The West Virginia journal. [volume] (Charleston, W. Va.) 1864-1877, 1869-01-27
Reconciliation Among Free Ma
Sons.
EIrLEY, O., l$S.

Reconciliation Among Free Ma.
sons.
From the Richmond Enquirer, December, 81
The Grand Annual Communication
Of tho Grand Lodge. which closed its
session in Richmond, last week, trans
acted some important business.
The question OF paramount interest
for tho decision OF the Grand Lodge
was the settlement Of the difficulties
between the Grand Lodges Of Virginia
and West Virginia. Shortly after the
commencement OF the war. tho subor-
dinatc lodges in West Virginia, all OF
which had, Of course, been chartered
By the Grand Lodge OF Virginia, insti-
tu,cd q Grand Lodge and worked I'm.
der it until after the close 0: the war.
When this event occurred, the Grand
Lodge Of West Virginia was al illegal
body. having been Instituted by lodge,
holding charters granted by her. Ne
9otiationS for u settlement Of the diff
Guilty were commenced in 1850. n
commission was appointed by the
Grand Lodge OF West Virginia to con-
duct them.
At the annual communication OF tho
Grand Lodge Of Virginia. in 1867, an
able committee was appointed to in-
rcStiYutc and. report 10 the last annual
communication MI the facts in the
case, aud to recommend such action rs
il thought best for the Grand Lodge to
pursue. The committee performed its
duty and reported the following terms
OF settlement: First, that.a majority Of
the subordinate Lodges in the juris-
dic,ion OF the Grand Lodge OF West
Virginia should give their adhesion to
the Grand Lodge Of West Virginia
second, that the subordinate lodges in
West Virginia should pay to the Grand
Lodge OF Virginia all their dues from
the time, Of the institution ofthc Grand
Lodge OF W est Virginia to the annual
communication OF the Grand Lodge OF
Virginia in 1865; an,l third, that the
! subordinate lodges Of West Virginia
should surrender the charters granted
them BY tho Grand Lodge OF West
Virginia.
Deputy Grand Master Martin and
Grand Junior Warden White were
present rs commission from the
Grand Lodge Of West Virginia, and
accepted the terms proposed in the re-
port of the committee. They request
cd that their subordinate lodges might
be permitted to retain possession Of
their charters, in order that they might
be placed in their archives. 1t was ac-
ccdcd 10. The report ofthc committee
was unanimously adopted, and tho
right hand OF fellowship was extended
to the commission Of West Virginia.
Deputy Grand Master Martin made
an eloquent speech after the report
was adopted, and said the action OF the
Grand Lodge OF Virginia would send
= thrill Of JOY to the hearts Of the i,vv.
usq Of rcst Virginia, for it wonld
nno0 tAlt n cri::. cr traternal regard
sNsteStsmdI betwsew.tiss people g: the
South and those Of thc North he'ac,
:ccptcd, clccrfully the terms proposed
.by tho committee, and said nc thought
they were trntcrnal and liberal.
:, The disputed territory Of Jefferson
and Berkeley counties is to remain
within tho Jurisdiction of the Grand
Lodge Of Virginia, until the Supreme
Court shall decide the question rs to
whether these counties are in Virginia
or West Virginia. Altogether, the
proceedings OF the Grand Lodge were
perfectly harmonious, the utmost good
feeling aud fratcrnal regard prevailing
throughout tho session.