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REVIEWS .

All Books intended for Beview should be addressed to the Editor of The Freemason ' s Chronicle , 67 Barbican , E . C . ; 0 : The Grand Lodge of the most Ancient and Honourable Fraternity of Free and Accented Masons of Pennsylvania . Its Early History and

Constitutions . From A . L . 5730 , A . D . 1730 . Its Minutes and Proceedings . Part II . Compiled and published by the Library Committee of the Grand Lodge of Pennsylvania . Philadelphia : Sherman and Co ., Printers , 1878 .

( Continued from Vol . VIII ., p 375 . )

THE first minute of importance in the year 1790 is thafc under date tho 7 th June , when a resolution waspasscd unanimously , to the effect that " the constituting of a Federal or Supremo Grand Lodge to have jurisdiction over the respective Grand and other Lodges throughout the Continent , aa proposed by tho R . W . G . L . of Georgia , is inexpedient , aud appears impracticable ; " but , it was added , that a

convention of deputies from the several Grand Lodges in the United States , for the purpose of forming a more intimate union , and establishing a regular and permanent intercourse among tho said Grand Lodges , would be advantageous to ' he Craft , and that tho G . Lodge of Pennsylvania would appoint deputies to attend such convention . On the lfith August , it was resolved to hire the

room over the Free Quakers Meeting House , for the purpose of Freemasonry , aud a committee was appointed to make tho necessary arrangements . At tho next meeting , on 6 th September , a communication was received from the G . Lodgo of New Jersey , enclosing a number of its resolutions , and also a letter concerning " Modern " Masons , which was referred to a Committee for report . Ifc was

furthur announced that arrangements had been made for tho hire of the room over the Quaker ' s Meeting House , for nine years , and that the different Lodges , with one exception , had agreed to pay their respective share of tho rent— £ 75 per annum—and of tho expenses of fitting it up : Grand Lodge contributing nothing . A letter from Bro . W . White , Secretary of the Grand Lodge " Moderns " of England ,

was communicated at the meeting on the Gth December , and referred to a Committee to prepare an answer thereto . A Brother Hunt , who had had tivo black balls cast for him in a certain Lodgo into which he had desired to be admitted as a member , and had then entered the Lodge , and been guilty of conduct unbecoming a Mason , acknowledged his error , and was admonished to behave in a more Masonic

manner for the future . Thanks were also voted to a Bro . Burn for his gil ' t of two marble pedestals to the Gianil Lodge . On the 27 th December , the newly elected Grand Officers were installed , but tho appointment of a Grand Orator was postponed . Subsequentl y , Bro . Grand Secretary presented the Grand Lodge with two lights , and a hanger used at tho taking of the Bastille , and the thanks of G . Lod"e

were duly recorded on the minutes . On 7 th March 1791 , a reply to Grand Lodgo of New Jersey , on the subject of Modern Masons , and suggesting that Grand Lodgo desired to see a union of Ancients and Moderns , but that the proposal should be submitted to a Grand Convention , was ordered to bo sent . Tho Report of the Committee of Charity of tho 15 th January preceding , in which a resolution had

been passed for arrangements to bo made for tho burial of Bro . Alexander Rutherford , a Past Dep . G . Master , who had died a short time previously , was entered on the minntes . At a Special Grand Lodge on 11 th April , it was announced that tho cost of fitting up the now Lod ge-room was over £ 65 , and steps wero ordered to be taken , inviting the Lodges to pay their several shares of tho expense .

A Brother James Pickering , lately of No . 4 Lodge , then extinct , •was to be requested by a Committee to return a largo Masonic bowl , once tho property of that Lodge , but now belonging to Grand Lodge , owing to its extinction ; but Bro . Pickering did not comply with tbe request , and therefore , on Gth June , ho was ordered to be excluded from any Communication nntil he returned the said bowl .

An answer to tho Grand Secretary of England was ordered to be sent . On the 21 th of tho same month a complaint , brought by a Peter Le Gaux , against the Grand Secretary , which was found to have been for the purpose of influencing a Court of Justice in an appreaching trial , was dismissed as scandalous and malicious , and it was stated , iu addition , that none of tho charges wore supported by

credible testimony . At this meeting a committee was ordered to be formed of tho Masters , Wardens , and Past Masters of all Lodges in the City , for the purpose of inquiring into and reporting upon the state of Masonry in Pennsylvania . A Committee was also appointed to ascertain what property belonged to Grand Lodge , and where ifc was . Ou 5 th December , it was resolved that Grand Secretary , even if not

a snbscribing member of any Lodge , might vote in Grand Lodge , and hold any office in it . A Committee was also appointed to consider whether Grand Lodge should apply for an Act of Incorporation . On the 27 th of the month , being St . John ' s Day , Bro . Dr . William Smith delivered an oration suitable to the occasion , and thanks wero voted him for thr- same . It was then resolved to have a feast on next St .

