Colonial.

" And lastly : 'The measure was not taken by the G . L . of Ireland ¦ without the cordial asscM of its G . M ., the Duke of Lcinster , who had carefully considered the question before it was submitted to the G . L ., by his Deputy G . 5 I-, and fully concurred in the decision . ' "T . D . HARINGTON . " From the GRAND SECRETATT to Bro . HARIXCTON . " Freemasons' Hall , London , " E . W . Sir and Brother , " 12 th March , 1 S 5 S .

"I am commanded by the M . W . Grand Master , the Earl of Zetland , to acknowledge the receipt of your letter dated the 1 st of February , and to inform you , that his " lordship having given the whole subject his mature deliberation , docs not observe any grounds , or any new circumstance alleged , which induce him to alter his expressed opinion . " I am to inform you that the view you appear to take of the surrender of warrants is not , in his lordship ' s opinion , borne out by the Rook of Constitutions . —See Art . 29 page 65 . Ed . 1855 .

, " In reference to your quotations from the Freemasons' Magazine , I am to state that that publication appears to be held in much higher estimation in the Colonies than it has been here . That it possesses no authority beyond the permission to publish ( on the responsibility of its Editor for accuracy ) an account of the proceedings of Grand Lodge . —I have the honor to be , E . W . Sir and Brother , yours fraternally , "WM . GRAY CLARKE , G . S . "To Douglas Harington , esq ., & c , & c , So ., Toronto , Canada . "

From Brother HAIUNGTON to GRAND SECRETARY . " Toronto , 14 th April , 1858 . "Sir and V . W . Brother , " I beg to acknowledge the receipt of your very brief communication of the 12 th ulto ., written by command of the M . W . Grand Master , which I have circulated among the Brethren for their information , and I am constrained to believe that its perusal will give rise to a feeling of deep regret , or , it may be , to one of a stronger nature . "When the significaney of the question at issueand the events

, that have accumulated since its first introduction , are considered , it seems marvellous that this important Masonic province cannot now command more than a dozen lines , stating that the M . W . Grand Master will not change his mind , but leaving the Craft not one bit nearer to a knowledge of what the deliberate counsels and feelings of the G . Lodge of England itself are . "The M . W . Grand Master is pleased to declare , through you , that having given the whole subject his mature consideration , he " does not observe any grounds or any new circumstances alleged in letter

my of the 1 st February , to induce him to alter his expressed opinion . I will leave my letter to speak for itself , simply referring to the contents of Br . Beach ' s communication , and the extracts from that of Br . Furnell , showing the recorded opinion of the Duke of Leinster , the M . W . Grand Master of Ireland , who had also carefully considered the question of the Canadian declaration . " The M . W . Grand Master , in the second place , states , through you , that , in his opinion , my view of the surrender of warrants is not borne , out by the Book of Constitutions , and you merely refer me

back to the clause upon which I relied , and to which I invited his attention . I am quite content to be convinced that I am in error , and if the M . W . Grand Master will be so good as to refer to my letter , he will see that he was asked to declare what ought to have been done , —that is to say , —the Canadian Craft desired to have a clear definition of the constitutional and legal course in regard to the disposal of their warrants , & c . Simple opinions only leave matters whore they were , and it should be remembered that Sir Allan Mae-Nab was severely censured about the warrants , without any attempt

to enlighten him as to how ho should have acted . It is not an uncommon remark , that ( as people say of Acts of Parliament ) portions of the English Constitutions of Freemasonry are so vaguely expressed , that a coach and horses might bo driven through them . I know from personal experience the difficulty of interpreting some clauses . "The M . W . Grand Master , in the third place , states , through you , that the Freemason ' s Magazine appears to be held in higher estimation in the Colonies than in London , and that it possesses no authority beyond the permission to publish ( on the responsibility of

its Editor for accuracy ) an account of the proceedings of Grand Lodge . " To this I reply , that if we are to be guided by the entire contents of the Magazine , it is held in high esteem by the Provinces in England , and is their mouth-piece certainly . Should the Editor report inaccurately , there is , wo must presume , some Grand Lodge Officer whoso duty it is to correct and call him to account , otherwise the Craft at a distance would be misled and when the reports remain unchallenged we are justified in deeming them to be true , and such is the case with

every quotation or reference to which I took the liberty of drawing the attention of the M . W . Grand Master . Surely it is not intended that the Magazine is to bo a one-sided affair , and , if not so , that its reports arc to be repudiated at convenience . Surely it is an anomaly to permit a Periodical that it is said not to be thought well of to publish at all . It is incomprehensible , and certainly affords an additional argument in favor of the Brethren in the Colonies governing themselves , for they can suffer only through their own acts , and with their eyes wide open .

