question, "cui bono?" The seven lines of poetry quoted in conclusion are both beautiful and true; they are a worthy summary of Freemasonry.

The report of the Washington centennial memorial committee is a noble document of genuine interest; and the historic value of the volume compiled by the committee, containing the addresses at Mt. Vernon, and those before Colorado Lodges, together with memorial circulars and photographs, is great, and will be increasingly so in after years. The seven years of service by that committee were, in result, as that of Joseph in Egypt during a like number of years of plenty.

Brother Lawrence N. Greenleaf presented the report on necrology a paper showing good taste, a reverent spirit, an artistic instinct, and fine literary discrimination.

Brother R. W. Woodbury, chairman of the Washington Centennial Memorial Committee, presented to the Grand Lodge a cane which was given to him by the Ladies' Sewing Guild of Christ Church, Alexandria, Va., December 14th, 1899. The cane was made from the wood of an old forest tree which grew in the yard of Washington's church. Brother Woodbury requested that the Grand Secretary be made the custodian of the cane, and that it should be carried by the Grand Master of Masons of Colorado on the occasion of the second centennial of Washington's death.

Telegraphic greetings were received from the Grand Lodge of

Montana.

In one hundred and seventy-two pages Brother Greenleaf presented his review of fifty-five Grand Jurisdictions, six of them for two years. The report is characterized by the usual excellences of this accomplished craftsman's work, which finds few rivals at the Round Table. Iowa has gracious mention in three pages. He quotes from Brother Lambert on Grand Lodge dues and on the abuse of the black-ball. The proceedings are summarized well. Our report is kindly commended as "like its predecessors, filled with choice selections and brainy comment." In his "conclusion" he thus speaks of the Gran Dieta:

"Mexican Masonry is still in a confusing condition. The Gran Dieta seems to have parted with the last vestige of its authority as a central or supreme governing body, and exists merely as a consulting or advisory adjunct to the other Grand Lodges of the Republic."

Most Worshipful Joseph W. Milsom, Canon City, Grand Master. Right Worshipful Ed. C. Parmelee, Denver, Grand Secretary. Next Annual Communication, Denver, September 17th, 1901.

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CONNECTICUT.

HE strong, manly face of Grand Master John O. Rowland greets us on opening this volume-a face indicative of the good features of his administration, which was a credit to the Nutmeg State.

The One Hundred and Thirteenth Annual Communication was held in New Haven, January 16th and 17th, 1901. Before the Grand Lodge was opened Brother Edward G. Clark presented a gavel made from historic woods-one-half from hard maple taken from the General Daniel B. Brinsmade house, Washington, Conn., which was built in 1760; the other half from white oak taken from the Benjamin De Forest house, Huntington, Conn., built in 1773. General Brinsmade was Grand Master of Masons in Connecticut in 1826-27. In the De Forest house General Lafayette was a guest in 1777, and again in 1824. The handle was made from the John C. Calhoun elm, in Litchfield, Conn., where Calhoun graduated from Judge Reeve's law school. The box containing the gavel was made from the Brinsmade maple and De Forest oak. The brother certainly did well when he brought together these historic woods, and we should incline to say of his gavel that it was a beautiful piece of work and that he was entitled to a reward.

Thirteen Past Grand Masters graced the assembly, and one hundred and nine Lodges were represented.

The address of the Grand Master (twenty pages) is devoted strictly to business. Past Grand Master Clark Buckingham went to rest March 17th, 1900, and Past Junior Grand Warden Arthur B. Calef August 17th, 1900. The latter we well remember as an early graduate of the Wesleyan University, Middletown, Conn., and an honored resident of that city when we entered college. The Most Worshipful notes as "another of our own kith and kin" the decease of our Past Grand Master E. C. Blackmar, who was born in Woodstock, Conn. He made eighteen official visitations; rendered no decisions; made a plea for the "Home," and bowed his retirement.

The Grand Treasurer held a balance of $7,537.61 subject to order.

The report of Grand Secretary Barlow is brief but complete. The number of Lodges on the roll is one hundred and ten; the membership is seventeen thousand three hundred and ninety-seven, a decrease of forty-nine.

We are interested in the report of the standing committee on printing. The impression prevailed in that jurisdiction, as it has at times in others, that the expenses of the Grand Lodge were unduly increasing beyond the ratio of increase in membership. This committee found that the per capita expense of thirty prominent Grand Lodges varied from $1.36 to twenty cents, Massa

chusetts being the jurisdiction which was lowest; and that Connecticut ranked next, her per capita expense being twenty-one cents. The expense of printing their Proceedings we must wait until next year to learn.

The per capita tax was fixed at $1.00, of which twenty-five cents go to defraying the expenses of Grand Lodge and seventy-five cents to the "Masonic Charity Foundation Fund."

The memorial report is brief, tender, appropriate-a gem of its class. Portraits of Past Grand Master Buckingham and of Brother Calef are given; and we also find an excellent picture of their oldest living Past Grand Master, Eli S. Quintard, Grand Master in 1865-6.

The seventh report of Brother John H. Barlow on Correspondence covers one hundred and ninety-four pages. Alert, discriminating, courteous, cautious, the esteemed Grand Secretary presents a finished piece of work, which deserves more attention from the craft than (very likely) it will receive. "Masonry is a progressive science;" but are all Masons intelligently progressive men? We regretfully trow not. But the brother who reads carefully Brother Barlow's report will be a wiser and better man therefor, while he who does not read will be none the poorer, because he will not know how much he has missed. Brother Barlow is "a clipper," the selections being in excellent taste. To Iowa he accords the courtesy of a six-page notice. He quotes from Grand Master Lambert on printing Proceedings and on misuse of the black-ball. "Full and complete reports" are credited to Brother Parvin, while our report is styled "one of his best." He quotes from our introduction; what we said of their Grand Master's portrait and autograph; our tender of sympathy to himself in his sorrow; and from our conclusion. He endorses our views on the Mexican muddle, and (apparently) on the Washington imbroglio over the "coon in the woodpile."

