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PROCEEDINGS
GRAND ANNUAL COMMUNICATION
^xmnl ^§n\^t d Wxx^hu,
BEGUN AND HELD IN THE MASONS' HALL,
CITY OF RICHMOND,
ON MONDAY, THE Urn DAY OF DECEMBER, A. L. 5864, A. D. 1864.
RICHMOND:
CHAS. H. WYNNE, PRINTER, 94 MAIN STREET,
1864.
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^7j.
PROCEEDINGS, &c.— 1864.
At a Grand Annual Communication of the 3Iost Worshipful
Grand Lodge of Virginia, begun and held at the Masons'
Hall, in the City of Richmond, on Monday, being the Vlth
day of December, A. L. 5861, A. D. 1864:
present;
M. Wor. Wm. H. Ilarman,
R. Wor. Jas. B. Dupuy,
" " Wm. Terry,
" " M. B. Carrington,
" Thos. U. Dudley,
" John Dove, -
" Wm. Flegenheimer,
" AVm. L. Maule, -
" Wm. E. Tanner, -
" Geo. W. Dame, -
" John Lester,
" Thomas Angel,
" Richard D. Sanxay,
Grand Master.
D\ G. Blaster, p. t.
G. Senior Warden.
Junior Warden, p. t.
Treasurer.
Secretary.
D. G. Secretary, p. t.
Senior Deacon.
Junior Deacon, p. t.
Chaplain.
Pursuivant.
Steward,
Tiler.
And the Representatives of the following Subordinate Lodges, to wit :
Lodge No. 3, Charles E. Stewart;
10, Wm. E. Tann6r, R. B. Snead, W. B. Collins;
11, Thos. U. Dudley, Jr., John M. Strother;
12, W. Lively, J. M. Burnside ;
13, Wm. H. Harman, T. E. Coleman, L. L. Stevenson ;
14, Wm. Bradley, Wm. Whitworth, Alex. Fitzgerald;
15, Jas. L. Cook ;
GRANB LODGE OF VIRGINIA.
Lodge No. 19
22
23
27
29
• 36
39
41
44
51
53
60
62
73
86
88
95
112
120
122
129
130
141
162
165
168
182
183
193
206
211
213
J. Latouche, N. S. Walker, A. B. Armstrong j
J. S. Douglass;
H. C. Stevens;
Gr. S. Christie;
Jas. L. Cook, C. E. Stewart;
J. E. Goode, Chas. Lumsden, Wm. M. Davis ;
H. Gray Latham, John H. Bayly, John 0. Taylor ;
H. Scruggs ;
J. F. Johnson ;
John P. Little, Geo. W. Brooks, E. G. Tompkins;
P. Trent, C. R. Bricken, J. A. iMahone;
Wm. Wertenbaker;
Geo. W. Spotts ;
W. E. iM. Word;
S. R. Slack ;
R. M. Brown;
J. H. Guggenheimer;
Elias Edmonds;
Jas. F. Johnson, F. Aunspaugh ;
Chas. W. Harvey ; /
G. T. Whitington ;
Geo. W. Dame;
S. M. Dickey;
Jos. J. English, Savage Smith, J. E. Riddick;
M. B. Carrington;
L. F. Johnson ;
John S. Draper;
T. J. Wooldridge, J. M. Taylor ;
Jas. M. Ferguson ;
J. B.T. Phelps;
L. F. AVoltz ;
E. Albright, C. J. Creekmur, Wm. M. Turner;
C. C. Wertenbaker, C. Pickett, A. Warwick;
W. E. Wiatt .
PAST GRAND MASTERS.
M. Wors. James Evans, No. 19 ; Sidney S. Baxter, No. 10 ; L. B.
Williams, No. 138; P. B. Starke, No. 7.
DISTRICT DEPUTY GRAND MASTERS.
Wors. John F. Regnault, No. 8; Wm. E. Wiatt, No. 7.
GRAND LODGE OP VIRGINIA.
PAST MASTERS.
Wors. R. 0. Haskins, No. 19 ; E. T. Blamire, No. 10; Jos. Carlton,
No. 10 ; Jas. A. Scott, No. 10 ; R. T. Reynolds, No. 19 ; William L.
Holt, No. 14; Wta. T. Allen, No. 19; Wm. R. Pugh, No. 11; Wm.
L. Maule, No. 10; I. Scriver, No. 10; Jas. B. Dupuy, No. 10; John
H. Dickerson, No. 130; J. H. Hackett, No. 10; G. A. Schwarzman,
No. 10; S. B. Jacobs, No. 11; W. E. Broadnax, No. 52; James L.
Kemper, No. 126; B. M. Harris, No. 19; R. E. Nelson, No. 68.
Brother Peyton Johnston, Representative of the Grand Lodge of
Ireland.
The Most Worshipful Grand Lodge was then opened in Ample
Form.
The M. W. James McCoUum, Grand Master of Tennessee, and
M. W. John Frizzcll, P. G. M. of Tennessee, were introduced
and saluted in Due Form.
The M. W. Levi L. Stevenson, P. G. M. of Virginia, and
F. B. Sexton, P. G. M. of Texas, were introduced and saluted
in Due Form.
MOST WORSHIPFUL GRAND MASTER S ADDRESS.
The Most Worshipful Grand Master delivered the following
truly Masonic Address, which was referred to a Committee, con-
sisting of Most Wors. James Evans, L. B. Williams and P. B.
Starke.
My Brethren:
In the providence of God we are again permitted to assemble in
Grand Annual Communication. Whilst this is so, and we are "drop-
ping the sympathetic tear" over the memory of the many beloved of
our household who have fallen since our last meeting gallantly defend-
ing the rights of our country and a common humanity, we cannot but
be deeply sensible of the fact — when we listen to the " deep-mouthed
baying of the cannon " — yet others whom we love and cherish are at
this moment pouring out their blood in defence of our liberties and this
the Capital of our nation. These martyrs need no eulogy 1 1 can only
6 GRAND LODGE OF VIRGINIA.
exhort you to profit by their example, and, if need be, follow in their
footsteps.
When this terrible war was inaugurated against us by those who had
theretofore professed to be our political friends and brethren, the
most sanguine of us anticipated of the mass of our enemies otif^ the
usages of civilized nations when at war ; from those whom we had
recognized as brethren, bound together by the " Mystic tie," we had a
right to expect the amenities which in time of war had always been
practiced eveh by savage Masons. Our expectation has not been
realized. So far as I am informed, with the rarest exceptions, the com-
monest dictates of humanity have been disregarded by Masons in the
Federal army, navy and country, towards our unfortunate brethren who
have been their prisoners of war. My opinion as to the course to be
adopted by Virginia towards Grand Lodges and Masons of the United
States is well known. I content myself now with inviting the careful
consideration of the Grand Lodge to a re-examination of this subject,
which will be brought to your attention in the report of your Grand
Committee.
A subject of moft vital importance to the Craft is the loose manner
in which Masons are made in the subordinate Lodges. To guard well
" the portal " has been repeatedly enjoined by my distinguished prede-
cessors, and required by the Grand Lodge. We cannot lose sight of
the fact that our number is being alarmingly increased. Where bo
much work is done, I cannot forbear the expression of the fear that
much is badly done. The Grand Lodge carefully revised the work —
committed it to the custody of its most enlightened members and the
Grand Lecturer — yet we find, at a time when little or no instruction is
asked or given, more work is being done in the Lodges which are
actually at work than ever before in our history.
I earnestly invoke the attention of the Grand Lodge to this matter, and
in connection with it, to the permanent regulation upon the subject of
" Emergency," which I suggest shall be re-modeled and so simplified as
to bring it within the apprehension of all Masons in the jurisdiction.
There is an apparent inconsistency between the report of the Committee
as adopted and the resolution making the Grand Master "sole judge"
of cases in which the dispensation shall be granted. My judgment is,
the report of the Committee was wisely conceived, and its adoption a
proper restriction upon the power of the Grand Master; but so numerous
have been the applications from subordinate Lodges for the exercise of
this power — uniformly predicated upon a vote of being *'a case of
emergency" — that I take it for granted mine can scarcely be the
accepted opinion of the Craft.
I have felt it my imperative duty to decline granting the dispensation
GRAND LODGE OF. VIRGINIA. 7
in very many of these supposed cases of emergency. I trust the Grand
Lodge will settle the matter in such manner as to relieve my successors
from the embarrassment 1 have felt in the exercise of this " power above
the Constitution."
Several applications have been made to me during the year for dis-
pensations for military travelling Lodges, which, whilst entertaining and
expressing the warmest Masonic regard for the applicants, I felt con-
strained to refuse. I have always doubted the propriety of such
Lodge;?, both from my experience and observation. No one can feel a
deeper interest in our citizen soldiery, or the sacred cause in which they
are engaged, than I do; but I cannot shut my eyes to the fact, that
there is too little opportunity to secure the necessary appliances for
workiny well in the field. I do not say our Brethren in the army
should be denied any reasonaiZe-privilege ; on the contrary, I would go
very far in according to them any reasonable gratification ; but from
what I can learn from many of the most intelligent of their number, I
can but think that fourteen of these Lodges should fully answer all the
demands which they themselves would, upon due consideration, make.
Another subject connected somewhat with the last is the proper inter-
pretation of the regulation in regard to the physical capacity of a can-
didate for Masonry. Many of our best young men have been maimed
in the war, and I have been constantly applied to for dispensations and
advice in reference to such applicants. I have uniformly replied that
under the Constitution and regulations of the Grand Lodge this is a
subject for the action of the subordinate Lodge ; butjthat my opinion,
or rather conviction, was that no person could be made a Mason who
from physical defect was unable to conform to our ritual. I beg to call
your attention to this matter, as one of general interest to the Frater-
nity, and which, in the existing circumstances of our country, may
perhaps require legislation.
I respectfully suggest that a Committee of the Grand Lodge be
appointed to consider the propriety of increasing the contributions of
subordinate Lodges to the Grand Lodge, and to increase the pay of the
salaried ofiicers of the Grand Lodge. In the present condition of the
currency of the country, the justice of this increase strikes me as so
manifest that I forbear from consuming your time by any discussion
of it.
Owing to the fact that most of my Masonic correspondence and papers
have been destroyed or carried oif by the public enemy, I am compelled
to refer you to the Minutes of the Grand Secretary for transactions
during recess.
GRAND LODGE OF VIRGINIA.
REPORT OF COMMITTEE UNDER RESOLUTIONS OF 1862.
The M. "Wor. Sidney S. Baxter, Chairman of the Committee
under Resolutions of 1862, made the following Report, which was
received and adopted : •
To the M. TF. Grand LoJje of Virginia:
Referring to the previous action of this Grand Lodge, and the pre-
vious reports of this Committee, and to the resolutions of this Grand
Lodge, for all the history of our past action in relation to the Masonic
bodies, and to the Masons of the United States, the Committee report :
Since their last Report, the Committee have come into the possession
of the Proceedings of the Grand Lodge of New York at its Grand
Annual Communications in June, 18G3, and in June, 1864; of the
Grand Lodge of Maryland at its Annual Communication in November,
1863; and of the Grand Lodge of Wisconsin at its Grand Annual
Communication in June, 1864.
These Proceedings furnish proper Masonic evidence of the action of
these Grand Lodges; and the extracts made by Committees of Corres-
pondence from the proceedings of other Grand Lodges, furnish evidence
of the spirit _and action of the Grand Lodges from whose proceedings
these extracts are made. From these sources of information, we are
prepared to recommend action which we believe this Grand Lodge is
bound, in justice to itself, and to the Masons under its care, to take at
the present time.
These proceedings and extracts show, that in many, if not all the
Grand Lodges of the United States, we are stigmatized as traitors and
rebels; and by the authority of Masonic bodies. Masons, as Masons,
are urged to invade our country and destroy us ; and reproaches and
insults are heaped upon us. We therefore believe it is our duty to
place on our records a vindication of our position, and the position of
our country in the present conflict between the Confederate States and
the United States.
We know that Masonry and politics are entirely separate from each
other; but when our enemies, as Masons, misrepresent our position,
bring false charges against us, and apply to us terms of insult and re-
proach— terms intended by their very falshood to gloss over and justify
the usurpation and oppression they are attempting to practice on us, it
becomes our solemn duty to vindicate our characters as men, and the
character of our country, and this vindication may properly be spread
on our Masonic Records ; for we do not understand that sort of Masonry
by which a man may be a good Mason and a dishonest man — i. e. a
GRAND LODGE OF VIRGINIA. 9
traitor and a rebel who deserves extermination : nor do we understand
the sort of Masonry which makes Masons desire fraternal intercourse
with traitors and rebels.
We regret our inability to present this vindication in a manner wor-
thy of the subject and the occasion; but we will submit our views, in
the hope they will meet the favor of the Grand Lodge.
We believe if all human governments which ever existed over men
on this earth were analyzed, they would be found to rest on one of two
principles :
1st. Coercion of the people governed, without regard to their consent
or wishes.
2d. Consent of the people governed.
1st. The first of these principles is despotism. As a foundation of
government, it has been repudiated in America since the Revolution of
1776, Our fathers fondly hoped that by the treaty of peace of the
22d April, 1783, they had finally established the American doctrine
that all government for them and their posterity must rest on the con-
eeot of the governed ; and this continued to be recognised as our funda-
mental principle of government until our enemies undertook, by the
present war, to establish by coercion a government over us j to which
we not only refuse our consent, but for which we have the strongest
feeling of loathing and detestation.
2d. The second principle, viz: consent of the people governed, when
qualified by proper constitutional restrictions, becomes a limited Mon-
archy or a Constitutional Republic.
When the constitutional restrictions are wise, and the government ig
honestly administered within them, such a government confers a greater
degree of happiness on its people, and developes a greater amount of
strength, than any other form of government.
But if there are no constitutional restrictions, or if the government
is dishonestly administered, without regard to those restrictions, it be-
comes one of the most oppressive tyrannies on earth. It becomes a
government of factious demagogues who, by some delusive but popular
cry, obtain power, inflame the passions of the people, administer the
government to promote their own ambitious ends, and crush every con-
stitutional right, and every man of integrity who differs from them;
or it may become a wild anarchy, in which the fiat of an irresponsible
popular majority is the only power, and which sweeps away, by every
storm of popular passion, every right, no matter how ancient or how
'sacred.
It was a government founded on the consent of the people of each
State, restrained by wise constitutional provisions, and honestly admin-
istered within those provisions, our ancestors endeavored to establish,
10 GRAND LODGE OF VIRGINIA.
and for such a government we are now contending. This, we think,
will be apparent from a few brief statements.
Our ancestors, by the treaty of peace of 1783, established for them-
selves and their posterity the great principle that all government must
be founded on the consent of the people of each State. That treaty
recognised by name each State as a sovereign and independent State."
At that epoch, the States were united by Articles of Confederation
which committed the management of foreign aflPairs to a Congress
chosen by the State Legislatures. These Articles continued in force
until 1789, when a Constitution was formed by a convention, the mem-
bers of which were chosen by each State; and this Constitution was
Bubmittcd in each State to a sovereign convention elected by the people
of that State. The conventions adopted the new Constitution, and
thereby abolished the old Articles of Confederation.
Clearly, that Government was founded on the consent of the people
of each State, and guarded by such constitutional restrictions as it was
supposed would insure its honest and fair administration within those
restrictions; and as this form of government was adopted and put in
operation within seven years of the date of the treaty of peace
•which established the great principle that all governments must be
founded on the consent of the people of each State, it is not to be pre-
sumed that its fraraers intended to renounce that principle cither for
themselves or their posterity. There is no such renunciation in the
Constitution, and a fair construction of that instrument shows none was
intended.
