Encampment of Ohio, proposing certain questions as to the jurisdiction of subordinate Encampments, which was referred to Sir Kts. Moore, of Mass., Gould, of Georgia, and Barnum, of New York. Adjourned. THE GENERAL GRAND CHAPTER Assembled immediately after the adjournment of the G. G. Encampment, and forthwith resolved itself into a committee of the whole for the choice of officers-Comp. Ellis in the chair. Comps. Gould, of Georgia, Courtney, of Maryland, and Lewis, of Louisiana, were appointed a committee to collect and report the ballots. The tellers returned the whole number of votes which might be cast, at 68. Comp. Dean having declined a re-election, the result of the balloting was as follows: M. E. Robert P. Dunlap, of Maine, G. G. II. P. 66 The committee then rose and reported their doings to the G. G. Chapter, and they were unanimously confirmed. The officers present were then installed by Comp. Dean, who was also requested to take the necessary steps for the early installation of the G. G. H. P. elect. Comps. Raymond, Barnum and Ellis were appointed a committee to notify the Hon. Robert P. Dunlap of his election as G. G. H. P. Comp. Dean was subsequently added to this committee. The committee of Finance submitted their report, which was adopted. The balance in the hands of the Treasurer is $2849 15. Comp. Moore, of Mass., offered a series of resolutions complimentary to the retiring G. G. H. P., but not having taken a copy of them, their publication must be deferred until next month. On motion of Comp. Lewis, a committee consisting of Comps. Lewis, Raymond and Gould, was appointed to procure and present a Gold Jewel to Comp. Dean, in token of the respect entertained by his Companions for his personal and Masonic character and services. The G. G. Chapter was then adjourned to 8 o'clock, tomorrow morning. THE GENERAL GRAND CHAPTER Saturday, Sept. 18. Met as per adjournment last evening. Prayer by Rev Comp. Donahoo. The record of yesterday's proceedings was read and approved. Comp. Raymond, charged at the last triennial communication with the duty of procuring new regalia for the use of the Grand Chapter, presented his report, which was approved, and the thanks of the Chapter tendered to him for the very acceptable and tasteful manner in which he had discharged the duty of his appointment. Comp. Haswell petitioned for authority to revive Chapter No. 12, at Burlington, Vt., which was granted. Comp. Hammatt offered an amendinent to the 3d section of the 1st article of the Gen. Grand Constitution, the effect of which, if adopted, will be to give to Past G. H. Priests of State Grand Chapters, a vote in the G. G. Chapter. Laid on the table to be acted upon at the next meeting. A resolution was adopted ordering 500 copies of the proceedings to be printed for distribution. Comp. Mitchell was installed as G. H. P. of the Grand Chapter of Missouri, by Comp. C. W. Moore, G. H. P. of the Grand Chapter of Mass. There being no further business, the Gen. Grand Chapter was closed at 10 o'clock, until the second Tuesday in September, 1850. THE GENERAL GRAND ENCAMPMENT Was called to order by Sir Joseph K. Stapleton, at half past 10 o'clock the G. G. Master, Sir Archibald Bull, having left the city. The record of yesterday was read and approved. Sir Kt. Moore, of Mass., in behalf of the committee to whom was referred the interrogatories submitted by the Grand Encampment of Ohio, offered a report, which was adopted. The report embraced three points : 1. That it is not competent for the G. G. Encampment to interfere with the jurisdictions of the State Grand Encampments. 2. That the jurisdiction of a subordinate Encampment extends to one-half the distance, in all directions, between itself and the next nearest Encampment; provided— 3. That the jurisdiction of a subordinate Encampment cannot extend into the limits of another State where there is an Encampment established. We state the points from memory, but believe we are correct in them. The report will be published hereafter. The committee on next place of meeting reported in favor of Boston, and the report was adopted. Sir Kt. Hammatt, at the request of Sir Kt. Stapleton, installed the Grand Master elect, who, on taking the chair, acknowledged in appropriate terms the honor conferred upon him. Sir Kt. Hammatt, at his request, then installed the remaining officers. A vote of thanks to the late Grand Master was offered and adopted, and Sir Kts. Mitchell, Raymond and Ellis were appointed a committee to procure and present to him a suitable jewel. The thanks of the G. G. Encampment were presented to the Grand Chapter and Encampment, and State Officers of Ohio,-to the first, for the kind reception and fraternal courtesies received, and to the latter for the use of the Senate Chamber and other accommodations. Sir Kt. Raymond, charged at the last meeting with procuring new regalia, made a report, which was accepted, and he further authorised to procure a sufficiency for all the officers. Sir Kt. Mitchell was installed as G. Com. of St. Louis Encampment, by the D. G. G. Master; and the absent G. G. officers were directed to be installed by the Grand Encampments of the States in which they reside. Five hundred copies of the proceedings were then ordered to be printed, and the Gen. Grand Encampment was closed until the 2d Tuesday in September, 1850. Thus were these important and interesting meetings brought to a close, after an active and laborious session of five days. A large amount of important business was transacted,-probably larger than at any previous session. The principal committees were overloaded with documents, and consequently subjected to severe labor,-most of which had to be performed in the hours usually devoted to rest. We believe, however, that the business, as a whole, has been well performed, and that on a careful examination of all the results arrived at, there will be found but little real cause for regret, and but few errors to be corrected. Delegates were present from seventeen States and the District of Columbia-making a much larger representation than at any previous mecting since the organization of these bodies. There were some questions of interest discussed and opinions advanced, to which we may hereafter refer. Several important reports, involving matters of special interest, were presented and acted upon. As we could not do justice to these by a synopsis, we have preferred to wait till the official report of the proceedings comes to hand, when these reports will be given in extenso. It appeared from the excellent report of Comp. Stapleton, that he had issued eleven dispensations for new Chapters, since the last triennial meeting in 1844. This we presume to be a larger number than has ever be fore been issued by one officer, in the same length of time, since the organization of the General Grand Chapter. In addition to these, one or more new Grand Chapters has been organised, and several old ones resuscitated. We think it is entirely safe to assume, that at no former period has R. A. Masonry in America been in a more healthy condition than it is at the present time. The affairs of the General Grand Encampment are equally prosperous. Several new Encampments have been authorised, and permission granted for the organization of at least one new Grand Encampment. But of these and some other matters, we shall be able to speak more confidently when we receive the official proceedings from the General Grand Secretary. We cannot close without bearing our testimony to the able and faithful manner in which the responsible officers of both these eminent bodies have discharged their duties during the interregnum. To some of them these duties have been more than usually onerous. This is particularly true in respect to Comp. Stapleton, who holds the second office in both institutions, and to Comp. Gilman, the Gen. Grand Secretary and Recorder. Through the perseverance and untiring industry of the latter, the affairs of both bodies have in a great measure been brought out of chaos into order; and on the former has devolved much of the labor, and to him is due the credit of having established nearly all of the new Chapters and Encampments that have been originated since the last triennial meeting. It is proper to say, that the preceding sketch of the doings of the Gen. Grand Bodies, is written out mainly from memory, aided by such imperfect notes as our other engagements allowed us to take. It is altogether probable, therefore,-indeed it would be remarkable if it should prove |