The Grand Lodges Of England And Quebec.

evei' , of waiting for this consummation to follow as a matter of course , the authorities called upon them to enrol themselves under its banner , and tho Grand Lodge of Scotland retaliated by revoking its recognition , aud went so far as to grant a warrant for the erection of a new

Lodge in the jurisdiction of the Grand Lodge of Quebec . Quebec met this by issuing an interdict forbidding all intercourse with the Montreal Scottish Lodges . In the end , the Grand Lodge of Scotland consented to its daughter Lodges becoming constituent members of the Grand Lodge

of Quebec , and the latter at once cancelled its interdict , so hat amicable relations now exist between the two Grand Lodges . While , however , we hail this result witb the greatest satisfaction , we retain our opinion that Quebec

was wrong in not continuing to recognise a state of tnngs whioh had existed without serious difficulty for a round decade of years . At the same time we consider the course pursued by Scotland was not in all respects , and especially in chartering a new Lodge in foreign territory , worthy of

its old and firmly-established reputation . We now turn to the case as between England and Quebec , which is in all respects save one identical with the one we have just considered . England had stipulated for the freedom of its Lodges to remain in their allegiance

so long as they were desirous of remaining , and , in our opinion , and for the reason we have already indicated , this freedom should have been religiously respected by Quebec . Doubtless the dignity of the latter was somewhat shorn of its fullest proportions by certain English . Lodges proposing

to remain in their old allegiance ; but in Freemasonry , of all institutions in the world , there should be freedom within the just limits of the interests of the Craft for existing Lodges to join a new confederation or remain as they were . This view , however , does not seem to have

commended itself to Quebec , whicb evidently considers this question of jurisdiction of greater importance than tbe freedom , within the limits we have prescribed , of

individual Lodges . Accordingly , in a letter dated 21 st March 1880 , Grand Master Graham addresses , in courteous language , to the Prince of Wales , as Grand Master _ of England , a statement in which is contained the following passage : —

Yonr Royal Highness is doubtless aware that there still exist in the city of Montreal , within our Grand Lodge jurisdiction , three Lodges of the English constitution , and over them a Brother seemingly performing the duties of Provincial Grand Master . I therefore respectfully submit to Tour Royal Highness , as Grand Master , and to the Grand Lodge of England , that the Grand Lodge of Quebec ,

considers the continued existence of these Lodges within her territorial jurisdiction as a violation of her rights as a duly constituted Graud Body , contrary to the long-established practice prevailing among most of the regular Grand Lodges of the world , and subversive of the harmony , unity and prosperity of the Craft . And while we are aware that it is held by some in England that daughter Lodges

situated in distant parts of the Empire , even wherein Grand Lodges have been of right formed , should bo upheld in their continuance under the Mother Grand Lodge as long as they may desire , instead of being fraternally given to understand that they should loyally give their adhesion to the Sovereign Grand Lodge of their own Province or Colony , or return their warrants to the Grand Lodge from whence

derived ; it appears tons , M . W . Sir , that if brethren entertaining such opinions could fully appreciate the painful experience of the Grand Lodges of Canada and Quebec , during the past quarter of a century , resulting from the existence of these imperia in imperiis , they would either be induced to accept and act upon the doctrine of exclusive Grand Lodge Sovereignty , —prevailing throughout North

America and elsewhere , —or they would favour the speedy adoption of a wiser course to be pursued toward snch Lodges which are ever endangering and so often disturbing the peace and harmony of the Craft , both at home and abroad , and thus causing International Masonic discord and alienation ; and I need not assure Your Royal Highness that it gives me much pain to be compelled to communicate

to you , as Grand Master , and to the Grand Lodge of England , that of in the recent unwarrantable invasion of the jurisdiction of the Grand Lodge of Quebec , by the Grand Lodge of Scotland , in establishing in addition to its one Lodge heretofore existing , two new private Lodges , and organizing « . Provincial Grand Lodge within this Province , acts justly receiving world-wide condemnation , and which , in cival affairs ,

would be deemed to be acts of treason and rebellion against the lawfully constituted sovereignty ; that in these most nnfraternal and unconstitutional events , the chief representative officer of the Grand Lodge of England , and the principal officers of these English Lodges here , have actively participated , and with seeming pleasure , continue to aid and abet these attempts to resist and subvert the lawfull y constituted sovereign Masonic authority within this Province .

To this , under date of lOfch August following , our Grand Secretary replied , in phraseology which is somewhat loose , \> ut accurate as to tbe main facts , as follows : — I have duly laid before the Grand Master , your letter of the 31 st March , in which you request thafc the three Lodges at present hold-

The Grand Lodges Of England And Quebec.

ing under this jurisdiction in Montreal , should be transferred to that of the Grand Lodge of Quebec . In reply , I am directed by His Royal Highness to refer to my predecessor ' s letters of the 31 st March ' 75 , and 6 th Doc . ' 77 , and

to remind you that it was expressly stipulated at the formation of the Grand Lodge of Quebec , that the threo Lodges in question shonld continue under the jurisdiction of England—aud His Royal Highness regrets that he cannot now deviate from an arrangement whicb was made and fully acquiesced in at that time .

