The Provinces.

brought , against him-were groundless . They might say that tho charges were made under a false impression ; but with the facts he hail mentioned beforo them , surely they could not maintain that they were groundless . So much for that part of the resolution . They were next called upon to declare their confidence in Lord Zetland ' s "just and impartial administration . " He could not consider , even admitting that political considerations had never guided him , that Lord Zetland's administration had been just and impartial , as he would endeavour to point out in a few words . He did not think that

there was much justice or impartiality in appointing Lord Durham to office , he never having filled a Master ' s chair , as was required by the Book of Constitutions . Then again , there were the Deacons and other officers , if they were not appointed by the Grand Master or Deputy Grand Master he could not explain the manner of their appointment , unless it was conducted by a clique who selected them from a few favoured Lodges , with which they were themselves connected , and who inflnueod the Grand Muster in the business . It was invidious to mention names—but why wore men like Lord Carnarvon

, Bro . Beach , Bro . Best , or Sir Edmund Lechmere , and others , never offered office ? He did not know that any of these Brethren would have accepted office ; but still its not being offered was a flagrant instance of the want of impartiality , and if they said that Lord Zetland was not to blame , they could only come to ' the conclusion that he did not act for himself , but allowed himself to be guided by evil counsellors . Again , he could not endorse the statement that the administration of the affairs of the Craft was impartial , when he could scarcely recollect a single case where a resolution brought

forward by an independent member of Grand Lodge , was not opposed by the executive . The first time he spoke in Grand Lodge was to second the motion of Bro . Spiers for the publication of a pocket edition of the Book of Constitutions , of which up to that time a largo portion of the Brethren were in ignorance . That was opposed by the executive on the ground that if men became acquainted with the Constitutions , it would lead to greater discussion in Grand Lodge . He ( Bro . Portal ) next brought forward ft motion , that a paper of the business should bo placed in the hands of each member of Grand

Lodge as he entered the room . Before that time they had been kept in ignorance of the business to be brought before them until they were called upon to decide upon it . This too was opposed upon the same ground by the executive . Why , what was Grand Lodge for if not for discussion ? Well , that was carried , and then Lord Carnarvon ,

being desirous that the country Brethren should know what business was to be transacted in Grand Lodge , moved that the business papers should be circulated amongst them prior to the time of meeting . That motion was also opposed by the executive—by those by whom the Grand Master was surrounded , and it was with difficulty carried —so that it was owing to the exertions of the independent members that they were now acquainted with the business to be transacted in Grand Lodge before it was brought forward . Then came the crowning monstrosity—the secession of the Canadian Lodges . That large

province was lost to Masonry , solely owing to the neglect of the Grand Master , and yet they " were now asked to express their confidence in him . Fourteen years ago , when tlie Grand Master was called to power , Canada was a large and flourishing province ; and now , in 1858 , at the utmost there were but two Lodges which acknowledged English authority . The Board of General Purposes had investigated the matter , and they found that the neglect was not in the Grand Secretary ' s office , but that the memorials of the Canadians had been before the Grand Master for months

withmany out his taking any notice of them . Now , would any man of business say , that because he could not grant all the requests made to him , that the best way of treating communications was to leave them entirely unanswered ? The resolution before them next called upon them to pledge themselves to support Lord Zetland in his rightful authority . Of course rightful authority should be supported ; but might there not be some danger of tho " rightful authority of others than the Grand Master—the rightful authority of Grand Lodgebeing threatened ? Why , no sooner was any resolution displeasing to

the executive brought forward , than they advise the Grand Master not to put it to Grand Lodge , on tho plea that it was against the ancient landmarks . The Book of Constitution declared Grand Lodge to be the governing power—the supreme authority rested in Grand Lodge , and not with the Grand Master . He could give them an instance how that authority was sot aside . At the Juno meeting of Grand Lodge , two years since , he ( Bro Portal ) in order to allay the feeling existing amongst the Canadians , moved a resolution , expressing tho opinion of Grand Lod that the colonies should have the

ge power of virtually appointing their own Prov . Grand Masters , subject of course to the approval of the Grand Master , but Lord Zetland refused to put tho resolution to Grand Lodge , on the plea that it was opposed to the ancient landmarks . Yet two years afterwards his lordship made the very concession which he had declared to be opposed to tho

ancient landmarks . His lordship had changed his mind , but only when it was too late to be of any use . It was like a physician , who having prescribed a wrong medicine for a disease , afterwards altered it , but only when it was too late , tho patient being already too far gone . They all knew , that concessions which would at one time have satisfied all reasonable complaints , often became worse than useless by delay . Then let them look at the question of the right of adjournment of Grand Lodge . Bro . Warrenwhom he was glad to see

