Our Sixteenth Volume.

OUR SIXTEENTH VOLUME .

APE W remarks may not be considered out of place in our present number . We bave this week entered on our Sixteenth Volume , and as tbe horizon before us seems tolerably clear , we have no reason to donbt that , so far as human anticipations appear to be realisable , we shall , in due course , bring it to a completion , and with it

the eighth year of our existence . The period of that existence has not been entirely uneventful . It embraces nearly the whole of the Prince of Wales ' s Grand Mastership , and ,

as far as the activity and numerical strength of the Craft are concerned , the most prosperous period in tbe annals of our Fraternity . It is no doubt due to the great interest exhibited by all classes in the memorable Installation at

the Royal Albert Hall of His Royal Highness as Grand Master that Freemasonry is indebted for its greater popularity , its large accession of strength , and above all , the increased resources which have been p laced at the disposition of our three Institutions . As regards ourselves , the

more immediate consequence of this prosperity is that , while our progress has not been unattended by difficulties , we have nevertheless found it easier than we can imagine it would have been in ordinary circumstances . As we have said on previous occasions of a similar character , we

have the satisfaction of knowing that we have been able to retain the' support of a majority of our earliest friends and constituents . We have largely added to the number of those friends , and though , as in the nsual ups and downs of journalism , we have failed to give satisfaction to all our

readers , we have a consolation for this inevitable failure , that we have been able to go as far as other journals in accomplishing the impossible . As regards the future , we shall strive to follow in tbe path we have laid down for ourselves from the beginning . We shall observe the same

rigid impartiality in dealing with questions as they may arise . If we think a particular policy is wholly objectionable , or should be modified , we shall not hesitate to say so firmly , but we trust , with that courtesy which it * behoves a Masonic journal in particular , to observe on all occasions

and towards everybody . We shall continue to lay the same stress , as heretofore , on the necessity for keeping up our Institutions at their present strength , and in their present state of efficiency . We believe it will be well for them " they are content to remain , for some time to come at all

events , at their present strength ; but if other counsels prevail , and that strength is increased , we shall simply exert ourselves with , if possible , a greater amount of zeal on "eir behalf . In short , our policy will remain unchanged :

and , that being so , we feel we may , not without reason , V / 0 rward * ° continuance of that approval and support which has been so kindly extended to us in the past .

A Complex Question.

A COMPLEX QUESTION .

I I uR opinion has been asked as to one or two questions ys "which have arisen put of a case of some delicacy , Af «? greflter complexity . The facts are as follow ** the installation meetin g of the Doric Lodee . No . 816 ,

b ^ tt , ' tte ro 11 of Grand L ° age ' Canada , a certain ei ° ht P P osed f ° initiation a gentleman with whom , for g * years , he had been in almost daily intercourse , and

A Complex Question.

who had been nearly ten years in his then position . The proposition was , in due com * se , submitted to the Committee of General Purposes , and reported npon favourably . When , however , the next regular meeting of the Lodge was held ,

the candidate in question was one of three out of four gentlemen who were blackballed , and our correspondent suggests that this may have happened either because he

had refused to lend money to a certain brother of the Lodge , who had borrowed two separate sums of a third brother and not repaid them , or because the said brother to whom he had refused the loan had had a candidate of

his own blackballed at a previous meeting . With these surmises , however , which never can be anything else than surmises , we have nothing whatever to do . What made the rejection of our communicant's friend the more conspicuous was tbe fact that , as the W . M . of tbe Doric Lodge

remarked , the Worshipful Master of the St . George ' s Lodge , Toronto , No . 367 on the roll of Grand Lodge , Canada , had asked permission to initiate tbe candidate . So far all is clear ; but henceforth we find ourselves in some difficult circumstances . It happened about this time

that the W . M . elect of St . George ' s Lodge , Montreal , which stands No . 440 on the roll of Grand Lodge England , and is one of three Lodges which since the separation of Canada and England , have elected to remain under the banner of tbe latter , took up

his residence at Toronto , whence , at the appointed time , he travelled to Montreal—a distance of 333 milesin order to be installed in the chair of K . S . This brother and another had both been present in the aforesaid Doric Lodge , Toronto , at the blackballing of our friend ' s

candidate , and we presume in consequence of this , the rejected of the Doric Lodge , Toronto , made application to St . George ' s , Montreal , English Constitution , for initiation , being supported by " the recommendation , of the Worshipful Master " of the latter . Our correspondent was applied to as

to character , and his report being considered satisfactory , the applicant was balloted for and accepted , and on the 25 th April was initiated into the First Degree in the said St . George ' s Lodge , Montreal . So far again , all is clear , and so likewise is the next step in the proceedings ,

namely , that the newly-initiated member of St . George ' s , Montreal , No . 440 , English Constitution , presented himself for acceptance into the degree of Fellow Craft at the next regular meeting of the St . George ' s Lodge , No . 367 ,

Canadian Constitution , but was notified by the Worshipful Master that the District Deputy Grand Master bad advised him not to pass tbe newly-fledged English E . A . P . without " very careful consideration " of the circumstances .

These are the facts of the case . Let us now pass to the questions on which our correspondent requests us to give him information . These questions he bases on certain extracts from tbe Constitutions of the Grand Lodge of

Canada , and for greater convenience , as well as to place matters in the clearest possible lig ht before our readers , we shall combine , in the order of their occurrence , extract , question , and our answer .

( 1 ) Our correspondent , quoting Article 7 , " Of Proposing Candidates , " from the said Constitutions , points out that " No Person shall be made a Mason or admitted a

member of a Lodge , if , on the ballot , two black balls shall appear against him" ; and he asks , " Do the words ( a Lodge ) refer to alt the Lodges of every jurisdiction , or only to those in the particular "—that is , the Canadian" jurisdiction ? " To this our answer is to " those of the