The Grand Sire stated that the Special Committee was assembled for the purpose of considering a petition for a charter for a lodge to be located at Washington City, District of Columbia. Whereupon, a petition was presented from brothers Thomas M. Abbett, Robert Boyd, John Cragg, Thomas Smith and Samuel Knapp, praying for a charter for a lodge to be located at Washington, D. C., and to be hailed Central Lodge, No. 1, I. O. Fellows. The petition having been duly considered, on motion, it was Resolved, That the charter be granted to the abovenamed petitioners, and that the said lodge be opened on the 26th of November, 1827. On motion, it was Ordered, That G. Sire Wildey be deputed to open Central Lodge, No. 1, Washington City. A letter was read from Hope Lodge, No. 3, state of New York, presenting their thanks to G. Sire Wildey, for his signature to their charter, and for services rendered the Order. On motion, the Grand Committee closed. JOHN J. ROACH, Grand Secretary. pro tem. BALTIMORE, January 15th, 1828. The Grand Committee met pursuant to the call of the M. W. Grand Sire, and opened in regular form. THOMAS WILDEY, M. W. G. Sire, presiding. The Grand Sire announced, that the Grand Committee was convened for the purpose of considering a petition for a charter for a lodge to be located at Georgetown, District of Columbia. Whereupon, a petition was presented from brothers Robert Boyd, T. Wedds, Francis King, John Elvans, John Douglass and John Cragg, praying for a charter for a lodge to be located at Georgetown, D. C., and hailed and entitled, Georgetown Lodge, No. 2, I. O. Fellows. The petition having been duly considered, on motion, the following were adopted. Resolved, That the charter be granted to the abovenamed petitioners, and the said lodge be opened on the 23d January, 1828. Resolved, That G. Sire Wildey be deputed to open said Georgetown Lodge, No. 2. Resolved, That a vote of thanks be presented to N. G. Thomas M. Abbett, of Central Lodge, No. 1, Washington City, D. C., for his energy in the support and welfare of the Order. Rep. Marley, of New York, presented a communication from the Grand Lodge of said state, informing this body of the expulsion of Strangers' Refuge Lodge, No. 4. When, on motion, it was, Strangers' Refuge Lodge, No. 4.-The principal portion of the members of this lodge had been accustomed to the different mode of government which prevails under the Manchester Unity, and were not prepared to accord to the Grand Lodge of their state any other than advisary powers, such as had heretofore been exercised by "Committees of Past Grands." Resistance was made to paying regular dues to the Grand Lodge; and the regulation for exacting fees from their members, for degrees conferred, was disregarded. After the failure of every mild measure to correct them, necessity compelled a resort to the extreme penalty. Resolved, That the expulsion of Strangers' Refuge Lodge, No. 4, by the Grand Lodge of New York, be approved, and that the Grand Secretary be directed to forward a notice of said expulsion to each Grand Lodge. On motion, the Grand Committee closed. JOHN J. ROACH, Grand Secretary, pro tem. ANNUAL COMMUNICATION OF THE GRAND LODGE OF THE UNITED STATES, Held at the City of Baltimore, May, 1828. BALTIMORE, May 1st, 1828. 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: M. W. G. Sire. R. W. D. G. Sire. R. W. G. Secretary, p. t. Rep. of Maryland. Proxy Rep. of New York. The credentials of the Representatives of Maryland, New York and Pennsylvania, were examined and found correct. The Grand Lodge of Massachusetts not represented. The Grand Lodge of the United States was then duly organized. D. G. Sire Welch, and G. Guar. Roach, asked and obtained leave of absence. The Grand Sire then appointed P. G. Daniel Weaver, as D. Grand Sire, p. t., and P. G. Thomas Chartres, as Grand Guardian, p. t. The proceedings of the last Annual Communication, and Grand Committee Meetings of November 12th, 1827, and January 15th, 1828, were read and approved. Communications were presented and read from the Manchester district. The D. Grand Sire then read the Constitution of this body. Rep. Scotchburn, of Maryland, presented and read the report of the Grand Lodge of Maryland, which represents the subordinate lodges to be in a flourishing condition. It also represents that an ENCAMPMENT OF PATRIARCHS had been formed during the year, the establishment of which is considered a great improvement in the Order, as it will be the means of Encampment of Patriarchs-Until the opening of this Encampment, the several degrees known now as the Patriarchal Degrees," had been conferred only in the body of a Grand Lodge, or "Dis. trict Committee," except the Golden Rule, which was given as a token of confidence, to scarlet degree members, in the M. U. The limitation of this branch of the Order to Past Grands being