CELEBRATION AT GREENFIELD, O.—The anniversary of Ringgold Lodge, No. 90, was celebrated at this place, on the 11th of August. A large number of brethren were in attendance from Chillicothe, Hillsboro', and all the neighboring towns, and participated in the exercises. A very large procession was formed, and after marching through the principal streets, was addressed by Past Grand Master Hamilton, in his usual eloquent and instructive manner. The occasion was one of unusual interest, and will be remembered with pleasure by the members of Ringgold Lodge, and all who participated with them in the exercises.

OUR CONTRIBUTORS.-We have the pleasure of adding "Ada Vernon" to our list of contributors, this month. In real poetic merit and beauty of imagery, the effusions of Ada Vernon are not excelled by any poetess in the land. She is frequently, and we think justly, called the "Mrs. Hemans of America." We are proud to announce her as a reg

ular contributor.

"Stella" continues to grow in interest as the plot develops, and we are continually assailed with inquiries as to the real name of its gifted authoress. We are pledged to secrecy on this point for the present, but in due time the vail will be removed, and the curiosity of her numerous admirers gratified. She is now in the East superintending the publication of a volume of her poems-a work which will be hailed by the literary world with universal commendation.

A beautiful poem by Alice Clifton, entitled "The Convent Flower,” will appear in our October number.

OHIO FEMALE COLLEGE.-We have received the fifth Annual Report of this highly prosperous and popular institution. It is delightfully situ ated at College Hill, Hamilton Co., O., and possesses many advantages for a superior course of education. The number of students for the year ending in June last was 304. Rev. J. Covert is the President of the Faculty.

THE MEMENTO, AND ODD FELLOWS' NORTH-WESTERN MAGAZINE.-This is the title of a new periodical, devoted, as its name indicates, to the dissemination of the principles of Odd-Fellowship. We have received the first number, and are much pleased with its contents. It is published monthly, and contains thirty-two pages in each number. The Memento is edited by Wm. Rounseville, Grand Master of Illinois, and published at Peoria, Ill., by N. C. Nason. Terms, one dollar per year in advance. It is worthy the prosperity of the Order in the North-west, and we trust it will receive a liberal support.

INTELLIGENCE OF THE ORDER.

OHIO.

Bro. Glenn, the Grand Secretary, has kindly furnished us a statement of the operations of the Order in this State, for the year ending 30th of June last, taken from the report prepared for the Grand Lodge of the United States:

The above table, though taken from the official reports, does not show the precise condition of the Order in the State. Ten Lodges have failed to make their reports, and from eighteen of the Lodges instituted the present year, no report was due. The membership of these 28 Lodges would increase the initiations, and of course the total number of members, at least 500, so that the present membership of Ohio may be safely set down at 18,700. This is an increase of 2,500 members during the year. Thirty-one Lodges have been instituted since the first of March, and five remain to be instituted.

The large number of withdrawals, it should be recollected, does not indicate a loss of membership to that amount-many having taken out their cards for the purpose of joining new Lodges. A large majority of the expulsions are for non-payment of dues.

This statement exhibits the Order in Ohio in a very prosperous condition, so far as its statistics are concerned; and it may be added, that harmony and good feeling, and a lively interest in the operations of OddFellowship, prevail throughout the brotherhood in our State.

INDIANA.

In the August number of the Casket we noticed the annual session of the Grand Lodge of this State at Indianapolis, on the 17th of July, giving a portion of their proceedings. We insert the remainder of a brief abstract of their most important doings.

The Trustees of the Grand Lodge Hall reported that they had contracted for its erection and completion at $39,500, and that the work is rapidly going forward. A considerable amount of stock yet remaining unsubscribed, the Grand Master and Grand Secretary were authorized to issue bonds to the amount necessary to make up the deficit; and in order to aid in meeting these bonds, the following resolution was adopted: "Resolved, That every individual member of each Subordinate Lodge in the State be requested to contribute one dollar towards the erection of the Grand Lodge Hall, and that such contribution be paid to the Secretary of each Lodge, and the amount forwarded to the Grand Secretary, and he be required to issue certificates of stock, in the name of said Lodge, to the amount forwarded, and that the same be refunded or credited on the dues of each contributor, out of the interest accruing on said stock."

Amendments to the Constitution were offered, providing for voting by proxy for Grand Lodge officers, by the Past Grands of the State, and also for annual meetings only of the Grand Lodge, which were laid over for consideration at the next session.

A resolution for the appointment of a committee to inquire into the expediency of adopting a representative system was laid on the table.

The following is a statement of the operations of the Order in the State, during the last six months, and its present condition, as reported by the Grand Secretary:

Ladies who have taken the Degree of Rebekah during the term, 298

MAINE.

