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HISTORY OF THE GRAND LODGE OF NORTH CAROLINA.

THE Grand Lodge of North Carolina was first constituted by virtue of a Charter from the Grand Lodge of Scotland, A. D. 1771, which has been preserved and is now in the Lodge Room. It convened occasionally in Newbern and Edenton, at which latter place the Records were deposited previous to the RevoIntionary War. During that sanguinary contest, the Records were destroyed by the British Army, and its meetings were, in consequence thereof, suspended.

In the year 1787, the Members of the Craft convened at Hillsborough, in N. C. and compiled certain regulations for the government of the Grand Lodge, and again set to work. A Committee was appointed in December, 1797, to form a Constitution for their future government, which was accordingly done, and the said Constitution was formally adopted and ratified at the City of Raleigh, at which place the Grand Lodge has continued to hold its meetings annually.

PRESENTATION OF A MASONIC BANNER. Ox the 27th December last, the lady of one of the Past Masters of Solomon's Lodge, No. 1, at Savannah, Geo., generously presented the Lodge with an elegant emblematical Banner,—the work of her own hands. The Brother selected to make the presentation in her behalf, was the Past Grand Master R. R. CUYLER, Esq. The following is the address delivered by him on the occasion:

ADDRESS.

BRETHREN:-A venerable matron, moved by sincere affection for the Fraternity of Free and Accepted Masons, has deputed me to present to the most ancient Society of the Order in Georgia-Solomon's Lodge No. 1-this Banner, the work of her hands. She bids me say, in her behalf, that although, in common with her sex, she cannot have knowledge of the secrets of the mystic tie, she does know that the foundation on which the edifice of Masonry rests, is love to God and our fellow-creatures. In the course of a long life, in which her lot has been cast sometimes amongst strangers, as well as in the bosom of her friends, she has not failed to note the benign influence, everywhere shed, of that charity which, born in Heaven, has been nurtered in the lap of Masonry.

In token of her admiration of an Institution whose benevolence has been co-extensive with the civilized world, and, especially, in testimony of her grateful sense of its continued favor to those who, in the Providence of God, so often need its charitable care-the unfortunate widow-the unprotected orphan-she has, in the decline of life, allotted some hours, snatched from toils of humanity, to this work of love. She has been solaced, the while, with the reflection that though the blood of men might course more rapidly at view of a standard dedicated to arms and war-the gift of youthful beauty-yet there will come the day, even amidst the angry passions and fierce struggles of the world, when this, her humble tribute, will whisper of rest from labor, of peace, good will and joy. She will be happy if you esteem it worthy a place in your midst.

I acknowledge to you, Brother, the pleasure I feel in being the medium through which this beautiful and appropriate gift is conveyed.

I would, in common with you all-"Companions of my social joy"—mark well the significant emblems with which it is decorated. These signs constitute no portion, as you are well aware, of the secrets of our Order, which latter are, in truth, no more than means by which we know our Brethren of whatsoever nation or tongue, but they serve to admonish-to instruct-and to incite us in the task which is allotted us on earth. They show to us the uses of time—and the end of man-immortality. They who have advanced to the third of those progressive

steps are reminded that the jocund days of youth are forever gone-that middle life too is passed, and that they stand on the platform of age.

That storehouse of the busy architect, whose diligence is so often the theme of praise, bids us strive to "lay up treasure in heaven." That glass pictures to us the ebbings of life, and that scythe tells us that death will come to every mortal. But that evergreen sprig--emblem of Faith-will tend to strengthen us with confidence that they who, in sincerity, work according to our rules, will share a blessed immortality.

Receive the Banner, Brother, with the prayer of the donor, that God may bless and prosper the Lodge, of which you are the representative, and the whole brotherhood, wheresoever dispersed.

REPLY.

