very soon vie with the oldest states in the strength, number and respectability of their lodges. In reviewing the condition of Odd Fellowship in the United States, it will be observed that in Massachusetts, Connecticut, New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Delaware, Maryland, Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina, Alabama, Mississippi, Missouri, Tennessee, Kentucky, Ohio, District of Columbia, Florida, and Wisconsin, its career is progressive and prosperous; while in Louisiana, Arkansas, Illinois, and Indiana, it has had difficulties to contend with, and requires your fostering care and earnest attention.

It is made the duty of the Grand Sire "to exercise a general superintendence over the interests of the Order during the recess." Under this authority, it has been the practice of my predecessors, with the approbation of the Grand Lodge, to counsel the fraternity whenever consulted upon the work, organic laws, and ancient usages and customs in the several departments of the Order. Distrustful of my capacity in so delicate and important a function, I have called to my aid upon all questions of interest submitted to my decision, the better experience and learning of such of the P. Grand Sires and Officers as have been at hand, and the opinions expressed are here given in the hope, that what has been done, may meet your approbation.

The first and most important question upon which this department was asked for instruction, came up from the state of Pennsylvania. In the month of November last, I received an official communication from the Grand Secretary of the Grand Lodge of Pennsylvania, of the following tenor: "Resolved, That the Grand Lodge of Pennsylvania will relinquish all jurisdiction over Encampments in this state, to the Grand Lodge of the United States." Simultaneous with the reception of this document, appli cation was made, informally, by many individual patriarchs of that state, for instruction as to what steps were necessary to be taken on the part of the Patriarchal Order of Pennslyvania, to effect the object contemplated in the proceedings of the Grand Lodge. At first blush, the whole subject appeared to be of simple character, and of easy adjustment, conformably to the wishes of the patriarchs of the state, as understood to be then expressed. It was desired that the Grand Encampment should, as such, be at once received under your jurisdiction, and that the transition from one relation to the other might be effected without disturbing in any manner the Patriarchal Order as constituted in Pennsylvania. This wish was acceded to, and the Grand Sire having directed as a preliminary measure, that the Grand Encampment of Pennsylvania should formally accept the surrender of jurisdiction, tendered in the resolution of the state Grand Lodge, had determined to issue a general dispensation to the Grand Encampment to work under the Grand Lodge of the United States. Upon more mature reflection and consultation, however, and after an examination of the Constitution and laws, the Grand Sire re-considered and recalled the direction given in the premises, from a conviction that he could not rightfully pursue the course which he had in contemplation. The Grand Lodge of Pennsylvania, (by what proper authority it is not now important to inquire,) had created the Grand Encampment of that state, and exercised undisputed jurisdiction over that branch of the Order, which jurisdiction, by a formal public act, it had determined to renounce to the Grand Lodge of the United

States. The Grand Encampment, under my advice, had by an equally formal and public act, assented as a party to the contract embodied in their charter, to this transfer of their subordinate relation; and to consummate, legitimately, the vacation of their charter from Pennsylvania, it required the further act of the Grand Lodge of the United States. To accomplish the desirable end of producing the entire subordination of the Patriarchal Order in the United States to your jurisdiction, was a subject of great solicitude to the Grand Sire; but in view of Article IV, of the law, which prescribes the only mode by which the Grand Lodge of the United States can become possessed of jurisdiction over the Encampments of any state, it was apparent to me that there was no means of attaining so important an object during the recess, and I accordingly recommended a continuance of existing relations in the Patriarchal Order in that state, until your Annnal Session. It appears to the Grand Sire, that it is only now necessary for the Grand Lodge of the United States to formally accept the surrender made by the Grand Lodge of Pennsylvania, to possess itself of the jurisdiction in question, and thus to rid the Order of the anomaly heretofore presented, of the independence of the Encampments of Pennsylvania of this body. The condition of the Order in the state of Illinois was presented to my earnest consideration, by the distinguished brother appointed as D. Grand Sire for the North Western states. Inasmuch as a particular report will be made by the Corresponding Secretary upon this subject, the Grand Sire deems it only proper to state the advice which has been given and promptly followed by our brethren in that state. The D. Grand Sire, (P. G. M. Potts) having received the most satisfactory information that the Grand Lodge of the state, which had previously assembled at Alton, had become virtually dissolved, by the neglect of its members, and feeling the deepest solicitude for the preservation of such of the subordinate lodges in the state as were in prosperous circumstances, and attentively engaged in the work of the Order, addressed a communication to this department, inquiring what disposition should be made of the per centum then due, and to become due, from Wildey Lodge, at Galena, which was able and willing to pay to the proper authority to receive it. The jurisdiction over the subordinate lodges necessarily reverting to the Grand Lodge of the United States, under those circumstances, the per centum, as a matter of course, became due to that body; but inasmuch as there was no doubt whatever of the reorganization of the state Grand Lodge at some other point in the state, I directed that the subordinate lodges should withhold their dues, to await your action in the premises. This instruction was given under a conviction that the interests of the Order would be much more promoted by inciting the fraternity in that state to a revival of this Grand Lodge, than by enforcing a return to your jurisdiction.

