Ar00200

described as " vigorously championing " a cause against its opponents , and the adoption of low abuse of those opponents as a mode of attack . We pointed out that so long as a case is arguable no one need hesitate about upholding it , and all who honestly believe that Quebec is rig ht and England wrong in the controversy now unfortunately existing between the two Grand

Lodges—though we are not of the same mind as they—will always have our most sincere respect . It is not an argument against the course pursued by the Grand Lodge of New York to assert that that body has sold its principles for the price of a jewel , presented by the GRAND MASTER of ENGLAND to the representative of his Grand Lodge at the Grand Lodge of

New York . Such an allegation is an offence against decency , and is likely to prove far more injurious to Quebec than to England and those Grand Lodges in the United States which uphold its views . But we need not pursue this matter further . We can hardly bring ourselves to believe that the Toronto Freemason has erred through ignorance , and we have no alternative , therefore , but to consider its disregard of the proprieties as

deliberate . # . # BUT , setting aside these differences of opinion between ourselves and our Toronto namesake as to what constitutes amenity , which appear to be altogether irreconcilable , we must permit ourselves to demur to its statement

that " the Grand Lodge of England is now—and has ever been—a disturbing element in Canadian Masonic affairs . " If our abusive friend will be at the pains of reading up its Masonic history , it will quickly discover that its statement is without foundation . Canada derived most of its Masonry originally from the Grand Lodges of England . About 30 years since the

relations between the Grand Lodge of England and its lodges in Canada became unsettled , with the result that the latter set up an independent Grand Lodge of their own , while the former unhesitatingly acknowledged such independence on condition that those of its lodges which elected to remain under its banner should do so without let or hindrance . Canada has

honourably observed , and still recognises the justice of , this condition , so that , as regards this particular Grand Lodge in Canada , England has been a disturbing element , not always , but at one epoch only , and then she intervened in Canadian Masonic affairs—so far as the English lodges were concerned—by virtue of her supreme authority as Grand Lodge . She is

not now a disturbing element towards her former subordinate , for they are on friendly terms , and exchange representatives . So also stands the case between the Grand Lodges of England and Nova Scotia , there being an English lodge in the territorial limits of the latter , with which the Nova Scotian brethren are on visiting terms , So might it

have been the case between those of Quebec and England . The latter offered to recognise Quebec , on precisely the same condition as it had recognised Canada , that is , if the wish ot its lodges in Montreal to remain under its banner was respected , but Quebec , though necessarily aconsenting party to the compact with Canada when it was a part of Canada , would have no

such compact with itself and it is now anathematising our Grand Lodge , because the latter is acting consistently with the policy which it has always observed , and the justice of which was once admitted by Quebec when it was a part of Canada . How , in the name of common sense , we ask , can England be the disturbing element in Canada when it is merely defending

its position from the assaults of the Grand Lodge of Quebec , is on friendly terms with all the other Grand Lodges in British North America , and exchanges representatives with those of Canada , New Brunswick , Nova Scotia , and British Columbia ? Our Grand Lodge is quite prepared to allow or acquiesce in what the Toronto Freemason calls " Masonic home

rule , " but it will not permit itself to be either bullied or frightened into forcing the said " Masonic home rule " on certain of its lodges which decline having anything to do with it . We may reasonably assume that the Anglo-Montreal Lodges are the best judges in respect of a policy which will affect

them so nearly , and they apparently will have nothing to say to the «• Masonic home rule " so violently proffered them by the Grand Lodge of Quebec , their junior by many years . Thus it is not they or we in England who are " the disturbing element in Canadian Masonic affairs , " but Quebec itself which has brought about the present imbroglio .

