Grand Lodge.

GRAND LODGE .

[ Published by ihe Permission of the M . IT * , the G . 31 . upon the Publisher ' s responsibility for the accuracy of ihe report . ] The Quarterly Communication of Grand Lodge was held on the 2 nd of September , in the Temple . The E . W . D . G . M ., Lord Panmure on the throne ; supported by Sir Lucius Curtis , as D . G . M . ; E . W . Bro . Fleming , as S . G . W ; E . W . Bro . Dr . Kent , as J . G . W ; W . Bro . Parkinson , as S . G . D . ; V 7 . Bro . S . B . Wilson , J . G . D . ; V . W . Bros . Henderson , G . E . ; Eev . E . Moore , G . C . ; Gray Clarke , G .

S . ; Farnfiold , A . G . S ; W . Bros . Jennings , G . D . C . ; Chapman , A . G . D . C ., Smith , G . P . ; and the Masters , Past Masters , and Wardens oi several Lodges . Grand Lodge having been opened in due form and with solemn prayer , the minutes of the last Quarterly Communication held on the third of June were read by Bro . Clarke , G . Sec ., and confirmed by the Grand Lodge ; as were also the minutes of the Special Grand Lodge , held on the eleventh of August , upon the occasion of opening the Masonic Institution for Boys .

SECESSION op r . a . L . OF CANADA WEST . V . W . Bro . CLARKE , G . Sec , then laid before Grand Lodge the resolutions adopted at a meeting of the G . L . of Canada West , held at Toronto , the third of June , 1857 : — 1 . — " That whereas the Memorial addressed by this Provincial Grand Lodge to the Grand Lodge of England records with accuracy and truth the difficulties under which the Craft in Canada has long suffered . The grievancesneglectand indignity with which the

, , Grand Lodge has for many years been treated by the Grand Lodge of England ; the disunion which has resulted in the Order , and the ultimate danger with which Masonry in this Province is consequently threatened ; and whereas no definite reply has yet been vouchsafed to that respectful memorial , whilst the correspondence just read by the Grand Secretary affords no reasonable hope that the privileges prayed for as necessary to the well-being and stability of the . Craft in the Provincewill be conceded—Resolved : Thatwith unfeigned

, , grief , this Provincial Grand Lodge , in fidelity to the Order within this Province , is constrained to declare that separate organization is necessary to the efficiency and stability of Freemasonry in Canada . 2 . —Resolved : " That , in the confirmation of the foregoing resolution , at the next ensuing meeting of this Provincial Grand Lodge , that this Provincial Grand Lodge shall declare itself an independent Grand Lodge , all warrants from the Grand Lodge of England being returned thereto . " FEANCIS EICHAEDSON , P . G . S . "

V . W . Bro . HENDERSON , G . R ., then said , that he rose to move that that paper be entered on the minutes ; and would take the opportunity of that formal motion to advert to a circumstance which ought to be known to the Craft , and which was not unimportant to the consideration of the relation , in which the P . G . L . of Canada West stood to the Grand Lodge . Those brethren present , who

happened not to be acquainted with the circumstances of the case , must have listened with surprise to the statement , that the Memorial of the G . L . of Canada West had not received from G . L . a definitive reply . At the Quarterly Communication , held in March last , the M . W . the G . M . stated what were his opinions and intentions with respect to the demands of the Canadian Brethren , and G . L . on that occasion adopted a resolution , referring the consideration of the matter to the Colonial Board . The M . W . the 0 . M . then thought it necessary , from the urgency of the case , to waive

the question of precedent , and laid in a written form before G . L ., both the demands of the P . G . L . of Canada West , and the concessions which , for the sake of preserving the unity of the Craft , he was willing to make to them . The substance of that communication was conveyed in an official form to the W . Brother who signed the paper before G . L . ; and a copy of that letter was also addressed to the P . G . M . It was clear therefore that , so far at least , an explanation reaching to every necessary point was given by the G . L . to the Brethren in Canada . If it rested there , there might perhaps be some

error of form , but it did not . The letter to which he referred was sent to Canada on the 13 th of March , and on the 6 th of April the P . G . L . of Canada West acknowledged the receipt of it . Again a communication from the Colonial Board also , embracing the substance of the G . M ' s . statement , was forwarded to Canada on the 16 th of April , and must have been in the hands of the Canadian Brefuren long before the resolutions now read to G . L . were agreed to . ( Hear , hear . ) The Brethren could thus see that neither the G . L ., the G . M ., nor the Colonial Board was guilty of neglect as regarded the Canadian Memorial ; and it was a mistake in fact to say that it had not received a full and a definite answer . ( Hear , hear . ) He should refrain from all expression of opinion upon the Canadian question itself , as ho was bound to observe that regulation

