duty of their publication is justly censurable. The Grand Recorder informs us, that presuming the Grand Encampment had sufficient confidence in his ability and integrity to entrust him with the publication of its proceedings, he had made arrangements to have them printed and issued within forty days after the close of the Grand Body. But, for reasons best known to the initiated, the work was taken out of his hands and entrusted to a committee, the result of whose labors is yet in abeyance.

The Proceedings of the Grand Encampment, at its Triennial Conclave in August last, have been severely criticised by many of our correspondents who were present, and "know of what they speak." A general tone of disappointment and dissatisfaction prevades the addresses of Grand Commanders and the remarks of reporters. Many went to Chicago buoyed up with "great expectations of reforms to be inaugurated, especially in the matter of ritual nnd uniform, but apparently nothing was done in this direction. The active energies of the Grand Body seem to have been directed to obtaining something to eat and to drink, and wherewithal they should keep cool; and it is charged that the venders of solid and liquid refreshments lost no opportunity to "make hay while the sun shone," and obeyed but one commandment, viz: "put money in thy purse." Not having been there, we cannot, of course, speak from personal observation; but we "tell the tale as 'twas told to us," and mention these things for the benefit of those who may be charged with the management of the affair in 1883; and we hope, for the fair fame of our city and its inhabitants, that when the waving plume of the last of our visiting Knights disappears behind the Sierras on his return to the East, not one shall be able to say that extortion of any kind has been practiced upon him.

Among the prominent subjects of discussion in the Templar world at the present time, the subject of belief in the "Holy Trinity" is pre-eminently the most important; and we call the special attention of our Fraters to the able articles upon this question under the heads of Canada, Maine and Ohio.

Another subject which has acquired considerable importance in some jurisdictions is that of (save the mark) "BUTTONS." The contest between brass and cloth bids fair to rival the "war of the roses," and to sink into insignificance the struggle between the " Orange and the Green.'

The rage for parade and display seems to have surmounted all other considerations; the principles and objects of the Order are lost sight of in the glamour of military ostentation and brilliant costumes. Upon the eve of a Triennial Conclave, the doors of our Asylums are besieged with applicants, who have suddenly discovered that their zeal for the Christian Religion prompts them irresistibly to take up arms in its defense, and to perform a pilgrimage to the shrine of the Grand

Encampment, there to exhibit that zeal (and their dazzling uniforms) to the "innocent maidens, destitute widows, helpless orphans," and Christian martyrs who usually line the streets on such occasions. We are free to say, that unless the Grand Encampment takes some decisive measures to put a stop to these grand parades, feasts and junketings during its triennial sittings, its day of usefulness is past, and its Conclaves will degenerate to the level of the circus or rarre-show.

He quotes the following from Sir Gurney's report on Illinois :

He errs in his proposition that we are an "acknowledged branch of the great family of Masons." The Symbolic Fraternity do not make any such acknowledgment, and until they do our claims to that distinction are not of great importance in the adjustment of such matters, or of any other questions that may grow out of our self-imposed relationship. We do not see the necessity or propriety of clinging to an assumption that is not of any practical moment. When the Lodge will recognize us as a section of the human family, it will be time enough to look for arrangments that will prove satisfactory to the Commandery and other "branches.'

And in reply says:

We cannot concede that we are "in error" when we assert that we, as Knights Templar, are an acknowledged branch of the great family of Masons; on the contrary, we think Sir Knight Gurney is greatly in error in denying the proposition. His remark, that "when the Lodge will recognize us as a section of the great human family," etc., is evidently prompted by some local feeling, concerning which we are in the dark. We do not know how it may be in Illinois, but in California and many other jurisdictions that we wot of, the Knights Templar have been repeatedly acknowledged as a "branch of the Masonic family" by the Grand Lodge, by invitations to act as escort to that Grand Body upon ceremonial occasions, which invitations, so far as California is concerned, have invariably been accepted. For instance, a corner-stone is to be laid by the Grand Lodge, or the funeral of some member of the Grand Lodge is to take place under the auspices of the Grand Body; the Grand Master sends a respectful communication to the Grand Commander, inviting him to detail a portion of his command as an escort to the Grand Lodge on that occasion; the Grand Commander courteously accepts the invitation, and issues his order to one or more Commanderies to parade as escort to the Grand Lodge on the day and hour named. Thus jurisdictional amenities are preserved, and reciprocal acknowledgments of membership in the "great Masonic family" made. In Illinois the custom may be different, but that is the way the thing is done in California, and here the Order of Knights Templar is fully recognized and acknowledged by the Grand and subordinate Lodges as a branch of the "great Masonic family."

In his review of Michigan, he quotes the following decision made by Sir Frank Henderson :

A Sir Knight left the jurisdiction and "skipped to Canada," under the charge of being a defaulter to a large amount-applies for a dimit, is "clear upon the books," and "no charges preferred." The question asked was, "Can we withhold the dimit?" I answered. "Yes," notwithstanding the edict of 1878, page 94 of the Code. The motion to grant a dimit is the same as any other, and must be disposed of by a majority vote. The simple fact that dues are paid, should not of itself entitle the person applying to a dimit. Great care should be taken by a Commandery in granting dimits. They should see to it that the character of the Knight comes somewhere near the standard of the high commendation therein contained.