"In my former Letter I endeavoured to convince the M . W . Grand Master by advancing facts more immediately connected with the General Government of the Craft . I will now advert to one entirely relating to the great attribute of Freemasonry —Charity;—I moan pecuniary relief . I left this topic untouched , because I felt sure that the Brethren would never wish it to be supposed that their independent movement could be seriously affected by money considerations , or originate from any feeling of ( to speak plainly ) ' stinginess . God forbid ! But I introduce it nowon own responsibilityin justice

, my , to the Craft here . " In the first place , then , we read with satisfaction of successful Candidates for Masonic Annuities in England , and we are glad that our unfortunate Brethren are secured from poverty and distress . We read also of indigent Brethren and Widows of Freemasons being safely housed in a . Masonic Asylum , and again we are rejoiced . We read , also , of Orphan Children of Freemasons being educated and provided for , and once again are our hearts gladdened . "Nowit must be borne in mind that the Colonies help to swell the

, funds necessary to secure the above-named blessings ; but what chance have they in any way of securing to a Candidate , whose claims they might urge , a successful result ? None . It would be absurd to propose a Candidate , for our Lodges are not represented in Grand Lodge at all . "In the second place—thousands of Emigrants land on our shores , and it is no exaggeration to say , that hundreds among them are Freemasons . Many require help and encouragement . They get both ; and I am glad of this opportunityknowingas I dothe warm

, , , hearts of my Brethren from Quebec to the other extremity of Canada to bear willing testimony to their noble and unstinted generosity . " But , there is no denying the fact that we send no distress back to England , and consequently we are taxed two-fold . The Grand Lodge of Canada would like to emulate her Sister of England in her Charities , and devote her funds towards providing for her own Annuitants , indigent Brethren , and Masonic Widows and Orphan Children .

" I cannot help feeling that it is both hopeless and useless to write again . The time has passed for any further begging for recognition . Self-respect will not permit it . —The Brethren cannot do so . There is a Masonic Periodical published at Bath , England , called the Masonic Observer and Grand Lodge Chronicle , which has a large circulation we believe . I cannot resist quoting an extract from it , to which I would beg earnest attention , for my impression is , that it echoes the sentiments of the Brethren here . On the 20 th March last , the Editor says : —[ The underlining of certain words is my doing . ]

"' It is doubtless vexatious enough to the Administration to find that the Canadian Secession has been accomplished with the most complete and technical regularity ; with much greater regard for Masonic Jurisprudence than was evinced by the York Seceders when they established the Grand Lodge of London . "' That the advisers of the M . W . Grand Master will not at present recommend the recognition of the Autieut Grand Lodge of Canada is not unnatural , though how such a step would violate Masonic Unity when there is already a Masonic Trinity in her Majesty ' s dominions ,

we are quite at a loss to conceive . "' That the Canadian Independence will ultimately bo acknowledged , we have no doubt whatever , believing , as we do , that the Masons in London have no right to govern the Masons at Toronto a moment longer than the latter like to allow them to do so . '" No recognition will however take place till a Union has been effected between the two Lodges at present acting in opposition to eaoli other in Canada ; and when that has been accomplished , the violation of Masonic Unity by independent English Lodges must be

discouraged , by a rigid refusal on the part of the Canadians to hold any intercourse whatever with diem ' " I request you will have the goodness to hand this letter to the M . W . Grand Master . His decision under all the circumstances is to be regretted . His treatment of a man of Sir Allan MaoNab ' s position , when generally known , will probably create a smile . When Sir Allan took the decisive step lie did , he virtually resigned his office of Provincial Grand Master , and removed himself , and it only required his formal declaration when in London to make his resignation official . For the M . W . Grand Master of England therefore to announce that