The Grand Lodge Of Quebec.

lodge be of prior constitution to the Grand Lodge of Scotland herself . This , to my mind , M . W . Sir , conclusively disposes of the pretended right of private lodges , of existence prior to that of a Grand Lodge , to a continuance at will , within the territorial jurisdiction of the said Grand Body . " M . W . Sir , the Grand Lodge of Ouebec holds that no private lodge of English , or any other exterior

constitution , has any lawful nght _ to _ separate existence within her territorial jurisdiction , as has also been repeatedly affirmed and enforced by not a few other Grand Lodges similarly circumstanced ; and your Royal Highness will , doubtless , permit me to state in all goodwill , " that the gracious permission of voluntary secession , willing to be accorded by England to these

lodges of her constitution here , seems to be of no avail ; and that unless the rights and prerogatives of the Grand Lodge of Quebec arc , as we claim they ought to be , practically recognised by the Grand ' Lodge of England in this matter , and as I sincerely trust they may be , there will , it appears to me , be no other alternative left to Quebec than to follow the example of other Grand Lodges in like situation , by

the rightful enforcement of her sovereign authority within this province of the dominion . " M . W . Sir , be pleased to allow me , in closing this already too long letter , to add that the correspondence which I have had the distinguished honour to submit to your Royal Highness has had chiefly in view the avoidance , by peaceful and conciliatory means , of the above unhappy

alternative which is impending ; and I devoutly and fraternally trust that it may lead to a mutually satisfactory understanding and due recognition of the interjurisdictional relations , rights , and obligations of our respective Grand Lodges ; and that it may aid in bringing about an early and final adjustment of too long existing difficulties between the Grand Lodge of England and the Grand Lodge of the

oldest province of one of the most important dependencies of the British Empire . " With profound regard , I have the honour to be , fraternally , your Royal Highness' humble and obedient servant , "J . H . GRAHAM , "G . M . G . L . of Q . " [ LODGE SEAL . ] Attest J . H . ISAACSON , ~ " G . Sec . G . L . of Q . "

" Freemasons Hall , London , W . C . "M . W . Bro . J . H . Graham , LL . D ., M . W . Grand Master , Grand Lodge of Ouebec . " M . W . Sir and Brother , — "Your last letter of loth March , 1 SS 1 , has been duly submitted to the M . W . the Grand Master of England . "In reply , 1 am commanded by his Royal Highness to

explain , with reference to the case of Lodge , No . 532 , stated in my letter of 3 rd February last , to be still under the Grand Lodge of England ; that the information you have furnished has been received with surprise , inasmuch as no intimation has ever been received from the lodge of its having so secceded , and it has never offered to return its warrant ; therefore , although no returns had been

received from it for many years , there was no reason here to believe that it had joined another jurisdiction . The error is consequentl y entirely due to the irregularities and neglect of the lodge itself . "With reference to the points once more urged in your letter on the subject of the English lodges by you , H . R . H . our Grand Master can only again express his regret that he cannot comply with your wishes .

" There is reason to believe that in the course ot nature matters may terminate as you desire , but his Royal Highness cannot too strongly deprecate the adoption of any coercive measures , as you seem to hint at , and which would effectually bar the result aimed at . " 1 have the honour to be , M . W . Sir and Brother , yours fraternally , " SHADWELL H . CLERKE ( Col . ) , " Grand Secretary . "

"The Grand Lodge of Ouebec , A . F . & A . M . " Office of the Grand Master . " Richmond , P . O ., Canada , " ~ fune 14 th , 1 SS 1 . "To His Royal Highness , Albert Edward , Prince of Wales , & c , & c . Most Worshipful the Grand Master of the United Grand Lodge of England , A . F . & A . M .

