The Grand Lodges of Virginia and Illinois authorized the formation, free of charge, of a Subordinate Lodge in the "Virginia and Illinois regiments of Volunteers," serving in the present war with Mexico, the expense of the Grand Officers in making out the Dispensation, to be paid out of any unappropriated money in the treasury of the Grand Lodge.

Your committee would beg leave to recommend a similar course, when applied to, on the part of the Grand Lodge of Michigan. Surely if there is one field more than another, where the benign influence of the fraternity, both in a moral and pecuniary point of view, is oftener required, it is the battle-field, where the necessary rigors of the camp, and the rigid laws attendant upon all military operations, constantly require a personal exposure in almost every form, accompanied with consequent sickness, broken constitutions, mutilated bodies, and oftentimes death in its most horrid forms, leaving to the cold charities of the world, and the oftentimes tardy operations of an unwieldy national legislature, destitute, superannuated parents, or a hapless wife and family of children.

He also wrote at some length upon the subject of a National Grand Lodge, to which project he was fully committed, as was also the Grand Lodge at that time. The resolutions he reported were adopted and the Grand Lodge was then in hearty accord with the proposed organization. At the election of officers in 1848, Grand Master Lee was re-elected, and the following brothers were also elected to serve for that year:

The annual communication in January, 1849, found twenty-four Lodges represented, and Masonry in the state in a highly prosperous condition. Local disturbances, like the one that has been noticed at Jackson, did not prevent the Institution from advancing with rapid

strides as different parts of the state became populous. James Fenton had been made Grand Secretary, and entered upon that long period of service which lasted for twenty-six years. Abner C. Smith, the late Grand Secretary, was now working as Grand Lecturer, and he did effective work among the Lodges of the state. He visited most of the Lodges and rendered efficient service in promoting harmony of work in accordance with the "Baltimore work," which had been adopted for use. in this state. He spent sixty-six days in this work, and most of the time spent forenoons, afternoons, and evenings in giving instruction to the Lodges. Some of his thoughts and conclusions are here quoted:

At almost every point brethren of experience and Masonic age and worth, are to be found ready and willing to conform to the national work adopted by this Grand Lodge, and the undersigned would report with pride and pleasure the cordiality with which he has been met by almost every person connected with the order, during his Grand Visitation.

Mental quarries yielding specimens for the finest of perfect ashlars are of every day occurrence, yet in case of new enlistments there will of course be some degree of confusion for want of proper designs upon the trestle board.

It was not to be expected that brethren emigrating to Michigan from every quarter of the globe should, at once, agree in practice; but the zeal manifested for the establishment of uniformity by the entire fraternity is worthy of all praise.

The efforts of the Grand Lodge in this respect should be continued with a steady and unwavering hand, and by tutors of her own appointment, if she expects to arrive at uniformity in work upon Ancient Craft masonry. Itinerant and selfconstituted lecturers should be discountenanced, except in lodges to which they are attached.

During my Grand Visitations I came in contact with one or two honorary degrees of anomalous character, which it is believed are circulating extensively in all parts of our state, and indeed throughout the entire west.

So far as I have been able to judge, they are purely American in their origin, and have no affinity, either with adoptive masonry (so called) of France, or with Ancient Craft Masonry, and ought not in any manner to be connected with it, and when properly conferred the fact should be so stated. In their proper places and in proper hands, the undersigned can see no great objection to them, but on the contrary much good that might result to some of those so nearly and dearly allied by the ties of affinity or consanguinity to the brethren. They by no means belong to a chapter or a lodge, and should never be given within their walls. Timely admonition on the part of the Grand Lodge may not be inappropriate, that the honor of Ancient Craft Masonry may continue unsullied and undebased by the inventive genius of the present age.

Brother Smith formulated a set of "Rules for the government of Lodges in cases of trials of members and others for illegal offences," which embodied many of the features of the present "Penal Code," but at that time such a set of rules was not considered necessary and they were not adopted. This brother was authorized to revise the constitution and submit the same at the next annual meeting.

On motion of Brother Moors, it was resolved that a committee of five be appointed to take into consideration the propriety of applying to the legislature for an act to incorporate this Grand Lodge, and report as soon as may be.

After giving the subject due consideration the committee authorized him to report as follows, and the report was adopted and a committee appointed to carry into effect its provisions:

That to enable the grand or subordinate lodges to build Masonic Halls, hold property, or transact any legal business in the name and behalf of the respective lodges, it is necessary that the Grand Lodge should be incorporated with power to establish subordinate lodges. For the want of such authority some of the lodges have been subjected to serious loss, as is known to your committee.

We therefore recommend the passage of a resolution.

