British Columbia.

BRITISH COLUMBIA .

Amongthe independent Grand Lodges established in British North America duringthe last 37 or 38 years , that of British Columbia is probably the youngest and has the smallest aggregate membership , but from the report of the proceedings at its 21 st annual communication in June last , it is evidently very far from being the least active and energetic . It has on its register 860

subscribing members as compared vvith 726 during the previous year , its General Fund has a considerable balance on the rig ht side of the account , and the Charity Fund amounts to but little short of § 5600 . Its present condition , therefore , is eminently satisfactory , and no doubt as the colony becomes more populous , the Craft will be still more numerous . As for the work done

by the Grand Master during his year of office , as described in the address vvhich he delivered before the brethren , it makes quite a brave show . Having announced that charters had been issued to three lodges , Bro . MARCUS WOLFE passed on to the question of " Uniformity of Masonic clothing , " in respect of which he mentioned that one of

the private lodges had denied the rig ht of Grand Lodge to alter their clothing or jewels , basing their refusal to conform to the present law on the Article in the first edition of the Book of Constitutions , which provided that " lodges in this jurisdiction already supplied in this respect may continue the adoption and use of the same as long as they so desire . " With this

exception , as to which we consider the Grand Master is right in pointing out that the present law must be obeyed , all the lodges appear to have adopted readily the provisions of the lasv as revised . Another lodge is also cited as having insisted on appointing instead of electing its Secretary , and on the same ground , namely , that it claimed to " act thus in accordance with the

provision contained in the original edition of the Constitutions . In this , however , as in the former case , vve hold that the Grand Master vvas right in insisting on the observance of the law as it is now , and not as it was when the Grand Lodge vvas constituted , the first draft of the Constitutions being necessarily provisional in matters of detail .

Passing over the events in vvhich the Grand Master took part , and the visits he appears to have paid to sundry of the lodges , vve come to the decisions vvhich he considered of sufficient interest and importance to be referred to particularly in his address . As regards the first of these , Bro , WOLFE decided that the general business of a lodge must be conducted in

the 'I hird Degree , not in the First , on thc ground that " the whole spirit and tenor of Masonic custom has been that the business of a lodge should be conducted in the Third Degree , the members of which constitute the main body at the time . " While we do not object to Bro . WOLFE having decided in this fashion , vve demur to his statement that his decision is based on the

" whole spirit and tenor of Masonic custom . " The Grand Lodge of England may be supposed to know something about " thc spirit and tenor of Masonic custom , " and under its jurisdiction thc lodges transact their business in the First , not the Third , Degree . But then we look upon Entered Apprentices as Craft members , whereas , in his second decision , Bro . WOLFE lays it

down absolutely that " an Entered Apprentice is not a member of the lodge until he has attained the Master Mason ' s Degree and signed the By-laws . " Of course , in deciding upon these points , the Grand Master of Columbia must be guided by the provisions of the Columbian Book of Constitutions ; but it is too much to expect that we shall acquiesce in his statement when ,

in reference to the membership or non-membership of an Entered Apprentice , he goes on to say— " notwithstanding lodges of the English and Canadian work , transact business ( other than Degree work ) in a lodge opened in the First Degree ( even within our osvn jurisdiction ) , yet in my opinion it is contrary to Masonic jurisprudence , general usage ,

established custom , and , above all , contrary to our Constitutions . " We respectfully point out that English " Masonic jurisprudence , general usage , and established custom" cannot be altogether eliminated from the consideration of such a question as this . The Grand Lodge of England is the parent of a very large proportion of the Grand

Lodges now established , and though the latter are perfectly justified in adopting Constitutions vvhich accord vvith their osvn opinions as to the manner in which they should be governed , it is a sweeping assertion , which is not justified by facts , to say in effect that our , Masonic Jurisprudence , usages , and customs arc of no account whatever . Of the other decisions

specified by Bro . WOLFE there is only one to which reference need be made . He was asked if "the loss of toes on the right foot incapacitated an Applicant for membership , " and , in reply , he decided " that vvhen the

deformity of thc candidate is not such as to prevent him from being instructed in tlie arts and mysteries of Freemasonry , and does not amount 'o an ability honestly lo acquire the means of subsistence , the admission will not be an infringement upon the ancient landmarks , but will be perfectly

British Columbia.

consistent with the spirit of our institution , and you will be permitted to initiate the candidate accordingly . " Among the many recommendations and suggestions contained in the latter part of his address we note that he advises the brethren " to familiarise themselves vvith the vast amount of useful Masonic knowledge by reading

the standard works and subscribing to one or more of the several valuable publications ( notably among them is the Voice of Masonry , of Chicago ) , which are replete vvith lectures , orations , and subjects of both useful and practical importance . " He also lays stress on the importance of introducing " the social feature to a greater extent into our lodge meetings , " vvhich he

explains to mean not " elaborate banquets or expensive entertainments , " but " the social gatherings of brethren , interchange of visits between lodges , " vvith the occasional invitation of wives and families , literary exercises , & c ., & c . On these matters , as well as on the establishment of a Masonic Home , which Bro . WOLFE considers

ought not to be pressed forward until the body of Masons in the Colony is more numerous than at present—we have nothing to say , as these are matters which can only be determined by local considerations . But whatever our opinion may be as to the decisions and recommendations it contains , we readity allow that the address is conceived in an excellent spirit , and vve trust will be attended with beneficial results to our Columbian brethren .

