Lodge, at Dedham, under Dispensation, once, at least; some of them several times. My intercourse with all the Lodges has been very pleasant. I have been kindly received at all times, and I very much regret that I feel it my duty to decline a reappointment.

Thanking you for the honor I have received,

I remain, respectfully and Fraternally, yours,

Z. L. BICKNELL.

SIXTH DISTRICT.

Worcester, Dec. 16, 1861.

To the M. W. WILLIAM D. COOLIDGE, Grand Master of the Grand Lodge of Massachusetts

DEAR SIR AND BROTHER-In conformity with my duty, I herewith present you my Report as D. D. G. M. for District No. 6.

I have visited during the year all the Lodges in the District, and have aimed at a faithful inspection of their work. With the exceptions mentioned in the following references to one or two of the Lodges, the Institution has lost none of its ancient interest; and both in the zeal of its older members, and in the character of its initiates, gives abundant assurance of future usefulness and progress. Morning Star Lodge, at Worcester. This ancient Lodge, whose Charter dates back to 1793, has now ninetyeight members, and has initiated fourteen during the year. The meetings of the Lodge have been well attended; the officers diligent and faithful, and the work animated, correct and impressive.

Middlesex Lodge, at Framingham. This is also one of the oldest Lodges in the State, having held its regular monthly communications continuously for sixtysix years. Its working efficiency has, I think, improved since the last annual report of its condition was made, and the degrees are now conferred with care, and a good degree of accuracy. The Lodge has forty members, and received five initiates during the year.

Meridian Lodge, at Natick. This Lodge is not in so favorable a condition as would be desirable. There continues to be a want of harmony, and the Lodge appears to be in a depressed state, but I am assured on the part of a portion of its members, that an effort shall be made to heal their differences; that the meetings may again become interesting, and the Lodge again prosper as it has done heretofore. It has fiftyone members, of whom three were admitted the present year.

Mount Zion Lodge, at Barre. This Lodge with a membership of fiftythree, has initiated but three during the year. The members are of excellent character, and have maintained a good degree of interest in their Lodge under difficulties which few others have had to encounter. They are widely scattered, two-thirds of them living several miles from the place of meeting. They are somewhat deficient in the work, and the services of a Grand Lecturer would be acceptable to them, and I have no doubt would add to the prosperity of the Institution in this part of the jurisdiction.

Quaboag Lodge, at Warren. This Lodge, though smaller than many of those around it, is in a healthy and prosperous condition, and its work has been favor

able and satisfactory. It has thirtynine members, and has received an addition of seven the present year.

Trinity Lodge, at Clinton. This is one of the best Lodges in the District. It has forty members, and this year has initiated six. Their work is accurate and praiseworthy. Some of its best members were among the first to respond to the call for troops, and one of them, at least, Capt. Henry Bowman, Past Master of the Lodge, is now a prisoner in Richmond. May he soon be released to share in the speedy triumph of our arms, and to enjoy the well earned rewards of peace! Montacute Lodge, at Worcester. It is hardly necessary for me to speak of this Lodge in detail, it has recently been honored by a visit from yourself and others, representatives of the Grand Lodge. The prominent event in its history, next to the granting of its Charter, was the recent dedication of its new hall, in which you did them the honor to take an active part. You had occasion to notice something of the interest which its officers and members manifest, and the promise they give of making it "a well deserving pillar" of the Order. It received fourteen initiates the present year, and has now a roll of seventyseven members.

United Brethren Lodge, at Marlborough, has fortyfour members, and admitted twentyone during the year; the largest number received by any single Lodge in the District. The work is of a very creditable character, and much zeal and spirit is manifested by the members. Several belonging to this Lodge are now absent in the army.

Quinebaug Lodge, at Southbridge. This is the youngest Lodge in the District. It is located in a pleasant and flourishing village, and enjoys the respect and confidence of the best class of its citizens. It has a membership of thirtyfive, and returns twelve new initiates. Both this and the preceding Lodge have abundantly rewarded the confidence of the Grand Lodge in granting them Char. ters, and I have no doubt they will prove to be among the most valuable branches of the Fraternity in the Commonwealth.

There have been made during the year eightyfive Masons in the District, and the several Lodges have contributed $309 to the treasury of the Grand Lodge.

