Grand Lodge Of Canada.

GRAND LODGE OF CANADA .

The Grand Lodge of Ancient Free and Accepted Masons , of Canada , opened its annual communication at Montreal , July pth , in the Queen ' s Hall . Most Worship ful Bro . Wm . Wilson , L . L . D . ; Grand Master , occupied the chair , and

was supported by distinguished officers and members of the Craft , among whom were M . W . Bros . Harrington , Simpson , Stevenson , Seymour , D . G . M . ; Thomas White , the District Deputy ; and Grand Masters of the several Masonic

districts , and Grand Secretary Harris . Over 2 f } o lodges in Ontario , Quebec , and Manitoba were represented by delegates . After the Grand Lodge was opened , Grand Master Wilson read the following address , which was interrupted by frequent applause : —

Brethren of Grand Lodge : It gives me great pleasure again to meet the representatives of our lodges in this , our eig hteenth annual communication . The practice of delivering an address from the chair , introduced by myself at our first meeting , followed the example set us by

our Sister Grand Lodges 111 the United States , and has ever since been adhered to by the distinguished brethren who have so abl y discharged the duties of Grand Master in this jurisdiction . In the earl y period of the existence of our Grand Lodge , matters of government , points of Masonic

law , our relation with the Masonic world in general , and with other grand bodies in particular , together with innumerable matters of detail , afforded ample scope for consideration and discussion ; these , however , are now well understood and satisfactorily settled , and it appears to

me that the " Annual Address , " is now only useful as p lacing upon record the Masonic incidents of the past year , and for bringing under the notice of the Giand Lodge such topics as may be considered worthv of especial consideration , or

as requiring future legislation . Acting upon this view , anel declining to take advantage of my position to read to you a lecture on Masonry , I shall confine myselftoa brief detail of the Masonic events which have transpired since my le-election , after which 1 will introduce such matters as see-m

to me requiring your consideration . My attention having been directed to a certain resolution adopted by the Grand Lodge of Vermont at their last annual meeting , which instructed their Grand Master that in the event of this

Grand Lodge not having withdrawn all claims lo jurisdiction over the Province of Quebec , at our annual communication in July last , it would be her duty to issue circulars to the diflerent Grand Lodges , and to their own subord ' nvate

lodges , notifying them that all Masonic intercourse has been suspended between us . Feeling that this most unfriendly and dictatorial act of the Grand Lotlge of Vermont required prompt action on my own part , as vour Grand Master , I at once issued the followinir edict : — -

" OliAN'l ) l . lllltm III' CANADA . " To all to whom llvsc presents shall come , Greeting - "Whereas , Official information has reached us ihis day , that , at ihe last annual communication of the Grand Lodge of ( he State of Vermont , the following resolution was adopted , viz . —

"' Whereas , the Grand Lodge of Canada still refuses recognition of the Grand Lodge of Quebec , and is asserting jurisdiction over lodges located in the Province of Quebec ; and " ' Whereas , Such assertion of jurisdiction violates the well settled princi p les of Masonic

law , applicable in such cases ; therefore , " ' Resol / cd , that the Grand Master is hereb y instructed ( unless the Grand Lodge of Canada at its next session withdraws fioni and ceases to assert any jurisdiction over any lodge or Masons in the Province of Quebec ) to issue circulars to

the different Grand Lodges , as well as to the subordinate lodges of this State , that the Grand Lodge of Vermont and its subordinates have ' suspended all Masonic intercourse with the Grand Lodge of Canada , and Masons utidsr its jtirisd ' ction until llie wrong is made right . '

"And \ , !;; 1 ,.:: , ilh- ( wand Lodge of Canada , since its I'siabK-hment in October , 18 ^ 5 , has claimed an ;! c \ c iciscd exclusive Masonic jurisdiction and . iiillioriiy over the Provinces of Oniaiio anel ti ' . iebec , which claims to Masiunic sovereignty h . i \ e been recognized and admitted

Grand Lodge Of Canada.

not only by the Masons ot Quebec and the Grand Lodge of Vermont , but also b y the Grand Lodges in every quarter of the globe ; and " Whereas , while we readily admit the ri ght that our sister Grand Lodges have , in accordance

with their knowledge of the facts and of Masonic law , to recognise , and establish friendl y relations with any bod y of Masons whom they may deem worthy of that honour , we , at the same time , most emphatically deny the ri g ht of any Grand Lodge to dictate to us as to the course we should

follow in such cases ; and we , therefore , at once , indignantly repel the attempt thus made b y the Grand Lodge of Vermont to coerce this Grand body into the recognition of a body of Masons , who , without the assent of this Grand Lodge , and in contempt of all Masonic law and

precedent , have thus attempted to wrest from us a portion of our lawful territory and authority . The Grand Lodge of Canada , while jealous of her own honour , and careful at all times not to encroach upon the rights or prerogatives of others , will permit no interference , and will submit to

no dictation , fiom any quarter whatever . " Now , therefore , for the reasons above stated , and by virtue of the power vested in us as Grand Master , we do hereb y order and direct that all official corresponence and communication between this Grand Lodge and the Grand Lodge

of the State of Vermont shall now cease and terminate ; and we do hereb y charge and command all our worshi pful and loving brethren within our jurisdiction to refuse admission into our lodges , and to hold no Masonic communication with any Mason hailing from the jurisdiction of the said Grand Lodge of Vermont . We also

further order and direct that this edict shall remain in force and effect until the Grand Lodge of Vermont shall rescind the unfriendly and unjustifiable resolution above recited . " Done and passed at the ollice of the Grand Master , at Simcoe , this 24 th day of October , \ . i ) . 1872 .