Nothing daunted by this rejection of his case , Bro . Graham returned to the charge in a letter dated lGfch December , in Avhich he reiterated his opinion , and re-avgued the point at greater length in a manner to which no exception can be taken on the score of courtesy or , from the Quebec point of view , ability . Thus argues Bro . Graham : —

Your Royal Highness will graciously permit me farther'to say , that even if the views held by some in England , as to the right , by prior existence , of private Lodges of England constitution to a continuance at will within the jurisdiction of our Grand Lodge , were to be consi . dered correct , can it be possible , M . W . Sir , that the said Lodges for

such reason are to be upheld and maintained by the Grand Lodge of England , after they have deliberately and repeatedly , and for a long series of years , violated and set at naught the first principles of the English constitution , the constitution of the Grand Lodge of Quebec , and of the whole fraternity , as wo affirm that they have done , and

still continue to do , to the manifest injury of our Grand Lodge and Grand Chapter , and most detrimental to the welfare of the Craft here as well as imperilling the international peace and amity of the fraternity . Would the Grand Lodge of England itself tolerate , or long consider as regular , private Lodges of exterior or other

constitution , and situated within the geographical limits of England , committing such and such like acts ? I trow not , M . W . Sir , but , on the contrary , I am of the opinion that in such a case , the Grand Lodge of England would consider ifc her duty fraternally to require that auy Grand Lodge which had constituted said private Lodges ,

should either recall their warrants , or , failing which , the Grand Lodge of England would doubtless take such steps as would put such Lodges beyond the pale of her own recognition and , if possible , that

of all other regular Grand Lodges . And would it be wise , prudent or desirable , M . W . Sir , that the Grand Lodge of Quebec shonld , in self defence , be driven to the disagreeable necessity of exercising , in like manner , her sovereign prerogatives ?

He then urges strongly , in the following vein : — Knowing the great interest which Your Royal Highness , as Grand Master , takes in whatever pertains to the highest welfare of the Craft , not only in England but in every part of the Empire , and having had the strongest possible proof of the deep interest of Your Royal

Highness in our new Dominion , Masonically and otherwise , the Officers and members of the Grand Lodge of Quebec fondly hope and confidently expect that now , under Your benign reign as Grand Master of England , all these difficulties will be happily removed , and a new era of unity , harmony and interjurisdictional amity will be

inaugurated . To strengthen our hope in the early realisation of these things , we are of the opinion that Your Royal Highness , together with your eminent advisers in Grand Lodge , will hesitate to affirm that the policy of the past , auent the continuance of private Lodges at their will , in distant dependencies of the Empires wherein ,

like our own , a Grand Lodge has been opportunely and constitutionally established , is at all times and at all hazards to be perpetuated , especially when it is shown that the maintenance of such an imperium in imperio is detrimental to tho peace , unity and good governance of the Craft , producing Masonic

anarchy and chaos , and even imperilling , if not really threatening to break off altogether , the happy international relations , which we , as true and loyal Freemasons , desire for ever to subsist between our young Grand Body and the mother Grand Lodge of England . We are of tbe opinion also that Your Royal Highness , as Grand Master ,

will not deem it well that the dissent of a few score of brethren here , presuming on the support of the Grand Lodge of England , while acting as if a law unto themselves , shall be further allowed to run counter to the wishes and aspirations of thenty thousand loyal brethren throughout the Dominion , who are in practical

sympathy with the Grand Lodge of Quebec in this matter , the more especially as such dissent is to the great detriment of the Craft both at home and abroad , and prevents our establishing those strong and intimate international Masonic relations with the venerated mother Grand Lodge of England , which it is our earnest desire to have and perpetually to maintain .

Ifc would have been better , perhaps , had there been an absence of what many may construe as a threat thafc Quebec might take ulterior proceedings and endeavour to compel the English Lodges to enter its jurisdiction ; but knowing the views which Quebec holds on this subject , we

cannot say we shall be surprised if it seeks to enforce its views in the same manner as it has done against Scotland . We shall deplore it , because we think ifc better to let things

take their course , and because we believe the English Lodges are most likely to resent any such attemp t , especially when their Grand Lodge has taken the precaution to stipulate for their freedom .

AXR . GLADSTONE and tho WINE DUTIES . —J . E . SHAND & IVl . CO ., Wine Merchants , 2 Albert Mansions , Victoria Street , London . S- W ^ . beg to inform numerous inquirers that tlie letter received from the PREMIE " in reply to their questions on this important subject appeared in "The Times and "Daily News" of 26 th January 1881 .