California, as Maui Lodge, No. 223. For the first three years it got along very well, but at last began to drag for the want of material to sustain it, and several of the brethren having left, the lodge finally surrendered its charter, and the remaining members sold the property and turned over the funds to the Grand Secretary, which amounted to $417. This was ordered by the Grand Lodge of California to be paid over to Hawaiian Lodge, No. 21, for its charity fund.

In 1886 Most Worshipful Edmund C. Atkinson, then Grand Master of California, paid an official visit to the Hawaiian Islands, accompanied by some of his officers and other distinguished Masons, where they were most hospitably received and royally entertained by King Kalakaua and Prince Dominis, both members of the Craft, as well as by the Fraternity in general. E. A. S.

Alaska. On April 14, 1868, Most Worshipful James Beles, Grand Master of the Grand Lodge of (then) Washington Territory, granted a dispensation to Alaska Lodge, U. D., to be located at Sitka. At the session of the Grand Lodge of Washington held September 17, 1868, the dispensation was continued. In September, 1869, Brother William H. Woods, Master of Alaska Lodge, U. D., was appointed Deputy Grand Master for Alaska. October 18, 1872, the charter was revoked, and among its property turned over to the Grand Lodge at Washington was a school-house, upper story and ante-room, which was leased in 1869 for the term of ninety-nine years, with power to sublet and rebuild in case of destruction by fire; also a note signed Patrick Burns for $356.15, without interest, secured by mortgage on a lot with a building containing a whiskey-saloon and restaurant.-E. A. S.

Mexico. When Freemasonry first was introduced into Mexico is unknown. There is some evidence that it secretly existed among the high officers of the Spanish troops and resident foreigners prior to the successful revolution for independence, in 1820; but it was of the Ancient and Accepted Scottish Rite only. When the independence of Mexico was secured and its nationality. established, in 1820, the Freemasons among the volunteers in the Mexican army dispersed without any organized bodies anywhere. The Scottish Rite, introduced through French channels by the diplomatic corps and foreign representatives, was mainly confined to Europeans and their descendants, as well as to the few Americans established in that Republic. In 1825 Joel R. Poinsett, who was resident minister of the United States, caused a considerable number of the Mexican brethren to withdraw from the Scottish Rite and obtain authority from the Grand Lodge of New York for the establishment of three lodges of the "York Rite" in the city of Mexico. In one year there were no less than twenty-five lodges established, with at least one lodge in the capital of each state of the nation.

A Grand Lodge was established in the city of Mexico, and Jose Ignacio Esteva elected the first Grand Master. Contention soon arose between the bodies of the Scottish and those of the "York" rites, which finally resulted

in the formation of two political parties consisting of the "Ecossais" and "Yorkonas." For a period of over thirty years Masonry was practically dead in Mexico.

A spurious Supreme Council was in existence in the city of Mexico in 1859, established by spurious authority of the Foulhouze type, that had been spuriously constituted in Louisiana.

By authority of the Supreme Council of the 33° Ancient and Accepted Scottish Rite of Freemasonry for the Southern Jurisdiction of the United States, Brother Laffon was sent to Mexico to heal and regularize Brother Manuel de la Concordia and others; and on the 21st of December, 1860, he duly created, in accordance with the Constitution of 1786, the Supreme Council of Mexico and the States of Central America, being himself by those constitutions the first Grand Commander.

Central America. -Freemasonry was organized in this country by the constituting of the Supreme Council of the 33° of the Ancient and Accepted Scottish Rite of Freemasonry for Central America, at the capital of Guatemala, by the Supreme Council for the Southern Jurisdiction of the United States, May 27, 1870. Its jurisdiction embraced Guatemala, Costa Rica, Nicaragua, San Salvador, and Honduras.

Fraternally Yours.

Edwin A. Sherman.33°

DIVISION VIII.

THE FIRST GLIMPSES OF FREEMASONRY IN NORTH AMERICA.

BY SERENO D. NICKERSON, 33°, P.G.M.,
Recording Grand Secretary of Massachusetts.

CHAPTER VI.

EARLY AMERICAN MASONIC HISTORY.

THE earliest trace of the existence of Masons or Masonry on this continent, so far as we are now aware, is afforded by a letter now in the possession of the New England Historic-Genealogical Society, written by Dr. Charles T. Jackson, of Boston, the celebrated chemist and geologist. It is in the following words:

"June 2d, 1856.

"DEAR SIR: When Francis Alger and myself made a mineralogical survey of Nova Scotia in 1827, we discovered, upon the shore of Goat Island, in Annapolis Basin, a grave-stone, partly covered with sand and lying on the shore. It bore the Masonic emblems, square and compass, and had the figures 1606 cut in it. The rock was a flat slab of trap rock, common in the vicinity. "At the ferry from Annapolis to Granville we saw a large rounded rock with this inscription: 'LA BELLE 1649.'

"These inscriptions were undoubtedly intended to commemorate the place of burial of French soldiers, who came to Nova Scotia 'Annapolis Royal l'Acadie' in 1603.

"Coins, buttons and other articles, originally belonging to these early French settlers, are found in the soil of Goat Island in Annapolis Basin.

"The slab, bearing date 1606, I had brought over by the ferryman to Annapolis, and ordered it to be packed up in a box, to be sent to the O. C. Pilgrim Socy [of Plymouth, Mass.]; but Judge Haliburton, then Thomas Haliburton, Esq., prevailed on me to abandon it to him, and he now has it carefully preserved. On a late visit to Nova Scotia, I found that the Judge had forgotten how he came by it, and so I told him all about it. "[Addressed]

"J. W. THORNTON,

"Present.

Yours truly,

C. T. JACKSON."

The letter is accompanied by a photograph of the stone, showing the square and compasses and the figures 1606, rudely cut and much worn by time and weather, but still quite distinct.