A code of Rules of Order was then submitted, which after due consideration, was adopted. When on motion, it was thropy, and to secure unto ourselves and posterity the more effectually the blessings which are to be derived from so valuable and beneficial institution, ordain and establish this Constitution of the Grand Lodge of the United States, of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows. Art. 1. The Grand Lodge of the United States of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, shall be composed of a Grand Sire, a Deputy Grand Sire, a Grand Secretary, and Grand Guardian, and one Representative or Proxy, (who shall severally be Past Grands from each Grand Lodge in the United States and jurisdiction belonging thereunto, who are acting under a legal charter granted by the Grand Lodge of the United States, and in obedience to the ancient rules and customs of the Order, and the Constitution of this Grand Lodge. Art. 2. The titles of the officers shall be the M. W. G. Sire, R. W. D. G. Sire, R. W. G. Secretary, W. G. Guardian, and W. Representative or Proxy. Art. 3.1. The G. Sire shall preside at the meetings of the Grand Lodge, preserve order and enforce the laws thereof, and shall have a casting vote whenever the Grand Lodge may be equally divided, but shall not vote upon any other occasion. He shall appoint the D. G. Sire, who shall reside within the state in which the Grand Lodge is held. $2. The D. G. Sire shall open and close the meetings of the Grand Lodge, support the G. Sire by his assistance, and preside in his absence; shall read all petitions, proceedings, reports, and communications; and on all elections or votes, make a correct statement thereof to the G. Secretary. $3. The G. Secretary shall record a just and true account of the proceedings of the Grand Lodge, as well as communications from all Grand Lodges in the United States; summon the members to attend the meetings; keep the accounts in a correct manner; write all letters and communications, and perform such other duties as may be required by the Grand Lodge, and shall receive for his dollars per annum. services § 4. The G. Guardian shall prove every brother before he admits him, and allow no one to enter or depart without the password, nor during the transaction of any business, unless permission be granted by the presiding officer. 55. The Representatives or Proxies shall represent the Grand Lodge by whom they are appointed. Art. 4. The Grand Lodge shall meet annually, on the first Monday in September, and on its own adjournments; and the G. Sire shall have power to call a special meeting at his discretion, for the purpose of granting warrants or charters; but on business of importance he shall cause three months previous notice to be sent to the several Grand Lodges, and communicate to them the business for which the meeting is to be called. Art. 5. The Grand Lodge shall meet for the present in the city of Baltimore, state of Maryland. Art. 6. The D. G. Sire, G. Secretary and G. Guardian, shall not vote at any time in their official capacity. Art. 7. Every Grand Lodge may nominate a candidate for the office of G. Sire; the candidate shall be a Past Grand Master; the nomination shall be called over previous to balloting, and the G. Sire shall be elected one year previous to entering upon the duties of his office, and by a majority of the whole number of votes given; he shall hold his office for two years, and shall be eligible for re-elec tion as often as the Grand Lodge may think proper. He shall not hold an office in any Grand Lodge while serving in the office of G. Sire. Art. 8. The G. Secretary and G. Guardian shall be elected by a majority of votes given; they shall hold their offices for two years, and shall be eligible for re-election. Art. 9. After an election has taken place, the officers elected shall be informed of the same, and if either of them should neglect to attend and be installed at the time appointed, his election shall be void, and the Grand Lodge shall proceed to elect another to fill the vacancy. Art. 10. When five brothers of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows wish to form a lodge in any state, district, territory or country, that has not a Grand Lodge deriving its authority from the Grand Lodge of the United States, they shall petition this Grand Lodge for a warrant. Should a majority of this Grand Lodge decide favorably, the Grand Lodge may deputize a member of the Grand Lodge to deliver the same, and to open the new lodge, and give the necessary instructions. Art. 11. The warrant, with the charges and lectures of the White, Royal Blue, and Scarlet, together with the Covenant and Remembrance Degrees, shall be charged at thirty dollars, and the money shall be sent with the petition; should the petition not be granted, the money shall be returned. Art. 12. Subordinate lodges, acting under a warrant granted by the Grand Lodge of the United States, shall be exclusively under the government of the United States Grand Lodge, and pay ten per cent of their proceeds to the Grand Lodge of the United States, until they have a Grand Lodge formed in their respective state, district, or territory. Art. 13. Subordinate lodges, acting under a warrant