John s Dny , tickets , issueable to every regular Mason , to bo two dollars each , of which seven shillings aud sixpence to go towards the feast , tnd the rest to Grand Committee of Charity , and subsequently lo meet ape dine that day in full clothing at Oeller ' s Hotel . A Committee having been appointed to prepare an address to General Washington , the proceedings terminated . On tho 2 nd January 1792

, a Grand Lodge b y adjournment , an address was submitted and ap . proved , and Committee appointed to present it . At the meeting on the 5 th March , it was reported that tho address , which was on tho occasion of Washinpton ' s appointment as President of tho United States , had been forwarded , and thai tho illustrious Brother had replied as follows : — " GENTIEMEN AND BROTHERS , —I receive your kind congratulations with the purest sensations of fraternal affection , and from a heart

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deeply impressed with your generona wishes for my present and future happiness , I beg you to accept my thanks . " At the same time I request you will be assured of my best wishes and earnest prayers for your happiness while yon remain in this terrestrial mansion , and that we may hereafter meet as brethren iu the Eternal Temple of the Supreme Architect . " GEO . WASHINGTON . "

On 4 fch June it was announced that Bro . James Pickering had returned the Masonic Bowl lately the property of extinct Lodge No . 4 , and the resolutions of excommunication passed against him were rescinded accordingly . The death of Bro . Laurence Dermott , lato Dep . G . Master ( " Ancients " ) of England , was announced , and as a token of respect to his memory , it was agreed that the next Sfc . John ' s

Day the brethren shonld have their aprons bordered with black , or other marks of mourning . The last minute records thafc the Grand Pursuivant was voted the sum of £ i 10 s , out of the funds , towards the expenses of tho sickness and burial of his child , recently deceased . On tho 3 rd December a long communication from Brother James Agar , Deputy Master ( " Ancients " ) England , and countersigned by

Rob . Leslie , Grand Secretary , was read , in which the English Grand Lodge recognised the independence of tho Grand Lodge of Pennsylvania , and a proposal was mado with a view to fraternal intercourse and correspondence between tho two Lodges . Copies wore ordered to be sent to all Lodges , and a Report on the Communication to be made at tke next meeting . On tho 4 th March 1793 , a letter from tho D . G .

Master of South Carolina , on the subject of incorporation , was referred to the Committee on thafc question . On 25 th , a warrant ; was granted for a Military Lodge , limited to the movements of the American Army , and some very interesting particulars of a convention held by the Army Lodges during the War of Independence , afc Morristown , N . Jersey , on 14 th January , when General Geo . Washington was

proposed as General Grand Master of the United States , are given . Ou tho 2 nd December , after resolution duly made and seconded , ifc was agreed thafc the Grand Master should appoint the Grand Com . m ' ttee on Correspondence , and it was appointed accordingly . _ It was also resolved that , in consequence of the yellow fever , which had raged in Philadelphia during September—for which reason tho quarterly communication that month was nofc held as usual—and

following months , to which over 5 , 000 persons , including ten eminent physicians , had fallen victims , a subscription should bo raised for the purpose of aiding brethren , and tho widows and orphans of deceased brethren , who were suffering from thafc calamity , the funds subscribed to be paid to the Grand Treasurer , and disbursed by tho Committee of Charity . On the 27 th of the month , tho brethren attended Divine Service at St . Paul's Church , aud , subsequently , a resolution was passed to tho effect that certain brethren should wait on General

Washingfcon , and thank him respectfully for his generous donation to the poor . At the communication on 1 st December 1794 , Bro . Jon . B . Smith having declared his inability to continue in office as Grand Master , Bro . W . Ball , who had been appointed by the Eavl of Kelly , tho first Provincial Grand Master under the Ancients , was unanimously elected his successor , so that we were in error in

stating the former brother had filled tho chair of Grand Master for the whole of the period included in this Part II . Bro . G . Secretary having also expressed a desire to resign his office , Bro . John Armstrong was chosen iu his stead . On Sfc . John ' s Day , Bro . Ball was duly installed in office , by Bro . W . Moore Smith , Deputv Grand Master , and saluted . Bro . Smith was also in

turn installed . On this occasion , Achmed Benaloy , a visitor from Smyrna , —which , by the way , is not in Syria , bufc Anatolia , or as it is more commonly called Asia Minor , —is described as having been present . Ou 2 nd March 1795 a case of irregularity is mentioned , which leads Grand Lodge to express a wish thafc all the Lodges in the jurisdiction would exercise greater caution in thoir

proceedings , and act consistent with the Constitutions . On St . John ' s Day , 21 th June , Grand Lodge attended divine service , when an elequeut sermon , which is printed at full length in these Proceedings , was preached by tho Rev . Bro . W . Smith D . D ., to whom the thauks of tho Grand Lodge were voted , and he was requested to supplyaoopy of the samo for publication and a thousand copies wero

ordered to be printed . This afc a subsequent meeting ifc was said wonld most probably be furnished , and it was agreed to print only 300 copies . At a meeting ou 17 th November , we find mention of a Royal Arch Chapter . Sundry Lodges were ordered to be suspended till tho next Communication , and tho further order of Grand Lodgo . We find note takeu of a schism having taken place in

Pennsylvania , and a Committee of enquiry is appointed to ascertain if there has been any , and what its tendency was . Accordingly , ou the 23 rd of tho month , the representatives of tho suspended Lodges being admitted to scats , though not allowed to take part in the discussion , tho Committee of enquiry delivered a long and elaborate report on the conduct of the

Lodges in question ( Nos . 19 , 52 , and 67 ) , in haviug constituted a Royal Arch Chapter differing in working from the ancient mode in the city , and claiming to work without a warrant , and declared that tho Arch Chapter in question could not be considered legal , and a number of reasons are given for recommending thafc a Graud lloyal

Arch Chapter for Pennsylvania should bo opened under the sane , tion of Grand Lodgo . The Report was adopted unanimously . On the 27 th of November it was announced that steps had been taken by which tho schism was healed . This may be considered the last act of Bro . Ball ' s G . Mastership , as he declined re-election , on tho ground of ill health . To be continued . )

Bro . J . Kcnch , P . M . of the mother Lodge will rehearse the ceremony of Installation at the La Tolerance Lodge of Instruction , No . 5 oi : > , on Wednesday evening , 1 st Jannary 1879 . Lodge will be opened at 7 . 30 .