to property, real and personal, and the insurance on the same, may be vested in the Grand Lodge, as Trustee, for the use and benefit of the subordinate. The Grand Lodge, being incorporated, can sue and be sued, and do all else that may be necessary to protect the legal rights of its subordinate without, in any way, endangering the intersts of Masonry.

In our last number we expressed the fear that this legislation had not been secured, but in this we were mistaken. Our mistake was owing to the fact that the amended act of incorporation of Grand Lodge was contained in volume 3 of the Session Acts, which, at the time of our writing, had not been published.

We congratulate the Craft on the successful inauguration of this plan in this Jurisdiction, and also on the fact that the Grand Lodge of Michigan is the first to devise a plan which protects, at once, the interests of Masonry and the property rights of Lodges.

The M. W. Grand Master reported the receipt, by himself and others, of $6615.87 contributed by the Craft, at home and abroad, for the relief of Brethren, in this Jurisdiction, who suffered from the late fires. Of this sum, $4602.15 was expended under direction of the Grand Master, leaving $2013.72 unexpended. To this unexpended balance the Grand Lodge voted to add a contribution of not more than $2000, the expenditure of which was entrusted to a special relief committee, of which M. W. P. G. M. Lovell Moore, of Grand Rapids, is chairman. The contribution of Grand Lodge would have been made larger, but for the fact that very many of the subordinate Lodges had already contributed liberally for this purpose. The heartfelt thanks of the Grand Lodge were unanimously voted to the Grand and subordinate Lodges and Brethren of other Grand Jurisdictions for their fraternal and liberal assistance to our needy Brethren in Michigan.

A committee on the revision of Grand Lodge constitution was appointed, whose work will be reported by circular to the Lodges during the coming autumn, so that final action on the revision can be taken by the next Grand Lodge. The committee to whom this important business was entrusted, consists of W. Bro. Dr. Foster Pratt, of Kalamazoo, chairman; R. W. H. M. Look, of Pontiac. and W. Bro. A. G. Hibbard, of Detroit. Such of the Craft as are acquainted with the high qualifications of the Brothers composing this committee need no assurance that their work will be well done.

The proposed amendment of the Grand Lodge constitution to require three black-balls to reject a candidate for membership, was lostlost by a nearly unanimous vote.

Several proposed amendments of the constitution were referred to the Committee on Revision.

For the decisions of the Grand Master, on questions of Masonic jurisprudence, we refer our readers to his very able address, (printed in this number,) with this remark-they were all sustained by the Grand Lodge.

The visit of Earl de Grey and Ripon, Grand Master of England to the United States, during the past summer, received the notice that a Masonic event, of such importance, demanded; proper action also being taken by Grand Lodge in response to the fraternal recognition by the Grand Lodge of England of the courtesies tendered by American Masons to the English Grand Master.

The M. W. Grand Master and R. W. Grand Orator of Ohio, visited the Grand Lodge, were received with the grand honors, and remained throughout the entire session.

We are proud to be able to say that the MICHIGAN FREEMASON was, by an almost unanimous vote, made the organ of the Grand Lodge, and the medium through which all the grand officers will communicate with the body of the Craft in this grand jurisdiction. For this favorable consideration we tender our heartfelt thanks to the officers and brethren composing the Grand Lodge, and pledge renewed zeal and untiring efforts to make our journal worthy to be the organ of the 20,000 Masons of Michigan.

Henry Chamberlain, of Three Oaks, was elected M. W. Grand Master, and Hugh McCurdy, of Corunna, R. W. D. G. M.

Our new Grand Master is too well known as a man and a Mason to need any introduction or recommendation. His administration of the Masonic affairs of this jurisdiction will be marked by prudence, wisdom and zeal. We are also glad to be able to say that he is ably seconded and assisted in all the subordinate stations.

In conclusion we repeat the remark of an old and intelligent Mason: "It was the most pleasant meeting of the Grand Lodge I ever attended."

ENDORSEMENT BY GRAND LODGE.

THE Grand Lodge, at its recent session at Detroit, gave THE MICHIGAN FREEMASON the following hearty endorsement :

To the M. W. G. M. of Grand Lodge of F. & A. M. of the State of Michigan:

Your Committee would respectfully report that they have had under consideration that portion of the Grand Master's address relat

ing to the subject of Masonic Literature, and concur in the wish expressed that there should be some ably conducted journal which should serve as well as an organ of this Grand Lodge, and as a means of intimate communication between the Grand Officers and the subordinate Lodges throughout the State.

"THE MICHIGAN FREEMASON has heretofore received the approval of this Grand Body, and your Committee would recommend it to the patronage of all Masons. We are assured that the publishers will use every effort to improve its character and make it a credit to the Fraternity.

The establishment of this journal was attended with difficulties which would by many have been regarded as insurmountable, and at present nothing but constant effort and personal sacrifice enables the enterprise to be carried forward. Such a support as the Fraternity in this jurisdiction can give such a journal, would enable the publishers to send out a publication that would be at once our credit and pride. We would urge upon our Brethren to give it a cordial support, and would recommend that the G. M. make it the organ of his public communications to the Craft.

