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so doing , it does not infringe the rights of the other Grand Lodges in British North America ; but we should consider it an invasion of our rights , if it warranted a lodge in some other British Colony or dependency , and we should so consider it on the grounds set forth by the Craftsman itself , namely , that " the exercise of this ri ^ rit , ' of chartering private lodges , "is

with propriety restricted to the ' unoccupied' territories belonging to the country within whose domain the chartering Grand Lodge is situated "—or to exteiior countries w ' uhin whose limits a Grand Lodge does not exist . It cannot be said of a British Colony or Dependency ( say ) in the Pacific , either that it belongs to the Dominion of Canada , though equally with the

said Dominion it forms part of the British Empire , or that it is an " exterior " or foreign country . There is good reason for the Grand Lodges of the Mother Country issuing warrants for new lodges in British Colonies and Dependencies , because , politically , the latter are included in the former , but nothing could justify one colony in claiming or exercising

Masonic jurisdiction over a sister colony . We have a very great respect for the independent Grand Lodges in British North America , but they must understand that they do not occupy quite the same position relatively towards other colonies and dependencies of the British Crown as do the Grand Lodges of England , Ireland , and Scotland .

Provicial Grand Lodge Of Middlesex.

PROVICIAL GRAND LODGE OF MIDDLESEX .

The annual meeting of this Provincial Grand Lodge was held on Saturday , the 7 th inst ., at the Memorial Hall , Stanmore , under the presidency of the Prov . G . M ., R . W . Bro . Col . Sir Francis Burdett , Bart . There was a good attendance of brethren , including Bro . Raymond H . Thrupp , P . A . G . D . C ., Dep . Prov . G . M . ; E . Y . Jolliffe , Prov . S . G . W . ; E . E . Cooper , Prov . J . G . W . ; 1 . Lindsay , D . D ., Prov . G . Chap . ; J . F .

Hepburn , Prov . G . Treas . ; P . A . Scan ' . lebury , Prov . G . Reg . ; J . r . H . Woodward , Prov . G . Sec . ; ] . T . Brings , Prov . S . G . D . ; H . ] ones , Prov . J . G . D . ; John Etherington , Prov . J . G . D . ; VV . Iron , Prov . G . S . of W . ; W . R . Strutt , Prov . G . D . C . ; W . H . Lee , Prov . AG . Sec ; E . E . Blunt , Prov . G . Stwd . ; W . Maple , Prov . G . Stwd . ; H . F . Bin / , Prov . G . Stwd . ; G . Gregory , Prov . G . Stwd . ; R . Roy , Prov . G . Stwd . ; \ V . Cropland , Pcov . G . Stwd . ; U . P . Cama , P . G . Treas ., P . P . G . S . B . ; A . Bryant , P . P . I . G . W . ; Hugh M . Gordon , P . P . J . G . D . ; H . VV . Roberts , P . P .

J . G . VV . ; R . H . Williams , P . P . G . D . ; T . C . Walls , P . P . G . S . B . ; C . A . Walter , P . P . G . D . ; J . Be rcsford Ryley , P . P . G . D . ; J . Osborn , P . P . G . Std . Br . ; S . Larcomb , P . P . G D . C . ; VV . A . Scurrah , P . P . G . s . ot VV . ; B . H . Paul , P . P . G . " ^ ; K . R . Montgomery , P . P . S . G . W . ; J . Tickle , P . P . G . Keg . ; F . Honsywill , P . P . G . Org . ; W . G . Kentbh , P . M . 1293 ; J . M . Jefferson , S . VV . 16 37 ; J . Woodmason , P . P . G . D . C . ; F . Chandler , P . M . 1656 ; j . Fincli , W . M . 1703 ; Jno . Weston , 1 . P . M .