Let us examine this instrument. We remark first —
By adopting this Constitution, our ancestors ventured on an experi-
ment in government. They attempted to divide the powers of govern-
ment between two different classes of agents, but both deriving their
powers from the people of each State acting separately as States.
I. To the United States they assigned the management of fore'gn
intercourse, both for war and peace, including the regulation of foreign
commerce and some domestic subjects which it was supposed could be
put under general and uniform regulations, such as coining money, fix-
ing the standard of weights and measures, regulating commerce with
the Indian tribes and among the States, carrying the mails, establishing
uniform laws of naturalization and bankruptcy, and granting patents
for useful inventions.
This government was confessedly one of limited powers. The pow-
ers granted to it were all enumerated; and the legislative power of
Congress was limited to the passage of such laws as were necessary to
carry into execution the granted powers. As the legislative power is
co-extensive with all the other powers of the government, this limitation
aRAND LODGE OF VIRGINIA. 11
restrained the powers of all the other departments of the government
to the grants of the Constitution. Under this restriction, the laws of
the United States and the acts of the government were limited to the
subjects enumerated in the Constitution.
The government operated directly on the property and persons of the
people, but only as incidental to the powers granted, and to carry them
into effect.
II. Let us now see what remained to each State. \
All the objects of human government class themselves under three
heads, and are embraced in them :
1. Lands, estates, and interests in lands, and all contracts relating to
them.
2. Personal property, and all rights, obligations and contracts relat-
ing to it.
3. Persons, personal rights, and all laws and contracts relating to
them, including our social and civil rights.
These three classes embrace the great mass of human rights and hu-
man legislation ; and over them the power of each State is and has
always been sovereign and supreme. This is established by the con-
Btant exercise of this sovereignty by each State, its recognition by the
other States, and by the United States Government.
The importance of this subject must he our excuse for more detailed
statements.
1. Lands, &c. That the entire sovereignty over lands in the territo-
rial limits of each State is vested in that State, is proved by its constant
exercise.
All laws creating and regulating estates in lands, the titles to those
estates, the modes of conveyance among the living, or passing by in-
heritance or devise from the dead ; all laws regulating liens, mortgages
and registrations, are passed by the States in which the lands are situ-
ated ; all questions affecting interests in lands are settled by the supreme
power of the State in which they are situated.
When questions as to lands are drawn to the decision of the courts,
they are usually acted on in the State courts. If the courts of the
United States obtain jurisdiction from the non-residence of the parties,
or other cause, they always follow the decisions of the State courts; or
in other words, carry the State laws into effect.
The United States can, in the exercise of its government, interfere
with lands only incidentally to its granted powers. The only case in
which she can acquire direct sovereignty or jurisdiction over lands, is
where, under the Constitution, and by the consent of the State, lands
are purchased for forts, dock-yards, &c., and the sovereignty of the
State over such purchase is actually ceded by her.
12 GRAND LODGE OF VIRGINIA.
This doctrine is unquestioned as to the old thirteen States. Some
questions have been raised as to the new States created out of the public
lands; but all these questions have been settled in favor of the sove-
reignty of the States by repeated decisions. We will cite only one of
them. In the case of Pollard vs. Haijan, 3 Howard 212, the Supreme
Court of the United States decided —
"That the United States never held .iny municipnl sovereignty, jurisdiction,
or right of soil in and to the territory of which Alabama or any of the
new States were formed, except for temporary purposes, and to execute the
trusts created by the acts of the Virginia and Georgia Legislatures, and the
deeds of cession executed by them to the United States, and the trust created by
the treaty of the 30th April, 1803, with the French Republic ceding Louisiana."
It was decided that, when the State was admitted into the Union, the
right of eminent domain passed to the State. And it has been repeat-
edly and firmly settled that, when the United States executed the trust
for which she held the public lands, and sold any part of those lands,
the lands so sold were held by the purchaser under the laws of the
State as fully as lands were held in the old thirteen States.
The same doctrines are settled as to lands ceded by the Florida
treaty.
2. Personal property, rights in it and contracts relating to it.
By the uniform practice of all the States, full sovereignty exists in
each State over personal property and contracts relating to it within the
State.
The State decides what subjects may be personal property, and the
mode of its transmission by delivery, gift, bill of sale, deed — by will
or statute of distributions. It grants probate of wills, administrations,
regulates the powers and ^uties of executors, administrators, guardians,
trustees, &c. All trusts, mortgages, pledges ; all loans and gifts ; all
questions as to bon^s, bills of exchange, notes, &c. ; all questions of
usury, interest, borrowing or lending, are regulated by its laws. The
only exceptions to this sovereignty are in the right of the United
States to pass uniform laws of bankruptcy, and as incident to its power
to regulate foreign commerce and the coasting trade, to pass laws in
reference to the titles of vessels, and to regulate vessels in the exercise
of its admiralty and maritime jurisdiction. In all other respects, the
United States can touch personal property only incidentally in the ex-
ercise of the limited powers granted to them.
3. Sovereignty over the persons and personal rights of the people is
vested in, and has uniformly been exercised by each State in its territo-
rial limits.
The State sovereignty alone can punish murder, arson, robbery, rape,
GRAND LODGE OF VIRGINIA. l8
assaults, and generally all crimes against persons and property in its
territory. It alone can define and punish crime. Each State in its
own territory has the sole power to re«rulate the relations of husband
and wife, parent and child, master and servant — to sanction marriages,
grant divorces, and to regulate all the social and civil rights of the
people in its territory.
Supreme sovereign power over the persons and personal rights of all
persons within the territorial limits, is vested in each State, with the
following exceptions :
1. If a citizen enters the army or navy of the United States, he be-
comes subject to the articles of war, and may be punished for oflFences
against those articles by the authorities of the United States.
2. Offences against other laws passed to carry into execution the
powers granted to the United States may be punished by that govern-
ment— such, for example, as robbing the mails, counterfeiting her
coin, &c.
3. Treason committed against that government by persons owing
allegiance to it may be punished by its authority.
From this it is manifest that sovereignty over all the vast and multifa-
rious concerns of life is vested in the States; and the only exceptions
are in the power of the U. States government to interfere with persons
and property in some limited cases, and as incidental to the powers
granted in the Constitution. It is also manifest that the powers granted
to the United States were to enable them to use the common means of
the States to protect them from invasions or aggressions of foreign
powers, and on some few specified domestic subjects to establish uni-
form rules of action.
The powers granted to the United States are therefore secondary in
their character, and subordinate to the States they were designed to
protect.
III. The third remark we make is that on all these subjects the sove-
reignty of each State is exclusive.
No State has a right to pass any law, or do any act, affecting lands,
personal property or persons in any other State of the United States.
No State can grant divorces, solemnize marriage, or change the relations
of parent and child, master or servant, in any other State, for the power
of each State over all these things is exclusive within its own territory.
From thi4 exclusive power, it follows that every State, as to all of these
powers, is foreign to every other State. In all respects each State is
as fully exempted from the legislative, executive, or judicial action of
every other State, as it is from similar interference from Great Britain
or any other European State.
14 GRAND LODGE OF VIRGINIA:
IV. The tenth article in amendment of the Constitution of the
United States, declares —
"The powers not delegated to the United States by the Constitution, or pro-
hibited bj it to the States, are reserved to the States respectively, or the people."
It is obvious that this reservation i-? to the people rif each State ; be-
cause a reservation 0/ a right is a retention of that right by the former
owner J and as the right of sovereignty over lands, persons and property
was vested in the people of that Slate, this reservation continues it to
them ; and consistently with this reservation, exclusive sovereignty has
been continuously exercised by the people of each State over their owa
State, separate from, independent of, and foreign to every other State.
The doctrine of those who would consolidate the Union and deny
State rights is, that the powers reserved by this article were reserved
to the people of the whole Union. This construction does violence to
the terms of the article. It converts a reservation into a grant. It is
absurd. It cannot be conceived that within seven years after the ter-
mination of a war which established the principle that the foundation
of government over each State was the consent of the people of that
State, and that each State, in its domestic sovereignty, was foreign to
every other State — the men who had periled their all to establish this
principle, should grant away the separate sovereignty of each State to
the whole people of the United States, and should make that grant
in terms which, by literal construction, reserved that sovereignty to the
State as it formerly existed : and furtheimore, it is absurd, that if they
had done this, the exercise of the sovereignty of each State should have
con,tinued without question or doubt for seventy years.
But among the rights of the people of each State, was the right to
give or withhold their consent to any government attempted to be set
up or continued over them. This right was not granted to the United
Slates, or prohibited to the people of each State. It was therefore re-
served to them with all their other rights of sovereignty.
V. The powers granted to the United States were granted to protect
the great mass of rights vested in each of the States from foreign ag-
gression, and to regulate some few matters of common interest They
were therefore subservient and subordinate to the great mass of social,
civil and property rights vested in the States.
But from the necessities of government, the powers which would
accumulate ia the hands of the United States were immengp; and if
those powers should be corruptly used, and by concerted action with a
portion of the States perverted to the oppression of other of the States?
a conflict must arise between the corrupt United States government and
the States acting with it, and the States sought to be oppressed; for it
GRAND LODQB OF VIRGINIA. 15
18 the duty of the State attempted to be oppressed to preserve from the
lawless action of the government of the United States, and the States
acting with it, the immense mass of social, civil and property rights
confided to it.
This is precisely the conflict which has arisen between the United
States and the Confederate States. The gradual encroachments of the
United States on the sovereignty of the States; the constant interfer-
ence with the domestic institutions of some of these States by other
States and by the United States ; the persevering efforts by class legis-
lation to make the agricultural mere tributaries to the manufacturing
and commercial States; the unceasing efforts to consolidate the Union,
viz: to set aside all constitutional restrictions on the government of the
United States; the manifest design to reduce all power to i\iQ fiat of a
popular majority; the formation of a great sectional party to accom-
plish these objects ; the inflammation of the passions of the people of the
greater part of the United States against some of the States of the
Union ; — these things made it the duty of the States now composing
the Confederate States to withdraw from the United States.
VI. In so doing, they violated no provision of the Constitution of
the United States ; for there is no provision forbidding a State to with-
draw from the Union. The State of Virginia, when she entered the
Union, expressly reserved the right to withdraw at her pleasure. As
she entered on equal terms with every other State, this must have been
considered the right of every other State.
There is no provision of the Constitution forbidding a State to with-
draw from the Union. The reasoning which would deny this right to
a State, is founded on the assumption that the government of the
United States exists over each State without the consent of its people —
t. e., it is a despotism.
We have shown this government was laid on the foundation of the
consent of the people of each State; and it cannot be replied that our
ancestors in 1789 made a compact by which they attempted to take from
their posterity the benefit of this great principle — for no such compact
existed — and the reasoning which attempts to set it up, is founded on
the hypothesis that men who resisted the government that had thereto-
fore existed over their fathers, because they, the posterity, withdrew
their consent to the continuance of that.government over them, intended
to deprive their posterity of rights they themselves exercised and called
inalienable and sacred. Such reasoning rejects consent as the founda-
tion of government, and places it on coercion. It disregards all con-
stitutional restrictions, and finds its pabulum in the proud and avaricious
desire to set up a groat government which will extend its power to the
ends of the earth, and enable the merchant and the manufacturer of
16 GRAND LODGE OF VIRGINIA.
the North to make money out of all "natioijs, kindreds and tonpiues ;"
and this money to be made by so regulatiug commerce with the States,
that the agricultural States may be made tributary to the commercial
and manufacturing States. From such a Union we believe it was the
solemn duty of our State to withdraw; and since her withdrawal we
have abundant evidence that we were right.
It is impossible to believe the savage and barbarous warfare waged
on us — the desolation of farms, driving families that had been affluent
from their homes without shelter, raiment or food; the destruction of
furniture and raiment, even to the garments of the new-born babe ; the
destruction of agricultural implements and mills; burning towns, bom-
bardment of cities; the outrages practised on feeble old men and help-
less females — it is impossible to believe that these things spring from
any recent feeling. We find in them evidence that feelings of rancor-
ous hatred and malice have long been cherished against us in the
Northern States. It is true, that before this war, men of the North,
who desired office at our hands, or who desired lucrative trade with us,
have approached us with professions of brotherly love and affection, and
have assured us that the hatred and malice of which we complained
were confined to a small fanatical party, and were reprobated by the
great mass of the community. But we have seen this fanatical party
exalted to the chief power of the governments, both Federal and State,
and exalted because of this very hatred to us. We have seen men who
were the loudest in their professions of attachment to us, coalescing
with this fanatical party, placed among its leaders, and are now seeking
our blood with all the avidity of tigers. We have seen the whole popu-
lation of the North gloating with fiendish exultation over the accounts
of barbarities inflicted on us, and rejoicing in the hope that our people
were doomed to extermination by the lingering horrors of famine and
starvation. With such a people we can never again unite in any gov-
ernment, and although our sufferings may be great, yet we rejoice we
are separated from them.
VII. In withdrawing from the United States we have violated no
allegiance.
We have always been taught that allegiance is due to a government
for the protection it afforded the persons, families, rights and property
of the citizens — that allegiance and protection are reciprocal.
To our State government we have always looked for the protection
of our persons, families, property and rights as citizens, and to it, in
the highest sense, our allegiance is due. It is true the United States
government was once entrusted With limited powers, given to protect us
against foreign enemies, and to regulate our commerce with foreign
friends; and as long as it performed those duties honestly, its powers
GRAND LODGE OF VIRGINIA. 17
were permitted to remain. But when it attempted fraudulently to use
them for our destruction, they were withdrawn by the sovereign action
of our State. It is no ^nger our government. We owe it no
allegiance, and all persons^wing it allegiance are to us foreigners and
aliens, and during this war must be alien enemies.
VIII. In withdrawing from the United States we have violated no
duty as Masons.
The Constitutions of Masonry teach us,
" Whoever will be a true I\Iason is further to know, by the rules of his art, his
allegiance as a subject and citizen will not be relaxed, but enforced. He is to
be a lover of quiet, peaceable and obedient to the civil powers which yield him pro-
tection and are set over him where he resides or works, so far as there is no infringe-
ment of the limited bounds of reason and religion."
This duty as Masons we honestly perform by adhering to the
sovereign power of our own State. It is under our State government
we hold all our rights as husbands, fathers, and owners of property. *It
is by its benign laws that the purity, honor and fair character of our
families are preserved. It is by its laws all our afiairs with our neigh-
bors are regulated and the rewards of our industry secured. It is under
it we reside and work.
The United States government has infringed the bounds of religion
and reason by attempting to set over us an usurped and tyrannical
despotism. IMasonry does not require us to yield allegiance to usurpers
and tyrants.
We think it behooves us to put this vindication of ourselves as
men and citizens on our records and permit it to go down to our suc-
cessors. For while Masonry has nothing to do with war or politics,
the vindication of our characters as honest men and good citizens is
dear to us, and we feel we are doing justice to Masonry in preserving
our fair fame from men who have borrowed the garb of Masonry to
make the assault.
Leaving this defence, we proceed to the proper Masonic enquiries.
In entering on these we discriminate between Masonry and the
organizations which regulate its government and utter its teachings.
Masonry itself is a universal brotherhood of good men of every clime
and nation, associated for objects of benevolence, charity, relief to the
worthy, and the promotion of the peace, purity and the happiness of
mankind. Men having its secrets, conforming to its obligations, and
worthily practising its precepts, are to be received as brethren from
every part of the earth.
