7th. For the speedy relief of distressed petitioners, three of the members are appointed as a sub-committee. who direct donations to be given in such manner, as they may suppose, will be most beneficial to the applicants. All transactions of this committee of charity, or steward's lodge, are to be read audibly in the grand lodge, at their quarterly communications.

8th. So far as this committee shall exercise the power vested in them, in regard to the hearing of complaints, and punishment of delinqents, according to the laws of the craft, they are instructed to adhere most religiously to the following regulation, viz. "If a complaint be made against a brother, by another brother, and he be found guilty, he shall abide by the determination of this committee, or (in case of an appeal) of the grand lodge. But if the complainant cannot support his charge, he shall incur such penalty as the said committee shall deem just.”.

9th. The steward's lodge shall meet quarterly, on the last Wednesdays in February, May, August, and November, at which times, the dues of the lodges in the city of New-York, are to be paid; and in default thereof, such lodge so neglecting, shall be precluded from the benefits of the grand lodge, during the existence of such default or delinquency.

A Prayer, which may be used at the constituting and Opening of a Grand Lodge.

O MOST glorious and eternal God, thou infinitely wise Architect of the universe, we thy servants, assembled in solemn grand lodge, would extol thy power and wisdom.

Thou saidst, "let there be light, and there was light." The heavens opened and declared thy glory, and the firmament shewed thy handy work. The sun, who rules the

day, gave light to the moon who rules by night, surrounded by an innumerable multitude of stars; so that there is one glory of the sun, another glory of the moon, and one star differs from another in glory; and all, by most wondrous signs and tokens, without voice, sound, or language, solemnly proclaim divine mysteries.

We adore thee for our creation; for the breath of life; for the light of reason; for our preservation to the present period, and for all the noble and useful faculties of our souls, which give us so exalted a rank in the order of being. And we pray thee to enable us to live in conformity to our exalted privileges and happy destination.

We beseech thee to give us, thy servants, at this, and at all times, wisdom in all our doings, fortitude in all our difficulties, and the beauty of harmony in all our communications with one another.

Grant, we beseech thee, that thy servant, who is now to be solemnly invested with the government of these lodges, may be endued with knowledge, discretion, and wisdom; and may we and all our brethren, under his jurisdiction, not only learn and understand, but keep all the statutes of the Lord, pure and undefiled. May charity and brotherly love always abound amongst us, and when we have finished our work here below, may our transition be from this earthly tabernacle to the heavenly temple above; and may we there appear among thy jewels in glory everlasting.

We pray thee to bless and prosper every branch and member of this fraternity, throughout the habitable globe. May thy kingdom of peace, love, and harmony come. May thy will be done on earth, as it is in heaven, and may the whole world be filled with thy glory. Amen.

A Benediction, which may be pronounced after the instabment of a Grand Master.

MAY the Supreme Architect of the Universe shed his blessings abundantly upon this society. Enable his servant, now raised to the office of grand master, over our lodges, to discharge the duties of his important trust, to the honour of his holy name, and to the credit of this happy fraternity.

Amen! So mote it be. Amen!

CHAPTER XXIX.

Of the Education of the Children of Indigent Masons.

A PLAN for the education of the children of indigent masons, had, for some time, been an object of consideration with the grand lodge of the state of New-York, and on the 6th of September, A. L 5309, the commit tee, composed of the masters of the several lodges in the city, who had been appointed to take this truly important subject into consideration, made a report to the following purport.

First, that it was essentially necessary, that measures should be adopted to compel a prompt discharge of dues, to effect which, they recommended the adoption of the following resolution.

"All members of lodges, who are, or shall be, in arrears for one year's dues, may be suspended by their respective lodges from all masonic communication; and upon report being duly made to the grand lodge, they shall be notified thereof by the grand secretary, and enjoined to discharge or commute the same within twelve months from the date of such notice, on pain of being excluded,

by a formal expulsion, from all communication with, or benefit from, the institution; which penalty, on failure, and at the instance of the lodge to which the delinquent belongs, shall be duly inflicted."

From the adoption of this measure, or of something similar, the committee anticipated the most beneficial consequences, and stated, as their opinion, that if their calculations were not extremely erroneous, the lodges in the city of New-York, would speedily be placed in such a situation, as would afford, without difficulty, the contributions contemplated in the following plan.

"PLAN,

"For the education of fifty poor children, whose fathers are, or have been, members of the ancient and honourable fraternity of free and accepted masons.

1st. Each lodge in the city of New-York, (of which, at the date of the report, there were twenty-two,) shall pay ten dollars per annum, making two hundred and twenty dollars.

"2d. The grand lodge shall contribute, annually, eighty dollars, which, with the preceding sum of two hundred and twenty dollars, from the subordinate lodges in the city, would amount to three hundred dollars, the sum required.

"3d. The above sums are to be paid regularly, by the respective lodges in advance, on, or before the quarterly communication, next preceding the anniversary of St. John the Evangelist. Each lodge thus contributing, shall have the right of naming two children, to receive the benefit of this charity, which privilege, if not exercised, at, or before the time prescribed for making the advance payment, is to be considered as relinquished, and to rest in the grand lodge school committee, who

be erected and constituted a regular lodge of free and accepted masons, which petition appearing to us as intended for the advancement of masonry, and the good of the craft,

"Know ye, therefore, that we, the grand lodge aforesaid, reposing special trust and confidence in the prudence and fidelity of our beloved brethren above named, have constituted and appointed, and by these presents, do constitute and appoint the said A. B., C. D., E F., &c. a regular lodge of free and accepted masons, under the title and designation of lodge; hereby giving and granting unto them and their successors, full power and authority to convene as masons, within the town of in the county of aforesaid,

and

to receive and enter apprentices, pass fellow crafts and raise master masons, upon the payment of such compensations as may be determined by the said ledge; also to make choice of a master, wardens, and other officers, annually or otherwise, as they shall see cause; to receive and collect funds for the relief of poor and distressed brethren, their widows and orphans; and, in general, to transact all matters relating to masonry, which may to them appear to be for the good of the sraft, according to the ancient usages and customs of

masons.

"And we do hereby require the said constituted brethren to attend the grand lodge at their quarterly.communications and other meetings, by their master and wardens, or by proxies regularly appointed; also to keep a fair and regular record of all their proceedings, and to lay them before the grand lodge when required. "And we do enjoin upon our brethren of the said lodge, that they be punctual in their quarterly payment of such sums as may be assessed on them, for the support of the grand lodge, that they behave themselves