-, ^ pre sent , maintained that Grand Lodge—if it could not finish the business in one evening , had the right to adjourn for a week or fortnight , but the Grand Master ruled the reverse , and at the following meeting , Col . Burltou and others , amongst whom was himself , claimed that they ought to have the right of adjournment , and brought forward a substantive motion on the subject , but the Grand Master refused to put it , as being against the landmarks . So that in fact the Grand Master filched away the privileges of Grand Lodge , and arrogated

them to himself . Now , on the last occasion of the meeting of Grand Lodge , Sir Lucius Curtis brought forward a vote of confidence in the Grand Master , and though the Book of Constitutions declared that no motion could be made without previous notice , was allowed to put it to the Brethren . The Prov . G . Master— "No ; not allowed to put it . The Grand Master called Sir Lucius to order , but the acclamations of the Brethren drowned his protest , and it was through those acclamations it

was pnt . " ( Cheers ) . Bro . Portal continued—He was not so much complaining of the motion being allowed to be put , as contrasting it with what took place at a later period of the evening , when some impertinent letters , which had been addressed to Bro . Harrington , in Canada were laid before Grand Lodge . These letters had " embittered the feelings of the Canadians , and were regarded by Bro . Harrington as personally offensive . Now anything more impertinent than these

letters ho had never read , and those with whom he acted wished to express their opinion regarding them . They maintained that when papers were laid before Grand Lodge , they should be allowed to express an opinion upon them ; but they were not so allowed , on the ground that they had not given notice of motion , though they had the precedent of Sir Lucius Curtis that evening ; and of ' Lord Panmure and others , on previous occasions , for bringing forward motions upon papers before Grand Lodge without previous notice . In the face of

these facts he would gladly join in a resolution of sympathy with the Grand Master uuder the attacks made upon him , in the fullest confidence that they were unfounded : but believing that the rightful authority of Grand Lodge was in greater danger than that of the Grand Master , he would rather cutoff his right hand ' than hold it up for the motion as it stood . ( Cheers ) . Bro . Spires , D . Prov . G . M ., looked upon that meeting as one of the greatest importance to the whole Craft . He could not agree with the opinions expressed by Bro . Portalthough he was gratified to

, hear that Brother express his sympathy with the Grand Master under the attacks to which he had been subjected , and upon which it behoved that Grand Lodge to express an opinion , as an impression had got abroad that the province of Oxford was in some decree mixed up with an opposition from which the attacks had emanated . He was sure that they would be glad to hear both sides of the question before arriving at a decision , iu which he trusted they would be unanimous . He had some experience in Grand Lod ge , of which he had been member fourteen

a years , for during the whole of that period he had not missed attending tho quarterly communications upon more than three or four occasions . During that time his memory extended over many similar attacks made upon tho Grand Master . First they had Bros . Dr . Crncefix , Lee , Steavens , Whitmore and others , who indulged in attacks upon the Grand Master and his supporters . There had been little guerilla fights with Bro . Scarborough and othersbut he considered the attacks now made to be of

, a more mischievous and dangerous character , because thev wore supposed to emanate from men of education and hi gh position in society . It was therefore incumbent upon them to take notice of them , and acting according to their conviction , if they believed the charges to be unfounded , to express their opinion to that effect . In the first portion of the motion before them , they desired to express their sympathy with the Grand Master under the groundless attack recently made upon him , and having taken that step , to express their confidence in his and their determination

lordship , to sustain him in his rightful authority . They were not met to consider whether the Grand Master had given office to persons of his own political opinions but whether it was true that he had prostituted the powers of his high office to political purposes . He looked upon it as a verv different thing to say that Lord Zetland had given office to wings , and to say that ho had prostituted his powers to the purposes of tlie whig party ( Hear , hear ) . He had observed for many years the appointments which had boon made in Grand Lodge ; he believed that they