The tellers reported that P. G. M. Horn R. Kneass had received a majority of the votes cast. Whereupon, the Grand Sire declared P. G. M. HORN R. KNEASS, of Pennsylvania, duly elected D. Grand Sire for the ensuing term. The Grand Lodge proceeded in the election. The tellers reported that P. D. G. M. William G. Cook, had received all the votes for Grand Secretary; and P. G. M. Andrew E. Warner had received all the votes for Grand Treasurer. Whereupon, the Grand Sire declared P. D. G. M. WILLIAM G. COOK, of Maryland, unanimously elected Grand Secretary; and P. G. M. ANDREW E. WARNER, of Maryland, unanimously elected Grand Treasurer, for the coming term. Rep. Hewitt, of Pennsylvania, moved that the Diploma authorized by the last session of the Grand Lodge of the United States, to be presented to the Representatives, be filled up with the vote of the Grand Lodge, authorizing the presentation, in a form to be prepared under the direction of a committee, which motion prevailed. The Chair named G. Cor. Secretary Ridgely, and Rep's Bain, of Virginia and Wildey, of Mississippi, the committee. Rep. Bain, of Virginia, asked to be excused from serving on the committee appointed at the Adjourned Annual Session, 1840, to collect the laws of the Order, and on motion he was excused, and Rep. Williamson, of Maryland, substituted. Rep. Stanford, of Missouri, offered the following, which was adopted: Resolved, That in future, the nomination of Officers shall be, that the Grand Sire shall put the question of nomination for Grand Sire, then the election shall proceed previous to the nomination of D. Grand Sire, and so with all other officers of this Grand Lodge. Rep. Brown, of Pennsylvania, offered the following proposition to amend the Constitution, which was referred to the next Annual Session. That Article XV, of the Constitution, be amended by striking out the words" of the Representatives or Proxies," in the first line. Rep. Wildey, of Mississippi, from the Committee on the Work of the Order, presented the following report, which was accepted. To the R. W. Grand Lodge of the United States : The Committee on the Work of the Order, ask leave to continue their labors as regards the translation of the Work into the French language, as it is not completed. THOMAS WILDEY, Chairman. G. Cor. Secretary Ridgely from the special committee to whom was referred the subject of preparing a form for filling up the Diplomas to be presented to the Representatives, presented the following report, which was adopted. To the R. W. Grand Lodge of the United States: The committee to whom was referred the preparation of a form for filling up of the Diploma presented to the Representatives, ask leave to report the following form and resolution. In Grand Lodge assembled, present a Representation from Maryland, New York, Pennsylvania, District of Columbia, Ohio, Louisiana, New Jersey, Kentucky, Virginia, Mississippi and Illinois, have unanimously presented to our well beloved brother the R. W. G. Rep. of the Grand Lodge of this Diploma, as an evidence of his regular communion and fellowship with the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, and in appreciation of his zeal and devotion to the welfare of our beloved Order. day of Done at the city of Baltimore on the in the United States, 21; and of our Lord, 1840. in the year of our Order Resolved, That the Grand Sire procure the same to be executed in handsome style of penmanship during the present session of the Grand Lodge. JAMES L. RIDGELY, GEORGE M. BAIN, On motion of Rep. McGowan, of New York, the report of the special committee to whom was referred the appeal of Columbia Lodge, No. 3, Maryland, was taken up for consideration. Rep. Brown, of Pennsylvania, moved that the report be adopted, which was lost. Rep. Bain, of Virginia, moved that Columbia Lodge, No. 3, Maryland, have leave to withdraw the appeal, which motion prevailed. The following bills were presented, viz: G. Messenger Chamberlain, for services, On motion, the bills were referred to the Committee of Finance. $10 04 11 15 820 00 On motion of Rep. McGowan, of New York, the bill was referred to the special committee to whom was referred the report of the committee on Diploma. On motion of Rep. Brown, of Pennsylvania, the Grand Lodge adjourned until nine o'clock, to-morrow morning. FRIDAY, October 8th, 9 o'clock, A. M. The Grand Lodge met pursuant to adjournment; Present, the Officers and a due representation. The minutes of the afternoon session of yesterday, were read and approved. Rep. Branin, of New Jersey, offered the following, which was adopted. Resolved, That the Grand Sire be required to reclaim and take possession of the charter, books and papers of all Grand Lodges, subordinate lodges and Encampments, working under a charter from this Grand Lodge, which shall have been forfeited, according to the conditions of said charter. A bill was presented from P. D. G. Sire Robert Neilson, for printing, amounting to $189 50, which was referred to the Committee of Finance. A communication was presented from G. Patriarch Churchill, of Ohio, which, on motion, was referred to the Committee on Petitions. Rep. Brown, of Pennsylvania, offered the following, which was decided in the affirmative. Resolved, That the Committee on Printing be directed to receive proposals for printing the proceedings of this Grand Lodge, and have the same executed in the cheapest and most expeditious manner. The credentials of P. G. M. James L. Ridgely, and P. G. A. I. W. Jackson, as Proxy Representatives of the Grand Lodge of Ohio, were presented, and, on motion, were referred to the committee on credentials. Also, the report of the Grand Lodge of Ohio, which was referred to the Committee on Reports. The following communication from the Grand Lodge of Ohio, was read, and, on motion, was referred to the Committee on Petitions. "To the R. W. Grand Lodge of the United States: The following list of grievances were submitted for your consideration and action, by the Grand Lodge of Ohio, on the 26th of September, 1840. 