deemed onerous and unjust, on the 6th of May, 1827, a number of the members of the Grand Lodge of Mary. land held a meeting, and determined on applying to the Grand Lodge for a charter authorizing them to open an Encampment of Patriarchs, with power to confer the Patriarchal, Golden Rule and Royal Purple Degrees, on scarlet members in good standing. Whereupon, the Grand Lodge of Maryland, extending useful knowledge to brothers who have not become members of a Grand Lodge. The return made by the Encampment to the Grand Lodge of Maryland, was highly flattering. The report was accepted. A communication was presented from the Grand Lodge of Massachusetts, announcing that they had instituted a new lodge at Cragie's Point, entitled "New England Lodge, No. 4." Communications were received from the Grand Lodge of New York, and read by their Proxy, P. G. Richard Marley, informing this body of the formation of " Philanthropic Lodge, No. 5," at Albany; also, that the thanks of the Grand Lodge of the State of New York are hereby given to the M. W. Grand Sire, and the officers of the Grand Lodge of the United States, for their attention to the interests of the Order in general, and particularly to that state, for the last year. Rep. Small, of Pennsylvania, presented and read the report from the Grand Lodge of Pennsylvania. During the last year, two new lodges have been established and regularly chartered, entitled "Franklin Lodge, No. 5," and "General Marion Lodge, No. 6." And for the information of the various lodges, the Grand Lodge of Pennsylvania have pleasure in stating, that there are 568 contributing members belonging to different lodges under their jurisdiction. The Grand Secretary presented several communications from the lodges in the District of Columbia, which were read; the purport of which were to receive instruction, and to inform us of their increase in numbers and respectability, and the rapid advances they are making in the bonds of friendship and brotherly love. The communications were received, and the thanks of the members composing the Grand Lodge of the United States, returned. On motion, the following was adopted: Resolved, That the Grand Sire appoint a Grand Secretary for the ensuing year. Whereupon, the Grand Sire appointed P. G. JOHN J. ROACH, Cor. and Rec. Secretary, which was concurred in. On motion, it was unanimously Resolved, That the Constitution be so amended, that the Annual Communication be held on the first Monday in May, instead of, as heretofore, on the first day of May. On motion, Resolved, That Rep. Small, of Pennsylvania, present the vote of thanks, voted to our worthy G. Sire, Thomas Wildey, for his unwearied exertions for the good of the Order, at the last Annual Communication. Whereupon, Rep. Small, of Pennsylvania, presented the vote of thanks alluded to, with a few appropriate remarks, which were responded to by the M. W. Grand Sire. On motion, the following were adopted: on the 15th of the same month, granted their prayer on the payment of forty dollars. The following were duly installed into the several offices of the Encampment, on June 14th, 1827, to wit: John Boyd, G. P.; Thomas Wildey, H. P.; Thomas Scotchburn, S. W.; Richard Marley, Scribe; J. J. Roach, J. W., and E. Wilson, Guar. The style by which this body was known for a long time, on the minutes of the Grand Lodge of Maryland, was "the Encampment Lodge." Its dispensation, however, denominates it "The Encampment of Patriarchs," by which it continued to distinguish itself, (except during a period of a few months when it styled itself "Encampment, No. 1.") until the 24th August, 1832, at which time it adopted the title of "Jerusalem Encampment, No. 1, I. O. O. F.” It held itself subordinate to the Grand Lodge of Maryland, paying to that body regular per centage on its receipts up to the January session of 1832 Resolved, That the old as well as the new S's be given out to initiated brothers. Resolved, That the new S's be always made use of in the different lodges. Resolved, That when any lodge returns its charter to the Grand Lodge which granted it, or any lodge loses it by suspension or expulsion, the name or number of said lodge shall not be granted to any other lodge, the privilege alone being granted to a sufficient number of its original members. Resolved, That a sufficient number of impressions of seals, from the different Grand and Subordinate lodges of each state, be forwarded to the Grand Lodge of the United States, in order that every regular lodge may be supplied; and the said impressions be framed for a reference, the object of which is to prevent imposition. Rep. Small, of Pennsylvania, submitted the following, which was determined in the negative: Resolved, That the use of the new and old S's be made optional with each state Grand Lodge. On motion, the following were adopted: Resolved, That