# *» WE have already referred at some length , and in sufficient detail , to the loss the Craft has sustained through the deaths of Bro . J . PEARSON BELL , M . D ., P . G . D ., D . P . G . M . North and East Yorkshire , and Bro . E . C . MATHER , one of the House Committee of the Girls' School . But it seems

the sad tale is not completed , for , almost at the moment of going to press , the mournful news reaches us , firstly , that Bro . CHARLES GREENWOOD , P . G . S . B . of England and Deputy Provincial Grand Master of Surrey , died suddenly on the 28 th ult ., and then that Bro . J OSHUA NUNN , P . G . S . B ., died the following day . Both these brethren have played their part most

honourably in the various positions they have held at different times in Freemasonry , Bro . CHARLES GREENWOOD ' greatest distinctions having been achieved daring the many years he acted as Provincial Grand Secretary of Surrey , while the great scene of Bro . NUNN ' labours was the Board of Benevolence , of which he was President at the time of his death , having

previously filled in succession the chairs of Senior and Junior Vice-President . Such a conjunction of losses as it is our sad duty to chronicle this week is almost calamitous , and it will be some time before the places , so long , so ably , and so honourably filled by our late brothers , will be occupied

by Masons ' of as great ability and worth . As regards the late Bros . GREENWOOD and NUNN , time does not permit of our doing more than tendering to their relatives , friends , and brethren of intimate acquaintance our sincere and respectful sympathy : the particulars of their Masonic services must be reserved till next week .

Provincial Grand Lodge Of South Wales.

PROVINCIAL GRAND LODGE OF SOUTH WALES .

The annual meeting of the Provincial Grand Lodge of South Wales was held 011 Wednesday , the 22 nd ult ., at Penarth , under the banner of the Windsor Lodge , the local Masonic association . The lodge was opened at the Penarth Hotel about 3 . 30 , at which time there was a large and influential gathering . The Deputy Prov . Grand Master , Bro . Marmaduke Tennant , conducted the early proceedings , and subsequently the R . W . Bro . Sir George Elliot , M . P ., D . C . L ., invested the officers for the ensuing \ 'ear

as follows : — Bro . J . Hurman ... ... ... ... Prov . G . S . W . „ J . C . Sladen ... ... ... ... Prov . G . J . W . ,, Canon Walters ... ... ... Prov . G . Chap . „ William Williams ... ... ... Prov . G . Chap . „ H . White ... ... ... ... Prov . G . Treas . „ H . N . Davies ... ... ... ... Prov . G . Reg . Tnhn Toner . ... Prnv fr . 9 pr ¦ ¦—

, , . 1 j •- •••. . . •••» . * .-. — - — . „ D . E . Jones ... ... ... ... Prov . G . A . Sec . „ Clay ... ... ... ... Prov . G . S . D . „ G . B . Hughes ... ... ... ... Prov . G . J . D . „ Clay ... ... ... ... Prov . G . S . of W . „ A . Hussey ... ... ... ... Prov . G . D . of C , „ G . Deane Burdett ... ... ... Prov . G . D . of C . „ H . Taylor , 2 37 ... ... ... Prov . G . Swd . Br .

,, James Hughes ... ... ... Prov . G . Std . Br . „ J . C . Vye-Parminter ... ... ... Prov . G . Std . Br . „ J . E . Deacon ... ... ... ,.. Prov . G . Org . „ Hawkins ... ... ,., ... Prov . G . Purst . „ Harris ... ... ... ... Prov . G . A . Purst . ,, T . W . Jones ... ' ... ... ... -N „ D . L . Davies ... * ... ... ... ( Prov . G . Stwds . „ C . Page ... ... ... ... ) „ G . Bullerwell ... ... ... ... Prov . G . Tyler .

The report of the Provincial Grand Lodge Committee and the Treasurer ' s accounts were passed . Votes of 25 guineas each to the Boys ' , Girls ' , and Benevolent Institutions were passed , and a like sum to the Provincial Educational Fund , A sum of five guineas were voted to the testimonial being raised for Bro . Binckes , who , for several years , has ably filled the office of Secretary to the Boys' School .

Votes of thanks having been passed to the Charity Stewards , and to the Windsor Lodge for receiving the Provincial Gran d Lodge , a sum was placed in the hands of the W . M . of the lodge for disbursement among the local Charities .