" Fraternal Salutations : " M . W . Sir and Illustrious Brother , — " 1 have the distinguished honour fraternally to acknowledge the receipt of a reply from your Royal Highness , through the R . W . the Grand Secretary of England , to my communication of date March 10 th , 1 SS 1 , and I beg to be permitted most respectfully to express my fraternal

thanks therefor . " The acknowledgment of the error to which the attention of your Royal Highness was called by me , is duly accepted , and the lodge referred to will doubtless be at once erased from the registry of the Grand Lodge of England . "Your Royal Highness will , I venture to hope , pardon me in once more referring the three lodges of the English

registry still existing within our jurisdiction , and the recalling of whose charters by England , or , what is much more desirable , the transference of said lodges to our registry , which I have sincerely sought , peacefully and constitutionally to secure ; and I beg to add that it affords me great satisfaction , M . W . Sir , to concur in the spirit and general tenour of the last paragraph of your gracious reply of date

May the 9 th , alluding to the same , and 1 beg most heartily to assure you , M . W . Sir , that few things will be more deplored by me than that the Grand Lodge of Ouebec should be compelled to adopt and carry out any ' coercive measures ' towards said lodges , and that fraternal disas . sociation and alienation from England should result therC j from ; yet , M . W . Sir , as the state of Masonic affairs here

resulting from the conflicting rule and authority of England and Quebec , within our territory is wholly incompatible with peace and harmony locally , or between our respective Grand Lodge jurisdictions , and is not concordant with the great principles of our Fraternity , therefore , in seeking to put an end to the irregular and chaotic state of Masonic affairs caused

within her jurisdiction by the continuance therein , and the acknowledgment of these lodges of exterior registry , and , under Supreme Grand Lodge authority other than her own , the Grand Lodge of Quebec would , in my opinion , M . W . Sir , be fully justified by her inherent rights as a sovereign Grand Lodge , by the fundamental laws of the Craft , and by the general approval of the sister Grand Lodges of the world ( ultimately including those of Britain herself , I be-

The Grand Lodge Of Quebec.

lieve ) in at least adopting for the attainment and maintenance of her exclusive territorial sovereignty , the principles and means laid down in the Constitutions of the Grand Lodges of England and of Scotland , for securing and uphold ing , under the same or similar circumstances , unity and regularity of Grand Lodge governance within their respective geographical limits , unless F . ngland should speedily adopt ( as I devoutly trust she may ) other and better means to

concede what are deemed by me to be the just and reasonable claims of Quebec . " With profound regard , I have the honour fraternally to remain , your Royal Highness's humble and obedient servant , " J H . GRAHAM "G . M . G . L . of Q . " [ LODGE SEAL . ] Attest . J . ISAACSON , "G . Sec . G . L . of Q . "

Dedication Of A Masonic Hall At Shanklin, Isle Of Wight.

DEDICATION OF A MASONIC HALL AT SHANKLIN , ISLE OF WIGHT .

A numerously attended meeting of the Provincial Grand Lodge of Hampshire and the Isle of Wight was held at Shanklin , on Tuesday last , for the purpose of dedicating a new Masonic Hall , erected by the brethren of the recentlyconstituted Chine Lodge , No . 1 SS 4 . The R . W . Provincial Grand Master , Bro . VV . VV . B . Beach , M . ., assisted by the Grand Officers of the province , performed the

ceremony . The new building bas been erected by Bro . Francis Cooper , of Shanklin , from designs furnished by Bro . Francis Newman , of Ryde . Though not a large building , it is thoroughly adapted for its purpose . On the ground floor there is a capacious reception room and dining hall , and above are the lodge room and offices . The lodge

room , which has been furnished in a very substantial manner , is of ample dimensions , and is well ventilated . The R . W . P . G . M . on proceeding with the ceremony of dedication , requested the architect , Bro . Newman , to deliver up the working tools . Bro . Newman , in doing so , thanked the brethren for the confidence that had been reposed in him , and said , that although their means had

not enabled them to indulge in any decorations as yet , the building had been erected with due regard to . solidity and fitness . " The PROV . G . M . replied , congratulating the brethren of the Chine Lodge on the completion of the building . In addressing the architect ( Bro . F . Newman ) , he said that the manner in which the erection of the building had been

