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NOTICE . The Subscription to THE FREEMASON is now ios . per annum , post-free , payable in advance . Vol . ] ., bnunil In cloth ... ... 4 s . 6 rl . Vol . II ., ditto Js . ( id . Vol . 111 ., ditto 15 s . od . Vol . IV ., ditto 15 s . od . Reading Cases to hold 52 numbers ... 2 s . Cd . United States of America . THE FREEMASON is delivered free in any part of tlie United States for 12 s . per annum , payable in advance .

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NOTICE TO SUBSCRIBERS . The Office O / 'THE FREEMASON is now transferred to 19 8 , FLEET-STREET , E . C . All communications , for the Editor or publisher should therefore be forwarded , t 0 thai address .

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l ; irt [> s , Carriages anb § ci \ tk . DEATH . TAYLOR . —On ilic roth nil ., at his resilience ai Cliurch - street , Hyde , Cheshire , liro . Jesse Taylor , PA I . , ; di , aged Si .

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instoevs to Comsponbents . AU communications fur Thc Freemason should be written letribly on one side of the paper only , ami , it' intended for insertion in the current number , must lie received not later than 10 o ' clock a . m . on Thursdays , unless in \ ery special cases . The name and address of every writer must he sent to us in confidence , P . M . is thanked ; his offer will be gratefully accepted .

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The Freemason , SATURDAY , J 6 y 1872 . The Freemason is published on Saturday Mornings in time for the early trains . The price of the Freemason is Twopence per week ; annual . subscription , ios , ( payable in ad \ aucc . ) All communications , letters , ike , to be addressed to the Fditor , IQS , Fleet-street , E . C . The Kdiiorvill pay careful attention to all MSS . entrusted tobim , but cannot undertake to return them unless accompanied bv postage stamps .

Grand Lodge Of New York. U. S. A.

GRAND LODGE OF NEW YORK . U . S . A .

BY BRO . W . J . HUGHAN .

The annual assembly of Ihe Grand Lodge of New York was held on Tuesday , 4 th fime , and following days , the Grand Master , Bro . [ ohn H . Anthon , presiding .

By the kindness of Bro . F . j . Tisilall , the able Masonic Editor of " Pomeroy ' s Democrat" 1 have been favoured with a copy of the report in that well-known Democratic organ ofthe United

States , and will summarize the interesting proceedings , for the information of the numerous readers of the Freemason . The Grand Lodge was opened in ample form , and with prayer by

Bro . the Rev . R . L . Sehoomaker , Grand Chaplain . The musical arrangements were under the superintendence ofthe St . Cecile Lodge , and the words were composed by Bro . W . E .

Sherwin , Mus . Dir . of Grand Lodge , as follows : " Hail ! Brother Masons , hail ! Let Friendshi p long prevail And bind us fast .

May harmony and peace . Our happiness increase , And Friendship never cease , While life shall last .

Grand Lodge Of New York. U. S. A.

" Sincerity and love , Descending from above . Our minds employ .

Morality our pride , . And Trust our constant guide . With us are close allied , And crown our joy .

" We on the level meet , And every brother greet , Skilled in our art ;

And when our labour ' s past , Each brother ' s hands we'll grasp , Then on the square at last , Friendly we'll part .

" May wisdom be our care , And virtue form the Square By which we live :

That we at last may join , Our God ' s Grand Lodge sublime . Where we shall perfect shine . With Him above . "

The M . W . Grand Master then delivered the following address : Brethren , Officers and Members of the Grand Lodge : I am sincerely glad , on this opening of the Annual Communicati m ofthe Grand Lodtre .

to be able to congratulate you upon a year of Masonic prosperity . Peace has generally prevailed among the Craft , and ihe disci plinary powers of the Grand Master have seldom been called into action . Where difficulties have

occurred , they have generally been composed by my personal intervention , or b y the action of one or the other of the District Deputy Grand Masters . To all of these officers I have to return my sincere thanks for the fraternal aid which

they have rendered me in the arduous duties of my office , and to compliment them upon the trul y Masonic manner in which they have administered justice , tempered b y mercy . The ceremonies performed during the year

have been numerous , and are as follows : The corner-stont ; of the new Court-house at Owego was laid b y AI . W . Bro . Clinton F . Paige . The corner-stone of the Masonic Temple at Troy was laid by W , Bro . George Babcock . The

cornerstone of the Asbury Aletliodist Episcopal Church at Buffalo was laid b y R . W . Bro . Christopher G . Fox , Deputy (/ rand Master—a gratifying instance of the increasing toleration of many religious denominations of our fraternity , and

even the interest that some are beginning to take in it . The corner-stone of a monument to the soldiers of Alorris , Otsego county , N . Y ., who died in the service of their country in the late war was laid by W . Bro . Cook , of that place .