But the organized bodies having charge of its government and teach-
ings are not an essential part of Masonry. They aiie as distinct from it
2
18 GRAND LODGE OF VIRGINIA.
as the preachers and hierarchy of a church are from the pure and holy
t religion of Christ. The hierarchy may become corrupt, they may per-
vert their powers and teachings so as to becon^ preachers of unrighteous-
ness and of war and rapine. They may mal^their church organizations
the supporters of political wickedness in high places, and impel their
followers to all the atrocities of* unjust war. They may, by their cor-
rupt teachings, render themselves unworthy to be called ministers of
religion. But the disgrace and reproach is their own, and ought not
to be imputed to religion. Indeed, the true followers of religion ought
to be more attached to it and labor harder to preserve it from per-
version.
This illustration will properly apply to Masonry. The Lodges and
Grand Lodges charged with its government and its teachings may
become corrupt and try to pervert its organized powers from the pure
and peaceful ends of the Institution to unmasonic and improper pur-
poses, and thereby render themselves unworthy depositaries of its power
and teachings; but this should not cause us to value Masonry the less,
or deprive a truly worthy brother of its indefeasible benefits.
We are forced, by the information we have before us, to the conclu-
sion, that the Masonic bodies at the North, to carry on this ruthless and
savage war waged against us, are making their organizations instru-
ments to support the usurped power of the present administration of
the United States government.
We pass without comment the charges of treason and rebellion, " so-
called seceding States," and other terms of reproach in thes^ publica-
tions, though we must regard them as manifesting that the Masons of
the United States are deficient in brotherly love and respect.
We call attention to the following particulars :
1. In the address of Grand Master Crane to the Grand Annual Com-
■ munication of New York in June 1863, in page 16, is the following
sentence :
" Finding, on several occasions when presentations were made by Lodges and
members of Lodges to individual Masons belonging to the army, of sJwords,
sashes and other implements used in the prosecution of the war, language had
been used which was eminently calculated to weaken those Masonic bonds
throughout tlie whole of theee States, and which it is our duty more than ever
to strengthen, I issued a circular note to all the Lodges, that on such and all
other like occasions their members should refrain from pursuing a like course
•when congregated as Masons, which request, I believe, has generally been
respected.''
Now this is a clear confession that the Masonic bodies of New York
are making themselves parties to this war. They are furnishing imple-
ments to be ased in Ihe prosecution of the war to men in the army^ are
GRAND LODGE OP VIRGINIA. 19
holding Masonic meetings, and inflaming not only popular passions, but
the passions of Masons against us.
From his address we infer the Grand Master approves the substance
of the thing. He makes no objection to the thing itself, but recom-
mends mild language. He tithes the mint, annise and cummin, and
neglects the weightier matters of the law.
2. The second thing to which we draw attention is the teaching that
Masonry has politics, which make it the duty of Masons to engage in
the war, coupled with exhortations to tJ»n to enlist in it. As a speci-
men of these teachings, we refer to the address of G. M. Drummond to
the Grand Lodge of Maine. This particular part of the address is
found in the Transactions of the Grand Lodge of New York, Jan. 1863,
from page 5U to 58.
We cannot take time or spare space to spread the whole of this
extract on the Minutes; so much as discusses Masonic duty directly
will be extracted.
The G. M. commences this part of his address by assigning his rea-
sons for rejecting a proposition to unite in a Masonic convention in
reference to the war. He declares that as Masons we have peculiar
duties in the war, and to ascertain those we must look to the circum-
stances in which we are placed. To ascertain the circumstances in
which we are placed he gives his view of the settlement of America
and the Revolutionary war. He says of the men, (of the Revolutionary
war,) " Rejecting the doctrine of the divine rights of kings, they
announced as the corner-stone of their government the equality of
man." He says in eighty years the United States became a mighty
nation, extending from the Lakes to the Gulf, and our flag was known
and honored throughout the world.
We pause here to say that in these views of Grand Master Drum-
mond we have the key to the motives of the people of the United
States in this contest. They ignore all constitutional provisions, assume
that the United States government was founded on the natural equality
of man, that it is a great nation, and their pride and. interest in its
power actuate them in waging this war against us.
Rut we resume. The G. M. proceeds to say that amid this prosperity
the thunderbolt of civil war was launched from the Southern sky — a
portion of the citizens appealed from the ballot box to the bayonet.
(We consider this a misrepresentation of history.) He says : " On
one side they are seeking to overthrow the government and establish
one for themselves; on the other, to sustain the government and main-
tain the Union in its integrity." " The power of men to govern them-
selves is the question." It is to be determined whether a government
of *' the people can be sustained."
20 * GRAND LODGE OF VIRGINIA.
We must express our surprise that the M. W. G. M. did not perceive
that when we wished to establish a government for ourselves we only
exercised our right of self-government; that in sustaining the gov-
ernment of the Union, (i. e.) of the Northern States, ho was violating
our right of self-government, and denying the natural equality of man.
When he speaks of maintaining the Union in its integrity he must
mean in its territorial entirety, and not in the sacred regard for the
Constitution which constitutes its integrity, and he must know it is the
Northern States who deny the i^ht of the people to govern themselves.
With this comment we pass the political disquisition which the M.
W. G. Master introduced to establish the duty of Masons.
He then says, " in this most momentous crisis our duty as Masons is
not uncertain :"
" By the ancient charges a Mason is bound to be a peaceable citizen, nnd not
to be engaged in plots and conspiracies against the peace and welfare of the
nation.
•'Says an old Masonic law: 'But if it ever so happen that a brother should
be a rebel against the State, he is not to be countenanced in hjs rebellion, how-
ever he may bo pitied as an unhappy man.'
" Twelve years ago a distinguished Mason, in an address before the Grand
Lodge of Tennessee, used this language : ' Free Masonry demands from all her
children obedience to the civil authority and subjection to the powers that be.
No man is a good Mason who is not a patriot as well as a philanthropist in
principle as well as practice.'
" Our own Dunlap has said : ' The true Free Mason must be a true patriot,'
and he asked, ' Is not our cause and its success in achieving the object for which
it was instituted identical with that of our common country?' 'Is it not the
primary and fundamental object of our Institution to propagate those everlast-
ing principles of truth and morality which lie at the foundation of our nation-
ality, and form the great under-current in the tide of our national progress?'
"Another writer says : ' Masonry lias her politics, but not the politics of a
party or country. Her political creed maintains the natural equality of man-
kind, admits of no ranks except the precedence due to merit, sanctions no aris-
tocracy except tlie unobtrusive nobility of virtue.'
" This characteristic of Masonry accounts for the genial soil, for her growth
and expansion, this country has afl'orded. On the other hand. Masonry by
its teaching and practice has been a pillar of support to the government. Free
institutions and Masonry are mutually beneficial to each other. Masonry sup-
ports the government, and the government supports Masanry. Said Lafayette:
•The Masonic institution in the United States affords an important pillar of
support and union to its free institutions and its happy form of government.'
"Our duties then are plain : we must sustain the government as the very ark
of the covenant. Though brothers be arrayed in arms against us, we must,
nevertheless, do our duty. We may pity the unhappy condition of those, of our
Order who may be numbered in the ranks of the rebellion, but we cannot stay
our hands in the support of the government."
He then alludes to the duties of charity ; says he is glad to know
GRAND LODGE OF VIRGINIA. 21
there are some among the misguided Southern brethren who have not
forgotten all their Masonic duties; states the conduct of M. Wor. J.
Q. A. Fellows; says there are Masons from Maine (not in prison) in
New Orleans, who, he hopes, will not fail to repay Grand Master Fel-
lows, and then says :
«' Let Masonry have its perfect work at home and in the field ; but let us rally
to the support of that flag beneath whose folds our Institution has so long
reposed, and let us find in its stars an emblem of the starry canopy above.
"Our fathers' blond lias hallowrd it, 'tis part of their renown.
And palsied be the caitiff hand would pluck its glories down."
He then speculates about Masonry cementing the Union when peace
returns.
We have extracted the argument of Worshipful Grand Master Drum-
mond on the duty of ^Masons in this war. We propose to make a few
remarks on the argument, as we believe it is a fair specimen of the
Masonic teaching of the North, and we think it heresy. We believe
Masonry has maintained its high position in the world by separating
the man as a Mason from the man as a subject or citizen, holding him
by its obligation, to perform his duty as a Mason, and leaving him to
perform his duty as a subject or citizen according to his conscience.
We believe Masonry teaches universal benevolence and a fraternal
brotherhood of its members of every nation. ^Masonry inculcates peace,
charity and good will among all people, more especially among its own
brotherhood.
That the teaching of this address does violate the character of
Masonry and attempt to make Masonry an instrumentality in support-
ing the present war of the United States against us, and docs attempt
to pervert Masonry and Masonic duty into a political and warlike duty,
is apparent by its careful consideration.
The teacher gives an unfair and perverted statement of the princi-
ples on which the government of the United States was founded and
of the course of the Southern States in this conflict. This is obviously
done to cover the South with odium and prepare his readers for the
unfair and disingenuous argument he makes on Masonic duty.
He states, "The duties of Masons in this conflict are not uncertain."
He quotes two passages from an ancient charge.
Now we hold the ancient charges of the York Masons in the highest
reverence, and the very charge from which we believe these extracts
are taken, is, with some slight variations in phraseology, the charge
published by our Grand Lodge for the government of its Ma.sons.
But we think it uncondid and unfair to pick out of this charge particu-
lar phrases to countenance the two unfounded assumption.s he makes,
viz : that Masonry considers the United States a nation, and condemns
22 GRAND LODGE OF VIRGINIA.
the act of the people of one or more of the States for withdrawing their
consent to the continuance of its government over them as a violation of
Masonic duty by plotting against its peace and welfare ; and secondly, that
the United States is a State, and the people who withdrew lawfully from
its government are rebels and to be pitied as unhappy men.
We believe Masonry teaches no such thing. It has no alliance or
connection with the government of the United States, and efforts to per-
vert it to such an end, are not only a violation of its principles, but de-
grade it to the condition of a subservient tool of tyrants and usurpers.
We think the use attempted to be made of these ancient charges per^
verts and dishonors Masonry.
To sustain himself, the G. M. quotes from modern writers.
Now we must say we have not the respect for modern writers that we
have for the ancient charges. Each writer must be judged on his own
merits ; and the careful reader of modern Masonic literature will find it
has its due proportion of crude and prurient trash.
On the address delivered twelve years ago in Tennessee we have no
comment to make. We take it to be the author's exposition of his
views, and it may go for what it is worth.
But on the quotation from Dunlap we must look differently. We
have not before us the address of Dunlap from which this extract ia
made. But, judging from the extract itself, and Cr. M. Drummond's
interpretation of it, we must pronounce it an obscure and weak attempt
to make Masonry a political institution.
He asserts a true Free Mason will be a patriot. We grant that he
will, as a subject or citizen, do his duty to his country; and as Free
Masonry is of universal obligation, we suppose bis political conduct be-
longs to his duty as a man and not as a Mason. But Mr. Dunlap, mak-
ing the assertion that a Mason is a patriot, attempts, by two interroga-
tions, to identify Masonry with the United States. In his first inter-
rogatory, he asks, " Is not our cause and its success in achieving the
object for which it was instituted, identical with our common country?"
In this interrogatory he must be understood as asserting the cause of
Masonry and of the United States to be identical. This sounds to us
as one of the boldest and weakest pieces of demagogueism to be found
in any modern writer on Masonry, and if true, it would at once strip
Masonry of that universal character she has maintained from the days
of King Solomon.
He sustains his assertion by asking if the primary object of Masoniy
is not to promulgate the everlasting prinoiples of truth and mor.ility,
which lie at the foundation of our nationality, and form the under-cur
rent in the tide of our national progress. Observe, he assumes that the
primary object of Masonry is to teach truth and morality. These cer-
GRAND LODGE OF VIRGINIA. 23
tainly are among the great objects of Masonic teaching, but are not the
only ones; for Masonry was designed to form one universafbrotherhood
of all good men on earth.
But he assumes that the truth and morality taught by Masonry lie at
the foundation of the nationality of the United States.
We have always understood the Uuiou was founded on the Constitu-
tion of the United States, and that it did not, in any proper sense, con-
stitute a nationality. But passing the question whether the Constitu-
tion made a nation, we do not think truth and morality can any more
be predicated of this Constitution than of any other compact of govern-
ment by which conflicting interests are reconciled. To speak accurately,
truth and morality cannot be predicated of the compact of government,
but of its administration. Truth and morality are, properly, the quali-
ties of men administering the government. The argument that Ma-
sonry teaches truth and morality, proves nothing as to the Constitution
of the United States. If this be anything more than an idle flourish
in a holiday address, it sets aside the Constitution of the United States
as the foundation of the government, and attempts to substitute for it
vague ideas of truth and morality. We think this is a deliberate viola-
tion of truth and morality; for the men who administer the govern-
ment swear to maintain the Constitution ; and by setting it aside, they
commit perjury and violate all morality and truth.
How far the under-current of the prosperity of the Northern States
was due to truth and morality, or how far it was due to rapacity and un-
fair dealing, we will not here discuss. We wish to enter our protest
against these efi"orts to identify Masonry and the nationality of the
United States, as a gross Masonic heresy.
But Gr. M. Drummond quotes another writer, who says : " Masonry
hasher politics." This is a Masonic heresy; and it is not rendered
the less odious by the assertion that her politics are not of a party or
country. He states three marks of the political creed of Masonry:
1st. The natural equality of mankind. 2d. It admits of no ranks ex-
cept the precedence due to virtue. 3d. It sanctions no aristocracy. He
then says this characteristic, viz: this political creed of Masonry, ac"
counts for its geniiil soil and its growth and expansion in this country,
and argues t(^show it is one of the pillars of the government.
Now, if the statement that Masonry has politics, and the character-
istic of her politics was limited to an internal view of the Institution,
without any relation to the government and social institutions of the
earth, we should be satisfied to say the piece was incautiously worded,
and gave an erroneous view of Masonry within its Lodges. But it is
probable it was written in relation to the governments and institutions
of the world, and to establish the very inference W. G. M. Drummond
I
24 GRAND LODGE OF VIRGINIA.
draws from it, viz: that Masonry has politics and in her political
character is one of the pillars of the government of the United States.
The proposition that Masonry has politics, is at war with all the Ma-
sonic teaching of the ancients. That it rejects rank is inconsistent
with its establishment by King Solomon ; and that it refuses its sanction
to aristocracy, is inconsistent with the records of long lists of royal
and noble men who have been called to preside over the Institution.
But this is not the worst aspect of this teaching. It makes Masonry
a society for propagating the most radical creed ever preached on earth;
one which, preaching the natural equality of man, rejects all ranks or
established distinctions of society, and all constitutional restrictions, and
then degrades Masonry into an institution to inflame Masonic brethren
against each other, and thus sustain the usurpation of the government
of the United ^tates. That this last statement is a fair representation
of the object for which it is used, appears from the subsequent parts of
the ^Yorshipful G. Master's address.
He says : " Our duties (i. e., as Masons) are plain ; we must sustain
the government as the ver^ ark of the covenant. (Observe, he ignores
the Constitution of the United States; and by the government he must
mean the administration.) And though brothers are arrayed in arms
against us, we must do our duty. We may pity the unhappy condition
of those of the Order in rebellion, but must not stay our hands." And
he exhorts them to let Masonry have her perfect work at home and in
i\xQ field ; to rally to the flag and let its stars be an emblem of the
"starry canopy," — i. c, of Heaven; and then follows the poetry.
