Obituary.

DIED in this city, on Tuesday morning, March 3, 1846, Col. HENRY Purkitt, Past Junior Grand Warden of the Grand Lodge of Massachusetts, aged 91 years. Col. Purkitt was initiated into Masonry on the 15th December, 1795, and was raised to the degree of Master Mason, on the 6th May, 1796, in St. Andrew's Lodge, in this city. On the 14th January, 1799, he was admitted a member of this Lodge, and continued his membership until his death-a period of fortyseven years. He was also a member of St. Andrew's Chapter, and was one of the original members of the Boston Encampment of Knights Templars. He had sustained most of the offices in these various bodies, and was, for a period of fifty years, an inflexible and consistent Mason. He constantly attended at the meetings of his Lodge, until his advanced age and infirm health obliged him to retire. His interest for the Institution, however, never abated, and during his last illness he made frequent inquiries and expressed a strong desire to learn the history of the transactions of his Lodge, from the time when he ceased to take an active part in its concerns. The following details of his life appeared in one of the city papers of the 5th March :

Col. PURKITT was the eldest son of George Purkitt, a German, and was born in the town of Boston, on 18th March 1755.

His master, Samuel Peck, to whom young Purkitt was apprenticed to learn the trade of a cooper, was an active whig, and was one of those, who, on the evening of the 16th of December, 1773, led in that memorable demonstration of determined resistance to the British Government-the destruction of the Tea in Boston Harbor. Purkitt was present on that occasion, at Griffin's (now Liverpool) wharf, was on board the ships, and assisted in pouring the tea into the dock. He entered the military services of his country on 1st May, 1776, in the artillery, under Capt. James Swan-afterwards he joined the second regiment of Dragoons, commanded by Col. Elisha Sheldon. He was at the battles of Germantown and Brandy wine, and in many other skirmishes-after seven years and two months faithful services, at the close of the war, he received an honorable discharge, signed by GEORGE WASHINGTON.

He was a strict disciplinarian-for thirty seven years he held divers offices in the militia of the State, and in 1786, when the militia system was resuscitated, he was employed in drilling the officers and men in Suffolk and the neighboring counties. He was an original member and one of the founders of the Massachusetts Charitable Mechanic Association, and for more than fifty years, an honored member of the Masonic Fraternity.

In 1803, he was appointed by Gov. Strong, Inspector General of Fish for this Commonwealth, and contributed much by personal exertions to give a high character to that staple article of Massachusetts commerce. He also represented his native town in the Sate Legislature. In every public office he was diligent, faithful, and strictly upright-in all the duties of domestic life exemplary. The deceased was buried on Thursday afternoon, March 5th. The Grand Lodge, and a large concourse of Brethren, united with his numerous friends and relations in paying their last tribute of respect to the remains of their departed Brother and friend. Of a generous and noble disposition, he was always ready to aid and sustain with his counsel and his substance, the depressed and unfortunate. He was a man of much original strength of mind and of uncommon energy of purpose. He was conscientious and influenced by a deep sense of his accountability to his Maker. He trusted most reverently and humbly in God, reverenced his revealed word, and his many surviving friends commit his precious remains to the dust, in sure and certain hope of a blessed resurrection.

In New York, on the 12th February last, ALEXANDER H. ROBERTSON, Esq. Grand Master of the Grand Lodge of the State. He was buried on Sunday the 15th, the Grand Lodge and a numerous assemblage of Brethren attending the funeral. We are indebted for the following notice of the deceased, to the Circular of the G. Secretary addressed to the Lodges notifying them of the event.

Brother ROBERTSON was initiated into the mysteries of Masonry in St. John's Lodge, No. 1, in this city, in the year 1821, when he was 24 years of age, and continued his membership in the same Lodge until the day of his decease. He was elected Master for the year 1330, and at several subsequent periods. During the severe trials through which our institution has passed since he became a member, he never faltered in his duties; indeed it was not in his nature to desert what he deemed to be not alone his duty, but the duty of every Mason, “to belong to some Lodge," and to stand firmly by the Order.

In June, 1843, Brother Robertson was elected by the Grand Lodge, Deputy Grand Master; and after the decease of the M. W. MORGAN LEWIS, he was elected, in June, 1844, to fill the vacant Oriental Chair, to which he was re-elected in June, 1845. In this office he exerted his efforts for the promotion of the best interest of the Craft. When his health and business permitted, he visited the Grand Secretary's office daily, and kept himself constantly informed of the progress of the Institution, both at home and in foreign lands.

His printed addresses to the Grand Lodge exhibit plainly, though briefly, his knowledge and ability, as well as the serious tenor of his views of the Institution. During his last illness, when he was aware that but a few days, perhaps but a few hours of life remained, he desired to perform some official duties to which his physical powers were inadequate, and it was one of his last requests to the Fraternity of his jurisdiction, that they would "strive to do their duty as Masons, and live in harmony and love."

The last days of our M. W. Grand Master were blessed. He strove to be "reconciled to God," and his earnest prayers were answered by an assurance of pardon and acceptance through that "only Name given amongst men, whereby they may be saved."