the Grand Secretary publish the expulsion of "Strangers' Refuge Lodge, No. 4," of New York, once a week for four successive Saturdays, in the undermentioned papers, viz: Baltimore American and Daily Advertiser, Philadelphia Saturday Evening Post, New York Enquirer, New York Albion, Albany Gazette and Daily Advertiser, Boston Daily Advertiser, and United States Telegraph, at Washington City, District of Columbia. Resolved, That a Grand Moveable Committee be formed, to move once in four years, through the different states where Grand Lodges are organized. Resolved, That the said Committee be formed of two, and the Grand Sire to be at all times one of said Committee. Resolved, That the Grand Sire have power to appoint one Proxy or Representative to move with him in said Moveable Committee. Resolved, That the subordinate lodge degrees be revised. Resolved, That the thanks of the Grand Lodge of the United States, are hereby given to the undermentioned members of the Manchester district, England: P. G. M. Derbyshire, G. M. Redfern, G. M. Whittam, P. D. G. M. Fry, P. D. G. M. Garbott, P. G. Taylor, P. Cor. Sec. Burton, together with the officers of said district, for their adopting and promoting all improvements for the good of the Order. Resolved, That the Grand Lodge of the United States most strenuously recommend the establishment of Patriarchal Encampments, throughout the different states, as they will prove of considerable use and benefit to the Independent Order. Resolved, That a copy of the Constitution and By-Laws of each Grand Lodge be communicated to the Grand Lodge of the United States. On motion of Rep. Marley, of New York, the following preamble and resolution was adopted: Whereas, The Constitution of the Grand Lodge of the United States, of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, is defective in several of its articles, therefore, Resolved, That the same be taken up for consideration and general revision. Whereupon, Rep. Small, of Pennsylvania, submitted a draft of an entirely new Constitution, which was read, and after undergoing various alterations and amendments, on motion, it was Ordered, That the new Constitution submitted, be referred to the several Grand Lodges; and that the Grand Secretary be directed to transmit true copies thereof accordingly. On motion, the following were adopted: Resolved, That the custom of *****-******* be abolished in taking degrees. Resolved, That at each Annual Meeting of the Grand Lodge, it shall be the duty of the Representatives or Proxies of each state, to estimate the current expenses of the ensuing year, and draw on each state Grand Lodge for the same, which must be immediately paid, to enable the Grand Sire to pay the necessary and essential expenses that may occur, and that he keep a regular account of the same, and present it to the Grand Lodge at the Annual Communication. The following were proposed, and severally rejected: Resolved, That the Grand Lodge of the United States hold Sessions alternately in the different states of Massachusetts, New York, Pennsylvania and Maryland. Resolved, That in case of a Grand Sire being elected who is not a resident in the state in which the Grand Lodge is held, the said Grand Lodge to pay all travelling and necessary expenses. On motion, the following were adopted: Resolved, That the thanks of the Grand Lodge of the United States, are hereby given to P. G. M. Thomas Small, Rep. of Pennsylvania, for his zeal in promoting the good of the Order. Resolved, That the Grand Secretary draw out a blank report, for the use of state Grand Lodges, in order for them to give a correct statement of their financial affairs, with their annual communications, and that the Grand Secretary have fifty copies of the same printed. Resolved, That a list of regular lodges be published in these minutes, for the information and satisfaction of the different states. On motion, the Grand Lodge closed the Annual Session, in Friendship, Love and Truth. JOHN J. ROACH, Grand Cor. and Rec. Secretary. List of Grand and Subordinate Lodges, under the jurisdiction of the Grand Lodge of the United States. The Grand Lodge of Maryland, Baltimore, having under its jurisdiction, Washington Lodge, No. 1, Baltimore, meets every other Monday. Massachusetts Lodge, No. 1, Boston, meets every second Friday. Good Samaritan Lodge, No. 3, Taunton, meeting not reported. New England Lodge, No. 4, Cragie's Point, meeting not reported. The Grand Lodge of New York, New York, having under its jurisdiction, Columbia Lodge, No. 1, New York, meets every Monday. Friendship Lodge, No. 2, Pleasant Valley, meets every Saturday. Philanthropic Lodge, No. 5, Albany, meeting not reported. The Grand Lodge of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, having under its jursidiction, Pennsylvania Lodge, No. 1, Philadelphia, meets every Wednesday. |