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ANNUAL COMMUNICATION

OF THE

GRAND LODGE OF THE UNITED STATES,

Held at the City of Baltimore, October, 1835.

MONDAY, October 5th, 9 o'clock, A. M.

The R. W. Grand Lodge convened this day, at Odd Fellows Hall, city of Baltimore, being the regular Annual Communication, when the following were present:

JAMES GETTYS,
ROBERT NEILSON,
WILLIAM CROUCH,
AUGUSTUS MATHIOT,
WILLIAM CULLIMORE,

P. G. Sire THOMAS WILDEY.

M. W. G. Sire.

R. W. D. G. Sire.

R. W. G. Secretary, p. t.

R. W. G. Treasurer.

W. G. Guardian, p. t. and

The Grand Secretary presented the credentials of the Representatives

of the several Grand Lodges, viz:

P. G. M. JAMES L. RIDGELY,
P. G. CHARLES MOWATT,
G. M. HOWELL HOPKINS,
P. G. ANDREW E. WARNER,
P. G. ZENAS B. GLAZIER,
G. M. HENRY S. SANDERSON,
P. G. M. SAMUEL LUCAS,
P. G. M. JOHN PEARCE,

Rep. of Maryland.
Rep. of New York.
Rep. of Pennsylvania.
Proxy Rep. of Dis. Columbia.
Rep. of Delaware.

Proxy Rep. of Ohio.
Proxy Rep. of Louisiana.

Rep. of New Jersey.

It appearing that a constitutional quorum was present, the D. Grand Sire was directed to examine the Representatives.

The D. Grand Sire reported that the Representatives present were duly qualified; and then by order of the Grand Sire, proclaimed the Grand Lodge duly opened for the transaction of business.

After an address to the Throne of Grace, the Grand Sire appointed D. G. Sire Neilson; G. Treasurer Mathiot; and P. G. Sire Wildey, a committee to examine the credentials of the Representatives of the several Grand Lodges.

D. Grand Sire Neilson, from the committee to whom was referred the credentials, presented the following report, which was accepted and the Representatives acknowledged.

H*

To the R. W. Grand Lodge of the United States:

The committee appointed to examine the credentials of the Representatives from the several Grand Lodges, have had the same under consideration, and would beg leave respectfully to report: That the credentials from Maryland, New York and Pennsylvania, are found to be correct.

The credentials from New Jersey are in want of a seal, but the Grand Master has satisfied the committee that the Grand Lodge is not in possession of a seal at present. Your committee, therefore, recommend the Representative to a seat in this Grand Lodge.

The credentials from Delaware and Ohio, are signed by the D. Grand Masters respectively, with accompanying explanations, which your committee would respectfully present for the consideration of the Grand Lodge. All of which is respectfully submitted.

ROBERT NEILSON,
AUGUSTUS MATHIOT,
THOMAS WILDEY.

G. Treasurer Mathiot, from the same committee, presented the following additional report.

To the R. W. Grand Lodge of the United States:

The committee appointed to examine the credentials, would beg leave further to report: That the credentials from District of Columbia, are correct, excepting the want of a seal-and the credentials of the Representative of Louisiana, are also correct, unless the Grand Lodge should determine that the alteration of the Constitution which has been done since the credentials were given, should affect them.

AUGUSTUS MATHIOT,
THOMAS WILDEY.

Whereupon, the following was submitted:

Resolved, That the credentials from District of Columbia be rejected. Which was decided in the negative. And then, on motion, it was Resolved, That the credentials of Andrew E. Warner, Proxy Representative of District of Columbia, be accepted.

Rep. Mowatt, of New York, moved that the credentials of Proxy Rep. Lucas, of Louisiana, be accepted. Which was decided in the negative. Rep. Hopkins, of Pennsylvania, moved that the reading of the proceedings of the last Annual Communication and Special Session, be dispensed Which motion prevailed.

with.

The Grand Sire appointed the following standing committees:

On Petitions-Rep's Ridgely of Maryland; Hopkins, of Pennsylvania; and Pearce, of New Jersey.

On Finance-Rep's Hopkins, of Pennsylvania; Sanderson, of Ohio; and Mowatt, of New York.