The regular annual session of the Grand Lodge of Maine was held at Portland on the 11th of July. From the report of Grand Master Banks, we learn that the financial affairs of the Grand Lodge are in a highly satisfactory condition. He says:

"The large debt due the Grand Lodge of the United States has been considerably reduced, and the current expenses of the Grand Lodge promptly paid. Much credit is due to the Subordinate Lodges for the promptness with which, under depressing circumstances, they have discharged their pecuniary obligations to the Grand Lodge, thus placing this body in a position of prospective independence."

The Grand Master complains that the reports from Subordinates show a large number of suspensions, generally for non-payment of dues, and that less interest is manifested in the work than formerly. This apathy he attributes to the introduction of the new work, and is of the opinion that it has proved an entire failure throughout that jurisdiction.

The following brothers were elected officers for the ensuing term: Joseph Burton, G.M.; John Colby, D.G.M.; A. T. C. Dodge, G.W.; Benjamin Kingsbury, Jr., G. Sec.; Cyrus Cummings, G. Treas.; Rev. C. Cummings, G. Chap.; Edward P. Banks, G. Rep.

The next session of this body will be held at Bangor.

MASSACHUSETTS.

GRAND ENCAMPMENT.-The regular annual session of this body was held on Wednesday, the 2d ult. The Subordinates in the jurisdiction were largely represented. We learn from the report of the Grand Patriarch that with some few exceptions the Subordinates appear to be in a languid state. But little business of interest was transacted.

The following officers were elected for the ensuing term: Joseph Byron, G. P.; Chas. Hayden, G. H. P.; E. C. Webster, G. S. W.: Alfred Mudge, G. Scribe; Robert C. Brown, G. Representative.

GRAND LODGE. The annual session of the Massachusetts Grand Lodge was held on the 3d of August. There was a very large attendance, and the meeting is represented to have been the most interesting session held for years. The report of Grand Master Wm. A. Bell, was an able document. He speaks in glowing terms of the improved interest in Odd-Fellowship that has been awakened in Massachusetts, and eloquently exhorts the brethren to assist, by their zealous devotion to the cause, in the restoration of Odd-Fellowship in Massachusetts to the prosperous condition of former years. Of Odd-Fellowship in Ohio as contrasted with the progress of the Order in Massachusetts, he thus speaks: "In Ohio (the young giant of the West), a degree of prosperity marks the progress of Odd-Fellowship, which far outstrips us even in the days of our greatest We would do well to copy from their bright example, and burnish anew that we may at least maintain a position in the ranks of the Order above

success. our armor,

mediocrity. I trust that in our assemblage on this occasion, a spirit of emulation will be induced, that shall have the effect to scatter the clouds which have obscured from our vision the bright sun of prosperity, so that it may no longer be said of many of us, that the measure of our Odd-Fellowship consists only in that which 'plays round the head, but comes not to the heart.""

It is a fact worthy of notice, he continues, that where the literature of the Order is most extensively patronized, there is Odd-Fellowship in the most flourishing condition.

"At a first glance it may perhaps appear as somewhat out of place, thus publicly to allude to the publications of the Order. But to my mind, it is clearly the duty of a Grand Master to recommend such matters for the consideration of his constituency, as he may consider conducive to the prosperity of the Order. For this reason, I speak of the literature of the Order-cognizant as I am of the fact (both from experience and observation,) that the press is a powerful auxiliary in promoting the success of any and every enterprise, and peculiarly so in connection with our Order."

The election of officers resulted as follows:

John R. Mullin, G. M.; S. B. Krogman, D. G. M.; Caleb Rand, G. W.; Alfred Mudge, G. Secretary; W. H. Cook, G. Treas.; C. A. Bradley, G. Chaplain; William A. Bell, G. Representative.

RHODE ISLAND.

The regular annual session of the Grand Encampment was held at Providence, on Monday, July 31st. The Grand Lodge met in annual session at the same place on the 1st day of August last.

In the Encampment Branch, but little business was transacted, except the election, of officers, which resulted as follows:

Horace A. Manchester, G. P.; Archibald B. Rice, G. High Priest; Marinus W. Gardiner, G. Scribe.

The election of Grand Lodge officers resulted as follows:

John F. Driscoll, G. Master; Peleg Noyes, D. G. Master; A. B. Rice, G. Warden; W. B. Snell, G. Secretary; E. Bentley, G. Treasurer.

NEW YORK.

The regular annual sessions of the Grand Lodge and Encampment of Northern New York were held in the city of Albany, on the 92d ult. A large representation from Subordinates was present. As the proceedings have not yet reached us, we are unable to give anything more than the officers for the ensuing term.

The officers of the Grand Lodge are: T. R. Morgan, of Binghamton, G. M.; F. Seger, of Martinsburg, D. G. M.; E. C. Dibble, of Batavia, G. Warden; W. H. H. Prall, of Syracuse, G. Secretary; S. N. Smith, of Auburn, G. Treas.

The following are the officers of the Grand Encampment: Jos. Seymour, G. P.; D. S. Forbes, of Fredonia, G. H. P.; W. H. H. Prall, of Syracuse, Grand Scribe.