The usual watchfulness and prudence have been shown in the election of can didates, and I am sure the interests of Freemasonry will not suffer in the hands of those who have been admitted to its rites and privileges. In several instances, for good and sufficient reasons, I have granted Dispensations for conferring degrees in less time than the constitutional requirement-the candidates being considered worthy, and their imperative departure for the seat of war, with the regiments to which they were attached, rendering the exception in their favor at once advantageous to them and to the interests of the Fraternity wherever they may be called.

In closing this Report, I desire to acknowledge the courtesy and kindness which has been uniformly accorded to me in visiting the various Lodges in the District, and to bear testimony to the respect and loyalty which they all cherish to the Grand Lodge, as the ultimate and supreme authority in all matters relating to Masonic jurisprudence. Grateful for the distinction you have conferred upon me, I remain, respectfully and Fraternally yours,

HENRY GODDARD, D. D. G. M. 6th District.

EIGHTH DISTRICT.

M. W. G. M. Wм. D. COOLIDGE,

DEAR SIR AND BROTHER-Though but recently called by your appointment to the office of D. D. G. M., made vacant by the death of our lamented R. W. Bro. Baxter, I have succeeded in visiting every Lodge committed to my supervision. I found them united, harmonious in spirit, and manifesting a good degree of interest in our cherished Institution. Most of them have done but little work the past year, owing mainly, no doubt, to the troubled state of the times; but still their "fervency and zeal" seem not to have sensibly diminished. With King Hiram Lodge, I had but little acquaintance-it being fifty miles distant-and therefore was unable to judge of its condition as compared with that of former years; but its appearance and work were such as to do credit to the oldest Lodge in the District. The same may be said of Union Lodge, Nantucket; Fraternal Lodge, Hyannis, and Mount Horeb Lodge, West Harwich. In each of these Lodges there is a spirit of harmony and of active interest which fully sustains their former good reputation, and indicates a sound, healthy condition.

ance.

De Will Clinton Lodge, Sandwich, I visited, under very unfavorable circumstances of weather and travel, and only a very few members were in attendBut from my intimate acquaintance with the Lodge in the past, and from the known zeal and interest of the Master and many of the Brethren, I have no doubt they still maintain their former standing of credit to themselves and of honor to the Fraternity.

Of Marine Lodge, Falmouth, I have to say, with no little pleasure, that a very marked change has been wrought for the better. This Lodge heretofore has been seriously deficient in Masonic knowledge, but during the past year the Brethren have evidently given themselves in earnest to mastering the work; and the result has been a very great improvement. Judging from their famil iarity with the Lectures, and other evidences of their proficiency, they will compare favorably with most of our Lodges; and by continued effort and perseverance they will in time attain a perfection of work not surpassed by any.

Martha's Vineyard Lodge, Holmes' Hole, is young in date of Charter, but in a highly prosperous condition, and has done a large amount of work the present year. On the evening of my visit they fortunately had a candidate for the third Degree of Masonry, which gave me an opportunity to witness the manner of their work. And I do not hesitate to say, that for correctness, promptness, and impressiveness, it was not to be excelled by that of any Lodge within the District. They are entitled to great credit for their diligence and effort in perfecting themselves in the knowledge of Masonry; and for their active interest and devotion to the Institution, which give promise of its becoming one of the most prosperous and best working Lodges in the State.

Pilgrim Lodge, South Harwich, is another young, but prosperous Lodge, whose members are zealous and actively interested, and have done a large amount of work. They have never availed themselves of the instruction of a Grand Lecturer, and need it very much; and there seems to be no good reason why they should not invite one to their aid. They work well in their way; but their

work varies in many respects from the standard work of the Grand Lodge; and it is to be hoped, and I doubt not, they will take the necessary steps to correct it. I will only say farther, that I have made it a point in my visits, to impress upon the minds of the Brethren in the several Lodges the importance of cultivating the spirit of Fraternal harmony and peace in these exciting times; of exhibiting the practical fruits of Masonry out in the world; of punctual attendance upon their Lodge meetings; of each and all perfecting themselves in the Lectures and the work; of being represented at every Communication of the Grand Lodge, and of extreme caution and care that they receive none to the privileges of Freemasonry but such as are known to be "worthy and well qualified," and who will make good Masons and good Brothers.

Most truly and Fraternally yours,

M. W. GRAND MASTER

R. S. POPE, D. D. G. M. of the 8th District.

NINTH DISTRICT.