THE reply was by the Past Deputy Grand Master JOSEPH W. JACKSON, Esq., and was as follows:

MY BROTHER:-Happy am I that the duty of receiving from your hands this beautiful Banner has devolved upon me. You present it as the representative of a venerable lady. I receive it by command of a Lodge of Free and Accepted Masons, over which her aged partner has often presided. Well do I know the ardent zeal with which he has superintended their labors, and the undissembled affection he has cherished for their principles. Right well I know the grateful return they make to him for his services and his love. To be selected by them on this occasion to express their thanks for the present I hold, is most acceptable to my feelings, having ever highly esteemed this Order generally, this Lodge especially, and the worthy gentleman and lady for whom the grateful hearts of our Brethren so sincerely and ardently beat.

The Worshipful Master, Wardens and Brethren of Solomon's Lodge accept the Banner, and, with humility and adoration, invoke the "All-Seeing Eye" to make easy the declining years of the aged lady and her beloved consort. May many years of happiness be still in store for them in this world; and, when their hour shall come for removal to a better, may they ascend together to that blissful home, where their troubles shall be no more, and their joys shall be eternal! In the name, my Brother, of the Lodge I represent, I promise that the Banner the venerable lady has spent so much industry in preparing, will be preserved with watchful care; and that the moral precepts its emblems convey shall, in all time to come, produce the good results on the hearts and conduct of the Brethren, which the donor doubtless invokes. [Turning to the W. M.]

And now into your care, my Worshipful Brother, I consign this gift. I do not doubt that you properly value it. Doubtless the Brethren over whom you preside properly value it. It is one of the testimonies frequently offered, that our Order, which had suffered, is regaining its appropriate station. The clouds that had obscured it, without any fault of Masonry, have been dissipated, and a meridian sun enlightens us in our path to usefulness. Be it our duty to be really useful to our Brethren, to our fellow-man, of every clime! But to be so, we must cultivate every virtue. Benevolence, Justice, Charity, Honesty, Love, Industry, are Masonic as well as Christian virtues. Cherish them. Masonry inculcates every thing that is pure, nothing that is wrong. Let our practice conform to our theory! Let the emblems on this Banner remind us always of our latter days, and of the necessary preparation for the eternity beyond! The beautiful satin ground on which they are wrought may, and will, by incessant care, be kept unstained-but recollect that our venerable friends, when translated to a happier world, if allowed to look down upon us, will investigate, with greatest interest, not the purity of the Banner they give, but the purity of the lives of those to whom it is given.

The addresses are worthy of the occasion, and our only regret is that we are not able to give the name of the accomplished donor.

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35 Chartered Lodges, and 7 working under Dispensation-total 42.

CORRESPONDENCE.

Owensboro', Ky. March 25, 1846. BR. C. W. MOORE-I would say in conclusion that Masonry is on the advance among us. We are now building a Masonic Hall in this village, the rooms on the first floor we contemplate using as an Academy to educate the children of our deceased Brethren who may need our assistance-believing that we can give them a good business education at home, at much less expense than sending them to a distance. Where Masonry is properly practised, it will be honored; and not until we carry out the great benevolent purposes it designs, will it shine with its full lustre. Every individual Mason will exert an influence for weal or woe, accordingly as he improves or misimproves the light he has received and when associated together will proportionably increase the one or the other the world are expecting of us to give increasing evidence that our "faith is well founded;" by their fruits ye shall know them, is the test they apply With fraternal regard, yours sincerely.

to us.

COMP. CHARLES W. MOORE :

Benton, Miss. March 31, 1846.

Dear Sir:-It may not be uninteresting to you to learn that at no former period of the history of Mississippi has Masonry within her borders exhibited such a prosperous condition, as at the present time—and I doubt not, from the indications in our last annual communication of the Grand Lodge, that the time is by no means remote, when we shall have a practical exemplification of the principles of the Order, in a system of education unsurpassed in any portion of our extensive, prosperous and happy country. The attention of the whole Masonic family appears thus directed, and it seems to me nothing is wanting but a well digested plan, which from its simplicity and economy, will strike the attention and gain the approbation of those, who are now solicitous in behalf of the cause of education. Fraternally yours.

