In conclusion, my brethren, allow me to announce to you that it is not my intention to permit my name to be used as a candidate for a re-election to the office of Grand Master. I for several years resisted the importunities of Brother Milnor, and others of my brethren in this city, to allow my name to be used for this situation, because I believed I should not be able to discharge the duties of the office without interfering with other important avocations. I have now tried it for one year, and find that I have not the requisite leisure to discharge the duties of Grand Master of Masons of the State of New York, as those duties ought to be discharged, and I cannot consent to be a Masonic drone, to enjoy the honors of this situation, without rendering the Grand Lodge a proper equivalent in services therefor.

One peculiar result of the troubles of the year was an application presented to the Grand Lodge from John W. Simons and Daniel Sickles for a demission from "membership and a full discharge from all the rights, privileges, honors and responsibilities of the order." Both brothers came into the Grand Lodge with the Atwood body, to which they had originally belonged, and the application is deserving of notice not only on account of the subsequent fame they both enjoyed in the fraternity in the State, but on account of the peculiarity of the proceeding. It seems to us that, great as the prerogatives of a Grand Lodge are, and must of necessity be, releasing a man from solemn and binding obligations he had voluntarily taken upon himself is beyond its ability-should be regarded as beyond its power. We believe in the old adage that once a Mason always a Mason, and do. not consider that even expulsion absolves a man from any particle of the obligations which he took at the altar of Masonry. A man, being outlawed, is not thereby released from his duties to society, and if he commits murder he will soon discover, if caught, that the law will bring him very close within its pale. However, in this case the Grand Lodge duly released the brethren, and, as if to make the proceeding seem all the more like a caricature, in two years Simons was again permit

ted to assume his "rights, privileges, honors and responsibilities," as if nothing had occurred, while Sickles subsequently applied for and received the same fraternal treatment.

The report of the Committee of Foreign. Correspondence contained that year such an interesting résumé of the domestic and foreign position of the Grand Lodge that we cannot forbear reporting that section of it in full. It was written by Finley M. King, afterward Grand Master, and its sentiments were endorsed by the Grand Lodge. The résumé, it may here be stated, was called forth by two propositions concerning the condition of affairs in New York which were propounded by Past Grand Master Foster of Missouri. The propositions were:

I. That the Grand Lodge of Massachusetts and Virginia are hereby fraternally solicited each to appoint a committee on behalf of the Grand Lodges of the United States, to examine and adjust all differences existing among the fraternity of the State of New York; and the Grand Lodge of New York is hereby fraternally requested to submit the entire difficulties of that jurisdiction to the aforesaid committee, so far as the same are connected with Ancient Craft Masonry; that all parties interested be permitted and required to lay their grievances before the said committee, that they may be finally and forever healed.

2. Should the aforesaid committees of Massachusetts and Virginia be unable to adjust the differences thus submitted to them, they are hereby empowered to call to their assistance an equal number of brethren from any other Grand Lodge in the Union.

In a report to his Grand Lodge Brother

Foster said:

I have forwarded a copy of the foregoing to the Secretary or Chairman of Foreign Correspondence of each Grand Lodge in the Union, and will be pleased to hear from them on the subject at their earliest convenience. Masonry has suffered so much from the unhappy differences which have agitated that jurisdiction, that, in my opinion, it behooves the craft throughout this continent to look well to the future.

Brother Finley M. King's reply covered the whole ground, and covered it well:

Before giving our views upon the proposition of Brother Foster itself, we will avail ourselves of the occasion to express our unqualified confidence in the great wisdom, the sound judgment, the unquestionable integrity, and high ability of the proposed umpires. As being both venerable in Masonic years, and as having ever been justly distinguished for their zeal in the great mission of Masonry, and their fidelity to its principles and its time honored landmarks, and on account of their Masonic information, they are eminently entitled to our highest consideration and respect. There are, perhaps, no tribunals in symbolic Masonry, now in existence, to which the adjustment of Masonic difficulties could be more safely intrusted. The Grand Lodges of Virginia and Massachusetts fully understand, too, the true relations they sustain to the other Grand Lodges of the Union. If any one of these be in tribulation, and the aid or counsel of either of the former be asked, they will not be backward in rendering assistance. But, until that aid or counsel is solicited, they will not obtrude themselves into the umpirage of their sister Grand Lodge's affairs; they will, however, take those measures which are just and necessary to protect their own jurisdictions from improper contact with irregular Masons, and from all enemies of the order, in whatever region their unmasonic acts may be manifest. In doing this, they are performing a duty which legitimately devolves upon them; they thereby condemn and discountenance these enemies of the institution, and withdraw all encouragement from their unholy acts. Their influence in this behalf operates effectively, in this, that they co-operate and support the authorities of the jurisdiction immediately affected, and withdraw from the schismatics that sympathy which forms the aliment that they feed upon, and which sustains them. We believe that a condemnation thus expressed is far more effective in reconciling their contumacy to the just commands of Masonic law, and in preventing the repetition of their outrages, than any arbitration that can take place.

