The Maryland Grand Lodge was constituted on the 17th of April, 1787, and has twenty-six regular lodges under its jurisdiction.

The Grand Lodge of Virginia was constituted on the 30th of October, 1778, and has fifty-six regular lodges under its jurisdiction.

The Grand Lodge of North Carolina was first in operation in 1771, under authority of a charter from the Grand Lodge of Scotland. Its records were destroyed by the British army during the revolutionary contest. It recommenced its operations in 1787, and has thirty. three regular lodges under its jurisdiction.

The Grand Lodge of South Carolina was established on the 24th of March, 1787, and has forty-four regular lodges under its jurisdiction.

The Grand Lodge of Georgia was held under warrants from the Grand Lodges of England and Scotland, which were resigned on the 16th of December, 1786, when the present Grand Lodge was established. It has twentyone regular lodges under its jurisdiction.

The Grand Lodge of Upper Canada bas twelve regular lodges under its jurisdiction. Di

The Grand Lodge of Lower Canada has fifteen reguFar lodges under its jurisdiction.

From the Grand Lodge of Nova Scotia we have not received returns.

CHAPTER II.

HISTORY OF MASONRY IN KENTUCKY.

THE first regular lodges in Kentucky, derived their authority from the Grand Lodge of Virginia.

In the year 1800 there were, under that authority, five regular lodges. But from their remote situation from their parent Grand Lodge, they were induced to proceed to the establishment of a Grand Lodge for the state of Kentucky-and in pursuance of an invitation from the Lexington Lodge, No. 25, a convention of delegates from all the regular lodges then existing in the state, was held at the Mason's Hall in the town of Lexington, on the 8th day of September, A. D. 1800, where it was resolved, that it was expedient and proper to establish a Grand Lodge for the state of Kentucky, and the following address was adopted and ordered to be forwarded to the Grand Lodge of Virginia.

1

LEXINGTON, KENTUCKY,

September 8th, A. L. 5800, A. D. 1800.

MOST WORSHIPFUL SIR AND BROTHER,

}

A MEETING of the deputies from five lodges, regularly established in Kentucky, has been held at Lexington; and adopted the resolutions which you will find enclosed.

In adopting this measure, we have been actuated by a wish to promote the welfare of the craft. It cannot be new to, or unconsidered, by the Grand Lodge of Virginia, that the lodges in this country under their jurisdiction, labour under many inconveniences.

In the first place, we suppose the charity fund an important object in our institution. The benefit of this fund cannot be extended to any brother or his family here.

It must also be observed, that the lodges in this state cannot conveniently be represented in the Grand Lodge

of Virginia, by their masters and wardens; and that the appointment of other representatives, is subject to great difficulties, from causes which are evident. The distance, and unavoidable accidents, have frequently prevented the lodges in Kentucky from being represented in the grand lodge.

Another inconvenience, (not the least important with regard to masonry) is, that we cannot expect the presence either of the grand master, or visiters, who may be appointed to inspect our work, and see that it is regularly conducted.

Part of an independent commonwealth, we need not refer to precedents to authorize this measure: these precedents must be familiar to the Grand Lodge of Virginia.

While, however, we deem this measure necessary, we have yet determined, that the usual contributions to the Grand Lodge of Virginia shall be paid up till the period of our separation; and thus proving our disposition to discharge, in every respect, our duty to our parent lodge, we trust that it will credit the motives which lead us to separate.

Notwithstanding the separation, we will never forget that we are materials of the same temple, nor cease to attach ourselves to our brethren of Virginia, however remote we may be, from their part of the great superstructure— No disgust, no disrespect to the Grand Lodge of Virgi nia, has induced us to adopt this measure; necessity and the welfare of the craft commands it.

We shall, at every opportunity, be happy to communi cate through our grand lodge with your grand lodge; and assure you we are

YOUR FRIENDS AND BROTHERS. (Signed by order of the convention.)

JOHN HAWKINS, CHAIRMAN,

THOMAS BODLEY, GLERK.

In pursuance of a resolution entered into by the said convention, delegates from all the said regular lodges, again met at the Mason's Hall, in the town of Lexington, on the 16th of October, in the year 1800, and proceeded regularly to establish a Grand Lodge for the state of Kentucky.*

The delegates then severally surrendered to the Grand Lodge their respective charters, and received new ones in lieu thereof, under the authority of the Grand Lodge then established for the state of Kentucky; by which they chartered and constituted Lexington Lodge No. 1, Paris Lodge No. 2, Georgetown Lodge No. 3, Hiram Lodge No. 4, and Solomon's Lodge No. 5. A committee was appointed who reported the following address to the several Grand Lodges in the United States, explanatory of the reasons for establishing a Grand Lodge in the state of Kentucky.

* The representatives of five lodges regularly constituted under the Grand Lodge of Virginia, assembled at Mason's Hall in the town of Lexington, an Thursday the 16th of October, A. L. 5800, for the purpose of opening a Grand Lodge for the state of Kentucky.

The worshipful James Morrison, being the oldest past master present, was requested to take the chair, and appointed the following brethren officers pro

tem. viz

WILLIAM MURRAY, Senior Warden
THOMAS HUGHES, Junior Warden.
THOMAS BODLEY, Secretary.
JAMES BLISS, Treasurer.

ISAAC E. GANO, Senior Deacon.
JOHN BOBBS, Junior Deacon.
NATHANIEL BARKER, Tyler.

The lodge then proceeded to the election of grand officers, when, on examining the ballots it appeared, that the worshipful brother William Murrray, master of Hiram Lodge, No. 57, was unanimously elected Grand Master of the Grand Lodge of Kentucky, and was immediately installed according to ancient form. The most worshipful grand master elect, having waved his right of appointing a deputy grand master, the Lodge proceeded to the election of one; and the worshipful brother Alexander Macgregor, master of Lexington Lodge No. 25, was duly elected to that office, and installed according to ancient form, The lodge then proceeded to the election of grand wardens, when the worshipful Simon Adams, master of Abraham's Lodge, was elected senior, and Cary L. Clarke, past måster of Georgetown Lodge No. 46, junior grand wardens, and respectively installed according to ancient form.

LEXINGTON, KENTUCKY,

MOST WORSHIPFUL SIR AND BROTHER,

A. L.

A. D.

I AM instructed, by the Grand Lodge of Kentucky, to announce to you their organization, and to explain the motives which have led to a separation of the lodges in Kentucky, from the jurisdiction of their parent Grand Lodge of Virginia. They will be detailed in the simplicity of unadorned truth, and are too forcible to require any extraneous assistance to carry conviction of the propriety of the measure. No motive of disgust or disrespect to the Grand Lodge of Virginia, has actuated those lodges upon this occasion. They still feel the same fraternal love and affection for their brethren of Virginia, which, as masons, it is their duty to entertain for all the fraternity; with the additional sentiments which arise from a remembrance, that it was more immediately from that Grand Lodge, that those lodges derived the means of illumination.-They conceive that their procedure is sanctioned by precedent, and enforced upon them by masonic principles.

Among the multitude of precedents to which they might refer, the following only will be enumerated, which are supposed to be more than sufficient to give every sanction which precedent can give to any measure.

1. In the reign of George the 2d, the lodges in England having, from neglect, gone greatly into decay, it was deemed necessary, to promote the welfare of the craft, that a grand lodge for England should be established in London, although no grand lodge had ever been before established there. It is further to be observed, at that time there was a grand lodge established at York in the same kingdom, which continued a long time afterwards separate and independent. In the state of Kentucky,