Now, this is mere sophomoric trash, and would be unworthy of notice
but for the fact that it is an earnest and deliberate eS"ort to make Ma-
sonry a political institution, identified with the United States, and an
earnest exhortation to Masons, as Masons, to enter on a horrid fratrici-
dal war, as subservient to the plans and conduct of the men administer-
ing the United States government.
3. The third thing to which we ask attention, is the action of the
Lodges in encouraging men to enter this war by conferring on them the
degrees of Masonry as a reward for thus enlisting.
On page G5 of the Proceedings of the Grand Lodge of New York,
we find the follosving extract from an address of the Deputy G. Master
to the Grand Lodge of Indiana :
"In several instances I have granted di.spen.sations to Lodges to confer de-
grees upon persons in their jurisdiction without n-quii-ing them to wait tlie time
contemplated by their bylaws, it having been represented to me that such parties
had enlisted in the service of the United States, and were about to leave for the
Beat of war. Such cases as these would have justified the action of the Lodge
without the necessity of a dispensation, but the parties should be well known
and of unblemished character."
GRAND LODGE OF VIRGINIA. 25
On this the Committee of Correspondence in New York remarks :
" The Deputy G. Master was of course amply justified in issuing his tlispen-
Bation in the instances to which he alludes. Indeed, there could be nothing ap-
pealing more warmly to the patriotism and gratitude of a true Mason than a
case just of this character." 4
This extract shows these Grand Lodges are making Masonry a party
to this war. The act of enlisting to carry war into our country, with
all its horrors and devastations, killing their brethren, driving the fami-
lies of Masons from their homes and exposing them to all the insults
and indignities of a brutal soldiery, are acts which appeal to the grati-
tude of all true Masons. And they invest men with the panoply of
Masonry the better to practice these horrors on us.
The true spirit of these Lodges will be found in an extract on page
66, from the Report of a Committee of the Grand Lodge of Indiana,
in reply to the Grand Lodge of Nebraska, quoted without dissent by
the New York Committee :
"We, as Masons of Indiana, say to our brethren who have or ma}' enter into
the service in defending the Constitution of the United States, 'You have our
approval. March on to glorious victory. Drive from our land the desolating
hand of rebellion, but remember when you have subdued your foe he is no longer
Buch. Extend to him those God like, attributes — mercy and charity.' "
It is our duty as Masons to suppress the ftelings of scornful defiance
such utterances excite, but we must notice this in a Masonic point of
view. ^
This emanates from Indiana, a State carved out of the territory ceded
by Virginia to the United States for the common benefit of all the
States. The title to every homestead and to every Lodge in this State
rests on the liberality of Virginia. Virginia has never devastated the
State of Indiana, nor did those Masons ftar she would. Yet as Ma-
sons, they urge Masons, in fierce aud vindictive language, to invade and
desolate Virginia — urge them to " march on to glorious victory — drive
from our land the desolating hand of rebellion." We notice this sen-
tence not only as vindictive, but as a deliberate suggestion of falsehood.
" Our land !" They did not fear the desolation of their land. It was
the land of Virginia they wished desolated, and this because they falsely
stigmatise our exsrcise of the unalienable right of self-government as
rebellion'. We say this is making Masonry a political engine, to urge
Ma.sons to fratricidal war, to deeds of rapine and violence, and by pre-
varication and suggestions of falsehood.
As to their tender of mercy aud charity — we have already seen too
much of the mercy and charity extended by their chosen agents, Lin-
coln, Butler, Hunter, Sheridan, Sherman and others who conduct this
war, to wish their mercy or charity.
26 GRAND LODGE OF VIRGINIA.
TV. Another evidence that the Grand Lodges of the United States
are making 3Iasonry subservient to this war, is found in granting dis-
pensations or warrants to Military Lodges, to attend their armie« in the
invasion of our country.
As it may be supposed a Masonic precedent for these Military Lodges
is found in the British Military Lodges, we here notice the difference.
In Great Britain the array is a permanent establishment. Some of
the regiments in it were established in the seventeenth ce"ntury,and
have maintained perpetual succession since. Others were established
since, but maintain their perpetual succession.
The distinction between the Military State and the Civil State is well
known in Great Britain. Men who go into the army, go into it as a
profession for life, and few return to civil life. Their homes are with
their regiments, and these regiments are ordered on duty to any part of
the colonies of Great Britain; so that the men have no permanent
abode. Tt was proper to give these men the benefit of Masonry ; and
as the chief object was to afford Masonic intercourse to these men at
home and in the colonies within the jurisdiction of their own govern-
ment, the fact that they might, when transiently in a foreign country,
where Grand Lodges existed, work occasionly under their own charters,
did not give evidence of hostility to thcjse Grand Lodges; and although
in the way Masonic jurisdiction of Grand Lodges is now settled, (espe-
cially in America,) it would be an interference with Grand Lodge juris-
diction, yet in the time these Lodges were created such an interference
was not designed.
Let us see now the difference in the Lodges established with the army
of the United States. That array is raised solely for the purpose of in-
vasion and conquest of the Southern States. In these States Grand
Lodges existed, each having a jurisdiction co-extensivc with the geo-
graphical limits of the State.
It is admitted, if any Grand Lodge of the United States had in times
of peace granted authority to any number of its citizens travelling
through, or sojourning in, the Southern States, to form Lodges and
work as Masons without the permission of the Grand Lodge in whose
jurisdiction they worked, such an act would be an hostile invasion of
the Grand Lodge in which they worked. This being so, we cannot see
how the hostility and disregard of the jurisdiction of the injured
Grand Lodge is diminished, by the fact, that these Masonic powers were
attempted to be conferred on men visiting that jurisdiction solely for
hostile purposes. It does make the Grand Lodges direct parties to
that hostility, and attempts to make Masonry a means jof giving aid
and comfort to enemies.
Again : the army in which these Lodges are established is temporary
i
GRAND L0D3E OF VIRGINIA. 27
in its character, composed of citizens who have volunteered or been
drafted from private life, and who retain their homes and relations in
private life, and expect to return to it. Some of these officers and men
have entered the army with the ambitious desire to win military dis-
tinction, as a means of obtaining offices of honor and profit under their
own governments; others that they might amass fortunes by obtaining
lucrative positions and contracts ; others with the expectation of thriving
on the plunder and robbery of the Southern people; others with the .
hope they might remain in the conquered country on the estates from ^
which they ejected the men they falsely stigmatized as rebels, and ^
might live ampng an abject and cowed population as the satraps and
trusted friends of the conquering power. But whatever may have been
the motives with which these men entered the service, they all designed
returning to civil life, and retained their relations with it. The grant
of Maso;|ic powers to these men was, therefore, intended to make
Masonry a stimulant to their efforts to subdue us, and an agency in the
war.
Again : the working of these Lodges were irregular and unmasonic.
Whether this arose from the looseness of the grants or from the unwor-
tjyness of the hands in which it was placed, we do not know. That
the faqt exists, is proved by the complaints of the Grand Lodges them-
selves. From among these complaints we select a report of a Committee
of Wisconsin, pages 71 and 72 :
"The 6elect Committee to whom was referred so much of the GranJ Master's
Address as relates to the initiation of residents of Wisconsin in Military Lodges
established in the army by the Grand Lodges of other jurisdictions, have had
the same under consideration, and report:
"That during the present war several of the Grand Lodges have established,
by dispensation, what are denominated Military Lodges, the officers and mem-
bers of which are volunteers from the respective States, by the Grand Lodges of
which such Lodges are established. A Lodge so established travels with the
regiment or brigade to which it is attached, and is opened and held at such
times and places as may be convenient, and wherever its members may happea
to be located by the exigencies of the service. Authentic information has been
received that persons who have been for several years, and still are residents of
Wisconsin, have been initiated in such Lodges. That some of such persons
would, doubtless, have been rejected if they had applied to the Lodge nearest
their residence, and where they were known, and that others had already been
rejected at home. What has occurred in reference to residents of this jurisdic-
tion has undoubtedly occurred to residents within the jurisdiction of other Grand
Lodges. We liave no het:itation in saying that this is an evil which ought to bo
promptly remedied. Of what use is it for the fraternity of Wisconsin to laMor
to maintain a high standard of personal qualifications, and to sustain the dignity
of the character of Free Masonry in this jurisdiction, if these unworthy and
rejected applicants are to be thrust upon the Craft by other Grand Lodges,
through the medium of Dispensated Lodges working outside their territorial
28 GRAND LODGE OF VIRGINIA.
jurisdiction? We say by the Grand Lodges of other States, for in the opinion of
the Committee, it is the Grand Lodge which establishes, a travelling Lodge,
rather than the Lodge itself, which is responsible for its trans-actions. At all
events, it is with the Grand Lodge alone that we have to do. Whenever a Grand
Lodge deems it proper to establish a travelling Military Lodge, it should make
due provision that the Lodge so established should not interfere with the juris-
diction of other Grand Lodges, and should give it no more extensive power than
it may lawfully grant to ordinary Lodges within its jurisdiction. We feel con-
fidctit that this subject, being brought to the attention of our sister Grand
lodges, they will see the propriety of staying the wrong which they are thus
inflicting upon the Fraternity in other jurisdictions."
From this it clearly appears that these Lodges ^ero conferring
Masonic character on unworthy men, who could not obtain it at home,
and initiated men who never were under the jurisdiction of their Grand
Lodges. How far this evil goes, we know not; but we have reason to
fear they make white men Masons who were under the jurisdiction of
the Grand Lodge of Virginia. And when we see some of the Grapd
Lodges teaching that Masonry has politics, and her politics teach the
equality of mankind and the support of the nationality of the United
States, we have reason to fear that the canon of Masonry, which limits
its benefits to the free-born, is through these Lodges to be set aside, a^d
Masonry made an instrument to subvert all our social and governmental
institutions.
V. The act of the Grand Lodge of the District of Columbia in grant-
ing a dispensation to Union Lodge in the city of Alexandria and within
the jurisdiction of this Grand Lodge.
That we do not misrepresent this act, or draw improper conclusiona'
from it, we ask that so much of the report of the Committee of Cor-
respondence of the Grand Lodge of New York as contains the docu-
ments on this subject, commencing at page 153, with the words,
"Documents llelating," and ending on page — with the words, "alid
the dispensation granted," and so much of the address of G M. Stans-
berry in May, 1SG2, as relates to this subject, commencing on page 102
with the words, ''In February last," &c., and ending on page lOB with
the words, " be continued under dispensation," be put on record with
this report.
We cull attention to the fact that the Grand Lodge of the District of
Columbia was speciully convened on the 12th of February, 18G2.
The Gra'nd JJaster states it was convened to decide a question beyond
his province. He states he has received a petition from Theodore G.
Palmer and nine others, who are vouched for as worthy Master Masons,
praying for a dispensation to form a new Lodge in Alexandria. He
Bays Palmer represents there is no Lodge working in that city. The
GRAND LODGE OP VIRGINIA. 29
charter cannot be found, had been removed, and the Masons residing
there are cut oflF from the enjoyment of Masonic privileges. He says :
" It is also stated " (but he does not say by whom) '' that tlie Grand
Lodge of Virtjinia forbids those workhir/ under her jurisdlcd m to
recojnize or hold Masonic tniercoitrse tvith lilasons who adhere to (heir
allegiance to the Union." ^
He then says, under ordinary circumstances, a petition of this kind
could not, for a moment, be entertained, because to grant this dispensa-
tion would be an invasion of the territory of a sister Grand Lodge, an
act which the Masons of this country uniformly repudiated, but says :
" The question for us now is whether the present Hate of things will
justify us in establishing a aew precedent to afford our brethren of the
loyal part of Virginia the rights and benefits of our Order."
On that he has not formed a decided opinion, -but intimates it is
desirable it should be done if it can. He says if the dispensation can
fairly be considered an invasion of the jurisdiction of the Grand
Lodge of Virginia, he inclines to think it ought to be refused; but
asks, "can it be so considered if that Grand Lodge has practically and
voluntarily repudiated her jurisdiction over the loyal portion of her
territory and left the Fraternity there without the means of Masonic
intercourse," &c. He then proceeds to argue that the portion of Vir-
ginia invaded by the array of the LTnited States, is in the condition of
a territory in which IMasonry in an organized form never existed, and
that any Grand Lodge may grant a charter to Lodges to work there,
and those Lodges may form a Grand Lodge. The subject was referred
to a Committee, and the Grand Lodge was called to refreshment.
On the 14th February, B. B. French, P. G. x^L of G. L D. C,
addressed to G. M. Stansberry a vindictive and truculent letter, in
which he takes up the assertion that the Grand Lodge of Virginia for-
bids those working under its jurisdiction to recdgnize or hold Masonic
intercourse with Masons who adhere to their allegiance to the United
States; denounces the Grand Lodge, and counsels the Grand Lodge of
the District of Columbia to issue dispensations to loyal and worthy Masons
anywhere in Virginia to open Lodges, and proceed to work until the
Grand Lodge of Virginia shall return to the principles of Free Masonry
and assume her legitimate sphere among the Grand Lodges of the
Union.
We pause here for some comments.
In pure old English, we pronounce the statement that the Grand
Lodge of Virginia forbids Masons working under its jurisdiction to
recognize or hold Masonic intercourse with Masons adhering to their
allegiance to the Union, a Lie.
Grand Master Stansberry says the charter could not be found, and
4k ^
30 GRAND LODGE OF VIRGINIA.
everything pertaining to the old Lodge ia Alexandria had been removed.
He says, under ordinary circumstances, the petition for the dispensa-
tion could not be entertained for a moment; but the question was,
whether, in the present state of things, they shall establish a new pre-
cedent to aflford their brethren in the loyal portion of Virginia Masonic
privileges. .
Now, remember, this address was delivered ten months after the
armed invasion of Virginia, about eight months after the battle of Bull
Run, and the object attempted to be artfully covered up by the Grand
Master is apparent. The armed invasion of Virginia had then forced
the Confederate army back about twenty-five miles from Alexandria,
and the question was, whether the Grand Lodge of the District of Colum-
bia should establish a precedent for establishing Lodges in the rear of
the invailing army. The statement that the charter could not be found,
and everything pertaining to the old Lodge there had been removed,
afforded no pretext for creating a new Lodge there. It afforded evidence
that the old Masons of Virginia had fled with horror from the invasion,
carrying with them all that was sacred to them in Masonry. Who the
men petitioning for the dispensation are, we know not. They may be
a portion of those greedy cormorants who follow the track of an
invading army to batten off the spoils of the oppressed. Yet the Grand
Master gravely states the question is, whether they are to set the pre-
cedent for establishing new Lodges in the territory from which Masons
had been forcibly driven. In other words, was Masonry to render itself
subservient to an aggressive invasion of the country, and sustain, by its
sanctions, the political and military power of the invader?
He .seems himself to shrink from the gross Masonic heresy implied
in this question. He inclines to think it cannot be done if it be an
invasion of the territory of the Grand Lodge of Virginia; but in the
form of a query he suggests, the Grand Lodge of Virginia had practi-
cally and voluntarily repudiated its jurisdiction over all the loyal por-
tion of Virginia. Now, Grand Master Stansberry knew when he made
this suggestion he was making a false suggestion ; for he well knew no
officer of the Grand Lodge of Virginia could visit Alexandria without
great danger of being incarcerated in one of the bastiles of the United
States.
