GEORGIA.

The Grand Council convened at Augusta, April 28, 1869, T. I. Stephen D. Heard, Grand Master, presiding. Grand Master Heard in his address acknowledges the receipt of the proceedings of fourteen Grand Councils, ours included-all representing their Subordinate Councils to be in a flourishing condition. But he says: "There seems, however, to be a want of harmony among some of them, owing to the Grand Councils of some of the States having incorporated in the ritual of Cryptic Masonry the degree of Super-Excellent Master, an innovation to which your attention was called in my annual address of 1867. According to all the authorities that we have, the Royal and Select were the only degrees taught in Council Masonry until the recent innovation. And deeming it the duty of the Grand Council of Georgia to guard and preserve the purity of the Cryptic Degrees, as handed down to us, I would suggest for the consideration of this Grand Council the propriety of ignoring all Grand Councils that have, or that may hereafter, incorporate in the ritual of Cryptic Masonry the Super-Excellent or any other side degree."

Declining a re-election, Comp. Joseph E. Nells was elected T. I. G. M., and Comp. Chas. R. Armstrong, Ill. Grand Recorder.

ILLINOIS.

Convened at Springfield, October 7, 1869, T. Ill. Comp. John M. Pearson, Grand Puissant, presiding. Twenty-eight Councils were represented. The Grand Puissant in his address, speaking of the degree of Super-Excellent Master, says: "Nothing is officially known of it in the jurisdiction, but I recommend that steps be taken to obtain such information as will enable this Grand Council to act understandingly at its next Convocation."

The Committee on Correspondence reviewed the proceedings of twenty-three Grand Councils, Michigan not included, sayin the Grand Recorder informs them that he has been unable to obtain any information in regard to our Grand Council. We

know no reason, for our proceedings have been mailed regularly to the Grand Recorder.

Comp. Wm. M. Avise was elected Grand Puissant, and Comp. John C. Reynolds re-elected Grand Recorder.

NEW JERSEY.

The twelfth annual Convocation was held in the city of Trenton, September 15, 1870, M. P. J. V. Mattison, Grand Master, presiding. Seven Councils were represented; membership, 393. The address of the Grand Master relates entirely to local matters.

Comp. Thos. J. Corson presented a very full report on correspondence, reviewing the proceedings of 28 Grand Councils, ours of the number.

Comp. E. Goeller, Grand Master, and Comp. T. J. Corson, Grand Recorder.

ARKANSAS.

The tenth annual Assembly of the Grand Council was held in the city of Little Rock, October 30, 1869, M. P. E. H. English, Past Grand Master, presiding. Of the 18 Councils entitled to representation, nine only were represented. No address; no report on correspondence.

Comp. E. H. Whitfield was elected Grand Master, and Comp. L. E. Barlow, Grand Recorder.

SOUTH CAROLINA.

We have the proceedings of two annual Convocations, held in the city of Charleston, February 10, 1869, and February 16, 1870, Comp. Albert G. Mackey, M. P. Grand Master. Nine Councils were represented.

Grand Master Mackey delivered, as usual, a very interesting and instructive address-one that we would like, if time and space permitted, to publish in extenso.

Comp. A. G. Mackey, M. P. Grand Master; Comp. H. W. · chroder, Ill. Grand Recorder.

CONNECTICUT.

Held at Hartford, May 9, 1870, Comp. Edmund Tweedy, M. P. Grand Master, presiding, with representatives from twentytwo subordinates, reporting 2,038 members; 187 promotions; admitted, 1; withdrawn, 6; died, 15; suspended, 1; expelled, 2. Dues received, $187. The Grand Master delivered a very able address, from which we would like to quote many good things, but time and space will not allow.

Comp. Wm. Storer courteously reviews the proceedings of eighteen Grand Councils, including a very fraternal report of Michigan.

Comp. Chas. W. Stearns, of Middletown, was elected Grand Master, and Comp. J. K. Wheeler, of Hartford, Grand Recorder.

NEW YORK.

