Ar00200

So much has this point been felt , that it has been proposed to call the Grand Lodge of Canada the Grand Lodge of Canada and Ontario . On the grounds put forth by Quebec , the body calling itself the Grand Lodge of Ontario has a right [ to be heard ; but there are considerations , we think ,

which will prevent the Grand Lodge of England ever approving of the movement in question . The precedent is a very ' serious and unsafe one , and with every good wish and kind feeling for the brethren who have constituted the Grand Lodge of Ontario , the Grand Lodge of England can only reply , as tlie'Poi'E does , as far as we can see , " non possumus . "

* * * FREEMASONRY has lost two brothers of note , both in town and country . Bro . WniciicoRD , well known to many , and much esteemed , has passed away deeply regretted , and West Yorkshire has to lament the decease of one of its oldestand valued Provincial Grand Officers . Bro . J OSEPH BATLEY ' S

lifelong membership and energetic work in the Lodge of Harmony , Huddersfield , are too well known in Yorkshire to require lengthened notice here , and as Past Provincial Grand Warden he rendered signal services to the province in materially moulding those admirable bye-laws which were for so

long justly a distinguishing feature of West Yorkshire provincial Masonic existence . He will be truly a missed man , alike in his Masonic character and his official duties . Since we wrote the above the Times records the neath of Bro . Lieut .-Col . RAMSAY at Rome , " a distinguished Freemason . "

• • • IT is gratifying to learn that the effects of the conflagration which destroyed so large a part of the fine Masonic Temple in Cincinnati , Ohio , on the 24 th December last , have not been so seriously destructive as at first reported . The whole of that portion of the building which was set apart for

the accommodation of the A . and A . Scottish Rite was burnt out . A very large sum had been expended in the furnishing and decoration of this , and the loss , including that of a splendid organ which cost 5000 dollars , is very serious , while lhat of the unique collection of Masonic engravings , diplomas , and charters is irreparable . Happily , the libraries bel onging to the Temple

and Bro . ENOCH T . CARSON , the well-known Masonic bibliographer , which were said in the first instance to have been destroyed , are saved , having sustained only slight damage from water . So we read in thc Masonic Chronicle of Columbus , Ohio , and we feel sure that all our readers , and Bro . W . J . HUGHAN in particular , will rejoice with us at the arrival of such good news .

Bro . CARSON s library contained some Masonic works which no amount of money could possibly replace , and the grief experienced when Bro . HUGHAN announced he had received intelligence of their loss will be more accuratel y gauged by the extent of the reaction of pleasure which has set in since they are known to have been saved .

* # * IT is to be regretted that some of our American contemporaries arc not better posted in the circumstances they occasionally feel it their duty to criticise adversely . In the Freemason for the 27 th September last , a correspondent drew attention to the extremely bad taste displayed by the Canadian

Craftsman , which , m some remarks as to the rival Masonic organisations in the colony of Victoria—the illegitimate Grand Lodge and the legitimate District and Provincial Grand Lodges—had the folly—to give it no stronger name—to assert that , in order to make the " inauguration " of Sir W . J . CLARKE as District Grand Master of the English and Scotch , as well as

of the Irish Constitutions a complete success , " free railway passes and free tickets to the banquet , and free tickets to the ball , were scattered broadcast . " Recently we published a letter from another of our correspondents at Melbourne , who describes the statement just quoted as " a base calumny . " There were no " free railway passes , " he says , all the country brethren who

attended the " inauguration , and even the " strong deputation from D . G . Lodge of New South Wales—all the way from Sydney "—paying their own travelling expenses . and journeying not by special but by ordinary trains . There was a banquet given by Sir W . J . CLARKE at the Town Hall , to 1000 brethren , the tickets being distributed at the rate of " so many to each

of the 100 lodges in the colony , and to the visitors from other colonies . " As , according to our authority , there were over 3000 brethren present at the " inauguration" of Sir W . J . CLARKE , this does not look very much like scattering " free tickets to the banquet , " " broadcast . " As to the ball , gentlemen ' s tickets were' charged for at the rate of a guinea each , and

ladies tickets at 12 s . 6 d . each ; even " press-men purchasing the privilege of entree . Moreover , after all the ball expenses had been defrayed , a surplus of " nearly £ 200 accrued to the Melbourne Masonic Charities . " Thus , the whole of our Canadian contemporary ' s assertion is toppled over as easily as a house of cards , by a mere breath from our correspondent , for

whose sense of responsibility in making any assertion we readily vouch , and who , as "O NE OF THE COMMITTEE , " is thoroughly well posted in the particulars he sets forth . We shall be curious to learn if thc Canadian Craftsman will have the courtesy to amend its statement , so as to make it in accord with the version of the facts now presented in our columns for its especial edification .

