GRAND LODGE

1850.] Grand Lodge of Illinois. 603
with solemn, impressive and affecting dispensations. Death, that great
severer of the fondest and holiest of human ties, has breathed his icy breath
on our right and on our lelt, and several of our most cherished and efficient
brethren, with whom we acted in October, are now affiliated with the pale
nations of the spirit land. They have doubtless been called hence, to be ad­
vanced to higher degrees in that lodge, over which the Supreme Grand Mas­
ter of the Universe eternally presides.
It becomes my official duty to announce to you the death of Wm. Mitch­
ell. Esq., our late Right Worshipful Grand Secretary. In ten days after the
adjournment of the last regular communication, he was called from labor in
this world, to the enjoyment, we trust, of a rich and enduring refreshment
in a realm of bright and of fuller light than ours.
He needs no eulogy from me. An imperishable monument is built up
to his memory within the heart of every member of this organization—upon
the tablet of which are indelibly inscribed his worth and his virtues. His
deep and unwavering devotion to the precepts, principles and usages of the
order—his amiable and unchanging courtesy—his untiring industry and zeal
in the discharge of his official duties—his fidelity and his expansive brotherly
love, constituted him one of the great pillars of our institution in Illinois, and
the idol of the fraternity.
Upon the death of the late Grand Secretary, I appointed our esteemed
Bro. Thos. J. Pickett, Esq., of the city of Peoria, to fill the vacancy.
In conformity with a resolution of the Grand Lodge, the printing of the
proceedings of the last annual communication, together with a digest of all
the laws, rules and edicts of the Grand Lodge of Illinois then in force was
contracted with Messrs. Davis and Pickett of Peoria.
To facilitate the work, and for personal convenience, the Grand Secre­
tary placed the archives of the Grand Lodge in the building occupied by these
brothers as a printing office. Before the said printing was completed the
office was destroyed by fire, and with it the entire papers belonging to the
Grand Lodge, including the manuscript copy of the minutes of the last an­
imal communication. This unfortunate catastrophe makes it necessary ami
seems to demand, that some organized action of this Grand Lodge should be
had previous to the October session, to collect and re-establish as far as
practicable the proceedings, enactments and records thus destroyed. To
neglect this would necessarily produce confusion, and to delay action until
October, would impose upon that session, duties too laborious and too much
augmented.
The objects contemplated for your action at this session, as set forth in
the summons or proclamation, are as follows: