sentence of expulsion of Solomon's Lodge, No. 1; the Master of it was admitted to the Grand Lodge and apologized for its action, and its old number and rank were restored to it, and Masonry resumed a united front, demonstrating fully that "Masonry has more to fear from those who are within its portals than from those who are without."

Masonic halls have been erected: in Augusta, by Social Lodge, No. 1; in Savannah, by Solomon's Lodge, No. 1; in Macon, by Macon Lodge, No. 5, in 1850; in Milledgeville, by Benevolent Lodge, in 1856; in Rome, in 1866; and in Macon, by the Grand Lodge, in 1872. The Grand Lodge supported the Masonic Female College at Covington up to 1874, when it gave it up, and in 1878 returned the property to the city. The Grand Lodge is incorporated by the legislature, which act, according to the Supreme Court decisions, incorporates the subordinate lodges. The Civil War severely checked the growth of the Fraternity. It is, however, now most prosperous.

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Florida. As early as 1768 the Grand Lodge of Scotland granted a warrant to a lodge in East Florida, at St. Augustine, of which James Grant, the provisional governor of Florida, was Master, and he was appointed Provincial Grand Master of the Grand Lodge of the Southern District of North America. On January 17, 1759, the Grand Lodge of England ("Ancients") warranted a lodge, to the 14th Regiment of Foot, which was numbered 586. The lodge became dormant, and on March 6, 1776, "a renewal of the warrant, No. 58, to 14th Regiment of Foot, whenever they should require it, at present at St. Augustine," was ordered. The warrant was renewed March 20, 1777. January 3, 1788, the Grand Lodge of England, "Ancients," granted a warrant to No. 204, St. Augustine, in East Florida; but, on January 17, 1780, the fee of warrant No. 204 was ordered, "Returned to the late Grand Secretary, it not being recorded." There was a St. Andrew's Lodge, No. 1, in West Florida, but of its origin or history nothing is known except that a memorial from the brethren of that lodge was read in Grand Lodge of Pennsylvania ("Ancients") on July 8, 1783. What the memorial recited is not known, but Grand Lodge ordered warrant No. 40, to be placed at the discretion of the Master of Lodge No. 38, of Charleston, South Carolina. The Grand Lodge of South Carolina ("Ancients") issued a warrant, No. 30, for a lodge at St. Augustine, which "became extinct in consequence of a decree by the King of Spain." The same Grand Lodge granted a warrant for Lodge No. 56 at Pensacola. Nothing is known of this lodge. June 30, 1820, the Grand Lodge of South Carolina issued a warrant in place of No. 30 at St. Augustine, called "Floridian Virtues"; and, on June 29, 1821, renewed the Lodge No. 56 at Pensacola, under the name of "Good Intention." The same Grand Lodge granted a warrant to Esperanza, No. 47, at St. Augustine. These lodges became extinct or were suspended. The Grand Lodge of Georgia also granted a warrant to "San Fernando, No. 28," at St. Augustine. The Grand Lodge of Alabama, on December 19, 1825, warranted Jackson Lodge, at Tallahassee. It was suspended, charter forfeited, and restored.

The Grand Lodge of Georgia, December 2, 1828, warranted Washington Lodge, at Quincy, and December 8, 1829, Harmony Lodge at Marianna. July 6, 1830, three of these lodges organized the "Grand Lodge for the Territory of Florida." This was the first territorial Grand Lodge organized in America. The Anti-Masonic excitement had nearly spent its fury when this Grand Lodge was organized, and so it experienced little trouble therefrom. This Grand Lodge organized Lodge No. 8, which was located about twenty miles from Tallahassee, and before the State line was determined. It was soon found that it was within the jurisdiction of the Grand Lodge of Georgia. The matter was settled by the Grand Lodge of Florida surrendering jurisdiction, as soon as the Grand Lodge of Georgia accepted the lodge, and the Master and Wardens were elected, ex-officio, honorary members of Grand Lodge of Florida, and it was declared that its number should never be assigned to any other lodge. The three original lodges are still active working lodges. The Grand Lodge was incorporated under the Territorial government. The subordinate lodges are not incorporated, but hold their properties under trustees. There is a project under consideration for the erection of an asylum or home for Masons. It has a fund of nearly $5000 for this purpose. A fire in 1888 destroyed the archives and library of the Grand Lodge. Halls have been built at Tallahassee, Quincy, Pensacola, Key West, and elsewhere, and the brethren are now raising a fund for a hall at Jacksonville.

