To M... P... JOSIAH H. DRUNMOND, 33°, Sov.. Grand Commander of the Supreme Council Northern Masonic Jurisdiction, United States of America: DEAR SIR AND ILLUSTRIOUS BROTHER:

I have the honor to present herewith my report as Deputy for the District of Indiana.

First, it is my unpleasant duty to report to you the death of one of the Honorary Members of this Supreme Council, who was widely known and greatly respected throughout the State. Illustrious Brother E. W. H. ELLIS, 33°, died of paralysis, at his residence in Goshen, Indiana, on October 10th, 1876. Matters of business and his professional duties prevented his attending any of the meetings of this Body, hence he was personally known to but few of its members; nevertheless, he felt a deep interest in all matters pertaining to it, and was largely familiar with all its concerns. Enclosed please find memorial resolutions for publication with the Proceedings.

At this date there are in existence in this District Charters for three Lodges of Perfection, three Councils of Princes of Jerusalem, three Chapters of Rose Croix, and three Consistories, located respectively as follows: One Lodge, Council, Chapter and Consistory at East Fort Wayne, New Albany and Indianapolis. Of these only the Bodies at Indianapolis report any work for past year. Those at

FORT WAYNE

Are in arrears for dues for two years, leaving due the Supreme Council to July 1st, 1877, $40.

Our fraters in this locality have never equipped with suitable rooms and paraphenalia for conferring degrees, except by communication. They were organized on January 20th, 1867, with a membership of twelve in number; on July 1st, 1875, they report a membership of twenty. I have recently had some correspondence with the officers in charge, with a slight prospective assurance of future work, revival of interest, &c; but while our membership

there is good and the Bodies officered by Ill.. Brethren of worth and ability, still so great a degree of lethargy and lack of interest prevails among them that I fear their success with the A.. and A.. R.. for the present, at least, as per the requirements of this Supreme Council. This state of things ought not to exist, as Fort Wayne is among the first cities of our State, with a large and intelligent Masonic Brotherhood resident therein, and I am still in hopes that the Brethren will secure their interest, pay their dues, and so far furnish and equip as to work the degrees of Perfection, at least.

NEW ALBANY.

This is the home of Ill.. Brother JAMES G. SHIELDS, who received the Honorary Grade of 33°, at Session of 1870, and of Ill.. Bro.. FRANK S. DEVOLL, P.. G.. M.. of Grand Lodge of Ind., elected for the Honorary Grade at Session of 1876-as also of Ill.. Bro.. M. D. CONDIFF, 32°, and others, who seem to feel a deep interest in the Rite. The officers of the several Bodies are proficient, and the membership, numbering thirty-nine, of undoubted respectability; but here, as with Fort Wayne, a lack of interest and energy prevails, but not to so great an extent as with the former place; New Albany Bodies having paid all dues up to July 1st, 1877, but report no work done for past year. They are partially equipped only, and until many additions are made in the way of room fixtures, &c., they will be unable to confer the Degrees in a proper manner. A Lodge and Council ought and could be successfully worked at this point, in fact its geographical location suggests this; but I am of opinion that the good judgment of the Brethren will, at a time not distant, concede their Consistory to Indianapolis, (and possibly their Chapter as well,) where only without more energy and equipments, with those now in possession of Charters, the Degrees of the Rite above Perfection and Council should be attempted.

Our Brethren at other points have had ample time for experimenting as to fitting up suitably for working the advanced degrees; and the good judgment of those most experienced has prevailed, in the conclusion that in the smaller towns and in localities where a great degree of combined energy, with other necessary surroundings are wanting, all degrees above the 18th at most, should be left to some one principal centre, where all our Illustrious Brethren can assemble at least once each year, and witness the proper rendering of the beautiful and instructive degrees of the A.. and A.. R.. as they are designed to be rendered.

Still there is no good reason why Perfection Degrees, and possibly those of the Council, should not be successfully worked in several localities in our State; and to this end zealous Brethren are now beginning to look, and will, I believe, in time apply for Charters. But it will take a little time to place the Rite in Indiana, in all respects, as it deserves to be placed, as well for the best interests of the Brethren as for the governing power that disposes for them.

INDIANAPOLIS.

Of the four Bodies here located too much commendatory can not be said. The Rite here is in a most flourishing and prosperous condition. The Bodies are all officered by gentlemen of culture and ability, thoroughly conversant with the work in all its details, with spacious and commodious rooms, and all necessary paraphenalia and equipments.

The hearts, as well as hands, of the Brethren are thoroughly devoted to the interests of the Rite. With Ill.. Brother N. R. RUCKLE, 33°, at the head of Perfection and Consistory, Ill. ·. Bro. ·. CHARLES E. WRIGHT, 32°, M... W.. and P.. M.. of Rose Croix, Ill.. Bro.. Jacob W. Smith, 32°, M. . E . S... P.. G.. M.. of Council, and Ill.. Bro.. Cortes F. Holliday, 32°, who is the efficient Secretary of all the Bodies, and all subordinate officers of the very best, they render the beautiful and sublime Degrees in a most perfect manner. The membership, now numbering two hundred and seventy-five, includes a large number of prominent business men of Indianapolis, as also the leading Brethren of the York Rite, throughout the State.

