ster last ye

We fuld it admitted on eli

spel as with the idene, that Br.

e first of the s ties of ass through whom tl is nua his

times; our investigons are thus narrowed down to the other Wobb-Preston, as pight by B ». Morris, is this ritual

to rest this point upon an inprication.

se, Irinots and Vermont, ter the proof.

He refers us to Kan

We have examined his

as we have set forth above, we find them to be simply, air nation on of the withenticity of the work of Thomas Sadth Webb Verer, and difcedy chrges the “conser caters,” of which B.o. Morris Amself to be the originator and chicf, with "changing the work,

and without authority. Having thus, finally, disposed of Bro. Rob Morris' pretended claim, it only remains to be shown that the Baltimore work, as ever practiced in Michigan, is the genuine and ancient system of Thomas Smith Webb; which, being proved, all thoughts of "a change in the work of the Order," must, of course, be abandoned, now and forever.

The testimony of R. W. Charles W. Moore, a member of the Baltimore Convention, a Massachusetts Mason, whose integrity is above reproach, and whose ability has been conceded for forty long years, is directly to the point, and with it we conclude our report:

BOSTON, July 13th, 1863.

James Fenton, Esq., Grand Secretary, Grand Lodge, Michigan:
Dear Sir and Brother: In reply to yours, of June 13th, I say:

The work and lectures of the three first degrees, as adopted and authorized by the Baltimore Convention, in 1843, were, with a few unimportant verbal exceptions, literally as they were originally compiled by Bro. Thomas Smith Webb, about the close of the last century, and as they were subsequently taught by him, during his lifetime, and also by his early and favorite pupil, Brother Benjamin Gleason, from the years 1801-2 until his death in 1847. In a note to me, under date November 25th, 1843, Brother Gleason says: "It was my privilege, while at Brown University, Providence, R. I.., (1801–2), to acquire a complete knowledge of the lectures in the three first degrees of Masonry, directly from our late much esteemed brother, Thos. S. Webb."

In 1805, Brother Gleason was commissioned by the Grand Lodge of Massachusetts, (then exercising Masonic jurisdiction over Massachusetts and what is now the State of Maine), as its Grand Lecturer, and empowered to visit and instruct the Lodges in the ritual, as he had received it from Brother Webb. This duty he performed with great fidelity, and to the entire satisfaction of the Grand Lodge; and this ritual is in use in the Lodges of Massachusetts at the present time. There may be some slight verbal departures from the original, but no material change has been made in it.

In 1823-4, Brother Gleason became my Masonic teacher. I learned the work and lectures of him. We were connected by family ties, and close Masonic relations continued to exist between us until his death in 1847. I was associated with him in all the various branches of Masonry for nearly a quarter of a century, and enjoyed all the rare advantages of his extensive and accurate knowledge of the various rituals of the different grades of the Order.

In 1843, I was appointed by the Grand Lodge of Massachusetts a delegate to the Baltimore Masonic Convention, called for the purpose of revising the various modes of work then in use, and agreeing upon a uniform system for the country. Before leaving home, and as a preparation for the better discharge of the duties of the appointment, I availed myself of the assistance of Brother Gleason, in a thorough