Annual Communication Or The Grand Lodge Of Canada.

. presentative . to the Grand Lodge of England , confidently anticipates that his acknowledged ability , coupled with the great zeal whicli he has ever evinced in the cultivation and promotion of our divine art , will ensure a continuance of that Masonic progress and prosperity which has so eminently distinguished the government of his illustrious predecessor , the Most Worshipful the Earl of Zetland .

It was -moved by M . W . Bro . W . M . Wilson , seconded by . M . W . Bro . T . D . Harington , and unanimously Resolved , —That the retirement ofthe M . W . the Earl of Zetland from the exalted position of Grand Master of ¦ the Grand Lodge of England , affords an opportunity of which the Grand Lodge of Canada hasten to avail

themselves—to express the regret which they , m common with Masons everywhere , feel on his resigning a position , the duties of which he has ever ably and impartially discharged , and at the same time to express their admiration and appreciation of the great ability and unwearied zeal displayed by his lordship during the twenty-six years in which he so worthily occupied the Masonic throne , and

also to assure our Most Worshipful brother that , in retiring from the chair , he carries with him not only the profound esteem and fraternal regards of this Grand Lodge , and of the Craft generally , but also their earnest aspirations that the Great Architect of the Universe may - crown his declining years with peace , happiness , and prosperity .

It was moved by M . W . Bro . W . M . Wilson , . seconded by M . W . Bro . Simpson , and unaniamously Resolved , —That engrossed copies of these resolutions , under the seal of this Grand Lodge , be now prepared , and that the M . W . the Grand Master be requested to ¦ . irward them to the distinguished brethren referred to herein .

R . W . Bro . W . A . Manning , D . D . G . M . of the Grand Lodge of New York , and R . W . Bro . Holwell , P . G . J . W . of the old Provincial Grand Lodge of Canada West , were introduced and were invited to scats upon the dais .

Afternoon Session . Grand Lodge having been called to order , the President , on behalf of the Board of General Purposes , submitted its report upon warrants , which , report , on motion , was received and adopted . R . W . Bro . Dr . Austin , Grand Secretary of the Grand Lodge of New York , was introduced , saluted

with Masonic honours , and took his seat upon thc dais . The debate upon thc resolutions offered by the Board of General Purposes on the Quebec question was continued . Thc first resolution was then put and adopted , with but few dissentients . V . W . Bro . T . White

moved the second resolution , when It was moved in amendment by W . M . Bro . M . W . Wilson , seconded by M . W . Bro . T . D . Harington , " That the Grand Lodge of Canada , although still adhering Io the couclusions ' conlained in the first and second clauses of the report adopted at the special emergency

meeting held at the City of Montreal , on thc 1 st of December last , but having no desire to assert sovereignty over a province in whicli the majority of the lodges , and so large a majority of tlie brethren have already declared their desire for separation , and actuated by the true spirit of Masonry , hereby recognises thc Grand Lodge of Quebec

as a sister Graud Lodge , and cordially extend to her the right hand of fellowship ; reserving , however , full control and authority over those lodges in the Province of Quebec which still desire to continue their connection with the Grand Lodge , and requiring also on their behalf a full recognition of all tueir ri ghts and Masonic . i privileges . "

In moving the amendment , M . W . Bro . Wilson stated that he entirely concurred in thc first resolution ; he had always maintained , and did so still , that Quebec was an occupied territory at the time of the formation of the so-called Grand Lodge of Quebec , and that that formation was illegal . He ,

• however , was in favour of allowing thc Grand : Lodges of the world to be arbitrators in this matter , and as several of them had declared in favour of Quebec , he was ready to extend recognition . * ' * M . W . Bro . Harington briefly supported thc views bf M . W . Bro . Wilson .

' M . W . Bros . Simpson and Bernard spoke effectively against the amendment . One of their ¦ strongest arguments being , that by extending recognition to the so-called Grand Lodge of Quebec , even on the ground of expediency , they would be doing an incalculable injustice to those lodges in the disaffected province who had remained true in

. -. . their allegiance . After a few remarks from R . W . Bro . Tully , the the vote on the amendment was taken , which was lost by a very large majority . In the evening the brethren were entertained at a magnificent banquet at thc St . Lawrence Hall . The

room was splendidly and tastefully decorated with ; flags and banners , and with the bannerets ofthe - different Masonic Orders . Thc band ofthe ioth ( Royals occupied the orchestra , and two tables , cx-¦ tending the entire length of thc room , with a cross -stable - -at thc head , were liberally filled with thc

Annual Communication Or The Grand Lodge Of Canada.

good things provided by the hospitality of the Toronto brethren . Upwards of six hundred Masons sat down , the cross table being occupied by R . W . Bro . Kerr , D . D . G . M . Toronto District , in the chair , the M . W . the Grand Master , M . W . Bro . Bernard , P . G . M ., and a number of other

influential members of Grand Lodge . The good things having been disposed of , the usual loyal and Masonic toasts were given and enthusiastically responded to , and an exceedingly pleasant evening was spent , the company separating about midnight . ( To be continued ) .