As a token of respect to the memory of our departed Brother, the Grand Lodge has directed, that the Lodges of the jurisdiction be clothed in mourning for one

year.

Brethren! May the last request of our Brother be recorded on our hearts,― may his wish be realized, and his bright example be imitated.

Died in Framingham, (Mass.) March 11th, Col. TIMOTHY EAMES, aged 83 years and 6 months. Brother Eames was made a Mason in Middlesex Lodge, at Framingham, June 17th, 1800, and he had consequently been a member of the Order for nearly 46 years.

In March, 1801, he was chosen Steward, and served one year. In Dec. 1802, he was chosen Tyler, and served one year. In 1807, he was again chosen Tyler, and has been annually re-elected to this office from that time to the present. And what is remarkable, and probably unparalleled in Masonic history, he has never been absent from his post at a single regular meeting of the Lodge during this long space of nearly thirtynine consecutive years! This circumstance was a subject of congratulation to him in the latter period of his life, and it was with pride and delight that he performed a duty, which he assumed before some of the oldest members had been initiated, and which seemed to devolve upon him by immemorial usage. He took pleasure in serving the Lodge in a station which, in itself, could afford him but little interest, and which necessarily debarred him from active participation in the work and proceedings of our meetings.

He was by trade a carpenter. His habits were active, and he had ever enjoyed almost entire exemption from sickness until within a week of his death. The infirmities of age had been gradually stealing upon him, impairing his hearing, and causing his steps to totter, but he enjoyed general good health until a little shop,

containing his tools and some other articles of value to him for their history and associations, as memorials of other days, caught fire and burnt down, which was the immediate cause of his last sickness.

His funeral took place on the 14th inst. The Masonic Brethren, being obliged by the inclemency of the season to omit the contemplated public ceremonies, joined the procession that accompanied his remains to their last resting place, and silently dropped the tear of sympathy and regret on taking the last farewell of an aged, and venerable, and faithful Brother. He was a man of an amiable and peaceable disposition, and bore the reputation of an upright citizen and an honest man. On the coffin plate, procured by the Lodge of which he was so long a useful member, was the following plain inscription:

"TIMOTHY EAMES. Died March 11th, 1846,

Square and""

Aged 83 years. FIDELITY. Compass.

At a special meeting of Middlesex Lodge, held on the 14th of March, 1846, the following resolves were unanimously adopted:

Whereas, it hath pleased Divine Providence to remove from this life our aged and esteemed Brother, Colonel TIMOTHY EAMES, after an uninterrupted and faithful service as Tyler of Middlesex Lodge for nearly 39 years—

Resolved, by the members of said Lodge, that we cherish in grateful remembrance the long and meritorious services of our departed Brother; that we hold in esteem his character as a man and a Mason; and that we unitedly extend to his surviving relatives our cordial sympathy and condolence in their recent be

reavement.

Resolved, That the above be recorded by the Secretary in the books of the Lodge, and that a copy of the same be communicated by him to the family of our deceased Brother.

Dudley, March 16th, 1846.

J. O. S.

DEATH OF JUdge Baylor.-At the annual communication of the Grand Council of Alabama, held at Tuscaloosa, in December last, the Grand Recorder announced the death of this distinguished Brother, as follows:

"The painful duty of announcing the untimely death of an interesting and zealous member of the Grand Council, since the last annual assembly, devolves on me Comp. WALKER K. BAYLOR is no more.' He was unfortunately killed, during the last summer, in the Republic of Texas, while on a visit to his brother, by the accidental discharge of a gun in the hands of a friend. He was a man of exalted, enlightened, and liberal views. So kind was he, that the poor, needy, and destitute were never repulsed by him. To contribute to their wants, to relieve their sufferings, and commiserate their sorrows, afforded him the highest gratification. He was an able lawyer, a safe and consistent politician, a wise legislator, and a just judge; as well as a useful and estimable member of society. We lament his death as a serious public calamity. The great wisdom which he ever showed in our assemblies, his almost unequalled sagacity, and unerring judgment, superadded to his zealous attachment to our venerable institution, made him a useful and enterprising member. On all suitable occasions he was found to be its able advocate and liberal supporter. He was kind, generous, and uniformly charitable. In the archives of this Grand Council, where many of his valuable services are recorded, may his name be preserved-and in the hearts of its members his memory will doubtless be fondly cherished and perpetuated."

Died in Groton, Mass., March 2d, Bro. WILLIAM LIVERMORE, aged 76 years. He was a worthy member of St. Paul's Lodge, in that place. Another workman has taken his flight to the ocean of eternity. Within a few rolling months some of our best workmen have been clothed in the habiliments of death. A few who are Masons in deed, yet linger. L. S. B.

Pepperell, March 14, 1846.

REGISTER OF OFFICERS.

GRAND LODGE OF NEW JERSEY.

M. W. Ira Merchant, Grand Master.
R. W. John P. Lewis, D. G. M.

OFFICERS OF THE SEVERAL INSTITUTIONS IN CHARLESTON, SOUTH CAROLINA.

MASONIC CHIT CHAT.