The Grand Lodge Of Canada.

THE GRAND LODGE OF CANADA .

THE twentieth Annual Communication of this Grand Lodge was opened at London , Ontario , on Wednesday the 14 th July . The following is a summary of the proceedings , based on the very excellent report contained in the Canadian Masonic News for the current month . The

R . W . Bro . J . K . Kerr , Acting G . M ., presided , and before passing to the regular business ho addressed Grand Lodge at some length ou the leading events of the year . Firstly , he noted with extreme regret the losses which the Craft had sustained during that period . Bro . Kerr paid a happy

tribute of respect to the memory of the late R . W . Brother Thomas Bird Harris , who for close on twenty years had filled the office of Grand Secretary , and to whose zealous efforts the brethren were so largely indebted for the present brilliant state of Masonry in Canada . " It is greatly

to be feared , " says the report of the Canadian Masonic IVetus , " that the great interest which R . W . Bro . Harris took in the affairs of Grand Lodge incited him frequently to exert himself in the cause of Masonry beyond his physical strength , and in the effort to promote the interest

of the Craft he had been wont to overtask his powers . Many whose privilege it was to know him intimately are aware that after our annual assemblies he almost invariably suffered from the severe strain then put on his energies ,

and that for years past he left our deliberations , agitated and protracted , to seek rest and repose , and to recover and regain his wasted strength . " And , again , "Bro . Harris was devoted to the interest of Grand Lodge , and there can be no manner of doubt that he wore himself out in its

service . ' Bro . Harris , we are told , was initiated in St . Andrew Lodge , No . 16 , in 1848 , and to his exertions are mainly due the establishment of the Grand Lodge of Canada . " He held many other important positions in Freemasonry during the whole time that he was Grand

Secretary , and on many occasions he received warm acknowledgments of his services to Masonry from the Craft at large , from Grand Lodge and private Lodges , as well as from other Masonic bodies , and ho was frequently tho recipient of substantial tokens of the goodwill of his

brethren , and of the esteem in which he was held by them . " Bro . Harris died , after a brief illness , on the 18 th August of last year , and was succeeded in his office by R . W . Bro . J . J . Mason , who was appointed to fulfil the duties of Grand Secretary for tho remainder of the year . The next

important Joss was that caused by the death of the M . W . G . M . Wilson , within a few months of our respected Bro . Harris . The late Brother Wilson was initiated into Freemasonry in St . John ' s Lodge , in Simcoe , in 1840 , from which date , down to the time of his death , he was

almost uninterruptedly engaged in promoting the interests of the Order . " He was among the first to aid in the establishment of the Grand Lodge of Canada , and so highly were his services at that time regarded , that he was chosen the first occupant of the Oriental Chair , which ho held

uninterruptedly for several years . In 1800 he was permitted to retire , and chosen again in 1866 , holding the position for two years , when he again relinquished it , on account of acceptance of office under the Government . Five years later he was again elected to this position , and continued to

hold it up to the time of his death . " " Brilliant in the discharge of his duties , untiring in his zeal and energy , possessing those qualities which attract and charm the minds of men , it is impossible to measure the service he has rendered to the Craft in Canada . " And further , of his

Masonic knowledge aud experience we ai'e told , " In M . W . Bro . Wilscn were embodied those attributes symbolized by the three famous pillars of the ancient temple . His Masonic wisdom was great . The strength of his decisions was conceded by all , and the beauty of his Masonic and Christian walk won the admiration of his brethren .

His exertions were largely crowned with ( success , and his untiring efforts were admired and appreciated by his brethren who continued to shower down upon him the highest honours that they could bestow , and whilst the records of our Grand Lodge abound with the work of his hands , they

also bear testimony to the estimation m which M . W . Bro . Wilson was always held by his brethren . Full of Masonic honours he left this earthly scene . " Both these eminent members were buried with full Masonic honours , and the funerals were more numerously attended than any ever held in this country . The death is also noted of R . W . Bro . Dr . E . M . Wilson , , P . D . D . G . M . of Niagara District , on 31 st May

The Grand Lodge Of Canada.

last , while the death of the late Duke of Leinster , for sixtyone years Grand Master of Masons in Ireland , is also noted . The appointment of the Duke of Abercorn as his successor and the installation of H . R . H . the Prince of Wales as R . W . Grand Master in England are alluded to in congratulatory terms .

