The Jurisdiction Question.

prove disloyal to the arrangements she made with England when her independence was recognised by the Grand Lodgo of the latter . If , as every one seems to think , the union of these three Lodges with the Grand Lodge of Quebec is only n , question of time , what possible advantage can result from seeking to precipitate the inevitable ?

As with the majority of the articles on this subject which we have been privileged to read in our American contemporaries , Bro . Ramsey ' s paper contains several suggestions and assertions , but nothing whatever in the shape of an argument . Thus , " these ' English' Lodges have

been treated with leniency and courtesy " by the Grand Lodge of Quebec , which is nothing more than the members of one Masonic body have a right to expect from those of another . They are an " anomaly , " in which respect they must resemble an oyster , which " has a beard without

a cbm , and you take it out to tuck it in . The members of the " English" Montreal Lodges havechins aswellas beards no doubt , but that Bro . Ramsey may have his way , they must be " taken out " of the fold of the G . Lodge of England

before they can be " tucked in to that of the G . Lodge of Quebec , Then " they stand aloof from their natural guardian and defy her wishes . " Though there is "no cause " for it , there is an " estrangement on the part of our English brethren , " and this " really places tbe matter in a

worse light . " They persistently refuse " to accept the olive branch of peace extended to them by their brethren of Quebec with whom they constantly associate in the other Masonic Bodies . " " Clemency has been tried with them to the utmost extent . " They work in the jnrisdiction of

Quebec , " not only contrary to her wishes , but in direct defiance of her Constitution . " " Since 1869 " they have " studiously avoided every effort at reconciliation , peace , and -unity . " These , we presume , are what Bro . Ramsey regards as " arguments . * " we look upon them as so many

" statements , " without foundation in the case of most of them , and with a very questionable one in that of the remainder . A brother who had Bro . Ramsey ' s article before him , and knew nothing whatever of the real facts , would not unnaturally come to the conclusion that the English

Montreal Lodges , or rather their members , were the very reverse of reputable , though even he admits they are " socially " and " financially " as good as many who belong to the Grand Lodge of Quebec . But what are the real facts ? For a triune " anomaly , " they are at least

respectable as far as age goes , St . Paul ' s , No . 375 , having been warranted in 1824 , St . George ' s , No . 440 , in 1836 , aud Sfc . Lawrence , No . 640 , in 1854 . They are , therefore , respectively forty-five , thirty-three , and fifteen years older than the Grand Lodge of Quebec . When Canada

separated itself from England , and set up a Grand Lodge of its own , they elected to remain under the banner of England , as—to use Bro . Hughan ' s emphatic expression—they had the Masonic ricjht so to do . " What is more , the exercise of this undoubted " Masonic right" was

made one of the conditions precedent of England ' s recognition of Canada and , ns such , was accepted by the latter . To go one step further , in 1875 England offered to recognise Quebec on the same condition . But the part is more ambitious and less well versed in the true principles of

Freemasonry than the whole , and what , a quarter of a century ago , Canada did loyally and at once , Quebec , though an offshoot of Canada , and morally—we might almost venture to say legally—bound to observe the ob- ligations that Grand Lodge contracted at its recognition '

hy England , declines to do . Thus the three English Lod ges in Montreal are not claiming to exercise any new rights or privileges beyond what they have enjoyed during the whole period of their existence . They do not stand aloof from their guardian and defher wishes "

y because Quebec is not "their natural guardian . " They nave not persistently refused " to accept the olive branch of peace . " They claim to continue under the banner of England , at the same time they are ready to live in peace a nd amity with their brethren of the Quebec Lodges , and

we have Bro . Ramsey ' s own testimony to the fact that * J " gladly meet them in fche Royal Arch Chapter , the receptory , and other Masonic organisations "—why ne should go out of the way to particularise " the Royal ^ rch Chapter , " when the two elder Lorleres have

, Chapters attached to them , wc know not . They do not JJ . dtl , e consent of the Grand Locige of Quebec , a body of fu ^ existence till fifteen years after the youngest them was constituted , to exercise their Masonic func-10 D s * They will only renounce their allegiance to England

The Jurisdiction Question.

and join Quebec , when they are minded so to do . They cannot " scornfully reject every overture of peace , " for the best of all reasons , that they have never been engaged in any war , uor , for the same reason can they , "since 18 C 0 , have studiously avoided every effort at

reconciliation , peace , and amity . " "Reconciliation " means a return to a state of friendship ' from a state of discord , and where there never has been " a state of discord" there cannot possibly be anything like a " reconciliation . " The right thing for Bro . Graham to do is , to leave matters to

take their proper course . Doubtless , the much-wished consummation will come in time , but , we repeat , this is clearly a case in which "force is no remedy . " We are convinced

that any attempt to excommunicate theso Lodges would have no other result than to postpone indefinitely , if not to destroy absolutely , whatever chance there may be of their union with Quebec .

Freemasonry In Rhode Island.

FREEMASONRY IN RHODE ISLAND .

THE Ninety-second Annual Communication of the Grand Lodge of Rhode Island was held in Masons' Hall , Providence , on the 15 th May , under the presidency of M . W . Bro . Thomas Vincent , Grand Master . Most of the Grand Officers were present , together with Past Grand Masters Johnson , Ballon , Doyle , Van Slvck , and Freeman .

and the representatives of a majority of the Lodges in the jurisdiction . The Grand Master ' s address , which is given in full in the Freemasms' Repository , contains little that is of interest to the outside Craft beyond the announcement that , though the number of members is not so great as it was

the year previous , yet , in Bro . Vincent ' s opinion , Freemasonry had gained in strength what it had lost through mere numerical decrease . Much work had been accomplished during the year , and the Lodges , generally speaking , were in a highly flourishing condition . Six brethren are noted

as having died within tbe year , two of whom had been members of the Craft for somewhere about fifty-seven years , while a third was initiated in February 1851 , and , therefore , had been a Mason for over thirty years . All these had attained to a ripe old age , the youngest being

seventyseven years , and the oldest eighty-seven years of age . The annual accounts of the Grand Treasurer and Grand Secretary were submitted and passed , and 200 dollars were appropriated to the use of the Committees . Bro . George M . Carpenter jun ., who had been recently elected a iudee

of the Snpreme Court of the State , and had acceptably filled the office of Deputy Grand Master during the past year , having declined re-election , Bro . Lyman Klapp was chosen in his stead , the Grand Officers for the year being as follow , namely . *—Bros . Thomas Vincent Grand Master ,

Lyman Klapp Deputy Grand Master , James M . Davis Senior Grand Warden , Robert S . Franklin Junior Grand Warden , Clinton D . Sellew Grand Treasurer , Edwin Baker Grand Secretary , Rev . Henry W . Rugg Grand Chaplain , Benjamin A . Reynolds Senior Grand Deacon , William H .

Perry Junior Grand Deacon , Forrest A . Peck Senior Grand Steward , Edward F . Anthony Junior Grand Steward , Dexter B . Potter Graud Marshal , Fayette B . Bennett Grand Sword Bearer , John Potter Grand Pursuivant ,

Stillman White Grancl Lecturer , William R . Greene Grand Musical Director , Ebenezer B . White Grand T yler . There appear to be thirty-five Lodges in the jurisdiction , subdivided into five districts , having each seven Lodges , the membership being in round figures some 3 , 750 brethren .

Union Chapter, Rose Croix.

UNION CHAPTER , ROSE CROIX .

A meeting was held on Tuesday , the 23 rd May , at tbe Masonic Hall , Charch-street , Georgetown , British Gniana . 111 . Bro . Joseph Klien 31 M . W . Sov . There were also present 111 . Bros . Captain Portlock Dadson 32 , Colonel E . W . Irnlach 30 , Lt .-Colonel Daly 30 ; E . Bros . Dalcon , Van Eeden , McGowan , and Bro . M . Bugle , of tbe Albion Chapter , Enstbonrne . Bro . D . C . Cameron P . M . was duly perfected in the 18 th degree , ancl 111 . Bro . Captain W . Portlock Dadson 32 was elected as M . W . Sovereign for the ensuing year .

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