1st. The travelling password of the United States is unnecessarily delayed, or transmitted in a questionable manner. The travelling password for the year 1840, was received by this Grand Lodge through a D. D. Grand Sire; but delivered in such a manner that the Grand Lodge did not feel authorized in its use; in this it was communicated to different members of this Grand Lodge, as we believe, improperly and in an unauthorized manner-the Grand Master or D. Grand Master being the only persons to whom it can be legally communicated. 2d. It was again received in this city in writing, without the endorsement of any officer of the R. W. Grand Lodge of the United States, as known to this Grand Lodge. 2d. The Annual Proceedings of the Grand Lodge of the United States are transmitted with the same irregularity as the yearly password. 3d. Letters to the Grand Secretary of the Grand Lodge of the United States, are unanswered, or answered by persons to whom they were not addressed. In this there is great want of regularity. 4th. The importance of immediate information of amendments to, or alterations in the Work of the Order. By the proceedings of 1838, it will be seen that a resolution was offered by the Representative of New York, declaring it illegal to admit a brother from a lodge in another state, unless his card is countersigned by the Grand Secretary of the Grand Lodge of said state. Appended to this, is a resolution requiring the Grand Secretary to inform all Grand Lodges of the passage of the above resolution. Is this to be done officially by him, or are the printed proceedings considered a sufficient notification? 5th. What is the proper construction of the resolution referred to, and also the amendment reported by the Committee on the Work of the Order, at April Session, 1840? Is the Grand Lodge of Ohio, by her Secretary, to endorse all cards in blank, or after they have been filled by subordinate lodges? If in blank, what use can be made of those countersigned by one Grand Secretary when another has been elected, the year having expired? If, after being filled, how can the law be complied with, when lodges are 300 or 400 miles distant from each other in the same state? 6th. Admission of members of Manchester Unity. The brethren from England claim admission into our lodges, as they suppose, under sanction of the Grand Lodge of the United States, but without any of the requisites. 7th Regalia. Much difference of opinion exists among the brethren in relation to regalia. Farticular information is desired on this subject. Is a member without degrees entitled to a rosette or silver trimmings? If so, what is the distinctive mark of the first degree, or of the Grand Lodge? 8th. Want of uniformity in the Work of the Order. There is much difference in the mode of working in the several lodges in the United States; and that of the Manchester Unity possesses not even the semblance of Odd Fellowship, as known to us. 9th. The installation and charges to the officers are entirely changed. All officers are required by the constitutions of their respective lodges, to perform their duties in accordance with the charges given them. The books now used contain no charges. 10th. Innovations by Grand Lodges sanctioned. By the printed proceedings of 1840, it appears the R. W. Grand Lodge of Pennsylvania, without authority from the R. W. Grand Lodge of the United States, caused to be translated into the German and French languages, the charges and degrees of the Order. The Grand Lodge of the United States adopted them as its own, without reproof for exercising an authority not vested in a state Grand Lodge. 11th. Granting dispensations without solicitation by Grand Lodges. In this, P. G. Sire Thomas Wildey, as Agent of the Grand Lodge of the United States, granted dispensations to three members of the Grand Lodge of Ohio, for the past degrees, at their own solicitation. The Lodge has not acknowledged the authority of the dispensations, and has not conferred the degrees. Has the Grand Lodge of the United States a supreme dispensing power over the state Grand Lodges? If so, cannot that body constitute any subordinate lodge into a Grand Lodge? The charter of the Grand Lodge delegates all power in the government of members in this state, to this Grand Lodge. All of which is respectfully submitted in F. L. and T., September 28th, 1840. A communication was received from Far West Lodge, No. 1, Little Rock, Arkansas, which was read and referred to the