up judicial duties. In 1878 he was the democratic nominee for congress against Hon. O. D. Conger, but in this case was not elected. not elected. In 1886 he was appointed by the President, U. S. Commercial Agent,--a consular office of same grade and duties as Consul-at St. Hyacinthe, Quebec, where he remained over three years. His relations with the people of his consular district (mostly French) were very pleasant and he received many warm expressions of regret at his departure. Brother Mitchell has always been a firm democrat, and recalls many interesting experiences during his long and active life. He well remembers the warm political struggles of 1824-Jackson's time-the intense excitement of "anti-mason" days, when to be known as a Mason meant trouble and persecution, and when "anti-masonry" was made the basis of a political party that for a time had much strength.

Brother Mitchell's masonic life has always been a prominent and active one. He was made a Mason in Port Huron Lodge, No. 58, in 1853, while that lodge was under dispensation. He had soon filled all the chairs and represented his lodge in Grand Lodge almost continuously for the next ten years. At the annual meeting of 1863 he was elected Deputy Grand Master and in 1864 was chosen Grand Master, which office he filled with marked ability for the following year, and retired at the end of his term with the well-earned esteem of his brethren. He has since been an almost constant attendant at Grand Lodge sessions, and his timely advice and ripe judgment have been of great value to that body over which he had presided with dignity and ability. He is now, with the exception of Bro. Geo. W. Peck, who has been out of the state for many years, the senior Past Grand Master of the Grand Lodge of Michigan.

Brother Mitchell is a Royal Arch Mason, a Royal and Select Master and a Knight Templar, and has been for many years a member of the Chapter and Commandery of his city.

Our esteemed brother has been twice married, his first wife dying twelve years after marriage, leaving one daughter now residing in Ludington. In 1854 he married Miss Fannie F. Hosmer, who has given him five children, one dying in infancy, and an only son, Wm. Hosmer Mitchell, dying in 1893, in California, in his early and promising manhood. Two daughters are happily married, and the youngest daughter and his loved companion are with him in the family home, where, at

the age of seventy-seven years he is leading a comparatively retired life, though still giving some attention to the practice of his chosen profession. Here, in the quiet enjoyment of the society of his loved family and his many friends, with an abiding and steadfast reliance in the christian faith-having been for many years a communicant in the Episcopal church--with the esteem of the whole community in which he resides, it is hoped he may still live many years in happiness and comfort.

The brethren at Adrian commenced the erection of a costly and elegant Masonic Temple in this year, which was intended to eclipse anything of the kind in the state. The corner-stone was laid on June 24th, with imposing ceremonies and in the presence of a vast concourse of people from many parts of the state. The occasion was one long to be remembered by the people of Adrian.

The new hall of Oxford Lodge, No. 84, was dedicated by the Grand Master on St. John's day, in June.

Ithaca Lodge, No. 123, lost its hall with all its furniture and effects, together with its charter, in the early part of the year, and worked under a dispensation from the Grand Master until the next meeting of the Grand Lodge.

On the last day but one of the year, Redford Lodge, No. 152, was burned out, losing everything in the way of property, including char

ter.

Oakwood Lodge, No. 100, and Mystic, No. 141, also lost their halls by fire this year.

An event of melancholy importance to the Grand Lodge and to the craft in Michigan, was the death of Past Grand Master Ebenezer Hall, which occurred at his home in Mt. Clemens, on the second day of July. By his expressed wish, his burial was conducted by his brethren of the mystic tie, and he was laid to rest with the honors of Masonry.

In June of this year Brother Charles D. Howard, Grand Tiler for nine years, died in Detroit, aged seventy-two years. He was held in high estimation by all his brethren and his death was a personal loss.

He was born in Vermont, and made a Mason there, and removed to Michigan at an early day, and settled in Pontiac. Was seventy-two when he died. Came to Detroit, and, from 1830 to 1840, was in charge of the first water works in this city.

When Masons, in 1841, began to clear away the rubbish and relight their lamps, and set up their altars, he met with them from time to time. Being of a retiring disposition, the part he took was rather passive than active. He was elected Grand Steward and Tiler in 1856, a post he occupied up to the time of his death in the summer of 1865. His funeral was largely attended by the Fraternity, and who performed the usual masonic ceremonies, agreeably to his wish often expressed.

Lafayette Lodge, No. 16, at Jonesville, which had been burned out. in the previous year, with a large financial loss, with commendable energy entered again upon the work of building a hall for themselves. By an agreement with the village council this Lodge united with the village in building a city hall, the upper story of which was to be set apart to that lodge in a perpetual lease. The lodge was required to pay $3,365, as its proportion of the cost of erecting said building. A few of the live members advanced the necessary amount to enable the lodge to fulfill its part of the contract, and the lodge assessed the entire membership five dollars each to reimburse these brothers. A few members made a vigorous kick against paying this assessment, and appealed to the Grand Lodge, which body sustained the lodge in its action and declared it lawful for the lodge to require the payment of this assessment and to administer masonic discipline for a refusal or neglect to pay it.

ANNUAL OF GRAND LODGE, 1866.

The annual communication in January, 1866, found one hundred and eighty-two lodges on the Grand Lodge roll, eighteen of them under dispensations granted by Grand Master Mitchell and authorized by the Grand Lodge. These new lodges were located at Wyandotte, Big Rapids, Dearborn, Medina, Flint, Clinton, Hillsdale, Croton, Hubbardston, Grand Ledge, Fremont, Orangeville, Muskegon, Parma, Palmyra, Henrietta, Northville and North Adams.

He approved of a proposition emanating from the Grand Lodge of Missouri, to consider

First. The condition of the Fraternity in the United States, and suggest such