Address

valuable services and assistance to the government . He Avas a Past Deputy Grand Commander of this Grand Priory , and the first Eminent Commander of the " Richard Cceur de Lion" Encampment of

London . Initiated into Freemasonry in a lodge attached to the 5 th Eegimenfc of Foot in the year 1816 , raised to the degree of a Master Mason in Lodge 406 , 91 st Regiment , in 1817 , exalted to the Royal Arch degree in Argyle

Chapter of same Regiment , September , 1818 , installed a Knight Templar , 20 th May , 1821 , in Social Encampment , ISTo . 85 , Manchester , now extinct ; attained the 18 ° or Rose Croix degree at Woolwich , Kent , in 1861 , and the 33 ° of the A . and A . Rite , April , 1870 . He held also the rank in Canada of a

P . D . D . Grand Master , and Past Grand First Principal of the Grand Chapter of Canada . It can be truly said of him that he Avas a just man , a valued and tried friend , an honour to our Order , a brave and gallant old solder , Avhose

name -will be always fresh in the memories of those AVIIO were proud to claim him as a brother Knight , as well as cherished by me , as that of a personal and kind friend , one Avho warmly supported and consistently carried out my

views for the advancement of the Templar Order in Canada . The re-organization of the Order so long contemplated , and IIOAV

accomplished hi England , having given rise to much controversy , and even censure and misapprehension amongst some of its members , as regards the motives and intentions of the supreme authorities , AVIIO devised and are now carrying out

the scheme of revision , requires that I should endeavour to point out to yon , as far as my experience and knowledge will permit the object of the recent changes in an Order so highly honoured as to be under the patronage of Her

Most Gracious Majesty the Queen , and presided over by our future Sovereign . The circular I lately issued was intended firstly to draw your attention to the subject , Avhich I HOAV propose fully

entering upon , and to that end will have to crave your patience and attention for a short time . The fact cannot he disputed that no matter IIOAV correct and praiseworthy may he their motives , yet all who undertake the difficult and

unthankful office of Reformers , must make up their minds to opposition and censure fromtheprejudice and ignorance of those AVIIO wedded to their own lone

pre-conceived ideas , cannot and will not allow themselves to be convinced to the contrary , no matter how clearly the eligibility of the contemplatedreform may be pointed out . You are aware that for some years

past , a movement has been on foot to endeavour to restore the Order of the Temple , as far as the customs of the age will permit , and assimilate it as nearly as possible to its former position and character ; for this purpose a committee Avas formed from our three

national Templar bodies in the empire , and the recent regulations issued by the "CoventGeneral , " a body emanating from and depending upon them , are the result of these deliberations . It is to be regretted that Scotland , although

agreeing to the convention , should , at the last moment , have failed to take part in the happy result of the negociations ; from , it AVOUM appear , a morbid dread that her independence would "be absorbed by England , under the name

of union ; this certainly never could have been contemplated , the terms of the treaty giving Scotland equal power Avith England and Ireland . Unity would have created uniformity of IaAvs and ritualthus iving the Order greater

, g dignity and standing ; it is , however , to be hoped and earnestly desired , that Scotland AVIU re-consider her decision and join the " Covent General . " Careful investigation has shown that the Scottish Order cannot establish any other claim

to the title of Templar , Avhich it does not derive from the same source as that of England and Ireland . The long established and Avell-knoAvn enthusiastic loyalty of her Knights , does not admit for a moment , the supposition that they