Masonry In America.

MASONRY IN AMERICA .

SEMI-CENTENNIAL OF OLIVE BRANCH LODGE , LEROY , N . Y . ( Continued from page 413 . } "The Masonic history ofthe late war , were it possible to write it , would abound with the most thrilling instances of fraternal recognition and brotherly intervention when the fallen brave have been left to die , but have been

rescued for decent burial , or for a final recovery , and a happy restoration to the fond endearments of home . Members of this Fraternity , whether in the Union or Confederate cause , have been equally true to their Masonic obligations and teachings wherever they have recognised evidence of distress . This has been ( lone in a thousand

ways , and in entire harmony to real or supposed duties to which allegiance may be due . "You will pardon me in giving you an example to illustrate the wonderful power of the principles of Freemasonry , so far as it relates to the nature and charms of the Masonic obligation , when exercised over the baser passions of the human heart , even when charged with the

bitterest hatred and violence . It occurred in a seaport town in Florida in 1 S 63 . An officer in the navy of the Union had died—he was a Mason . His brother officers desired to bury him with our solemn riles of burial . One of the officers , an intelligent Mason , landed on shore and soon entered a Confederate town in search of a place of burial , and being guided by a rebel brother , he soon

found a cemetery ; but was informed there was no spot of soil in Florida vile enough to receive the brother . ' You are here to destroy our property , burn our homes ; you are our enemies , and we will net grant your request . ' The brother replied , ' I am a Freemason , I am your brother , and as such we cannot be enemies , for we are brethren ; and as such I come to you to discharge a solemn

vow made to him who can no longer plead for himself . ' They received that brother within the tiled precincts of their lodge , wherea proper and most scathing examination satisfied them of his Masonic claims . Reason and the noble dictates of conscience resumed their rightful sway in the minds of these excited brethren , and his request was granted . The grave was dug in their burial ground , and

the body landed , attended by thc officers of the ship . But ere those loyal soldiers reached the spot of earth , they were met by a Masonic procession composed entirely of rebellious brethren , who united with them in their march to the grave , and thc Master of their lodge performed the Masonic burial services . In this instance , as in : housands of others , how completely did ' brotherly love' overcome

and disarm political hate . How beaittifullydid the enemy disappear in the brother . What a sublime illustration of the power and puiposes of Masonry ! A parallel cannot be found on the page of history . " Again , as citizens and as the sons of one common country , who are decreed henceforth and for ever to live under the same laws and to work out the same destiny , it

is of thc first importance that we , set about to restore completely the old feeling of comity , which will unite us as one people throughout the length and breadth of our country in sentiments of filial affection and kindness . One of the noblest and most valuable lessons whicli the impressive rites and traditions of our Order teach us is the lesson of the brotherhood of men ; and one of the most

common and frequent results of Masonry is the active practical acknowledgment of this brotherhood in the ordinary transactions of evcry-day life . "It needs no exhortation from a voice so humble as mine to urge you to the exercise of this duly . A voice more clear , distinct , and potential is ever falling on our listening ears . Thc solemn , stately tones of tradition ,

coming down in slow , measured , and far-off , but eloquent accents ftom the dim veiled heights of thc remotest ages , is with you constantly wherever you go , silently but powerfully impelling you to the performance of quiet but noble deeds of brotherly love and kindness . " It is not of our obligations to these duties that I would speak . But I would call the attention of thc world

outside the walls of our mystic temple to the silent , unostentatious , but powerful auxiliary which Freemasonry is to civil society , and to the national Government , in bringing about a return of kindly and brotherly feeling between all the people of these States . Words are inadequate to express the impoi taut and beneficent effects of an Institution like this of ours , at such a time as this , upon society

at large in circumscribing and keeping in due bounds the angry passions ofthe hour , in inculcating forbearance and moderation , and in reviving old ties of brotherhood . "Brethren , when the people of the true God were released from captivity by Cyrus , and returned to Jerusalem to rebuild His Temple , many of our ancient

brethren , actuated by the same spirit of piety and zeal for their art whicli has' governed the order , went up with them , and voluntarily contributed their skill and labour in that glorious and noble undertaking . "That piece of work was not for them , but for the whole people of the children of Israel . Their work was unselfish

Masonry In America.

