Contents.

CONTENTS .

LEADERS 479 Supreme Grand Chapter 4 S 0 Consecration of the Wickham Lodge , No . 1924 •' . 4 80 Consecration of the I'ity . Rov Chapter , No . 5 <> 9 ¦ ' •4 * 53 Royal Masonic Institution for Girls 4 S 4 Presentation of the Portrait of Comp . Glaisher , F . R . S ., to the Uritannic

Chapter , No . 33 4 S 4 Masonic History and Historians 4 S 4 New Dunedin Masonic Hall 4 K 4 OHicers of Lodges 4 F 4 Provincial Grand Lodge of Somerset 4 S 5 Provincial Grand Mark Lodge of Lancashire 4 S 5 Obituary ' . 4 S 5 CORRESPONDENCEA Christmas "Freemason" 4 86 The Hook of Constitutions 4 ^ 6 The Proposed Bath for the Girls' School 4 S 6

CORRESPONDENCE ( continued)—Lodge Secretaries 4 S 6 Thc ^ Domatic Lodge of Instruction 4 S 7 Masonic Magazine 4 S 7 Masonic Impostors—a \ Varnin « r 487 Reviews 4 7 Masonic Notes and Queries 4 SS The Grand Lodge of Quebec 4 SS rii' . lirntion of a Masonic Hall at Shanklin .

Isle of Wight 490 REI- IKTS OF MASONIC MEETINUSCraft Masonry 490 Instruction 491 Royal Arch 491 Mark Masonry 492 Knights Templar 17 . 492 Amusements 492 Masonic and General Tidings 493 Lodge Meetings for Next Week 494

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WE have thought well to publish elsewhere some " correspondence" in extenso which has passed between the GRAND MASTER of the Grand Lodge of Quebec and the GRAND SECRETARY at Freemasons' Hall . Wc think it more prudent , for many obvious reasons , to allow the correspondence to " speak " for itself , inasmuch as our readers are just as competent as we are to realize its bearing , and to judge of its effect , importance , and propriety .

* * * WE think it however well , in order to elucidate one or two points which may seem obscure , and to illustrateone or two statements which appear to be much relied on , to lay before our readers a concise and clear recapitulation of all the essential facts of the case as they bear on the present controversy . When

the Grand Lodge of Canada was established it was mutually agreed between the new Grand Lodge and the Grand Lodge of England that any lodges which wished to retain their English charters and relationship might do so , and on those conditions the Grand Lodge of Canada was recognized by the Grand Lodge of England . There is no dispute as to the correctness of this

first position . Five originally remained in union with the Grand Lodge of England , of which one is said since , without notice , to have withdrawn from the Grand Lodge of England . Three remain still in Montreal in connection with their mother Grand Lodge under a Provincial Grand Master . When the Grand Lodge of Quebec was formed and acknowledged by the

Grand Lodge of Canada , it also applied to our Grand Lodge for recognition . Grand Lodge , by resolution , agreed to recognize it , on condition , again , that the Grand Lodge of Quebec adhered to the previous understanding , and that those three lodges at Montreal mig ht remain in union with our Grand Lodge so long as they themselves wished to do so . The Grand Lodge of

Quebec refused the conditions , and , therefore , although our Grand Lodge has acknowledged the Grand Lodge of Quebec to be a Grand Lodge "de facto , " it has never " exchanged representatives , " nor given any formal recognition of the Grand Lodge of Quebec . For some time past the Grand Lodge of Quebec has been insisting that the Grand Lodge of England

should force the three lodges at Montreal to acknowledge the Grand Lodge of Quebec , either by withdrawing their charters or formally desiring them to join the Grand Lodge of Quebec . The Grand Lodge of England has thus far , through its recognized authorities , always replied , first , referring to the Grand Lodge resolution ; secondly , saying that if the three lodges

wished to join the Grand Lodge of Quebec , we in England should put no obstacles in their way ; and , thirdly , repeating that it was impossible for every reason for the English Grand Lodge to " coerce" those lodges . The correspondence as before us , presses the Grand Lodge of England to compel thethreelodges to give up their English charters , and take charters from

the Grand Lodge of Quebec , almost intimating that though for several weighty reasons forbearance is still exercized towards these recalcitrant lodges , the time is not far distant when the Grand Lodge of Quebec must take serious measures , ( as it is even now its right , ) to enforce obedience . Such is the state of affairs , such is a correct version of the actual facts of the case " up to

date . " * % WITHOUT adverting to many " points" which naturally commend themselves to the thoughtful on the perusal of this correspondence , and making every allowance for the abstract "idea" of unity of government and jurisdiction , we think wc arc warranted in saying this , that we shall all commend

the di gnified tone adopted by our own English authorities from first to last . The GRAND SECRETARY puts the case in the clearest form and the least possible compass . It is obviously impossible for the English Grand Lodge , —the mother of all Grand Lodges , — on every ground of Masonic precedent , law , and ri ght , —to compel lodges faithful to their chartering Grand Lodge , to

give up their "filiation " if unwilling to do so . The only offence that the three lodges of Montreal have committed is adhering to the English Grand Lod ge , and it would be the act of a " craven " for the Grand Lodge of

lingland to desert those who have not deserted it . In the next place , the peculiar American view of Grand Lodge sovereignty has never been adopted Ly the Grand Lodge of England . It arises out o fthe needs and developement of the Ame rican sovereign states , but is unknown in English Masonic jurisprudence .

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The English Grand Lodge has , indeed , in England and Wales , refused to recognize any lodge , ( and properly so ) , which had no charter from itself , but it has recognized the Grand Lodges of Scotland and Ireland , and , in many parts of Her Majesty's dependencies , English , Scottish , and Irish Provincial Grand Lodges work peaceably and harmoniously side by

side . The implied threat of " severe measures" will not be well taken in England . Just now the English mind is peculiarly sensitive in respect of any idea of " Boycotting-, " and any attempt to punish lodges chartered by the English Grand Lodge , lawfully warranted lodges , holding their warrant and meetings for many years , seems to us not only a most unwise and

un-Masonic suggestion to make , but one which will simply " force " the Grand Lodge of England to throw the " a : gis " of its sympathetic protection over lodges whose undoubted Masonic rights and legal existence are thus openly assailed , and which , according to old Masonic law , have done no wrong . We are not indisposed , as we said before , to admit that much may be fairly

advanced in favour of one complete jurisdiction , of one Grand Lodge for a specific territory . Undoubtedlya great deal maybe fitly and Masonically put forward on behalf of any such view , but we entirely endorse the GRAND SECRETARY ' S calm and judicious words , when he says " there is reason to believe that in the course of nature matters may terminate as yon desire ;

and we press upon the GRAND MASTER and the members of the Grand Lodge of Quebec the still further weighty and meaning warning of thoughtful official utterance , to which we affectionately beg them all to give Masonic heed : " but H . R . H . cannot too strongly deprecate the adoption of any coercive -measures as yon seem to hint at , and luliich would effectually bar

the result aimed at . " Such , we apprehend , will be the unanimous decision , with every good feeling for our brethren of the Quebec Grand Lodge , of the Grand Lodge of England , if the matter again comes before it . We may also add that the same question affects some chapters under pretty nearly the same conditions , in the same country . ' * * *

ONE little point arising out of this discussion wc feel bound to dwell upon , and commend to the notice of our readers . It is this , that in the whole of these discussions the undeniable rights cf legally chartered lodges are entirely overlooked . When lodges are chartered the express condition and the implied " contract" on which the charter is granted is allegiance and

loyalty to its chartering Grand Lodge . No doubt in some cases lodges may surrender their warrants , and take out fresh ones from a co-equal authority , but they cannot by Masonic law and precedent be compelled to do so . They

are in their absolute and inherent right , by virtue of their very charter itself , in adhering to their mother Grand Lodge , and in such cases any lodge adhering faithfully to its original engagements deserves not blame , but praise and support from all law-loving and law-abiding Freemasons .

* * WHAT a remarkable institution is our Board of Benevolence , and how fitly does it represent the ever vital , active , goodly principles of English Freemasonry . There the claim of the poor and distressed Mason , or his widow , or his orphan child is secure of fair hearing and careful consideration . There ,

with a liberality with which some unwisely find fault , and with a sympathy which is always unaffected , much kindly and needful , nay , invaluable aid , is afforded to those who have a " fair claim on our charity , " who " really need assistance , " who come before the Board with a good case and the honest pica of genuine poverty . Of course into all human associations and human organizations

infirmities will creep . So great is the love of money , so many are the resources of the fraudulent , so debasing the " outcome " of the mendicant spirit , that it is unavoidable that every now and then some impossible cases for help will " crop up , " some " specimen cases" of the " suppressio veri " and the " suggestio falsi " will manifest themselves unblushingly , which nothing but

care can detect , or caution obviate . But yet , en the whole , how few they are . How much distressing misery do those who attend our Board of Benevolence month by month listen to and realize ; how zealousl y do they seek , who form part of that valuable adjunct and characteristic distinction of English Freemasonry , to mitigate the wants and sorrows of our common humanity , and

to compassionate the needs of some poor suffering brother , his afflicted widow , or his hel pless child . Long may the Board of Benevolence go on its honest , and upright , and useful . and needful pathway , granting liberally to real distress with true-hearted beneficence , a true and unostentatious Charity , which is felt as a great blessing , and often a saving help , by those who have

few earthly friends , and whom unforscen circumstances and unavoidablccalaamilies have reduced to the lowest ebb of poverty and distress . English Freemasonry , as wc first learnt its goodly teaching , still manifests to the Brotherhood and the world the same consistent and compassionate— the same living

and Iovingenergy—in proclaiming and carrying out those practical works of " charity , " without which , wc make bold to add , all its great prestige and honoured name , the high rank of its members and the glittering paraphernalia of its assemblies , would all be , yes , all be , " sounding brass and a linking cymbal I"