Contents.

CONTENTS .

LIADSKS IJ ; United Grand Lodge 138 CORRESPONDENCEThe Election of Grand Treasurer 141 United Grand Lodge and the Grand Lodge of Illinois r 4 i

Reviews 141 REPORTS OP MASONIC MEETINGSCraft Masonry , 142 Instruction 143 Royal Arch 144 Mark Masonry 144 Red Cross of Constantine 144 Ancient and Accepted Rite 144 Cryptic Masonry 144

Contents.

Grand Imperial Conclave of the Masonic and Military Order of Rome and of the Red Cross of Constantine 144 Royal Masonic Institution for Girls 145 Installation of the Duke of Abercorn as G . M . of Ireland 14 s

Masonic Charity in West Lancashire 145 Annual Festival of the Emulation Lodge of Improvement 141 ; The Recent Festival of the Royal Masonic Benevolent Institution 146 Ohituarv 146 Masonic and General Tidings 147 Lodge Meetings for Next Week 148

Ar00101

As will be seen from our report elsewhere , Bro . D . P . CAMA has been elected Grand Treasurer for the ensuing year . Bro . CAMA , in all his Masonic relations , always has borne himself most worthily . He has received' Lodge and Prov . G . Lodge honours , and now the climax of his ambition—as of every other worthy Mason—has been attained , and a few weeks hence he

will be decorated with the purple of Grand Lodge . We very heartily congratulate him on his election , and through him that very numerous contingent of Indian and Anglo-Indian brethren , with whom he was associated during his earliest Masonic experiences . We will add , too , that Grand

Lodge has paid a graceful compliment to our Eastern and Colonial brethren generally by its choice of Bro . CAMA . There has always been an abundance of zeal in our lodges abroad—and now there will probably be more than ever , when it becomes generally known amongst them that even Grand Lodge honours are within their reach , both practically and theoretically .

WE have not seen for many a day a more gratifying provincial report , or one that discloses more solid substantial work successfully carried out in the cause of Masonic Benevolence , than that of the West Lancashire Masonic Educational Institution for the past year . From whatever point of

view we regard it , the result must be equally satisfactory . If we look at the comparatively limited sphere from which the funds are raised , we cannot fail to be struck with the exceeding and unwearying generosity of the contributors . The number of children who are assisted out of its funds is very great , and the benefit they must derive , both actual and prospective ,

almost incalculable . Lastly , it is difficult to imagine how the income of the Institution could be more judiciously or more economically administered , every precaution being taken to insure that the recipients of its bounty shall be in all respects worthy of help ; while the costs of management are exceptionally small . A brief sketch of the year's financial proceedings

will show this . The balance in hand on ist January , 1885 , was ^ 584 17 s . 7 d . ; and the receipts for the year amounted to £ 2494 14 s . nd ,, making a total of £ 3079 12 s . 6 d ,, the different items of receipt beingannual festival and ball in January , . £ 300 4 s . 2 d . ; interest on bonds and mortgages and bank interest , £ 772 2 s . 7 d . ; donation from the

Provincial Grand Lodge ^ 210 ; donations and subscriptions from lodges , brethren , & c , £ 1062 2 s . 2 d . ; repayment on account of mortgage , . £ 150 ; and returned Income Tax and insurance , £ 39 73 . 3 d . The expenditure was £ 143 2 18 s . 8 d ., of which ^ 1344 2 s . 6 d . was paid for the education , clothing , maintenance , and advancement of 168 children , and

the remaining £ 88 16 s . 2 d . for printing , stationery , and postages , office furniture , insurance , and cheque books . The balance in bank and in hand on the 31 st December , 1885 , was ^ 1646 ; 13 s . iod ., which , added to various bonds and other investments of the aggregate value of £ 17 , 728 7 s ., gives a total of assets to the credit of the Institution amounting to a small fraction

over ^ 19 , 375 , or between £ 900 and £ 1000 in excess of what it was on the corresponding day of the previous year . A comparison with the figures for 1884 shows a substantial increase in the receipts of about ^ 175 , an increase of nearly £ 33 —of which £ 12 12 s . was for office furniture—in expenses of administration—that is , printing , stationery , & c . ; an increase in the number

of children benefited from 161 to 168 , and a decrease in the cost of benefit of nearly £ 181 . All this fully substantiates what we have said already as to the generous kindness of our West Lancashire brethren , and the admirable manner in which the funds of this Institution are administered . We must further point out that the Masonic Educational Institution is only one

out of several associations of a cognate character in this province , and that each of them in its special sphere is as well supported and as well adminis ^ tered . Our readers will , no doubt , join us in saying , "Well done , West Lancashire , " and to the provinces which have no such organisations , " Go and do likewise . "