This had a tendency to stir up the bad blood of James Billings & Co., the present managers of The Mystic Star, who resented the action of the Grand Lodge by printing the following scurrilous slip, pasting on the cover of their publication, and strewing the seats of the Opera Hall therewith:

TRUTH IS A CARDINAL PRINCIPLE IN MASONRY.

In the December issue of THE MICHIGAN FREEMASON, on page 288, it is asserted that: "it is the only Masonic Journal published in Michigan." The proprietors declare that "it is reliable, and should be in every Masonic family."

Now for the truth. The Mystic Star has been published in the city of Detroit since October last. And one of the proprietors of THE MICHIGAN FREEMASON was in our office and learned that fact. If falsehood" is reliable," and is what Masonic families need, we have nothing to say.

In the October number of THE MICHIGAN FREEMASON we find "A Caution to Michigan Freemasons." It called for a reply, and one

was sent; but the conductors of that journal have chosen to cover up their wanderings from the truth by silence.

The Mystic Star was purchased of Bro. Chaplin, when a large proportion of subscribers were in Michigan; and its claim is first, and not second, to the Brotherhood of Michigan; and it is hoped that they will be slow to believe all that jealousy prompts the proprietors of THE MICHIGAN FREEMASON to publish, until both sides are presented. In due time more light may be forthcoming for the candid consideration of the Michigan Fraternity.

This soon produced a feeling of the most profound indignation, and called out the following RESOLUTION OF CENSURE:

Resolved, That the slip attached to the December number of The Mystic Star is contumacious, and insulting the dignity of this Grand Lodge.

We here note a few facts which we can prove beyond dispute.

Ist. When the December number of THE MICHIGAN FREEMASON was issued, its publishers knew nothing whatever of The Mystic Star being printed in Detroit.

2d. No publisher of this Journal was ever in the office of The Mystic Star in Detroit, knowing that fact.

3d. The publishers of this Journal received a Caution to Michigan Freemasons, sent by the former publisher and proprietor of the Star to Bro. Ihling, with a request that it be printed, as an act of justice to him, and safety to Masons in this Jurisdiction. It was printed in the love of justice and truth.

4th. The publishers of this Journal have received nothing worthy the name reply to said Caution.

5th. When The Mystic Star was purchased of Bro. Chaplin, it had not a thousand subscribers, all told, and nearly all these were in Indiana and Illinois.

6th. When this Journal was started, James Billings was not the proprietor of the Star, having sold his interest therein to Rev. Gentlemen McLish & Hanna, of Chicago.

7th. Brother Chaplin never sold the State of Michigan to any one, nor did he ever pledge himself in any way not to revive The Ashlar, or start THE MICHIGAN FREEMASON. No such pledge was ever made or implied.

8th. The publishers of this Journal have too much regard for the cardinal principles nf Masonry to pen such false and slanderous paragraphs as those appended to The Mystic Star and rebuked by the Grand Lodge.

GRAND ENCAMPMENT U. S.

OFFICIAL ORDER No. 2.-Grand Encampment of Knights Templar, jer the United States of America.

SIR J. Q. A. FELLOWS, M... E... GRAND MASTER.- To all our Grand Officers, the Grand Commanders of our State Grand Commanieries, and the Commanders of Commanderies holding Charters immediately from our Grand Encampment-Greeting:

WHEREAS, At a stated meeting of our Grand Encampment, held at Baltimore, in the State of Maryland, on the 21st day of September. A. D. 1871, the following amendments to the constitution of the Grand Encampment having received the concurrence of three-fourths of the members present, were declared adopted, and proclaimed as a part of the constitution, and are now officially promulgated as in force for your government and the Sir Knights under your respective jurisdictions. Done at New Orleans, this 10th day of November, A. D. one thousand eight hundred and seventy-one.

SEAL.

BY THE GRAND MASTER. Attest my hand and the seal of our Grand Encampment, at Iowa City, Iowa, this 10th day of November, A. O. 753.

THEODORE SUTTON PARVIN,
Grand Recorder.

AMENDMENTS TO THE CONSTITUTION OF THE GRAND ENCAMPMENT.

I. To modify the second paragraph of Division 1, Section 5. Art. I. (specifying the duties of the Grand Master,) so as to read, after the word "following," thus:

Bearer, Grand Guard, to serve

"To appoint a Grand Prelate, Grand Standard Sword Bearer, Grand Warder, Grand Captain of the during the term of the office of the Grand Master making the ap pointment."

Adopted September 21, 1871.

II. Add to Sec. 1. Art. II. (of the Constitution of State Grand Commanderies) as paragraph third, following the word "members," in the eighth line, the following:

"The first nine of whom shall be elected by ballot, and the remaining four officers, tenth and thirteenth inclusive, shall be elected or appointed as the Grand Commandery may direct."

Adopted September 21, 1871.