From the M.'. I.'. Grand Master:

COMPANIONS;

With gratitude to the Great I Am for the many blessings vouchsafed us during the past year I extend you cordial greetings at our present Assembly. Events within our jurisdiction have not been of stirring moment; our Grand Lecturer has reported the condition of the Craft from time to time, and the summing up shows that it is in good condition.

In June last we sustained a great loss by the death of

Companion WILLIAM H. CLARK,

Grand Principal Conductor of the Work,

who for many years was a prominent and active member of the Cryptic Rite as also of other Masonic Bodies of the State.

Companion CLARK was born in Baltimore, February 22, 1833, and died June 18, 1900, in the 68th year of his age.

He was made a Mason in Monumental Lodge, No. 96, in 1864; exalted in Phoenix Chapter, No. 7, in 1865; was a member of the Council of M.. E.. High Priests since 1881; aided in the formation of Druid Council, No. 5, in 1879; and was knighted in Baltimore Commandery, No. 2, in 1873. In all these Bodies our Companion rendered valuable and distinguished services.

He was elected Worshipful Master of his Lodge in 1868 and Secretary continuously since 1869, Junior Grand Warden of the Grand Lodge in 1887 and Deputy Grand Master in 1889.

He was elected M. ́. E.`. High Priest of his Chapter in 1865 and M.`. E.. Grand High Priest of the Grand Chapter in 1881 and 1882.

He was elected Thrice Illustrious Master of his Council in 1880 and 1881, Deputy Grand Master of the Grand Council in 1882 and 1883 and Grand Principal Conductor of the Work continuously since 1886.

He was elected Eminent Commander of his Commandery in 1878 and Grand Commander of the Grand Commandery in 1895.

He was also a 32° member of the Ancient and Accepted Scottish Rite, Southern Jurisdiction, until the surrender of its Charter, in 1881, by Maryland Consistory, since which time he was a member of the “Old Guard.'

Our Companion was a consistent christian, having been a life-long member of the Methodist Episcopal Church and an example in all the duties that devolved upon him. We sincerely mourn his death and will cherish his memory as a blessed privilege.

Whilst we sorrow because of the loss of our own, we sympathize with our sister jurisdictions in their losses of which the following have been formally reported to us:

Arkansas. SAMUEL WRIGHT WILLIAMS, P..G... Master, died March 14th, 1900.

Connecticut. JAMES H. Welsh, P.`. G.. Master, died December 16th, 1899.

Georgia. ORLANDO MCLENDON, Grand Master, died September 26th, 1899; W. S. RAMSEY, Grand Chaplain, died March 17th, 1900.

Illinois. ALFRED M. WERNER, P.. G.. Master, died June roth, 1900. Indiana. SAMUEL BRADEN Richardson, P. ́. G.`. Master, died January 27th, 1900; THOMAS B. Long, P. ́. G. . Master, died July 2nd, 1900. Kansas. CHARLES MORGAN JONES, D.. G.. Master, died August 21st, 1899. JACOB DE WITT, P... G.'. Master, died January 28th. 1900. Michigan. DAVID BOVEE, P.. G.. Master, died July 19th. 1900. Rhode Island. EUGENE STEVENS, Grand Master, died January 6th, 1900.

May 10th, I constituted Palestine Council, No. 16, under the Charter granted at the last Assembly of this Grand Council. The showing of this Council is most satisfactory and it promises to be a valuable constituent of this Grand Body.

Mountain Council has not been constituted under the Charter granted at the last Assembly by reason of a change in circumstances, still continuing, which, in our judgment rendered it inadvisable to do so.

Action in regard to Representatives, has been as follows:

Tennessee having re-established the Representative system Companions WILLIAM A. CLENDENING and GEORGE L. McCAHAN, former Representatives to and from, respectively, have been restored by appointment.

Washington having established the Representative system, I have appointed Companion WESLEY C. STONE. Representative of Maryland near Washington, and the latter has appointed Companion A.V. HUNTZBERY, Representative near Maryland.

Companion WILLIAM H. BARTON has been appointed Representative of Missouri near Maryland.

Companions JOHN M. CARTER, JACOB LIKES and GRAHAM DUKEHART, have been re-appointed Representatives of Ohio, Oregon and Illinois, respectively, near Maryland.