granted by the Grand Lodge of the United States, having five Past Grands, may petition for a charter for a Grand Lodge; the charter to be charged at twenty dollars; the money shall be sent with the petition; should the charter not be granted, the money shall be returned. Art. 14. All necessary travelling expenses incurred for the purpose of opening a new lodge, shall be paid by the petitioners for said lodge. Art. 15. All letters or communications shall be addressed to the Grand Sire; and the postage to and from the Grand Lodge of the United States, shall be paid by the Grand Lodge to whom they may be directed, or sending the same. Art. 16. Every Grand Lodge shall send a yearly report of the expulsions or suspensions that have taken place in the lodges under their jurisdiction; the names of the persons and the reasons therefor; together with a correct statement of the number of members belonging to the lodges, and all other circumstances of importance. Art. 17. Every Grand Lodge shall send an impression of their seal, to be deposited within the archives of the Grand Lodge, and all communications shall be sealed therewith. Art. 18. The G. Sire shall forward a yearly password to the Grand Master of the several Grand Lodges. Art. 19. The Representatives or Proxies of each Grand Lodge shall present a certificate of their appointment, signed by the Grand Master and Grand Secretary, and sealed with the seal of the lodge. Resolved, That the Constitution and Rules of Order, be prepared and bound, signed by the Grand Sire and Grand Secretary, and a copy be forwarded to each Grand Lodge. On motion, it was Resolved, That the Grand Sire of the Grand Lodge of the United States be requested to use his utmost endeavours to resuscitate and revive the Order in Massachusetts, when he may visit that state, in Moveable Committee. The subordinate degree lectures, as revised, were taken up, and further modified. On motion, it was unanimously Resolved, That the thanks of the Grand Lodge of the United States, be presented to G. Sire Wildey, for his indefatigable exertions in promoting the interest of the Order, and for his general conduct during the past year. Whereupon, G. Sire Wildey arose and returned his acknowledgments, in an address upon the rise and progress of the Order in this country, which was listened to with marked attention. On motion, it was unanimously Resolved, That the address delivered by G. Sire Wildey, be annexed to the min utes. On motion, it was Resolved, That a committee consisting of Rep's Roach, of Maryland, and Marley, of New York, be appointed to draft a blank report, for the use of Grand Lodges, to enable them to communicate such information to the Grand Lodge of the United States, as required by the Constitution, and that 200 copies be printed, and a sufficient number be sent to each Grand Lodge. Resolved, That a list of regular lodges be published in the minutes, and that a copy be sent to each Grand and subordinate lodge within the United States. On motion, the Grand Lodge of the United States closed. JOHN STARR, Grand Secretary, pro tem. 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 jurisdictiction, Washington Lodge, No. 1, Baltimore, meets every other Monday. Franklin Lodge, No. 2, Baltimore, meets every other Thursday. Columbia Lodge, No. 3, Baltimore, meets every other Wednesday. William Tell Lodge, No. 4, Baltimore, meets every other Tuesday. The Encampment of Patriarchs, meets the first Friday in every month. The Grand Lodge of Massachusetts, Boston, having under its jurisdiction, The Massachusetts Lodge, No. 1, Boston, meets every Second Friday. Siloam Lodge, No. 2, Boston, meets every Second Tuesday. Art. 20. Any Representative or Proxy neglecting to attend an annual, adjourned, or special meeting, shall be fined five dollars, except prevented from attending by sickness, or being beyond ten miles from the place of meeting. Art. 21. The several Grand Lodges shall pay an equal proportion of the expenses of the Grand Lodge of the United States; they shall also pay the travelling expenses of their Representative. Art. 22. The Constitution and By-Laws shall be read at the annnal meeting, and the members of the different Grand Lodges may be admitted to hear any business that may be transacted. Art. 23. This Grand Lodge may enact By-laws for their government, and the regulation of their pecuniary affairs, not interfering with the Constitution. Art. 24. Any motion for an alteration, repeal or amendment to the Constitution, shall be communicated in writing to the Grand Sire, six months previous to the annual meeting, and the same to be communicated to the several Grand Lodges, and a majority of two-thirds shall be necessary to decide. Good Samaritan Lodge, No. 3, Taunton, meeting not ascertained. The Grand Lodge of New York, Albany, having under its jurisdiction, Philanthropic Lodge, No. 5, Albany, meeting not ascertained. The Grand Lodge of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, having under its jurisdiction. Pennsylvania Lodge, No. 1, Philadelphia, meets every Wednesday.. Philadelphia Lodge, No. 13, Philadelphia, meets every Saturday. The Grand Lodge of the District of Columbia, Washington City, having under its jurisdiction. Central Lodge, No. 