The Grand Lodge Of Quebec And The Grand Lodge Of Scotland.

THE GRAND LODGE OF QUEBEC AND THE GRAND LODGE OF SCOTLAND .

We have been favoured with the official publication of the Grand Ljdge of Quebec with reference to the matters in dispute , between itself and the Grand Lodge of Scotland , and though we have carefully perused it , we see no reason to change the opinion which we have previously

expressed on the subject . It seems to us to be incontestable , that , ( ist ) the Grand Lodge of Quebec is entirely wrong in the position it has assumed with respect to the rights of lodges consecrated previously to its own constitution , and we feel sure , that on calm consideration , the

American Grand Lodges , and even the Grand Lodge of Canada , will endorse theviews we have expressed on the subject . Nothing the Grand Lodge of Quebec can say or do can affect the rights and position of the English and Scotch lodges , constituted prior to its establishment , with

a full understanding from the Grand Lodge of Canada to boot , that their connexion with these mother Grand Lodges was duly recognized , indeed , we feel that we must say it , the grounds put forth by the Grand Lodge of Quebec , are neither very reasonable , nor very respectful to

the Grand Lodges of England and Scotland , nor even courteous in tone and substance . The Grand Lodge of Quebec is in itself a " swarm " from the Grand Lodge of Canada , and strictly speaking , ( if it was worth while ) , a good deal might be said about its regularity and its actual position ,

and how far such a proceeding savours or does not savour of Masonic schism . But we prefer not to raise these questions , though they may be raised , the more so as we are not prepared to say , without some just cause or good reason , any thing more about them . For it is not

all swarms , however , from a lawful Grand Lodge , which constitute rightful Masonic authority . No doubt , on the " fait accompli " view , much may be alleged on behalf of the Grand Lodge of Quebec , but in our opinion , this is just one of these cases where the "least said is the soonest mended . " We

must also adhere to our original view , that the action of the Scottish Grand Lodge is , to say the least of it , premature . Admitting its contention , that it for " good and sufficient causes thereto moving " refuses to acknowledge the legality of the claim of the Grand Lodge of

Quebec to be a Grand Lodge , and taking note of the alleged surrender of jurisdiction by the Grand Lodge of Canada , we see that it claims by a " Reviver " of authority , to " occupy " now " unoccupied territory , * ' and on the ground , moreover , of" prior occupation . " As we pointed out

before , admitting that the Scottish Grand Lodge is right in its contention , as far as we are aware , the Grand Lodge of Canada has made no " waiver " of territorial jurisdiction , and until it does so , the Grand Lodge of Scotland is clearly , in our opinion , in all deference , acting " ultra vires , " in

now re-claiming terntorial jurisdiction . When the Grand Lodije of Canada declares the territory unoccupied territory , then , and only then , can the Grand Lodge of Scotland properly step in , as we understand the law , ( if there be such ) , on the subject . We admit it might be said that

by the cession of jurisdiction the Grand Lodge of Canada has " waived its territorial authority , " and that , therefore , the Grand Lodge of Scotland may resume its ri ghts of "prior occupation . " But it may be that the Grand Lodge of Canada has not officially done so , and has simply

treated the matter as we do , as a " fait accompli , " upon which it passes , for the sake of peace , no opinion . Until , then , such waiver of jurisdiction of the Grand Lodge of Canada is officially made , it is quite clear that the Grand Lodge of Scotland has no " locus standi " in the territory now

claimed b y the Grand Lodge of Quebec . If the Grand Lodge of Canada has , however , made an official surrender of jurisdiction , and if the Grand Lodge of Scotland cannot and does not recognize the Grand Lodge of Quebec , ( and to say the

truth the first stone in the contest seems to have been thrown by the Grand Lodge of Quebec ) , then , no doubt , the Grand Lodge of Scotland is justified in claiming and exercising its right of " prior occupation . " But at present , until the

The Grand Lodge Of Quebec And The Grand Lodge Of Scotland.

evidence is a little more clear on the points we have called attention to , we must continue to think its action —in granting new warrants and a Prov . Grand Master ' s Deputation in Canada , both premature and very debateable proceedings .

The Catastrophe On The Thames.

THE CATASTROPHE ON THE THAMES .

Woolwich is still in the greatest excitement , as day by day reveals even still more clearly the grim horrors of this appalling catastrophe . Few that have occurred in our time , have ever so roused the sympathies , or awakened the attention of all thinking persons . Without prejudicing the

verdict of the coroner ' s jury , without assigning blame on so far exparte information , we yet may say this , that a very unsatisfactory state of things exists as to the control and surveillance of the river . It would seem as if , first of all , there was great carelessness in the management of

the traffic especially , and that there are not more accidents daily is rather a matter of luck than any thing else . Why should not the Thames police be extended , so as to watch and patrol in boats , the river to its mouth ? We cannot see why , as the matter of expense is not to be set

against the saving of human lives , endangered by human recklessness or lost by human neglect . Surely it is a very unpleasant thought , amidst all our civilization , that a steamer freighted with 900 human beings , coming home peacefully from a days' innocent holiday , is to be run down , and

900 people precipitated in the water , helpless women , little children , going down in a death struggle of despair , without the slightest possibility of help , without the power of rescuing one shrinking mortal from an awful death , or from a premature grave . Surely if the

river was under effective control , with police stations and lifeboats at intervals , the risks of such possible calamities would be greatly reduced , the chances of saving several hundred precious beings struggling for life in the water be materially increased . It also seems to us that these

large steamers , with their crowded decks , go down the river ill provided with boats . It is assumed , of course , —as one of the conditions of the expedition , that no accident is likely to occur . But have the directors a right thus to defy the contingencies of morality , to discount the

inevitable accidents of each returning day ? We venture to think not , and we trust to hear that all these largo river boats will be at once provided with a sufficientnumber of boats . Our sympathies must be greatly moved in respect of this sad destruction of useful and valuable human life .