Our sojourn in the company of our dear brother has been the occasion of pleasure and profit. We hope to greet him soon, and to feel his warm hand-clasp, which we are certain always carries a heart in it.

ter.

Most Worshipful Frederick S. Stevens, Bridgeport, Grand Mas

Right Worshipful John H. Barlow, Hartford, Grand Secretary. Next Annual Communication, Hartford, January 15th, 1902.

TH

DELAWARE.

HE portrait of Grand Master W. W. Black, Jr., greets us as we open this pamphlet, and at once invites our confidence and assures us of welcome.

The Ninety-fourth Annual Communication was held in Wilmington, October 3d and 4th, 1900. Eight Past Grand Masters

were in attendance. The Grand Master reported "peace and harmony throughout the jurisdiction." The membership was twentythree hundred and twenty-a gain of eightly-five. Right Worshipful John Brown Roberts, Past Senior Grand Warden, died May 13th, 1900, and Past Grand Master Joseph W. H. Watson, September 25th, 1900. The Most Worshipful visited every Lodge of the jurisdiction, some of them more than once. He found some Lodges negligent in the collection of dues-a failure which will continue until the ideal Secretary becomes more generally known than at present. "May his tribe increase!" He had not learned of the reconsideration of their offensive action on Negro Masonry by the Grand Lodge of Washington, though such action had been taken nearly four months before the meeting of his own Grand Lodge. The report of Grand Secretary Bartram is a brief document, confined strictly to business, not encroaching upon the domain of ancient history, nor essaying the role of prophecy.

The Grand Treasury contained a balance of $1,514.21.

The Grand Lodge of Western Australia was officially recognized and an exchange of Grand Representatives accorded.

Brothers Joseph E. Moore, Grand Master; Josiah W. Ewan, Past Grand Master, and Thomas H. R. Redway, Grand Secretary, all of New Jersey, were introduced, "escorted to the pedestal," and welcomed with Grand Honors. That "pedestal" elevation must have tested the modesty, if not the courage, of the distinguished visitors. Were they "set up" in a bunch, or one at a time, we wonder?

A memorial tribute to Past Grand Master Watson is well written, in good taste and with wise discrimination. The venerable form of preamble and resolution, however, we could wish were relegated to "innocuous desuetude."

In seventy-one pages Brother Lewis H. Jackson reviews the Proceedings of sixty jurisdictions. We pronounce it "a beautiful piece of work," which entitles the accomplished craftsman to more than his accorded stipend of $75.00; he should have the universal esteem and generous love of all his brethren. Iowa for 1900 is considerately noticed; Brother Lambert's remarks on "black-ball" are quoted. Brother Parvin's reports are pronounced "full of interest." Our own report is said to be "filled with the best things concerning Masonry, and most attractively presented." Brother Jackson serves an excellent pudding, with plenty of plums and appetizing sauce.

Most Worshipful Joseph Stuart, Wilmington, Grand Master. Right Worshipful Benjamin F. Bartram, Wilmington, Grand Secretary.

Next Annual Communication, Wilmington, October 2d, 1901.

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DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA.

HREE Special Communications were held-one December 31st, 1899, for the purpose of funeral services in honor of Past Grand Master Isaac LaRue Johnson, who died December 29th; another March 29th, 1900, for the exemplification of the degrees; and a third, September 18th, 1900, at which $500 was given in aid of Galveston.

The Semi-Annual Communication was held May 9th, 1900, twenty Lodges being represented. A special committee on Masonic and Eastern Star Home reported: (1) That they could not recommend active participation therein at present, inasmuch as a new Masonic temple project was on hand; (2) That whenever such Home should be undertaken it should be under the exclusive control of the Grand Lodge; and (3) That a committee of three be appointed to aid in the work of relief now being carried on by the Order of the Eastern Star, with authority to expend $500 from Grand Lodge funds in such good work. The report was adopted, but subsequently was reconsidered, the third resolution withdrawn, and the amended report adopted. We hope that this movement may not rest in the comedy stage-"Much Ado About Nothing."

Grand Master William G. Henderson occupied the chair at the Annual Communication, December 5th, 1900. Fifteen Past Grand Masters added wisdom to the occasion, and twenty-five Lodges were represented.

The Grand Master's address would have been greatly improved had it been less of a transcript from his letter book. Brother I. L. Johnson was the only Past Grand Officer to fall before the reaper, Death. He issued seven dispensations to waive time on candidates. Lodge contributions increased the $500 Grand Lodge donation for Galveston sufferers to $1,330.00. He visited every Lodge in the jurisdiction. In 1899 the Grand Lodge directed that none but Master Masons should be present when the Lodge was opened on the first or second degrees. The committee on work interpreted this action as governing the closing of the Lodge as well-"that all but Master Masons be excluded"—and the Grand Master approved. The rule may be good law, but it does not appear to us to be equity, and it certainly is not in harmony with early usage, when all business was transacted in a Lodge of Entered Apprentices.

This case came up for decision. On occasion of balloting on a candidate one brother declined to vote. The ballot was clear and the Master pronounced the candidate elected; but upon reflection he pronounced the ballot null and void, since not all had voted. The brother who had declined to vote then explained that he knew something against the candidate, but did not wish to vote and be held responsible for the rejection. He then retired, a new ballot was ordered, and the candidate declared elected. The Grand Master