Freemasonry In Canada

of every Freemason on behalf of the oppressed . There is one question , however , to which we desire to direct the early attention of Bro . Graham and his friends :

the privileges under which certain English lodges now work in his newly-constituted province must be maintained unimpaired .

If any lodge in the dominion now working under the Grand Lodge of England wishes to surrender its ancient warrant for

one of modern date , it is at liberty to do so , but so long as any lodge prefers remaining true to its allegiance—so long as seven members of that lodge retain their charteV , the

Freemasons of England will uphold them with all the moral forces at the disposal of the Grand Lodge of England . The compact made between the Grand Lodges of Canada

and England must not be disturbed ; every lodge must be one of free men and Masonsfree to choose their rulers , and equally free

to loosen the bonds which unite them to England , should they desire it . And here we desire to add that from the Grand

Lodge of Canada , English Masons have received every courtesy . There is no bone of contention between us—on the contrary ,

we rejoice together in our mutual prosperity , and we sympathise with each other in the hour of distress .

There are many Canadian names enshrined in the thoughts and the hearts of English Masons : " McLeod Moore , " " Douglas Harington , " and " W . M . Wilson , " are

amongst the most prominent , and we are grieved to think that discord has invaded their pleasant plains , and that dissession reigns within their temples . As the organ of

the widespread English Craft , let us however implore them to use their great and merited influence at this important crisis in the history of Canadian Masonrv .

Ihc study of the past will show to those intelligent minds thatwhat is done cannot be recalled . We believe that the Grand Lodge of Quebec is an accomplished fact , and

bearing this in view , wc ask the brethren of " both provinces " to cease their unmeaning fulminations of expulsion , and to accept the inevitable result . They can still unite

together , paradoxical as it may sound , by agreeing to remain apart ; and at any rate thcinterestsof the Order can never be served

unless each party determines to practise tile simple but true maxim , " Forgive and Fomet . "

Multum In Parbo, Or Masonic Notes And Queries.

Multum in Parbo , or Masonic Notes and Queries .

CrtAVT KMl'Lr . M . s . It seems to me tli : it many Freemasons oi to-day fancy that the old Operative mason : ; wuv til- ' only Craftsman who depicted their tool .- ; upm

then' ilags , banners , or elsewhere , bv . l tnat is a mis ' . ake ; all trades used the implement ; of their craft as 'die badges el" their various trade :, as is repeatedly recorded in the 15 th ant ! 16 th century Burgh record ; of Aberdeen ; and in the Cathedra

of Ami-iis , where certain st uned glass whitlows were presented by certain trades , the implements or badges of these trades are depicted upon the dhiereiu windows . Again , many , no d-. nibt , suppose the compasses and square are the

especial badge of the Masons , but no : so , for lhe wrLlils , who use both practically , and the former probably much more than die masons , claim the compasses and square as part of their tradebadge or " coat-of-amis . " LEO .

Multum In Parbo, Or Masonic Notes And Queries.

" MASTER MASON" " CONSTITUTION . " Master Mason of Port Louis does not distinctly say whether his lodge is English , Irish , or Scottish constitution , had he clone so an answer could have been given to him at once ; however , if his lodge be any other constitution to that of Scottish

which he speaks as that of their now Right Worshipful Master belonging to , the proper and legal way is , that the party ought first to have affiliated , when he then becomes amenable to all the laws governing every other member of the lodge and also to all the privileges . CIPES .

' •' MONT ' RA AND " THEDOINGS OF GRAND LODGE OF SCOTLAND . " Montra's remarks are quite true , but'it seems that the Grand Lodge of Scotland ( or rather those in power ) can do anything they like , even

in violation of their own laws . I will just mention a recent case : a motion was tabled , in due conformity to the laws , for discussion at next Grancl Lodge Meeting , and after having been read for the approval or disapproval of the meeting , and had rib objections offered 'b y any

member present , had also the approval of the M . W . Grand Master , but this very motion by an arrangement of committee who had nothing tp do with it , was never printed in the billet of business- summoning the Grand Lodge , nor has it ever come before the Grand Lodge as it ought to have done . CIPES .

GRATUITOUS INITIATIONS . The laws of the Grand Lodge of Scotland clearly and distinctly prohibit " gratuitous initiations . " They say : — "The Grand Lodge interdicts and prohibits any gratuitous initiations into the

Craft , for Grand Lodge or other purposes , of members of Regimental Bands , or others . " Nothing is more plain . Some time ago a brother defended an action brought against him by the Master of the Lodge for recovery of the fees ,

" that as he was nearly connected with the press no fees were exigible from him . " It seems that he must have forgotten a most essential duty of Freemasons , and more especially that part of his

" O . B . " that makes him bound to the Grand Lodge laws , for they say in the section regulating fees : — " Neither shall payment of these sums , or any part thereof , be , on any pretence whatever , remitted or deferred . " CIPES .

" ANT 1 QUARIUS AND W . J . HUGHAN . I am much obliged to " Antiquarius " for so promptly answering my request , and inserting a copy of the certificate granted by the Lodge of •Antiqiiitv , No . 1 . It is highly probable that

this certificate was granted by the " time immemorial" Lodge Antiquity , then No . 1 , but now No . 2 . There were two lodges about the date of this certificate claiming similar rights and privileges , viz ., the old lodge itself , with ' which

Bro . William Preston was connected , and the other , supported by a few of the members of the original lodge who had taken the side of the Grand Lodge in the unfortunate misunderstanding that arose between that body and the

"Antiquity brethren about 1770 . Of course there may be two members of the same name , but it is now likely , and so in all probability the certificate in question belonged to the well-known

author of the "Illustrations of Masonry . The " Manifesto " of the Lodge of Antiquity was dated 16 December , 17 78 , but the commencement of die struggle was at the Festival of St . John the Kvaoc'dist , A . D . 1777 . \ V . J . HUGHAN .

