198
Appe1~dix.
[Oct.
isted in England, Scotland, Ireland, and Italy, which, to some extent, had a slight similarity to Freemasonry in some external, immaterial form, but otherwise had nothing in COlumon with it. As a matter of course, the Grand Lodges '\vould not recognize as Freemasons societies like the Odd Fellows, Forresters, etc. J\.Iore caution should be exercised in the admission of foreign brethren, as of late certificates had been presented from Lodges which, upon inquiry, were found to be clandestine. The Grand Lodge instructed the daughter Lodges to acknowledge diploluas only that were certified to by Grand Lodges.
The Grand Lodge adopted the following schedule for the contributions of the Lodges to the Grand Lodge treasury: Lodges with 50 members, pay 8 thalers; 75 mell1bers, pay 10 thalers; 100 members, pay It thalers; 150 members, pay 20 thalers; 200 members, pay 25 thalers; 250 members, pay 30 thalers; 300 members, pay 35 thalers; 350 members, pay 40 thalers; 450 members, pay 50 thalers; 500 members, pay 55 thalers; 550 ITlembers, pay 60 thalers. 011 the 23d November, 1867, the Grand Lodge celebrated the seventieth anniversary of the adoption of her Constitution; the fundamental principles of "w'hich still fornl the basis for her present laws. At the session of December 5, 1867, the Granu Master Blade a full report on the German Masonic Lodges in the United States, which he closed with the following remarks: " According to information in our possession, the German Lodges of the United States are not only increasing in numbers, but, what is more pleasing, also in intellectual qualifications. It is stated, th&t their heretofore dull, meaningless existence is everywhere replaced by a clear consciousness, and a fuller knowledge of lVlasonie duties 8:nd questions," etc.
His opinion of the German element in this country is evidently not very exalted. We venture to say, however, that the mental qualifications of our German brethren in American will bear favorable comparison with those of our brethren in Germany, or elsewhere. The informatien on which our M. W. brother, of Berlin, bases his judgment must have been obtained from a jaundiced source. The Grand Lodge celebrated St. John's Day, it being also the One Hundred and twenty-eighth Anniversary of her existence. In the absence of all the Grand Officers, except the Jnnior Grand Warden, Bro. Bornemann, of the Directory of the three PrUSSi&ll Grand Lodges, presided.