And says:

In this decision the Grand Commander sets up his own opinion in defiance of the law, and therefore comment is unnecessary. In connection with it we will, however, say that in this instance, as in many others, an entire misapprehension of the character of that document usually termed a dimit is shown. A dimit is simply a permission to withdraw; neither more nor less. For the sake of convenience it is usually combined with a recommendatory certificate, and the combined documents should only be issued by a majority of the Commandery at a stated Conclave. On the other hand any Sir Knight, member of a Commandery, whose dues are paid and against whom no charges are pending, may request either in writing or verbally that a dimit be granted him at a stated Conclave; and no vote of the Commandery is necessary in order to comply with his request. He has the right to withdraw when he pleases - always provided he is clear of the books, and no charges are pending against him. If the character of the Sir Knight who dimits is such that the Commandery cannot conscientiously recommend him to the courtesies and good fellowship of the Order at large, and yet deem it inexpedient to prefer specific charges against him, a simple certificate of withdrawal should be given him setting forth the fact that he is clear of the books, and has voluntarily withdrawn from the Commandery. This he has a right to demand and the Commandery has no right to refuse him.

We give his conclusion as follows:

Our report is ended. Such as it is we submit it, trusting to your knightly forbearance to excuse all imperfections, and to credit us with having done the best we could for your entertainment and information. The current topics of interest which now occupy the attention of Templars, we have endeavored to present, with such comments as to us seemed fitting to the subject in hand always endeavoring

to keep Knightly courtesy in view, yet never declining to break a lance with any valiant and magnanimous Knight who struck our shield and entered the lists against us.

In the completion of our Report we find reason for both joy and regret; joy that our tired fingers, weary brain and blunted scissors will have a brief season of rest; and regret that we must part for a time, at least, with the genial souls whose written thoughts have afforded us so much pleasure, information, and we may add, amusement. The annual communion with those upon whose forms our physical eyes have never rested, yet to the eye of the soul are familiar as the faces of brothers, affords a keen sense of enjoyment which compensates in full for all the labor and weary brain-work involved.

We look upon these reports as upon the letters of old friends, and when one fails to come to hand, the disappointment is not easily allayed.

Massachusetts and Rhode Island have failed to attend our "love feast" this year, and have not even sent an excuse for non-attendance. This grieves us, for our intercourse with the knights of the quill in these jurisdictions have been of the most pleasant and fraternal character.

One pleasant feature of these reports is the tidings of “ peace on earth and good will toward men which they convey. The white-robed angel of Peace sits enthroned upon the triangular altar of our Order, and the gentle fanning of her wings cools the heat of whatever discussions may arise.

To those of our contemporaries whose kindly criticisms upon our previous efforts have given us courage and fortitude to persevere, we return our sincere thanks. And now, trusting that when the recurring period shall bring us again into harness, each and every brother reporter to-day may answer to the roll-call, "Here!" we say, to one and all, au revoir.

Sir Edward Richards Hedges of Stockton, was elected R. E. Grand Commander.

Sir Thomas Hubbard Caswel of San Francisco, was reelected E. Grand Recorder.

COLORADO.

The Sixth Annual Conclave of this Grand Commandery was held in the Asylum of Colorado Commandery No. 1, in the city of Denver, commencing Friday, September 23, A.D. 1881, A.O. 763.

Sir James M. Strickler, R. E. Grand Commander.

Sir Ed. C. Parmelee, E. Grand Recorder.

Five subordinate Commanderies were represented. Four Past Grand Commanders were present.

Sir Knight Theodore S. Parvin, Past Grand Commander of Iowa and General Grand Recorder of the Grand Encampment of the United States, was introduced, cordially welcomed by the Grand Commander, and conducted to a seat in the East.

The following decision, made by the Grand Commander, was referred to the Committee on Jurisprudence, and by them approved:

Sir Knight P. J. Coston, F. C. Mount of the Holy Cross Commandery, wrote me July 21st, stating that a R. A. Mason was elected to receive the orders in his Commandery, and before they could be conferred, objection was made. Immediately thereafter the objection was withdrawn. He held that six months must elapse and the applicant petition again, which was done and the second ballot was unfavorable. The petitioner claimed the Eminent Commander's ruling was wrong, and that he was entitled to the orders on the removal of the first objection. After submitting the matter to the M. E. Grand Master Benj. Dean, I replied that whether upon the removal of the objection upon the first petition the orders might have been conferred became immaterial in consequence of the subsequent proceedings. The candidate did resort to a second petition. He thenceforth depended upon that petition, and his application was rejected.

Referring to the death of Sir Knight James A. Garfield, the Grand Commander thus eloquently expresses himself:

SIR KNIGHTS:- To-day sorrow hangs its sable mantle over our land; crape is on every hat; mourning is in each heart; our nation weeps; our Order is sad; our country has lost its ruler; our Order has lost a true Christian Knight; President Garfield is dead. The assassin's bullet has taken the life of one whom his country delighted to honor, of whom our association was proud, who stood high in its councils, and whose memory will ever flourish in immortal green. As citizens we mourn; as Templars we weep. Our country is full of humility; our Order is weighed with anguish. What is our duty to the nation, to the Order, our duty as citizens, our tender solicitude towards the weeping ones at the death-bed of our President? To the first, it seems to me that we should express our detestation,