Supreme Grand Chapter.

SUPREME GRAND CHAPTER .

The following is the business to bc transacted at the Quarterly Convocation of Supreme Grand Chapter , on Wednesday next , 4 th February , at six o ' clock : The minutes of the last Quarterly Convocation to be read for confirmation .

IHE RKPORT OF THB- COMMITTEE OF GENERAL PURPOSES . To thc Supreme Grand Chapter of Royal Arch Masons of England . The Committee of General Purposes regret to have to report to Grand

Supreme Grand Chapter.

Chapter the death , on the 27 th November last , of Companion Lieut .-Colone J CREATON , Past Principal Grand Sojourner , and President of the Committee of General Purposes . The Committee feel confident that the members of the Order generally will unite in deploring the loss of a companion who has for very many years , and especially while officiating as President of the Committee of Grand Chapter , rendered such valuable services to Royal Arch Masonry .

The Committee have also to report that his Royal Highness , the Most Excellent First Grand Principal , has been pleased to appoint Comp . Robt . Grey , P . A . G . Soj ., to be President of the Committee of General Purposes , in succession to Lieut .-Col . Creaton , deceased . The Committee have further to report that they have examined the accounts from the 15 th October , 188 4 , to the 21 st January , 1885 , both inclusive , which they find to be as follows :

To Balance , Grand Chapter ... £ 167 G 11 By Disbursements during the „ „ Unappropriated Quarter jC 2 oS 1 10 Account iSC iC 4 ,, Balance 315 4 5 „ Subsequent Receipts ... 355 iS 10 „ „ Unappropriated Account iSG 15 10 £ 7 ™ 2 1 £ 710 3 1

which balances are in the Bank of England , Western Branch . The Committee have likewise to report that they have received the following petitions : — ist . From Comps . Thomas Pibble Payne , as Z . ; William Berry , as H . ;

George Grant , as J . ; and twelve others , for a chapter to be attached to the Albert Edward Lodge , No . 1780 , Southampton , to be called the Albert Edward Chapter , and to meet at the Masonic Hall , Albion-place , Southampton , in the county of Hants .

2 nd . From Comps . Montague John Guest , M . P ., as Z . ; Giovanni Paulo Festa , as H . ; Francis Robert Whitcombe Hedges , as J . ; and seven others for a chapter to be attached to the Montague Guest Lodge , No . 1900 , London , to be called the Montague Guest Chapter , and to meet at the Inns of Court Hotel , Lincoln's Inn Fields , London .

3 rd . From Comps . the Rev . Alfred Hayman Cummings , as Z . ; James Giesman Chillingworth , as H . j Frederic Wood , as J . ; and six others fijr a chapter to be attached to the Saye and Sele Lodge , No . 1973 , Belvedere , to be called the Saye and Sele Chapter , and to meet at the Masonic RoBpis , Belvedere , in the county of Kent . - -- ¦ ' ¦ ¦

The foregoing petitions being in all respects regular , the Committee recommend that the prayers thereof be respectively granted . : ' The Ley Spring Chapter , No . 1598 , heretofore meeting at Leytonstone ,-having memorialized for permission to remove . to Anderton ' s Hotel , Fleet Street , in the City of London , and the reason stated in such memorial

being considered sufficient , the Committee recommend that permission to remove the Chapter , to Fleet Street , be granted . ( Signed ) ROBERT GREY , P . A . G . S ., Freemasons' Hall , London , VV . C , President . 21 st January , 1885 .

Provincial Grand Lodge Of North And East Yorkshire.

PROVINCIAL GRAND LODGE OF NORTH AND EAST YORKSHIRE .