On January 15th, 1877, I granted dispensation to Indianapolis Consistory to elect their officers, on January 17th, 1877, they having failed to elect at stated meeting, in December, in consequence of other pressing business occurring on same evening.

On March 27th granted same Body permission to receive and act upon petitions for Degrees, it being the time for holding their Annual Re-union; and on same date granted dispensation for installing the officers of Seraiah Council P.. of J.. at Indianapolis.

On March 27th, 28th and 29th I attended the 12th Annual Convention and re-union of the Bodies at Indianapolis. This was an occurrence of unusual interest, there being present about one hundred and sixty Sublime Princes from Indiana, and a goodly number of distinguished Brethren from Ohio and Illinois. Among those from Ohio was Ill.. Bro.. ENOCH T. CARSON, 33°, who was the original Deputy for Indianapolis, and to whom the Brethren acknowledge many obligations for instruction and services rendered, not only in their original organization in 1864, but for continued favors in the years that have intervened. In fact, Ill.. Bro.. CARSON is the acknowledged father of the A.. and A... R.. Bodies at Indianapolis.

Accompanying Ill.. Bro.. CARSON was Ill.. Bro.. CHARLES BROWN, 33°, A. M. Ross, 33°, Wм. R. HAWES, 33°, and others from Ohio, whose names I failed to get.

Ill.. Bro.. JOHN O'NEIL, 33°, with a delegation of some twenty Sublime Princes, from Oriental Consistory of Chicago, were also present, and enlivened the occasion by an enjoyable street parade, escort of officers, &c.

During the Convocation the degrees from 4 to 32, inclusive, were conferred in a masterly manner by Ill.. Brethren N. R. RUCKLE, 33°, Charles E. Wright,

32, JOSEPH W. SMITH, 33°, Gilbert W. Davis, 32°, Martin H. Rice, 32o, Jacob W. Smith, 32°, Frank P. Wade, 32°, Cyrus J. Dobbs, 32°, Jehiel Barnard, 32, John H. Holliday, 329, Samuel A. Johnson, 32°, and others, all of whom are superior workmen, thoroughly conversant with the Ritual, and each rendering his part in a most effective and masterly manner, not forgetting the monitorial emulation of the Trowel, as to who can best work and best agree.

On the evening of the 28th prox., the annual banquet and reunion transpired, and all in attendance were feasted sumptuously with the luxuries and delicacies of the season. The occasion was one long to be remembered by all

who had the pleasure of participating.

Indiana Consistory has, during the past year, created fourteen Sublime Princes of the Royal Secret, 32°, as follows:

In addition to the above, thirty-five affiliates have been received.

But one Council of Deliberation has ever been held in this District, and that in 1867. At that time there were twenty-nine Chartered Bodies in the State, and since the surrendering of all but those at Fort Wayne, New Albany and Indianapolis, and the working of the Rite confined almost exclusively to the latter place, there has really seemed no occasion for calling a Council of Deliberation.

In 1866 and 1867, as the outgrowth of the Grand Consistory, which was located at Laporte, there were created one hundred and seventy-one Sublime Princes, 32°, and twenty-five Bodies of the Rite organized in various localities in the State-most of the Brethren who received the degrees becoming members of the several Bodies located in their immediate vicinities, but when the several Bodies surrendered their Charters, the members thereof became, and until recently have remained, non-affiliated.

H

It has been my endeavor during the past year to induce all the Ill... Brethren who are in good standing to affiliate with our working Bodies at Indianapolis, and I am happy to report to you that my efforts have been crowned with considerable success. At this date petitions for membership are in the hands of most of them, who so far have not availed themselves, and ere next session of this Body I hope to be able to report that the remaining non-affiliates are regularly enrolled.

Of the original one hundred and seventy-one above referred to, thirty-three places have been made vacant by death and removals from the jurisdiction. Eighty are regularly enrolled, leaving at this date fifty-eight non-affiliates in

the State.

The following statement shows the work of the Bodies for the term ending June 30, 1877, and their present membership:

I have forwarded returns, with the annual dues collected in Indiana (amount $201 00) to the Grand Secretary General, with detailed statement in duplicate. All of which is respectfully submitted, with the assurance that it will be my earnest endeavor to promote the growth, interest and general welfare of the A.. and A.. R.. in the District of Indiana, in accordance with the instructions and requirements of this Supreme Council, to the best of my ability. E. G. HAMILTON, 33°, Deputy for Indiana.

LAPORTE, August 1, 1877.

ILLINOIS.

To the M.. P... Soc.. Gr.. Com.. of the Supreme Council A.. and A.'. Rite, for the Northern Masonic Jurisdiction U. S. A. :

I have the honor to report that during the Masonic year ending June 30th, the Rite in this District has enjoyed a fair degree of prosperity. Not so much work has been done as in some previous years, but the interest in the Rite has been maintained.