how against my own wishes I was placed in the high office which, I held so long.

My first inquiry was into the affairs of the Grand Lodge, and I found them not in the most healthy condition. I found that for years the Grand Visitations had been neglected, and that the Grand Lodge had exercised but little, if any supervision over its subordinates, and in my inaugural address at the installation meeting in December 1846, I took occasion to say, that "The visitation of the several Lodges should not be overlooked."

At that time many members of Congress attended the meetings of our Grand Lodge, and some of them having expressed a desire to witness a visitation, I appointed one to National Lodge at an early day of the succeeding year, and I have seldom seen a more crowded or a more interested assemblage of the Craft here within the Lodge Room, than we had at that Visitation. Some of the oldest and best Freemasons in the United States were present. Then commenced a series of Grand Visitations which I take pride in saying have continued regularly to this day.

From that day onward the printed records of the proceedings of the Grand Lodge will show what I have done as a member of that body, and there are some left amongst us who have witnessed and watched my Masonic course, and who I doubt not could give a better history of it than I can myself.

My address to which I have just alluded closed with the following words: "Our institution is not of to-day nor of yesterday, it is of all past-time, it can never die. It may be as it has been depressed for a season, but the hand of Omnipotence reared it and will sustain it through all time to come. We are of the number of its keepers now, the sacred institution is partly in our hands, and oh! how ought we to deem ourselves honored by being made partakers of so sacred a trust. Let us guard it as we would the apple of our eye, and transmit it inviolate and perfect into the keeping of our posterity."

Twenty-three years ago I used that language. I did my utmost to act in accordance with it, and think I may say that I did something toward carrying out the suggestion then made. I now reiterate what I then said, and as it will not be for me to aid you much longer in the good work, I must leave with you, my younger brethren, not only the wish and the desire, but the solemn chrage of an old Brother, to transmit this sacred institution inviolate and perfect into the keeping of your posterity.

I have been ever, from my first induction into Freemasonry, a strong advocate for retaining entirely unchanged all the ancient language, forms and ceremonies of the Order. I have always felt that I was solemnly bound not in any wise to remove the ancient Landmarks. No one knows better than I do that some of the

language is homely and perhaps it grates harshly on the well educated ear, but what if it does, it expresses generally with great strength and terseness the intended idea, and we had far better retain it as it is, than change it, and thereby open a door to hundreds of innovations which ere long would so modernize the ancient lectures that a Brother of fifty years standing would scarcely recognize them as belonging to the Order!

Once I was very familiar with all the lectures of the first three degrees, and I have a very vivid recollection of my admiration of the language generally in which they were expressed the first time I ever listened to them. I do not now pretend to remember all those lectures verbatim, although the general scope of them is as clear in my mind as it ever was. If I could remember them perfectly, I could not discuss them in writing here. But the monitorial portion which is open to the world is no whit in advance of the esoteric, and where can be found grand ideas better expressed and more appropriately and more beautifully symbolized than in the description of the apron, the working tools, and the various other explanations which "he that runs may read ?”

In another respect I very much regret that the innovation is at work.

Read where you may and you will find nothing in the English language that surpasses in beauty and simplicity our grand old burial service. But young America could not rest till it was modernized, and the beautiful, simple, is merged in the elaborate, ornate, much as I think to the detriment of the former.

In the commencement of this address I spoke of the circle around the open grave. Up to the time of my first Grandmastership, I never witnessed a Masonic funeral when that beautiful and impressive ceremony was not performed, and in the many melancholy ceremonies of that kind at which I presided during the six years that I formerly held the gavel of the Grand Lodge I never omitted it.

Our old burial service alludes to it thus: "Then the brethren join hands and renew in silence the tokens of their friendship."

I regret to say that since 1853 I have never seen that impressive circle made by the joining of hands formed around the coffin or the open grave.

I wrote a little poem several years ago for a Masonic publication in New York, entitled "The Masonic Burial," in which this very ceremony is alluded to. It seemed to be accepted with favor by the Masonic press, and was illustrated in one publication by a picture representing the "Living chain of fraternal affection."

As there are probably many here who never saw that poem I will read it. The copy from which I read was cut from a Masonic Almanac :

"Within this earthly resting place
His manly form is laid;

And o'er his sleeping ashes have
The mystic words been said;
And while we drop the evergreen
Down through the open sod—
That emblem of immortal life-
Our hopes go up to God.

And from the Master's lips there fall
These words of holy love,
"Brother, we only part on earth
To meet again above."

Now the living chain of union
Is formed, and every one

Bows humbly while the solemn words
Thy will, oh God! be done"-

66

Are uttered, and the glistening eye,

And swelling heart attest,

That a Brother and a friend has gone

To his immortal rest;

And from the Master's lips there fall
These words of holy love,
"Brother, we only part on earth
To meet again above."