and performed without the expectation or hope of reward . And when the magnificent structure , decorated with the choicest works of Masonic skill and art , raised its sublime proportions to the approving Heavens , amid the grateful rejoicings of thousands of the worshippers ofthe true God , and was again dedicated with solemn ceremonies to His service , they quickly returned to their accustomed

associations in other departments of their art . " As our ancient brethren did then , so we are now called upon , at the return of our ' kindred and kin . ' from the Babylon of civil war , which has laid in one utter and complete ruin the finest portion of our land , logo up with our Masonic implements in hand to aid and assist in rebuilding the social , political and moral temple of American

institutions , like those of old , Freemasons comes to this work disinterestedly , and unselfishly . "They ask no reward , but the consciousness of having done their duty . They seek no personal renown or publicity . They bring to the work the invaluable treasures of skill and science , with which a knowledge of the mysteries of our art has endowed them , and of which they

alone are the possessors . And as it was before , so it will be again , when the glorious structure of American Nationality shall tower in unequalled splendour to the heavens , and as the Temple of old , excelled in beauty and magnificence all other structures , so this shall excel all the nations of the earth , in the strength and majesty of its dimensions , the excellence of its design , the purity and justness of its proportions , the beauty and magnificence of

its decoration , and when the eyes of the whole world shall be turned to look upon it with admiration and reverence , and the children of every clime shall come to dwell under the protection of its triune flag ; it shall again be recorded that the strength and solidity of its workmanship , the rectitude and uprightness of its angles , lines and columns , and the beauty and splendour of its ornaments , were due to the quiet , noiseless labours of the noble Giblamites nf our Order .

" I should be untrue to every principle of Masonry were I to close without saying a word directly and earnestly to those whom every Mason regards as the highest ornaments of society , the dearest and most cherished objects of every true man ' s regard , and the most holy and precious gifts of God to man , but to whose eyes our mystic circle is and must needs be , an invisible : and unapproachable veil . I

address you , ladies , m no idle spirit of unmeaning flattery , which would be unworthy of you , and ill-fitting the occasion , but in that true spirit of friendship and devotion which Freemasonry teaches us to cherish and maintain for the pure and spotless name of woman . Respect for her position and sphere , admiration for her many superlative charms , reverence for those higher and holier feminine

qualities of faith , truth , affection and devotion in which she so pre- eminently excels man . Many of you have a pardonable curiosity to know at least the nature of that employment which steadily draws your husbands and fathers and brothers from their homes , and in which you arc debarred from having any participation , and some of you who are just a little more curious , entertain grave

doubts , astowhetherthat occupation which will not admit of your presence , can be of the most beneficial or moral tendency . It is to oppose those doubts , anxieties , and to better answer those natural distrusts , that ocaasions like the present arc especially devoted . If there are any here to-day who entertain these or similar doubts , I respectfully ask them to ponder and carefully consider what I now utter . There are but two other more sacred and

holy associations in which a man can be placed , than those around the altar of Masonry . The first it at the fireside of his wife and family , the other is around the altar of religion . Know then , ladies , that when we are taken away from our homes and from you , iu the faithful discharge of our Masonic obligations , that we go conscious in the reflection that we are building up by the genial arts of

Masonry a wall of living arms , and warm and brotherly hearts around our loved ones at home , which will ever be an impregnable rock of protection and security to them , a retreat and refuge in the time of bereavement and trouble , which will be as lasting as life and as omnipresent as the clouded canopy of heaven , and as true and vigilant as the sleepless stars of the night .

" The change of half a century , in Masonry and in this country , has been most exraordinary . Our cherished institution , then comparatively in its infancy , with here and there a solitary lodge , now numbers its lodges by the thousand in every portion of our land . When this lodge was instituted , Western New York was almost an unbroken wilderness . In the eloquent words of Webster , " the

same waters roll at our feet , the same heavens still shine above us , but all else how changed . " Then our country was as compared with other nations of the earth , weak and feeble in its commercial and financial resources ; today it stands not only a masterly model for all other governments , but the strongest and most powerful government in the world . " Our fathers laid thc foundations of our Masonic and of

our political structure , and wc have built thereon the institutions which have blessed and made us so happy as a people . Neither are yet complete . " It is for each generation to declare by its work whether this noble undertaking shall be accomplished . " Forty years ago Masonry had its trial , and the question of its preservation was propounded by its enemies ,

and was answered by its friends . These aged and venerable brethren , who are here with us to-day , helped in their firm devotion and adhesion to Masonry , to give that answer , they have lived to see their attachment to Masonry vindicated , approved and justified in thc complete overthrow and dispersion of their enemies . Be

assured you have the warmest approval and commendation of those of us upon whom will soon devolve the solemn and imposing duty of reviewing your falling mantles , for thc same inflexible integrity that distinguished and made memorable the virtues of the ' Tyrian King ' may thc remnant of your days be peaceful and serene , no