a form of a warrant to authorize the constitution and working of a lodge or Encampment, when ratified by the Grand Lodge of the United States, might be adopted as to supersede the necessity of issueing charters-all the powers and privileges necessary to these departments may as easily be delegated by the one instrument as by superadding a charter, and thus the expense of blank charters, the frequent delay incident to the safe transportation of charters to distant places, and the necessity of obtaining the signatures of all of the Grand Officers, which it is sometimes inconvenient to obtain, might be wholly avoided. In concluding this report, the Corresponding Secretary has great pleasure in congratulating the Representatives upon the unparalleled prosperity which has crowned the labors of a devoted brotherhood, during the year which has just past. Peace, harmony and love pervade the Order, Twenty-four of the states of this glorious Union, the republic of Texas, and the province of Canada, now acknowledge your jurisdiction. It has been the oft repeated opinion of the undersigned, that the Independent Order of Odd Fellows was destined to cover the earth, proclaiming peace and good will to man, upholding virtue, and restraining the march of vice. If the Grand Lodge of the United States at its present session, will give the further impulse, no human power can stay the sublime triumph which awaits the effort. Respectfully submitted. JAMES L. RIDGELY, Grand Corresponding and Recording Secretary. Office of Cor. & Rec. Secretary, Baltimore, September 18th, 1843. On motion of Rep. Salomon, of Alabama, the report was referred to the committee to whom the Grand Sire's report had been referred, for the purpose of distributing the subjects therein contained, to appropriate committees. Rep. Hillyer, of New Jersey, from the Committee on Returns, asked and otained leave for the committee to sit during the meetings of the Grand Lodge. Rep. Sherlock, of Ohio, from the Committee on Petitions, submitted the following report and accompanying resolutions, which were read and adopted. To the R. W. Grand Lodge of the United States: The Committee on Petitions respectfully report: That they have had under consideration the applications for subordinate lodges, and upon which dispensations have been granted, and find them in due form, and recommend that charters be granted. They therefore recommend the passage of the accompanying resolutions. All of which is respectfully submitted. ROBINSON S. HINMAN, Resolved, That the dispensations issued by the Grand Sire, during the recess, to the following lodges, be confirmed, and that charters be granted to each, viz: Franklin Lodge, No. 2, Macon, Georgia, December 25, 1842. Live Oak Lodge, No. 3, Savannah, Georgia, January 16, 1843. Milwaukie Lodge, No. 2, Milwaukie, Wisconsin Territory, January 16, 1843. Saco Lodge, No. 2, Saco, do. August 18th, 1843. Granite Lodge, No. 1, Nashua, New Hampshire, August 30, 1843, Resolved, That D. D. G. Sire Case be, and he is hereby authorized and directed to insert a title to the lodge instituted at Milledgeville,† Georgia, other than that chosen by the applicants. Rep. Kezer, of Tennessee, offered the following resolution, which was adopted. Resolved, That our worthy P. G. Sire, John A. Kennedy, is respectfully requested to furnish the reasons, for witholding the yearly password from Tennessee, six months after it was justly its due, together with the reasons why the Grand Lodge Charter of Tennessee, has not yet been furnished that body. Rep. Moore, of District of Columbia, from the Committee on the State of the Order, made the following report, which was read and adopted. To the R. W. Grand Lodge of the United States: The Committee on the State of the Order, to whom was referred communications from certain subordinate lodges in Kentucky, on the subject of changing the location of the Grand Lodge of that state, have considered the same, and beg leave to report: That these communications are from Union, Franklin, Friendship, Madison, Social, Capital, and Central Lodges. The five lodges first named, ask for the removal of the Grand Lodge to Lexington; Capital Lodge wants it located at Frankfort; and Central Lodge is opposed to its removal at all. There are eight other lodges in the state, which have expressed no opinion on the subject. Those lodges favoring the removal from Louisville, urge it on the ground that it would advance the convenience of a majority of lodges, and give to the Grand Lodge a more central location, in a region where there is the greatest increase in the Order; and Central objects to the removal, because it regards it as a mere sectional movement. The committee entertain the opinion that the location of a Grand Lodge should not be changed, unless for good and substantial reasons, to be acquiesced in by most of the members of the state immediately interested. No matter in what city or town a Grand Lodge be placed, a large portion of its members must suffer more or less inconvenience from attendance upon its deliberations, and hence the necessity of concession on all sides, and a sacrifice of personal convenience for the benefit of the institution at large. Eagle Lodge, No. 3.