America.

floor was occupied in a great part by this same class of welcome visitors . The first Ode presented on the occasion , vras well executed by a volunteer choir of young vocalists , under the direction of Br . M . S . Reeves , who had been appointed to that charge by his Masonic brethren . The acting Chaplain of tho clay , the Rev . Br . John A . Honour , then offered up an appropriate prayer to the Supreme Architect Br . Dr . S . H . Dickson , the orator of the day , after referring to the change which had taken place in the political condition of America since the Grand Lodge of South

Carolina Avas founded , proceeded to give a history of that institution , from which we extract the following remarks : —A century is long iu reference to human life , or even in a survey of a nation ' s progress ; but it is a brief space , and mere point of time in relation to the time-honoured order of Masonry . Tho eternal rules of justice , and benevolence and order know no changes— -why then should Masonry change ? The secret shelter and sacred enclosure of Masonry has ever afforded the nursery in which the great eternal principles of truthand justiceand equalitycould be preserved until

, , , they could be transplanted out into the world at large . If proofs of this ultimate tendency were demanded , the strongest would be found in the fact , that despotism and usurpation have ever marked their first encroachments by attempts for the suppression of the Masonic Order . The first Lodge , of whoso institution in this State we have any record , was founded in 1735 , under a warrant from Lord Viscount Montague , then Grand Master of the Free and Accepted Masons of the mother-country , ancl was established under the chartered name of Solomon ' s Lodge . The warrant of Prince

George's Lodge , at George-town , is dated in 1743 ; and those are the only Lodges of which definite traces can be discovered prior to the organization of the Grand Lodge , whose first centenary is now completed . It is , however , highly probable that other Lodges Avere founded in the period between 1738 and 1754 , whose records have been lost to us . On the Gth April , 1 / 38 , we have evidence that a " Provincial Grand Master of Carolina" was present at a meeting of the Grand Lodge of England . It is not reasonable to suppose that such an appointment would haA'e been granted to a Province that contained but one Lodge . Nor is it reasonable or consistent with

usage to suppose that the deputation Avhich was granted in March , 1754 , with a view to the establishment of a Grand Lodge of South Carolina , would have been accorded to two Lodges merely . Yet we find it asserted that a Provincial Grand Master ivas appointed as early as 1736 , ancl the inference is , therefore , highly probable , that other Lodges were formed whose traces liaA-e been obliterated . On the 24 th of December , 1754 , the " first Grand Lodge of South Carolina was solemnly constituted , and its first great festival was held on thc day consecrated to St . John the Evangelist , at hich 120 brethren

AA' were present This Lodge continued through the Revolution , at the close of which the propriety and necessity of an independent and separate jurisdiction began to bo considered . Some of the Lodges accordingly met in convention , and , after discussing the question fully , resolved on such a course , and appointed a day for action accordingly . On this day , the Sth of February , 1787 , William Drayton was elected Grand Master in and for the State of South Carolina . As early as 1808 the evils ancl disadvantages of having two Masonic bodies of separate

jurisdictions , iu the same State , had been so clearly understood , that a strenuous effort was made for a union , the formal act for AA'hich purpose was duly ratified by both bodies in September of that year . This effort was more creditable , as the mother country lierself then presented the evil example of two Grand Lodges , which were not united and consolidated until 1813 , and then proceeded on the principles established by the South Carolina precedent . Discord and confusion , however , prevailed again to some degree , and some members Avithdvew from the consolidated jurisdiction of 1808 ,

ancl revived one of fhe oldest Lodges as previously organized . This deplorable state continued until 1817 , in January of which year an agreement AA'as entered into by authorised committees of both sides : and , on the 26 th December , a joint Grand Lodge was duly formed , with the style and title— "The Grand Lodge of Ancient Free Masons of South Carolina , " as still continued . Since this auspicious event , the history of Masonry in South Carolina has been gratifying , and its progress has vindicated the principles of the Order . The functions of this Lodge have not been confined exclusively to the territorial limits of the State , for