September 24th, 1900, accompanied by Companions WM. NASH YOUNG as proxy for the Deputy Grand Master, GEORGE L. MCCAHAN, Past Grand Master, JOHN M. CARTER, WILLIAM H. SHRYOCK, DAVID C. AVERY, DANIEL T. ORDEMAN and CHARLES CLARK, I attended the Seventh Triennial Assembly of the General Grand Council of Royal and Select Masters, U. S. A. at Cincinnati, Ohio.

The attendance was large in number and great interest was manifested in the proceedings; the pleasure of being present will long remain with us, our Cincinnati, and other Ohio Companions, gave us a most cordial reception and entertainment and did all in their power to make our sojourn, and that of the ladies who accompanied us, in their jurisdiction a most pleasant one.

The General Grand Master, Companion BRADFORD NICHOL, presented an address recounting the occurrences of his office during his Triennial term, in which is shown his earnest and conscientious discharge of duty.

Memorial tributes are feelingly paid to late Companions SERANUS BOWEN, General Grand Principal Conductor, WILLIAM D'ORVILLE Dory, General Grand Chaplain and WILLIAM ALVAIN LOVE, Past General Grand Principal Conductor, who died during the Triennial term.

He also places on the record of the General Grand Council the names of the following distinguished members of the General Grand Body who died within the same period and have not been previously recorded by

us.

Arkansas. Companions JAMES A. HENRY, JAMES H. VAN HOOSE, JOHN J. SUMPTER.

Kansas. Companion ALBERT D. MCCONAUGHY.

Louisiana. Companion JOHN Q. A. FELLOWS.

Massachusetts. Companion DANIEL W. JONES.

Nebraska. Companions JEFFERSON H. FOXWORTHY, WILLIAM R. BOWEN.

Missouri. Companion WILLiam H. Dale.

New Hampshire. Companion CHARLES A. TUFTS.

Oregon. Companion GEORGE M. STROUD.

Ohio. Companions CHARLES C. KIEFER, HENRY THEOBALD, David P. CHAMBERLAIN.

Tennessee. Companion GEORGE H. MORGAN.

He also reported the granting of fourteen Dispensations to form Subordinate Councils in the State of Iowa, preparatory we presume to the formation of a Grand Council under the auspices of the General Grand Council; that the Grand Council of North Carolina had become a constituent of the General Grand Council and that all differences, as to method, had been satisfactory settled in Colorada and that the Grand Council of that State was also a constituent of the General Grand Body.

The report of the General Grand Treasurer, Companion CHARLES H. HEATON, Shows

The report of the General Grand Recorder, Companion Henry W. MORDHURST, shows

7

Subordinate Councils under G.`.G.'. Council-Chartered Subordinate Councils under Dispensation by G.`.G.`. Council 31

Included in the business transacted by the General Grand Council, Charters were granted to fourteen Councils previously working under Dispensations and Dispensations to ten Councils so working were annulled.

The following Grand Councils are now using the Ritual of the General Grand Council, viz. Arkansas, California, Colorado, Georgia, Indian Territory, Kansas, Maine, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, New York, Oregon, Tennessee, Washington and New Brunswick, Canada.

The General Grand Council elected as Officers for the ensuing term the following named Companions, in which connection I will be pardoned for noting the distinguished position awarded our own Grand Council.

Companion WILLIAM H. MAYO, St. Louis, Mo.,

General Grand Master.

Companion ANDREW P. SWANSTROM, St. Paul, Minn.,

General Grand Deputy Master.

Companion HENRY C. LARRABEE, Baltimore, Md.

General Grand Principal Conductor.

Companion CHARLES H. HEATON, Montpelier, Vt.,

General Grand Treasurer.

Companion HENRY W. MORDHURST, Fort Wayne, Ind.,

General Grand Recorder.

Companion JOHN W. CHAMBERLAIN, Tiffin, Ohio,

Companion GRAFF M. ACKLIN, Toledo, Ohio,

General Grand Chaplain.

General Grand Captain of Guard.

Companion J. ALBERT BLAKE, Boston, Mass.,

General Grand Conductor of Council.

Companion EDWard W. WellinGTON, Ellsworth, Kan.,

General Grand Marshal.

Companion GEORGE A. NEWELL, Medina, N. Y.,

General Grand Steward.

Companion NELSON WILLIAMS, Hamilton, Ohio,

General Grand Sentinel.

HENRY C. LARRABEE,

Grand Master.

The Grand Treasurer and Grand Recorder presented their Annual Statements which were accepted and referred to the Committee on Finance.