It is with that pleasure "messengers of glad tidings" always feel, that I proceed to render to you an account of my stewardship as your Deputy for the Ninth District-for I have none but "glad tidings" of the Craft to bring to youglad tidings of social and Masonic prosperity; of increased and increasing interest in the work; of improved morale; of added Wisdom, Strength and Beauty in the Lodges, and of continued individual prosperity and happiness among the Brethren. In a word-of healthy growth of all that Masonry planted, and good Masons love to cultivate.

I have visited all the Lodges in my District, and have witnessed in all a thorough exemplification of their mode of work. I have found in all unbroken harmony; in many great social and financial prosperity, and in most a very commendable accuracy in the work. In two Lodges I found considerable variation and inaccuracy, resulting, in both cases, more from want of recent instruction than from intentional neglect, or carelessness. Having, however, taken measures to supply the needed instruction, and being confident that the errors will be speedily corrected, I will refrain from designating the Lodges referred to, by name, adding, that although they were deficient in the ritual, I no where found better examplars of the true Masonic character.

No cases of individual insubordination or unmasonic conduct have been brought to my official notice, except the single case, the particulars of which, early in the year, I reported to you, and as to which, you will be glad to learn, that a course of action, in accordance with your counsel, changed that which threatened to be a serious injury, to a positive benefit, both to the Lodge and the erring Brother, in that it brought into more than usually marked display and practical application, that Masonic charity that "suffereth long and is kind," and that, may I not add, by patient kindness, saves. May we all oftener remember that man, so long as he is man, must be imperfect; that the Square is not to be used to the exclusion of the Trowel, and that "the cement of Brotherly Love would not, indeed could not, unite us, did it not cling more closely to the rough than to the smooth surfaces.

In closing this Report, let me congratulate you on the continued prosperity of the Fraternity under your charge, through a year, more pregnant with danger to the Institution of Freemasonry than any of which our traditions have preserved the history.

While enterprise, paralized in all its "hundred hands," sits nerveless amid the wreck of its countless ventures; while all men throughout our unhappy country, forced, by the momentous changes transpiring around them, from their wonted courses of thought, action and life—are living in a new and strange bewildering existence; while all systems-social, civil, or religious, seem almost "tottering to the fall," Freemasonry, resisting the adverse influences that have disturbed all else, still flourishes, and we have had, in loyal Massachusetts, a prosperous and happy Masonic year. I am glad to see in this fact, evidence that the Institution, so dear to us all, rests upon a foundation, that, under God, nothing can destroynothing weaken-save only a perversion of its great influence to subserve the selfish ends of unworthy ambition, or to effect objects foreign to its nature and the purposes of its creation.

Masonry is an Influence not a Power! May we all be careful to recognize and preserve the distinction.

In accepting your appointment as your Deputy, I thanked you for the honor conferred; permit me now to thank you for the pleasure I have derived from the opportunities my position has given me of mingling more extensively with the Brethren of my District, and thereby, I trust, strengthening old and forming new and valued friendships. And let me also return my grateful acknowledgments for the repeated and patient consideration you have given to my frequent appeals for counsel and direction, which, with the advantage of following in the steps of one who had ably discharged his duty, and made smooth the path of his successor, has made my official duties easy, and my term of office, to me, at least, one of great pleasure and profit.

With great respect, I remain, Fraternally yours,

WILLIAM S. SHURTLEFF,

Springfield, December, 1861.

D. D. G. M. of 9th District.

THE WORD "FREE-MASON.”

THE word "Free-mason" occurs, for the first time, in the statue 25 Edward I. (1350), entitled "Lee Statuts d'artificers et servants," which ordains the rate of wages, as follows: "Item-Carpenters, Masons, and Tilers, and other workmen on houses shall take no other days wages for their work, but as they were used to do before the year 1346. That is to say, a master carpenter 3 pence, and another (namely a joiner) 2 pence. A master mason 4 pence, and other masons 3 pence, and their servants 1 penny." In the old French text, mestre de franche peer, 4 den. et autre mason 3 den. et leur servants 1 den." In the old English translation it is: "a master Freemason 4 den. and other masons 3 den., and their servants 1 den." The word Freemason here signifies a free-stonemason, one who works on free-stone (in French franche peer) as distinct from a rough-mason who works only with rough stones. Both classes of workmen are