carried out rcllected the highest credit on those who had taken it in hand , not only for their skill , but for the order and arrangement which had been shown . In a limited space everyone knew how difficult it was to finish a building complete in all points , and therefore he was quite certain that they had brought to bear not only powers of intellect , but great arrangement in arriving at so successful

a conclusion . After the ceremony had been completed , the PROV . G . M . said it was most interesting to sec a body of Freemasonsthe members of a new lodge only recently sprung into existence—so anxious to carry out the principles of the Order , that they bad lost no time in erecting a building for that purpose . It was seldom that a new lodge did not take

time before deciding on such a step , but the Chine Lodge had shown that they were animated by a pure spirit of Freemasonry , which led them to think that Freemasnory being good in itself it was ri g ht that they should have a building suitable to carry out its principles . He congratulated the lodge on their new building , and said ihat , considering the manner in which the building had been

inaugurated , and the spirit which had animated the brethren in undertaking it , he entertained no doubt that their new lodge would be crowned with complete success . The Prov . G . M . then expounded in eloquent terms the texts of the lodge , exhorting the brethren to act up to its principles and to endeavour to do something to preserve and maintain the character of the Order .

'The Provincial Grand Master was supported by the following Provincial Grand Officers and brethren : Bros . Rev . J . N . Palmer , P . M . OtjS , P . P . G . W ., acting as D . P . G . M . ; J . E . LeFeuvre , P . M . 130 , P . G . S . W . ; M . E . Frost , P . M . 4 S 7 , P . G . Treas ., acting as P . G . J . W . ; Revs . A . A . Headley , W . M . 309 , and 0 . IT . De Fraine , P . M . 257 , P . G . Chaplains ; Edgar Goble , P . M . 309 , P . G . Reg . ; F . Newman , P . M .. P . P . G . S . W . ; A . J . Miller , P . M . 130 ,

P . G . Sec ; A . Barfield , P . M . 35 , P . G . J . D . ; J . VV . Fardell , P . M . G 9 S , P . P . G . J . W . ; George Wyatt , P . M . 151 , P . P . G . S . W . ; V . S . Wright , 54 G , P . G . J . D . Staffordshire ; G . VV . Smales , 312 , P . P . G . S . of W . N . and E . Yorks ; R . Osborne , P . M . 487 , P . G . O . ; G . J . Tilling , P . M . 130 , P . P . G . Sunt , of Works ; J . W . Willmot , P . M . 342 , P . G . S . B . ; C . J . Phillips , P . M . no , P . P . G . S . D . ;

J . Gieve , W . M . 1069 , P . G . S . ; A . Scott , W . M . 551 ' P . G . S . ; C . B . Whitcomb , P . M . 1705 , P . G . St . B . ; R . W . Downing , W . M . 903 , P . G . S . ; Valentine Brown , P . M . 903 , P . G . Purst . ; J . G . Jones , 151 , P . P . G . Org . ; G . W . Pack , P . M . 175 ; Arthur R . Holbrook , I . P . M . 309 ; A . E .

Hargrove , P . M . ; I . Golden , I . P . M . 151 ; W . L . Nicholl Clayton , W . M . G 9 S ; B . W . Tilley , W . M . 151 ; A . Houston , P . M . 351 , P . P . G . A . D . C . ; J . F . Waller , P . M . ; G . M . Burt , P . M . and Treas . 551 ; Dr . E . R . Woodford , 551 ; Staff-Commander VV . B . Goldsmith , R . N ., 257 ; W . Thompson . 151 ; Dr . Dabbs , W . M . ; G . Humby , S . W .

