Secretary is the medium through whom the business is to be performed, under the instructions of the Grand-Sire. The Grand Treasurer receives all moneys, and pays all orders drawn on him by the Grand-Sire. The Grand Guardian attends to the admission of the members, whom he is required to "prove" before he permits them to enter the Grand Lodge. There is also a Messenger elected by the Grand Lodge, whose duty it is to assist the Grand Secretary, and perform such other work as the Grand Lodge may require.* The Grand Marshal and the Grand Chaplain must perform such duties as are usual to such offices. At each annual session of the Grand Lodge, the Grand-Sire must appoint, in each State, district, or territory, (in which there is not a Grand Lodge and a Grand Encampment,) an officer, to be styled "District Deputy Grand-Sire," whose duty it will be to act as the special Agent of the Grand Lodge, and perform such offices as it may direct. He has a general supervision over al! subordinate Lodges and Encampments in his district, which work under charters granted by the Grand Lodge of the United States. To qualify a brother for this office, he must be a regular contributing member of a subordinate Lodge and Encampment, and must have attained the rank of Past Grand, and be a Royal-Purple Degree member. If a Grand Encampment has been established in his district, he must also be a member of that body. *This position has been held for several years by P. G. John E. CHAMBERLAIN, of Maryland. His uniform politeness to strangers who visit the Hall at Baltimore, and his assiduous attention to the business he is required to perform, have won for hin hosts of friends and an excellent reputation. The Grand Lodge of the United States meets annually, on the first Monday in September, at such place as may be designated by itself. A majority of the Representatives of the several Grand Lodges and Grand Encampments is necessary to constitute a quorum for the transaction of business. The revenue of the Grand Lodge arises from charter-fees, dues from Grand and subordinate Lodges and Encampments under its jurisdiction, and from the sale of books and cards for the use of the Lodges. The Grand Lodge of [Maryland and] the United States was organized February 22d, 1821, by a committee of Past Grands from Lodges which had been instituted by Thomas Wildey, John Welsh, John Boyd, and others, by virtue of a dispensation granted to them by the "Duke of York's Lodge, holden at Preston, Old England." It was then called "The Grand Lodge of Maryland and of the United States." Subsequently, on the 15th of January, 1825, it was established as the Grand Lodge of the United States, and the title "Grand Lodge of Maryland" dropped. THOMAS WILDEY was the first Grand-Master; JOHN WELSH, Deputy Grand-Master; WILLIAM WILLIAMS, Secretary; and THOMAS MITCHELL, Guardian. At the session of 25th April, 1826, the title of Grand-Sire of the Grand Lodge of the United States was suggested, and in 1828 the Constitution was revised and this title confirmed. From this time the Grand Lodge has increased in importance, and in the number of Odd-Fellows within its jurisdiction, until there are under its control thirty-three Grand Lodges, two thousand seven hundred and twenty-nine subordi nates, twenty-eight Grand and five hundred and eight subordinate Encampments, (numbering 21,469 Patriarchs,) comprising a membership of one hundred and ninety-three thousand two hundred and ninety-eight. Organization of Lodges, etc., and Installation of Officers. ODGES are organized and officers installed by the Grand-Master of the Grand Lodge in person, or by his deputy, who must be a Past Grand. He is assisted by the Grand officers. If these are not present in person, their places may be filled by Past Grands. Previous to organization, the brothers applying for the Lodge must agree to conform to and support the laws of the Grand Lodge and of the Order. Previous to the installation of officers, they must be examined by the Grand Marshal, whose duty it is to ascertain whether they are competent to fill the offices to which they have been elected, and who, if the examination prove satisfactory, will present them severally to the Grand-Master, who will duly install, or cause them to be installed. As each person appears for this purpose, the Lodge is required to express its satisfaction or otherwise of the choice it has made in him, for the information of the Grand-Master, whose province it is to ascertain whether the election has been regular and properly understood. If objection be made to the installation of any officer, the GrandMaster will ascertain if it be valid, and in case it should, he will immediately order a new election, which he will superintend in person. After the in stallation is concluded, the Grand-Master will instruct the various officers in their duties; and, after having delivered to the Lodge its charter, books, and papers, he must receive (if the Lodge be one which has been previously in operation) a correct "return" of its membership, its pecuniary condition, names of officers past and present, number of degrees conferred, names of brothers suspended or expelled, with the causes therefor, and names of persons rejected, together with the amount of dues to the Grand Lodge; which he is required to forward to the office of the Grand Secretary. Such returns should always be prepared previous to the attendance of the Grand-Master for the purpose of installing, so that they may be placed in his hands the moment he calls for them. Blank forms for this purpose are furnished in ample season to all Lodges, by the Grand Secretary. The installation of officers of Lodges and Encampments occurs semi-annually, in January and July. ENCAMPMENTS are organized and installed by the Grand Patriarch of the Grand Encampment, assisted by the Grand High-Priest, Senior and Junior Wardens, Secretary, Treasurer, and Sentinel. The style of their organization and installation (not the form) is similar to that of Lodges. GRAND LODGES AND GRAND ENCAMPMENTS are organized by the Grand-Sire or his deputy. Past Grand officers of these bodies may install the officers elect. Previous to installation, such officers must agree to conform to and support the rules and laws of the Order as adopted by the Grand Lodge of the United States. Institution of New Lodges and ODGES (or Encampments) must be organized by the Grand-Master, (or the Grand-Patriarch,) or by a deputy. The petitioners will assemble at his call, and agree to conform to the laws, etc., when the charter and books will be delivered to them. It is well if they practise in the presence of the officer, who should be competent to advise and instruct in the ceremonies, work, etc., in order that any inaccuracy or misapprehension may be corrected. It may not be amiss for us here to remark, that the officer deputed by the Grand-Master or Grand-Patriarch for the purpose of organizing a Lodge or Encampment, should be selected with a view to his entire capacity for the performance of his duty. He should not only thoroughly understand the work himself, but be capable of imparting to others the proper information in an intelligible man · aer. A decided and favorable impression should be nade on the minds of those who are about to assume the responsibility of conducting the operation and business of a Lodge; and he who is not perfectly qualified to explain the work accurately to such perBong should never be deputed for the purpose |