To this should also be added the fact that in the South many bodies were actually destroyed by the war, in everything but name.

The result was that when peace, and a settling down to the avocations of peace, came, we had a very large number of bodies, especially in the South, which had lost all their members that could be relied upon to maintain them; and another large number, which had been unadvisedly organized, with no efficient material in the surrounding country for their support; and others with a large and nominal membership of those who had never been Masons more than in name, who paid no dues, and for whom the active members paid dues to the Grand bodies.

When matters were precisely in this condition, there came in business that terrible depression, which was the necessary result of the over-doing in the previous years; the same law produced the same effect in business as in the material affairs of Masonry; but it told with double effect, of course, upon Masonry.

The result is, that in many Grand Lodge jurisdictions there has been a large falling off, and the membership throughout the country has scarcely held its own; in the Chapters the result has been worse; and if it has been even worse in the Councils, it is simply because the higher bodies inevitably feel it the worst.

For instance, Companion Walter, in hts eloquent speech in the convention, said that if we turn the degrees over to the Chapters, as proposed, five thousand Royal Arch Masons in Mississippi would, in a brief time, be in possession of them. We have no reason to doubt that there are five thousand nominal Royal Arch Masons in that State, but the latest returns give the membership at only 2,120. Without going into particulars, it is sufficient to say that whether we regard the falling off in membership, the decrease in the number of bodies, or the number which fail to make returns and pay dues, Royal Arch Masonry has not sufficient advantage over Cryptic Masonry in Mississippi to boast of: and the same arguments which show that Cryptic Masonry should be turned over to the Chapters, are equally strong to show that Capitular Masonry should be turned over to the Lodge.

For the sake of comparison, we give the totals of our statistics for ten years past:

We should have said, also, that in the South, where some of the causes we have named have prevailed to the greatest extent, the depression has been the most serious, while in some jurisdictions there has been, and still is, a continuous and steady growth, in spite of all causes for falling off.

Our conclusion is, that the depression in Cryptic Masonry is not occa sioned by causes inherent in the system, but is the result of a combination of causes of a temporary character, and within the power of those who value the degrees to remedy.

So much in reply to the arguments adduced in favor of the Mississippi plan. In addition, there are several considerations, of a weighty character, against the proposition.

The first is, that Chapters already have so many degrees to confer that it is exceedingly difficult to find officers to do the work properly; to add to the four Chapter Degrees two more, which must be conferred by the same officers, is imposing a heavy burden upon them, and would cause a still greater depression in the Chapter.

Another consideration is the confusion which will be introduced if the Mississippi plan is adopted. We shall have so many different systems that all semblance of uniformity will be destroyed. We shall have one system in Pennsylvania, whose Grand Chapter system is such that these degrees can never be made a part of it; another system in Virginia and West Virginia; another in Texas: another in the States adopting the Mississippi plan; and another in the other States. We destroy uniformity not only in the Cryptic system, but also in the Chapter system. We should prefer to abandon the degrees altogether than to introduce confusion by adopting the plan proposed.

We believe that when we have cut off all the fungi we shall find solid timber enough to produce a healthy growth; that the best way is to go on depressing" till we reach the "hard pan" of a membership who are willing to work these degrees for their own intrinsic value. When we have reached that point, we should also avoid making the Council a mere appendage to some other organizations. We should apply the same rule in the selection of officers, Grand and Subordinate, that we do in electing members; we require the latter to pass through the lower bodies first; and if we take for officers the past officers of the lower bodies, or at any rate those not holding office in the other bodies, we shall be likely to find those who will give due attention to the Council, and not regarded as a matter to be attended to in such intervals as their duties in the other bodies make convenient. Live officers in the Council and Grand Council who magnify their office will soon cause a return of the growth which we are apt to regard as necessary to prosperity.

Let those, then, who do not believe in lowering the standard to demoralization and dissolution close up the vacant spaces made by those falling out, and, with united effort, maintain those beautiful degrees in the organizations our fathers created and transmitted to our care.

Statistics: Admitted, 51; expelled. 1; demitted, 3; died, 16; membership, 956.

Companion Fessenden I. Day, of Lewiston, was elected M. I. Grand Master, and Companion Ira Berry, of Portland, re-elected Grand Recorder.

NEW YORK.

The Grand Council convened in annual assembly in the city of New York, September 11, 1877, M. Ill. Geo. M. Osgoodby, Grand Master, presiding.

Twenty Councils were represented.

The Grand Master's address is very lengthy, giving a full account of his doings, and the doings of the previous Grand Council, in the appointment of committees to attend the several National Grand Bodies. He pays a fitting eulogy to Companion George Frank Gouley, Grand Recorder of Missouri, also Grand Representative of the Grand Council of New York to and near the Grand Council of Missouri, who died the 11th of April, 1877, at the burning of the Southern Hotel in St. Louis; also to Companion William Edward Lathrop, of Rochester, N. Y., Past T. Ill. Master of Council No. 19, the first T. Ill. Master of that Council, who died the 22d day of April, 1877, aged 83 years. He says:

"He was ever esteemed as high authority in Masonic Jurisprudence, and his place is not easily filled. I might speak of him for hours and leave the greater part unsaid in reference to his noble, manly and Masonic qualities and abilities."

