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otherwise, that we may have fallen into some errors. corrected at the earliest opportunity.

If so, they will be

THE PUBLIC EXERCISES,

Which took place on Wednesday morning, were of a high and eminently satisfactory order. The procession was composed of about three hundred Brethren, of the various Masonic grades, nearly one-third of whom, we judge, were Knights Templars, in their rich regalia. They made a beautiful appearance, as did the whole procession.

We take great pleasure in transferring to our pages the following notice from the Ohio State Journal. The reference to Comp. Dean is alike beautiful and touching :

"This was the first time these bodies [the G. G. Chap. and Encamp.] had ever held their meetings west of the Alleghanies; and the occasion will long be remembered by the Fraternity here, and the recollection will be cherished by them, as of an event which brought together among them an assemblage of age, respectability, and moral and social worth, such as it is rare and refreshing to look upon. These bodies hold their meetings once in three years; and in consideration of their having resolved to hold the present meeting in Columbus, the Grand Chapter and Grand Encampment of Ohio, at their annual meeting a year ago, adjourned to meet here at the same time. This brought together a respectable portion of the representatives of the Fraternity of this State.

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These several bodies being duly organised, and a large number of the Fraternity in attendance, as visitors, a grand procession was formed on Wednesday, which, passing through some of the principal streets, was conducted to the first Presbyterian Church, the use of which had been kindly tendered for the occasion. The following order of exercises was observed at the church:

1. Prayer, by Rev. Dr. Hoge. 2. Ode by the Choir-"Should Auld Acquaintance be Forgot," &c. 3. Address of Welcome, by Comp. W. B. Hubbard. 4. Response, on behalf of the General Grand Encampment, by A. Bull, of N. Y., G. G. M. On behalf of the General Grand Chapter, by Comp. Rev. Paul Dean, of Boston. 5. Ode by the Choir-" All hail to the morning that bids us rejoice." 6. Benediction, by Rev. Comp. A. Case, of Worcester, Mass.

Mr. Hubbard, having, as the representative of Ohio, tendered to the Fraternity a warın, cordial, and hearty Welcome to our Lodges, Chapters, and Encampments,' dwelt somewhat at length upon the principles, ends, and aims of the Masonic Institution, its origin and antiquity-and closed by again bidding the Fraternity from abroad Welcome.

The responses of Messrs. Bull and Dean, the one on behalf of the Templars, the other for the Companions, were handsome and appropriate. Mr. Dean, though for many years accustomed to public speaking, and that too in the literary emporium, was affected with deep emotion on this occasion. We know not how others were moved by his remarks-but to us, the sound of his voice stole over our senses as the tones of music, called afresh to memory after a long and almost oblivious repose. They carried us back to the days of our early childhood, when the same kindly voice of this venerable speaker, was employed in conveying to our mind the rudimental lessons of education."

We have a pretty full report of the address by Comp. Hubbard, but have not been able to find leisure to write it out; and if we had, we could

not have found room for it in the present number. It was an able and interesting performance, and presented some views out of the beaten track of such productions. We may hereafter write out at least the principal points, and lay them before our readers.

The levee at Comp. Hubbard's, in the evening, was a beautiful finale to the proceedings and rejoicings of the day. It was well attended by the members of both bodies; all of whom were made happy by the kind attentions and hospitalities of the excellent host and his lady.

GENERAL GRAND LODGE.

THE National Masonic Convention for the purpose of considering the expediency of establishing a General Grand Lodge for the United States, assembled at the Masons' Hall, in the city of Baltimore, Md., on Thursday, the 23d day of September last.

The States of Maryland, North Carolina, Georgia, Alabama, Florida, Mississippi, Arkansas, and the District of Columbia, were represented.

R. W. WILLIAM P. MELLEN, Esq., of Mississippi, was chosen President of the Convention, and R. W. JOSEFH ROBINSON, Esq., of Maryland, Secretary.

A Constitution for a "Supreme Grand Lodge for the United States," was presented and adopted by the Convention, and ordered to be submitted for the consideration and adoption, or otherwise, of the Grand Lodges in the country. If prior to the 1st of January, 1849, sixteen Grand Lodges shall approve of and adopt the Constitution, then the Convention is to reassemble in the city of Baltimore, in May, 1849, for the purpose of organizing the Grand Lodge as proposed. If, on the contrary, the Constitution should not be approved by sixteen Grand Lodges, then the whole matter will be terminated and void.