The Grand Lodge of the District Columbia assembled again on the
15th February, 1862, and Grand Master Stansberry again addressed
them. He now discloses his object more fully. He says he has made
up his mind. He argues the dispensation may be granted if it does
not invade the jurisdiction of the Grand Lodge of Virginia. Says, in
Masonry, as in civil government, we must regard the government de
facto ; argues that the jurisdiction of the Grand Lodge of the District of
GRAND LODGE Or VIRGINIA. 31
Columbia over the Masons in Alexandria was taken away by its retro-
cession to Virginia ; that the Masonic status is regulated by the gnvern-
ment of the United States, and says: "Now, the Federal Government
does not acknowledge, at the present time, the jurisdiction of the dis-
loyal government of Virginia over that State. On the contrary, it
recognizes another^ government loyal to itself; and quite exceptional^
irregular and provisional in its stead." Inquires, if the action of the
Federal Government is the guide, are we (the Grand Lodge D. C ) to
recognize a disloyal Grand Lodge any more than the Federal Govern-
ment recognizes a disloyal State government. He then inquires into
the loyalty of the Grand Lodge of Virginia, and says : " If disloyal,
we (the Grand Lodge D. C.) are not bound to respect her jurisdiction."
Now here we have the mask thrown off. The question whether the
existing state of things justifies establishing a new precedent in inva-
sion of our rights, is^answered by alleging the Grand Lodge of Virtrinia
is disloyal; thus plainly making the Masonic right of Masons depend
on their opinions of the Constitution of the United States.
The Grand Lodge, by a vote of 27 to 12, approved issuing the dis-
pensation.
At the semi-annual communication in May, 1862, the Grand Master
stated he had issued his dispensation, for Union Lodge in Alexandria,
to Theodore G. Palmer as Master, Geo. W. Knab as S. W., and E. H.
Delaney, J. W. He says an attempt has been made to represent that
act as unfriendly to the Grand Lodge of Virginia, and an invasion of
her jurisdiction. Says he did §ot so intend it, and does not so regard
it. He then insultingly says, if this Grand Lodge has the interests of
universal Masonry at heart, it must approve his conduct ; says if we
cannot extend protection to those ordinarily under our control, we must
consider it an act of true friendship in any one who will ; and then
says : *' If I, as the nearest relative, neiglibor or friend of a man sud-
denly stricken with paralysis undertakes to protect his family, and guard
his interests until his return to consciousness and vigor, that judgment
must be perverse indeed that could only see in such an act an act of
unfriendly invasion of his rights." " The illustration (he says) is
exactly in point." Says he does not wish to enlarge his jurisdiction,
&c. ; says, the moment this Grand Lodge resumes the active control of
the Fraternity in Alexandria, the dispensation will bo surrendered to
her, &c., and immediately adds :
"In a communication, receiYcd a few days ago from Brother Palmer, he
requests the dispensation may be continued, with a view to the formation of a
new Grand Lodge of Virginia and the extension of the boundaries of the Dis-
trict of Columbia to the old limits." " I recommend that Union Lodge be con-
tinued ander dispensation."
32 GRAND LODGE OF VIRGINIA.
We have, as Masons, much to bear in the conduct of men calling
themselves Masons, and have to restrain the expression of our natural
indignation at insult and unjust reproach. In the proceedings of the
Grand Lodge of the District of Columbia there is so much deliberate
insult, such studied prevarication, and so much hostile and fraudulent
invasion of our Masonic rights, that we find it di-ffiiiiilt to notice their
transactions temperately; but it is our duty to examine them, and we
must do it briefly.
Grand Master Stansberry convened the Grand Lodge on the 12th of
February, 18G2, to consider this dispensation. He then stated the lie
we have already noticed. Said, under ordinary circumstances, the peti-
tion could not be for a moment entertained ; but the question was,
whether, in the present state of things, they were to establish a new
precedent. On that question he pretended to decline expressing an
opinion ; but urged the action on the false suggestion that this Grand
Lodge had voluntarily repudiated her jurisdiction over what he called
the loyal portion of Virginia — and in the form of queries, argued that
that portion of her territory was now a Masonic waste, in which any
Grand Lodge might charter a Lodge.
Having grown more bold, he on the 15th February said his doubts
were removed. He then argues the action of the Federal Government
was to establish the status of Masonic jurisdiction. The Federal
government had refused to recognize the disloyal State government of
Virginia. Inquires whether this Grand Lodge is disloyal ; asserts it
is, and says: "If disloyal, we are not,. bound to respect her jurisdic-
tion." And in May, 18G2, he says he intended nothing unfriendly.
He attempts to throw the odium of his unmasonic conduct on us by
saying, if we have the interests of Masonry at heart, we must approve
his conduct — insultingly compares us to a paralvtic, and represents him-
self as a true friend taking care of our property — suggests, when we
resume our jurisdiction he will surrender the dispensation to us — then
peeps from behind the mask and says Palmer is applying to have the
dispensation continued with a view to the possibility of forming a new
Grand Lodge of Virginia and restoring Alexandria to the District of
Columbia.
The mere statement of these points in his course shows the serpentine
duplicity of this Grand Master. From the first suggestion, that the
question was whether they were to set a new precedent, to the announce-
ment that Palmer wished a continuance of the dispensation in view of
the probability of forming a new Grand Lodge of Virginia, the object
kept steadily in view, through all his subterfuges and contortions, is
the overthrow of our Masonic jurisdiction. When he announced that
the charter of the old Lodge could not be found, and everything per-
GRAND LODGE OF VIRGINIA. 33
taining to it had been removed, he knew the old Masons working in
Alexandria had fled from the ruthless invaders of their homes; and
his eflfort to form a new Lodge was an effort to supplant them by new
men. When he pretended that he was as our next friend taking care
of our rights, and offering this new Lodge under his dispensation to us,
he knew (for he discloses it in the next sentence) that Palmer wished
this dispensation continued to form a new Grand Lodge of Virginia and
transfer Alexandria to the Grand Lodge of the District of Columbia.
If men are to be judged by their acts, but one judgment can be
passed on this transaction. It is that this was a deliberate and per-
sistent effort to supplant the Grand Lodge of Virginia and place in its
stead a new Grand Lodge that would be a subservient tool of the men
administering the government of the United States. A Grand Lodge
that, under the pretext of loyalty to the United States, would deprive
of their Masonic rights all men who did not support the tyrannical
usurpations of Lincoln and his followers. It was a deliberate effort on
the part of the Grand Lodge of the District of Columbia to make
Masonry a political engine to overthrow our government and institu-
tions, and to make Masonry a mere agency in the hands of the corrupt
party wielding the government of the United States.
We regret these things. But it is our duty to put them on record,
that the conduct of the Grand Lodge of the District of Columbia may
forever be known to our children and successors — and in so doing, wc
do not feel we are bringing a reproach on Masonry ; for the shame and
di.«!grace of these transactions attaches not to Masonry, but to the
unworthy men who have sought thus to degrade it — men who them-
selves are unworthy of notice; but who have an accidental importance
from being Grand Master and Past Grand Masters of a little Grand
Lodge, with five miles square of territory, and which derives its sole
consequence from its location at the seat of government of the United
States; a location which gives its members a special opportunity of
selling themselves and their principles to the men corruptly administer-
ing that government.
We state with pleasure, that we do not find in the documents before
us, that the conduct of the Grand Lodge of the District of Columbia
hjis been approved by any Grand Lodge of the United States.
In the report of the Committee of Correspondence of the Grand
Lodge of New York on this subject we find some things which giv'e us
pleasure, but mingled with much that repels us from the writers. An
article from the pen of Past Grand Master Simons has especially
attracted our attention. It has much political acerbity and many erro-
neous views in relation to the conflict between the United States and
the Confederate States; but it also contains many sound Masonic
3
Bi GRAND LODGE OF VIRGINIA.
views. We extract the following paragraph, in which we most cordially
concur. He sajs :
•']^Ia?onry can bave no pympatby with the horrors of war. no desire to add
fuel to the flame of angry passion roused to its utmost intensity by the incidents
of strife. On the contrary, her mission looks to the fraternization of the
nations, to the speedy coming of the time when justice may be secured without
resort to war. The administration of a cup of water to the wounded or dying,
the drying up a single tear, is to her more glorious than though her banner
flo.".ted in the van of a thousand victories; and when her dii^ciples forget this,
whenever they mingle in the bitter waters of secular strife, they turn aside from
the true design and falsify the very spirit of her lessons."
We also notice with approbation that the Committee of Correspondence
say they have no more right to prescribe their views of allegiance to us
than to the Grand Lodge of Canada.
But it is our duty to say, that even these sentiments are accompanied
with such expressions of political acerbity and reproach, and such trucu-
lent denunciations of our government and of us as citizens, that self-
respect would forbid us as men to hold personal intercourse with the
persons uttering them. If Masons at the North who entertain correct
Masonic opinions wish them to have their perfect work, they should
learn to suppress such angry utterances.
Before leaving this subject, it gives us pleasure to say, that from the
brief extracts of the opinions of the Grand Lodge of California found
in these documents, we hope that Grand Lodge has taken true Masonic
ground in relation to this war.
It now remains to express our views of the present and future action
this Grand Lodge should take in reference to the Masonic organizations
of the United States.
"When our State withdrew from the United States, the United States
became to us a foreign power ; and all persons owing allegiance to that
government became to us aliens, and when they waged war on us alien
enemies.
During the continuance of this war it is inconsistent with our duty
to our country to hold correspondence with the Lodges and Grand
Lodges of the North. Masonry is essentially a secret society, and the
occasions are few in which she should make public her proceedings out-
side of her own membership. No correspondence with bodies of men
in the enemy's country ought to be tolerated by the government. But
even if a regular correspondence could be held, it might encourage the
delusion that a portion of our people desired to return under the govern-
ment of the United States. We are well satisfied with the pure, wise
and patriotic administration of our government, and cannot consent to
any act which would for a moment encourage the delusion that any por-
i
GRAND LODGE OF VIRGINIA. ■ 35
tion of our people desire a re-union with the United States. During
this war all communications with the Masonic organizations of the
North must cease.
But this war will end and peace return ; and the war must end in
one of two ways: 1st, by our extermination; or 2d, by the acknowl-
edgment of our separate independence as States. A third idea — i. e.,
reconstruction of the Union, is sometimes held forth at the North ; but
this is so abhorrent to us and to our people that we prefer extermination
to it.
Now we know the TTnited States cannot exterminate us. It may kill
many of our people and inflict great injuries on us, but its power must
stop very far short of extermination. The only end of this war, then,
is in recognising our separate independence ; and when peace thus comes,
it places the people of the United States forever to us as aliens. We
can then never resume the peculiarly intimate relations which by comity
existed between the Masonic organizations of the United States and
ourselves. We can have with them no other relations than we hold to
all the Masonic bodies of the world.
By comity, peculiarly intimate relations fomerly subsisted between the
Grand Lodges of the United States and ourselves. We were drawn
into an intimacy with those Grand Lodges which existed with no other
Grand Lodges in the world. If we are not misled by the documents
which we have read, there has been on the part of many, and perhaps
all of those Grand Lodges, a disposition to abuse the power these close
relations gave them. We believe they have attempted to use Masonry
as an instrumentality of war on us. We think the Lodges have per-
verted Masonry from its true end, and have used it as a means of sustaining
the most unjust and wicked war which was ever waged on earth. When
the design to destroy and exterminate us was openly avowed by the
rulers chosen by the people of the United States, the Masonic bodies
have been found urging Masons to engage in this war as a Masonic duty.
Candor compels us to say that to these organizations we feel an aversion,
as bodies that have proved themselves to be unworthy depositories of
Masonic power and perverted teachers of its doctrines.
We recommend no Masonic intercourse ever be held with these Grand
Lodges or their subordinate Lodges, unless it is sought by them and
satisfactory evidence given to us that the Grand Lodge thus seeking in-
tercourse with us has not attempted to convert Masonry into a means of
sustaining the war against us.
We think the conduct of the Grand Lodge of the District of Colum-
bia has been so grossly un masonic — so marked by the determination to
make Masonry a degraded political agency, and a subservient instrument
of the government of the United States in its nefarious eflfort to destroy
36 GRAND LODGE OF VIRGINIA.
our liberties, and its determination to subvert our jurisdiction by false-
hood and fraud has been so clearly manifested, that it is the duty of this
Grand Lodge to denounce it as a corrupt Institution, no longer worthy
to,be considered a Masonic Body, and that we never can recognise it as
a Masonic Body. We recommend that the Lodge attempted to be
established by it in Alexandria, by name of Union Lodge, be declared
a clandestine Lodge — all its members and Masons working with them
be declared clandestine Masons, and all persons attempted to be made
Masons in that Lodge be declared spurious Masons.
We also recommend that all Travelling or other Military Lodges
attempted to be established or authorized to work in our jurisdiction,
and without our consent, by any of the Grand Lodges of the United
States, be declared clandestine Lodges — all their members and all Ma-
sons working with them be declared clandestine Masons, and all persons
attempted to be made Masons in such Lodges be declared to be spurious
Masons.
In reference to the course to be pursued by Masons under our jurisdic-
tion toward individual Masons of the United States, we say, that
although we believe the conduct of the Grand Lodges and subordinate
Lodges of the United States has been grossly unmasonic, yet the rights
of individual Masons, who have not participated in this unmasonic con-
duct, are not forfeited by the unmasonic conduct of these Lodges. We
believe there are many worthy Masons arrayed against us from various
causes, which it is not our duty to judge. We hold their rights and
duties as subjects and citizens are entirely distinct from their Masonic
rights and duties; and however Masons may differ on political ques-
tions, as long as they worthily perform their duties as Masons, their in-
dividual Masonic rights are indefeasible. The conduct of all Masons
under our jurisdiction, towards individual Masons of the United States,
must be left to their own consciences. All we can say to them is, re-
member the duties you have assumed, and act in their spirit as far as
duty to God, your country and yourselves will permit.
Respectfully submitted.
S. S. Baxter, Chairman.
The Report of the Representative of the Grand Lodge of
Ireland, with the accompanying documents, was referred to the
Committee on Foreign Correspondence.
GRAND LODGE OF VIRGINIA. 87
REPORT OF COMMITTEE ON FINANCE AND INVESTMENT.
The Committee on Finance and Investment made the follow-
ing Report, -which was adopted :
To the M. W. Grand Master of the Grand Lodge of Virginia :
The Committee on Finance and Investment beg leave, respectfully, to
report the financial condition of the Grand Lodge of Virginia at this
date, as appears by the Grand Treasurer's Books, namely :
Balance on hand to tbe credit of the Grand Lodge at last report, $ 1,283 95
Received for 95 diplomas at $3 each, 285 00
" «' Sale of Text Books, 713 75
Received from Subordinate Lodges at last Grand Annual Commu-
nication, 1,177 75
Received from the Grand Secretary for three diplomas omitted in
last settlement, 6 00
Received from Hunter Lodge, No. 156, 30 00
«' Catlett Lodge, No. 35, 25 00
" " Princeton Lodge, No. 116, 7 50
" Taylor Lodge, No. 23 20 00
«' " Blue Ridge Lodge, No. 71 23 00
" " Acacia Lodge, No. 84 6 00
" " James Evans Lodge, No. 72 21 75
" «' Martin's Station Lodge, No. 188, 1100
" Clinton Lodge, No. 73, 49 00
192 25
Received for two charters, 66 67
Making the aggregate sum of, $3,725,37
That he has disbursed during the same period, for which proper
vouchers arc exhibited, 3,083 46
Leaving a balance due the Grand Lodge this day, $641 91
The extraordinary advance in every commodity, particularly that of
printing, paper and labor, and to cover the expense thereof, your Com-
mittee respectfully recommend the adoption by the Grand Lodge of the
following resolution :
Resolved, That the Grand Secretary shall charge for each Grand
Lodge Diploma the sum of (8 7 50) seven dollars and fifty cents; five
dollars of which shall go to the credit of the Grand Lodge, and two
dollars and fifty cents to the Grand Secretary as his fee.
