21st day of February. The Grand Lodge of Maryland being in session, I visited that body immediately; upon my entering the room I was grasped by the hand by the worthy Grand Master, and congratulated upon my safe return again to my native state, and concluded by hoping that the advantages the Order would receive from my tour, would be commensurate to the labour and fatigue I had undergone. Brothers-I would here close my report by remarking, that it has given me much pleasure to have met so many respectable assemblages of my brethren in the different states, and being so cordially received amongst them-by many whom I never saw before, is a great gratification-Brothers, it is ample recompense for all the fatigue of my journey. With sentiments of respect, yours, In the bonds of F. L. & T. The Representative from Pennsylvania not having as yet arrived, but being hourly expected, it was, on motion, Resolved, That this Grand Lodge now adjourn to meet at half-past seven o'clock, this evening. MONDAY, 7 o'clock, P. M. The Grand Lodge met pursuant to adjournment: Present, the same Officers and Representatives as in the morning. By the order of the Grand Sire, the Grand Lodge was declared duly opened for the transaction of business. Rep. Ridgely, of Ohio, presented a communication from the Grand Lodge of Ohio, enclosing a newspaper containing a charge said to be copied from a Pennsylvania paper, viz: "That Thomas Wildey, Grand Sire of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, had absconded with the funds of the Order." and moved that a committee be appointed to take this gross slander upon the Grand Sire of the Order into consideration, and to report what course of conduct should be pursued by this Grand Lodge, in vindication of his character from said libel. Which motion prevailed. The following committee was announced: Rep's Ridgely, of Ohio; Keyser, of Maryland; Gettys, of District of Columbia; Neilson, of Louisiana; and Sanderson, of Massachusetts. On motion, the following was adopted: Resolved, That the committee appointed to examine whether any, and if any, what alterations in the Constitution are necessary, be discharged. Rep. Keyser, of Maryland, submitted the following, which was adopted: Resolved, That a new committee be appointed to examine and report on the propriety of amending the Constitution. The Grand Sire appointed Rep's Keyser, of Maryland; Ridgely, of Ohio; and Gettys, of District of Columbia, as the committee. The committee to whom was referred the case of P. G. McAnnal, was unable to make any report in consequence of receiving no information from the brothers in Delaware. An invitation was presented by the Grand Master of Maryland, requesting the Grand Lodge to visit the working lodges in full regalia, when, on motion, it was Resolved, That the Grand Lodge accept the same. Resolved, That the Grand Lodge do now adjourn until Tuesday, March 5th, at 9 o'clock, A. M. TUESDAY, March 5th, 9 o'clock, A. M. The Grand Lodge met pursuant to adjournment: Present, the same Officers and Representatives as on Monday. The Grand Lodge was declared duly opened for the transaction of busi ness. Rep. Keyser, of Maryland, from the committee to whom was referred the Constitution, presented the following report. To the R. W. Grand Lodge of the United States: The committee to whom was referred the Constitution, and to report whether any alterations are necessary, submit the following amendments for consideration. GEORGE KEYSER, Article IV, second line, the words, "first Monday in September," be stricken out, and that the words "first Monday in February" be inserted. That in Article V, first line, all after the word "meet," be stricken out, and insert "at such place as the Grand Lodge shall from time to time determine." "Article VII-Qualification and Election of Grand Sire. A brother to be qualified for the office of Grand Sire, must be a Past Grand Master of some state, district, or territorial Grand Lodge, and possessed of the Royal Purple Degree, and shall be elected at the Annual Meeting in February, by a majority of the whole number present, of written ballots. He shall not hold any elective office in any state, district, or territorial Grand or subordinate lodge." In Article X, second line, insert after "Lodge," "or Encampment." On motion, the report was accepted. A petition was presented from sundry brothers of Kentucky, viz: N. Estling, S. Lyon, S. Waters, T. H. Breece, G. G. Wright, J. Barcley, J. J. Roach, and T. Mayberry, now working under a dispensation from the Grand Sire, praying for a charter for a lodge; which, on motion, was referred to a special committee. The Grand Sire appointed as the committee, Rep's Ridgely, of Ohio; Keyser, of Maryland; and Gettys, of District of Columbia. A petition was presented from sundry Past Grands of Delaware, praying for the return of their Grand Lodge charter. When, on motion, it was Resolved, That the same be restored. Rep. Ridgely, of Ohio, from the special committee appointed to take into consideration the libel upon our Worthy Grand Sire, made the following report, which was accepted, and the resolutions adopted. To the R. W. Grand Lodge of the United States : The committee to whom was referred the subject of the libel, originated by the Pennsylvania Telegraph, published at Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, and copied into the Hagerstown Free Press, and the Franklin Republican, charging Thomas Wildey, the present Grand Sire of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows in these United States, with having absconded from the city of Baltimore, carrying with him the funds of the Order, have had the subject under consideration, and ask leave respectfully to report: Your committee can scarcely find terms in which to express the indig. nation unanimously felt by them, at so attrocious and unprincipled a slander against the character and fame of an individual not having the slightest connection with the treasury of our Order; and holding an office entirely apart, distinct and separate from that of Treasurer-and indeed, they are at a loss to discover, in the whole catalogue of human vices, the motives which could have originated or propagated this libel; unless, indeed, they could be found in the