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I accept the pleasing task and will endeavor to fulfil it, and remain in F. L. and T. your friend and bro.

Thomas Wildey, Esq., P. G. Sire,

Chairman Com. of Arrang. S

S. A. HURLBUT, P. C. P.

HOME CORRESPONDENCE

Virginia-Extract of a letter from D. D. G. Sire George M. Bain, dated Portsmouth, June 27th, 1843.

The brotherhood in North Carolina are moving ahead finely. I understand that there are already two applications for Charters to open Lodges, one in Fayetteville and the other in Newbern, and it is expected that one will soon be made from Raleigh. Some two or three other places are spoken of.

South Carolina-Extract of a letter from D. D. G. Sire Albert Case, dated Charleston, July 21st, 1843.

The Dispensation for Ashley Encampment, No. 3, came to hand in due season, and on the evening of the 19th inst. I instituted the Encampment at Rames Hall. I organized the Encampment, and installed the officers except E. G. Brown, Treasurer.

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Enclosed you have application of brothers from Savannah, Georgia, for a charter for Magnolia Encampment. I shall proceed to organize it as soon as possible, after I get the Dispensation.

Alabama-Extract of a letter from Grand Master E. Salomon, dated Mobile, July 14th, 1843.

At the Annual Election a few days ago I had the honor of being elected Grand Master of our Grand Lodge, and also Representative to the Grand Lodge of the United States, and if nothing should happen in the way of sickness I hope to have the pleasure of being with you on that interesting occasion. I think I can safely say to you from this time forward, a new era in the life of Odd-Fellowship has begun. Yesterday I opened a new Lodge styled "Chosen Friends', No. 3," in this city, and shall in the course of this month proceed to Marion in this State, and open No. 4, there-as soon as that takes place you will hear of Lodges in Tuscaloosa, Greensboro', Montgomery, Selma, and all the principal towns of the State. As I predicted to many of the friends of the Order here, the establishment of a Grand Lodge in this place, has set the ball rolling, and

rely on it, its course will be onward-the more the happy effects of our Order are promulgated, the more will it increase. Our Lodges in this town, although composed of large numbers, still have been wanting in something to cheer them on in the good work, the formation of Chosen Friends' Lodge, No. 3, is a good omen-this Lodge is composed of some few members of No. 1,-not from dissatisfaction that I am aware of, but from the fact that their number is so large, viz: 86-that another Lodge could be formed without detriment to the interests of the other Lodges— the individuals composing it, are men that will push the interests of the Order. All my energy shall be used to place the Order here on such a footing that will give us cause to be proud of it.

We announced in our last the names of the Brethren who had been invited by the Committee of Arrangements for the dedication of Odd-Fellows' Hall to deliver Orations on that occasion; since when we learn that Bro. Clinton of New York, E. Y. Reese and James L. Ridgely of Maryland have declined. As now informed we understand that Rev. Bro. E. H. Chapin of Massachusetts will deliver the principal Oration, Bro. S. H. Hurlbut of Charleston the dedicatory Address, and that during the session of the Grand Lodge of the United States Addresses may be expected on each evening from distinguished members of that body.

ODD-FELLOWSHIP IN THE STATE OF GEORGIA.

Odd-Fellowship commenced its career in the United States, under the disheartening influences of obscurity, distrust, and persecution-yet it only required to be known to be appreciated-and the result has shewn that

"Like a true gem, it brightens in the wearing."

But little more than twenty years have elapsed since its establishment amongst us, and behold the happy change in its prospects. From the icewrapped hills of Maine, to the burning plains of the far south, bands of faithful brothers meet to embrace and carry out its benign and god-like purposes. Men of all nations, professions and creeds, abandoning petty jealousies and local prejudices, surround the same altar, and are united by the bright links of Friendship, Love and Truth.

It is a beautiful attribute of our institution that it calls forth the best and warmest impulses of the human heart-that the fraternal affection which its members so sedulously cherish towards each other, is not selfishly restricted within the limits of the Order, but beams its heart-cheering warmth over all upon whom the chilling flight of sorrow has fallen-the afflicted are ever our brothers.

"Wide and more wide, the o'erflowing of the mind
Takes every creature in, of every kind-

Earth smiles around, with boundless bounty Llest,
And Heaven beholds its image, in its breast."

This is a hasty glance at the rise and progress of Odd-Fellowship amongst us. Let us turn to contemplate its prospects in central Georgia. In the early part of the present year, some five or six men, personally

unknown, recognized and hailed each other alone by the mystic signs peculiar to the Order-and uniting in a common cause and common interest, diffidently petitioned the Grand Lodge, at Baltimore, for a charter, and with many discouragements, small means and smaller influence-instituted Franklin Lodge, No. 2, at Macon, on the 27th January, 1843. To their delight and astonishment, in less than one month, ninety brothers had rallied around them, and the cry is still "They come," for at the present time, June 1st, we count upwards of 130 members, and are without a hall spacious enough to accommodate them when called together on important business. The Order is advancing with rapid strides, and many of our most valuable citizens have already enlisted under its banner. The voice of benevolence and good-will to man, is uplifted and eloquent in our midst, and we are united in the sweet bonds of Covenant affection and Fraternal Love.