In regard to the proposition of M... W... Brother Foster, unless the Grand Lodge order otherwise, we feel it our duty respectfully to decline it. We have not the slightest doubt that it was conceived with the most benevolent motives, and designed to effect the most salutary results; yet, inasmuch as we are unable to perceive that the interests of the Grand Lodge of New York call for such a measure, and as the circumstances we will name compel us to decline it, we feel that the proposition, as regards peace, harmony, and the welfare of the

institution, will produce results diametrically opposite to those contemplated by it. We will not attempt to disguise the fact that there are men and organizations in this State whose aims and objects are the prostration of Masonic law and the disruption of Masonic governments. Their acts and operations are deeply injurious to the reputation of the fraternity, and their Masonic existence, in opposition to the expressed opinions of the Masonic world, is a disgrace to the craft. They are lepers upon the body Masonic; and as such the other jurisdictions of the United States are as much interested in destroying their capacity for evil, as is the jurisdiction of New York. If, instead of tampering with these schismatic and clandestine organizations, and encouraging their contumacious behavior, by making further propositions of adjustment, and new offers of negotiation and settlement, our sister jurisdictions will declare them outlaws, as, after long forbearance, we have done, there will be an end to their career. But so long as this sympathy is extended to them-so long as they are given the importance with which these propositions invest them—so long, indeed, as their members, all of whom have been expelled or declared clandestine Masons by this Grand Lodge, are permitted to visit Lodges of other jurisdictions, just so long may we expect the fair fame of the fraternity to suffer from their outrages.

We are persuaded to decline the proposition of the M. W. Brother Foster for the following, among other reasons:

I. The Grand Lodge of New York rests upon the same foundation of Masonic law and Masonic principles that forms the basis of all the Grand Lodges of the Union; and being conscious of this fact, it cannot permit itself to be voluntarily placed in a situation that would lead to a recession from the just and high grounds it has heretofore taken in preserving its honor and integrity.

2. It cannot be a party to a measure which might lead to a restoration or accumulation of an irresponsible representative power in the Grand Lodge which it has lopped off from a sense of imperious duty, and to preserve the jurisdiction from impending ruin.

York, we have no assurance that a mediation involving this result would be accepted by the schismatics; nor does the Masonic character of those schismatics afford much guarantee against the repetition of the same scenes of violence and outrage with which the rebellion commenced.

4. We conceive that a proposition for mediation between the Grand Lodge of New York, or any other regular Masonic body, and the Scottish Rite organizations of the city of New York would require an abandonment of all self respect, and would be conceding to them some grounds for continuing their unlawful assemblies, for which there is not now in truth the shadow of a pretext. If the proposed mediation should be unsuccessful in inducing them to abandon their organization, it would be a quasi acknowledgment of the rightfulness of their positions.

5. The individuals who are connected with it, and who have resuscitated what they are pleased to call "St. John's Grand Lodge," are of such material that the fraternity can derive no benefit from their connection with it, and it is the opinion of this committee that it is infinitely better for the interests of the craft that they should remain out of the order than be permitted to return to it.

6. A proffer of mediation to those bodies in the city of New York which pretend to derive authority for their Masonic existence from the Grand Lodge of Hamburg, would, of course, be a direct acknowledgment to them and the Grand Lodges of Europe that the principles of indivisible sovereignty and of Grand Lodge supremacy, which universally prevail among the Grand Lodges of the United States, are matters of compromise. To imagine for a moment that these principles are legitimate subjects of arbitration, is to imagine that the Grand Lodges of America can part with portions of their sovereignty and yet maintain their rightful authority within their jurisdiction. Until the long indifference and indecisive action of the Grand Lodges of this country shall have given sufficient encouragement to the progressive Grand Lodges of Europe, to have permitted them to establish their colonies in every city of the Union, and to have prostrated the authority and destroyed the supremacy of every Grand Lodge in this confederacy, we believe the Grand Lodge of New York I will never make this concession. If, instead of offering to compromise principles that are so important, so vital to the existence of Ancient Craft Masonry on this western continent, the Grand Lodges of Missouri, of Alabama, and of the whole Union, shall meet such unwarranted invasions at

the threshold, and declare the invaders to be irregular and clandestine, and forbid all fellowship and intercourse with them and the authors of their unhallowed encroachments, they will preserve their temples from crumbling, and perpetuate their existence, and vouchsafe their blessings to a grateful posterity for many succeeding generations. But if, on the other hand, they wink at these encroachments and fellowship with their perpetrators, and allow them to visit their Lodges, the canker worms of decay and dissolution will feed upon their vitals till their life blood has gone, and their glory and honor, and authority and power, have departed to return no more.

