FROM THE MIRROR AND KEYSTONE.

GRAND LODGE OF NEW YORK-ARTICLES OF UNION REJECTED, &c.

The Annual Communication of the Grand Lodge of the State of New York was opened in ample form on Tuesday evening, June 2d, some three hundred and forty Lodges being represented, being by far the largest delegation ever known.

The address of the M. W. Grand Master, the Hon. John L. Lewis, jr., was, as all his papers are, admirably written, and in a masterly manner embraced all the leading topics of interest to the Fraternity, whether domestic or foreign.

The Grand Secretary's Report showed a receipt of $14,753.42 during the year, and the Grand Treasurer's an expenditure as follows:

Leaving a balance on hand, in cash and stocks, of $8,630.04 After the reading of the address of the G. M., and the reports of the G. Secretary and G. Treasurer, which were severally referred to a special committee, the business of the first evening closed with an ineffectual attempt of the D. G. Master Macoy, to rescind the following resolution, offered by the R. W. Bro. Tisdall, in 1852, and which was considered as a test vote on the proposed basis of union: "Resolved, That such Lodges whose warrants were forfeited for acts arising out of the difficulties of 1849, not yet surrendered to the Grand Lodge, unless surrendered within thirty days, shall be, and are, hereby declared forever annulled, and incapable of being revived." The proposition was rejected by a vote of 481 to 167.

Wednesday, the second day, after the appointment of the standing committees, was taken up almost exclusively in discussing the proposed basis of union, all the papers connected with

which were finally referred to the Committee on the Condition of Masonry, who, on Thursday morning, reported adversely, clearly pointing out its unconstitutionality, and winding up with a resolution to that effect. The debate was most exciting, and was not terminated until 5 P. M., having been participated in, on the part of the opponents of the measure, by Wor. Bros. P. P. Murphy (G. H. Priest of the State), Judge Johnson, of Schenectady, Hon. John D. Willard, Rev. Bro. Vogell, of Rome, who tore to shreds the piece of patchwork, and was on the part of the projectors of the scheme defended as well as the nature of the case admitted, by Bros. Macoy, Simons, and others. On a call by Lodges, 229 Lodges voted in the affirmative on the resolution of of the Committee on the Condition of Masonry, and 74 in the negative; the total vote being 780 for, and 247 against. The evening session was occupied by the election of Grand Master, which was by acclamation, and of D. G. Master.

Friday morning the election was continued, and the remaining officers elected. The complete list is as follows:

John L. Lewis, jr., Penn Yan, G. Master.

R. Macoy, New York, D. G. Master.

F. M. King, Port Byron, S. G. W.

Benj. H. Austin, Buffalo, J. G. W.
James M. Austin, New York, G. Secretary.

Chas. L. Church, New York, G. Treasurer.

Rev. Salem Town, Aurora, Rev. John Gray, West Point, Rev. R. L. Schoonmaker, Vischer's Ferry, Rev. H. C. Vogell, Rome, G. Chaplains.

Wm. H. Drew, Buffalo, G. Lecturer.

D. H. Van Sice, New York, G. Pursuivant.

Sewal Fisk, New York, G. Tyler.

During the afternoon a splendid service of silver was presented by the Grand Lodge to M. W. P. G. M. Evans, as a tribute of respect and esteem for his services as Grand Master. The remarks of the Grand Master in presenting the same, were most happy-indeed, most eloquent-and quite overpowered the worthy recipient, who declared his inability to give full expression to his feelings.

The Committee on the Condition of Masonry brought in a report on the effects of an appeal from the sentence of suspension or expulsion by a Subordinate Lodge, in which the position we

assumed in our article on that subject on the 19th of November last was fully sustained, and the false doctrine that "when an appeal has been taken from the decision of the Lodge, the sentence is held in abeyance, and cannot be enforced," was blown to the four winds of heaven.

Saturday morning the Grand Lodge re-assembled at 9 o'clock, when, on motion of Wor. Bro. P. P. Murphy, a committee of five were appointed to receive any propositions or suggestions that may be presented to them by any members of the Grand Lodge, or others, with a view to restore harmony, &c.; and on further motion of the same distinguished Brother, the resolution offered by R. W. Bro. Tisdall, in 1852, in reference to forfeited warrants of Lodges, alluded to above, was rescinded.

The Chairman of the Committee on Foreign Correspondence, R. W. Bro. F. M. King, presented the following resolution, as embodying the views of the committee upon that portion of the Grand Master's address in reference to Pennsylvania:

"Resolved, That until the Grand Lodge of Pennsylvania shall recognize this Grand Lodge, and accord to, and treat her members and constituents with the respect and fraternal courtesy due to all Masons and Masonic bodies, all Masonic intercourse between that Grand Lodge, and the Grand Lodge of New York, be, and is, hereby suspended; and the Subordinate Lodges in this jurisdiction are hereby forbidden to permit the visitation of Masons hailing from that State, until the recognition shall take place." The resolution was unanimously adopted.

