The weekly sun. (New York [N.Y.]) 1851-1869, 1862-06-14

and been apparently 70 inactive, that public in-
4srest has been diverted TO other quarter, and
Che supposition has arisen that the value Of its
capture was not equal to ito probable cost and
importance.
This Is . mistake. Had the point been de-
erred At all hazards II conld have been taken
Had our feet desired to pass IT, for an attach
upon Memphis, the preparations ior doing 20
had been completed for weeks Rats were pre-
pared to surround the gunboats, and prevent in
Jury from the attempts Of the iron clad rebei
rams to run them down, and temporary bull
warks Of hay were ready to be provided to lcssen
the effect Of the enemys fire. Had the word
been given, Fort Pillow would have been taken
or passed a long time ago.
But the command was withheld II was de-
sirable to retain the rebel forces at the fort,
rather than allow their concentration at Corinth,
and they have long been kept busy by slight
demonstrations of attack, simply intended for
their harassment hut not for their defeat. The
rebel defeat at Cornth must have secured Mem
phs and Fort Pillow, and therefore every effort
has wisely tended to ensure favorable result at
Corinth, following which comes she compare
lively peaceable acquisition Of Memphis and the
Mississippi river.
In this our readers will observe the de,e lop-
mcnt Of policy which the SITS hss long attr-
butcd to MCCLELLAN, the President, and others
Of his best Generals, and tn wisdom of which
j. made apparent at every step Of the war 1t
j. that Of approaching the foe in full force, aud
compelling his surrender by rear movements,
rather than TO give him battle in fortified posi-
tions. As We have before observed, the greatest
=. -.
Ia the number Of lives lost, but in preserving
nen AMI mcars while capture those of the
enemy.
Thu. viewed. the surrender Of Corinth, quietly
and peacefully effected has been u more glorious
victory than the capture Of Fort Donclscn and
the subsequent peaccable sun ndcrs Of Columbus,
Bowling Green, Nashville and Yorktown have
been feats of our prowcss quite as much to I've
commended as the capture OF Port Royal New
bern and New Orleans.
The last surrender comes to us quietly, almos,
expected, without fuss or detail and will
create perhaps less sensation than any oth't
event Of the war. Yet its Importance cannot
he ver.rated, removing as il does, the last H.
bel obstruction Of the great Mississippi, and
completing the armed Gordon which now en-
circles the Southern Republic. The great snake
has got it's last fold around the people OF Dixie,
and to crush out their remaining resources Is
but question Of time-not Of ability.
1t will be rccollccted that Fort Pillow occu-
pies a position on the second Chickasaw bluff,
about thirty-ilvc miles above Memphis. Below
it are Randolph and other forts, but from these
the guns and forces had previously been remoye ed
to strengthen Fort Pillow, and their resistance,
If any is made, will not probably I've prolonged
or desperate. The capture Of Memphis
appears fixed fact. The city is
situated on an elevated bluff on the Mississippi,
at the head Of ship navigation, and at the west
crn termination Of the Memphis and Charleston
Railroad. 1t has, or had, population Of abou,
10000. 1t has twenty churches. several steam
Touring mills. a number Of extensive cotton fac
tories, several daily and week. newspapers and
spacious Navy Yard. 1t is likewise the .rea,
shipping point for cotton and other produce Of
Western Tennessee.
THE GRAsD LODGE OF FHER MAsoSs-On
shs opening Of the Grand Lodge Friday morn.
ing. the installation Of the Grand Master elect John
j. Crane, took place, In duly prescribed form
The Grand Master tlen appointed the following
Grand officers
Grand Mlrshall-Frdk. W Herring
Grsnd standard Be.rer-Robt. q. Cornell
Grand Sword Bearer -Thos y. Pope.
Grand Stewards--Amos H. Prescott, John g.
Webster, WIN. Knight, and WIN. T.. Iathrop
Senior Grand Descon--.J,mr- Gibson.
Junior Grand Deacon-John u, Williams.
In the afternoon session the Grand Lodge APP
pointed N. w. Joseph u. Evans ss Committee I,
conduct u correspondence with the Grand Lodge o
Virginia, relative to their resolution of nonnter.
course. The OF $50 appropriated /, the
n.al.,.
dence. The sum OF $3.50 was donated to Pinlsy NJ
King, Past Grand Master, FOR expenses incurred by
him during the past year. resolution was adopt
ed ordering memoria not u exceed in cost $3.50,
he presented u Past Grand Master .. N. King, 10y
She Grand Lodge, az a testimonial Of their high
appreciation OF his :, vices. Resolutions of con.
dolence were passed To the families Of Grand
Officers who had died during the past year.
The balance Of the afternoon taken ny
by business Of private financial character.
Labor resumed st O'Clock. A long debate
arose on the proprsty Of spreading certain portions
Of the report Of the Committee the Condition Of
hssonry, which resulted in the order by the Grand
Lodge that the matter be not printed. X W. RJb
u. Holmes offered the following resolution, which
was adopted;
Rssolred, That the correspondence on que stons
OF masonic law, customs And uH,ges which has
tIore taken place between the N. W. the Earl o.
Zetand, Grand Master Of Masons 81 Englsnd, and
che N. W. Finlay NJ. King, +. @. N. of this State
which correspondence II a. yet unfinished, Le con.
tinued and concluded by the last named NJ W.
Brother on behalf OF this Grand Lodge, and that he
correspondence, when IL shall hav been concluded,
before the Committee on Foreign Correspondence
Of this Grand Lodge for its action
The r. W. Grand Chaplain, the venerable soleu.
Town, feeling indisposed, rose 70 say few words
before leaving twas hf.y-si. years since he frs,