D- ® 9 ( Iff' •H-/, Ek if 1^ L / ! !fi ;s-' scf VOL. I. Circular Letter —FROM Tin: — GRAND MASTER. Office Grand Master of Masons, 1 Wilson, N. a, Moy 2dth, 1876. J TO THE W. M., WARDENS & BRETHREN : Tlv.'. time appiMacUes wlieii Mas ms tliro ig'i- )Ut the work! meet loeelebrate tli'-a.nniversa- vv of one of tiie p nnm saints of Ih'-or !ei*, wlien in every I.o Ige ro )in the pni'e principles of our order will be i-dmarsed and ev, ry ma- S'ln fee! jirond tint be marciie mider the ban ner of Charity ami ili-other'y Love. It is meet tint we shobld on these occas'ons indulge somewhat in a practical exeiupUlic i- tion of ihe principles and teaclnngs of onr or der, and show tolhe worhl that onr professions are more than rhetorie, and hir;h simnding' declamation. It isliriewi' should not publish to the world our d.eeds of eliarity to be sei-n )f men, but such is the position of o'lr Innev- oieut work in r 'gard to one of its objects, that publiealion is inevitalile. Let ns then make such an cxldliition of attaelmient for onr Asy lums as will verify tiic sincerity of our |iro- profeS'irns. T.et suclt an impetus lie given tlic work as its importance and sacredness de mand and onr duty and obligation I'ctpiire. Let sneh immediate eontrihnlio!)*^ he made as wid materialiy aid in the sustenation of the Crphan work and such meaeiires adopted as will insure systematic, regnlar, reliable sup port. .Insist, on l.he continued ]iersistent work of ■eour Orphan Asylum committees. Urge tliem to regular elfort, if the duly is unplea.s- ant. The receipt of small sums ref/iilarh/ eve ry moiit'i from every Lodge committee would show to those engaged in the work that in ev ery laxlge the catt.se was alive, and inspire others to greater exertion. Lncoiirage the ladies and children to organ ize Orphan Aid Societies. They will, wliile adding to the strength of the orphan work, benefit tho.=e enga.ged in tliem, by ennobling Ihcir feelings, ileveloping the benevolent spir it. ami improving their own minds by devising and carrying out t^ie plans of the societies. I.et tlie 24lli clay oi Jui^e 1876 be the start ing point for such a revival of interest in the orpiian work as will put beyond a doubt ita firm cstablisliment in the hearts, of not only tlie masons bitt ali tiie people of our State, ■when tlie poor fi ientliess orphans may be as sured of tlie protection which lias been with drawn by the striking clown of tlieir natural protectors. Hone of us know but that our children may need the fostering care of the Asylum, no one knows the hour ofliis depart ure. And may G«d bless you all, my dear breth ren, and enable you to so work and walk, that our Institution may be j^irenf/ihened, our Grand work supported, and our Temples (O^ornecZ by tlie beautUiil Iruits ol Brotlicily Love, Kelief and Triitli. (iBOiiOE IV. Blount, Grand Master. GREENSJU)R(), N. C.,. FRIDAY, JUNE 9, 187G NO 39. Masonic Convention. At the suggestion of the Junior Grand Warden, 11. V. Blaokstock, of the Grand Lodge of N. C„ a Convention of delegates from several of the Masonic Lodges west of the Blue Eidge, was held, and the fol lowing proceedings had, at the Orphan Asylum, at Asheville, N. C., on the 12th day of May, 1876 : On motion of Col. R. VV. Pulliam, L. Gash, of Dunn’s Rock Lodge, No. 269, was made Ohairman, and A, L. Carter, oi loanee luKlge, An 2\)o wh.-j ■. ii|,(.i.iicd 8cT.-turv ■ - On motion, it wa,s onl.-red tijal ali Ma sons [ireseiil be .■eeognizwi as delegates from tlieir respective Lodges. The fol lowitig Lodges were represeiiled : Mount Hei'mon, No. 118, Blarkman, No 170. Unnn'.s Rock, No. 26'J, \baice, No. 29d, Tiusearora, No. 122. Fite lo.lowing committee to sugge.st work for the Cunvetiti.on, was then on motion appointeii bv the Chairman, to wit : R' V. Iliarksto.'