Yours Fraternally be

Charles & Meyer P.MV.

DIVISION VI.

SECOND MERIDIAN, I.

History of the Eastern Mississippi Valley, and the Lakes: The Grand Lodges of Ohio, Indiana, Michigan, Illinois, Wisconsin, Kentucky, Tennessee, Alabama, Mississippi, and Louisiana.

BY CHARLES E. MEYER, P.M.,

Melita Lodge, No. 295, of Pennsylvania.

CHAPTER III.

GRAND LODGES OF THE EASTERN MISSISSIPPI VALLEY, AND THE LAKES.

Ohio. - Jeremy Gridley, Deputy Grand Master of the St. John's Grand Lodge of Massachusetts, issued a charter, February 15, 1776, to Captain Joel Clark and Lieutenant Jonathan Heart, and other officers of the army, for an Army lodge, to be known as "American Union," "for the benefit of the brethren in the Connecticut Line of the army.” The lodge was duly organized at Roxbury, Massachusetts, in the month of March following. During seven years of the war this lodge followed the army, holding its meetings at the various points where it was encamped, and making Masons of many prominent and distinguished army officers. At the conclusion of the war, the lodge "was closed," "to stand closed until the Master should call them together."

Among the pioneers to the Muskingum River, in North-west Territory, were Jonathan Heart and Rufus Putnam, the Master and a Past Master of this lodge. There were, likewise, a number of brethren who had been members of the Military Lodge, No. 10, also warranted by the St. John's Grand Lodge of Massachusetts.

Ten of these brethren assembled in the village of Marietta, Ohio, and prepared a petition to Jonathan Heart, Master of the American Union Lodge, who resided at Fort Harman, on the opposite side of the river, asking for his protection and recognition.

Brother Heart in reply expressed a doubt whether the warrant in his possession "affords protection," as there are only two who were actually enrolled members. But to remove this objection he stated:

"There are two others who are members and residents in this county, but at too great a distance to attend. There are also two of the petitioners who were constant visitors of this lodge during the war, one of them a Past Master (Brother Benjamin Tupper), who by custom is a member of all lodges. There are also others of the petitioners who have frequently visited the lodge."

He waived, however, any scruples he might have entertained as to the regularity of his proceedings in the matter, and consented to the request of the brethren, and, on June 28, 1790, he opened American Union Lodge, No. 1, in due form, of which he was elected Master, and Colonel Benjamin Tupper and General Rufus Putnam, Wardens. In the address forwarded to the Grand Lodges at Philadelphia, New York, and the New England States, asking recognition, the hope is expressed, if errors have been committed, "that their steps may be guided into the paths they ought to take."

September, 1791, a short time previous to the fatal battle on the Miami River, known as St. Clair's defeat, the Grand Lodge of New Jersey issued a warrant to Governor Arthur St. Clair and General Josiah Hannar to hold a lodge at the village of Cincinnati, to be known as Nova Cesarea, No. 10, of which Dr. William Burnet was Master. The disastrous campaigns with the Indians gave no opportunity to open this lodge, and it was not organized until December 27, 1794. Brother Edward Day, who was made a Mason in Lodge No. 35, Joppa, Maryland, acted as Master at its formation. October 19,

1803, the Grand Lodge of Connecticut granted warrants for Erie Lodge, No. 47, at Warren, Trumbull County, and New England Lodge, No. 49, at Worthington, to be in force one year after the formation of a Grand Lodge in Ohio.

On St. John's Day, June 24, 1805, the Grand Lodge of Pennsylvania granted a warrant for the Lodge of Amity, No. 105, to be held at Zanesville, of which Brother Lewis Cass, who afterward became distinguished as a soldier and statesman, was the first Master. Permission was given to the lodge to meet either at Zanesville or at Springfield [Putnam], on the opposite side of the river.

In consideration of the situation of the lodge in a new country, and the difficulties to be overcome by it, the Grand Lodge of Pennsylvania presented this lodge with a set of jewels, which are still in the possession of the lodge.

On March 18, 1806, the Grand Lodge of Kentucky granted a warrant to Cincinnati Lodge, No. 13, of which Brother William Goforth was the first Master. At a meeting of delegates from the six lodges above named (all in the State at the time), held at Chillicothe, Monday, January 4, 1808, Brother Robert Olivar, of American Union Lodge, was called to the chair and George