S . H . Shilling , J . W . ; VV . Quickfall , S . D . ; J . Bailey , Sec ; Alfred Greenham , I . G . ; Francis Cooper , W . Judd , J . VV . Cantlow , C . H . Moorman , E . T . Jones , A . H . Brown , J . Middleton , and Henry Salt , 1 S 84 ; Latimer Saunders , S . W ., J . Bunt , jun ., J . W ., R . Henry Cole , Sec , \ V . Garland , and T . E . Porter , 1 SG 9 ; VV . Thompson , J . Bucknell , and C . Mansel , 151 ; T . H . J . Petherick ,

S . W ., T . H . CIough , and F . IT . Darwin , 551 ; VV . Hammond , and W . Pile , J . W ., 1 S 92 ; L . Coleman , 242 ( U . S . ); John Apnleyard , 1 G 11 ; J . G . Garnhain , J . B . Biggs , and J . Exell , P . G . Tylers ; VV . Lake , P . M . ' 131 , P . P . G . Reg . Cornwall ( Freemason ); and others . Letters of apology for non-attendance were received from Bros . VV . Hickman , D . P . G . M ., Dr . O'Connor , P . G . J . W ., and others .

After the lodge had been closed a number of the brethren adjourned to a banquet at the 'Town Hall , at which Bro . Dr . Dabbs , the W . M ., presided , supported by the Provincial Grand Master and his officers . The usual loyal and Masonic toasts were honoured , and the vocal efforts of some of the brethren were much appreciated . Bi . J . G . Jones , P . G . O ., of Newport , presided at the pianoforte .

Reports Of Masonic Meetings

REPORTS OF MASONIC MEETINGS

( Craft jteo itr ^

LOD 3 E OF ISRAEL ( No . 205 ) . —This lodge opened its new season very successfully on Tuesday evening , at the Cannon-street Hotel , the muster of the brethren being very large and the work of the lodge being admirably performed . The Worshipful Master , Bro . H . " J . Phillips , presided , and his officers present were : Bros . J . Da Silva , J . W . ; A . Abraham , J . W . ; A . M . Cohen , P . M . Treas . ; C . F . Hogard , Sec ; A . Abraham , S . D . ; John A . Gartley ,

J . D . ; B . J . Paton , D . C . ; H . Norden , Org . ; Edwin J . Ward , I . G . ; Henry M . Harris , P . M . ; A . Bassington , J . P . Cohen , P . M . ; S . VV . Harris , P . M . The visitors attending were : Bros . Charles Hunt , P . M . 194 ; Alfred J . Henochsberg , P . M . 1502 ( Liverpool ); B . M . Nathan , 9 ; A . Cracknel ] , 1423 ; J , Lewis Thomas , P . A . G . D . C . ; W . W . Morgan , jun ., J . W . 1107 ; Edgar Bowyer , P . M . 15 S 0 , P . P . S . G . W ., Herts ; D . M . Davis , Org . 1017 ; and

H . Massey , P . 619 , W . M . 192 S ( Freemason ) . Mr . Edward Nathan , and Mr . W . Lewis Nathan having been ballottcd for , were initiated , Bro . 1 . P . Cohen , P . M ., performing the first part of the ceremony , and the Worshipful Master the remainder . The Worshipful Master afterwards raised Bro . Lewis Emanuel to the Third Degree . Bro . Hogard ( Secretary ) subsequently read letters of apology and regret for inability to accept the

invitation of the lodge to be present from Bros . Col . Shadwell H . Clerke , Grand Secretary , Sir Albert VV . Woods ( Garter ) , G . D . C ., Sir John B . Monckton , President of the Board of General Purposes , Thomas Fenn , P . G . D ,, Peter de Lande Long , P . G . D ., and several other brethren . The lodge was then closed , and the brethren sat down to an elegant banquet prepared by Bro . Abraham Cohen . At the conclusion of the banquet the usual toasts were

proposed and honoured . Bro . James Lewis Thomas , P . G . A . D . C ., replied to the toast of " The Grand Officers , " and in the course of his observations said he was always pleased to visit the Lodge of Israel , because , in addition to the great hospitality displayed by the brethren of the lodge , the working in the lodge was such as to delight every brother who had his heart and soul in Freemasonry . The manner in which the work had been performed that night ,

