and careful revision of the lectures, which I had originally received from him, and which, on frequent occasions, I had been called to deliver and work with him, both in and out of the Lodge. I was, therefore, qualified to report them to the Convention, through its Committee on the Work, in their purity and integrity, and beyond all doubt, just as they originally came from the hand of the late Brother Webb. They were so reported. I had the honor to be a member of the committee, and to report the amendments, and the lectures as amended, to the Convention. This I did without notes, but subsequently took the precaution to minute down the alterations from the original; and these are now in my possession. They were mostly verbal, few in number, and not material in their results. The only change of consequence were in the due-guards of the second and third degrees, which were changed and made to conform to that of the first degree in position and explanation. This was analogically correct. I am, fraternally, yours, CHAS. W. MOORE. To embody, in action, the conclusions we have arrived at, we respectfully recommend the adoption of the following resolutions: I. Resolved, That the Grand Lodge of Michigan does solemnly re-affirm the authenticity and correctness of the lectures heretofore established by this Grand Lodge, and taught in this jurisdiction, and declares that any change is neither desirable or proper. 2. Resolved, That any attempt, by any person or body of men, to introduce or teach any change of our long established lectures, is unconstitutional, unmasonic, and deserves the most severe reprehension, and is by this Grand Lodge strictly forbidden within this jurisdiction. All of which is respectfully submitted, D. C. JACOKES, Thus ended the attempt to introduce the "Morris work," in Michigan, and a little later in the session, the resolution adopted two years previously making Brother Morris an honorary member of this Grand Lodge, was revoked and repealed. Vale, Morris. Charters were granted to nine lodges U. D., at this session of Grand Lodge, and one new dispensation was ordered for a lodge at Williamston. The duties and pay of the Grand Lecturer were fixed the same as last year. Fifty dollars were appropriated for the benefit of Brother Seneca Caswell, former Grand Tiler, who was reported in needy circumstances. At this session a resolution was adopted giving to all Past Grand Masters the same mileage and per diem as to representatives. The following brothers were chosen as Grand Officers for the year 1864: The initiations in the year 1863 reached the great number of two thousand and thirty-five. One hundred and twenty-two members died in the year. At the close of the year there were eight thousand, seven hundred and seventy-two members of the lodges in Michigan. ROYAL ARCH MASONRY IN 1863. With the exception of one or two of the minor ones, the officers of the Grand Chapter in 1862 were re-elected for 1863. Benjamin Porter, Jr., of Jackson, was retained in the Grand High Priest's chair. The Grand Chapter re-affirmed the work and lectures which it had already adopted and instructed the Grand High Priest to visit every Chapter in the state and see that the work corresponded in all respects with that adopted. M. E. Companion Porter took great interest in this work, and the ritual written by his own hand has ever since remained in the archives in the Grand Secretary's office, and was the standard authority in Michigan until the revision of the work in 1892. A charter was granted for a Chapter at Hudson, at the annual convocation of the Grand Chapter in 1863. During that year Chapters were also started under dispensation at Fentonville and Howell, both of which received charters at the end of the year. As instructed by his Grand Chapter, M. E. Companion Porter spent a good deal of time visiting and instructing the Chapters. He visited all but two, and the result of his labors was a greater degree of uniformity in the work and lectures than had ever before existed. The good work done by Companion Porter during his administration, did much to place Michigan in her present advanced position as one of the best working jurisdictions in the country. In the course of his official visits about the state, he found that the sale of so-called "keys" to the work was being carried on by parties ready to sell their masonic honor for pelf. This matter being referred to a committee in the Grand Chapter, a strong resolution was adopted, absolutely prohibiting such traffic and subjecting violators thereof to masonic discipline. All Chapters were also ordered to conform strictly to the work adopted by the Grand Chapter under penalty of forfeiture of their charters. The close of the year 1863 found thirty-two Chapters in the state, having an aggregate membership of one thousand, five hundred and ninety-four, of which three hundred and ninety-nine had been exalted during that year. Benjamin Porter was again re-elected Grand High Priest, and most of the other officers were also re-elected. TEMPLAR MATTERS IN 1863. Like its predecessor, the year ending June 3d, 1863, was one of unusual quiet in the Templar field, and again the Grand Commandery was forced to make an assessment upon the entire membership to enable it to meet current expenses. The officers and delegates also donated one-half their mileage and per diem for this purpose, and again the printed proceedings were confined to a simple circular letter. In September, 1863, Grand Recorder Wilson entered the military service and Sir James Kennedy was appointed to perform the duties of Grand Recorder until that officer should return, which he did in the following January, and resumed his labors. At the annual conclave in June, 1863, Luman R. Atwater, of Grand Rapids, was chosen Grand Commander. His service covered an uneventful year. Peace and harmony prevailed in all the jurisdiction. Almost his only official act was the granting of a dispensation for a new Commandery at Niles. In reporting this dispensation he said he thought there were as many Commanderies in the state as was for the good of the Order. This new one was the twelfth one. Sir Atwater lived long enough to see nearly four times that number occupying the Michigan field. ADMINISTRATION OF LOVELL MOORE. GRAND MASTER 1864. Lovell Moore was born at Shirley, Massachusetts, March 23d, 1797. After acquiring his education, he studied law and entered upon the practice of his profession in Vermont. He removed to Michigan in 1831, and settled temporarily in Kalamazoo. In 1835 he was chosen one of the delegates to the constitutional convention which formed the first constitution for our state. He removed to Grand Rapids in 1836, or rather where Grand Rapids now is. It is well known that Grand River divides the city of Grand Rapids into two parts. On the east side Louis Campau had platted forty acres of land and named it the village of Grand Rapids. The Baptist mission had built a house upon the west side of the river, in the township of Walker, in which Mr. Moore resided for several years. law office was upon the East side, and he would cross the river to and from his place of business each day in a canoe. His He was Justice of the Peace of the township of Walker, which included the village of Grand Rapids, from 1838 to 1842. In 1842 he removed to the east side of the river at the corner of Fulton and Division streets. In 1843, in addition to his professional duties, he opened a store and engaged in the drug trade. In 1850, after the village was incorporated into a city, he was elected an alderman of his ward, and represented it in the common council. He was a member of St. Mark's Episcopal Church, and contributed to the building of the first edifice used by that church in the city, and ever after remained a consistent member. He was a conspicuous figure in the courts of the early days; of ready speech, genial and buoyant in his disposition, and eminently social and companionable in |