On Returns, &c-Rep's Pearce, of New Jersey; Glazier, of Delaware; and Mowatt, of New York.

On Correspondence-Rep's Mowatt, of New York; Ridgely, of Maryland; and Hopkins, of Pennsylvania.

Rep. Hopkins, of Pennsylvania, presented the account current of Grand Secretary Samuel Pryor, with the Grand Lodge of the United States, with a balance of $75 13, and $5 00, counterfeit.

On motion, the Grand Lodge adjourned to meet at four o'clock, this after

noon.

MONDAY, 4 o'clock, P. M.

The Grand Lodge met pursuant to adjournment: Present, the Officers and a due representation.

On motion of Rep. Hopkins, of Pennsylvania, the Work of the Order, as reported by the committee and laid on the table at the Annual Communication, 1834, was taken up for consideration.

After some desultory discussion on the same, it was on motion of Rep. Hopkins, of Pennsylvania, made the special order of business, to-morrow morning, at ten o'clock.

A petition was presented from Virginius Lodge, No. 3, signed by Peter W. Kenaday, Thomas B. Edmonson, Jesse Bullard, Robert Hamilton, James H. White, John Borland and Robert L. Holmes, praying for a charter for a Grand Lodge of Virginia, to be located at Wheeling. Also, from said lodge, to initiate Mr. Archibald Hawkins, he being over age.

On motion, the petitions were referred to the Committee on Petitions. The reports of the several Grand and Subordinate Lodges and Encampments were presented, and on motion, referred to the Committee on Reports, &c.

Rep. Sanderson, of Ohio, presented the following communication from the Grand Lodge of Ohio.

"To the R. W. Grand Lodge of the United States:

The committee to whom was referred the proceedings of the Grand Lodge of the United States, in reference to the title page of the Constitution and By Laws of the Grand Lodge of Ohio, beg leave to report:

That notwithstanding the Grand Lodge of the United States, now chooses to direct this Grand Lodge to change their title from "Order of Independent Odd Fellows," to that of the "Independent Order of Odd Fellows"; yet they have ever given us the strongest reasons for using the terms that we have done. We will here state a few of them.

The charter of this Grand Lodge, derived directly from the Grand Lodge of the United States, is headed in the most conspicuous mannner possible, O. of I. O. F. Thus are we directed by the very fount of our being, to use the terms we have, and should we have used others, we should have justly deserved censure. And besides, there has never been a charter received in this state, from the Grand Lodge of the United States, but what was headed, "Order of Independent Odd Fellows," or simply, "Independent Odd Fellows"; the one bearing us out in the whole, the other in the essential part of the title we have used. Again, at the Annual Communication of the Grand Lodge of the United States, held at the city of Baltimore, commencing October 6, 1834, we find the report of the Grand Lodge of the state of Maryland, to the Grand Lodge of the United States, headed "O. of I. O. F." We would here remark, that Maryland is the oldest state in Odd Fellowship, in the Union. The proceedings of the Grand Lodge of the District of Columbia, are headed "O. of I. O. F."; and in the report of the Grand Lodge of the state of New Jersey, we learn that the "Order of Independent Odd Fellows, is in a flourishing condition." In the report of the Grand Encampment of Maryland, we again find," O. of I. O. F" used in addressing the Grand Lodge of the United States. And further, on page 27 of the printed proceedings of

the Grand Lodge of the United States, we observe a report addressed "to the R. W. Grand Lodge of the United States,-O. I. O. F" and signed "James L. Ridgely, Charles Mowatt and Thomas Wildey."

Your committee do not pretend to assert that O. of I. O. F. is indisputably right, but they wish to show by what authority the term has been adopted in this state. We do not, therefore, think that we have fallen into an error, as is supposed, in a report adopted by the Grand Lodge of the United States. If there is an error, it belongs to those who have preceded us.

Your committee would conclude, by offering the following resolutions :

Resolved, That James L. Ridgely, our Representative to the Grand Lodge of the United States, have the thanks of this Grand Lodge, for the manner in which he protested against the right of the Grand Lodge of the United States, to interfere with the Constitution of the Grand Lodge of the state of Ohio.

