The Grand Master announced that the Grand Committee would meet on Thursday, November 10th, at 8 o'clock A. M. The Grand Lodge was then closed until Thursday, November 10th, at 9 o'clock a. M.

W. J. BATES,

T. H. LOGAN,

Grand Secretary.

IN GRAND LODGE.

Grand Master.

The Sixth Grand Annual Communication of the Most Worshipful Grand Lodge of Ancient, Free and Accepted Masons of the State of West Virginia, was continued and held in the Masonic Temple in the city of Wheeling, on Thursday, the 10th day of November, A. L. 5870, at 9 o'clock A. M.

The Grand Lodge was opened in AMPLE FORM.

The following Report was presented by the Grand Committee, and was, on motion, received and adopted:

REPORT OF GRAND COMMITTEE,

To the M. W. Grand Lodge of West Virginia:

The Grand Committee, to which was referred the subject of so amending the Constitution of the Grand Lodge as to provido for the payment of the expenses of Delegates to the Annual Communications of the same, would respectfully submit the following resolutions:

Resolved, That Article 2d Chapter III, of the Constitution be amended by striking out the words "fifty cents" in second line of same, and inserting the words "one dollar," the effect of which amendment, when adopted, will be to make the annual dues of Subordinate Lodges payable to the Grand Lodge, one dollar for each member.

Resolved, That Chapter III, of the Constitution be amended by adding the following article thereto :

ARTICLE X.

The Grand Treasurer shall be authorized to pay out of the funds of the Grand Lodge the actual necessary expenses estimated by the shorest route, of one delegate from cach Subordinate Lodge, and of Grand Officers when not Delegates.

RORERT WHITE,

Chairman.

FOREIGN CORRESPONDENCE.

A report on Foreign Correspondence reviewing the proceedings of twenty-seven American Grand Lodges and occupying fifty-eight printed pages, was presented by Bro. O. S. Long on behalf of the Committee. Under the rule heretofore observed in relation to these reports, everything relating to the history and recognition of this Grand Lodge is here reprinted, nearly all else being excluded.

From Alabama in 1869 the following mention is made of the report on Foreign Correspondence as presented by Bro. W. C. Penick. He expresses much satisfaction at the amicable adjustment of our difficulties with the Grand Lodge of Virginia, and incorporates in his report the following resolutions of recognition, which were concurred in by the Grand Lodge:

1. Resolved, That we regret that any circumstances should have arisen producing or tending to produce any dissatisfaction in, or division of, the Grand Lodge of Virginia.

2. Resolved, That while we express no opinion as to the causes or motives which produced the separation of the Grand Lodge of West Virginia from her mother Grand Lodge; yet, under existing circumstances, it becomes our duty to, and we do hereby acknowledge the existence of, and recognize the Grand Lodge of West Virginia as a regularly constituted and legal

Grand Body, and tender to her our right hand of fellowship as such, hoping that she may ever emulate the bright example, and raise even higher the untarnished reputation of the beloved mother.

3. Resolved, That we cannot but express in terms of the highest commendation, the truly kind, fraternal and Masonic spirit which has been manifested by both parties in conducting the difficult problem of their separation to its final and peaceful solution.

Reviewing the proceedings of the Grand Lodge of Kentucky for 1870, the committee makes the following extract and com

ment.

The following resolution was offered by the Grand Secretary R. W. J. M. S. McCorkle, and adopted by the Grand Lodge:

"Resolved, That the Grand Lodge of Virginia having recognized the Grand Lodge of West Virginia, and entered into fraternal correspondence with that body, the Grand Lodge of Kentucky hereby recognizes said Grand Lodge of West Virginia, extends to her the right hand of fellowship, and welcomes her into the family of Grand Lodges."

We believe that this completes the list and that the whole family of American Grand Lodges have now, without exception, accorded to West Virginia their fraternal recognition. With much pride in the high companionship to which she has been admitted, but with becoming modesty of deportment toward those who, although her peers, are her elders in Masonic wisdom and experience, the Grand Lodge of West Virginia takos her place.

In reference to the proceedings of the Grand Lodge of Maine in 1870 the committee says:

Bro. Drummond's report on Foreign correspondence is, as usual, full of the deepest interest to the Masonic student. We have lingered over it, finding fresh pleasure in every page. We would like to transcribe his argument upon the legality of the formation of the Grand Lodge of Quebec, but our limited space forbids. Suffice it to say that he shows that the principles which governed the formation of the Grand Lodge of Quebec and the mode of action adopted, have been recognized and followed in the formation of American Grand Lodges, without question since the Revolution, until a discussion was opened concerning the Grand Lodge of West Virginia. The settlement of the question in this case was in accord with long established precedents, and the Grand Lodge of Quebec is entitled to recognition and fraternal correspondence, under the same rule. Bro. Drummond is good authority upon any question touching the history and jurisprudence of the fraternity and his reasoning upon disputed points is close and impregna

ble. We have derived much valuable information from his report.

