Masonry In America.

weeks . I said Bro . Pike was more than an ordinary man ; I will say he is an extraordinary man—about six feet two inches high , weighing 250 lbs . I assure you he looks very unlike one ou whom worms had been feasting . Notwithstanding his large practice he has found time to purchase a lot of French and other rituals , and books on Masonic subjects ( especially connected with our beautiful Scottish Eite ) , amounting to thousands of dollars ;

read and translated immense numbers of them—and then discarding what was of no value , he has after immense labour been enabled to present that portion of the Masonic family with a work which for grandeur and sublimity of language has no equal iu the literary world . This I speak openly , as I have had the pleasure of reading it—though to carefully read and study it would require years . He is a linguist of considerable reputationbeing perfectly conversant with ArabicSyriacChaldeeand a great

, , , , many of the dead and living languages ; but I must not dwell too long on 'his subject , but pass on . He was elected M . P . G . Com . of the Supreme Council in place of Bro . Honour , who resigned , lit was a proud day for that rite that placed him at its head . Now may they look forward to a glorious future ; the rite has one to govern it who will do so , and take a pride in it , whose time , talents , and purse as heretofore will be at its disposal . I predict that there will be more Scotch Eite Masons in this

jurisdiction in ten years than in any other country where the " York Eite " is the ruling power . For years past it was almost impossible to get together sufficient members of the S . P . to transact business ; scattered over such a _ great extent of country and in various kinds of business , the select nine could not be got together . He entered upon his duties with a zeal which he alone knows how to display , and through him that autocratic number was , like the Supreme Councils of France and Belgium , increased to three

thirty- , giving a chance to every one of thc States in the jurisdiction to be represented ; thus the twenty-four vacancies will he filled out of the various States as opportunity occurs . Kentucky has been awarded two on account of her large Masonic membership , and having for eight years maintained her position and kept alive through great trials . Of the regular members you will in due time get a list—the official proceedings will of course be sent to every Supreme Council in the world . The 33 °

was conferred on four brethren who were then present , and who had been elected . Many other matters of interest to the rite were transacted , which I shall at a future time take pleasure in communicating to you . Thc sincere wish and prayer of the writer is that Bro . Pike may be spared for many years , and when he docs grapple with thc king of terrors , and by him be conquered , he may find the rich reward of a well spent life in that glorious abode of -which angels are the favoured occupants—and also in the hearts of his Masonic brethren .

On Saturday evening , March 20111 , one of those events occurred , of which the page of American Masonic history has no duplicate . Bro . Henry Buist , M . W . Grand Master of South Carolina , called an " Occasional Lodge , " for the purpose of conferring the first and second degrees , and again on the 29 th , the third degree , on Col . Chas . A . May , United States army , the hero of the battle of Buena Vista ( Mexico ) , and capturer of the Mexican general Le Vega—one of the best and finest looking men I ever sawsix feet three

, inches high , and would weigh three hundred pounds at least . Bro . Buist Grand Master , opened the Lodge , stated its object , and proceeded to work ! His assistants were Bro . Shroeder , J . G . W ., acting S . W . ; Bro . Fred . Webber of Kentucky , P . M ., acting J . W . ; Bro . J . E . Campbell , D . G . M ., acting S . D . ; Bro . Stokes , P . M ., acting J . D ,, assisted by Bro . Albert Pike , 33 ° P . G . H . P . of Arkansas , and Bro . Albert G . Mackey , 33 ° , G . H . P . and