America.

lodge was honoured with a grand visitation from the R . W . Grand-Master Tristram B . Freeman , accompanied by his Grand Officers ; on which occasion Bro . Adams fiiled the chair in the east , and also acted as Secretary . "All the lodges suffered severely from the effects of the anti-Masonic excitement , and lodge No . 59 felt the blow in common with her sisters . From the report of the Grand Secretary made to the R . W . Grand Master at a grand

visitation to the lodge , June 14 th , 1812 , it appears that the overage attendance upon the meetings during the three proceeding years had been six ; but that the lodge was then improving ; and the report stated that its then present ' flourishing condition was mainly owing to the zeal and devotion' of fouT of its Past Masters , Bro . Adams being named as one of the-. u . From that time onward the lodge has steadily increased in all the elements of prosperityuntil now she occupies the position of

, which you , Worshipful Master , officers , and members of No . 59 , have just reason to bo proud . " On the 11 th of February , 1834 , Bro . Adams was appointed one of the committee of charity of the lodge ; and for many years served as a member of that committee ex officio as one of the elective officers . Upon January 11 th , 1 S 53 , his name Avas returned to the Grand Lodge as the Past Master whom the lodge had recommended to the R . W . Grand Master for

appointment as one of the Building Committee of the new hall . He was appointed by the lodge an Almoner of the Grand Lodge Charity Fund , September 11 th , 1855 ; and declined a reappointment in 1856 . He was unanimously elected a Life Member and Honorary Member of the lodge December 18 th , 1864 , a just mark of their appreciation of his services and devotion to her interests . " It was not till after he had been a member of the fraternit

y for many years that we find Bro . Adams' name in connection with Royal Arch Masonry . He was marked , received , and accepted a Most Excelleut Master , and exalted to the supreme degree of tlje Royal Arch , June 2 nd , 1842 , in Jerusalem Holy Royal Arch Chapter No . 3 , Philadelphia . In December of the same year he was elected Scribe ; in December , 1843 , King ;

and in December , 1844 , High Priest . December 25 th , 1848 , he was elected Secretary , and continued to be re-elected to that office from year to year till December 26 th , 1861 , when he declined a re-election . As a mark of their appreciation of his services , the companions of the chapter unanimously elected him a Life Member and appointed a committee to procure a suitable testimonial . This committee , at the stated meeting in February , presented him on behalf of the chapter with a neat and elegant

service of silver . In the chapter as in the lodge , his attendance was constant and punctual ; and his zeal and devotion to the interests of the Chapter unflagging and strong . " He was for some years a member of St . John ' s Commandery ( No . 4 ) , Philadelphia ; but at or about the time when this commandery came under the jurisdiction of the General Grand Encampment of the United States , Bro . Adams , not approving of the movementrelinquished his active connection with

, Templar Masonry . " On the 6 th of June , 1842 , Bro . Adams was appointed by the R . W . Grand Master , Bro . Joseph R . Chandler , Grand Secretary of the Grand Lodge of Pennsylvania to fill the vacancy caused by the death of Bro . Michael Nisbet ; and at the annual election held in December of the same year he was elected to that officewhich be filled to the day of bis death b

, y virtue of successive re-elections every year . " He was appointed also in the summer of 1842 , by the then Most Excellent Grand High Priest , William Whitney , Grand Secretary of the Grand Chapter , to fill the vacancy caused by the death of Comp . Michael Nisbet , and in December , 18-12 , he was elected to the same office , —was re-elected annually , —and held the office at the time of his death . For nearly

twentyfour years , therefore , Avithout interruption , were the responsible and arduous duties of these two highly important stations discharged by our deceased and lamented brother and companion . A moment ' s consideration of the character of the two Grand Bodies , Avho thus continued to honour him with their confidence year after year , through nearly quarter of a century mnst satisfy every one of the appropriateness of a more than ordinary commemoration of the worth and services of him whoso loss we are now assembled to mourn .

