long and honorable career as Grand Visitor and Lecturer in this year, and laid the foundation for that excellent system of visitation and instruction which has since been so well perfected and successfully followed. A few words from his first report will give the reader an idea of the condition of the work among the lodges at that time.

The undersigned, Grand Visitor and Lecturer, respectfully reports, that at the last Annual Communication of the Grand Lodge, there were eighty-eight Lodges registered within this jurisdiction, which I was expected to visit. At that time, six new Charters were granted, and since then, six Dispensations have been issued by the Grand Master, making, in all, one hundred and two Lodges. One hundred of these I have visited once, and twelve of them I have visited twice. In the discharge of my duty I have traveled upwards of eight thousand miles, and devoted my entire time to the business.

In the course of my investigations, I found much of the work in the State modeled after the Webb and Preston lectures, rather than those arranged and adopted at Baltimore in 1843; and, in order to perform my duty faithfully, I have constantly endeavored to impress upon the Brethren, the importance of conforming their work to the standard adopted by this Grand Lodge in 1847. It gives me pleasure to state, that I have uniformly found the officers of the several Lodges willing to receive instruction, whenever such instruction was necessary, and that they have manifested a laudable desire, not only to aid me in promoting uniformity in our work, but also to elevate the character of our Institution in every respect.

The eight hundred officers of Lodges in this jurisdiction, embody an amount of education, talent and energy, rarely found in any other Institution; and all that is required to make the Order in Michigan a continued source of honor and profit to the Brethren at large, is, a persistent effort on the part of the Grand Lodge to promote, among the subordinate Lodges, as far as practicable, uniformity of work, harmony of action, and an enlarged view of the tenets of our Order. Our Brethren are aware, that Free Masonry is founded upon certain grand and noble principles, which I have deemed it my duty to inculcate, and impress upon the Lodges; that their meetings, at all times, whether few or many are present, may be regular, dignified and profitable. But in order that those principles may be properly developed, and presented in an agreeable and inviting form, it is absolutely necessary that Lodges should select for their Masters, men who are not merely capable of presenting the subject of Masonry in a cold and lifeless manner, but who, being themselves deeply imbued with the soul of Masonry, can present its spirited ritual to their Brethren, as a living, breathing reality-the perfection of moral excellence and beauty, illuminated by the divine spirit of poetic truth. It is with pleasure I add, that among the many talented officers of Lodges within this jurisdiction, they are few, indeed, who are not striving to infuse a degree of life and spirit into their work, which is above all praise.

When any portion of the work was not clearly defined by the Lectures, I have requested the Lodges to adopt a uniform standard, in accordance with my views of Masonic Order, gathered from the highest authority; leaving, however, to their judgment simple matters of taste, in order to avoid unnecessary officiousness on subjects of minor importance.

Considerable discussion was had over the question of the pay of the Grand Lecturer and finally the following resolution was adopted:

Resolved, That those Lodges desiring visits of instruction from the Grand Lecturer, may, on application to the M. W. Grand Master, and his consent thereto, be entitled to the visits and lectures of the Grand Lecturer; and that there may be allowed to the Grand Lecturer, from the Treasury of the Grand Lodge, the sum of $10, for each visit so permitted by the M. W. Grand Master; and that each Subordinate Lodge desiring such lecture and visit, shall pay to the Grand Lecturer the additional compensation required.

The following were chosen as Grand Officers for the year 1858.

WILLIAM M. FENTON, of Flint, Grand Master.

J. A. ALLEN, M. D., of Kalamazoo, Deputy Grand Master,

H. T. FARNUM, of Hillsdale, Senior Grand Warden.

B. B. CHURCH, of Grand Rapids, Junior Grand Warden.
REV. B. F. DOUGHTY, of Centreville, Grand Chaplain.
JAMES FENTON, of Detroit, Grand Secretary.

W. H. MCOMBER, of Niles, Grand Treasurer.

S. BLANCHARD, of Tecumseh, Grand Visitor and Lecturer.

E. A. BROWN, of Berrien, Senior Grand Deacon.

E. LEACH, of Owosso, Junior Grand Deacon.

J. P. WHITING, of Detroit, Grand Marshal.

W. P. MILLS, of Grand Rapids, Grand Sword Bearer.

T. B. ELDRED, of Climax, Grand Pursuivant.

CHARLES D. HOWARD, of Detroit, Grand Steward and Tiler.

ADMINISTRATION OF WILLIAM M. FENTON.

GRAND MASTER. 1858.

William M. Fenton was born in Norwich, Chenango County, New York, December 19, 1808. He graduated from Hamilton College in 1826, at the head of his class, and within a year sailed from Charleston, South Carolina, as a common sailor. Four years later he became first mate of a merchantman and received the offer of a captaincy on a similar vessel, which he declined to accept. In April 1835, he married a daughter of Judge Birdsall, of Norwich, and in July settled in Pontiac, Michigan. In 1837 he removed to Genesee County and engaged in mercantile, milling and in real estate transactions in the village of Fenton, which bears his name. In 1842 he was admitted to the bar. In 1844 he was Democratic candidate for Representative in the state legislature for Genesee County, but was defeated. In 1846 he was elected to the state senate from the district composing the counties of Genesee, Oakland, Macomb and Livingston. While in the legislature he was instrumental in securing the establishment of the State Institution for the Deaf and Dumb, and its location at Flint. In 1848 and 1850 he was elected Lieutenant Governor. In 1852 he was appointed by President Pierce, Register of the Land Office at Flint, and held the position until the office was removed to Saginaw. He was Mayor of Flint for one year. On the breaking out of the civil war he used his whole influence to sustain the Union. In 1861, knowing that difficulties of a financial nature involved the government, he telegraphed to Governor Blair that five thousand dollars of his private means were at the disposal of the state for the Michigan troops. Early in 1861 he was chosen Major of the Seventh Michigan Infantry, but before being