An attempt was made to have the Independent Grand Lodge of Canada recognized, but the Grand Lodge resolved to maintain the position it assumed last year; therefore, the relations between the Grand Lodge of New York and the Provincial Grand Lodge remains as heretofore.

On motion of M. W. Bro. Evans, an amendment to the Constitution was offered, having for its object the restoration of Past Masters prior to December, 1849, but giving them only a collective vote.

During the session, twenty-four new warrants were granted.

EDITORIAL CORRESPONDENCE.

SAINT PAUL, Minnesota, June 21st, 1857. Since my last letter, dated at Milwaukee, I have travelled a considerable distance, as the date of my letter shows. I left Milwaukee by way of the Mississippi Railroad, which has its western terminus at Prairie du Chien. My ideas of Wisconsin had been derived from frequent journeys over the lake shore road, and I was therefore most pleasantly surprised on my recent exit from the commercial metropolis of the State. It has seldom been my lot to behold scenery more beautiful than that which meets the eye of the traveller between Milwaukee and Madison. Free from the monotony of the western prairie, the uneven surface of the land, rich and thickly covered with wood and foliage, affords a constant and pleasing variety, while the beauty of the scenery is enhanced by crystal lakes and lively streams.

I visited several places on my route. At the beautiful village of Waukesha, I was kindly cared for by Bro. Jas. H. Magoffin, who introduced me to many of the Brethren. At White Water, a pleasantly located town, with fine streets, lined with beautiful trees, I was welcomed by Bros. P. H. Brady, and L. R. Humphrey, two warm-hearted Brothers, whose efforts are untiring in behalf of the Craft. I also stopped at Palmyra, a few hours, where, by the kindness of Bros. Weed and Turner, I was able to make the acquaintance of several intelligent and well-informed Brothers. I passed one day in the flourishing city of Janesville, and had the pleasure of meeting Brethren in the Lodge, and seeing a candidate initiated. Here, I was fortunate enough to meet Bro. Pulford, P. D. G. M. To Bro. C. C. Cheney, for kind attentions, I would return thanks.

From Janesville, I went to the Capital of Wisconsin. The praises of this place have been told in eloquent language, and sung by the poet, till the name of Madison is familiarly known in every section of the country. I saw it under the most unfavorable circumstances. The rain fell almost the whole time I was there, and the streets were exceedingly muddy; yet, the beauty of the place appeared to be such as has never been adequately described in print. Situated on a strip of land between two lakes skirted with trees and foliage; with an undulating surface which affords

many beautiful situations for every variety of building, from the stately mansion of the "merchant prince," to the humble cottage of the laborer; with broad streets, lined with symmetrical rows of trees; with a finely wooded park, in the centre of which stands the capitol-an elegant stone structure; with many elegant private residences, of various styles of architecture, appropriately located where nature had furnished inviting sites; with fresh breezes and pure air-Madison stands unrivalled by any other city in the West, for beauty of scenery and natural advantages, But I have not time to dwell on these pleasing features.

The city of which I have just spoken contains a large number of Masons, possessing warm hearts and intelligent heads, among whom I may mention Bros. J. W. Hunt, Dr. Chittenden, and Bush. Their zeal for the promotion of the interests of the Craft is worthy of imitation. I met with the Chapter in Madison, and had the pleasure of seeing Comp. Baird, Grand Master, confer the degrees of Past Master and Most Excellent Master.

I should not forget to mention the Capitol House, where I found clean and comfortable quarters and obliging landlords.

I reached the Prairie du Chien on Wednesday last, and took a steamboat for La Crosse, at which place I arrived in the evening. It is a flourishing town, with three thousand inhabitants, situated in Wisconsin, about one hundred and sixty miles from Dubuque, and two hundred from St. Paul. Here, I was welcomed by Bro. Hubbard, who introduced me to many of the Brethren of his Lodge, which numbers about eighty.

Notwithstanding the cold, stormy weather which has prevailed, travelling on the Mississippi has been pleasant—at least to me, The river is swollen by the recent rains, and its large volume rushes impetuously on, between the high bluffs which rise from its banks, with their sides covered with a bright green, which looks inviting, even to the fairies. It is such features as these-the mighty river and the towering hills-which inspire us with reverence for the Deity, and cause us to bow in humble adoration before his mighty works. Man may build stupendous monuments of his genius and skill, which will endure for ages the admiration of all who behold them, but they sink into insignificance beside the sublime handiwork of the Supreme Architect of the Universe, which makes us realize how weak and ignorant we are, and how much need there is to implore the aid of the Most High in all our great and important undertakings.