On the 13th of last month, the citizens of Macon were gratified by witnessing the first public celebration of this society in their city; on that day ninety-two members, the elite of the place, assembled at an early hour at Odd-Fellows' Hall, where, after arraying themselves in full regalia, a procession was formed under the direction of the Chief Marshal, Captain Holmes, assisted by brothers Freeman and Howell, accompanied by a band of Music. They marched through Cherry, Second, Walnut and Mulberry streets, to the Presbyterian Church, where the services commenced by a prayer from the worthy chaplain of the day, Br. Ellison, after which an address was delivered by the Hon. E. A. Nisbet, in a manner both honorable to himself, and gratifying to his audience, as the marked attention with which it was received sufficiently testified. Several appropriate pieces of Music diversified the performances, which concluded with a prayer from the Rev. Mr. Hooker, and the benediction from Br. Ellison.

The proceedings of the day were viewed with manifest interest by all classes of the community, and the fine appearance of the procession received high commendation. The banner particularly, which, on that occasion first waived its silken folds above them deserves a passing notice. It was composed of rich materials, and tastefully adorned with allegoric paintings, executed on a pure white ground. Upon one side appeared the vestibule of a temple, beneath which was an altar with the holy scriptures lying open upon it; above this, the words "In God we trust," were printed in golden letters, while the "all-seeing eye" shed its rays over the whole. On the reverse, a dove was seen descending to earth with a scroll in his beak bearing the characteristic motto of "Friendship, Love and Truth,"-beneath him appeared the emblematic clasped hands, and under all a sketch of a landscape representing the parting scene between David and Jonathan, as described in Kings, 20th chap., and the bow of the covenant is here introduced in perspective.

This celebration will long be remembered by the brethren, as an event of unusual interest. It was in every respect creditable to the Order, and calculated to promote its respectability and influence.-Am. Dem.

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I WELL recollect the house in which I spent my infancy and boyhood. I shall never forget it. There were circumstances of romantic interest connected with my infancy and my youth-such as seldom attend the career of a human being. I do not recollect the precise time when I became an inmate of this house; but I know that it belonged to my uncle, and although I had a distinct recollection of my parents, yet I was taught to believe I should see them no more, and I, therefore, regarded my uncle and aunt as my sole protectors to whom I owed all the duty which parents can require. I was told that I must think no more of my father and mother, that they were unworthy people, and had been banished from France for some great crime, and when I inquired what that crime was, my pious relatives would cross themselves and assume a look of horror and of mystery, which served only to whet my curiosity, while, at the same time it shut out all hope of its gratification. I could not imagine what crime they had been guilty of. I remembered the countenance of my mother-mild, benevolent, yet pale and grief-worn. I remembered the gentle tones of her voice, so different from those of my aunt, whose harsh language always grated on my ear. I remembered that pale and anxious countenance, which was often present with me in my dreams. What crime could she have committed? Why was I forbidden to name her or even to think of her? Children are said to be just in their estimate of character, and certainly my uncle and aunt were not calculated to inspire me with affection.

The house in which I dwelt, with these morose relatives, was situated near the base of a lofty mountain, whose top was almost continually hidden by dark clouds. It was said by the neighboring peasantry that a hermit dwelt on the summit of this mountain. Some said that he was a very holy man who could work stupendous miracles, and who carried about with him a vial of our Saviour's blood. Others said that he was a man who had been guilty of heinous crimes, and lived a life of penance, in order to conciliate the Supreme Being whom he had so deeply offended. Some pretended that they had seen an angel descend from heaven, and alight. upon the top of this mountain, doubtless to hold converse with the devoBut I perceived that the more intelligent portion of the inhabitants treated all these stories with contempt, and regarded them as the idle bugbears of ignorance and superstition. Nevertheless, they were sufficient to throw an awful mystery around the place, and nobody ever ventured to ascend this gloomy mountain to ascertain the truth.

My uncle's house was a low building, making up in length and breadth what it lacked in height, so that it contained a great number of apartments on the first floor. It was surrounded by vineyards which yielded many luscious grapes, and contributed to swell the income of my uncle, who, with all his piety, never lost sight of his worldly interests. At a short distance from the eastern porch of the house, stood a small chapel in which was a crucifix and several images of saints. My aunt spent much time here, crossing herself, kneeling and performing other ceremonies, common to the religion of the times. Whenever she came out from this chapel, her countenance was singularly forbidding, and it was then that I feared to approach her. She took great pains to instruct me in the formalities of religion, and hence they were always connected in my mind with the idea of severity, ill-nature, and self-mortification. I was taught to regard the Deity as a sovereign who could not be appeased in any other way than by the misery of his subjects; and that by tormenting ourselves in this world, we must insure happiness in that world which is to come.

These things were extremely disagreeable to me, and I could not avoid putting some questions to my uncle and aunt respecting the nature of religion and the character of God. These questions were not answered: but a look of horror, and something which they muttered to each other about my parents, led me to believe that I had given great offence. I was always treated more harshly than usual, after putting one of these questions, and was sometimes compelled to repeat over a number of prayers in Latin not a word of which I understood.

My time, therefore, passed pleasantly enough. The cheerfulness of childhood was smothered by the moroseness of my uncle and aunt, and my growing intellect was stinted by their withering reserve and rigid enforcements. They seemed to be unwilling that I should think, and to reason was a crime.

They said they had taken me from motives of charity, and to save me from ruin, and I was soon led to believe that my proscribed parents had not assented to this benevolent movement on their part. My parents had undoubtedly left the country in haste, and I fell into the hands of these relatives by accident. But what was the crime of those parents? why were they obliged to flee to save their lives? In vain I asked these questions. My uncle and aunt said they had been dreadfully culpable. I was

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