be reaped as the reward, the most brilliant triumphs. His business was large, and he met at the bar worthy compeers, who taxed to their utmost, his brilliant forensic powers and his solid legal attainments. At this time he re-entered the political field; and when in 1841, Mr. Webster accepted a seat in the Cabinet of President Harrison, Mr. Choate was chosen to fill the vacancy thus occasioned in the Senate. He remained here until 1845. He made speeches on the Oregon question, the Tariff, and the Courts and Texas. In 1853 he was a member of the Constitutional Convention of Massachusetts, and took a prominent part in the discussions of this body. If to this be added his service for several years as one of the regents of the Smithsonian Institute, and Attorney General of Massachusetts, it will complete the record of his public life.

PENINSULAR COMMANDERY No. 4, KALAMAZOO, MгCH.-We have received a printed statement relative to Peninsular Commandery, published by that body, which gives its history and present position, and seems to us to justify the action of its members. We regret, exceedingly, that our space will not permit us to publish the statement. We condense its substance. Since the receipt of its charter, in 1856, Peninsular Commandery has been working agreeably thereto, and has paid its dues to the G. G. Encampment in obedience to the mandate to that effect, issued by G. M. Hubbard. No credentials were issued to any of its members, nor were any of them authorized to attend any meeting for the formation of a Grand Commandery. Certain action relative to the formation of a G. C. was early taken without the knowledge of a majority of the Sir Knights, but at the earliest moment, on reflection, was reversed. Prior to the formation of the Grand Body, the Commandery formally refused to transfer its allegiance. A letter is given from G. M. Hubbard, which says: "As it is, and unless your subordinate voluntarily chooses to become a member of the Grand Commandery, I shall, as at present advised, recommend the question to lie over until the meeting of the Grand Encampment at Chicago, then and there to be adjudged and disposed of." The statement proceeds at considerable length to defend (and very conclusively) Peninsular Commandery from the accusations against it, and gives some of its objections to the Grand Commandery of Michigan, the principal of which is that “in the enginery of the Grand Commandery of Michigan,' is found a weapon to compel the Royal Arch Masons of Michigan to rebel against the Grand Chapter of Michigan, and sustain a foreign power."

OFFICIAL CIRCULAR OF THE GRAND SECRETARY OF THE GRAND LODGE OF ILLINOIS.

Office Grand SECRETARY GR. LODGE ILL., A. F. & A. M. Į
Springfield, Ill., July 10, 2. D. 1959, 4. L. 5859.

To the W. M. and Secretary of - Lodge No.

A. F. & A. Masons.

DEAR BRETHREN: The period for making your annual returns is approaching, and as the new By-Laws of the Grand Lodge contain several matters of importance, relative to making up and forwarding your returns and dues, I have thought it expedient to address you this circular, which I request to have read in open Lodge, and your attention to its contents is respectfully invited.

ANNUAL RETURNS.

I send enclosed a blank form. It contains some important notes, and I would respectfully advise you to study it carefully in connection with this circular, before using it. Put the name of your Post Office in the blank under the head of "Annual Return," when the name varies from that of the town or place where your Lodge is held. In making up your return, the material should be carefully prepared before the blank is used. To do this, and avoid mistakes, I would suggest that you draw off a full list of the Master Masons reported last year, all that were accidentally omitted, all that have been raised since your last report, all admitted as members, and all who have been re-installed, and add them up.

Next, prepare lists as follows:

1. Those demitted. 2. Those expelled. 3. Those suspended. 4. Those deceased; and 5. Those residing out of the State. As you set down these names, strike them from the first list, again add up the list as amended, and add to the other lists, and see if your figures prove. Having completed this, then set down the names of your officers, then the Past Masters, designating them by the letters P. M., and then set down the remaining members in alphabetical order. Follow with the list of members residing out of the State, and then with the list of non-affiliated Masons.