1 S 97 ; John Adams , W . M . 1191 ; Jackson Gawith , P . M . 70 S ; C . J . Shoppee , P . M . 3 S 2 ; C . W . Baker , J . W . 1326 ; A . Bryant , 1237 ; J . J . Robinsjn , W . M . 78 S ; T . H . Nott , P . M . 783 ; J . K . R . Cama , D . C . 2105 ; C . E . Keyser , P . M . 1549 ; VV . Seward , jun ., W . M . i 6 u ; C . Parsons , W . M . 1637 ; H . Smyth , S . W . 123 S ; VV . T . Peat , Sec . 155 C ; H . Sapsworth , S . D . 16 5 6 ; J . Hookey , P . M . 20 S 7 ; E . Monson , jun ., P . M . urn ; T . B . nlow , W . M . 30 S 7 ; H . C . Hart , S . VV . 2087 ; H . Jordan

S . W . 1310 ; L . G . Rubbirs , Sec . 70 S ; C . Buck , P . M . 1702 ; D . Stroud , P . M . 16 37 ; C T . Talman , i-. W . 1510 ; E . Bamford , P . M . 1549 ; E . W . Warner , P . M . 176 3 ; A . S . Burn , S . W . 21 S 3 ; VV . J . Spmling , P . M . 1293 ; W . Beavis , W . M . 1310 ; ] . D . F . Barr , W . M . 1295 ; VV . H . Causton , P . M . 865 ; Oscar J . Von Holtorp . W . M . 1 S 97 ; E . Dalzell , P . M . 1549 ; VV . VV light , Org . 1 S 97 ; N . Goodchild , >> . D . 1637 ; E . C . Mulvey , S . VV . 7 SS ; 1 ' . C . Gowan , 1549 ; VV . C . Williams , I . P . M . 86 5 ; G . Swarm-, I . W . SG 5 : I . r > . Creswick , P . M ., Sec . 21 S 3 ; K . C . Talbot , D . C . 1310 ; E .

T . Lynn , P . M . 1310 ; J . Ba . tltt' , J . W . 16 37 : A . Lmgaid , P . M . 1 C 91 ; G . Whitaker , P . M . 1460 ; 1 . VV . J . Oswald , W . M . 1415 ; Jas . Taplin , W . M . 3 S 2 ; C . Rose , 3 S 2 ; J . Draper , J . W . 1702 ; G . S . Elliot' , P . M . 1423 ; Hugh Wilson , S W . 1293 ; Chas . Veal , P . S . G . W . Suirey , Sec . 1549 ; F . G . Mitchey , 1326 ; H . Dewson , S . D . 1310 ; and VV . VV . Lee , 1 S 97 . Also the following visitors : Bros . W . J . Mason , J . W . 2246 ; N . j . Goodchild , J . VV . 2202 ; G . VV . Andrews , 2021 ; Walter Taylor , 19 S 1 ; and J . Rogers , W . M . 19 S 4 .

The Prov . G . Lodge having been opened , the roll of lodges in the province was called , the large majority being duly represented . The minutes of the last Prov . G . Lodge were read and confirmed , and the reports . of the Audit and Charity Committees received and adopted . The PROV . GRAND MASTER said they were all very satisfied with the manner in which the duties of Prov . G . Treasurer hid been carried out

during the past year by Bro . J . F . Hepburn , and also with the state of the financial affairs of Prov . G . Lodge . He was about to propose for election to that office a brother whom he was sure would perform the duties quite as satisfactorily as his predecessor had done . He believed Bro . Spratling was well know to the brethren present , and he had much pleasure in proposing him for election as Prov . G . Treasurer .

The proposition having been seconded by Bro . HEPBURN , Prov . Grand Treasurer , was carried unanimously . The PROV . GRAND MASTER , in re-apointing Bro . Raymond H . Thrupp as Dep . Prov . G . M ., paid a hig h tribute of praise to the services rendered by that brother , who had not only relieved him of great responsibility , but wfcs enthusiastically beloved by all in the province .