desperate, disappointed and departed hopes of an illfangled Anti-masonic party; or, in some more congenial union with the branded and expelled miscreants who have been tumbled out of our institution for the violation of the relations pledged to the Order, or the prostitution of the moral and honest principles which should regulate man in his intercourse with his fellow man. To one or the other of these sources, alone, are we able even to suppose the origination of this slander probably referable. But come whence it may originated by whomsoever-we hereby pronounce it unequivocally, and openly, a base, malignant, unblushing, and diabolical slander, levelled against the character of an honest and good fellow citizen, who stands high in the confidence of his brethren; but designed, through him, as a shaft at the Order over which the suffrages of his brothers have, for two successive terms of four years each, called him to preside. Your committee, entertaining no fears or apprehensions that such malignity can affect the high standing to which our Order has attained, by the good conduct, upright deportment, and universal respectability of its members; and resting under a deep conviction that it will carry with itself to the mind of every intelligent and reflecting fellow citizen, the elements of its own insignificance, would, under these impressions, dismiss it to the grovelling spirits whence it emanated, did not a solemn and public duty, growing out of their relations to each other in society, require that they should never permit crime to go unpunished, or suffer villainy to escape in small things, lest it might seemingly justify its authors to continue the work of iniquity and slander, they therefore take leave to recommend the adoption of the accompanying resolutions: JAMES L. RIDGELY, ROBERT NEILSON, HENRY S. SANDERSON. Resolved, That the charge against Thomas Wildey, Grand Sire of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, of having absconded with the funds of the Order, is a base, malignant, and unblushing slander, and justly excites our regret for the degradation of human nature, and our contempt for its authors. Resolved, As the unanimous wish and desire of this Grand Lodge, that Thomas Wildey, Grand Sire, institute legal prosecutions* against its authors and promulgators. Resolved, That this Grand Lodge will sustain and support our Grand Sire in all legal prosecutions which he may institute against the originators or propagators of the said slander. Rep. Ridgely, of Ohio, from the committee to whom was referred the petition of N. Estling and others, presented the following report, which was accepted, and the resolution adopted. To the R. W. Grand Lodge of the United States: The special committee to whom was referred the petition of N. Estling and others, praying for a charter for a lodge to be located at Louisville, Kentucky, and hailed as "Boon Lodge, No. 1," now working under a dispensation from the Grand Sire, have considered the subject, and submit the following resolution for adoption. Respectfully submitted, JAMES L. RIDGELY, Resolved, That the charter be granted, as prayed for. On motion, the following were adopted: Resolved, That the committee appointed to remodel the funeral obsequies, in 1831, be discharged. Resolved, That a new committee be appointed to remodel the funeral obsequies; and that the committee be composed of Rep's Neilson, of Louisiana; Keyser, of Maryland; and Gettys, of District of Columbia. On motion, the Grand Lodge adjourned until half past seven o'clock, this evening. TUESDAY, 7 o'clock, P. M. The Grand Lodge assembled, pursuant to adjournment: Present, the same Officers and Representatives as in the morning. The Representative from Pennsylvania not having as yet arrived, and no business presenting itself before the Grand Lodge that could well be acted upon without his presence, and in anticipation of his arrival-on motion, it was Resolved, That the Grand Lodge adjourn until ten o'clock, A. M., on Wednesday, 6th March. Legal Prosecutions.-On the promulgation of the proceedings in this case, the editor of the paper first named, made every apology, exhibiting the authority on which he had made his statement, and which was so utterly worthless, that further process was abandoned. WEDNESDAY, March 6th, 9 o'clock, A. M. The Grand Lodge convened pursuant to adjournment, and was declared open for the transaction of business; but was again disappointed in the non-arrival of the Representative from Pennsylvania. When, on motion, it was Resolved, That the Grand Lodge adjourn to meet at three o'clock, this afternoon. WEDNESDAY, 3 o'clock, P. M. The Grand Lodge met pursuant to adjournment; but no Representative from Pennsylvania appearing, on motion, it was Resolved, That in consequence of the continued disappointment in the non-arrival of the Representative of Pennsylvania, this Grand Lodge, ever anxious to consult the wishes of so great a body as work under the jurisdiction of that Grand Lodge, deem it proper to adjourn until Monday, the 18th inst., at ten o'clock, A. M., unless the Representative from Pennsylvania should sooner arrive; in which case the Grand Sire has the power to convene the Grand Lodge. MONDAY, March 18th, 10 o'clock, A. M. The Grand Lodge convened pursuant to adjournment. Present: THOMAS WILDEY, THOMAS SCOTCHBURN, AUGUSTUS MATHIOT, G. M. GEORGE KEYSER, P. G. HENRY S. SANDERSON, G. SEC. JAMES L. RIDGELY, M. W. G. Sire. R. W. D. G. Sire. R. W. G. Secretary. Proxy Rep. of Massachusetts. The Grand Lodge was then declared duly organized. Rep. Hopkins, of Pennsylvania, offered the following, which was adopted: Resolved, That when the credentials of a Representative be presented to the Grand Lodge of the United States, before he can be acknowledged as such, his certificate shall be referred to a committee, whose duty shall be to examine its authenticity, and also the qualifications of the Representative. Whereupon, the Grand Sire referred the credentials of Proxy Rep. Pearce, of New York, to the following committee, viz: Rep's Hopkins, of Pennsylvania; Neilson, of Louisiana; and Brannan, of District of Columbia. Rep. Hopkins, of Pennsylvania, from the special committee on creden. tials, submitted the following, which was accepted. F |