Grand Lodge.

narvon , with what feeling must Grand Lodge have received the speech of Bro . Havers ? For himself he was positively astounded . No inconsistency could be greater than that of a man recommending the adoption of a course the legitimate result of efforts which he ( Bro . Binckes ) and those with whom he acted had constantly exerted , but which had on all occasions been opposed by Bro . Havers with the whole weight of his marvellous abilities . Bro . Havers : " No , no . "

Bro . Binckes : Bro . Havers says " No , no . " Is he determined to question all my statements in Grand Lodge ? Is my veracity a thing of nought' ! I appeal to your own records for proof of the correctness of my statement , which I maintain is in every respect consistent with fact ! ( No , no . ) Precipitancy may have been justifiable in those who had uniformly advocated the rights of the Canadian Brethren , and who had pressed their grievances with a view to their remedy , hut it was another thing with those who

had as uniformly ignored them , and who nowp ; oposed concession only because it was unavoidable . There was no one more anxious than himself for the recognition of the Grand Lodge of Canada , but he did wish that so important an act should be performed with due deliberation , and invested with all the dignity and solemnity of which it was susceptible . He sincerely trusted that they might long maintain amicable relations with that body , destined as he believed it was to become one of the brig htest stars in the masonic

firmament . Bro . Gregory : — " Most Worshipful Sir , as an independent member of Grand Lodge , I cannot help expressing my astonishment that those who have heretofore advocated the claims of the Canadian Brethren , should now resist a proposition so graceful and so noble as that which has proceeded from your lordship . It is not for us to go back to the past history of Grand Lodge , or to past disagreements . We ought to endeavour to heal all

bygone animosities . In all that has been urged against your lordship ' s motion , I have been unable to discover any practical reason why it should not be carried . It had been urged that the interests of the Lodges which still remain faithful to the Grand Lodge of England will be prejudiced by precipitancy ; but I

cannot admit that for a single moment . Most Worshipful Sir , I feel sure that , being in possession of all the facts , you would not bring forward the motion which you have brought forward to-night , unless you were confident that the interests of those whom you have to defend were properly secured . I entirely approve of the addition which Brother Havers proposes to make to the motion . I am at a loss to account for the opposition to this motion , which is now raised by those who for months and years have been

contending for this very thing , when as yet the time was not ripe for its performance . You had announced that you would he ready , so soon as unity was restored in Canada , to hold out the right hand of fellowship to the United Grand Lodge of Canada . Now , we have before us , this evening , no new facts . We have simply the " official" notification of that which has been long known . Why then should we wait for more " solemn" deliberation ? I demand some reason . As to the charge made against Bro .

Havers , that Brother has never opposed the recognition of Canada , though he has seen difficulties in the way of it . Look at the inconsistency of those Brethren who place themselves in systematic opposition in this Grand Lodge . Why , the fiius Achates of the noble lord who places himself at the head of those Brethren has , this very ni ght upon the notice paper , substantially , and almost verbally , the same as your lordship ' s motion which he is opposing . Now supposeMost Worshiful Sirthat you had not

, p , brought forward this motion which you have introduced this evening , I want to know whether Brother Portal really would have brought forward the motion which stands on the paper in his name ? My lord , it is time that these dissensions should cease from among us . It is time that Grand Lodge should decide whether it will have and obey a head and chief , or whether its peace shall be continually and pertinaciously disturbed . In the name of that fraternal good will which ought to characterize all

our proceedings , I pray Grand Lodge to support your lordship in the motion now under consideration . " Bro . the Rev . G . R . Portal said that the phrase used by the enthusiastic Brother behind him ( Bro . Gregory ) was none the less offensive to those who knew the Latin language , because it was

expressed in that tongue . What the Earl of Carnarvon had said was , not that he was opposed to the recognition of the Grand Lodge of Canada , but that he was , under the circumstances , opposed to its being recognized on the present occasion . As to the motto of bis dat qui cito dat , which had been quoted , there was a great difference between habitually travelling by a goods train and embarking all at once on a runaway engine . The question ought not to be decided till the documents were before Grand

Lodge . He did not know what there might be in the Grand Secretary ' s desk , or in tbe pocket of the Grand Master ' s confidential adviser —; fidus Achates , if he would not think the term offensive . He could see no cause for this mighty bustle all at once , and should move , as an amendment , " That this Grand Lodge declines to decide upon the recognition of the Grand Lodge of Canada till it has further information , and an opportunity for more mature deliberation . "

Bro . Hearne seconded the amendment . Bro . Slight opposed it . It was beside the question to say that they waited for those papers . All they waited for was the official intimation , which the Grand Master had informed them was received yesterday . Some Brethren had spoken of being " astonished ; " he had been " astonished" to find opposition to a ' motion like tin ' s . He had expected that it would have been carried unanimously . He felt sure that the Canadian Brethren would

be astonished to find their recognition opposed by Brethren who had for years expressed themselves anxious that such a recognition should take place . ; Bro . Portal had said that this was not the proper time for the recognition , and yet he had the following motion on the paper for that evening : — " That in the opinion of this Grand Lodge , the interests of Masonry will best be promoted by the recognition of the Grand Lodge of Canada , and that it respectfully requests the Most Worshipful Grand Master to take

the necessary steps for establishing Masonic relations with that body . " Bro . the Rev . G . R . Portal : " It does not say ' immediate ' recognition . " A Voice : " That ' s a quibble . " ( Laughter . )

Bro . Slight : "The Grand Master asks no more than Bro ^ Portal asks , in the motion which he has deliberately placed on the paper . " Bro . Whitmore condemned the unseemly haste with which a step was now proposed to be taken , which Bro . Portal , in common with others , admitted to be desirable . He wanted to hold out the right hand of fellowship , and not the left hand Bro . Savage agreed with the statement of the last speaker , but

disputed his deductions . He agreed that they should hold out the right hand of fellowship and not the left hand , but he thought it would be holding out the right hand if they recognized the Grand Lodge of Canada at once ; but that it would be only holding out the left hand if they put it off any longer . In fact it would not only be holding out the left hand , hut it would be giving the cold shoulder . Bro . Gole asked how they could afterwards secure the rihts

g of Lodges adhering to the Grand Lodge of England , after the unconditional recognition of the Grand Lodge of Canada ? The Grand Master : " Brethren , I shall first reply to the question which has just been put to me , as to how we are to deal with and secure the rights and privileges of those Lodges who still act under the jurisdiction of the Grand Lodge of England , if we at once and unconditionally recognize the Grand Lodge of Canada . I ask how we are to secure those privileges if we do not

recognize that Grand Lodge . If a government does not recognize the existence of a new government in a foreign country , how can it send a diplomatic agent to that foreign country ? I am placed in a difficult and painful position . I have brought forward this motion after giving it my best consideration . I think I was ri ght in doing so . I hope I shall have the support of Grand Lodge . My great object will be very much marred if , when Grand Lodge goes to a division on the subjectthere should he any considerable

, minority . They would cause the recognition to go out to Canada with a very bad grace , and it would not be likely to be well received . It has been stated that I have been hostile to the recognition of the Grand Lodge of Canada . That is not the fact . Quite the contrary . I have considered it necessary to do all in my power