The Prov . G . Officers were appointed and invested as follows : Bro . Col . Blunt ... ... ... ... Prov . S . G . W . „ T . C . Walls ... ... ... ... Prov . J . G . W . „ Rev . Dr . Lindsay ... ... •••ID „ r /~ i Rev . Evan Jones j Prov . G . Chaps .

„ Spratling ... ... ... ... Prov . G . Treas . ,, W . Sweetland ... ... ... Prov . G . Reg . ,, Woodward ... ... ... ... Prov . G . Sec . „ W . Maple ... ... ... ... Prov . S . G . D . „ H . P . Bing ... ... ... ... Prov . S . G . D . „ G . Gregory ... ... ... ... Prov . J . G . D .

„ K . Koy ... ... ... ... frov . J . U . U . „ ¦ C . J . Shoppee ... ... ... ... Prov . G . S . of W „ G . S . Elliott ... ... ... ... Prov . G . D . C . „ T . H . Nott ... ... ... ... Prov . D . G . D . C . „ A . W . Warner ... ... ... p v . A . G . D . C . , ; F . J . Perks ... ... ... ... p . G . S . B . fcov

„ VV : U . vvunams ... ... ... . Lr . Std . tir „ W . Seward , jun . ... ... ... Prov . G . Std . Br „ E . Dalzell ... ... ... ... Prov . G . Org . „ W . H . Lee ... ... ... ... Prov . A . G . Sec . „ W . Beavis ... ... ... ... Prov . G . Purst . ,, F . Chandler ... .,, ... ,,. Prov . A . G . Purst

Provicial Grand Lodge Of Middlesex.

Bro . Edmund Yates , 733 ... ... ... 1 „ Dr . J . W . Oswald . 1 415 ... ,. A . Lingard , 1691 ! .. ... ... ! p „ „ Dr . H . W . Seager , 2183 ... ... ... j l rov ' U Stwds ,, K . Monson , jun ., 11 94 ... ... ... | ,, C . S . Buck , 1702 ... ... ... J „ J . Gilbert ... . ... ... ... Prov . G . Tyler

The PROV . GRAND MASTER in investing Bro . T . C . Walls as Prov J . G . W ., said that that brother had already served the office of Prov . G . S B ' but he had worked so hard in the province for several years past that he felt he could do no other than reward his excellent services by promoting him to a higher office . He should not regard this as a precedent for the future but it afforded him great pleasure to invest Bro . VValls as Prov . J . G . VV ' and was confident the appointment would meet with the approbation of the brethren .

On the motion of the PROV . GRAND MASTER , £ 15 15 s . was voted t each of the Masonic Institution ? . ° The Prov . Grand Wardens and Bro . Maple , Prov . S . G . D ., were elected members of the Audit Committee , and Bros . j . Tickle , W . A . Scurrah and W . H . Lee re-elected to the Charity Committee . ' . ' . A vote of thanks was accorded to Bro . Hepburn for his services as Prov G . Treasurer during the past year .

The Secretaries of lodges in the province were urged by the PROV GRAND MASTER to send in returns of their respective lodges as complete as possible to Bro . Henry Lovegrove , and thus assist in the compilation of the completeness of the Provincial Calendar compiled by that brother . The PROV . GRAND SECRETARY having announced the recei pt of several letters and telegrams from brethren expressing regret for non-attendance and other routine business having been transacted , the Provincial Grand Lodge was closed .

The brethren then went in procession to the parish church , where a short service was held and an excellent sermon preached by Bro . Rev . John Lindsay , D . D ., Prov . G . Chap ., who took for his text St . Peter 1 , chap . 2 verse 17 : " Honour all men , love the brotherhood , fear God , honour the King . " A collection was made for the Parochial Schools , which resulted in a total of £ 6 is . 2 d .

The brethren subsequently partook of an excellent repast at the Abercorn Hotel , catered for by the worthy host , Bro . Veal . The usual toasts were afterwards duly honoured . " The Queen and the Craft "having been given , the Prov . G . MASTER gave " H . K . H . the Prince of Wales , M . W . G . M ., " remarking that H . R . H . had now presided over them for a considerable number of years , and the longer he presided the more he became endeared to them . They had seen

H . R . H . performing his duty as M . W . G . M .. with other brethren of the Royal blood filling the Wardens' chairs . He had the pleasure of seeing H . R . H . installed , and of seeing him preside over the largest body of Masons ever gathered together . He aUo had the gratification of seeing H . R . H . announce the largest sum ever collected for a Charitable Institution . He was confident their M . W . G . M . would continue to do all he could for Masonry while he lived , and that h ^ would be in the future , as he is now , beloved by every member of the Order .

In proposing- "The Grand Officers , " the PROV . GRAND MASTER said the brethren had had many opportunities of seeing the members of that body amongst them . The ProG . M . was very often in G . Lod ge , and was at all times ready to assist them with his good advice ; and not only did he do his duty in that capacity but was also the Prov . G . M . of a laroe province . The manner in which he filled those two offices would entitle him to the regard of all . Lord La thorn was ever anxious to fulfil his duties as

Dep . G . M ., and was the Prov . G . M . of West Lancashire , where he could peiform the ceremonies as well as any Mason . He was a brother whom they looked up to as one of the most able and proficient Masons , as all who had connection with him could testily . The Grand Officers were spread over the country , and were doing their work in a way that was creditable in every respect . In giving the toast he ( the Prov . G-M . ) should couple with it the name of Bro . Woodward , P . G . S . B .

Bro . J . F . H . WOODWARD , P . G . S . B ., in reply , said the brethren were well aware of the thunderstorms they had experienced lately , and he could assure them that when the Prov . G . M . coupled his name with the toast it came upon him like a thunderclap . He liad not long been entrusted with Grand Office , and was so connected with the Province of Middlesex that he felt out ol his element when associated with anything else . On behalf of the Grand Officers he returned sincere thanks for the cordial manner in which the toast had been received .

Bro . RAYMOND H . THRU - , D . P . G . M ., said he considered they had not arrived at the toast of the evening until they came to " The Health of the Prov . Grand Master , Col . Sir Francis Burdett . " They had welcomed , alter a lew months' absence , one whom they all loved and respected ; but had their Prov . Grand Master been unable to be present that evening , he

could have said behind his back what mi ght sound flattering before his face . They could not but praise a Prov . Grand Master who had done so much in the past , and he hoped would do as much in the future , for the Province of Middlesex . He would not detain them with words , for they all kntsw the merits of their Prov . Grand Master , whose health he asked them to drink .

Bro . Col . Sir FRANCIS BURDETT , Bart ., Prov . G . M ., said he felt diffidence in responding to the toast , for he lelt he hardly deserved the kind terms used by the Deputy Prov . Grand Master . He had certainly had a great deal of experience in that province , which he could look back upon with a great deal of pleasure . It was about 20 years ago that he was first appointed Prov . Grand Master , when he was proud to preside over four or at

five lodges . They could , therefore , imagine his gratification and pride seeing the province increase year by year , not only progressing in numbers but in the working . He now considered the Province of Middlesex one of the leading provinces in England . There were larger and more extended provinces , but he did not believe , from all he had heard , that there was any province in England thst had more influence or greater power in Masonry than the Province of Middlesex . He felt great pride and had much gratihe

fication in expressing the pleasure it afforded him to preside over what considered one of the first provinces under the English Constitution . IHr ° m the commencement of his Masonic career the affection and regard between the brethren and himself had increased year by year . He trusted the province would long continue to hold its present high position , and that when he had passed away the brethren would have a kindly recollection of on who had always felt the deepest affection for , and taken the greatest intereS in , the Province of Middlesex . .