Excerpt from Proceedings of a Grand Annual Communication of the Grand Lodge of Virginia, 1864 When this terrible war was inaugurated against us by those who had theretofore professed to be our political friends and brethren, the most sanguine of us anticipated of the mass of our enemies only the usages of civilized nations when at war; from those whom we had recognized as brethren, bound together by the "Mystic tie," we had a right to expect the amenities which in time of war had always been practiced even by savage Masons. Our expectation has not been realized. So far as I am informed, with the rarest exceptions, the commonest dictates of humanity have been disregarded by Masons in the Federal army, navy and country, towards our unfortunate brethren who have been their prisoners of war. My opinion as to the course to be adopted by Virginia towards Grand Lodges and Masons of the United States is well known. I content myself now with inviting the careful consideration of the Grand Lodge to a re-examination of this subject, which will be brought to your attention in the report of your Grand Committee. A subject of most vital importance to the Craft is the loose manner in which Masons are made in the subordinate Lodges. To guard well "the portal" has been repeatedly enjoined by my distinguished predecessors, and required by the Grand Lodge. We cannot lose sight of the fact that our number is being alarmingly increased. Where so much work is done, I cannot forbear the expression of the fear that much is badly done. The Grand Lodge carefully revised the work committed it to the custody of its most enlightened members and the Grand Lecturer - yet we find, at a time when little or no instruction is asked or given, more work is being done in the Lodges which are actually at work than ever before in our history. I earnestly invoke the attention of the Grand Lodge to this matter, and in connection with it, to the permanent regulation upon the subject of "Emergency," which I suggest shall be re-modeled and so simplified as to bring it within the apprehension of all Masons in the jurisdiction. There is an apparent inconsistency between the report of the Committee as adopted and the resolution making the Grand Master sole judge of cases in which the dispensation shall be granted. My judgment is, the report of the Committee was wisely conceived, and its adoption a proper restriction upon the power of the Grand Master; but so numerous have been the applications from subordinate Lodges for the exercise of this power uniformly predicated upon a vote of being "a case of emergency" - that I take it for granted mine can scarcely be the accepted opinion of the Craft. About the Publisher Forgotten Books publishes hundreds of thousands of rare and classic books. Find more at www.forgottenbooks.com This book is a reproduction of an important historical work. Forgotten Books uses state-of-the-art technology to digitally reconstruct the work, preserving the original format whilst repairing imperfections present in the aged copy. In rare cases, an imperfection in the original, such as a blemish or missing page, may be replicated in our edition. We do, however, repair the vast majority of imperfections successfully; any imperfections that remain are intentionally left to preserve the state of such historical works.

Excerpt from Proceedings of the Forty-Seventh Annual Communication of the Right Worthy Grand Lodge, of the United States, of the Independent Order Odd Fellows, Held in the City of Chicago, State of Illinois, September 18th, 1871: Together With a Sketch of the Reception Given by the State Grand Lodge and the Demonstration by the Brethren of Illinois, in Honor of the Event Standing here as representative men, occupying so elevated a platform, We cannot fail to see by the transcendent career Of Illinois and Chicago, a mirror which in fact vividly reflects our own progressive history as an Order. Let us recognize in the lesson which is so instructive that by just such a spirit of ener and unconquerable devotion, sustained by the favor and blessing of God, ave we grown odd-fellowship from a feeble germ to a eat tree, Whose branches now reach the ends of the earth. If we would e worthy Of the noble men from whom we received it, let our highest aspirations be to transmit it, not only in the beauty and excellence which now adorn it, but to O on adding to it grace and Virtue and comeliness, so that henceforth everyw ere and from all men it shall be hailed as a blessing to our age and race. About the Publisher Forgotten Books publishes hundreds of thousands of rare and classic books. Find more at www.forgottenbooks.com This book is a reproduction of an important historical work. Forgotten Books uses state-of-the-art technology to digitally reconstruct the work, preserving the original format whilst repairing imperfections present in the aged copy. In rare cases, an imperfection in the original, such as a blemish or missing page, may be replicated in our edition. We do, however, repair the vast majority of imperfections successfully; any imperfections that remain are intentionally left to preserve the state of such historical works.