Committee on Petitions. Rep. Williamson, of Maryland, from the special committee to whom was referred the report of the committee on Diploma, presented a report and resolutions. On motion of Rep. Brown, of Pennsylvania, the report was accepted. Rep. Bain, of Virginia, moved that the report and resolutions be laid on the table, which motion prevailed. Rep. Marley, of Maryland, from the committee on credentials, presented the following report, which was accepted. To the R. W. Grand Lodge of the United States: The committee on credentials report as correct, the credentials of James L. Ridgely and A. I. W. Jackson, Proxy Representatives of the Grand Lodge of Ohio. Rep. Ridgely, of Ohio, then appeared and took his seat. The following communication was received from P. D. G. Sire Robert Neilson. To the R. W. Grand Lodge of the United States: It is, no doubt, well known to your honorable body, that the undersigned has been engaged for the last four years in publishing a periodical devoted, exclusively, to the cause of Odd Fellowship, in which he has expended much, of what has been to him, valuable time. The Covenant was projected at a time when Anti-Masonry was making fearful strides in the Northern, Middle and Western States of the Union, for the purpose of enlightening the public mind, and enlarging the borders of Odd Fellowship, by laying before the community such documents and facts connected with the institution, as might be considered most conducive to effect the object of its publication. That it has accomplished much, the undersigned is bold to assert; for proof of which, he would respectfully refer to his correspondence as published from time to time, in the body of the work itself, and various other testimony in his possession; but, that it has done all the good it might, and would nave done, under other circumstances, he will not pretend to say. The contrary is well known to him to be the fact. P* Cramped in his circumstances—a large and helpless family to provide for—the embarrassed state of the currency, thereby rendering it impossible to make collectionshis determination not to involve himself in pecuniary difficulties, and so bring a reproach upon our laudable profession, all tended to retard its regular appearance, and diminish the interest of the brethren in its behalf. From the above, and other considerations which might be mentioned, did time and space permit, the undersigned would respectfully propose to dispose of his interest in the Covenant, to your honorable body, upon such terms as may be mutually agreed upon, either by a committee, or such other manner as may be deemed most expe dient. The undersigned would ask indulgence of the Grand Lodge to present a few general reasons why such a publication should be under the control and management of the Grand Lodge of the United States. 1st. The character and standing of the work itself, commanding respect, as emanating from the great head of the Order. 2d. The revenue that would be brought into the grand treasury, from the profit of publication, which in ordinary times and under good management, would be able to meet all the current expenses of the Grand Lodge; and thereby relieve, if deemed expedient, the tax now levied upon subordinate Grand Lodges and Encampments. 3d. It would prevent rival publications from being started, in various sections of the country, no doubt with proper and correct motives in the beginning, but which may be led away by sectional feeling and jealousy, and in the end prove destructive to the harmony and good fellowship that now so happily prevails throughout the country. 4th. The increased number of subscribers that may be fairly calculated upon, when made the organ of the Grand Lodge of the United States; the increased facility of communication with the several branches of the Order-correcting abuses, punishing offenders, healing dissentions, harmonizing conflicting opinions, &c. &c. The undersigned would respectfully ask the favorable consideration, by your honorable body, of his proposition. And as in duty bound, he will ever pray. ROBERT NEILSON. On motion, the communication was referred to a special committee of three. The Chair appointed as the committee, Rep's Ridgely, of Ohio; Wildey, of Mississippi; and Mathiot, of Illinois. Rep. Ridgely, of Ohio, moved that the report of the committee to whom was referred the report of the committee on Diploma, be now taken consideration, which motion prevailed. up for Whereupon, Rep. Branin, of New Jersey, offered a resolution as an amendment to those submitted by the committee. On motion of Rep. Wolford, of Kentucky, the Grand Lodge adjourned until three o'clock, this afternoon. FRIDAY, 3 o'clock, P. M. The Grand Lodge met pursuant to adjournment: Present, the Officers and a due representation. The minutes of the morning session were read and approved. Rep. Ridgely, of Ohio, moved that the resolution offered by Rep. Branin, of New Jersey, as an additional resolution, amendatory of the resolutions reported by the special committee, be rejected. Rep. Branin, of New Jersey, asked and obtained leave to withdraw the same. Rep. Moore, of District of Columbia, called for the question on the resolutions separately. The first and second resolutions were then adopted. |