of G L ., which prohibited debate on any matter of which notice had not been given ; but he would remark that the paper now before G . L . had been also laid before the Board of Masters , and the Brethren constituting that Board , in refraining from giving any notice in reference to it , had , he thought , exercised a sound discretion and a wise forbearance , as any discussion upon it could not be profitable and might be mischievous . Whether the Brethren , from whom that document professed to come , and from whom perhaps it really did come , had or had not made up their minds to withdraw

their allegiance from the G . L ., there were nevertheless in Canada many Brethren , who still deserved to remain one with them in the body of the Craft , and to follow that glorious banner which had so long led the van in the promulgation of Masonic knowledge . These Brethren would of course be guided by the course of events ; and it was therefore desirable that the G . L . should act on this occasion with wisdom , justice , and brotherly kindness . He should not at present say more , but move that the paper be entered upon the minutes .

The motion , having been seconded , was unanimously agreed to . BOARD OF BENEVOLENCE . The G . SECRETARY then read the Report of the Board of Benevolence for the last quarter : — "Amount of Relief granted by the Board of Benevolence in the months of June , July , and August , 1857 . " Wednesday , June 24 , 1857 , W . Bro . S . B . Wilson , J . G . D „

in the chair . —Seven petitioners relieved to the extent of £ 51 . " Wednesday , July 29 , 1 S 57 . W . Bro . J . B . King , P . J . G . D ., in the chair . —Five petitioners relieved to the extent of £ 50 ; and a recommendation from the Lodge of Benevolence to relieve the widow of a Brother of Lodge 391 , Whitley , to the extent of £ 50 . " Wednesday , August 26 , 1857 . W . Bro . H . L . Crohn , G . See . for German correspondence , in the chair . —One petition , which was deferred , the party recommending not being in attendance . W . Bro . LEVEAUP . G . S . B . moved that the report be adopted ,

, , and that the recommendation contained in it be acted upon . W . Bro STEPHEN B . WILSON , G . J . D ., seconded the motion . The motion was then unanimously agreed to . BOARD OF GENERAL TURrOSES . The G . SECRETARY next read the Report of the Board of General Purposes ; which was as follows : —

" To the United Grand Lodge of Free and Accepted Masons of ttngland . " The Board of General Purposes beg to report that a complaint was preferred by the Lodge of Benevolence , at its meeting on the 30 th of April last , against the W . M . of the St . Peter's Lodge , No . 607 , Wolverhampton , for having certified that a Brother , a petitioner for relief , had been a regular contributing member for the space of seven years , whereas the Lodge had paid contribution for that Brother for only two years and a half .

Bro . J . Fox Warner , P . M . of the Lodge , attended pursuant to summons on behalf of the W . M ., delivered the warrant and minute book of the Lodge , and explained the cause that had led the Lodge into error , the books till a recent period not having been very regularly kept . He expressed his regret that the Lodge had in consequence made an erroneous statement . The Board thereupon resolved that—although the proceedings of the Lodge at the time referred to appear to have been irregularly kept , yet as there was no evidence of a wilful intention of making a false statement—the

members of the Lodge should be reprimanded , admonished to be more cautious for the future , and that , after payment of the money admitted to have been received from the said Brother and which had not been remitted to Grand Lodge , the warrant should be returned . The Board have also to report , that a complaint was preferred by the Lodge of Benevolence against the Jerusalem Lodge , No . 233 , London ; for neglecting to visit the case , and also for not attending to support the petition of the widow of a late Brother . The W . M .

and See . attended the Board pursuant to summons ; and explained the reasons for omitting to visit the case , and also to attend at the Lodge of Benevolence . Prior to the decease of the Brother , he had removed to Salisbury , and his widow was still residing there . The case , though recommended by the Board , was consequently considered to be a country petition , and as such , not to require the attendance enjoined by the law relating to London ones . The Board thereupon resolved that the W . M . should be cautioned to be careful for the future to attend when necessary at the Board of Benevolence . " The Board have further to report that , pursuant to summons