IT is p--oposed loerecLa Masonic Hall in Glasgow , at a eosl 01 " about f , i 5 , . A GKi-. AT association of Freethinkers has been fcii'iiictl in Spain . The society has its own organ , published at Madrid , and called l . a Libertad del i \ -: iii \ nr . i : i ! o .

ll ' . o . EDWARD BUSIIKK , of Kendal , recently d ' elivered a lecture on ' •Wool , " at the Town Hall of th : U ancient burgh—the lecture was of a thoroughly practical character , and elicited the applause of a thoroughly practical audience .

To CoxsUMl-TIVES . —A grateful father is desirous of seiidi'i . g !>; . iiiill , five of cliKr . ge to all tybo wish ii , a copy of lhe prescription hy which his daughter was restored to perfect health from confirmed Consumption , after ha \ lug hee ' . i given up hy her physicians and despaired of hy her father , a well-known physicia . i , who has now discontinue' . ! pr : te : ice . Sent luany person free . —Address O . 1 ' . Drown , . Secretary , 2 , Kiii ^ -alrcct , Covcnt-yardcn , London , —[ Advt . l

Original Correspondence.

Original Correspondence .

The Editor is not responsible For the opinions expressed by Correspondents . UNIFORMITY OF RITUAL .

( To the Editor of The Freemason . ) SIR , —Being a subscriber to your paper from the first , I have taken great interest in the various subjects treated of in your columns , and amongst others that of the " Uniformity of Ritual , " and as a committee of Past Masters who are to consider the

subject is about to be formed , I hope they will not be selected entirely from among London brethren , as there are many excellent working Masons in the Provinces—notably those of Lancashire and Yorkshire—who ought to have a voice on the committee , but how are they to be paid for loss of time and expenses of travelling , and hotel charges while in

London ? Many of them are business men , and most of them are not overburthened with " worldly possessions . " It will be most unjust if they are not consulted ; in fact , the committee to be of any good should be an Oecumenical Council . Perhaps Bro . Stevens and his supporters will elucidate the subject in your pages . I am , Sir , A PROVINCIAL BROTHER .

( To the Editor of The Freemason ) . DEAR SIR AND BROTHER , —Now that there is a probability that the question of "uniformity of working" in all Lodges under English Jurisdiction , will have a chance of being seriously enquired into , it may perhaps be a propos to suggest another

question , which I trust will be deemed no less worthy of earnest attention . Those who are in the habit of visiting lodges and chapters , have of course observed how scanty are the number of officers who have even a moderate knowledge of the duties they have undertaken to

perform . Really good working officers are , "like angels' visits , few and far between . " Brethren aspire and succeed in being promoted to the exalted position of W . M . in the lodge , Companions are elevated to the highest position in the Chapter , and in but too many instances neither the

W . M . nor the M . E . Z . arc possessed even of sufficient knowledge to go through the ritual with anything like decency . Indeed , the chair is frequently vacated by those whose duty it is to be " well-skilled in the noble science , " to make room for a P . M . or P . Z . to officiate for them . I do not

wish to insinuate that brethren in those positions are not worthy , and in other respects able and intelligent men ; had they chosen to apply themselves to the task they undoubtedly would very readily have acquired all knowledge necessary to render their situation less equivocal . But why should they take

any trouble in the matter ? The solemn promise and declaration that " they are able and willing to undertake the management of the work of the lodge , " is given after the election—the election itselt of the Senior Officer lo the W . Master ' s chair is such a matter of course , defective working is so

complacently countenanced in almost every lodge , that apathy , and in some instances wilful neglect , become the real cause of the shameful inefficiency of those who ought to set a better example to the brethren they are supposed to instruct . To counteract this evil , some lodges have adopted the plan

of subjecting every candidate for the office of W . M . to an examination of his proficiency in the working of the ritual , and if every lodge and chapter were to pursue the same course , a great and highly important reform might thus be speedily accomplished . The question , however , is , will the plan be generally

acted upon ? 1 fear not . The prevalent impression among the brethren is that the officers must advance in rotation . In many cases , too , the W . M . is elected , as a matter of courtesy or feeling , "he is such a jolly good fellow , " or the reason assigned is "O he has passed through all the minor offices ,

we cannot do other than elect him , " al the same time , " we are fully aware of his incompetency . ' ' Similar reasons are advanced for electing persons to an office for which they are in no way qualified . 1 think it will be admitted that this is an evil of

some magnitude , to obviate which , 1 would suggest the establishment of a Ijtiard of Examiners , of course under the auspices of the Grand Lodge , consisting of well-known and experience-. ! Past Masters , and any brother aspirin ;; to liie Mastership ot a Lodge , to render him eligible , should , beside . ; the condition of "having served the office of Warden in a

regularly constituted Lodge for a period of twelvemonths , " also be bound to produce a certificate of efficiency , from the Hoard of Examiners . To render this scheme practicable , to each Provincial Grand Lodge a similar board might be attached . We may then hope to secure , if not " uniformity , " the imparlance of which 1 d . i sot underrate , but that which in my humble opinion is