From the review of the proceedings of the Grand Lodge of Missouri in 1869 the following extract is presented:

R. W. George Frank Gouley, Grand Secretary, presented the following resolutions, which were unanimously adopted:

WHEREAS, All questions of the legality and jurisdictional rights of the Grand Lodge of West Virginia have been settled between it and the Grand Lodge of Virginia, at the last session of said latter body; therefore, be it

Resolved, That the M. W. Grand Lodge of West Virginia be, and is, hereby recognized and welcomed into the Masonic family by the M. W. Grand Lodge of Missouri, in all the spirit of fraternal kindness.

Resolved, That the M. W. Grand Master be requested to appoint a representative, from this Grand Lodge, near the Grand Lodge of West Virginia.

In view of the fact that Bro. Gouley has heretofore been our most formidable and persistent adversary and has wielded his trenchant pen against our cause with almost merciless severity, this action in peculiarly gratifying.

Some choice specimens of Bro. Gouley's slashing style have heretofore been presented in these reports, but the edge was then turned against us and we could not enjoy it quite so heartily nor see "the fun of the thing" quite so plainly, as now when a common enemy is assailed, as follows:

"The blatherskites who have assembled in Pittsburgh and Chicago, and tried to raise a storm against our beloved and ancient institution, have at last subsided into the miserable contempt they deserve. After looking over the list, we find many of them to have been Army Chaplains who picked the pockets of the dead on the battle-field, and furnished their homes with the plunder stolen from widows and orphans. Like a set of harpies that they are, they would vote against admitting into. their membership Judas Iscariot, because he did not sell Jesus Christ for more than thirty pieces of silver; their price would have bankrupted the Court of Rome! We have met many of them during the last few years, and only last summer, we came across one on the deck of a Sound steamer, clothed in black cloth and a white choker, who told us over his stale hash of antiMasonry, and when a passenger made complaint that his baggage had been stolen, we were not at all surprised to find that our reverend friend (?) was the last one seen near the stateroom door of said passenger, and that he got off at the last town where the boat stopped.

"These charlatans always seek the easiest class of people to swindle, consequently they went into the ministry, because in that field they could best work on the tender consciences of men, women and children, and get the largest proceeds on the rascality invested. That harvest having nearly been gathered with

the sickles of bombastic patriotism, they turned in the mowing machines of anti-Masonry, but finding more rocks and stumps than they anticipated, they have about bursted up their hybrid factory, viz: Oberlin College, and are now calling for aid to lift the debt on that concern. The best way we can suggest for them, is to get the Devil to take the first mortgage, and give their souls as securiety; we will guarantee his Satanic Majesty that the securiety will be forthcoming on call.

"It is a glorious thing to know that God Almighty in his wis dom and knowledge, judges men by what is inside of them, instead of their words and clothing, therefore, these miserable thieves, seducers and slanderers are every now and then caught up by the arm of the civil law and punished. 'Magna est veritas et prevalebit.'"

For a specimen of the emphatic, the above from Bro. Gouley's report on Foreign Correspondence, is hard to beat, and will be enjoyed by none more thoroughly than by our ministerial brethren, whose holy calling has been too often scandalized by such creatures as Bro. Gouley describes. We believe that Bro. Vincil, late Grand Master of Missouri, is himself a clergyman.

In the report of the Committee on Foreign Correspondence of the Grand Lodge of Montana in 1869, from the pen of Bro. Cornelius Hedges, the following pleasant reference to West Virginia occurs :

"We acknowledge the receipt of the volume containing the proceedings at the Fourth Annual Communication of this Grand Lodge, which commenced its independent existence so near our own, in point of time, that we acknowledge feeling drawn to it a little closer on that account. Though born in the midst of strife, it has itself been an angel of peace. The modesty with which it urged the justness of its cause, finally melted the Masonic heart of its parent, whom we can not blame for disliking to part with so many vigorous children. The address of Grand Master Bates is chiefly occupied with the paramount question of settling honorably and amicably the relations of his Grand Lodge with that of Virginia. Some other questions grew out of that relation that were settled with it.

"Bro. Logan is Grand Secretary, not more in name than in reality. This volume attests his industry and fidelity, but these are overshadowed by his higher qualities of head and heart, which shine forth in his correspondence both in and out of his jurisdiction. His record shows at that date 35 Subordinate Lodges, with about 1,600 members.

"Considerably more than half of this volume is occupied by the report of the Committee on Correspondence. With pardonable curiosity has Bro. Logan collected the opinions of other Grand Lodges, so variously expressed on the merits of this controversy with Virginia, but whenever he lays down the scissors for the pen, it seems to be with equal facility and felicity.