On Ihe day ofthe Festival of St . John the Baptist , the corner-stone of the new Capitol at Albany was laid in ample form , the Governor ofthe State delivering the address . The cornerstone of the Union Presbyterian Church , at

JVewburg . was laid b y R . W . G . Frederick Wiltsie . Other services—the institution of Lodges , the installation of officers , were performed b y the Grand Alaster , the Deputy ( irand Alaster , the District Deputy Grand Masters , and other

brethren delegated by the Grand Alaster . Noticeable services ofthe latter class were the dedication in ample form of the beautiful Temple at Troy ( the

corner-stone of which was laid nine months before ) and the . Masonic portion of the Hall at Staten Island , the work , largely , of Beacon Light Lodge , No . 761 .

Passing from these ceremonies to a sadder topic , the Grand Alaster alluded to the deaths of Al . W . Brothers Anderson and Taylor , of Texas , and K . W . Bro . Petersson , Representative of the Grand Lodge near the G . Lodge of the Three Globes , Prussia , and continued :

Immediately upon learning of the Chicago calamity , I issued a proclamation in the form annexed hereto , and contributions were sent in to me , which afterward extended to Michigan

and Wisconsin , to the following amounts : Chicago , S 1 , 5 , 779 , 70 ; Michigan , $ 3 , 313 ; Wisconsin , $ 73 f , ; totnl $ 19 , 827 . 70 . In the case of Chicago , I sent 8 1 , 000 in the form of women ' s and children ' s clothing , which , as I anticipated ,

Grand Lodge Of New York. U. S. A.

was found exceedingly welcome , and the rest , as in the case of Michigan and Wisconsin , in money and certificates of deposit . My account , which will be deposited with the Grand Secretary , will show date and amount of each

contribution , and of each remittance to a Grand Alaster . There will also be placed in the hands of the Grand Secretary , receipts from the Grand Masters for each contribution , which will be delivered on request . In the" statement of the

Grand Alaster of Illinois , New York is credited with ^ 17 , ^ 3 6 9 , 70 , so that it appears that $ 1 , 55 , 5 has been sent to the Grand Alaster without

passing through my hands . I congratulate you my brethren , upon the fact that this is the largest sum received by the Masons of Illinois from the Masons of any of the States .

To one subject further I must call your attention . The Committee appointed for the purpose have sent to all the Lodges a proposed Revised Constitution . Since it has been sent , it has been , partly by revision of the Committee of their own

motion , and partly on suggestion approved by them , amended . These amendments will be submitted , printed , to the Grand Lodge . I earnestly desire that this proposed Constitution be adopted as a whole , with as little change , and as

little discussion as need be . It . is my opinion , and that , I believe , of a majority ofthe Fraternity , that the proposed Constitution is substantially better than the existing one . If this be so , the most expedient plan for the Grand Lodge to

pursue is to riirst , adopt it without material change for at least two years until you can find out how it works . I feel it my duty , my brethren , to announce to you , that for many reasons , I must resign into

your disposal the gavel , which you have twice confided to my care . In doing so , I feel it my duty also to leave a few parting words of advice on the record , as I hope , for your guidance in a few short propositions .

1 . The prosperity and honor of the Fraternity cannot be maintained solely by Grand Masters or Grand Lodges ; it must be sustained by the temperate , upright , pure lives and conduct , in and out of the Lodge , of all the brethren . The

conduct of brethren in leaving the Lodge , or elsewhere , may do more injury to the Fraternity than any outward assault . 2 , In lodges , perhaps the two most potent evils are , the misuse of the black ball . In either

case , by ballot for an improper candidate , or blackballing a proper candidate , and in all cases where , a ballot is cast : with an unworthy motive , the lodge is defrauded hy the act , and the obligation of a mason violated . The second great

evil in the lodge is electioneering for office . Alasonic office , to be honourable to the holder or useful to the Craft , must come , unsought—certainly never intrigued for . 2 . In the election of officers , and especially of

Masters , there is a definite compact made . If the Alaster isjxiund by the charges of his office , the members are bound to love and respect him , and , above all things , to go to him with all their trrievances as the first and best counsellor .

4 . In the ( irand Lodge . 1 . Keep quiet and obey the gavel . 2 , When business is going on , don ' t expect to be allowed to go in and out . 3 . Don ' t debate on any question unless you understand both sides of it . 4 . Refer to the second rule for lodges as to election of officers .

And now , my brethren , with this last scold to the Craft , whom in their lodges , and perhaps elsewhere , I have often scolded before , I add that

in resigning my office , I shall not lose aught of my love for my brethren , aught of my interest in our noble Craft , or aught of willingness to labour in the cause of Masonry .

The Grand Alaster also , in his address , briefl y alluded to the death of the Grand Master of Saxony , intelligence of which was received too late for more extended remark . On motion the address was referred to a

special committee of three . Bro . James A . Austin then presented his report , showing that the number of Lodges which made returns , and paid dues for 1871 , was 631 . During the year , Bro . Austin tells us , there