both by the W . M . and his officers , was a great credit to the Order , and was a pattern for the visitors to take back to their own lodges . Bro . A . M . Cohen , the senior Past Master of the lodge , proposed "The Health of the W . M . " He was happy , as one known in former times as a very hard working Mason , to speak to the excellent working of the W . M . Ithad been his great pleasure to see many able brethren preside over the lodge , and he was very pleased to

say the W . M . was behind none of them . He was very courteous , and there was not a brother but would give him a good word for his working . 'That working was a credit to himself and a satisfaction to the brethren . He would tell the initiates that a few years since the W . M . was initiated like them , and by his hard working and zealous conduct in lodge fie had fed himself to the position he now held . He trusted they would take this example and endeavour to

attain to the W . M . ' s high position . The W . M ., in replying , said if what he had done had met with the approval of the brethren he was more than satisfied . He then gave " 'The Initiates , " having known whom for some years he was able to say that they would be a credit to the lodge . Reiterating Bro . Past Master Cohen's remarks , he hoped they would one day occupy the chair of W . M . Both initiates responded . Bros . Hunt and Massey replied to the toast of " The

Visitors . " " The Benevolent Fund of the Lodge of Israel " was responded to by Bro . A . M . Cohen , P . M ., President of the Fund , who explained to the new brethren that it was established for the purpose of assisting those who could not assist themselves . He knew nothing in Masonry , though he had had the 'lengthened experience of forty years , so pleasant as to help the helpless . No one but the Committee knew who were helped . The utmost secresy

was observed . 'To-day we might be on the path of pros perity ; to-morrow we might be in adversity , it was for those who were prosperous now to lay by for a day of adversity . He trusted that such a day would not be for any one attached to this lodge ; but should such be the caseshould any one of them , his widow or orphans , be compelled to come to the Lodge of Israel Benevolent Fundtheir next door neighbour would never become acquainted

with it . He could not find fresh words to speak of this fund ; but he wanted fresh acts . He wanted the younger brethren to give their pound if they possibl y could . Rest assured it would be returned by the Great Architectof the Universe tenfold . Tothosc who could not give a pound he would say give what they could to relieve brethren , widows , or orphans who might be compelled to come to the fund , and to give whom a mere trifle would do them no

good . 1 he Committeewantedto give to such applicantswhat would set them up in life without going further . Masonry did not consist of the pleasures of the festive board , but in doing good acts towards each other . Bro . S . M . Harris , P . M ., replied to the toast of "The P . M . 's . " and said he was proud indeed to hear the high praise which had been bestowed on the lodge that evening . It was a source of great gratification to the Past Masters , for they must

remember that the well-being and welfare of the Lodge of Israel was to all brethren present a great consideration ; but to the Past Masters it was a vital consideration , their position , their name , their everything stood or fell with the stand or fall of the Lodge of Israel . The tongue of good report was certainly heard in its favour , for Bro . Sablu having joined the lodge had induced another Liverpool brother , Bro . Henochsberg , to join it . The brethren would

find they had a jewel in that brother , and he hoped to sea him one day W . M . of the lodge . Bro . A . M . Cohen , P . M ., added that he wished to thank the brethren for the very great kindness they had shown him during his late severe illness , and for having recorded their feelings on the minutes of the lodge . He felt very grateful for that kindness , which was a great solace to him . He should never forget it . 'Those few words in the minute-book repaid him for many ,

many years of service to the lodge . He hoped he should lie able to spend many more days of his life among the brethren of the Lodge of Israel . The Senior and Junior VVardens replied to the toast of "The Officers ; " and the Tyler ' s toast concluded the proceedings . During thetvening Bros . IT . and B . Cohen gave the scene between Charles the First and Cromwell from the well-known play , and received hearty applause for their admirable representation ,