Resolved, That this Grand Lodge continue to use the title affixed to our Constitution, until the Grand Lodge of the United States pass some resolution, settling the style which shall be used throughout the United States.

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On motion, the aforegoing resolution was re-considered, and laid on the table.
M. R. SOUTHARD, Grand Secretary."

On motion, the communication was referred to a special committee. The Grand Sire appointed as the committee, Rep's Glazier, of Delaware; Hopkins, of Pennsylvania; and Ridgely, of Maryland.

On motion of Rep. Sanderson, of Ohio, it was

Resolved, That the Committee of Correspondence be directed to notify the Grand Lodge of Louisiana that it is without a Representative in the Grand Lodge of the United States.

Rep. Sanderson, of Ohio, moved to amend the 10th Article of the Constitution of this Grand Lodge, so as to compel the members of the Grand Lodge of the United States, to be contributing members of a subordinate Encampment; provided, such Encampment act under the old O. B. N.

Rep. Hopkins, of Pennsylvania, offered the following, which was read, and on motion, laid on the table.

Resolved, That the Grand Sire visit the Encampment in Maryland and report whether they work according to the ancient usages and customs of this Order.

On motion, the Grand Lodge adjourned until to-morrow morning, at ten o'clock.

TUESDAY, October 6th, 10 o'clock, A. M.

The Grand Lodge met pursuant to adjournment: Present, all the Officers and a due representation.

The D. Grand Sire presented a petition from Thomas B. Edmondson, Peter W. Kenaday, James H. White, Robert L. Holmes, Orr George, Frederick A. Wandelohr and Joseph H. Curran, praying for a charter for a Grand Encampment of Patriarchs, to be located at Wheeling, Ohio county, Virginia.

A petition was presented from brother Joseph Barclay and others, praying for a Charter for a Lodge to be located at New Albany, Indiana, and hailed by the title of "New Albany Lodge No. 1."

On motion, the petitions were referred to the Committee on Petitions. The special order of the day was then called, being the consideration of the Work of the Order.

Whereupon, the Grand Lodge resolved itself into Committee of the Whole, D. Grand Sire Neilson in the chair.

The Committee of the Whole rose, and the Chairman reported that they had progressed in the Work of the Order, from section 1 to 48, inclusive. On motion, the Grand Lodge adjourned until four o'clock this afternoon.

TUESDAY, 4 o'clock, P. M.

The Grand Lodge met pursuant to adjournment: Present, the Officers and a due representation.

The Grand Lodge then resolved itself into Committee of the Whole, and proceeded to the consideration of the Work of the Order.

The Committee rose, and the Chairman reported to the Grand Lodge, that they had progressed in the consideration of the Work of the Order, from section 49 to 58, inclusive.

On motion, the Grand Lodge adjourned until to-morrow morning, at ten o'clock.

WEDNESDAY, October 7th, 10 o'clock, A. M.

The Grand Lodge met pursuant to adjournment: Present, the Officers and a due representation.

The Grand Lodge then resolved itself into Committee of the Whole, and proceeded to the consideration of the Work of the Order.

The Committee rose, and the Chairman reported to the Grand Lodge, that they had progressed in the consideration of the Work of the Order, from section 59 to 77, inclusive.

Rep. Hopkins, of Pennsylvania, from the special committee, to whom was refered the subject of procuring a Service of Plate, to be presented to P. G. Sire Wildey, presented the following report, which was accepted.

To R. W. Grand Lodge of the United States:

The committee appointed to procure and present P. G. Sire Wildey with a Service of Plate; beg leave to report, that they have caused the Plate to be made, and now have it ready to present to the P. G. Sire, at such time as the Grand Lodge shall order and direct.

On motion, it was

HOWELL HOPKINS, Chairman.

Resolved, That the Chairman present P. G. Sire Wildey with the Plate prepared. Rep. Hopkins, of Pennsylvania, offered the following resolution, which was read, and on motion, laid on the table.

Resolved, That notice be given to the several Grand Lodges, that on the first Monday of January, 1836, the Plate prepared for P. G. Sire Wildey, will be publicly delivered to him, with due and solemn ceremonies, at Philadelphia.

On motion, the Grand Lodge adjourned until four o'clock this afternoon.

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