Your Committee has also taken into consideration the resolution
adopted at the last Grand Annual Communication, relative to the price
38" GRAND LODGE OF VIRGINIA.
of the Text Book. Your Committee recommend the adoption of the
following resolution :
Resolved, That the price of the Text Book be advanced to five dol-
lars per copy.
Your Committee respectfully recommend the adoption of the follow-
ing resolution :
Resolved, That the annual contributions from the Subordinate Lodges
to the Grand Lodge be one dollar for each member.
KespectfuUy submitted,
J. Carlton,
James B. Dupuy,
Thomas U. Dudley,
B. 0. Haskins,
John Dove.
Richmond, December \2th, 1864.
MASONIC TEMPLE ASSOCIATION.
The Committee on the Masonic Temple Association made the
following Report, which was received :
Lynchburg, Va , Dec. 10th, 1864.
To the M. W. Grand Lod<je of Virginia:
Since the last Beport, the Board of Trustees have done nothing in
reference to the property held by the Masonic Temple Association, ex-
cept, after a laborious effort, have succeeded in obtaining possession of
the property from the occupancy of the former tenant, and will in fu-
ture be enabled to make it more productive.
Owing to the constant engagements of many of the Board, and par-
ticularly the Treasurer, the usual statements of the condition of the
Association cannot be laid before you at this Grand Annual Commu-
nication; there is, however, no material alteration. The Board trusts,
that in the circumstances which they in common with their country-
men have been surrounded, will be found a sufficient excuse for that
which might otherwise seem a neglect.
Our bleeding country absorbs every thought. We struggle to be
free. To this end, the most constant and earnest desire and purpose
is to yield everything to the cause. Sooner or later, we will triumph-
antly raise our national standard — the noble ensign of a free and inde-
pendent people — independent truly; for, unaided even by the sympa-
thies of other nations, but in the majesty of our own strength, we will
GRAND LODGE OF VIRGINIA. Sd
have, by the blessing of God, achieved a mighty work. And from the
destruction and desolation which now surround us, a chastened people
will arise a mighty nation, purified by fire and baptized in the blood of
its martyred sons.
Then, being " 710 longer hindered or impeded by our adversaries on
the other side of the river," we can in earnest set about our own
work, and amid the general rejoicing, " bring forth the cape stone" of
our Temple " with shouting and praise."
llespcctfully submitted,
Joiix Robin McDaniel, President.
APPOINTMENT OF COMMITTEES.
The Most Wor. Grand Master appointed the following com-
mittees, to wit:
On Dispensations and Charters. — "\Yors. James B. Dupuy,
James L. Cook, William T. Allen.
On G-rievances and Appeals. — Wors. Geo. W. Dame, John P.
Little, and George W. Spotts.
On Masonic Jurisprudence. — M. Wor. L. L. Stevenson, Jas.
F. Johnson, S. S. Baxter, T. U. Dudley, Jr., L. B. Williams.
On Finance and Investment. — Wors. William F. Butler, R.
0. Haskins, Jos. Carlton, Jas. B. Dupuy, John C. Page, John
Dove, Thos. U. Dudley.
On Proceedings of Grand Officers. — Wors. Wm. L. Maule,
M. B. Carrington, E. T. Blamire.
On Work. — M. Wor. James Evans, M. Wor. L. B. Williams,
Wm. L. Maule, T. F. Owens, M. B. Carrington.
On Foreign Correspondence. — Wors. John Dove, T. P. August,
John F. llcgnault, W. J. Bevil, G. T. Christie.
On Grand Steward's Department. — Wors. R. 0. Haskins,
James A. Scott, Wm. E. Tanner, B. M. Harris, E. Albright.
40 GRAND LODGE OF VIRGINIA.
Resolutions of a general and permanent character were offered
and appropriately referred.
Ordered that this Grand Lodge be now closed, until to-morrow
evening, at 6 o'clock.
W. II. HARMAN, arand Master.
Teste, J. B. DUPUY, D. G. Master, p. t.
John Dove, Gr. S.
GRAND LODGE OF VIRGINIA. 41
At a G-rand Annual Communication of the Most Worshipful
Grand Lodge of Virginia^ continued and held in the Masons'
ffall, in the City of Richmond, on Tuesday, being the 12>th
day of December, A. L. 5864, A. D. 1864:
present:
M. Wor. Wm. H. Harman, - Grand Master.
R. Wor. Jas. B. Dupuy, - - D. G. Master, p. t.
" " Jas. A. Scott, - - G. Senior Warden, p. t.
" " M. B. Carrington, - *' Junior Warden, p. t.
" Thos. U. Dudley, - " Treasurer.
" John Dove, - - - *' Secretary.
■ " Wm. B. Isaacs, - - D. G. Secretary.
" Wm. L. Maule, - - G. Senior Deacon.
" Wm. E. Tanner, - - " Junior Deacon, p. t.
♦' Geo. W. Dame, - - " Chaplain.
Bro. John Lester, - - " Fursuivaiit.
" Thomas Angel, - - " Steward,
" Richard D. Sanxay, - " Tiler.
And the Representatives of the following Subordinate Lodges, to tcit :
Lodge No. 3, Charles E. Stewart;
10, Wm. E. Tanner;
11, Thos. U. Dudley, Jr., John Garrett, J M. Strother;
13, T. E. Coleman, H. H. Peck, G. G. Gooch;
14, J. E. Seaward, W. Whitworth, H. Fitzgerald;
15, Jas. L. Cook;
19, J. Latouche;
29, C. E. Stewart, Jas. E. Cook;
36, Wm. M. Davis, S. Y. Landrum ;
39, John 0. Taylor, John H. Bailey ;
44, J. F. Johnson ;
45, John W. Harris;
51, John P. Little, Geo. W. Brooks ;
53, P. Trent, C R. Bricken, J. A. Mahone;
60, Wm. Wertenbaker;
61, James B. Coates;
66, W. E. M. Word;
68, P. J. Haskins;
42 GRAND LODGE OP VIRGINIA.
Lodge No. 71, S. R. Slack;
73, R. M. Brown ;
83, Paschel Russell ;
80, J. H. Gu<rgenheimer;
88, Elias Edmonds;
95, J. F. Johnson ;
112, Chas. W. Harvey;
122, Geo. W. Dame;
130, W. F. Mitchell, J. E. Riddick, Savage Smith;
138, L. B. Williams;
141, M. B. Carrington ;
IGl, E. II. Williams, J. D. Wells;
162, L. F. Johnston ;
166, J. M. Taylor;
182, Jos. M. Ferguson;
183, J. B. T. Phelps;
187, L. F. Johnston ;
190, Edwin Rives ;
191, B. S. Crute;
193, L. F. Woltz;
206, E. Albright, Wm. M. Turner, C. J. Creekmur;
211, A. Warwick, C. Pickett;
213, W. E. Wiatt;
TAST GRAND MASTERS.
M. Wars. Sidney S. Baxter, No. 10; Levi L. Stevenson, No. 13;
L. B. Williams, No. 138; James Evans, No. 19; P. B. Starke, No. 3.
DISTRICT DEPUTY GRAND MASTERS.
TT^^/-s. Wm. E. Wiatt, No. 2; John F. Regnault, No. 8.
PAST MASTERS.
Wors. E. T. Blamire, No. 100; Wm. L. Maule, No. 10; Edward H.
Gill, No. 19; W. C Tompkins, No. 10; G. A. Schwarzman, No. 10;
R. 0. Haskins, No. 19; Jas. A. Scott, No. 10; W. R. Pugh, No. 11;
S. B. Jacobs, No. 11; S. H. Boykin, No. 11; J. S. Calvert, No. 11 ;
Jos. Carlton, No. 10; Jas. B. Dupuy, No. 10; W. W. Weisiger, No.
14; A. A. Allen, No. 14; Wm. Ambers, No. 14; W. J. Bevil, No.
30; Joseph Hall, No. 51; W. E. Broadnax, No. 52; J. H. Ilackett,
No. 10; R. T. Reynolds, No. 19; W. C. Morgan, No. 19.
Bro. Peyton Johnston, Representative of the Grand Lodge of Ireland.
QRAHTD LODGE OF VIRGINIA. 43
VISITERS.
M. W. John Frizzel, P. G. M. of Tennessee; J. T. Lampkin,
P. Dept. G. Master, Mississippi; Jas. H. Nash, P. M., No. 22, South
Carolina.
ELECTION OF GRAND OFFICERS.
The Most Worshipful Grand Lodge was then opened in Ample
Form, and proceeded to the election of Grand Officers for the
ensuing year : Whereupon, the ballot being taken, the follo\Ying
Brothers were found duly elected to the offices affixed to their
names respectively :
Grand Master.
D. G. Master.
G. Senior Warden.
" Junior Warden.
" Treasurer.
" Secretary.
" Senior Deacon.
" Junior Deacon.
" Chaplain.
" Pursuivant.
" Steivard,
" Tiler.
Wor. John Dove, Grand Secretary, appointed Wor. William B.
Isaacs Deputy Grand Secretary.
REPORT OF COMMITTEE ON GRAND MASTER'S ADDRESS.
The Committee to whom was referred the Most AYor. Grand
Master's Address, made the following report, which was read and
adopted in form following :
The Committee to whom was referred our Most Wor. Grand Master's
very appropriate Address, desire to express, most fully, our high
satisfaction with the position he has assumed and maintained in dis-
charging the responsible duties of his high office during the past year.
We trust our Grand Masters will ever hold the reins of power with the
M. Wor.
. Wm. H. Harman,
No.
13,
R. Wor.
Edward II. Lane,
((
58,
a it
Wm. Terry,
a
82,
<( u
Thos. F. Owens,
li
1,
Thos. U. Dudley,
((
19,
John Dove,
li
19,
Wm. L. Maule,
a
11,
Ilobt. E. Withers,
11
122,
Geo. W. Dame,
a
122,
Brother
John Lester,
u
19,
«
Thos. Angel,
((
130,
((
R. D. Sanxay,
u
19,
44 GRAND LODGE OF VIRGINIA.
eame firm and gentle hand ; and thus prove worthy of being followed
by those who in our subordinate Lodges occupy the Master's chair.
The subjects to which our Most Wor. Graud Master directs the spe-
cial attention of this Grand Lodge are of vital importance. But as
they refer to subjects on which special or standing Committees are
appointed, we ask their appropriate reference.
The subject of our relations with the Grand Lodges of the United
States, and with Masons hailing from those jurisdictions, were disposed
of by the adoption of the Report of the special Committee on that
subject.
That in reference to the necessity of increased contributions to this
Grand Lodge from subordinate Lodges was also disposed of by the
adoption of the Report of the Committee on Finance. To that Com-
mittee we ask reference of so much of the Grand Master's Address as
refers to an increase of the salaries of Grand Officers.
The subject of Dispensations for receiving into our Institution those
who, though morally, yet are not physically, qualified to be made
Masons, and that in reference to what arc called cases of " Emergency,"
we ask to be referred to the Committee on Masonic Jurisprudence.
The subject of granting dispensations for Military Lodges we ask to
be referred to the Committee on Dispensations and Charters.
Respectfully submitted,
James Evans,
Lewis B. Williams,
Powhatan B. Starke.
REPORT OF COMMITTEE ON MASONIC JURISPRUDENCE.
The Committee on Masonic Jurisprudence made the following
report, which was read and adopted :
I'd the Most Wor. Grand Lochje of Virginia :
The Committee on Masonic Jurisprudence respectfully report that
they have had under consideration the various resolutions and papers
referred to them by the Grand Lodge, as well as the papers placed in
their hands by the Wor. Grand Secretary.
The first resolution referred to your Committee was as follows :
"Resolved, That the Committee on Masonic Jurisprudence inquire
into the expediency of amending Sectioa XIL, Chapter 3d, Methodical
GRAND LODGE OF VIRGINIA. 45
Digest, 80 as to provide that no Brother can be a working member of
more than one Lodge at the same time."
And we recommend the adoption of the following resolution by the
Grand Lodge :
Resolved, That Section XII., Chapter 3d, Methodical Digest, be
amended in the first line, to read : " No Brother can be a working mem-
ber of more than one Lodge at the same time without a dispensation
from the Grand Master.
The second and third resolutions referred to it, required your Com-
mittee to inquire into the expedieocy of amending the laws governing
Petitions and Rejections, and we recommend the adoption of the
following resolution :
Resolved, That no subordinate Lodge in this Grand Jurisdiction
(except Military and Travelling Lodges) shall receive the petition for
initiation of any person who has not resided within its jurisdiction for
two years, without the approval of the Lodge from whose jurisdiction
be has removed, or a dispensation from the Grand Master.
The fourth resolution referred to the subject of Petitions and Ballot-
ing, and we recommend the adoption of the following resolution :
Resolved, That the Methodical Digest of the laws of the Grand
Lodge of Virginia contain all necessary laws for the government of
Lodges on the subject of petitions and balloting. "We refer to the
report on Petitions made to the Grand Lodge by the Special Committee
of Jurisprudence in 1855 (see pages 73-76, inclusive of printed pro-
ceedings of Grand Lodge in 1855,) as a sound interpretation of the law,
and entitled to the careful consideration of all the Lodges. But, to
avoid misconstruction of one passage in that report, we say, that after
the sentence on page 75, beginning, "In some extremely rare cases the
Master may order, &c.," there should be inserted, as follows : "And
whenever the Master of the Lodge, in the exerci.se of a sound discretion,
believes that the ballot should be circulated more than once, to preserve
the peace and harmony of the Lodge, it is his duty to do so, provided
it be done within working hours and on the same evening. And no
complaint can be made of the action of the Master save to the Grand
Master or the Grand Lodge."
The papers placed in the hands of your Committee by the R. Wor.
Grand Secretary present no proper questions for their consideration.
They are for the most part questions propounded to the Grand Secretary
for his opinion, to which, he informed the Committee, he has returned
46 GRAND LODGE OF VIRGINIA.
answers. They presume, from the well known ability and accurate
learning of the Grand Secretary in all matters appertaining to the laws
of Masonry, that these answers were in all respects correct.
Fraternally and respectfully,
James F. Johnson,
T. U. Dudley, Jr.,
S. S. Baxter,
Lewis B. Williams.
REPORT OF COMMITTEE ON DISPENSATIONS AND CHARTERS.
The Committee on Dispensations and Charters made tho
following report, which, after amendment, was adopted :
The Grand Committee on Dispensations and Charters have had under
consideration the various subjects referred to them, and beg leave to
submit the following report :
Whereas, a Dispensation was issued by the M. Wor. Grand Master,
authorizing the opening a Lodge at Hillsboro', Albemarle county, by the
name of King Solomon's Lodge, No. — , and appointing W^or. Samuel
R. Slack, Master, Samuel A. Leake, Senior Warden, and John J-
W^inn, Junior Warden, and the said Dispensation being returned with
the necessary documents —
Resolved, That a Charter do issue for the permanent establishment
of said Lodge, by the name, title and designation of King Solomon's
Lodge, No. 194, and appointing the officers named.
