Canada.

which number , fifteen lodges were situated in the province of Quebec . The Grand Secretary read the circular issued by the command of the M . AV . Grand Muster convening this Special Emergent Communication of Grand Lodge . The Grand Secretary read the rules an regulations for the government of Grand Lodge during busine ss .

The Grand Master then addressed the brethren , giving a full account of all the correspondence and interviews which had taken place , and of the course pursued by him . He prefaced his report as follows : — Brethren of tho Grand Lodge of Canada , It is to me a source of great regret that circumstances should have arisen within this jurisdiction to necessitate the summoning of an Emergent Communication of Grand Lodge at this

unusual period of the year . Notwithstanding the difficulty and inconvenience , which I am aware many of you must have experienced in assembling here at this season , it will , I think , be readily acknowledged that the events which have lately transpired in this province are of such a nature as to require some action being taken on the part of Grand Lodge . The organsation , on the 20 th of October , of a so-called Grand Lodge for the province of Quebec , a territory embraced within the

jurisdiction of this Grand Lodge , and over which it has exercised authority for the past fourteen years , and the repudiation of the allegiance due to the Grand Lodge of Canada , by any number of lodges or brethren , however few or insignificant , were occurrences of too much importance to be allowed to pass unnoticed or unquestioned . It is true that I might have exercised the prerogatives which belong to the high and responsible position which I have now the honour to hold ; but I deemed it

to be a wiser course to convene Grand Lodge at the earliest practicable moment , aud submit a record of the official action I had found it to be my duty to take in relation to the movement in question , submitting at the same time such facts as have come to my knowledge in regard to its extent , and also my own views on the legal aspect of the case . Its history , extent , and nature , being presented in that form , will , I trust , enable Grand Lodge clearly to comprehend the true condition of

affairs . Early in Septeember last it was rumoured here that an effort Avould shortly be made to effect , if possible , the dismemberment of this Grand Lodge , and that meetings had been ( or would shortly be ) held , having that object in view . The correspondence on the subject was then read , and explanations of the course taken by the Grand Master at numerous

interviews . In concluding the G . Master said : " Having thus placed before you such facts as appeared to me to be necessary to a clear understanding of the true position of affairs , it yet remains for me to submit as briefly as possible the views I entertain , after most anxious and careful consideration , in reference to the legality or expediency of the recent secession . When the Confederation Act came into operation in

1867 , a very general feeling prevailed among the fraternity within this jurisdiction , that the political changes then made , would to a greater or less degree affect our position as a Grand Lodge , and that a corresponding change would be necessary to adapt ourselves to the new state of affairs . This feeling gave rise to the discussion at Kingston , which has already been sufficiently alluded to . Many brethren , who , at that time , held the opinion that we ought to make some change , were yet unable to adduce

reasons sufficient to satisfy their own minds , on what ground such changes were rendered necessary . There were no precedents , so far as known , either in the Old World or on this Continent , and thus the solution of the problem was rendered much more difficult than it otherwise would have been . Since that period , it is within my knowledge , that some brethren of eminence who then entertained such views as those above indicated , have , oil mature reflection and a closer study of the case , been

led to tho conclusion that the political changes which took place in connection with the Confederation scheme , did not , iu any manner or degree , alter or affect the status or position of the Grand Lodge of Canada . The name may be anomalous—( though there are good and sufficient reasons wh y even this should not be changed)—the jurisdiction and authorit y remain precisely as before . That this must he so , will be manifest when we consider the self-evident truth , that an Act of Parliament can neither create nor destroy a Grand Lodge of Freemasons . If this he correct , and I maintain it is , then it follows as a natural consequence , that the Confederation Act , passed by the Imperial

Parliament of Great Britain and Ireland , did not , in the most remote degree , interfere with tho standing , position or operations , of the Grand Lodge of Canada , and the same may be said respecting other organisations existing in this country , apart from and wholly independent of Governmental support or control . The Canada Presbyterian Church , for instance , is still the Canada Presbyterian Church , notwithstanding that the territory ,

within which its operations are carried on , is now known as Ontario and Quebec , instead of as formerly Upper and Lower Canada . The Canada AA esleyan Methodist Conference is another case in point , and many of others could be added .

" I am well aware that it is held a general principle by eminent authorities on this continent that Masonic boundaries should be coterminous with political boundaries . This has been the rule in the establishment of Grand Lodges in the United States . But the United States furnishes no parallel to the case under consideration , and therefore comparison is entirely out of the question . The arguments which would be applicable to a number of separate , independent , and sovereign States , claiming to

exercise exclusive legislative authority and supreme governmental control in all matters , except such as they themselvesreserve and depute to the general or United States Government ,, lose all their point and efficacy when applied to our sm-bordinate colonial or provincial condition , where all power is vested in the general or Dominion Governmeut or Parliament—where only local matters ( or such as are in the U . S . termed municipal ) are entrusted to the local governments and legislaturesthe

Lieute-, nant-Governors of the various provinces deriving their appointments from the Governor-General of the Dominion . In our case which would be the political boundary to which Masonic government would require to conform ? The dominion or the provincial ? If the former , we possess not the power , as there are two other Grand Lodges established within the dominion , whose existence could not be ignored , and whoso co-operation we could not at present' expect to obtain ; if the latterthen

, every new division of territory , or change of name which might take place in either of the provinces , would necessitate similar changes in the jurisdiction and names of the respective Grand Lodges . AVbuld this be wise ? Would it ho expedient ? AVouId it be common sense ? Surely there are few to be found prepared

to answer in the affirmative . " I can easily understand , that in the organisation of a Grand Lodge for a particular kingdom , state , or territory , it is well to conform to tho name of the kingdom , state , or territory over which that Grand Lodge intends to exercise Masonic jurisdiction and authority , but I most respectfully submit that after a Grand Lodge is once established and recognised , its existence , jurisdictionaud authority can neither be destroyedalteredor

, , , in any degree affected by either political or governmental action . " Entertaining these views regarding our position , I can see no ground for the opinion put forward by some , that the province of Quebec is ' vacant' or ' unoccupied territory . ' That it was occupied from 1855 until Confederation took place , is admitted on all sides , how then can it be said to be unoccupied now ? Has any One been able to demonstrate why it has

become to be unoccupied since , when it is acknowledged that it was occupied before Confederation ? If the Grand Lodge of Canada existed in and exercised authority over the Province of Quebce , as well as Ontario , previous to Confederation , by what process of reasoning can it be made to appear that she only exists in and exercises authority over one of these Provinces subsequently to that event ? AVhen , and to whose care has she confided the other ?

"Investigate this subject as carefully and closely as you may , you will , I think , be hresistibly led to this conclusion , that if the Grand Lodge of Canada exists at all , ( and surely no one will deny that ) its existence , jurisdiction and authority extends nowover every foot of the territory claimed and conceded at its establishment in 1855 , and it is to-day as much the Grand Lodge of the Masons of Quebec as it is of the Masons of Ontario ; and that , therefore , a second Grand Lodge cannot at present ,

be legally established in either one or other of these two Provinces . " But , were it otherwise , are the circumstances surrounding the Alasons residing in the Province of Quebec such as would ., render it expedient or desirable that the present Grand Lodge should be dismembered ? Is their position such as wonld warrant them in breaking off from us and setting up for themselves ' i Look at the number of lodges—scarcel y 40—including those working under English authority , with in most cases u comparatively limited membership . The population consisting