The condition of the Patriarchal Order in Louisiana, and my advice and opinion in relation thereto, is herewith submitted.

Wildey Encampment, No. 1, located in the city of New Orleans, had from various causes, ceased to assemble, and upon the meeting of a few of its members to consult together as to the means of reviving its functions, a bare quorum (being seven patriarchs,) were found willing to re-organize that body. These patriarchs assembled in Encampment, elected officers, and proceeded to transact business. After a few meetings, it was officially

ascertained that two of the number had ceased to be contributing members of subordinate lodges, and therefore, were from that fact, not qualified to sit in the Encampment.

The question occurred whether a less number than a quorum could legally continue the functions of the Encampment. The Grand Sire, looking to the important consequences to result from his opinion, should it be adverse to the wishes of the five remaining patriarchs, inasmuch as it would work a dissolution of the body, gave to the subject his most earnest consideration, and however injurious to the Patriarchal Order in that state, the result of his reflections upon the question submitted, yet, in his judg ment, a high sense of his duty and obligations to the Constitution and laws of the Grand Lodge of the United States, compelled him to determine, that under Article II, of the laws, which contemplated the being of seven patriarchs as essential to the formation of an Encampment, he could not doubt that the attempt to exist or transact business with a less number would be clearly against the laws of the Order, and he accordingly recommended that an effort be made to induce a re-instatement of the delinquent patriarchs in their respective subordinate lodges, as the only legitimate means of preserving the legal existence of Wildey Encampment.

The state of the Order in Louisiana has filled the Grand Sire with great anxiety for its preservation, from the combined difficulties and prejudices with which it is now contending. During the past year, it has fallen rapidly from the elevated rank among the states, which it formerly occupied. From neglect in attendance upon lodge duties, and internal dissensions, the subordinate lodges failed to support themselves, and it became necessary as a means of preserving the Order, that the lodges in New Orleans, by reason of the fewness of their numbers, should combine and constitute of the whole one lodge. This course was adopted successfully, and the lodge set about the discharge of heavy debts which had been contracted, and with renewed efforts and bright hopes, the brotherhood were continuing the work of the Order in New Orleans, when a fierce and angry war of extermination against Odd Fellowship, was proclaimed by the Masonic Order of Louisiana.

Under what delusion, to what possible end, or with what hopes or expectations, this impious array of Masonry in that state has been gotten up, it is difficult to determine, especially as in all other sections of the country, Odd Fellows and Free Masons are to be found hand in hand, as citizens and friends, mutually respecting and esteeming each other, and venerating the high and heavenly principles which both Institutions alike proclaim.

Our brethren in that state have invoked your aid, and I most earnestly call upon you to adopt such legislation in the premises, as may be necessary to vindicate the integrity of the Order in the state of Louisiana.

It has thus become my painful duty to apprise the Representatives of the decay of our beloved Order in Louisiana, which will be a source of unfeigned sorrow to you all, amid the universally progressive advancement of its principles throughout the world. There is, however, notwithstandstanding the gloom which overhangs Odd Fellowship in that state, a gal lant band of chosen spirits left to preserve and perpetuate its principles, who have assembled and worked despite of persecutions, and whose efforts it will be your duty to cherish and foster.

The period having arrived under the Constitution, which limits the tenure of my office, I beg leave at the close of my official career to return to the Representatives of the states, my thanks for the kind and zealous manner in which they have co-operated with me in the promotion of the welfare of our Order; and, in conclusion, to invoke the further aid of HIM "who holds all things in the hollow of his hand," for the continuance of that measure of prosperity with which he has heretofore blessed our labors. ZENAS B. GLAZIER.