The lodge was then closed , and the brethren afterwards sat down to a banquet , provided by Bro . Wain at the hotel , and at which Sir George Elliot presided . The members of the Penarth Lodge in attendance were : Bros . A . Boelte , W . M . ; R . C . Roper , S . W . ; F . G . Hodger , J . W . ; W . D . John , Treas . ; T . H . Belcher , Sec ; John Rees , S . D . ; S . D . Churchill , J . D . ; J . A . Sedden , Org . ; T . H . Sinking , I . G . ; John Guthrie , P . M . ; B . Arthur , P . P . G . S . D . ; T . Robson , P . M . ; W . H . Fry , P . P . G . S . ; A . Jenkins , H . Snell , J .. David , H . Frazer , jun ., J . L . Bidout , and Carl Hansen .

The following visitors were also present : — Bros . S . Lewis , W . M . 157 S ; H . Tavish , 1992 ; T . S . Lloyd , 36 ; C . W . Page , 3 G ; J C . Sladen , P . M ., P . P . G . D . C ; J . R . Davies , P . M . ; T . Harris , W . R . Saunders , R . D . Page , J . Hussey , W . M . Bute ; Walter Nicoll , 36 : W . C . Peace , P . M ., P . P . G . S . W . j Fred . Watkins , G . D . Burdett , P . M . ; T . H . Williams , D . Williams , H . White , John Ballinger , Thomas Evans , W . Hughes Morris , J . G , Vyc-Parminter , W . M . ; G . B . Hughes , I . P . M . ; and Owen .

The officers of the Provincial Grand Lodge present , besides the Prov . Grand Master , Sir George Elliot , Bart ., M . P ., and Bro . M . Tennent , Dep . Prov . Grand Master , were—Bros . S . Cooper , G . S . W . ; Thomas Walters , Chaplain ; William Williams , Chaplain ; E . H . Lloyd , Treasurer j John Hemming , Treasurer ; John Jones , Secretary ; W . D . Wiltshire , D . C . ; W . L . Hawkins , Grand Pursuivant ; George Bullerwell , Tyler ; and the following P . G . Stewards—Bros . S . Coleman , James Hughes , and H . Taylor .

Also the following Past Provincial Grand Officers : —Bros . J . L . Lewis , P . M . G 51 , P . P . G . Org ., Steward for the Boys' School ; W . C . Peace , P . P . G . Supt of Wks ., Steward for the Girls ' School ; George Thomas , P . P . G . Supt . of Wks . ; H . M . Bradford , P . P . G . Supt . of Wks . ; W . D . John , J . R . Davies , T . Matthews , George Allen , W , Whittington , J . C . Sladen , D . C . Jones , J . Hurman , John Rogers , and R . Capper . Likewise the following visitors : — Bros . F . Binckes , Secretary R . M . I . B . ; S . G . Homfray , Deputy Prov . Grand Master Mon ; R . B . Evans , J , H . Taylor , A . P . Fabian , P . P . G . S . W . Hants ; George Hazel , P . G . P . Mon . ; S . Davies , Past G . J . W . Mon .

Provincial Grand Lodge Of North And East Yorkshire.

PROVINCIAL GRAND LODGE OF NORTH AND EAST YORKSHIRE .

Filey was invaded on Wednesday , the 22 nd ult ., by an assemblage of Freemasons from all parts of the North and East Ridings , who had been convened to hold their annual gathering for the transaction of general business . During the forenoon each train landed a contingent of blackcoated gentry , armed with suspicious looking cases and bags , who all made

their way as fast as possible to the Spa Saloon , where the members of the local lodge had made preparations to receive their visitors . Here there were rooms for robing and other purposes , whilst in the Saloon itself there was a dais erected for the Provincial Officers , and seats in the body of the room for the rank and file . At 12 was held the meeting of the Board of

Benevolence , presided over on this occasion by Bro the Rev . Henry Greeves , and at which several grants were made to necessitous Masons and widows of deceased brethren . At one o ' clock a special train brought the Earl of Zetland , whose appearance was the signal for the brethren to take their places . A procession of the officers of Provincial Grand Lod ge was formed , and entered the lodge during a flourish of trumpets , and after the usual prelimi-