Aberdeen, Monroe County, Miss., March 1, 1846. R. W. BR. MOORE :-It affords me much pleasure to say to you that Masonry, in this new, but flourishing town, is in a highly prosperous condition, and throughout the State, as I am informed, her progress is no less onward.

To one who feels so deeply interested in the good of the Craft as your correspondent does, it is a cheering view to behold the general prosperity of the Order, at the present time, throughout the civilized world. This happy change, you will permit me to say, has been produced, in a great measure, by the widespread influence of your invaluable Magazine. While it serves as an unerring book of reference for the government of Lodges in matters of jurisdiction and private concerns, it has gone forth extensively as an eloquent expounder of the legitimate principles and objects of Masonry; wherein, the inherent virtues of the Institution have been ably set forth and defended, while vice, lurking in its folds, has been sought out and expunged.

The late Baltimore Convention may be also justly viewed as a potent cause of this healthful revolution, effecting, indirectly, the result which it was designed to produce, directly. Instead of sending forth representatives to disseminate a uni

form system of work throughout the Masonic world, it has given birth to the Trestle-Board, which, I am rejoiced to observe, is now about to be introduced into almost every part of the world where the English language is spoken, and genuine York Masonry practised. Yours Fraternally,

R. H. DALTON.

La Fayette, Alabama, March 19, 1846.

BR. C. W. MOORE:-This is to apprise you that on the 10th ult. by virtue of a warrant emanating from the Grand Lodge of this State, a Lodge was duly organized in this place, by the name of Solomon's Lodge No. 74. L. La Tast, Worshipful Master; S. F. Pilley, Senior Warden; John J. Stiener, Junior Warden; M. Phillips, Secretary, and J. W. Bachelder, Treasurer. Our infant Lodge is in a prosperous condition. We have materials for building up a respectable society of Masons. The Masonic family in this section, is on the increase. The Brethren are determined to admit none within its walls, but those that they believe to be fit subjects for the mysteries of the Order. Fraternally yours.

Claiborne, Ala., March 29, 1846.

BR. MOORE :-I take this opportunity of furnishing you with a list of the officers of "Alabama Lodge, No. 3," to wit:

John G. Wallace, Worshipful Master; W. P. Leslie, Senior Warden; J. A. Wood, Junior Warden; R. C. Torrey, Treasurer; C. H. Foster, Secretary; D. U. Crane, Senior Deacon; L. Slaughter, Junior Deacon; S. D. Kennedy, Tyler. Masonry is progressing rapidly in this part of the country. We have lately recommended a dispensation to be granted for a new Lodge to be established at Turnbull, in this county, with Br. J. W. Foster as Master, and Brs. James M. Stoddard and Thomas H. Brown for Wardens.

Notwithstanding our general prosperity, one of our neighboring Lodges has sustained a terrible blow. I have just received the sad intelligence of the destruction by fire of the Masonic Hall in Suggsville, Clarke county, (Marion Lodge, No. 7,) situated about 13 miles from this place. It was a large commodious two story building, and it is more to be regretted because it was newly erected and nearly finished at considerable expense, the lower story being intended for a Church. It was burnt entirely to the ground on Sunday night last. Supposed to be the work of an incendiary.

This is a heavy misfortune, and it will take our Brethren some time to recover from it. Yours Fraternally,

C. H. F.

An esteemed Southern correspondent, under date of April 6, 1846, writes as follows:

MY DEAR SIR AND BROTHER-I am on my official tour through the State, and may from time to time take leave to confer with you on such subjects as I believe of importance to the Masonic world.

I find among the Lodges a great want of uniformity, besides much want of ability to settle plain Constitutional questions, arising doubtless for want of authority on these subjects-as many are without your Magazine. I design to pro

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