the Order in that country, and respectfully to suggest to them the propriety of discontinuing all convivial practices in their lodges, and to solicit from them a detailed historical account of the origin, rise and progress of the Order-and to transmit to them (neatly bound) a copy of the constitution and proceedings up to this Session, inclusive, of the Grand Lodge of the United States, and the revised Work of the Order as adopted at this Session-and most especially to request them to make no alteration whatever in the general features of the Order, without a mutual consultation on the subject; as uniformity of actions and principle is essentially necessary to the welfare of the Order. Rep. Ridgely, of Maryland, from the Committee on Petitions presented the following report: To the R. W. Grand Lodge of the United States: The Committee on Petitions, to whom was referred the petition of Virginius Lodge, No. 3, of Wheeling, Virginia, praying for a charter for a Grand Lodge, and the application of the brethren of the same state, for a Grand Encampment, to be located at Wheeling, in the state of Virginia, have had the same under consideration, and ask leave respectfully to report: that the prayer of the petitioners cannot consistently with the laws of the Order be granted, the petition not being made in conformity with the requisition of the 4th Article of the By-Laws of the Grand Lodge of the United States, that "Two or more subordinate lodges, or Encampments, located in any state, district or territory, where a Grand Lodge, or Grand Encampment, has not been established, having seven Past Grands, or Patriarchs, in good standing, may petition the Grand Lodge of the United States, in writing, praying for the charter of a Grand Lodge, or Grand we are thus truly gratified that we are permitted to tender you our gratulations, it is a source of most unfeigned pleasure to ourselves to inform you, that Odd Fellowship seems indeed to be a plant peculiarly adapted to the soil of our own happy country. Scarcely has one score of years marked its existence in America, and behold its banners unfurled and its temples erected in every valley, on every plain, and upon every mountain top of this immensely extended domain; numbering among its votaries, tens of thousands of the choicest sons of the Republic, every where visiting and comforting the sick, burying the deceased, succoring the disconsolate widow, and educating the orphan. Nor is this an ideal picture, but the rigid truth, as you will observe from a perusal of the documents accompanying this communication. Next to religion, we believe Odd Fellowship the best institution which Providence has given to man for the amelioration of his moral and social relations. Prizing it thus sacredly, a pious regard to the purity of its purposes has been most religiously inculcated with us; and in the attainment of this desideratum, anxious efforts have been made from time to time to lop from it every excresence, and disembarrass it from all extraneous habits and customs which were not strictly auxiliary to its benevolent purposes, and more particularly to divest it of all practices which were at war with its first principles, and were calculated to bring it into disrepute and odium. Among the first of the improvements to the Order in America, required by duty and a decent respect for the opinions of mankind, was the abolition of all social and convivial practices at lodge meetings; since when it has rivetted the respect and esteem of the virtuous of all classes, and augmented our numbers almost incredibly. This subject, as commanded by the resolution of the Grand Lodge of the United States, we most earnestly and affectionately submit to your early consideration. As uniformity and harmony in the work of the Order throughout the globe is so obviously essential to the universality of Odd Fel lowship, we do not deem it necessary to enlarge upon this part of the resolution, confident that in so important a matter as any alteration in the work, no definite action will ever be made by the brethren in England without our knowledge and assent. We are charged to solicit from you a detailed historical account of the origin, rise and progress of the Order; and this part of the resolution we desire complied with literally and promptly. No matter how humble or obscure may have been its beginning no matter for what purpose instituted-let us have the period and circumstances of its origin, that it may be preserved in the archives of the Order in America. We are neither ashamed nor unwilling to expose to the public gaze what we have been, since we are prepared to exhibit what we are; and thus, by instituting the comparison, claim the rank among the benefactors of mankind to which our works justly entitle us. "With our fervent prayer that Providence, who has thus blest our joint labors in the cause of Humanity, Benevolence and Charity, will continue his outstretched care and guardianship over our devoted institution, in, your brethren, in Friendship, Love and Truth, "JAMES L. RIDGELY, Rep. of Maryland. Encampment, in such state, district or territory." Hence it will be obvious, that the application not proceeding from two lodges as required by the article referred to, cannot be constitutionally granted. The same objection applies to the application for a Grand Encampment, it proceeding also but from one Encampment in the state of Virginia. The Grand Lodge of the United States have hitherto passed upon a similar application from Boon Lodge, No. 1, of Kentucky, and to