A special meeting of this Provincial Grand Lodge was held at York on the 2 ist inst . in the Masonic Hall of the York Lodge , No . 236 , the principal purpose of the assembly being to finally considewthe draft of provincial bye-laws , which had been referred to a Special Committee . The lodge was opened at 1 p . m ., there being present Bros , the Earl of Zetland , Prov . G . Master ; Dr . J . P . Bell , D . P . G . M . ; J . W . Woodall , as P . G . S . W . ; G . Wilkinson , as P . G . J . W . ; W . H . Smyth , Prov . G . M . of

Lincolnshire ; T . W . Tew , D . P . G . M . West Yorkshire ; Sir James Meek , P . P . G . S . W . ; M . C . Peck , Prov . G . Sec . ; 1 . S . Rymer , Prov . G . Reg . ; W . Reynolds , P . P . G . D . C . ; G . Balmford , P . P . G . O . ; T . B . Whytehead , P . P . G . W . ; W . Tesseyman , P . P . G . S . of Works ; W . D . Keyworth , P . P . G . S . of Works ; H . Smith , Prov . G . Sec . West Yorkshire ; W . F . Smithson , P . P . G . D . West Yorkshire ; G . Ayre , P . P . G . D .. ; H . C . Walker , P . G . S . of Works ; H . I . Morten , P . P . G . D . C . ; V . bowler , P . G . D . C . ; W .

Gill , P . G . O . ; A . Farmer , P . P . G . D . C ; J . W . Taylor , P . P . G . W . ; G . Dippie , P . M . 200 ; T , Dale , W . M . 561 ; J . Best , P . M . 561 ; J . Clarke , P . M . 561 ; Rev . H . Greeves , P . P . G . C ; Rev . W . Valentine , P . P . G . C ; J . W . Smith , P . G . J . D . ; J . Wanless , W . M . 200 ; J . H . Bennett , P . P . G . W . ; R . H . Peacock , P . P . G . A . D . C ; li . H . Hackers , P . P . G . D . C ; R . Land , P . M . 200 ; J . H . llackett , W . M . 1760 ; O . Cavenagh , W . M . 1991 ; C . Goulding , P . M . 294 ; A . H . H . McGachen , P . M . 1991 ; H . A . Williamson , P . M . 200 ; J . Blenkin , P . M . 1 G 11 ; R . Beevers , P . P . G . S . of Works ;

M . Haberland , P . P . G . D . ; 1 . Walton , W . M . 57 ; J . Todd , P . P . G . R . ; M . Rooke , P . P . G . D . ; G . Simpson , P . P . G . P . ; W . H . Richardson , P . P . G . W . ; S . G . Crummack , P . G . Stwd . ; H . Procter , P . G . Stwd . ; M . M . Westerley , P . G . Stwd . ; E . Harding , 1991 ; H . Foster , 236 ; C . Anderson , 23 G ; C . M . Forbes , 23 G ; W . H . Winpenny , 294 ; T . Barnes , 294 ; H . Darley , 643 ; W . S . Robson , 200 ; G . Chambers , 1760 ; T . J . Russell , 236 ; VV . Stephenson , 1611 ; W . Lackenby , IGII ; A . M . White , 1991 ; F . J . Lambert , P . G . Tyler ; J . Clark , 57 ; A . T . B . Turner , 1611 ; W . G . Calvert , 23 G ; J . Hall , 1 G 11 ; and others .

The Iodge at once went into the consideration of the matters special lo the occasion , and the report of the Bye-laws Committee was passed with a few very trifling alterations . Bro . Dr . TAYLOR , of Scarborough , then rose and proposed the following resolution , of which notice had been ' given : —

That this Provincial Grand Lodge views with pleasure the nomination of a country brother to the office of Grand Treasurer of the United Grand Lodge of England , and pledges itself to do all in its power as a Provincial Grand Lodge to assist in securing thc election of W . Bro . J . W . Woodall , P . M . 200 , P . P . G . S . W ., to that office . This was seconded by Bro . DIPPIE , Town Clerk of Scarborough , and supported by Bro . T . W . TEW , of Pontefraet , D . P . G . M . of West Yorkshire , and was carried with acclamation .

A Committee , with the Prov . Grand Secretary and [ Bro . 1 . B . Whytehead , of York , as joint Secretaries , was appointed to further the candidature of Bro . Woodall .