-k, Ool. R. W. Pul liam \V. E Liark, J. H Moore sin motion, the Cbainnaii and G. M, Ridjerts W">'e added. ■\ftcu- a stiei'l aiisein-e the Committee rejiiwted til fol towing. preamble and res oliitions wbinli were nnanimoiiaiy adopt ed, to wit ; MTieueas, It is oelieved that the peo pie of Western North Carolina will-liber aliv support the Ui'jdiari Asylum at .Asheville, and even increase its accoin- iiiodations .so as to enlarge its usefulnes.,, if propeidv appealed to. Therefore Resolved, That the Master ol each Ma sonic Lodge in Western North Carolina, be mpuested, with the assistance ol his Coiiiinittee on the Orphan Asylum, to employ am| fitly some .letive, energetic agent to collect .supplies in money and in kind, for the benelit of the Asheville Oi'fihan Asylum. Resolved, That the Masters and War dpiis of the Lodges alluded to, he earn estlv requested to endeavor to enlist the lailies of their respective localities in the interest of the Orphan Work, and to urge them to organize themselves into societies for the purpose of raising contributions for the same purpose. Resolved, That the ministers of the various churches of every denomination in Western North Carolina, be respect- fullv asked to bring the interest of ihe Orphan Work frequently before their respective congregations, and to have contribution boxes erected in their houses of worship to receive gifts for the Asylum, and when practicable, to take up collections for the same. Resolved, That a committee of three be appointed by the Ohairman of this meeting to draw up an appeal in behalf of the orphan cause, with these resolu tions, and direct them, as far as they may be able, to the ministers cf the various churches, presiding officers of Masonic, Odd Fellow, and Good Templar Lodges, Granges of Patrons of Husbandry, Di visions of the Sons of Temperance, K»nights of Pythias, Superintendents of Sunday schools, and every other order in the State professing to do good to their fellow creatures. . Resolved, That we recommend to each Lodge in Western North Carolina to for*- ward to the Ste'vard of the Asylum at Asheville, five dollars of the Lodge s funds for each Mason made in the Lodge, for the benefit of the Asylum, Resolved, That in view of the fact that the orphans of all ela-sses are received and cared for in the Asylum, the various charitable institutions of the State be res pectfully asked to assist in the support of the enterprise by contributions of money or ill kind. Resolved, That the newspapers of the State be requested to publish these reso - lutions, together' with the proceedings of this meeting. In pursuance of .the suggestion in the 4th resolution thg Chaarman appointed R. V. Blackstock, Col. R. W.Vulliam and G. M. Roberts, a.committee to prepare an appeal to the people in behalf of the or- phanfi. The convention was largely attended tv the ladies and other sympalliising friends, and much deep iitid earnest feel- liig was manife.stfcd. After thunks to the ollicersof the Asylum for their fivlelitj, zeal, and efficiency in the management of the afiairs of the institution, the Conven tion adjourned, T. L. Cash, Chm'n. A, L. Carter, Sec. The Silent Statue. On Monday, May-15th, at the Masonic Temple in New York, a very quiet but impressive ceremt ri_y was performed in the presence of a few of the more promi nent Masons of the metropolis, who hap pened to he near the building and were gathered together. One of the most beau tiful ornaments that will hereafter adorn this elegant structure will meet the eye immediately upon ascending the grand stairway ; for at the head of the main stair in a large niche originally construct ed as a receptacle of some beautiful sym bol, has bee:; placed a unique statue of Silence and Secrecy. This magnificent [liece of work is of pure white marble and is from the chisel of Augustus St. Gaudens the sculptor of the fa mous my thical rep resentation of Hiawatha ; it is seven feet nine inches in height, and is the gift of Bro. Levi H. Willard, to tbs Masonic fra ternity. At midday, Mr. Willard re moved the veil and formally presented the statue to the Trustees of the Temple, in behalf ol whom. Grand Master Elwood E. Thorne accepted the same, in a brief but neat speech referiiig to many esoter ic points in the great lesson ofFreema sonry. Tight Shoes. A correspondent of the New York Tribune has the following ; Said a young girl, who had become an invalid : “I have learned during my illness that a vast deal of ill he.alth among women is owing more to tight boots or shoes than