By section 6th of the By-Laws, you are required to transmit your return to the Grand Secretary on or before the first day of September, by mail, express, or some other expeditious mode. Your attention is directed to said By-Laws in making out your returns, especially to such sections as may be mentioned in

this circular.

Please make up your lists alphabetically, on the second and third pages of your return, without regard to dates.

WHEN TO BE SENT.

Let your return be completed and forwarded immediately after your last Lodge meeting in August. In all cases where the return does not reach me by the 10th of September, another blank will be forwarded at the expense of the Lodge.

DUES.

See sections 7 and 22, By-Laws. Your Lodge will pay 75 cents for each member residing in this State. There is no exemption on account of age, indigence or other cause.

All non-affiliated Masons in your jurisdiction are required to pay 75 cents Grand Lodge dues, and upon refusing to do so, your Lodge is required to suspend them from the rights and privileges of Masonry, upon notice and trial. If the Lodge should, in such case, refuse or neglect to suspend, it becomes liable for such unpaid dues. I would respectfully call your attention to the G. Master's circular No. 2, on page 263, Proceedings of the Grand Lodge. In collecting dues, or reporting non-affiliated Masons, you are not required to notice any but such as are known to be such, by some Mason known to you. The names of such as were reported by you last year, will be forwarded to you, to which

list you will add such names as have since come to your knowledge. Lodges Nos. 39, 46, 71, 101, 126, 166, 170, 175, 186, 254, 263, 268 and 284, are not bound to report non-affiliated Masons, or collect dues from them. Some regulation will soon be prepared by the Grand Master in regard to non-affiliated Masons and dues in Chicago. If you send your dues by mail, have your letter registered. I prefer to have money sent by express. When you send by express, have the receipt specify the contents and value of the package. You should pay the expenses: all expenses paid here will be charged to the Lodge. By reference to section 30, you will see that it is a part of my duty to report any failure or want of punctuality on the part of Lodges in paying dues or making proper returns.

I have had much trouble and considerable loss heretofore in regard to money. Send me drafts on Chicago, New York or St. Louis, money bankable in this city, or gold. Odd change in postage stamps. I prefer Illinois bills to any other currency.

INITIATIONS, PASSINGS, RAISINGS AND ADMISSIONS.

In making up these lists, insert no names but such as have actually received the Degrees or been admitted.

DEATHS.

When any Brother has died, greatly distinguished for any particular virtues, or masonic excellence, I will thank you to send some notice of his character, virtues and masonic services, on a separate sheet, to be laid up as a memorial.

NOTES.

Please study carefully all the notes on your return, until you are familiar with them.

BLANKS AND PENMANSHIP.

Let every blank be filled. Write the first name full, as George W. Rives, and write plain. Names written by some secretaries in a beautiful and often elegant hand, are sometimes hard to make out, and for this reason many names are misprinted. Again I would urge, write every letter plain.

MILEAGE.

The proposition to use the mileage and per diem for the current and coming year for another purpose, has failed, and the representatives will be paid as usual. Section 87 of the By-Laws requires that every return shall contain the number of miles necessarily travelled by the representatives to the Grand Lodge. The representatives are entitled to select their mode of travel to and from the Grand Lodge. Having chosen the mode of travel, it then becomes the duty of the Lodge to ascertain the number of miles necessary to reach Springfield by the mode of travel agreed upon. A longer route may often be more convenient than a shorter one, yet while the representative may choose to travel a longer route, the mileage should be fixed for a shorter one, as being necessary. For instance, the nearest route by railroad from Aurora to Springfield is 180 miles by way of Mendota and Bloomington, with two changes, and 231 by Chicago, with one change only. It is very desirable that no pains be spared in making up the number of miles, so that the same may be subject to little or no change in the future.

I would recommend to secretaries to adopt a form something like the following in making up their table of miles. For instance:

When the Master's signature cannot be obtained by reason of absence, sickness or other disability, the Senior Warden can sign as

acting Master.""