-In issueing the dispensation for this lodge, under an impression that two lodges had been previously instituted in the state, it was registered as "No. 3." From a careful examination of the proceedings of the Grand Lodge, it would now seem that but one lodge had been previously established there, and consequently that the number should be “2.” + Lodge instituted at Milledgeville.-The title adopted under the resolution is "Sylvan Lodge, No. 4." From the information before them, it is impossible for the committee to determine what are the wishes of a majority of the brethren of Kentucky on this subject, and they are therefore unwilling to recommend a compli ance with the petition, lest they should do injustice to some of the parties interested, who have not had an opportunity of making their views known. Louisville is the largest town in Kentucky, and will probably maintain its ascendancy in this respect. Whether the fact of its being a border town, which is one of the grounds of complaint, is likely to prejudice materially the progress of the Order in the state, is a matter requiring the serious deliberation of all the lodges, to whose fidelity and discretion the committee are willing to commit the question; and if they decide among themselves, with any degree of unanimity, both as to propriety of removal, and the point of location, then will be the proper time for this body to take the matter into consideration. For the reasons herein set forth, the committee ask to be discharged from the further consideration of the subject. All which is respectfully submitted. WILLIAM W. MOORE, RICHARD MARLEY. Rep. Moore, of District of Columbia, offered the following, as an amendment of the Standing Rules of Order, which was adopted: Strike out No. 6, which is in these words: "Reports of committees on different business will then be read." To No. 7, which reads as follows: "Report of Grand Sire as to his acts and doings during the recess of the Grand Lodge," add "of which report the Grand Sire be authorized to have two hundred copies printed, provided the work can be done in time to place the copies on the tables of the members at the proper time for laying that annual document before this body, but not otherwise." Let No. 8, read as follows: "Annual Reports of the Grand Corresponding Secretary and Grand Treasurer-in which the latter officer shall submit a statement of all the receipts and expenditures on account of his office during the year, designating in detail the sources from whence the moneys are received, and the objects for which they are expended; both of which reports may be printed, either together or separately, as may be most convenient, in the same manner as is above provided for the annual report of the Grand Sire-it not being intended, however, that the presentation of either of these reports shall be delayed in order to have them printed." Rep. Shaffner, of Kentucky, offered the following resolution, which was referred to the Committee of Finance. Resolved, That the Grand Encampments of commonwealth of Kentucky, and state of Ohio, be and are hereby released from all dues, which the said Encampments now owe this Grand Lodge. Rep. Salomon, of Alabama, offered the following resolution, which was referred to the Committee of Finance. Resolved, That the sum of twenty dollars forwarded in 1840, for the purpose of obtaining a charter for Brothers Lodge, No. 3, to be located at Mobile, be refunded back to the applicants, inasmuch as the application was withdrawn, and charter not granted. Rep. Sanderson, of Maryland, offered the following amendment to the Constitution, seconded by Rep. Guild, of Massachusetts, which was laid on the table, as required by the Constitution. Strike out of the fourth line of the certificate, the word "one," and fill the blank with the word "two," so as to read two years, &c. Rep. Moore, of District of Columbia, asked and obtained a re-consideration of the vote by which the report presented by him on the subject of the removal of the Grand Lodge of the state of Kentucky, was adopted. The resolution being under consideration, Rep. Marshall, of Kentucky, moved to re-commit the report to the committee, with instructions to report a resolution to empower the Grand Lodge of Kentucky to remove the seat of government, upon the application of a majority of the lodges of the state, which was decided in the negative. The question then recurring on the report of the committee, it was again adopted. Rep. Webb, of Virginia, presented a communication from the Grand Encampment of Virginia, announcing the expulsion of Widows' Friend Encampment, of that state, which was referred to the Committee on Re turns. Rep. Kneass, of Pennsylvania, offered the following, which was adopted: Resolved, That this Grand Lodge do present