Notes On American Freemasonry.

the fact that the heavy debt incurred in the building of the Temple , had failed to alienate the loyalty of the Craft . The Grand Master announced that during the year he had granted dispensations for eleven new

lodges . The recommendation of the District Deputy Grand Master is required , as also the concurrence of the lodge nearest to the proposed location of the new lodge , as Avith us . In one case

the name of a lodge , it is stated , given inadvertently , as there already existed on the register a lodge of the same name . The Grand Master advised that it should be changed , a most salutary recommendation . In another case

the applicants desired to name the Grand Lodge after their present Grand Master , which he modestly declines to sanction , and the dispensation is granted , sine nomine .

Special meetings of Grand Lodge had been held during the year for the purpose of constituting lodges , and dedicating Masonic Halls . The Deputy District Grand Masters , are alloAved the expenses incurred by them in attending Grand

Lodge , and Ave find that two of them decline to present any bil ! ou that account . The committee of the Grand Charity Fund present their report , Avhich was ordered to be printed . Iu the proceedings they say that they have been

unable to find the records of the trustees of the Grand Charity Fund / though , they had diligently sought for them , and consequently have been guided mainly by the records of Grand Lodgo , from which it appears that in 1857 the Charity Fund amounted to nearly 75 , 500 dols ., of which

6 o , 000 dols . are returned as due from the Grand Lodge , and the trustees of the Masonic Temple . A special charity fund of 2 , 900 dols ., which had been deposited in the Provident Institution for Savings , was withdraAvn by order of the Grand

Lodge in 13 G 7 , which the committee recommend should be restored " when the means of Grand Lodge will permit /' ' a rather indefinite term . Further on , hoAvever , the amount of the Charity Fund , seems to be swalloAved up in the erection of

the Temple . The committee ' in presenting a " sketch of the regulations constituting and governing the old Board of Trustees of the Charity Fund" consider it may be useful , should the Grand Lodge hereafter organise a similar board to manage its charities . We may venture to hope

that a similar board may not manage the funds iu a similar manner . For , say the committee , " It is declared that the Charity Fund shall consist of 50 , 000 dols . ., your committee know not Avhere this fund or any

part of it is , unless it be found in the value which the temple may have above the incumbrances upon it !" The Grand Secretary acknoAvledges the receipt of the proceedings for the past year of the Grand

Orient of France , Grand Orient of Italy , Grand Lodges of NOAV Brunswick aud Canada , and of twenty-nine of the Grand Lodges in the United States . The study of these " proceedings" gives a vast scope to the inquiring mind , and many

suggestions for improvements may arise from this fraternal interchange of opinion . The Grand Lodge of Eno-land' —the mother and founder of all—is

conspicuous by her absence . At the feast , as it is termed , ninety-seven brethren sat doAvn , aud their names are entered upon the record . The speeches Avere eloquent and full of interesting historic matter , and the Grand

Secretary regrets that he is unable to enter them upon record . The reports of the Deputy District Grand Masters follow , from Avhich Ave will make a few

interesting extracts : — The Deputy District Grand Master of the First District " is happy to state that the lodges are all in a prosperous condition . The records of the lodges are very full and complete , many of them

presenting elegant specimens of Avork . " Of how many of our own lodges can we say the same ? In the Second District , the Deputy District Grand Master had " visited Palestine Lodge , Maiden , HOAV Avorking under a dispensation . This

young body of Masons exhibit great interest in the Avork and business of the Fraternity , and heartily recommend itasworthyof a charter . " From this and other passages , we infer that in the first instance the promoters of a lodge receive a "

dispensation ' for about a year . Should their conduct of affairs meet with official approval , a " Avarrant" is granted . He says again , "The work of the lodges , as exemplified before me at official visitations , though not of uniform

excellence , accuracy , and efficiency throughout the district , was generally accurate and Avell performed . . . . . In no lodge are the services of the Grand Lecturer needed . " In the third district , the by-laws in some cases