Ar00102

THE course pursued by the Grand Lodge and Grand Chapter of Quebec towards England reminds us of the inconsiderate conduct of certain folks we occasionally meet with in society and elsewhere , who think their manhood will suffer some loss of dignity if they do not intervene in every conversation they chance to overhear , and , whether the subject matter concerns them or

not , insist on forcing their opinions on those whom they are momentaril y in contact with . These are a decidedly objectionable class of people , and oftentimes—indeed , mostly—as ignorant as they are uncouth and overbearing . If Quebec will kindly mind its own business—that is to say , will look to the administration of its own laws among its own people—things will go smoothly

enough in Montreal , and wherever else English and Quebec brethren are likely to encounter each other . Unfortunately , the Grand Lodge of the latter is so eaten up with vanity , and so impressed with the belief that some grievous calamity will befal the Masonic world if it does not make its presence felt in quarters where its presence is sure to be the reverse of

welcome , that the hope of its ever leaving other people alone is long past praying for . It is no good attempting to argue with the Quebec authorities , for if there is one thing more than another which they abominate it is argument ; the sheer brute force of insolent assertion they love , but argument they detest . It is no good appealing to their common sense , for they

have none , neither do they understand and appreciate the virtue of silence , for , in their opinion , silence in the presence of bold , unscrupulous assertion is nothing else than a sign of weakness . We heartily wish this were not the case , nor is it any fault of ours if Quebec , having flung itself into conflict with a heavier and more reputable body than itself , finds it is somewhat

rudely shaken , and its toes severely trodden upon . As our readers are probably aware , there are three English lodges in Montreal which were con . stituted before Canada had a Grand Lodge , and when our Grand Master the Earl of ZETLAND agreed to recognise the independence of the Grand-Lodge of Canada , he very properly stipulated , and the Grand Master of

Canada agreed most readily , that the wishes of all the lodges which preferred remaining in their old allegiance to joining the new Grand Lodge should be respected , the Grand Master of England further undertaking not to grant warrants for any new lodges to meet within the limits of the jurisdiction exercised by the Grand Lodge of Canada . The stipulation has been

honourably kept by both parties , but the Grand Lodge of Quebec , which was originally composed of lodges seceding from the Grand Lodge of Canada , and which in 1875 England was prepared to recognise on precisely the same condition as it had recognised Canada , declined to accept such condition , and as a consequence the Grand Lodges of Quebec and England

have never exchanged representatives or held official intercourse with each other . Quebec has always had a soul above conditions , and what is infinitely more to its discredit , a soul above such paltry considerations as those of honour . It had no scruple about appropriating to itself its due proportion of the " assets" — so to speak — of the body of which till

then it had formed a part . But assets and liabilities , as they range on opposite sides of the account , must not be dealt with in the same fashion . The former , when they confer a benefit , may be lawfully appropriated ; but the latter , if they entail the observance of an obligation , must be repudiated . The Quebec lodges , seceding from Canada , derived all their

reputability either from the latter or , through it , from England , and this they readily enough accept ; but the obligation contracted in their name , and on their behalf , by their former Grand Master with the Grand Master of England is declined severely . Hence , since 1875 they have tried , first persuasion , then abuse , then threats , and , lastly , excommunication , in order

to induce our English lodges m Montreal to give up their connection with their mother Grand Lodge . But the more they have tried , the more signally they have failed ; and now they have the hardihood to suggest that the three Anglo-Montreal lodges are to blame for the strained relations existing between Quebec and its lodges , on the one hand , and England and its

lodges , on the other . As we have said before , all will be well if Quebec will have the kindness to mind its own business ; but for the Grand Master of Quebec to say , as he is reported in the Montreal Daily Star of the 27 th January to have said at the last annual Communication of his Grand

Lodge , that " the situation is grave and calls for the united wisdom of Grand Lodge , " and that "our sovereignty , " which has never been in the slightest danger , " must be maintained at any cost , " is—to use a common , but most expressive , phrase—sheer rubbishj that and nothing else .

* * * THE Grand Chapter of Quebec has out-Heroded Herod . While the Grand Lodge of Quebec has modestly limited its sentence of excommunication to our three Anglo-Montreal lodges , the Grand Chapter has excommunicated the Supreme Grand Chapter of England and all its belongings . This proceeding on the part of so small a body reminds us of the familiar anecdote