R. W. CHARLES GILMAN, Esq., of Maryland, and LEMUEL DWELLE, Esq., of Georgia, were appointed a committee to draft an address to the Grand Lodges and Fraternity, on the subject, to be published with the official account of the proceedings, which, when received, will be laid before our readers.

We were not present at the Convention, but understand that the meeting was a very pleasant one, and that the general impression seemed to be that the Constitution, which, we are told, is very short and comprehensive, will be adopted by the requisite number of Grand Lodges.

THE MASON'S WIDOW.

MR. MOORE:-The "Anecdotes Illustrative of the Advantages of Masonry under Peculiar Circumstances," published in the July number of the Magazine, recalled to my mind an incident within my own knowledge, which I have thought might not be unworthy of relation, as another illustration of "the advantages of Masonry," though under circumstances quite dissimilar to those in the case of the anecdotes referred to.

In the seaport town of P

in New England, there resided, in my boyhood, the widow of Capt. W- a lady then rather advanced in years. Her husband, who was a shipmaster, was lost at sea within a few years from their marriage, leaving for her solace and support, an only son, upon whom she doated with a mother's pride and hope. Having been educated in the best schools of the place, and arrived at that age when young men are anxious to enter into some pursuit for life, he sought, and-through the aid of influential friends and his own acknowledged merits-obtained, a Midshipman's warrant in the Navy. The vessel to which he was appointed was ordered to the Mediterranean, for the protection of our commerce, which at that period-(the carly part of the last war with Great Britain)-was jeoparded in every sea.

The widow-it may be presumed-parted with her idol boy with mingled emotions of fear and hope: fear, that, by disaster of the sea or of battle, he might never return to her, and hope, that he might not only be spared for her comfort and support, but become distinguished among those who win glory for their country and lasting renown for themselves. But her hopes were doomed to be disappointed and her worst fears to be realized. The first intelligence of her son that she received after the departure of the vessel, conveyed the sad tidings that he was no more. He had fallen from the mast-head while on duty, and survived his disaster but a short time:

"Alas for Time, and Death, and Care!

What gloom about our path they fling!"

A widow and childless-bereft of those whose being was a part of her own, and who constituted her security from trouble-she had early experienced the keenest pangs that rend the bosom of the mother and the wife, and had now become wedded to sorrow.

Abandoning the so-called "genteel" (more properly, luxurious) style of living, to which she had been accustomed, and disposing, at much sacrifice, of all superfluities in dress, ornaments and household appurtenances which, in better days, had been provided for her gratification and comfort by him who was now among the dead of the deep, she prepared herself to encounter, as best she could, the rude current of misfortune which she saw setting towards her. She had more than herself to provide for :-she was burdened with the charge and support of an aged and invalid aunt, helpless and bed-ridden.

Her own small means were soon exhausted; but, though almost broken-hearted, she did not yet sink in despair; for she had the consolation of knowing that, though some who had pretended friendship for her and courted her society in the days of her sunshine, had deserted her in the days of her gloom, there were others both able and willing to assist her, if apprised that their assistance was

needed. Upon these she now depended; and, through their charity,—that charity which is "twice blessed," her most pressing wants were provided for. But, alas for the mutations of time and the inconstancy of things temporal!-one after another of these supports left her, some, through reverse of fortune, becoming low reduced like herself; others falling under the blighting touch of death, and, ere long, of those who had been her props in her adversity, not one was left who could longer befriend her.

The poor widow's circumstances were now straitened indeed, and Want began to stare her boldly in the face.

Is it asked "Why did she not work to gain the means for comfortable living?"—I answer, it was her misfortune (for such, in all cases, it really is,) to have been brought up in ignorance of all gain-bringing work,-a parental error by far too common, and whose evils are often sadly exemplified in the disastrous transitions from affluence or competence to penury and want. Wise and dutiful are those parents who instruct their children in some useful art, on which, if need be, they can depend for an honest livelihood; and fortunate are those children thus accomplished and defended.

But to resume. The poor widow had now reached the worst of her extremity. I will not relate, though I could, the many and various miseries of destitution which she met and endured before she subdued that pride of spirit (less often perhaps a fault than a disadvantage,) which had prevented her divulging to any one whom she knew to be friendly towards her, the real nature of her distress. But this, at last, perforce, she did: and her tale of sorrow, heard by one who had been attached to her husband by other than the common ties of friendship, was by him whispered into the ears of other "brethren of the mystic tie,"—and, from this time through several successive years, during which I was intimately acquainted with her circumstances, I can attest that she lacked not for the necessaries of life. Her house-rent had been assumed by a relative of her husband, resident in Boston; but the other means of comfortable living were mainly supplied by some (to her) unknown but unfailing benefactors: and for the bounty which made her its beneficiary and saved her from the worst miseries of destitution, she was doubtless indebted to the fortunate circumstance of being a Mason's widow.