Whereas, a Dispensation was issued by the M. Wor. Grand Master,
authorizing the opening a Lodge at Bridgewater, in the county of Rock-
ingham, by the name of Eureka Lodge, No. — , and appointing Wor.
Thomas H. B. Brown, Master, Peter IL Snyder, Senior Warden, and
John Williamson, Junior Warden, and the said Dispensation being
returned with a portion of the necessary documents —
Resolved, That a Charter do issue for the permanent establishment of
said Lodge, by the name, title and designation of Eureka Lodge, No.
195, and appointing the officers named, when they shall have sent a
copy of their proceedings under the Dispensation, and the same shall be
approved by the M. Wor. Grand Master.
Whereas, a Dispensation was ii-sued by the M. W. Grand Master,
authorizing the opening a Lodge in the town of Hansonville, Russell
GRAND LODGE OP VIRGINIA. 47
county, by the name of Stuart Lodge, No. — , and appointing Wor. G.
Easterly, Sr., as Master, Hiram F. Strong, Senior Warden, and Joseph
C. Fugate, Junior Warden, and the said Dispensation being returned
with a portion of the necessary documents —
Resolved, That a Charter do issue for the permanent establishment of
said Lodge, by the name, title and designation of Stuart Lodge, No.
196, and appointing the officers named, when they shall send a copy of
their proceedings under said Dispensation to the M. W. Grand Master,
and the same shall be by him approved.
Sundry petitions for the establishment of Military Travelling Lodges
having been presented from several regiments and brigades in the Con-
federate service to the M. W. Grand IMaster, and by him refused, during
recess, we take much pleasure in concurring with the Grand Master in
his decision.
Your Committee would recommend the adoption of the following
resolution :
Resolved, That the several Military Travelling Lodges working under
the authority of this Grand Lodge be required to furnish a copy of
their proceedings to the M. W. Grand Master, with a view to determine
whether or not their work be regular.
All of which is most respectfully submitted,
J. B. DupuY,
James L. Cook,
WxM. T. Allen.
REPORT OF COMMITTEE ON PROCEEDINGS OF GRAND OFFICERS.
The Committee on the Proceedings of Grand Officers made
the following report, which was read and adopted :
To the Most Wor. Grand Lodge of Virginia :
The Committee on the Proceedings of Grand Officers during recess,
have performed the duties required of them, and beg leave to submit
the following report :
Grand Master.
Notwithstanding the present incumbent assumed the arduous and
responsible duties of his office during one of the most important periods
of Masonry, we are pleased to see that he has proved himself fully equal
48 GRAND LODGE OF VIRGINIA.
to his Ligh and responsible position, and bas fully justified the confidence
reposed by the Grand Lodge in his ability, zeal and industry.
Grand Treasurer.
This officer continues to discharge the duties of his office with that
fidelity and accuracy which exhibit his constant watchfulness of the
financial interests of this Grand Lodge.
Grand Secretary.
Your Committee take great pleasure in bearing testimony to the con-
tinued fidelity and ability of this invaluable officer. His extensive
Masonic knowledge, with the accurate and prompt discharge of the
duties of his office, entitle him to the thanks of not only the Grand
Lodge, but the Craft generally.
Grand Lecturer.
No report bas been received from this officer, but your Committee arc
satisfied that whenever his services have been required he has dis-
charged the duties of his office with his accustomed fidelity and accuracy.
D. D. Grand Masters.
Reports have been received from the following, to wit :
Wors. Wm. E. Wiatt, No. 2; John F. Regnault, No. 8; Mayo B.
Carrington, No. 9; Wm. Wertenbaker, No. IG; J. T. Logan, No. 19;
and R. E. Withers, No. 30. Your Committee regret that so many of
the D. D. Grand Masters have failed to make reports, and attribute it
to the unsettled state of the country, not doubting but what their zeal
in the cause of Masonry is unabated.
Respectfully submitted,
Wm. L. Maule,
Mayo B. Carrington,
E. T. Blamire.
honorable record.
The following Preamble and Resolutions were adopted ;
Whereas, it is the desire of this R. W. Grand Lodge to place on
perpetual record the names of those noble patriots among our Brethren
who have fallen, or may hereafter fall, in our determined struggle for
national independence :
Resolved, That the W. Masters of the several Lodges under this
Grand Jurisdiction be directed to have sent to the R. W. Grand Secre-
GRAND LODGE OF VIRGINIA. 49
tary, with the Annual Returns, the names of those of their members
who have fallen during this war, with the date of their Initiation,
Passing and Raising, their ofl&cial position in the Lodge and in the
army, and such other facts in reference to their history and character
as may be of interest to the Masonic Fraternity. And, further, that
the same course be adopted in reference to those who may hereafter
fall.
Resolved, That the W. Masters and Brethren be requested to furnish
the W. Grand Secretary with the names of those of our Fraternity who
were residing in the enemy's country, and yet came to our aid at the
opening of this war, and fell before they had an opportunity of
affiliating in this jurisdiction — with similar facts in reference to their
Masonic history.
Resolved, That the R. W. Grand Secretary be directed to have the
names and facts above mentioned, when received, properly recorded on
a book to be kept for that purpose, which, at the close of the war,
shall be placed by the Grand Lodge in the hands of a Committee, who
shall report what order shall be taken to carry into effect the end
expressed in the preamble to these resolutions.
COMMUNICATION FROM HENRY EASLEY.
A communication from Wor. Brother Henry Easlej was read,
whereupon the M. W. Grand Master appointed the following
Committee to examine into and report upon its subject matter,
(see proceedings of 1862,) to wit: Wors. R. E. Withers, A. H.
Moorman, G. W. Dame, C. M. Adkisson, and James P. Johnson.
Richmond, Dec. 13th, 1864.
Worshipful Sir and Brother :
I had a difficulty with my Lodge (Roanoke Eodge, No. 8,) some
several years ago which has never been adjusted. The last I heard
from it, a Committee of three Past Masters had been appointed to meet
at the Lodge and investigate the matter and report thereon. Bro. John
B. Carrington of Halifax, my county, was one of the Committee, and
died before there was any action had in the matter. I presume it will
be neopssary to appoint a new commission to act in the case, and wcito
this only to call the attention of the proper authorities to the subject.
There is involved in the disposition of the case some eight hundred or
a thousand dollars in good money, which, in my present situation
4
50 GRAND LODGE OF VIRGINIA.
would greatly relieve me. You will please, therefore, give your atten-
tion to the case so far as to see that proper action is taken on it at this
meeting of the Grand Lodge.
Very respectfully,
Fraternally yours,
Henry Easley,
Past Master of Roanoke Lodge, No. 8.
Ordered that this Grand Lodge be now closed, until to-morrow
evening, at 6 o'clock.
W. H. HARMAN, Grand Master.
Teste, J. B. DUPUY, D. a. Master, p. t.
Wm. B. Isaacs, B. Gr. Secretary.
At a Grand Annual Communication of the Most Worshipful
Grand Lodge of Virginia, continued and held in the Masons'
Hall, in the City of Richmond, on Wednesday evening, being
the Uth day of December, A. L. 5864, A. D. 1864:
present:
M. Wor.
. Wm. H. Harman,
Grand Master.
R. Wor.
W. Wertenbaker,
JD. G. Master, p. t.
<( ((
Jas. A. Scott,
G. Senior Warden, p. t.
11 u
Thos. U. Dudley, Jr., -
" Junior Warden, p. t.
((
Thos. U; Dudley,
" Treasurer.
<(
John Dove, - - -
" Secretary.
((
Wm. B. Isaacs, -
B. G. Secretary.
• ■■ '{(
Wm. L. Maule, -
G. Senior Deacon.
<(
Wm. E. Tanner, -
" Junior Deacon, p. t.
u
Geo. W. Dame, -
" Chaplain.
Bro.
John Lester,
" Pursuivant.
((
Thomas Angel,
" Steward.
u
Richard D. Sanxay,
" Tiler.
GRAND LODGE OF VIRGINIA.
51
And the Representatives of the following Subordinate Lodges, to wit
Lodge No. 10
, R. B. Snead, Wm. E. Tanner;
11
Thos. U. Dudley, Jr., J. H. Strother;
13
T. E. Coleman, W. H. Harman, G. G. Gooch;
19,
J. Latouche;
23
H. C. Stevens;
27,
G. S. Christie ;
33,
John L. Eubank ;
36
Wm. M. Davis, J. E. Goode, Charles Lundin;
39
John 0. Taylor, John H. Bailey ;
61
Geo. W. Brooks, John P. Little, E. G. Tompkins ;
53
P. Trent, C. R. Bricken;
60
Wm. Wertcnbaker;
61
James B. Coates ;
71
S. R. Slack ;
88,
W. J. Sydnor, E. Edmunds ;
95,
F. Aunspaugh ;
122,
Geo. W. Dame;
129,
S. M. Dickey;
130
J. E. Riddick, Savage Smith;
138
L. B. Williams;
162
L. F. Johnston ;
168,
J. M. Taylor;
193
L. F. Woltz;
206
E. Albright, Wm. M. Turner, C. J. Creekmur;
211,
C. C. Wertenbaker ;
213,
W. E. Wiatt.
PAST GRAND MASTERS.
M. Wors. Sidney S. Baxter, No. 10 ; Levi L. Stevenson, No. 13 ;
L. B. Williams, No. 138 ; James Evans, No. 19 ; P. B. Starke, No. 3.
DISTRICT DEPUTY GRAND MASTER.
War. John F. Regnault, No. 8.
PAST MASTERS.
Wors. B. M. Harris, No. 53; J. A. Scott, No. 10; E. T. Blamire,
No. 10; B. P. Noland, No. 81; J. B. Dupuy, No. 10; J. Carlton, No.
10; J. H. Dickinson, No. 10; S. H. Boy kin, S. B. Jacobs, No. 11;
J. H. Hackett, No. 10.
Bro. Peyton Johnston, Representative of the Grand Lodge of Ireland.
52 GRAND LODGE OP VIRGINIA.
VISITERS.
M. B. Wharton, No. 162, Shelby Lodge, Alabama ; W. A. Hurt,
No. 5, Alabama; W. P. Chilton, David Clopton, J. S. Dickinson, P.
M., Alabama; Jas. H. Nash, P. M., South Carolina; R. H. Wynne,
Alabama; James McCallan, G. M., Tennessee; John Frizzel, P. G.
M., Tennessee.
The Most Worshipful Grand Lodge was then opened in Ample
Form.
The Chairman of the Committee on Foreign Correspondence
made a verbal report, and apologized for not preparing and pre-
senting a written report, which was received.
REPORT OF GRAND REPRESENTATIVE OF IRELAND.
The report of the Representative of the Grand Lodge of Ire-
land, referred to the Committee on Foreign Correspondence,
with the accompanying documents, was called up and read :
Whereupon, the following proceedings were had, to wit :
The communication of Brother Peyton Johnston, Representative of
the Grand Lodge of Ireland, with accompanying documents, having
been read : Thereupon —
Resolved, That this Grand Lodge has heard with great pleasure that
Brother Cottle, our worthy Representative near that Grand Lodge, has
accepted his appointment, and will render us aid as a medium of com-
munication with that Grand Lodge, and does continue his appointment,
A communication from Bro. C. W. P. Brock was read, which
was referred to the Grand Secretary to carry out its subject
matter.
Richmond, Dec. 14th, 1864.
W. H. Harman:
Most Worsliipful Sir and Brother: — Just after the buttle of the
Wilderness — fought last spring — it was my fortune to meet at a FetJcral
field hospital a Federal surgeon, named (I think) McDermott — who
represented himself to be the Deputy Grand Master of Pennsylvania —
who informed me that he had in his possession the Jewels, Charter,
Holy Writings, &c., belonging to the Lodge at Centreville, Va., which
GRAND LODGE OF VIRGINIA. 53
he would be. pleased to forward to any one I would name, authorized to
receive them. I thanked him, and requested him to forward them to
your Most Worshipful Grand body, or to Most Worshipful James
Evans, or Worshipful John Dove, Grand Secretary.
I visited the hospital in the capacity of surgeon, for the purpose of
removing the wounded Confederates held by the Federals.
Very respectfully,
Yours fraternally,
C. W. P. Brock.
The following Preamble and Resolutions were adopted :
Wheheas, the day of adversity is the time for the manifestation of
the Tenets of our Institution; and, whereas, by this cruel war many
of our Brethren have fallen and left behind them widows and orphans,
many of whom may be in want, and all, probably, in need of the kind
word and counsel of a true friend and brother; and, whereas, many of
our soldiers, still in the field, have left families who may be in suffering
and want, which might be relieved by the visit and attention of a Bro-
ther truly imbued with the precepts of Masonry :
Resolved, That this Grand Lodge requires that each W. M. under
this Jurisdiction cause to be made, and kept on hand during the war, a
list of all the widows and orphans of their Brethren who have fallen,
and of the families of those who are still in the field, which shall be
kept in a permanent form ; that he visit, or cause to be visited, each
and every such individual and family, inquire into their condition and
keep himself posted on that subject, and by aid of Lodge Funds and
such other means as are at his control, relieve their need, and contri-
bute, as far as possible, to their happiness and comfort ; and also attend
to the education of those who need aid therein ; and that he cause a full
report to be made to this Grand Lodge, at each Grand Annual Commu-
nication, of the number of those in his bounds who are thus in need,
and to what amount relief has been afforded during the previous year.
MASONIC TEMPLE ASSOCIATION.
Resolved, That three proxies be appointed to represent the Grand
Lodge in meetings of the Stockholders of the Masonic Temple Associa-
tion for the ensuing year.
Proxies :— J. B. Dupuy, T. U. Dudley, Sr., W. T. Allen.
54
GRAND LODGE OF VIRGINIA.
Resolved, That the Committee on Masonic Jurisprudence be dis-
charged from the further consideration of so much of the Grand
Master's Address as refers to maiming, and that it be referred to a
special Committee, to report to the next Grand Annual Communication.
Committee : — S. S. Baxter, J. F. Johnson, G. W. Dame, Jno.
Dove, and W. E. Tanner.
Resolved, That the Committee on Masonic Jurisprudence, to whom
was referred so much of the Grand Master's Address relating to cases
of Emergency, be discharged from its further consideration, and that
the same be referred to the Committee of which M, W. Brother Baxter
is Chairman.
DISTRICT DEPUTY GRAND MASTERS.
The Most Wor. Grand Master made the following appoint-
ments of District Deputy Grand Masters :
District No. 1,
2,
3,
4,
Wor
. W. E. Wiatt,
W. Eubank,
Gloucester C. H.
Lancaster G. H.
5,
((
James L. Cook,
Petersburg.
6,
7,
8,
John R. Purdie,
Jno. F. Regnault,
Smith field.
Richmond.
9,
{(
M. B. Carrington,
Golumbia.
10,
((
J. Dudley Davis,
Pedlar Mills.
11,
(t
J. F. Johnston,
Liberty.
12
((
13,
((
J. J. Chew,
Fredericksburg.
14,
15,
((
Wiatt Walker,
T. M. Boyle,
li
IG,
a
W. Wertenbaker,
Charlottesville.
17,
18,
19,
11
(I
ic
J. T. Logan,
Harrisonburg. .
. 20,
ic
W. L. Balthier,
Staunton.
21,
u
F. Woltz,
Fivcastle.
22,
ic
D. G. Douthat,
Ghristia nsburg.
23,
tt
L. F. Johnston,
Goodson.
