GEORGIA. The earliest his torical record of Freemasonry in Georgia may be found in Preston's Illustrations, during the Grand Mas tership of the Earl of Strathmore, in 1733, and is in the following lan guage: "The history of the society at this period affords few remark able instances of record. Some con siderable donations were collected, and distributed among distressed Masons, to encourage the settlement of a new colony, which had been just established at Georgia, America." The next allusion we find by the same author in 1735, who says: (Lord Weymouth being then Grand Master) also issued warrants to open a new Lodge at Lisbon, and another at Savannah, in Georgia." Thomas Smith 'Webb, in his Freemason's Monitor, edition of 1805, says: "The Grand Lodge of Georgia is holden by virtue, and in pursuance of the right of succession, legally derived from the Most Noble and Most Worshipful Thomas Thyne, Lord Viscount Weymouth, Grand Master of England, A. D. 1730,* by his war rant, directed to the Right Worship ful Roger Lacey; and by the renewal of the said power by Sholto Charles * This is evidently an error, because Lord Weymouth was Grand Master in 1736, and was succeeded by the Dirt 01 Loudon in 1736.
Douglas, Lord Aberdour, Grand Master of Scotland, for the years 1755 and 1756; and the Grand Mas ter of England for the years 1757 and 1758 ; as will appear in his warrant directed to the Right Wor shipful Grey Elliot. Dec. 16, A. D. 1786, a convention of the several lodges holden in the State assembled at Savannah, when the permanent appointments, which had been there tofore made by the Grand Master of England, were solemnly relin quished, by the Right Worshipful Sam'l Elbert, Grand Master, and the other officers of the Grand Lodge; and certain regulations adopted by which the Grand Officers are now elected annually by the Grand Lodge." At this convention, 1787, William Stephens was elected Grand Master. This Grand Lodge so con stituted was afterward incorporated by the legislature of Georgia. The warrant of Solomon's Lodge, as originally issued, was destroyed by fire, therefore its precise date and authority cannot, at this time, be definitely settled.