ANCIENT OPERATIVE MASONS.

In a late lecture before Oak Lodge, London, Br. Pryer, the able archeologist, gave interesting details of the works of ancient operative Masons, particularly of Strasburg cathedral. Numerous records of the Fraternity were adduced, and it was shown that the ancient Brethren possessed the same passwords, signs and tokens, and used the same emblems as are known and practised at the present day. It appeared that the cathedral of St. Paul, London, was the last great work constructed by them in their operative character, under the direction of the distinguished Brother, Sir Christopher Wren, the Deputy Grand Master. Br. P. adduced a series of "marks" used by the ancient building fraternities, which proved the universality of the system adopted from the earliest times.

TRIBUTE TO MASONRY.

BY A LADY.

Communicated for this Magazine.

On! Masonry! glorious Masonry thy destiny is immortal! Thy great Grand Master the Lord of Lords and King of Kings! When shall man fully understand what has been committed to him? When shall he appreciate thy sublime and soul-inspiring truths? When shall thy followers feel the responsibilities that rest upon them-the trust reposed in them? He who by miracle has preserved thee, who hast scattered thy enemies, who has directed his chosen to the place where thy sacred records were deposited, shall cause his face to shine upon thee, and shall make thy "goings forth as brightness," and shall cause thy light to shine even to the remotest corners of the earth.

Thy unprofitable followers shall be cut off as cumberers of the ground, and others more trustworthy and pure-minded shall take their places, to spread thy glorious truths and exemplify thy moral beauties. Thy course must be upward and onward! Thy enlightening and refining spirit must and will pervade and beautify the hearts of thousands now grovelling in darkness and superstition. At thy shrine all may bow except the atheist: he must stand aside. He cannot enter thy sacred portals. There, the high and the low, the rich and the poor, stand on one wide platform. There, Christian, Jew and Mahomedan may congregate, and say to each other, Thou art my brother.

Within thy bosom, oh Masonry! thou bearest a key-a master key-that shall eventually open the casket of truth! that shall establish the divinity of the Messiah that shall carry conviction to the hearts of many who will not place themselves within reach of our holy religion, whose elder sister thou art. And as such methinks it is thy province to restore those who crucified their Lord! They may search deeply into thy hidden mysteries-they may even enter thy sacred Royal Arch and Holy of Holies, without a knowledge of that truth upon which rests all hopes of eternal happiness: but beyond this, they may not far explore until the bright effulgence of gospel light shall reveal the true Messiah-the Rabboni of Jew and Gentile-the immaculate Son of God-the man of sorrows-the meek and lowly Nazarene-the Prince of Peace. Thy great antiquity, thy ancient institutions, thy rites and ceremonies, so intimately connected with his own beloved nation, will lure the Israelite to the base of the Triangle, beyond which he need not far penetrate before the pearl of great price, the inestimable gem of salvation, bursts upon his astonished sight, and in the rapture of awakened hope, he exclaims, "My Lord and my God!"

Oh! why do not Christian Masons awake, when so extended a field lies open before them-when within themselves they have such formidable weapons! when before them lies so glorious a prize? Into his own hands will Jehovah take the cause, unless man better performs his part. Yes! let Masonry plant her standard on every shore, and let her members exemplify her beautiful teachings by their daily conduct, encouraging the weak and erring; soothing and cheering the sorrowing and afflicted, instructing the ignorant, and carrying comfort to the hearts of all within their reach, and there is then no fear for her. Then, indeed, shall nations rise up and call her blessed: then shall the "wings of the cherubim" constantly overshadow her. Why is it that so many appear interested in thee, and yet remain so heartless, when thy cause is so truly noble and grand! the study of thy sublime and holy mysteries so replete with interest and so well calculated to soften and beautify human nature? Oh! may the power of the Highest rest upon thy teachers: May thy officers be endowed with heavenly wisdom: May the great Grand Master of heaven preside over thy assemblies, and direct their deliberations! May he touch their hearts with a self-sacrificing and self-forgetting generosity, and may the blessings of the poor and needy, of the indigent orphan, of the ignorant heathen, of the prejudiced Israelite, rise as sweet incense before the Eternal Throne!

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