R . W . Bro . Kerr afterwards passed on to record the business of the year , describing , in the first place , the operations of the late G . M . Wilson , who at the close of the last annual communication at Toronto repaired to Weston and dedicated two Lodges , the Humber , No . 30-5 , and the

Blackwood , No . 311 . Shortly after conducting the ceremonies at the funeral of Bro . Harris , he was at St . Thomas , and there dedicated St . David ' s Lodge , No . 302 . Ten days later he presented to the M . W . Bro . Thos . White P . G . M . the testimonial offered to that eminent Brother by Grand

Lodge for his valuable services to Masonry . Only a few days before he was confined to his bed he delivered a lecture at Chatham , under the auspices of the Parthenon Lodge , No . 267 , and dedicated Kent Lodge , No . 274 , at Blenheim . During Bro . Wilson ' s illness , Bro . Kerr

represented him in the Dedication Ceremonial of the New Masonio Hall , Hamilton . On the 3 rd March the new Masonic Hall at Seaforth was dedicated , and on the 1 st July R . W . Bro . McGloghlon D . D . G . M . of London , acting for Bro . Kerr , dedicated the new Hall recently erected for the

use of Malahiti Lodge , No . 140 . Several other ceremonies , chiefly of laying the corner stone of Masonic or other buildings , are then recounted . Dispensations to the following Lodges were renewed by the late Grand Master : —Hiram Lodge , Cheapside , and Chesterville Lodge , Chesterville ,

while Dispensations for forming New Lodges were granted to Walker Lodge , Acton ; North Star Lodge , Owen Sound ; Alvinston Lodge , Alvinston ; Temple Lodge , Hamilton ; and Orono Lodge , Orono . Dispensations have also been granted during Bro . Kerr ' s tenure of office to Zetland

Lodge , Toronto ; the Hammond Lodgo , Wardsville ; Ionic Lodge , Napier ; King Solomon ' s Lodge , Javvis ; Corinthian Lodge , London East ; Eden Lodge , London ; Fordwich Lodge , Fordwich ; Stratford Lodge , Stratford ; and Prince Arthur Lodge , Flesherton . King Hiram

Lodge , No . 89 , Lindsay , has had its warrant returned , and received authority to resume work . After giving further details , Bro . Kerr then passed to the important question of funds , which , according to the Report about to be submitted to Grand [ Lodge by the auditors , show the

following figures : —Investments , namely , Government Stock 45 , 573 . 33 dollars , Bank of Toronto 252 . 30 , and Bank of Commerce 1 , 179 . 97 , distributed to the various accounts as detailed , namely—General Fund 30 , 082 . 91 dollars ; Asylum Fund 0 , 452 . 39 ; Investment Benevolence 0 , 486 . 21 ;

Benevolence Account 1 , 002 . 54 . The following brethren were elected as Grand Officers for the ensuing year , namely : — Grand Master , M . W . Bro . J . K . Kerr , Toronto ; Dep . Grand Master , R . W . Bro . W . H . Weller , Coburg ; Grand Senior Warden , R . W . Bro . Geo . S . Birrell , London ; Grand Junior

Warden , R . W .. Bro . A . J . Gambia , Ottawa ; Grand Chaplain , R . W . Bro . Rev . G . M . Innes , London ; Grand Treasurer , R . W . Bro . Henry Groff , Simcoe ; Grand Registrar , R . W . Bro . J . Burns , Toronto ; Grand Secretary , R . W , Bro . John J . Mason , Hamilton , and Grand Tyler , V . W .

Bro . J . Sweetman , Ottowa . Deputy District Grand Masters—St . Clair District , R . W . Bro . T . 0 . McNab , Chatham ; London , R . W . Bro . W . D . McGloghlon , London ; Wilson , R . W . Bro . C . Bennett , Port Rowan ; Huron , R . W . Bro . J . H . Benson , Seaforth ; Wellington , R . W . Bro . J .

McLaren , Mount Forest ; Niagara , R . W . Bro . D . E . Broderick , Caledonia ; Hamilton , R . W . Bro . R . Brierly , Hamilton ; Toronto , R . W . Bro . D . Spry , Toronto ; Ontario , R . W . Bro . C . Peplow , Port Hope ; Prince Edward , R . W . Bro . D . Ross , Picton ; St . Lawrence , R . W . Bro . S . Wood ,

Kingston . A motion to hold Grand Lodge at Toronto for the future was defeated by a large majority . The Grand Officers were then installed in their several offices by M . W . Bro . Col . A . A . Stevenson , Montreal , and after they had severally thanked their brethren for the confidence reposed in them , Grand Lodge adjourned , about ten o ' clock .

District Grand Lodge Of British Burmah.

DISTRICT GRAND LODGE OF BRITISH BURMAH .

THE regular quarterly Communition of this District Grand Lodge was held at the Masonic Temple , on