Notes On American Freemasonry.

after due caution and full assurances . From the binding force of these vows , neither himself nor any Masonic power can absolve him until death . If by renouncing Masonry he can be absolved from one vow , he is absolved from all , and the

order is without protection . He may dimit , and thus surrender many of his rights and privileges as a Mason , but dimitting is not renunciation . He may withdraw from all participation in the active work of Masonry ; he may disregard his

duties and obligations as a Mason , but he is still amenable to the lodge which has jurisdiction of him . The fundamentahties which exist between a brother and the Fraternity cannot be severed except by expulsion , and expulsion does not

license a revelation of the secrets of the Order . "Your committee , being of opinion that a brother cannot voluntarily renounce Masonry , deem it unnecessary to consider or report any plan by which it may be done . Your committee would

suggest the impropriety of granting a dimit when is known that the member desires it for such an object . " The number of lodges in this jurisdiction is 250 . Initated during the year , 696 ; passed , 646 ; raised , 649 ; affiliated , 601 ; dues received , 1 , 636 dols .

CAIIFORNIA . The Grand Master reports that application was made to him in April last , by one of the Lodges , requesting permission to appear in Masonic clothing , to participate in public procession with the Odd Fellows , in

celebrating their anniversary . Again , in May , application was made on behalf of another Lodge , for permission to celebrate the anniversary of St . John the Baptist , by a " public procession in full regalia , an oration , and ball . " Heartily concurring in the opinion

of Grand Master Belcher , approved by the Grand Lodge , that " on no occasion , except for the burial of of a brother , is it permitted for any Lodge or number of Masons to appear in Masonic clothing without permission from the Grand Master , and that permission

ought very rarely to he asked or granted ; " and with the Grand Master of Maine , who says , in a decision on the same subject— " We are constrained to say that it is contrary to the usages of the Order , and improper for the Fraternity to take part , in their

conventional character , in any public demonstration , except to perform some Masonic labour , ' ' and these opinions having been reiterated by the Grand Master Claiborne , and again approved of by the Grand Lodge , he Iheld the same to be the law of the jurisdiction , and

has refused the desired permission , where no Masonic labour was to be performed . The Committee on Jurisprudence , in regard to the burial of Masons who , at the time of their death , were in good standing , conclude an elaborate report

as follows : — " We would say to all Masons , be men , and do your duty like true men , whether that duty he pleasant o r the contrary ; whether your path has been strewn with flowers or with thorns . It is not all of life to

live , to eat and drink , and be clad . And we would say to the world that Masons are men and true men , and as a society , will give no countenance to , nor in any way excuse , any deliberate offence against the laws of God or man ; that the crime of self-murder is one of

the most odious and least excusable in the catalogue of crimes ; aud that one who is guilty of such a crime is not worthy to receive at the hands of the Frater - nity the honors of a Masonic burial . As men , we will decently .. bury him ; but not as one who has run

his race and accomplished the . work appointed for him to do . " A resolution was adopted in accordance with this report . The number initiated during tho year ending July 31 , 1868 , 817 ; passed , 822 : raised , 821 ; whole number of Master Masons , 8 , 106 ; lodges , 159 .

COLORADO . Before the Address of the Grand Master , the ~ JLW . Grand Orator , Rev . B . T . Vincent , delivered an oration , which was ordered to be published with the proceedings . It was an eloquent defence of the conservatism of the Order .

The address of the Grand Master contains an account of his transactions among which are the following : — " At the last session of the Territorial Legislature I prepared an act for the benefit of Masonic bodies in

this Territory , which became a law on the 10 th day of January last . The act provides for the incorporation of Masonic Lodges . I would not have recommended the incorporation of any Masonic Lodge . I think it hardly consistent with the charter of our

Institution . I find quite a growing disposition among the fraternity to have the Lodges iucorpo rated , and fearing that this feeling among the Lodges might eventually result in some action of the legislature which might declare all Masonic bodies corporate

bodies , I drafted the acts referred to . No Lodge will derive any benefit from being incorporated , as all the real benefits to be derived by incorporation can be obtained under this act ; for section VII ., of the act referred to provides that : ' Any of the foregoing Masonic bodies , duly chartered by the respective grand