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at its last annual communication to be presented Bro . Groff m testimony of the high sense it entertained of the services he has rendered to the Craft in the faithful and efficient performance sf the important and highly responsible duties of Grand Treasurer . I have only recently been enabled to procure , and shall take an early opportunity of presenting it to that meritorious officer . "Since the last annual communication of Grand Lodge 1

have granted dispensations for tlie erection of the following lodges : " Plattsville , of Plattsville , in 1 S 65 . "Bothwell , of Bothwell . " Speed , ot Guelph . " In each case the petitions were regularly and strongly recommended , and were accompanied by the regular certificates from the D . D . G . M ,, as to the competency of the proposed AV . M .,

I trust , therefore , that the Grand Lecturer ivill see fit to confirm them by warrant . Tho Bro ., who was appointed first Master of Simpson Lodge , having through some understanding with the Past D . D . G . M ., failed to pass his examination , the warrant never having been delivered to him , he , together with two ( or ten ?) other members , have petitioned that the Eev . C S . Denroche may be appointed tbe first AV . M . in bis steadas it ivould not now be convenient

, for him to accept tbat office . This case appearing to me to be a hard one for tlie brethren interested , I have deemed it advisable to accede to the prayer of the petition . In order to fulfil as far as was in my power the responsible duty of examining and correcting the by-laws of the subordinate lodges under this Grand Lodge , I directed the G . S . to transmit to me copies without delay . One hundred bave been received , all of which I have corrected with the greatest care and returned .

Why the balance have not been sent to me I am unable to say , but trust they will be handed in at this commnnication , so that the great desideratum , uniformity , may be carried out . " It is my melancholy duty to announce to you the death of that exalted Mason and good man , the Veil . Archdeacon Scott , E . W ., P . D . G . M . of this Grand Lodge . All who knew him revered and respected him for his many virtues , kind disposition , and amiable deportment ; and I trust tbe Grand Lodge will

take an early opportunity of paying a tribute of respect to his mtmory . "Amongst the prominent members of the Craft in other jurisdictions whom it has pleased the wise Master Builder to summon from the earthly tabernacle which their life adorned , I would mention the names of Bros . IV . H . AVhite , G . Steward of Pennsylvania ; Thomas D . Merrick , G . Steward of Arkansas ; and C . Pearl , our late representative in Maine . Time does not

rjerniit me to do more than to make a passing record of the names of those fathers ! n Masonry ivhose loss we deplore . Be it our duty to honour their memory by striving to emulate their virtues . The position of this Grand Lodge with reference to tbe other Grand Lodges of the world is , I am happy to say , of the most cordial and fraternal kind . A report on this head will , I have no doubt , b e submitted by tbe Board of General Purposes ; but as the limited time that is at the disposal of the

Board at our annual meetings is totally inadequate to permit of a comprehensive report on foreign correspondence being drawn up , I ivould strongly recommend that in future this important subject be placed in the hands of a sub-committee of one or at most of two of said Board . "Before closing my address , I wish to draw the attention of the G . L . to the awful conflagration which has recently visited the beautiful city of Portlandthe seat of the Grand

, Lecturer of Maine , and to recommend that some suitable and substantial expression of our warm and hearifclt sympathy be immediately sent to brethren of that city . "Notwithstanding tho length of these remarks , I fear that there are many topics of importance to us in a local point of view , to which I have failed to refer . As , however , many subjects of interest to individual lodges , and to us as a whole , will undoubtedly be found in tho reports of the D . D . G . M ., I would

refer you to them for information on such points as I may have omitted . " In conclusion , let me express the hope that our proceedings at this communication , may bo characterised by that harmony and fraternal bearing which should ever illustrate the intercourse of Masons , and that our legislation , guarded by prudence and wisdom , may promote the best interests of our Order . Thanking you for the courtesy and patience with which you bave listened to my remarks , and submitting them to your calm

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consideration , I humbly invoke tho guidance of the G . A . O . T . Uon all our deliberations . " W . B . SIMPSON , Grand Master . " The following are the officers of Grand Lodge elected for the ensuing year : — Bro . AVilliam M . Wilson G . Master . „ A . A . Stephenson D . G . Master .

„ John Kerr S . G . W . ., Isaac Stearns G . J . W . „ Eev . A " . Clemeuti G . Chap . ,, Henry Groff G . Treas . „ T . B . Harris G . Sec . DISTEICE DEPUTIES . Bro . F . AYestlake London District .

„ D . Curtis Wilson „ „ Dr . Kalin Huron „ „ James Seymour Hamilton „ „ A . De Grassi Toronto „ „ AV . H . AVeller Ontario „ D . Fraser P . Edward „ „ McMeill Clerk Central „ „ Eichard Bull Montreal „

„ J . H . Grattan Eastern Townships District . „ John Turner Quebec District . The next session of Grand Lodge will be held in Kingston .

British Burmah.

BRITISH BURMAH .

( From our own correspondent . ) A \ e have much pleasure in giving insertion to tbe following highly interesting paper ou Freemasonry in a portion of the world ivhere the efforts of zealous brethren do not seem to be sufficiently known . There , however , our brethren of "the mystic tie" are actively engaged in spreading the beneficent influences of Freemasonry , and great indeed has been their success . Sincereldo we trust that merits such as theirs will

y not pass unrewarded , and that "the powers that be" will be induced to accord to such good men and true the privilege of a District Grand Lodge . There can be little doubt , that in such a case our respected Bro . Colonel Greenlaw , who has been the mainspring of Masonic vigour and energy in the province , and who is highly popular with all classes , would , we trust , be promoted to the chair of District G . M . AVe cannot but believe that the claims-of our brethren in British Burmah require only

to be known in order to meet with due recognition . British Burmah , although one of the most rising of our India provinces is probably but little known to home residents . It consists of the ancient kingdoms of Pegue and Arakan , with the long line of sea eoastto the southward known as Tenasserim . The two last were acquired by treaty after the first war with the Burmese Government in 1825—26 " , and Pegue was annexed consequent on the second war 1852 .

The province of British Burmah as now constituted lies along the eastern shore of tlie Bay of Bengal , extending from the southern edge of tbe Bengal Presidency , in about 20 ° 50 ' north latitude , down to the Packchan River in the Malay Peninsula about 10 ° 50 ' . The line of sea coast is fully 900 miles long , and the area of the province is ninety thousand square miles , or equal to the combined area of England , Scotland , and AA ' ales .

Each of tbe three , divisions of the province has its seaport town . Thus Arrakan has Akyab , Tenasserim has Moulmein ; aud Pegue has Rangoon , ivhich latter city is the seat of the Local Government . The local population of the province is upwards of two millions , while Moulmein and Rangoon have each a population of nearly 70 , 000 inhabitants . Since 1862 , the whole province has been consolidated into one administration under a Chief Commissioner , and Sulear Eniate

Judicial Magisterial and Revenue Officers . It is the station of one of tbe divisions of the Madras Army , consisting of European Infantry and Artillery and Native Troops , Rangoon being the Head Quarters of the Major General Commanding and the Divisional Staff . In the seaport towns , Europeans and Asiatic foreigners have settled in large numbers , comprising examples of almost all the nations of the east . Thus there are Parsees , Moguls , Surattees , Jews , Armenians , Chinese , and Hindoos ; many of each of these