The Late Contest For Secretaryship R.M.I.G.

added together give a total of 409 votes , ov 170 more than wero actually polled by all the Provinces together . The four we have taken at hazard , though not the most remote , are distant enough from the Metropolis to make attendance at Freemasons' Hall a matter of some labour

and considerable expense . Had proxies been admissible , all these might have voted at the cost of a postage stamp , but it was exacting too much of them to compel a journey to London and back from London for the purpose of signing a paper which thoy could as well have signed at home .

Or , as was suggested by one of our correspondents , a receiver of votes might havo been appointed for each Province , and the papers forwarded under seal to the General Committee for scrutiny and acceptance if duly filled in . But , whatever arrangement might havo been

made , it is obviously unjust to penalise a voter from an outlying Province to the extent of two or three pounds and the fatigue of a long journey , that he may exercise the same privilege as his Metropolitan brethren , whom it costs a few pence and a little trouble . If we take tho total number

of voters at 4 , 000—it may be more , or it may be less , for we have done enough in respect of figures for the sake of argument , and we have no mind to cast up the voters in the list of Governors , & c . —Ave shall find them apportioned between London and the Provinces in the ratio of

5 to 3—about 2 , 500 in London and 1 , 500 in tho Provinces . If we take the papers , spoiled and informal included , w e have about one-third of tho London constituency recording their votes , and one-sixth of the Provincial constituencies , a result which might well have been anticipated from the

system presently in force . Under these circumstances , it occurs to us that no time should be lost in amending the law . We know that at the last revision there was a very considerable difference of opinion ou this very question .

and now that we have had experience of the manner in which personal voting works , we think , in justice to the Provinces , the experiment of proxy voting should be tried . Even in such case London would have the advantage in

point of numbers , but as it is , this advantage is simply overwhelming . We shall revert to the subject at some future time .

Lodge Victoria In Burmah.

LODGE VICTORIA IN BURMAH .

OUR readers will have noted from a letter which recently appeared in our columns , that the unfortunate differences which for so long a time have prevailed in this Locige have not been terminated , but on the contrary , there seems to remain the same disposition as

ever to resist the mandate of Grand Lodge and keep the restored members , Bro . Vaillant and others , outside the portals of the Lodge . Wo aro nofc concerned very particularly about the nature of these differences . Whatever they my bo , however they may have arisen , thero can

be no question that had the instructions conveyed by Bro . Hervey to the W . Master been obeyed , the Craffc would have been spared a most unseemly exhibition of indiscipline , which , in our humble opinion , merits a most decided rebuff , if , indeed , ifc is not worthy of the heaviest punishment

which it is in the power of Grand Lodge to inflict . However , the authorities in Great Queen-street aro in a position to uphold their own dignity , and , come what may , G . Lodge will stifle , with justly fraternal sternness and most effectually , whatever feeble opposition this subordinate—or should we

rather say , this exceedingly insubordinate—Lodgo may raise . Orders are orders , edicts aro edicts , and it is the duty of the inferior to obey , unhesitatingly , whatever emanates in the shape of a command from his superior . This , of course , is a truism , and we take some discredit to ourselves for

having noted ifc with so much distinctness aud force ; but , in a case of this kind , force and distinctness are imperatively necessary . We must make it clear to our readers , that there is , and can be , no doubt whatever about the necessity—we will not condescend to use the Avord

propriety—there is for an absolute and unreserved obedience to the snpreme authority , for without it , as a correspondent remarked last Aveek , no system of Government is possible . Thus far have we spoken in general terms , Avhich are no

more applicable to Victoria in Burmah than to any other Lodge in the jurisdiction of the United Grand Locige of England . Let ns now comment on the special circumstances of this particular case—but briefly , or Ave shall disgust the majority of our readers . We have received a

Lodge Victoria In Burmah.