United Grand Lodge Of England.

UNITED GRAND LODGE OF ENGLAND .

The Quarterly Communication of United Grand Lodge of Ancient Free and Accepted Masons , vvas held on Wednesday evening , the 7 th instant , at Freemasons' Hall . The M . W . Pro Grand Master , Rt . Hon . the Earl of Lathom , presided , and he was supported by tbe R . W . Dep . G . M ., the Earl of Mount Edgcumbe ; R . AV . Bro . AV . W . B . Beach , M . P ., Prov . G . M . Hants and the Isle of Wight , acting as P . G . M . ; Bros . Col . Noel

Money , C . B ., P . G . M . Surrey ; H . D . Sandeman , P . D . G . M . Bengal ; Lieut .-Col . Aubrey Saunders , P . D . G . M . Madras ; Sir John B . Monckton , P . S . G . W . ; Rev . R . J . Simpson , P . G . Chap . ; Sir Albert \ V . Woods ( Garter ) , G D . of C . ; Rev . H . R . Cooper Smith , G . Chap . ; Rev . J . A . Lloyd , P . G . Chap . ; Rev . II . Lansdell , P . G . Chap . ; Capt . J . D . Murray , G . Treas . j Richard Eve , P . G . Treas . ; George Everett , P . G . Treas . ; F . A . Philbrick , Q . C , G . Reg . ; Thomas Fenn , Pres . Bd . Gen . Purps . ;

Edward Letchworth , G . Sec ; Robert Grey , Pres . Bd . Ben . ; the Hon . W . T . Orde-Powlett , P . G . AV . ; Admiral Sir E . Inglcficld , P . G . W . ; Dr . Jabez Hogg , P . G . D . ; Peter de Lande Long , P . G . D . ; Henry Smith , P . G . D . ; AV . F . Smithson , P . G . D . ; R . C . Sudlow , P . G . Std . Br . ; AV . P . Brosvn , G . Std . Br . ; E . Cutler , Q . C , G . Org . ; Dr . Strong , A . G . D . C . ; James Terry , P . G . S . B ., Sec . R . M . B . I . ; A . H . Pendlebury , Asst . G . Sec ; and a large number of other Grand and Past Grand Officers .

After the minutes of the Quarterly Communication of September 7 th had been read and confirmee ! , the scrutineers of balloting cards for the election of members ofthe Board of Benevolence were selected and obligated , and having collected the cards , they retired .

The Earl of LATHOM then said : Brethren it is with deep regret that I have to inform you that since last meeting of Grand Lodge a well-known brother has passed away from us , viz . Bro . Ernest Emil Wendt , who for for more than twenty-two years has held the ollice of Grand Secretary for German Correspondence .

Bro . T . L . WILKINSON' next said : I have nosv the honour to nominate his Royal Highness the Prince of Wales for re-election as our M . W . Grand Master for the ensuing year . ( Applause ) . Brethren , it would be useless , and indeed it is happy for me that it is useless to add any observations to the formal nomination I have to make . There can be no doubt whatever

that the very great services of his Royal Highness to the Craft are well known ; there can be no doubt whatever that the loyalty , the fraternity—I might almost sa ) ' affection—svith which his name is regarded by the Craft are widely known , and need not be repeated ; his worth is known throughout the civilised world , wherever the English language is heard , and from the rising to the setting sun . I therefore beg to nominate his Royal Highness for Grand Master . ( Cheers ) .

Bro . DAVIES nominated as Grand Treasurer , Bro . Samuel Cochrane , a brother who had done great service to Freemasonry in general , a Past Master of Fidelity , No . 3 , of A'ictoria Lodge , No . 1056 , a founder and the first Master of the Duke of Fife Lodge , No . 2345 , vvho had been a

considerable time a member oi live Board oi General Purposes , also a Y ice-President of some of the Masonic Charities . He therefore submitted that Bro . Samuel Cochrane , P . M ., vvas a lit and proper person to occupy the honourable and dignified position of Grand Treasurer of England . ( Applause ) . There was no other nomination .

Thc Earl of LATHOM said the M . W . Grand Master had been pleased to re-appoint Bro . Robert Grey , President of the Board of Benevolence . ( Cheers ) . Bro . ROBERT GREY then advanced to the throne , and vvas re-invested by the Earl of Lathom , who shook him warmly by the hand .

The Earl of LATHOM announced lhat Bro . James Brett bad again been chosen Senior Vice-President , and Bro . C . A . Cottebrune , Junior A'ice-President of the Board of Benevolence ,