Two of our biethren have perished , and another , by the good providence of T . G . A . O . T . U ., has been rescued from a watery grave to tell his thiilling story in the columns of the Dail y Chronicle . We feel deeply for those who are gone ; we feel even still more for those who survive !

Report Of The Metropolitan Police For 1877.

REPORT OF THE METROPOLITAN POLICE FOR 1877 .

The report of Sir E . Y . W . Henderson for 1877 is a very interesting one , and deserves to be noted and commented on by the public press , inasmuch as it gives us a great amount of most valuable information , and suggests many serious considerations , both from the statistics it embodies

and the facts it details . Sir Edmund Henderson informs us that the total strength of the force on the 31 st of December , 1877 , was 10 , 44 6 , an increase over the preceding year of 1 76 . The total number of persons apprehended during the year was 77 , 9 82 , of whom 2571 were convicted on

committal for trial , and 863 acquitted ; 54 , 034 were summarily convicted , and 20 , 514 discharged by the magistrates . The year was marked by the prevalence for a time of robberies of various kinds , partly accounted for , Sir E . Henderson thinks , by the depression of trade , and partly the result of the depredations

committed by a limited number of thieves , who confined their operations mostly to houses left empty and unattended . The number of persons arrested for being drunk and disorderly , or simply drunk , was almost exactly the same as in the previous year . On the other hand , the arrests for serious offences was considerablv in

Report Of The Metropolitan Police For 1877.

excess . The total number of indictable offences committed in 1877 was 15 , 409 , against 13990 in the preceding year , and the arrests increased from 4234 to 4534 , and the convictions from 2476 to 2571 . The conduct of the police during the year had been very good . Only 167

were dismissed and 136 compelled to resign , being the smallest number of serious disciplinary charges during the last ten years . The number of voluntary resignations also decreased to 263 , and the total removals out of an authorised strength of 10 , 44 6 were 960 , the smallest

percentage for many years . A readjustment during the year of the Detective Department was rendered necessary by the conviction of three of the principal officers for complicity in an extensive case of turf fraud , and in accordance with the recommendations of a commission appointed by

the Home Secretary , the Detective Department has been entirely reorganised , and has been formed into one division , in charge of the Director of Criminal Investigations . The following facts seem also to us to deserve special notice in the press : —Out of 1253 cases

of burglary , housebreaking , and breaking into shops and warehouses , no less than 839 were houses empty or with no person in charge ; 203 of these cases occurred in the Islington division . Special arrangements were made to meet this outbreak of crime , and many of the principal offenders have been arrested and convicted .

Twenty-five thousand three hundred and fiftynine doors and windows were found by the police open or insecurely fastened at night . The assaults on the police decreased from 2941 in 1876 to 28 94 10 1877 . Some of these were of a very serious character , and some have resulted in

permanently disabling the officers even from contributing to their own support . The traffic of the streets continues year by year to increase , and requires increasing care and temper to control . The number of persons killed in the streets decreased from 130 in 1876 to 120 in 18 77 ; the

number of persons injured increased from 2740 to 2836 . The largest proportion of these accidents occurred in Holborn , Stepney , Islington , Camberwell , and Highgate . Of the 120 persons killed no less than 70 were killed by vans , drays , and heavy carts . Only nine were killed by cabs ,

nineteen by light carts , twelve by omnibuses , and five by broughams , one by a traction engine , and one by a fire engine . During the year 8483 children and 3216 adults were reported to the police as lost or missing , of these 5441 children and 729 adults were restored to their friends by

the police ; 3017 children and 2274 adults were found by friends or returned home ; two children and sixty adults committed suicide , and twentythree children and 153 adults have not been found . Thirty-nine dead bodies of persons unknown were photographed during the year , but

have not been identified . The police have con tinued to enforce the Acts relating to dogs . The number seized during the year 1877 , was 24 , 537 , of which 21 , 530 were sent to the Dog ' s Home , 2905 restored to owners , and 102 otherwise disposed of . The total number of dogs seized by the police since the Act came into force ( 186 7 )

is 117 , 423 . No case of hydrophobia has occurred either among these dogs or among the police , who are often severely bitten by them . Under the head of public carriages , so important to the great public , we are told that during the year ended the 31 st of December , 1877 , licences were issued as under : —For four-wheeled

hackney carriages , 3994 ; for two-wheeled hackney carriages , 4535 ; for stage carriages , 1480 : — total for vehicles , 10 , 009 . F ° hackney drivers , 10 , 760 j for stage drivers , 2724 ; for conductors , 3901 ;—total drivers and conductors , 17 , 385 . This shows an increase over last year of 209

vehicles , and of drivers and conductors 6 s r , and since 1870 of 14 , 000 vehicles , and of drivers and conductors 3302 . The numbers of public carriages and horses reported unfit for public use during the year 1877 are as follows : —Public carriages , 3078 ; horses , 440 . As regards lost

property we are informed that during the last eight years 99 , 119 articles have been found in public carriages and deposited at the Lost Property Office : —In 187 c , 3258 ; 1871 , 7709 ; 1872 , 12 , 950 : 1873 , 14 , 136 ; 1874 , 14 , 076 ; 1875 , * 5 > 584 ; l 87 < 5 , i 5 > ° » 187 / , 15 , 726 . Many valuable articles were deposited during the past