P. C. P. Henry Leffman, of Philadelphia, a diploma, as an evidence of their sense of his kindness, in promptly and faithfully translating into the german language, the work of subordinate Encampments, free of charge, and that this resolution be copied on the said diploma. Rep. Stewart, of Missouri, offered the following resolution, which, on motion, was referred to the Committee of Finance. Resolved, That all dues and arrearages from Wildey Encampment, No. 1, St. Louis, Missouri, and Lebanon Encampment, No. 3, Springfield, Illinois, previous to the present session, be and are hereby remitted. Rep. Treadwell, of New York, from the committee to whom was referred the Grand Sire's report, for allotment, submitted the following report, which was concurred in. To the R. W. Grand Lodge of the United States: The special committee to whom was referred the report of the Grand Sire for the purpose of alloting the various subjects to appropriate committees, respectfully recommend the following distribution for adoption, viz: That so much of the report as relates to the "independence of the Order in foreign countries, and the establishment of a universal convocation," be referred to the Committee on the State of the Order. That so much of the report as relates to " petitions and dispensations granted," and the accompanying documents, be referred to the Committee on Petitions. That so much of the report as relates to the "establishment of a general numerical registry," be referred to a special committee of three. That so much of the report as relates to the "initiation of distant applicants," be referred to the Committee on the State of the Order. That so much of the report as relates to the "form of commission and reports of D. D. Grand Sires," be referred to the Committee on Returns. That so much of the report as relates to the "reports of the D. D. Grand Sires," be referred to a special committee of three. That so much of the report as relates to the "uniformity of the work of the Order," be referred to the Committee on the State of the Order. That so much of the report as relates to the "revision and preparation of the lectures and charges," be referred to a select committee of three. That so much of the report as relates to the "French translation of the lectures and charges, and the compensation therefor," be referred to the Committee of Finance. That so much of the report as relates to the "regalia and the jewels of the Grand Officers," be referred to the Committee on the State of the Order. That so much of the report as relates to the "Official Magazine," be referred to the Committee on Official Magazine. That so much of the report as relates to the "Finances," be referred to the Committee of Finance. JOHN G. TREADWELL, Rep. Stokes, of Pennsylvania, offered the following preamble and resolu tion, which was referred to the Committee on the State of the Order. Whereas, Various complaints have been made to the Grand Lodge of the state of Pennsylvania, by several of the subordinate lodges, located near the line of the state of Maryland, of a growing evil arising from the initiation of persons rejected by said lodges, into lodges under a different jurisdiction, and as it is calculated to be productive of bad consequences if persisted in, and the generation of a feeling at variance with the established principles of our beloved Order, by admitting without proper investigation persons unworthy, and thereby vouchsafe to them their admission into the society of those that have well-grounded reasons for refusing the fellowship: therefore be it Resolved, That it is the wish of this Grand Lodge, that the different Grand Lodges under this jurisdiction, should prohibit the initiation of any person coming from the immediate vicinity of a working lodge, either of their own or an adjoining jurisdic tion, without first corresponding with said lodge, for the purpose of ascertaining his reasons for connecting himself with a lodge at a distance and amongst strangers, when their is a lodge near his own residence, composed of members supposed to be familiar with his reputation. Rep. Salomon, of Alabama, presented resolutions passed by the Grand Lodge of that state, in relation to the work of the Order, which were referred to the committee on that subject. On motion of Rep. Salomon, of Alabama, the Grand Lodge proceeded to consider the report of the committee on unfinished business. The first question on this report, being amendment to the Constitution, Article II, page 447, postponed. The second, being amendment to Article XI, to change the time of meeting to third Monday in August, being considered. Rep. Sherlock, of Ohio, moved to adopt the amendment, which motion was rejected, 5 voting in the affirmative, and 17 in the negative. The third subject, being amendment to Article VIII, of the Constitution, page 456, was considered and unanimously decided in the negative. The yeas and nays were called for by Rep. Treadwell, of New York, and appeared as follows: YEAS.-0. |