In that circle of united hands,
Is there no broken place?
Alas! one single link is out-
One dear familiar face

Will never more on earth be seen,
His hands will ne'er again,

Responsive to a brother's love,

Be clasped in that bright chain.

He sleeps in death, while rise these words Of high and hopeful love,

"Brother, we only part on earth

To meet again above."

The solemn rites are o'er! the grave
Heaped to a grassy mound,
And we leave our brother sleeping
In the cold and quiet ground.
On earth again we ne'er shall see
The form we loved so well,

But his immortal soul shall hence

With God forever dwell;

And while we grieve, the Seraph Hope
Whispers in words of love,

"True Brothers only part on earth

To meet again above."

When my mortal career shall be ended, all I ask is that the most ancient and most truly Masonic burial service that can be found may be used, and when it is asked, "Shall his name be lost ?" that the roll shall be unfolded and the answer be made, "The memory of a brother is precious, we will record his name:"

"We shall write it here,"

"We will write it also in our hearts,"

"How will it then be known ?"

"It shall live in his virtues which,

Shall live in us and every brother."

Brethren, I beg of you, "remove not the ancient Landmarks," and set your faces firmly against all innovations in the body of Freemasonry.”—Keystone.

OF THE

FINAL REPORT OF THE PROCEEDINGS

MASONIC BOARD OF RELIEF, OF THE

CITY OF CHICAGO.

We have received a copy of the report of this board, making a book of 160 pages. This is a report of the doings of the board appointed by the Masons of Chicago, after the great fire. The brothers chosen were the custodians of the donations that came from all parts of the globe.

In the back numbers of THE MYSTIC STAR We have made mention of what was done in time of need. If ever a board deserved the applaudit, "Well donc, good and faithful servants," it is those Masons who were selected to look after the distressed.

We feel that it is a duty devolving upon us, to publish extracts of letters acknowledging receipts of surplus money returned. We would be pleased to name all, and publish their remarks. But space compels us to certain prescribed limits.

The Grand Secretary, of Massachusetts, in returning a receipt from his Grand Treasurer, to M. W. D. C. CREGIER, G. M. of Masons, of Illinois, says:

"We rejoice that you find your necessities met by the liberality of your brethren, and we accept the surplus returned, with a grateful appreciation of that nice sense of honor that causes its return to us, and shall sacredly devote it to the cause of Masonic Charity. CHAS, H. TITUS, Grand Secretary.

The Grand Master of Connecticut, on receiving $332, returned from Grand Master Cregier, remarks:

“I am wholy unable to express the emotions caused by the perusal of your truly fraternal letter. Surprise and delight were mingled; surprise at the receipt of the most unexpected inclosure, and delighted that the grevious necessities of our Chicago Brethren had been abundantly relieved. And, above all, that our Illinois Brethren had displayed to the world, in these degenerate days, a bright example of the most delicate and refined sense of the highest honor.

The Masons of Connecticut, from the overflow of their hearts, contributed most gladly of their substance, scarcely daring to hope that the necessities of their brethren could be relieved, much less, that a portion of their charity would be returned.

It seems to me, M. W. Brother, that your suggestion of placing this return in the “Charity Fund" of our Grand Lodge, is the only proper disposition which could be made of it. Consecrated as the heart offering of the Masons of Connecticut, upon the blessed altar of charity, it should remain at its shrine, set apart for the benificent purposes of that which is the bond of peace, the perfection of every virtue, extending beyond the grave, into the boundless realms of eternity.

Accept our thanks for the judicious and most acceptable manner in which you an I your associates, of the Masonic Board of Relief, have performed their arduous duties in their behalf.

The Grand Lodge of Connecticut will, at its next annual communication, make suitable acknowledgement of your noble conduct, and a proper disposition of the funds you have so unexpectedly placed in its hands.

With assurance of the highest respect and esteem, and with most earnest fraternal greetings, I remain very truly and fraternally yours.

L. A. LOCKWOOD, G. M.

Grand Master CHRISTOPHER G. Fox, of the State of New York, on receiving the portion of the surplus funds returned, of $3,404.17, says:

"The Masons of this jurisdiction had no wish or expectation that any of the funds contributed by them should be returned, and they will recognize, in this case, an integrity on the part of the Masons of Chicago, which honors the teachings of the Craft.

I accept this noble contribution to the "Masonic Hall and Asylum Fund," of our jurisdiction, which comes from the Masons of Chicago. And I desire, through you, M. W. Sir, to express the hearty thanks of the Grand Lodge of New York, for the liberal donation, and the sincere wish that Masons everywhere may be as just, liberal and generous as their Brethren of Chicago.”