place the matter clearly before all the states, have adopted a form for such application, to which the committee beg leave to refer the brethren in Virginia, to be found on page 25 of the proceedings of the Grand Lodge of the United States, October 1834. The committee therefore recommend resolutions for the consideration of the Grand Lodge. The committee having learned that the brethren at Wheeling have not as yet an Encampment-and believing the petitioners intend to apply for a subordinate Encampment, respectfully recommend a resolution for that purpose. All of which is respectfully submitted. JAMES L. RIDGELY, Resolved, That the prayer of the brethren of Virginius Lodge, of Virginia, for a Grand Lodge to be located at Wheeling, and for a Grand Encampment, cannot be granted, the application not being in conformity with the Constitution of the Grand Lodge of the United States. Resolved, That the Grand Secretary be directed to transmit a copy of this report and resolutions to Virginius Lodge, of Virginia, and to call the attention of said lodge to the form of application recommended by the Grand Lodge at its last session. Resolved, That the petitioners be granted a charter for a subordinate Encampment, to be opened at Wheeling, and be called Encampment, No. 1, of Virginia. On motion, the report was accepted and the resolutions adopted. On motion, the Grand Lodge went into a nomination for D. Grand Sire, Rep. Sanderson, of Ohio, nominated P. G. M. John Pearce, of New Jersey. On motion, the Grand Lodge adjourned until four o'clock, this afternoon, FRIDAY, 4 o'clock, P. M. The Grand Lodge met pursuant to adjournment: Present, the same Officers and Representatives as in the morning. Rep. Hopkins, of Pennsylvania, from the Committee of Finance, presented the following bills and accounts as correct, which were ordered to be paid: S. Pryor's account, balance in his hands $75 13. Sands & Neilson's bill for printing, P. G. Sire Wildey, for postage, stationary, &c. William Crouch, for preparing charters, &c. $140 00 11 41 9 75 Rep. Hopkins, of Pennsylvania, from the Committee on Petitions, pre sented the following report. To the R. W. Grand Lodge of the United States: The Committee on Petitions respectfully report, that they have considered the petition of Virginius Lodge, No. 3, Va., praying permission to initiate Mr. Archibald Hawkins, he being over age, and submit a resolution for adoption. They have also considered the petition of brothers Joseph Barclay and others, praying for a charter for a lodge to be located at New Albany, Indiana, and hailed by the title of "New Albany Lodge, No. 1," and recommend that the prayer of the petitioners be granted upon receipt of the charter fee, and that the Grand Sire depute a properly qualified member, to open said lodge. HOWELL HOPKINS, Resolved, That the prayer of Virginius Lodge, No. 3, Va., be granted. Resolved, That the prayer of brothers Joseph Barclay and others, be granted, and that the Grand Sire deputize a member residing at Louisville or Cincinnati, properly qualified to open said lodge. On motion, the report was accepted and the resolutions adopted. On motion of Rep. Mowatt, of New York, it was Resolved, That the Grand Lodge of the state of New York be permitted to hold its meetings in the cities of Albany or New York,* during the pleasure of this Grand Lodge. Rep. Mowatt, of New York, offered the following, which was adopted: Resolved, That Article 10th of the Constitution, and the form of a report for subordinate lodges, be printed with the proceedings of this session. Rep. Hopkins, of Pennsylvania, submitted the following preamble and resolution, which was adopted. Whereas, The Grand Sire is enjoined by the Constitution and By-Laws, to visit by himself, or a Deputy by him duly appointed, all the Grand and subordinate lodges working under an unreclaimed warrant from this Grand Lodge. And Whereas, it would be of great advantage to the Order if a Deputy be appointed in each state, district or territory-Therefore, Resolved, That the Grand Sire be requested to select and appoint a qualified Past Grand in each state, district and territory, whose duty it shall be to visit each lodge, working under warrant of this Grand Lodge, in said state, district or territory, and communicate all information and instructions which may be by this Grand Lodge directed to be made. And when a charter for a Grand or subordinate lodge or Encampment shall be granted, the Past Grand so appointed shall attend and perform the ceremony of opening and installation. He shall bear the title of Dist. Deputy Grand Sire of the United States, of I. O. of O. F.-his expenses whilst so engaged shall be charged to the lodge he may be required to visit. Rep. Hopkins, of Pennsylvania, offered the following preamble and resolution, which was adopted. Whereas, By the Constitution of this Grand Lodge, Past Grand Sires are admitted to a seat in this Grand Lodge, and be entitled to one vote, on all questions coming before this Grand Lodge-Therefore, Resolved, That this clause of the Constitution does not make a Past Grand Sire an officer of this Grand Lodge. P. G. Sire Wildey offered the following, which was adopted: Albany or New York.