any other cause,” I conversed with a woman who had been in business thirty years, and the greatest portion of this pe riod has stood on her feet and never felt the slightest inconvenience. ‘T alwmys looked out,” continued she, “to wear shoes and boots that gave room to expand the muscles of my’ feet.” She at this time had in her employ two or three girls, one of whom was subject to fainting fits from wearing tight boots. It is im possible for a woman or girl to stand an hour with snug^fitting boots or shoes without suffering a torture that effects the whole body. Here the effect is made the cause. Very few people understand the wonderful elasticity of the muscles of the fee't, and those who ought to behest informed know the least--^tbe.se are the shoemakers. The Gr. Lodge'of Mississippi has ap pointed a Committee to “digest and ma ture apian for the organization and maintenance of a Masonic Widow and Orphan’s Home and Industrial School.” PEN AND SCISSOSS. ,. A Ifiiotopi-aplior’sepitalil)—Taken from life. Il'e know a gcntlrnia-n who is really in love withli Ms own \yi:'e. . Disliom-sty is forsaking permanent for temporary advanlages. Cr.op repoi'ts from Xehraska are very favorable. .... tnsconsin beai-s -ore inakrig havoe among the sheep. .... Baron Rotlischikl is the liardcst w'ork- iug Bai.ker in Paris. .... As many ns GCO'deatlis from the plague have taken place at Bagdad and Halia in a siughi week. •.... Air and scandal are much alike. The oftener tliey are breathed the worse and more poisonous they bceorno. .... There are 14,000 tame ostriches at Cape 'I'own, iVfrica, and during 1872 there were sold at Poi-t Elizabeth alone $600,000 ivorth of os trich feathers. .... (Fe must not deceive ourst-lves, fer he that overcometh not himself in little matters will not be able to do so in great things. .... Christopher Ward, a farmer of Caledo nia Out., who murdered his wife in April and then set the liousoou tire lo hide the deed, will be luinged June 20-. ..., In the South A’orkshire coal field, -vi here 30,000 miners liave been on a strike for some weeks, there are 120collieries, more Uianthree fourths of which are idle. .... A CMcago man ’ has inveiiled a smoke consumer which works so well that it not on ly eats up all the smoke but puts out-all tlie fire. .... In the natural history of Insects that the grub turns into a butterfly; but it often occurs in the natural history of man that the butter fly turns into a grub. Oak Ilill Grange, Pa., has a new de parture—all the sisters dress alike, in 74 cents c,alico. of the same material, color and pattern; the poor and the rich on the same footing. .... It is expedient for euery farmer to build cheap gate s, as tliey will save enough valuable time in the busy season Of tlie year to repay tlie expenses of eonsti-ucting them many times over. .... The post that is by hard blow s driven into the ground is apt to stand tliei'e, because it was planted by a positive power. So it is that hard knocks is for some good pul-pose after all. A Texas woman fell over a rail and hit her tongue oS'while chasing- hei- husband with a pitchfork. This may net come under tk ; head of “divine retribution,’^but its a plaguey bad thing on the -woman-. .... An exchange states that the ratio of pl-.ys’icians to population is now 1 to 800. A feW years ago tlie ratio was 2 to 1,200. It, seems that the longer tliey practice the smaller the list of patients -and this-,is about tlie'way of itgeiieriilly! .... It is expedient to keep, the fene'e-eor- ners clean, so tliat grass tvill grow in them and so that yonr neighbor will not take offense be cause of the thistle and other foul seeds that jmu allorv to mature and find their rvay into liis cleanly kept fields. .... Tyeho Brahe lost bis color ahd trem bled at the sight of a fox or hare-. Dr. John son whiuld never enter a I'oom w ith l^s left foot foremost. Julius Ctesar fled lo the collai- at the sound of thunder. Peter the Great could not be persuaded to cross a bridge. Marshal Saxe screamed at the sight of a cat. ' Byron would never help any one to salt, and would leave the table if a-ny s.alt w'as spilled during the meal. f':i" m i