" Bro . Adams , prior to the time Avhen his duties as Grand Secretary required an exclusive devotion of his attention , was engaged in the hardware business in this city . He never married ; and for many years prior to his death made his home

in the family of his sister . He died on the 11 th of February , 18 G 6 , in the fifty-seventh year of his age , after a short illness . At the time of his death he was the oldest living Past Master of Lodge No . 59 , —one of the three oldest living High Priests of Chapter No . 3 , and as has already been stated , Grand Secretary of the Grand Lodge and of the Grand Chapter . * ' The . facts set forth in the brief statement thus given , seem to speak for themselves . What more need be said by way of

eulogy ? AVhat need of further ' speech in commendation of our departed brother and companion , on account of his valuable qualities or services ? ' Let those of us who survive , aiuVnow mourn his loss , dwell upon these facts and each pronounce to his own heart that eulogy which they so forcibly and earnestly call forth . "The beautiful and impressive service in commemoration of the deadin which we have just unitedconveys to us its own

, , sublime and solemn teachings . Yet bear with me , brethren and companions , while in few words I shall touch upon the character of the departed , and strive to impress some of the lessons we should derive from the sad event which has called us together . " In his social and family relations Bro . Adams was genial , kind , and affectionate . He was beloved by his kindred , and ever ready to aid and comfort them in their troubles and sorrows ; to unite in their joys , and contribute iu any way to their

happiness and welfare . He was a dutiful son , a kind brother , and having no children of his own , was regarded with almost filial affection by his nephews and nieces , and their children . His loss is deeply felt and sincerely mourned by all who Avere connected with him by ties of blood or marriage ; and we , his Masonic brethren , would mingle our tears with theirs , and offer them our heartfelt sympathy iu their sorrow . " Our departed brother and companion has gone in and out

before us for many years . His name is inseparably connected with the interests of Masonry throughout the jurisdiction of Pensylvania , and is known and honoured in the sister jurisdictions of this country and abroad . A feeling of deep sympathy , we may be sure , will pervade the Masonic hearts of those who have been in fraternal relations with this jurisdiction , Avhen they hear that no longer they are to address themselves to ' William H . Adams , R . W . Grand Secretary , ' because the eyes

to which that address was directed so often during the long years thac are past , are now closed for ever by the hand of death . "Neat and accurate in all the clerical duties belonging to his office as Secretary to the various Masonic bodies ; there Avere more perplexing responsibilities thrown upon him , especially in connection with his office as Grand Secretary . His attendance in tho Grand Secretary's room at the hallduring the fixed

, hours of business , was prompt and regular . During these hours ho was , especially of later years , when the fraternity had been rapidly growing in numbers and influence , subject to almost constant interruption . His large experience and long familiarity with all the countless details and routine inseparable from the conduct of the business of the subordinate bodies ; his knowledge of Masonic law , customs , and landmarks , and of

the decisions and rulings as well of the Grand Lodge , and Grand Chapter , as of the many Grand Masters and Grand High Priests through whose terms of office lie had served ; all made it a matter of course that his judgment and opinion should be appealed to by brethren who might desire information . And in addition , his counsel , advice , and opinion were sought , —the resources of his Masonic memory and experience were drawn uponby Grand Masters and Grand High Priests . To all he

, was accessible ; to all he Avas willing to afford whatever light and assistance might lie in his power . " The correspondence necessarily connected with these offices was voluminous and increasing ; and involved constant watchfulness , and much perplexing care and thought . And after the fixed hours for his attendance at the Grand Secretary ' s room had passed , he was there oftentimes till late , engaged iu the

performance of duties which required his undivided attention when he could be sure of having no interruption . " We are not here , brethren and companions , to recall what Ave might individually or collectively' wish to have been different in the character of the dead . We are here to recall and dwell upon that which is just subject for commendation ; and to single out and hold up to view those qualities which may serve as examples for ourselves and others . " It was my fortune to be brought into somewhat closo official relations with Bro . Adams , in the discharge of my duties as a member of the committees on bye-laws of the Grand