-This was one of the most impolitic grants provided for by the action of the Grand Lodge. Nothing could be devised better calculated to injure permanently the interests of the Order than to permit a superintending authority to be of a migratory character. Indeed, such seems to have been the view taken ever since on similar applications. As it was the first, so has it been the last grant of the kind; and was effectually repealed by the action of 1837 and 1838, relative to the Grand Lodge of New York. Resolved, That a committee be appointed to draft and superintend the engraving of a general Travelling Certificate, to be used by all Grand and subordinate lodges, working under warrant from this Grand Lodge. The Grand Sire appointed as the committee, Rep's Hopkins, of Pennsylvania; Pearce, of New Jersey; and Glazier, of Delaware. On motion, the Grand Lodge proceeded to elect a Deputy Grand Sire for the ensuing term, when, there being no opposition, the Chair pronounced P. G. M. JOHN PEARCE, Rep. of New Jersey, duly elected, viva voce. Previous to the Grand Sire's leaving the Chair, he delivered the following FAREWELL ADDRESS. BRETHREN The relation in which I have stood toward you for the last two years being about to be dissolved, and the charities entrusted to my superintendence for the time, to be surrendered to the high source from whence they were delegated: I claim your indulgence, to express my feelings of gratitude for the very kind indulgence and forbearance you have invariably shown me. It is a source of great gratification to state, that the unparallelled prosperity of our beloved Order, existing at the time of the resignation of my predecessor, the father and founder of American Odd Fellowship, continues undiminished, characterized by peculiarities to be hereafter mentioned, clearly demonstrative that the inestimable blessings of Odd Fellowship are so happily disseminated, and the bonds of union so strongly cementing, as to afford the most pleasing anticipations for the time to come-and if the high character given to it by my much esteemed predecessor, has been in the least advanced under my superintendence, then indeed has the measure of my highest ambition been gratified. And now in surrendering the of fice to my successor, I cordially tender to him the hand of good-fellowship, well assured from his zeal and devotion to Friendship, Love and Truth, that it has been judiciously bestowed, and will be honorably and usefully worn. And inasmuch as the unprecedented prosperity of Odd Fellowship is an evidence of its being acceptible in the eyes of the Supreme Being, let us in our associate capacity implore the continuance of his guardian care, and offer up our grateful acknowledgments for his gracious keeping, whereby we have been sustained under all losses, crosses and trials, and saved from desponding and let us invoke his Fatherly care for my worthy successor; filling him with a proper sense of the high responsibilities, with a mind duly to appreciate, and a heart nothing undaunted in their due execution. Accept my acknowledgments for your kind attention, and my wishes for your happiness collectively and individually. Finally, brethren, farewell!-let Friendship, Love and Truth be our guide and action, and the God of Love and Peace will be with us. The hour having arrived which was set apart for the installation of Grand Officers, the Chair requested Rep. Hopkins, of Pennsylvania, and P. G. Sire Wildey, to present the brothers elect for that purpose, when the following elected and appointed officers were severally, introduced and regularly installed, viz: P. G. Sire Gettys accompanied the installation of the M. W. Grand Sire with the following remarks: Respected Brother-The gratification of your being unanimously elected to preside over the Grand Lodge of the United States, Independent Order of Odd Fellows, is doubly enhanced in being the medium of investing you with the insignia of our beloved Order, and from a well assured confidence that they will be worn honorably to yourself, satisfactorily to the society, and beneficially to the human family-accept my best wishes for your happiness; make the golden precepts of our Order the guide and rule of your actions, and you will assuredly secure an approving conscience, far better than gold and high places--and the blessings of the God of Peace and Love will be and remain with you. Rep. Pearce, of New Jersey, moved that the thanks of this Grand Lodge be tendered to P. G. Sire Gettys, for the several duties performed by him as Grand Sire of this Grand Lodge, which was unanimously adopted. Rep. Pearce, of New Jersey, moved that the thanks of this Grand Lodge be tendered to P. D. G. Sire Neilson, for the manner in which he discharged his duties while in office, which was unanimously adopted. On motion, the Grand Lodge adjourned until nine o'clock, to-morrow morning. SATURDAY, October 10th, 9 o'clock, A. M. The Grand Lodge met pursuant to adjournment: Present, the Officers and a due representation. Rep. Hopkins, of Pennsylvania, from the committee of Finance, presented the following report. To the R. W. Grand Lodge of the United States: The Committee of Finance report-That in the course of their investigation, they ascertain that charters have been granted for Chosen Friends Lodge, at Louisville, Kentucky, and also for a charter for a lodge at St. Louis, Missouri-the fees for which do not appear to have been received by this Grand Lodge. They therefore recommend the following Resolved, That the Grand Secretary be directed to address a communication to each of those lodges, requesting them to remit the amount of fee due for charter, if not already remitted-and if remitted, to say to whom the same was sent. Resolved, That the Grand Secretary be directed to have prepared a full and complete statement of the account of each Lodge with this Grand Lodge, from the time |