Resolved, That a committee of three be appointed to draft a suitable bill to incorporate this Grand Lodge with necessary power, and that a copy be sent to Br. Wm. F. Chittenden, in the House of Representatives, and a copy to Br. Geo. R. Griswold in the Senate, with a request that they use their efforts to get the same passed this session of the Legislature.

The following Grand Officers were elected to serve during the year 1849:

M. W. JEREMIAH MOORS, Grand Master.
R. W. PAUL B. RING, Deputy Grand Master.
JOHN STEWART, Senior Grand Warden.
W. H. MCOMBER, Junior Grand Warden.
JAMES FENTON, Grand Secretary.

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After the new officers were installed Brother Ring offered the following resolution, which was adopted:

Resolved, That this Grand Lodge tender to M. W. G. M., E. Smith Lee, their heartfelt thanks for the able, dignified and impartial manner in which he has presided over its deliberations for the past two years. And as a further testimony of our respect and esteem, a committee of three be appointed by the chair, whose duty shall be to procure at the expense of this Grand Lodge, a Past Master's Jewel, and present the same to him.

The committee was also directed to procure a similar jewel for P. G. M. John Mullett.

In retiring from the Grand Master's chair, Brother Lee addressed the Grand Lodge in these words:

Brethren of the Grand Lodge:

Being about to retire from this chair, to which you have elected me for two successive terms, I cannot withhold from you an expression of my thanks, for this distinguished mark of your confidence. The office is the highest in the gift of the fraternity, and one which any mason may be proud to hold. But yet it is one of immense responsibility, one on the due and faithful administration of which depends in a great measure the prosperity and happiness of the whole jurisdiction.

From the first moment of my election to the present time, I have never ceased to feel a diffidence in my ability, to discharge the duties devolving upon me, and have constantly feared, lest I might do some act, or neglect some duty by which the institution might suffer. How well I have succeeded in my efforts to elevate the institution in this jurisdiction, I leave for yourselves, and those that shall come after us to determine.

In taking my leave of you, it cannot be out of place to take a retrospect of the past, and contrast the condition of our jurisdiction at this time with what it was two years since. We were then comparatively a feeble band; our lodges few in number, and their members weak in masonic faith. It is true, inquiries were beginning to be made for the old paths; but our brethren had wandered so long in the wilderness they had almost forgotten their native Zion, and had well nigh lost their mother tongue.

While tracing the steps, one by one, by which we have advanced, look at our condition now! Never, in my judgment, was the Institution of Freemasonry in a more flourishing condition than at the present moment; never were the sublime prin

ciples of the order better understood, or more highly valued than now. In proof of this assertion, look at the peace and happiness almost universally prevailing among our brethren, see what numbers of our best and most enlightened citizens are seeking admission to the mysteries of the order; our subordinate lodges are crowded, emulous "who best can work and best agree," and as higher evidence still this Hall has been crowded at this communication by delegates from independent lodges to a degree never known before. These are evidences of prosperity which cannot be mistaken.

rest.

But in the midst of all this prosperity I am rejoiced to be relieved from the responsibilities of office; during my official career I have passed through one scene of discord, which has given me more pain than all my official duties beside. I allude to the difficulties at Jackson, and had hoped that the prompt and decided action of this Grand Body, at its last communication had put the elements that created it at But in this I was deceived; I was applied to during the past vacation for a dispensation to form another lodge at that village. This, after due care and full investigation, I denied upon its merits, and gave the applicants my reasons fully in writing. This I should not have mentioned at this time had it not been for a resolution passed to-day on the same subject; and now, allow me to raise my warning voice. I feel entitled to do so; not not by reason of the position to which I have been elevated alone, but more especially from my age and experience. I have been

a member of the order for near thirty years; in the early part of my masonic life I stood my ground, under persecution the most violent, where many of our oldest, and then thought to be the best, were found to falter and fail. In the last few years of my life, though I have not been less active and zealous, age has cooled my passion, and I have been led to examine and scrutinize more closely the actions and motives of men.

In the resolution above alluded to, I fear you have done an act you will have reason to regret. I fear that true masonic principle has given place to expediency; if so, depend upon it, there is danger ahead; and yet I sincerely hope all will yet be well, and that my fears in this case will be found groundless.

And now, my brethren, finally let me say, it is no ways probable we shall all meet together again in Grand Communication here; life is uncertain to us all. The absence of some well known and much loved ones, that were with us last year, and who have now passed away from their probation, admonish us, that we too must be summoned hence; how soon we know not. Let us therefore assiduously cherish and cultivate the genuine principles of our order, that when summoned from our labors on earth, we may enjoy everlasting rest in the Supreme Lodge above.

I wish you one and all, an affectionate farewell.