' WM . M . WILSON , Grand Master . " This was promptly followed by a characteristic letter from our M . W . Ilro . T . D . Haringtou , resigning his position as representative of the Grand Lodge of Vermont , near this Grand Lodge , a copy of which will be found in the

appendix , and also as a necessary sequence b y the withdrawal of the credentials of our representative near the Grand Lodge of Vermont . While I regret the necessity of these proceedings , I entertain no doubt of your unanimous approval .

In February last , I received a letter from the Grand Secretary of the Grand Lodge of Louisiana , informing me that his Grand Lod ge had passed a resolution withdrawing their representative in this Gram ! Lodge , in consequence of what they conceive to be an antagonistic feelinsi

on our part , as shown by the continuation of friendly relations with the Grand Orient of France , and as a necessary sequence to this action our R . W . Bro . J . C . Batchelor , M . D ., representative at that Grand Lodge , has tendered to nie his resignation .

It appears to me that the Grand Lodge of Louisiana has misapprehended our action in this mailer . The Grand Lodge of Canada has , for the last ten years , been in fraternal communication with the Grand Orient of France , and the forma ) exchange of re presentatives , although

delayed , was made without the slightest reference to , or thought of , tlic difficulties which had sprung up between these Grand Bodies . With reference to the point at issue between the Grand Lodges of France and Louisiana , I must say that my sympathies are entirely with

our sister Grand Lodged ! Louisiana ; but 1 fail to see that this Grand Lodge is called upon on that account to suspend friendl y relations with a sister Grand Lodge . I directed the Grand Secretary to acknowledge the receipt of R . W . Ilro . | . C . Batchelor ' s letter ,

and while regretting the action of the Grand Lodge of Louisiana in this matter , to thank R . W . Ilro . Batche-lor for his valuable services rendered on behalf of the Order , and more particularly to this Grand Lodge , and to unite with him in the expression of ill .. ' hope , that at no very distant day the two Grand Bodies would again meet on

Grand Lodge Of Canada.

terms of friendly intercourse and the reciprocal exchange of Masonic courtesies . I have to announce for your information that our R . W . Bro . Wm . H . Fraser , having ceased to reside in the State of Wisconsin , resigned his position as our representative to that Grand Body ,

and I had much pleasure in appointing as his successor , our R . W . Bro . Charles Khan , who has become a resident of that State . R . W . Bro . Fraser has since received his credentials from the Grand Master of the Grand Lodge of Wisconsin , as their representative near this Grand Lodge ,

and will doubtless present them during the present session . I have also been notified that our R . W . Bro . Hugh A . Mackay , has been appointed Grand Representative of the Grand Lodge of Michigan to this Grand Lodge , and entertain no doubt but that both of them will be received in

thcii position as representatives of the respective Grand Lodges which they now represent , and I recommend that the rank of a Past Grand Registrar be conferred on those R . W . brethren . I had also much pleasure in appointing our R . W . Bro . Dr . Lorenzo Montafar , 33 °

Secretary of State of the Republic of Costa Rica , as our representative near the Grand Orient of Central America , and have since received and accepted credentials from that Most Worshi pful Body , as their representative to this Grand Lodge . On the 13 th of November last I had the .

pleasure of dedicating a new Hall at Windsor , occupied b y Great Western Lodge , No , 47 . I had appointed the following day for a similar ceremony at Chatham , but was prevented b y sickness from arriving in time to take part in the dedication . The ceremony , however , was ably

performed b y the R . W . the D . D . G . M . of that Masonic district . 1 had the pleasure of inspecting the new lodge room at this place , with which , and the hall at Windsor I was extremelv pleased . In Marcli last I dedicated to Masonry a

beautiful Hall at Pembroke ( upon which occasion I was the reci pient of a very gratifying address ) , and also one at the City of Ottawa , On both these occasions large numbers of the fraternity atttended . On the 3 rd of ) tine last I dedicated a new hall , erected for the use of Beaver Lodge , No . 83 , at Strathroy .

1 he comer stone of an E piscopal Methodist Church was laid with Alasonic ceremonies at Colbrook , on which occasion I was abl y represented by R . W . Bro . Richardson , the D . D . G . M . of Prince Edward District .

The corner stone of the Protestant Hospital at Ottawa was , by permission , laid with Masonic ceremonies on the 16 th of May last , bv R . W . Bro . T . White , D . G . M ., on which occasion the ceremony was graced by the presence of His Excellency the Earl of Dufferin , the Governor-General of the dominion , who assisted in the work .

On the 28 th of May last , I laid the corner stone of a new Masonic Hall for the use of York Lotlge , 156 , at E g linton . On the ist of July , the corner stone of a Presbyterian Church was laid at Mount Forest , by permission , by the W . M . of St . Alban ' s Lodge , No . 200 .

M . W . Bro . Simpson , P . G . M ., kindl y officiated for me by special dispensation on the 1 st of July , by laying the comer stone of an Episcopal Church at Napance . Ami on the same day 1 laid the corner stone of a new Masonic Hall at Hamilton , for which

a special Grand Lodge was convened . The attendance of Masons from various parts of Ontario was very large , about 800 , and it is estimated that from six to ei ght thousand persons were present at the ceremony . PY 11 a full and correct account of the proceedings I refer you to

the papers of the day . Ihe preliminary arrangements were admirably made by our R . W . Bro . the Grand Secretary , abl y assisted by the Presritlent and Directors of the Masonic Building Association . It is generally admitted to have been the most successful Masonic demonstration

ever made 111 Canada . I hope that in the proposed Masonic Temple a suitable suite of chambers will be reserved for the office of our Grand Secretary . On the 20 th of Februrary last , I spent a very pleasant evening with our Toronto brethren at a conversazione , upon which occasion I took