7. The parties above designated are, we believe, the only ones with whom a mediation could possibly have any office to perform in this jurisdiction; for, as to any illegal organizations within the body of the order, or any refractory conduct on the part of any of the members of this Grand Lodge, or its subordinates, we have far greater confidence in the remedial measures that are within the power of the Grand Lodge to adopt, if these measures be not neutralized by indiscreet action abroad, than in any mediation that can be offered.

These conclusions, if correct-and we believe them to be deduced from a calm and judicious consideration of all the momentous questions involved in the proposition-fully dispose of and settle negatively the question of the proposed mediation, and we hope satisfactorily to our sister Grand Lodges of the Union.

The remark subjoined to the proposition of M. W. Foster, warning "the craft throughout this continent to look well to the future," on account of matters which have disturbed this jurisdiction, is not an unwise caution. So far as the sovereignty and the rightful authority of this Grand Lodge, and the maintenance of Masonic law, are concerned or involved, by the acts of the schismatics, the rebels, or the invaders, the other Grand Lodges of the Union are equally concerned with ourselves. Those acts, if countenanced by direction or indirection, are as dangerous and threatening to the existence of the Grand Lodge of Missouri or Alabama as to New York. If the lawful edicts and solemn acts of the Grand Lodge of New York may be set at naught; if its members may rebel against its authority, and set up organizations for themselves, claiming, and being encouraged by propositions of compromise; if indeed foreign invaders may plant their colonies within our territory, and propagate the spawn of the Grand Orients of Europe upon our Masonic soil, these things may and will be done wherever among the States of the Union there are,

or may be, materials to work with; and no State is without them. In these respects the acts spoken of, and the principles involved in them are contagious. They may fasten their death-grasp upon the pillars of Missouri, and raze the foundations of the temple of Alabama with nearly, if not quite the same facility as those of New York. If then these jurisdictions and the other Grand Lodges of the Union would prevent the spread of these corrosive and destructive influences, they will stand by and sustain

the Grand Lodge of New York in all its lawful acts and positions. If the remark of Bro. Foster was designed to excite the animadversion of the Grand Lodges of the Union upon the acts of New York, it was unjust and unfraternal. The edicts and resolves of this Grand Lodge, the acts of its officers, and the language of its committees, have for years past received almost universal endorsement, and that endorsement has seldom, if ever, been more cordial and general than during the past five years.

HE successor to Chancellor Walworth, Joseph D. Evans, elected in 1854, while by no means the most brilliant Grand Master the Grand Lodge had yet chosen, was certainly by no means the least useful.

Brother Evans was born in the city of New York in 1807. His parents removed to Richmond, Va., and there the future Grand Master received his education and business training. In 1842 he was made a Mason in Marshall Lodge, No. 39, Lynchburg, and afterword affiliated with St. John's Lodge, No. 36, of Richmond, and in 1846 became its Master. Two years later, when he left Richmond to take up his residence in New York, the brethren presented him with a Past Master's jewel.

Taking up his abode in Brooklyn, he affiliated with Anglo-Saxon Lodge. His business interests, however, lay in New York, and here. it may be said that his commercial career was as brilliant as his Masonic one. As President of the New York Tobacco Board of Trade he exerted himself greatly in the struggle of 1871-3 to retain the bonded warehouse system in New York City, and he was the first PresiIdent of the New York Naval Stores and Tobacco Exchange. His business career was marked by industry and probity, his word was as good as a bond, and, while he paid close attention to details, he acted with a breadth of view and a wholesome liberality which showed him to be animated by as much ambition to promote the general good as to conserve his own personal ends. He was a

man of humble piety and of deep religious sentiments and his memory is yet held in loving remembrance in the Church of the Messiah, Brooklyn, of which he was Vestryman and Clerk for many years.

In Anglo-Saxon Lodge Brother Evans became Master in 1850, was elected again in the following year and declined re-election in 1852. In the Grand Lodge he was noted for his loyalty and his conciliatory spirit. When the Phillips division took place in 1849 AngloSaxon Lodge went out with the dissidents, but Evans exerted all his influence upon the brethren and submitted a resolution which, on being adopted, brought the Lodge back to its allegiance. As Grand Master he tried hard. to restore harmony in the jurisdiction, and, though he did not fully succeed, there is no doubt that his influence hastened the final union of the various bodies among whom union was desired. In fact, it was to his direct initiative that the measures were taken in 1858 which in 1859 finally closed the disunited ranks. He was a strong advocate of the representative system between the different Grand Lodges and wrought hard to make it universal, and to him is due the inauguration. of the District Deputy system as we have it to-day-a system that has done much to preserve the unity of the craft and to lessen the labors of the Grand Master and other executive officers of the Grand Lodge.

On retiring from the Grand Master's chair, after being twice elected, Brother Evans stepped down to the ranks again only to re