letter from tho W . Master of Victoria in Burmah , accusing ns of unfairness in commenting on a case , Avhich he says , is still sub jiiclke , but which , from our point of view , is determined . Well , some time since , we received a long and very elaborate letter , Avhich Avas mainly intended to bo a

defence of the other side of the question than that adopted by our correspondent , " A LOOSEII Ox . " Ifc Avas signed by the Past Master AVIIO , if AVO remember rightly , preceded the Rev . Bro . Marks in the chair . Our ideaof this letter Avas , ancl is , that it Avasa communication distinguished , if in any Avay ,

by its profound insolence of tone and contempt for all constituted authority . In support of this view , wo quote an early paragraph from tho letter in question . It is to this effect ; " I Avonder Avhat the members of the Cfrand Lodgo will say Avhen thoy discover thafc the appeal of Bros . Vaillaut

and others was entertained and disposed of in an unconstitutional manner . This perhaps may make the Grand Registrar ' s hair stand on end , but he must be prepared for this disclosure , and learn that ho is just as liable to bo deceived as any other human mortal " ( sic ) . Wo commend

this paragraph to our readers as tho most unmitigated specimen AVC have yefc seen or read of fraternal impudence . A simple W . M . of a subordinate Lodgo declaring an appeal to Grand Lodge has been disposed of unconstitutionally , A W . M . AVIIO has sworn to obey faithfully the edicts of

Grand Locige setting them at defiance , and that in the most outrageously brazen ancl barefaced manner ! Ancl then the Grand Registrar ' s hair—our special wag standing by remarks that Avhether tho learned and Very Worshipful Brother ' s natural hair or tho hair of his professional wig

is intended , does nofc liaivpear on the record ; but this is owing , no doubt , to tho confusion of ideas caused by the hot weather . Be this as ifc may , ifc Avould havo been moro respectful to the Grand Registrar to havo omitted all reference to his hair , legal or natural . He is capable

of forming a judgment on a simple matter of Masonic usage or practice , as Avell as on tho most intricate points of Masonic LaAv . His decision in this case has been fully and unanimously endorsed by Grand Lodge , and it Avould better have become the recalcitrant members of Victoria in

Burmah had they accepted afc first and Avithout reservation Avhat they will bo compelled to accept ultimately on peril of being excluded once and for ever from their Masonic rights and privileges . Our opinion is , that no appeals , no subsidiary statements should be even listened to , until tho

present W . Master of the Victoria Burmah Locige , No . 832 of Rangoon , has obeyed the orders transmitted to him in December lasb by our respected Grand Secretary . Let him observe the solemn oath he has taken in open Lodge on the

occasion of his installation , and receive the UOAV unjustly excluded brethren again into his Lodge ; ancl when he has done these things , then , if ho desires it , let him respectfully approach the snpreme authority in Grand Lodge , and make Avhatevcr presentment he may choose to make .

As to the origin and circumstances of tbe quarrel , AVO have received a most elaborate statement , covered Avith pencil comments of great variety , and mostly uninteresting . Wc neither know nor care anything about the origin ,

etc ., etc ., of these unseemly squabbles . What Ave mean to do , and Avhat Ave have done , is simply to uphold the authority of Grand Lodge , and tho sneers and objections of the recusant brethren of Victoria in Burmah havo more than ever confirmed us in this resolution .

The Annual Meeting of the Masons of the Province of Conrwall will bo held on Tuesday , the Gth August next , at the Masonic Hall , Redruth . Prov . Grancl Lodo-e Avill be opened at 10 a . m ., and the business of tho Province will

be transacted . Among tbe items on the agenda paper is the dedication of the Masonic Hall of the Druids' Lodge , No . 589 , to Masonic purposes . At 12 o ' clock , the brethren will proceed to Church , Avhere a sermon is to be preached by the Rev . Frederick J . Wintle , Prov . G . Chaplain .

HOLLOTVAT 3 PILLS . —Tlio ehiofost wonder of modem times . —This incomparable Medicine increases the oppetite , strengthens the stomach , cleanses the liver , corrects biliousness , and prevents flatulency , purifies the system , in vis 01 '" ates the nerves , and re-instates sound health . The enormous demand for thoso Pills throughout the globe astonishes everybody , and a single trial convinces to

the most sceptical that , no medicine equals llijUoway's Pills in its ability rem vc all complaints incidental to the human race . They are a blessing to tiio atflicted , aud a boon to all who labour under internal or external disease . Ihe purification of the blood , removal of all restraints from the secretive organs , and gentle aperient action are the prolific sources of the extensive curative range of HoUo'vay ' a Pills ,