1, Washington, meets every Tuesday. Georgetown Lodge, No. 2, Georgetown, meets every Friday. Annual Report of the Grand Lodges to the R. W. Grand Lodge of the United States, I. O O. F., commencing May, 1828, and ending May, 1829. In New York-P. G. John Grant, embezzlement of lodge funds. In Pennsylvania-John Reader, L. Domsler, J. T. Barrows, Daniel Davis. * The Grand Lodge of New York was removed from the city of New York to Albany during the previous year. No authority or sanction on the part of the Grand Lodge of the United States, favorable to this act, appears on record. ADDRESS Delivered by Grand Sire THOMAS WILDEY, on his Installation for the second term. REPRESENTATIVES-Once more I have been elevated by your suffrages, to the highly important and dignified station of Grand Sire of these United States: I pray you, therefore, to accept my most sincere and affectionate thanks for this expression of your confidence. The highest reward an individual can receive in the discharge of official duty, is the approbation of those to whom his services have been devoted; that I have been guided and influenced during the whole period of my public service by an anxious desire to advance the interest and increase the honor of Odd Fellowship, is most true; but I dare not, cannot flatter myself, that every act of my official conduct has had that effect. The unanimity of your suffrages has made a lasting impression upon my heart, and I am not so vain as to believe but that your friendly feelings has produced an estimate of my public service. From your constituents I have received the most brotherly attentions, and have been the honored object of great demonstrations of respect and attachment: I pray you, in consideration, to return to them my warmest acknowledgements, for their generous hospitalities, and many valued testimonies of esteem. Their regard and your continued confidence has inspired emotions that I will carry to the grave; and whilst recollection has a seat in the tablet of memory, I will cherish the honorable distinction you have this day again conferred upon my weak and feeble exertions in that cause whose incense rises from the altar of benevolence, whilst its fumes cheer the dreary moments of suffering humanity, and mitigates the wants of our fellow-man. The only expression of grauiude that I can offer, is an honest tender of a faithful and impartial discharge of the multifarious duties that will devolve upon me to perform. Representatives, I do assure you, that the honored object of your partiality would not have been a candidate for the distinguished station that he now occupies, but for the great difficulties that will be experienced on the introduction and organization of Encampments; one false step, at this period, may prove fatal to their being. Their existence will shed a hallowed lustre upon the Order, and the benignity of its influence advance the general interest, promote the general prosperity, and to all secure the participation of the benefits of the sublime degrees. For the accomplishment of those useful and salutary ends, I feel a deep solicitude, and shall buckle on my armor, enter the field, commence the campaign, and cheerfully encounter the toil and fatigue of a veteran, undismayed by difficulty. Onward shall be my motto. Representatives, I shall on this occasion take the liberty of calling your attention to the first introduction of Odd Fellowship in this country. To impress upon your minds the great and trying difficulties that have been overcome, and of the shoals and quicksands that encompassed its early existence, which perhaps at this time would not have had a "habitation or a name," but for the energetic and never ceasing exertions of those kindred spirits, whose souls were warmed with social love, and whose intelligence operates upon conflicting interest and conflicting materials, were by diligent perseverance brought to bear their alimony to promote the public good. Previous to the year 1818, Odd Fellowship had no existence in this country, and on my arrival in September in that year, great was my astonishment to find that there was no such a thing as an Odd Fellows' lodge established in this city, nor in the United States. Shortly thereafter, I became acquainted with brother John Welch, and after a long conversation and much deliberation, it was concluded to invite by public notice, a meeting of those of the Order who might chance be in Baltimore; the result of which was that five in number assembled, at the time and place desig nated in the advertisement, which led to the organization of a lodge in this city, and in honor of the great founder of American liberty, was named the Washington, who derived their charter from the Duke of York's Lodge, in Preston, England, proclaiming them the Grand Lodge of Maryland and of the United States; with authority to grant charters in this Western Hemisphere, throughout this widely extended continent. But a short time however elapsed, when it became apparent that the operations of a working lodge materially interfered with those of the Grand Lodge, and they were of necessity divided-the latter to be composed of Past Grands only. A similar difficulty has arisen in relation to the operations of the Grand