In the City of Albany, February 1, 1870, R. P. John Hoole, as Grand Master, presiding. Twenty-eight of the thirty-seven Councils were represented. Comp. Hoole, in his opening address, says: "I find myself, by a sad dispensation of the Supreme Authority, from which there is no appeal, standing in the place of our late honored chieftain, and attempting as I may to discharge the duties alloted to him-duties which, by education and natural ability, he was so well fitted to discharge--which under his skillful direction moved as under the hand of a master workman. Scarce had the echoes of our last annual Assembly ere we were called to mourn the loss of our M. P. Grand

ceased, Master, who, after a brief illness, yielded to the mandate of the destroyer, on the 25th of the month in which we had, in this place, listened to the accents of his last annual address. To-day name stands upon our record in the sombre drapery of the

his

dead, but his memory will be cherished while we can appreciate a noble heart, a sincere piety, unselfish devotion, and the shining example of an upright and perfect man."

Councils, 37; members, 1,713; admitted, 273; died, 8. Comp James McCrèdie was elected Grand Master, and Comp. Josiah Shove re-elected Grand Recorder.

KENTUCKY.

The annual Communication was held in Louisville, October 20, 1869, Ill. Comp. Philip Swigert, G. P., presiding. Eighteen Councils were represented. No address.

The Committee on Correspondence reviews the proceedings of ten Grand Councils, Michigan not of the number. Comp. Philip Swigert was re-elected Grand Puissant, and A. G. Hodges, re-elected Grand Recorder, both of Frankfort.

The Grand Council was held in Concord, May 18, 1870, Comp. Thomas J. Sanborn, M. I. Grand Master, presiding. Six Councils were represented. Grand Master Sanborn's address is short relating to local matters. He says during the year "harmony has prevailed throughout our jurisdiction." No report on cor. respondence.

Comp. Thomas J. Sanborn was re-elected M. I. Grand Master, and Comp. Abel Hutchings elected Grand Recorder-both of Concord.

MAINE.

The annual Convocation was held in Portland, May 4, 1870, Comp. Gordon R. Garden, M. P. Grand Master, presiding. Eleven Councils were represented; membership, 562; received, 54; died, 2. The Grand Master delivered an address devoted to local matters exclusively.

The report on correspondence is from the pen of Comp. J. H. Drummond, and is, as usual, a very able and instructive report of the proceedings of twenty-five Grand Councils, including Michigan for 1869. He touches our Past Grand Recorder, Comp. O. Bourke, rather lightly though, for some few errors in names, and says: "Lay it to the printer; everybody will clear you who ever read your writing." We will do so, Companion, for we know it to be printers. He closes his report in a very interesting summary of historical facts, gathered from proceedings of Grand Councils and Grand Chapters, and other

sources he has been able to examine, that we should like to publish in full, but time and space will not allow.

Comp. Gordon R. Garden, M. P. Grand Master, and Comp. Ira Berry, Grand Recorder, of Portland, were each re-elected.

INDIANA.

The fifteenth annual Communication of the Grand Council was held in the City of Indianapolis, October 18, 1870, Comp. Wm. W. Austin, M. P. Grand Master, presiding. Thirty-five Councils were represented; membership, 1,253. Grand Master Austin delivered a very interesting address, and also an excellent and instructive report on foreign correspondence, reviewing the proceedings of twenty-one Grand Councils, ours included.

Comp. Wm. W. Austin, of Richmond, M. P. Grand Master, and Comp. John M. Bramwell, Grand Recorder, of Indianapolis, were each re-elected.

VERMONT.

The Grand Council convened in Burlington, June 16, 1870, Comp. E. S. Dana, M. P. Grand Master, presiding. Fourteen Councils were represented; 678 members. A short address from Grand Master Dana, and a good report from Comp. T. F. Stuart, reviewing the proceedings of twenty-two Grand Councils. Michigan receives a fraternal notice.

Comp. Edward S. Dana, of Cornwall, M. P. Grand Master, and Comp. John B. Hollenbeck, of Burlington, Grand Recorder, were each re-elected.

CONCLUSION.

Companions, in closing this report, we congratulate you on the healthy and prosperous condition of Cryptic Masonry in the several jurisdictions from which we have received proceedings. There are, however, some three subjects that seem to agitate the whole body of Cryptic Masonry. The first of these is uniformity in work, titles and degrees. The want of uniformity in titles seems to be in a deplorable condition, hardly any one Grand Council agreeing with another. The second is the determining whether the Super-Excellent degree belongs to the Council