The work was exemplified by the Grand officers. No charters or dispensations were granted. Companion Charles G. Hudson presented one of the best reports on correspondence we have, reviewing very fully the proceedings of twenty-six Grand Councils, ours for 1877 of the number. We wish we could quote the whole report, but cannot, and will content ourselves with some of its closing sentences. He says:

"In conclusion, we think the general outlook is as good as can be expected for the times. We are all aware that these are hard times; money is not plenty with many of the craft, and few are taking degrees. All branches of the Order are complaining of little work. But we think the Cryptic Rite is holding its relative position with the other bodies. Of course, we cannot expect to be as large as the Chapter or the Lodge, nor shall we ever rival them; but we are doing as well as they are, and we have no cause to be discouraged. We think the Cryptic Rite had better quit begging, and maintain itself. Let us stand on our own dignity, if we have any; and if the Companions of any Council, or Grand Council, cannot maintain their organization, let them disband. We think our Rite can go on as well as before."

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Companion George M. Osgoodby, of Nunda, was re-elected Grand Master, and Companion George Van Vliet, of New York, re-elected Grand Recorder.

NORTH CAROLINA.

The Grand Council assembled in the city of Newbern, June 6th, 1877, Companion C. M. Van Orsdell, M. Ill. Grand Master, presiding.

Three Councils were represented.

The Grand Master's address is short, and rather despondent, and says, "in my official capacity I have had literally nothing to do."

An amendment to the constitution was presented as to nomenclature, changing the title of the officers, to conform to the convention work adopted in New York.

A committee was appointed, to co-operate with one from the Grand Chapter, to memorialize the Grand Chapter with reference to uniting the Council Degrees with the Chapter.

Companion C. M. Van Orsdell was re-elected M. Ill. G. Master, and Companion Donald W. Bain was re-elected Grand Recorder.

NEW JERSEY.

The eighteenth annual assembly was held in the city of Trenton, January 18, 1876, Companion John S. Hartley, Grand Master, presiding. Seven Councils were represented.

The Grand Master's address was brief, and reiating to home matters.

The Grand Recorder acknowledged the receipt of proceedings from twenty-six Grand Councils, Michigan for 1874 and 1875 included, but has no review.

Companion Charles C. Wells, of New Brunswick, was elected Grand Master, and Companion Thomas J. Corsen, of Trenton, was re-elected Grand Recorder.

The nineteenth annnal assembly was held in the city of Trenton, January 16, 1877, Companion Cornelius Vreeland, Deputy Grand Master, presiding.

Six councils were represented.

The Grand Master, Chas. C. Wells, being detained by sickness, his address was read. It was very brief, and relative to domestic matters.

The Grand Recorder reported that he had received the proceedings of twenty-nine Grand Councils, including Michigan for 1876, and had examined them, but on account of the condition of the treasury he had not written a report.

On motion, the chairman of the committee was directed to prepare a report and publish with the proceedings, provided there should be sufficient funds in the treasury to do so. There being no report, we conclude there was not sufficient funds for the purpose.

A committee was appointed to revise the work.

Companion Cornelius Vreeland, of Jersey City, elected Grand Master. Comp. Thos. J. Corsen, of Trenton, re-elected Grand Recorder.

Councils making returns, 7; membership, 479.

NEW HAMPSHIRE.

The annual assembly was held May 14, 1877, Companion Andrew J. Thompson, Grand Master, presiding. Four councils represented.

The address of Grand Master Thompson is very brief, and devoted to local matters. No report on correspondence.

Comp. Henry P. Glidden, of Dover, elected Grand Master. Comp. Jno. A. Harris, of Concord, re-elected Grand Recorder.

Councils making returns, 8; members, 710.

OHIO

The forty-seventh annual assembly was held in the City of Cleveland, August 29th, 1877. Comp. Samuel W. Courtwright, M. Ill. Grand Master. Fifty-eight councils represented, and one U. D.

The Grand Master's address is brief, and relates wholly to business of the Grand Council.

Comp. Will M. Cunningham presented the report on correspondence, reviewing the proceedings of twenty-two Grand Councils, Michigan for 1877 included. In conclusion, he says:

"Your committee would congratulate the companions upon the actual prosperity of the Rite, regardless of the distractions heaped upon it by its enemies from without and the evils attendant upon supine officials from within, in so many subordinate councils throughout the United States."

Comp. Samuel W. Courtwright, of Circleville, re-elected M. I. Grand Master. Comp. John Day Caldwell, Cincinnati, re-elected G. Recorder.

ONTARIO, CANADA, 1876.

The annual assembly was held in the City of Toronto, Aug 29, 1876. Comp. Daniel Spry, M. I. Grand Master, presiding. Seven councils were represented.

Grand Master Spry delivered an excellent address, from which we quote the following:

"In rendering you an account of my official conduct during the past year. it affords me much gratification to be enabled to state that the Cryptic Rite continues steadily to advance. extending itself into all parts of the Dominion, and has even winged its flight into our prairie province, Manitoba. The subordinate councils are generally well conducted, and the returns, which will be laid before you, will show the steady progress which is being made. You are quite aware that I have always urged upon the attention of the Grand Council the desirability of being extremely cautious in the admission of members to our Councils, urging upon the officers of these subordinate bodies, who are in the habit of assembling with us, the necessity of selecting with great care from among those who ask to be admitted to the secrets of the Ninth Arch, those who possess the necessary intelligence to enable them to become earnest and faithful workers in our Order. In many Councils I find that these teachings have