TO BE RECORDED.

When the return is complete, record it in your record book. This is better than making a duplicate copy, which is liable to be mislaid or lost.

OLD PROCEEDINGS.

I want 28 copies Proceedings of 1850 at Springfield, 40 copies Proceedings 1850 at Shawneetown, 15 copies Proceedings 1852, 32 copies Proceedings 1853, and 13 copies Proceedings of 1855, for binding for Grand Lodge Library. I will pay 50 cents a copy for those of 1850, 1852 and 1855, and 75 cents a copy for those of 1853, together with the postage, reserving the right to return such as are not wanted. I want them immediately. Such Lodges or brethren as have them to spare, are requested to forward them to me, and thereby confer a favor upon the Grand Lodge and the Library Committee.

MASONIC HISTORY.

At the last Grand Communication I was appointed Masonic Historian for this State, for the purpose of collecting all available material for a Masonic history in Illinois. I have in my possession the records of Western Star Lodge at Kaskaskia, from 1805 to 1820, and the proceedings of a convention of delegates from Libanus, Western Star, Olive Branch, Albion, Eden, Vandalia and Lawrence Lodges, held at Vandalia, December 9th, 1822, at which time the Old Grand Lodge was formed, of which Gov. Bond as the first Grand Master. I am informed that said Grand Lodge ceased to exist sometime between 1826 and 1830. Hon. Wm. H. Brown, of Chicago, was Grand Secretary in 1826, but who succeeded him he cannot inform me. None of the Lodges composing that Grand Lodge are now in being, if I am rightly informed. Several Lodges which have ceased to exist, and several upon our Grand Lodge Roll, held warrants from Grand Lodges out of this State.

I now address myself especially to any Mason in or out of Illinois, having any knowledge or means of information concerning either of said Grand or Subordinate Lodges.

I want the records of the said Old Grand Lodge, and any manuscript, paper, pamphlet or printed matter in relation to it.

I want the records, books and papers of any Lodge in this State, established at any time before 1840, and which has ceased to exist.

I request every Mason knowing anything about these matters, to communicate with me freely by letter, giving or pointing out the means for obtaining information.

I want a history of each individual member of said Lodges, so far as they can be obtained, such as the place and time of nativity, when and where made Masons, the Lodges of which they were members, the offices they held and the services they rendered, a description of person, and a short statement setting forth their general virtues, excellencies, singularities or eccentricities. Anecdotes are especially solicited.

When requested, I will take copies of books or papers, and return them. As I shall wish to report progress at the next Grand Annual Communication, I would fraternally solicit my brethren to give immediate attention to this

matter.

Fraternally,

HARMAN G. REYNOLDS, Gr. Sec.

AURORA, ILL., JULY 10, A. L. 5859.

I approve the foregoing circular in all its parts, and trust that it will be implicitly followed by Masters, Secretaries and brethren throughout this jurisdiction.

IRA A. W. BUCK, Grand Master.

OFFICIAL NOTICE OF DISTANCES TO THE GRAND LODGE.

SPRINGFIELD, ILL., JULY 25, 1859.

To the W. Masters and Secretaries of the several Lodges in the State of Illinois:

By the advice of the Grand Master, and several other eminent Brethren in this jurisdiction, and for the purpose of assisting you in making up proper tables of miles to Springfield, I send you this circular, with the miles set down on the nearest route to this place from the prominent points on the several railroads, as taken from the railroad guides.

By the Chicago, Alton & St. Louis, in connection with the Illinois Central

By the Chicago, Alton & St. Louis, in connection with the following roads: the Ohio & Mississippi, the Chicago & Milwaukee, and the Chicago, St. Paul & Fond du Lac :

By the Chicago, Alton & St. Louis and the Illinois Central, in connection with the Galena & Chicago Union, the Chicago, Burlington & Quincy, the Chicago & Rock Island, and the Peoria & Oquawka and its extensions :