The Ark Mariners' Degree.

Masters undertake the charge of this Boarrj of Admiralty ? Will he consent to sheltei beneath the expanding wings of his jurisdiction these poor shipwrecked

Mariners ? Will he , in the plenitude of his compassion for their forlorn condition , initiate them into . the mysteries of the " Link , " instruct them how to form the

" Chain , " and , above all , teach them the superlative trick of the "Wrestle . " At present , we conceive that the so-called "Ark Mariners , " nownavigating the deep seas of the

past under the guidance of an extremel y juvenile pilot , are in reality quite in a fog as to the relations of the degree to . Freemasonry—and , moreover , that they are

sailing under false colours . It was wittily said of Sir Robert Peel that "he caught the Whigs bathing and stole their clothes " when that eminent statesman appropriated some

of the measures of his opponents , and we'have yet to learn that the "Sovereign Grand Commander" of the Ark Mariners' crew is not after all merely

an artful pirate , who finding the vessel apparently unmanned , has quietly made her a prize , and thrown the original hands overboard . If this be so , it may be

nautical tactics , but it is certainly not what we are taught to expect in Freemasonry ; nor , indeed , is it usual to find experienced Masons willing to follow in the wake of a

brother whose admission into the Fraternity dates only some two years back , and who has never filled even the lowest offices in the Craft . However , this is an age of

portents , and probably the Aurora Borealis prefigured the remarkable voyages which the Ark Mariners are destined to accomplish under their venerable leader .

No doubt the next meeting ofthe Grand Lodge of Mark Masters will reveal to the Masonic community , whether " the bark is on the sea" or " the boat upon the shore , "

but in any case , we are anxious to know by what authority , and under whose auspices , these astounding pranks are played , because in the first place we are credibly informed

that those who alone have the the ri ght to form a governing body of the " Ark , Link , and Chain" degrees are in nowise connected

with the present proceedings ; and it is further stated that these brethren are prepared to surrender their powers and privileges into tlie hands of the Grand Mark Master

at the proper time , By all means let us be informed who are the chief harlequins in this quasi-Masonic pantomine .

The Canadian Difficulty.

The CANADIAN DIFFICULTY .

Our contemporary The Craftsman and Canadian Masonic Record publishes in the October number a very well-written and temperate-article upon the unhappy divisions

which now prevail amongst the Craft in Canada , but we feel bound to take exception to the subjoined statement , which , although

courteousl y worded , implies that THE i REEMASON has pandered unworthily to the views ofthe Quebec brethren , by permitting the insertion of articles concocted on the

The Canadian Difficulty.

other side of the Atlantic , as veritable expressions of our own editorial sentiments on the subject . This we beg most emphatically to contradict ; not a line written in Canada has been put forth as our own , and

moreover we can solemnly affirm that we espoused the cause of the Grand Lodge of Quebec solely from a conscientious conviction that we were fightingfor right against might . However , on referring to our article

which appeared in No . 76 , it will be found that we never " named Bro . Harington as justifying the formation of the so-called Grand Lodge of Quebec . " The passage in which his name occurs is as follows , and

will not bear the construction put upon it by our contemporary . "It ( an amendment offering recognition to the sister Grand Lodge ) was seconded by the distinguished Bro . Douglas Harington , also a Past Grand

Master , who supported it with all the weight of an experience , " & c . We feel that it is due to our personal honour , as a Masonic journalist , to disclaim unmistakably the

accusation conveyed in the remarks of The Craftsman , and we take the opportunity of informing all whom it may concern , that we shall continue to enunciate our opinions

on all matters of public Masonic interest without fear or favour . In fact , so far as relates to this particular question , the opinions expressed in THE FREEMASON , may be fairly considered as not being

calculated to promote the pecuniary advantage of its proprietor , inasmuch as he has reason to acknowledge many acts of courtesy , and exhibited friendship towards him on the part of the leading Masons of the Grand

Lodge of Canada ; while , on the other hand , he is utterly unacquainted with a single member of the Grand Lodge of Quebec . We , however , have not permitted any such considerations to sway us in the discussion of

the grave points involved , and we may add that should the day arrive when the expression of our opinions on any Masonic subject shall be required to take their hue from other than the honest tints of truth , that

day will have witnessed the termination of our editorial labours in the Masonic sphere . "Some effort has been put forth to make capital , out of the fact that two eminent Freemasons like M . W . Bros . Wilson and Harington

moved and seconded the resolution for recognition at the last annual communication of the Gran d Lodge of Canada . It was a wise thing to point out in this statement that upon the question of the Masonic right of the Quebec

lodges to separate from the Grand Lodge of Canada , and establish a separate Grand Lodge of their own , both those eminent brethren remain of the same opinion as in December of last year . The publication , by permission of M . W . Bro .