Lodge, by which their business is obstructed, in dispensing the sublime degrees; and but a favored few who reside in its vicinity are enabled to receive them. A change has been found expedient, and the Grand Lodge has become entirely a business body, and the higher superior dignatory of Encampments will dispense the sublime degrees. At an early stage after the organization of the Order, an application was made from Massachusetts, for a warrant or dispensation to establish a lodge in that state. Information by this time had been received of two lodges being opened in New York, and one in the city of Philadelphia, all acting without a charter, and working without a chart or compass. To obviate the dangerous effects of such proceedings, and to produce an union of interests in this country, I addressed a communication to those lodges, apprising them in what manner they could obtain a charter from the Grand Lodge of Maryland and of the United States, and that I should visit them on my way to Boston, and impart all needful information. On my arrival in Philadelphia, I waited on the Pennsylvania Lodge, so called, and urged with great earnestness the propriety and strong necessity of their working and being governed by a regular and fegal charter, stated the great advantages that the Order would derive by an uniform co-operation of Odd Fellows in this country, and that unless an union of interest and feeling were established, endless difficulties would arise, strife and contention would rear a hydra head, and discord swallow every advantage and benefit the Order was established to protect. They, after consultation, came to an unanimous conclusion to receive a charter from Maryland, and to aid in the formation of an American interest. From whence I proceeded to New York, and discovered the information originally received, partially incorrect. There was one lodge called the Franklin, working without a charter, and one working under a charter derived from England, called the Columbia, whose charter would not be recognized as a legal instrument by the members of the Franklin. Contention and division arose, the validity of the charter was denied, and the members of the Franklin came to a determination not to meet at all. At this period of their disunion, I visited the Columbia Lodge, and was examined by request or courtesy by members belonging to the Franklin. The examination did not result altogether satisfactory to their manner of working; yet I gained admittance, and was received with unusual cordiality and respect. I stated the object of my mission, and urged the same reasons and arguments that I had employed in Philadelphia, strenuously contending for an uniformity of system of co-operation, and detailed the essential benefits that would be derived to these states. I was then requested to examine the charter, which had been pronounced by the members of the Franklin as illegal, invalid and useless. I gave it an attentive and deliberate perusal, and was compelled, from a conviction of duty, to declare it a legal and authorized charter. The members of the Columbia received my decision with enthusiastic approbation, and desired me to continue one day longer with them, to enable them to effect a reconciliation; which I joyfully acceded to. Both lodges were convened on the following evening; the members of the Columbia generally assembled, and but one member from the Franklin appeared, who stated that he was authorized to say, on behalf of the Franklin Lodge, that they would consent to no reconciliation, or enter into any arrangement of compromise, as they had determined never to recognize the validity of the Columbia's charter. I then handed for his perusal the charter that I was about to deliver to the Massachusetts Lodge, and he instantly pronounced it a legal instrument, and would have no objection to meet under it. Discovering that the object of the meeting would be ineffectual, and determined that no measure should be left untried to effect my purpose, I immediately proposed that the members of the Columbia Lodge apply to the Grand Lodge of Maryland and of the United States for a charter, which they assented to. One point had now been obtained; the greater and more difficult remained to be accomplished-to obtain from them the charter they derived from England; as in the event of their receiving a charter from Maryland, they would be working under a double authority, and perhaps be responsible to neither. A finesse of policy was necessary, and I proposed upon my own responsibility, knowing it would be granted, that if they would give me the charter they received from England, I would pledge myself to present them with a grand charter, to open a Grand Lodge for the state of New York-they having a sufficient number of Past Grands to enable them to hold one. They consented. I proceeded to Boston, opened the Massachusetts Lodge, delivered to them their charter, and opened a Grand Lodge for the state of Massachusetts, and instructed them in every necessary information. I had previously written to the Grand Lodge of Maryland and of the United States, informing them of the result of my negotiation in New York, and desiring them immediately to prepare the charters for the Columbia Lodge, |