stances, he is authorized to appoint a Past Grand to officiate in his place for the purpose of Installing Officers in his District; but this authority shall not extend to more than one Semi-annual Term, without the written consent of the Grand Master. He shall have power to grant dispensations to Lodges in his District for conferring Degrees, in less time than may be otherwise permitted, when circumstances require it, and to confer Official Degrees on Past Officers to whom they may have been voted by their Lodge.

He is directed to submit a written Semi-annual Report of the State of the Order under his jurisdiction, together with any decision he may have made not clearly explained in the Constitution and Laws, and any dispensation he may have granted; which Report shall be forwarded to the Grand Master, prior to the first days of February and August, to enable him to make his Report to the Grand Lodge.

Dated at Boston, this 2d day of Aug., 1855.

[SEAL.]

Sam'l B. Krogman. Grand Master.
Alfred Mudge, Grand Secretary.

CHAPTER XXIV.

A

A NEW HOME. HERE AND THERE.

FTER settling up his business in Bradford,

Vt.. in January, 1853, Mr. Hildreth, with his family, removed to Holyoke, Mass. This at that time was a new manufacturing town of about five thousand inhabitants. Here he engaged in the mercantile business. Not many months elapsed, however, before he was induced by the leading citizens of the place to relinquish his store and once more embark in the business of printing and newspaper publishing. The parties heretofore engaged in the business at this place had not met the wants and requirements of that young and growing town, and it was desired by the more enterprising citizens that they should have a man of experience and character, one that should do credit to the town at home and abroad.

In the printing and newspaper business in Holyoke Mr. Hildreth was very successful and made money. His newspaper was named "The Holyoke Mirror." He conducted his business in Holyoke until November, 1855, when he sold out to Mr. M. C. Pratt, who took his place. He was induced to sell and close his business here by the more

flattering temptations held out to him by parties then interested in opening up a new and magnificent town in the then far West, viz: Charles City, in Floyd county, Iowa. To this place Mr. Hildreth removed with his family in the spring of 1856. The country was new and many hardships and privations were to be endured. But never before were his spirits more buoyant; never did hope burn brighter. Here was opened before him a broad field for enterprise and usefulness.

How unlike was this to the old and overcrowded towns of the Eastern States! There business is overdone, and competition crowds out or crushes under every new comer, who is looked upon as an interloper, while in the great and growing West men are wanted and are welcomed.

In those early days Charles City contained a population of only a few hundred. Not a dozen frame houses were to be seen in the whole town, the others being built of logs, and several families were "dwellers in tents." Provisions were very scarce and could only be obtained at high prices. The few settlers who had come into the county during the previous year had raised but a small quantity of farm produce, not nearly enough to supply the rapidly increasing demand of the immigrants who succeeded them. The nearest market was Dubuque, distant 145 miles, and thither teams were dispatched to procure the necessaries of life.

CHAPTER XXV.

D

THE INTELLIGENCER NEWSPAPER.

URING this first year, 1856, there was no time

for idleness. Mr. Hildreth purchased his printing material, (all new,) in New York City and shipped it to Charles City. But he must necessarily have a building in which to place it on its arrival. He had bought in New York a chest of carpenter's tools, and with these, with his own. hands and an assistant, he erected what has ever since been known as the "Intelligencer Building," on the corner of Main and Kelly streets in Charles City. Much of the lumber for this building he carried on his shoulders from the Kelly saw-mill at the foot of Main street. The lower story was for a store, and the upper story for his printing office. All was ready to be occupied in June; and before cold weather came he had built a commodious and comfortable dwelling house.

On the 31st of July, 1856, he issued the first number of his newspaper, under the title of the

Republican Intelligencer." It was a folio sheet, well edited, handsomely printed, and contained seven columns to the page. It had for its motto the often misquoted words of Bishop Berkeley:

"Westward the course of empire takes its way."