Baltimore, Sept. 20th, 1841.

The Grand Corresponding Secretary presented the following, being his Annual Report, which was read.

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

The undersigned, pursuant to the resolution defining his duty, begs leave very respectfully to submit his Annual Report. Immediately after the adjournment of the last session, official copies of the following proceedings, as directed, were transmitted to each of the state Grand Lodges, Encampments and subordinate lodges under your immediate jurisdiction.

"Resolved, That the several Grand Lodges under this jurisdiction appointing Proxy Representatives, be and are hereby directed to leave the certificates of such Proxy Representatives, together with their annual returns, and their dues thereon, in the hands of the Grand Secretary, at least one month previous to the Annual Communications of this body.

"Resolved, That the several Encampments and subordinate lodges working under this jurisdiction, be and are hereby directed to have their annual returns, with the dues thereon, in the hands of the Grand Secretary, at least one month previous to the Annual Communications of this body."

Accompanying these resolutions, a printed copy of the key adopted, was distributed to the proper parties authorized to receive the same. An official copy of the order of the last session, requiring Nimrod Encampment, of Ohio, to place itself under the immediate jurisdiction of the Grand Encampment of that state, was duly transmitted, and although no direct communication has as yet been received from that body, responsive to the command of the Grand Lodge of the United States on that subject, I have the pleasure to state, that from information received indirectly, no doubt was entertained by the Grand Encampment of Ohio, in view of the high character, respectability and devotion of the patriarchs in Nimrod Encampment, that a cheerful and implicit obedience has been yielded to your authority.

No time was lost, after the receipt from the Recording Secretary, of the printed journal of the last session, in disseminating it through your entire jurisdiction; the pro rata distribution, apportioning a number of copies equal to double the number of its subordinates to each state, was adhered to, and as far as the undersigned is informed, it is believed that they all reached in safety, their respective places of destination.

The Corresponding Secretary was further directed to forward to each subordinate to this jurisdiction in arrears, "a statement in detail of their respective accounts, and to urge earnestly a prompt liquidation of such arrearages; this duty has been performed, the accounts having been furnished

by the Recording Secretary, who has in charge the books of the Grand Lodge of the United States. In many instances, no acknowledgmnt whatever has been received of the letters addressed, and in some cases differences are found to exist between the lodges and books of the Recording Secretary, as to the true balances due. Herewith is submitted the entire correspondence on this subject. (Doc. A.)

In compliance with the resolution requiring the Corresponding Secretary" to pay over all moneys received by him in the vacation, for the use of the Grand Lodge, and to report the same, specifying the amount received, from whom received, and for what object," the undersigned submits the following condensed statement of his receipts, all of which have been paid over to the proper officer, and his receipt obtained for the same.

May 11

S. Carolina, Marion Lodge, No. 2,

Am't.

10 per cent to Dec. 1 $10 00 do.

Arrearages,

16 Lynchburg, Virginia Encampment, No. 8, Charter,

June 1 Nashville Lodge, No. 2, Tennessee,

July 22 Tennessee,

10 00

15 00

Dues to Nov. 1840,

94.00

Charter,

30.00

Charter,

30.00

Charter,

30 00

Dues to March 1,

14.00

6 South Carolina Grand Lodge,

"13 South Carolina, Marion Lodge,

"( 9 District Columbia, Marley Encampment,

Having thus rapidly recapitulated the duties required to be performed at your last session, the undersigned will now proceed to detail such correspondence as has been had during the past year, which he deems interesting and important for your consideration.

ENGLISH CORRESPONDENCE.

Under the direction of the Grand Sire, and comformably to the wish of the Grand Lodge, heretofore frequently expressed, I availed myself of the very favorable opportunity presented by the visitation of brother Darby, of Cincinnati, to the city of Manchester, of addressing a congratulatory letter to the Grand Master and Board of Directors of the Manchester Unity. I had the pleasure, on the 20th April last, to receive, by the return of brother Darby to this country, an answer to my letter from William Ratcliffe. Corresponding Secretary of the Order in Great Britain. That letter, herewith submitted, (Doc. B,) abounds with the most affectionate expres