Harington , of his memoranda on this point , is exceedingly well timed . We call the especial attention of the London FREEMASON to it , and we ask our contemporary , who has ventured to name Bro . Harington as justifying the formation

of the so-called Grand Lodge of Quebec , to at least retract that part of the article which appeared a few weeks ago in his columns . These articles in THE FREEMASON , by the way , have been made to do service on this side of the

Atlantic . They were republished in a Montreal paper , and slips of them sent to all the lodges in the province , with the initials 'J . H . G . ' attached to them . If we might venture a suggestion , it would be that the articles be initialed and circulated in future before being sent to

The Canadian Difficulty.

England for publication ; for if our friends in Quebec imagine that people are so dull as not to recognise the paternity of the articles , they have formed but an uncomplimentary estimate ofthe intelligence of the Masons of Canada . "

Grand Chapter Of England.

GRAND CHAPTER OF ENGLAND .

In the account of the Quarterly Meeting of the Grand Chapter which appeared last week , the fact was recorded that the report of the Committee of General Purposes was

adopted by the Grand Chapter , but our reporter omitted to state that Comp . S . Leith Tomkins ' s motion , for the grant of £ 100 towards the relief of the suffering French

peasantry was proposed by that estimable Companion in a very able speech , in which he portrayed in vivid colours the fearful misery and distress that have overwhelmed

the rural population of France , more especially in those districts which have been overrun by the invading hosts . Comp . Tomkins ' proposition met with ready acceptance , and

he further announced that the Grand Treasurer , Comp . Samuel Tomkins , with his usual generous promptitude , would pay over the amount voted forthwith

to the funds now being collected for the benevolent object in view , without awaiting the confirmation of the grant by Grand Chapter . We consider it is but fair that

the Craft should know of what sterling stuff their Grand Officers are made , and we have therefore great pleasure in supplying the omission accidentally made in our former notice of the proceedings .

Royal Masonic Benevolent Institution.

ROYAL MASONIC BENEVOLENT INSTITUTION .

The Committee of the Royal Masonic Benevolent Institution for Aged Freemasons and the Widows of Freemasons held the usual monthly meeting at the Freemasons'Hall , on Wednesday , Nov . 9 th , Major Creaton in the chair . There were also present : Bros . W . Farnfield , E .

Cox , J . R . Sheen , F . Walters , G . Bolton , N . Wingfield , J . Bellaby , R . Spencer , C . A . Cottebrune , A . Perkins , J . Brett , E . H . Patten , S . May , and Hemsworth . The minutes of the October meeting were

read , and unanimously confirmed . Two applicants as candidates to the Male Fund were admitted and approved of , viz ., one from Lodge No . 62 and one from Lodge No . 87 . Other business was disposed of , and the meeting closed .

Royal Masonic Institution For Boys.

ROYAL MASONIC INSTITUTION FOR BOYS .

The General Committee of the Boys' School was held at the Freemasons' Hall on Saturday , 5 th inst . ISro . B . Head was appointed chairman , the other members present being Bros . G . Snow , Creaton , Young , Browse , J . Symonds , T . Fenn . J . R . Sheen , F . Walters , E . Cox , J . Weaver , S . Rosenthal , R .

Spencer , C . Harcourt , J . Turner , F . Grosjean , T . W . White , and F . Binckcs . The minutes of the meeting in October , and also those of the Quarterly Meeting , were read and confirmed , and the minutes of the last House Committee meeting were read for information . The report of

the Audit Committee was received , adopted , and ordered to be entered on the minutes . The petitions of three candidates were received , and ( subject to all the necessary forms being gone through ) were permitted to be added to the list of applicants seeking admission to the school .

A full report of the consecration of the Asaph Lodge will appear next week . The following matter is also unavoidably deferred : — Uro . Jacob Brennan ' s letter on "Jurisdiction of Grand Lodges" ; reports of Grand Lodge of Quebec , " and the D . G . L . of Bombay , Craft lodges 50 , 195 , 279 , 959 , 5 1 , and 1309 , Mark lodges Bon Accord , Knights of Malta , and Star in the East , and the Bclgrave and Stanhope lodges of instruction .