24,
((
S. C. Ludington,
Frankfort, Greenbrier Co,
25,
11
Fayette Mauzy,
Culpeper C. H.
30,
(I
George W. Dame,
Danville.
GRAND LODGE OF VIRGINIA. S&
DISTRICTS.
List of Lodges composing the Masonic Districts :
District No. 1—1, 2, 5, 25, 30, 99, 100, 149, 151, 166, 185.
2-6, 7.
3—
4—76, 88, 105.
6—3, 15, 29, 85, 115, 150, 169.
G— 18, 42, 65, 77, 84, 134, 164, 177.
7—52, 59, 83, 90, 118, 119, 123, 152, 186.
8—10, 11, 14, 19, 36, 51, 53, 89, 130, 161, 168, 184.
9—68, 141, 143, 146.
10—33, 73, 92, 163.
11_39, 44^ 69, 70, 95, 155, 183.
12—7, 43, 50, 78, 102, 126, 153, 189.
13—2, 4, 63.
14—17, 24, 75, 87, 127, 140, 153.
15—22, 40, 81, 114, 120.
16—32, 34, 45, 55, 58, 60, 71, 79, 138.
17_54, 80, 91, 111, 117, 124, 136.
18—21, 57, 94, 132, 139, 148, 157, 175.
19—27, 38, 135, 137, 142, 192.
20—13, 46, 64, 67, 103.
21—23, 66, 72, 109, 171, 190.
22—82, 86, 129, 131, 156, 165.
23—31, 35, 47, 48, 62, 172, 173, 187, 188.
24—12, 49, 97, 106, 116, 179.
25—56, 74, 104, 110, 145, 162, 178, 182.
26—20, 26.
27—9, 28, 93, 98, 158, 167, 170.
28-27, 101, 104, 108, 128, 174, 176, 180.
29—41, 107, 112, 144, 154, 191.
30—8, 16, 61, 96, 122.
31-113, 121, 160.
GRAND LECTURER.
The Most Wor. Grand Master appointed M. W. James Evans
Grand Lecturer.
RESOLUTIONS.
Resolved, That the salary of the Grand Secretary be hereafter §2000
per annum until further ordered.
56 GRAND LODGE OF VIRGINIA.
Resolved, That the proceedings, reports of committees, and the
returns of subordinate Lodges, be published entire.
Resolved, That one thousand copies of the proceedings be published,
and that the Lodges, and individuals who may desire copies, be charged
such sum as in the opinion of the Grand Secretary will cover the cost
of the publication.
Resolved, That the R. W. Grand Secretary be authorized to have
published, in advance of the general publication of the transactions of
this Grand Annual Communication, so many copies of the lleport of
the Committee under the Resolutions of 18G2 as funds may be provided
by private subscription to pay for.
Resohed, That the Grand Treasurer pay the amounts that are now
due, or may become due during recess, for printing, postage and other
expenditures growing out of the proceedings of this Grand Lodge.
Resolved, That the Grand Treasurer pay the Grand Secretary 3500
for his services ending the second night of this Grand Annual Com-
munication.
Resolved, That the Grand Treasurer pay the Grand Pursuivant $20
per day for his services.
Resolved, That the Grand Treasurer pay the Grand Steward §50 for
his services.
Resolved, That the Grand Treasurer pay the Grand Tiler 820 per
day for his services.
Resolved, That the Grand Treasurer pay the Grand Steward's bill,
amounting to for fuel, lights and servant's hire.
Resohed, That the Grand Treasurer pay the bill of the Grand Stew-
ard's Committee, amounting to .
Ordered, That this Grand Lodge be now closed until the 2d
Monday in December, 1865, pr during the pleasure of the Most
Wor. Grand Master.
• W. H. IIAR^IAN, Grand Master.
Teste, WM. WERTENBAKER, D. Q. 31., p. t.
VVm. B. Isaacs, D. G-. Secretary.
GRAND LODGE OF VIRGINIA.
67
GRAND TREASURER'S ACCOUNT.
At a Grand Annual Communicaiion of the Grand Lodge of Virginia, begun and
held in the Masons' Hall, in the city of Richmond, on Monday, December Itth,
A. L. 6864, A. D. 1864, the following Lodges paid in their contributions, as
follows :
Blandford
Lodge,
No. 3,
By Bro. Charles E Stuart,
$35 00
Richmond
<(
10,
J. F. Regnault,
45 75
Metropolitan
(C
11,
Wm. L. Maule,
35 75
Monroe
<(
12,
J. M. Burnside,
26 00
Staunton
ei
13,
Wm. H. Harman,
25 75
Manchester
({
14,
Wm. Bradley,
17 00
Petersburg
a
15,
James L. Cook,
38 00
Chestnut Grove
C(
17,
John Dove
13 25
Richmond Randolph
(<
19,
Wm. J. Riddick,
41 50
Taylor
(C
23,
John Dove
10 00
Rockini^ham
le
27,
George S. Christie,
54 GO
Corinthian
te
29,
James L. Cook,
6 25
Warren
te
33,
John Dove,
40 00
Catlett
((
35,
J. H. Horton,
35 00
Saint John's
C(
36,
Thomas H. De Witt,
26 75
Marshall
«
39,
John Osborne Taylor,
51 25
Farmville
tt
41,
Henry Scruggs,
10 25
Prudence
(C
44,
J. F. Johnson,
10 50
Scottsville
<c
45,
J. W. Harriss,
8 75
Greenbrier
<(
49,
John Dove,
38 25
Dove
(t
51,
John T. Sizer,
21 25
Brunswick
C(
52,
P. B. Starke,
25 00
Log(5 Franyaise
((
53,
P. Trent,
25 00
Day
<(
58,
John Dove,
16 50
Widow's Son
C(
60,
Wm. Wertenbaker,
26 50
Polk
(C
61,
James B. Coates,
37 25
Tazewell
(<
62,
G. W. Spotts,
13 75
Natural Bridge
<<
64,
John Dove,
10 00
Friendship
<c
66,
W. E. M. Word,
27 25
Mountain City
<c
67,
John Dove,
8 00
Powhatan
(C
68,
P. J. Haskins,
5 25
Boonsborough
(1
70,
E. U. Eubank,
8 75
James Evans
cc
72,
John Dove,
8 00
Clinton
<(
73,
Ro. M. Browne,
27 50
Montross
(C
76,
Robert Mayo, Jr.,
32 50
Chuckatuck
«
77,
John Dove,
5 00
Washington
<c
78,
John Dove,
50 00
Flat Rock
((
83,
P. Russell,
5 00
McDaniel
tc
86,
J. H. Guggenheimer,
11 25
58
GRAND LODGE OF VIRGINIA.
Lancaster Union
Lodge,
, No. 88, By Bro. John Dove,
15 00
Fleetwood Harmony
((
92,
John Dove,
10 00
Liberty
(C
95,
J. Robinson,
14 00
Giles
<(
106,
John Dove,
35 00
Monroe
(C
107,
W. E. M. Word,
11 00
Door to Virtue
cc
109,
John Dove,
27 50
Laurel
((
112,
C. W. Harvey,
13 50
Meherrin.
c<
119,
John Dove,
12 25
Roman Eagle
(C
122,
G. W. Dame,
20 00
Blue Stone Uaioa
(C
123,
J. J. Barnes,
10 00
Independence
(C
129,
S. M. Dickey,
17 50
Henrico Union
(;
130,
J. E. Riddick,
23 75
Leitch
((
131,
John Dove,
7 00
Lafayette
<c
137,
J. S. Calvert,
20 00
Independent Orange
cc
138,
Lewis B. Williams,
10 00
Patrick Henry
C(
140,
John Dove,
13 00
De Witt Clinton
cc
141,
Mayo B. Carrington,
9 25
Saint John's
C(
144,
J. B. Dupuy,
8 75
Staunton River
cc
155,
John Dove,
23 00
Hunters
C(
156,
John Dove,
20 00
Chesterfield
cc
161,
E. Williams,
7 25
Shelby
cc
162,
L. F. Johnson,
22 25
Henry Clay
(C
165,
John S. Draper,
8 00
Ashland
(C
168,
T. J. Wooldridge,
11 75
Wayne
cc
182,
J. M. Ferguson,
11 25
Hil! City
cc
183,
J. B. T.Phelps,
16 00
Rye Cove
cc
187,
L. F. Johnson,
12 00
Lakeland
cc
100,
Edward Rives,
15 00
South Side
cc
191,
B. S. Crute,
10 00
Fulton
<c
193,
L. F. Woltz,
12 50
Wise
<c
202,
C. E. Stewart,
y 6 00
Army
<c
203,
Geo. S. Christie,
9 25
James River
cc
206,
E. Albright,
13 25
Old Guard
cc
211,
C. C. Wertenbaker,
15 50
Rebel
<c
213,
Wm. E. Wiatt,
5 00
,
i
1,428 25
Amount received, fourteen hundred and twenty-eight dollars and twenty-five
cents.
THOMAS U. DUDLEY,
Grand Treasure!- of the Grand Lodge of Virginia.
Richmond, December 1864.
GEAND LODGE OF VIRGINIA.
69
BALANCES DUE.
The following balances are due up to the Grand Annual Communication, in
December, 1864, inclusive.
Norfolk United
Lodge N
0. 1,
owes
Atlantic
2,
(C
Kilwinning Cross
2,
(C
Fredericksburg
4,
cc
Saint Tammany
5,
<(
Williamsburg
6,
C(
Blue Ridge
7,
«
Botetourt
7,
cc
Roanoke
8,
cc
Fairmont
9,
cc
Brooklyn
16,
cc
Smithfield Union
18,
cc
Franklin
20,
cc
Hiram
21,
cc
Alexandria Washington
22,
cc
Pittsylvania
24,
cc
Mount Olivet
25,
cc
Weslon
26,
cc
Biijelow
28,
cc
Suflblk
30,
cc
Marion
31,
cc
George
32,
cc
Warren
33,
cc
Marshall Union
37,
cc
Berlin
. 42,
cc
Fairfax
43,
cc
W'orlhington Smith
46,
cc
Preston
47,
cc
Abingdon
48,
cc
Piedmont
50,
cc
Excelsior
54,
cc
Palmyra
55,
cc
Minerva
56,
cc
Fredericksburg American
63,
cc
Jeflerson
65,
cc
Mackey
69,
cc
Blue Ridge
71,
cc
Washington
78,
cc
Salem
81,
«'
Wytheville Fraternal
82,
cc
Acacia
84,
cc
$ 73 50
63 00
69 75
105 00
56 25
2C 00
36 75
16 00
49 50
64 00
32 50
5 00
25 00
25 50
101 00
10 00
15 00
21 00
37 50
39 75
73 00
8 75
12 00
40 75
20 00
34 00
34 75
14 50
9 00
34 00
32 00
20 00
72 50
36 00
5 25
6 75
5 00
30 00
22 50
32 25
26 25
60 GRAND LODGE OF VIRGINIA.
Astraea Lodge No. 85, " - - . 18 50
Vincent Witcher " 87, " - - - 10 25
Lancaster Union " 88, " - - - 14 75
Fleetwood Harmony " 92, " . - - 10 50
Morgantown Union « 93, " - - - 65 00
Greenway Court " 94, « . - . 41 00
Halifax Hiram " 96, « - - - 16 50
Frank ford " 97, " - - - 31 CO
Hermon «< '98, " - - - 62 50
Somtrtoii « 99, it . . - 16 50
Portsmouth Naval " 100, " - - - 60 00
Ohio « 101, "... 140 00
Kanawha <« 104, " - - - , 31 25
Wellsburg " 108, " - - - 32 00
Western ."^tar « 110, " - - - 34 75
Mount Olivet " 113, " - - - 37 00
Olive Branch « 114, " - - - 15 00
Prince George " 115, " - - - 8 50
Princeton « 116, " - - - 20 50
Triluminar << 117, " - - - 36 75
Washington Union " 118, " - - - 15 00
Andrew Jackson " 120, " - - - 42 00
Ashton « 121, " - - - 28 00
Avon " 124, " - - - 26 00
Linn Banks " 126, " - - - 9 GO
Dallas " 132, " - - - 35 25
Mount Carmel « 133, " - - - 28 75
Blackwater " 134, " - - - 5 00
Hunter " 135, « - - - 25 00
Equality " 136, « - - - 73 00
Clinton " 139, " - - - 15 00
Cassia «« 142, " - - - 13 50
Buckingham Union " 143, " - - - 40 00
Chandler '« 148, <•'--. 21 25
Harmony " 149, « - - - 14 50
Widow's Son " 150, " - - - 20 00
Franklin " 151, " - - - 33 00
Fitzwhylsonn " 152, « - - - 8 00
Dan River " 153, " - - . 7 25
Keysville " 154, " - - - 11 00
Prospect Hill " 157, " - - - 21 00
Mannington " 158, " - - - 25 00
Ripley " 160, " - - - 25 00
Friendsiiip « 163, " - - - 10 00
Temperance " 164, " - - - 8 75
Mount Vernon " 166, « - - - 24 00
Preston " 167, " - - - 29 00
Relief " 169, " - - - 30 00
Fetterman " 170, " - - - 20 00
Covington « 171, '< - - - 22 00
Minturn " 172, " - - - 20 00
GRAND LODGE OF VIRGINIA. 61
Hope
Lodge No,
. 173,
C(
New Cumberland
«
174,
Mount Olive
cc
175,
Bethany
cc
176,
cc
Virginia
((
177,
Kanawha Valley
(C
178,
Wakoma
((
179,
cc
Cameron
IC
180,
cc
McAlister
te
185,
cc
Martin's Station
(C
188,
Patmos
«
189,
Moorefield
«
192,
30 00
23
00
20
00
21
00
5
00
10
00
30
00
37
50
15
00
11
00
16
25
15
00
$ 3,077
00
Amount due from Subordinate Lodges to Grand Lodge, three tliousand and
seventy-seven dollars.
THOxMAS U. DUDLEY,
Grand Treasurer of the Grand Lodge of Virginia.
Richmond, December, 1864.
62
GRAND LODGE OF VIRGINIA.
SUSPENSIONS.
By Metropolitan Lodge, No.
Richmond Randolph "
St. John's "
Log6 FranQaise
Monroe
Laurel
Lafayette
Southside
11, Bros. B. F. Eads, W. B. Forden,
H. Rosenheim.
19, Bro. Geo. E. Baker.
36, Bros. J. F. Alvey, James W.
Clark, N. W. Nelson, A. B.
Goodman, Thad. D. Goode,
William A. Leitch, Joseph
Watson, Geo. W. Butler.
53, Bros. J. Peyser, N. Lacroix, S.
Sunbacher, J. Louis, M.
David, Levi Hester ^
107, Bro. S. D. McDearmon.
112, Bro. B. F. Smith.
137, Bro. Addison Borsh.
191, Bro. P. F. Pankey.
N B. — Wor. John L. Eubank was improperly returned as suspended
in 1861.
By Petersburg
St. John's
Leitch
RE-INSTATEMENTS
Lodge, No.
15, Bro. R. G. Boisseau.
36, " John A. Semple.
131, " N. B. Stimpson.
EXPULSIONS,
By Petersburg
Chestnut Grove
Marshall Lodge
Wytheville Fraternal
Vincent Witchcr
Fleetwood Harmony
Southside
Lodge, No. 15, Bro. Jos. Rosham.
" 17, " Geo. E. Harvey.
" 89, " Miles R. Bohannon.
" 82, " Benjamin Vail.
" 87, " George W. Dickinson.
" 92, " David Witt.
«< 191, " James T. Carwiles.
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