The Craft Abroad.

that province , and expressed the hope that St . Paul ' s and St . George ' s Lodges , which were still on the English register , would soon decide to follow a similar course . In a paragraph devoted to the fraternal dead of this and other jurisdictions , the Grand Master referred , among others , to the passing away of R . W . Bro . W . R . Singleton , of the District of Columbia , and R . W . Bro . Theodore S . Parvin , of Iowa . He cited a number of rulings which lie had given on different subjects in connection with Masonic jurisprudence . He mide a

pointed reference to the position of a lodge known as the Rojal Solomon Mother I . odge at Jerusalem , Palestine , which is No . 293 on the Canadian Register . He said : I have declined to approve of certain bye-laws sent to me By this lodge , as I deemed it would be unwise to grant it privileges that would not be granted to any lodge in this jurisdiction . While on this subject , a short sketch of this lodge ' s history may not prove uninteresting . Twenty-eight years ag ; o a tew members of tlie Fraternity residing in Palestine thought it would be advisable to

found a lodge of Ancient Free and Accepted Masons in the ancient City of Jerusalem , as it was supposed to be the cradle of Freemasonry , and that the workmen in the quarries of King Solomon ' s Temple were the actual predecessors of those who meet to-day in modern Masonic Iodge rooms . The first thing to be done was to secure a charter . One from the Grand Lodge of England would have been preferred , but the promoters were told that such an application would be rejected . The Grand Lodges of Scotland and Ireland were also approached , but they , too ,

declined to entertain the proposil . None of these applications , 1 am assured , were put in writing , for the reason that official rejection from any of the Grand Lodges named would most likely prevent a successful effort elsewhere . Failing in Britain , attempts were made to secure » a warrant in the United States , but absolute failure was the result . Even Kentucky , the home of M . W . Bro . Robert Morris who was a moving spirit in the efforts to secure a charter for a loJge at Jerusalem , declined . Bro . Morris

had been a true friend of the original Grand Lodge of Canadi and its M . W . Grand Master , William Mercer Wilson . It is surmised and believed that the Grand Master knew nothing of the fruitless efforts made in England , Scotland , and Ireland , as well as in the United States , to obtain a warrant , for on February 17 th , 1873 , a warrant was issued by the Grand Lodge of Canada , M . W . Bro . W . M . Wilson being Grand Master , R . W . Bro . Thomas White , D . G . M ., and R . W . Bro . T . B . Harris , Grand Secretary . From that time to the present ,

beyond the fact that we have one of our chartered lodges in that far-distant country , we have known very little of its workings or methods of conducting the usual business of a lodge , and have had no practical supervision over its affairs ; and it is not unreasonable to suppose , in view of this fact , that a careless , slipshod , and unconstitutional method of conducting everything in connection with the lodge has been the result . I have been placed in possession of facts , the most reliable , which convince me that only one course is advisable , as far as this Grand Lodge is concerned , and that is an immediate withdrawal of the charter . By my

instructions , the Grand Secretary wrote the W . M . of the lodge , ordering him to forward at once the minute books . It was expected that these would be here before this , but so far the Grand Secretary has not received any reply to his letter . The Grand Master advised that the districts of the Grand Lodge be recast , and that some of the larger ones be sub-divided . He concluded by recommending the recognition of the Grand Lodges of Western Australia and Porto Rico , and the postponement of the recognition of the Grand Lodge of Costa Rica until the receipt of further information .

At the close of his address the GRAND MASTER announced the receipt of the following cable from R . W . Bro . Edward Letchworth , the Grand Secretary of England : " His Royal Highness and Grand Lodge received congratulations of Grand Lodge of Canada with greatest satisfaction , and most heartily reciprocate good wishes . " Thc message was received with the utmost enthusiasm .

The reports of the Committees of the Board of General Purposes were received and read . The report on the condition of Masonry proved that the jurisdiction was prosperous . The report on Benevolence showed that . £ 2500 had been paid out in relief grants to 137 applicants . Warrants were issued to quite a number of new lodges . Tne Board of General Purposes recommended the suspension of the Royal Solomon Lodge , No . 293 , at Jerusalem , Palestine . The Grand Master did not disclose his information

with regard to the work of this Iodge , but it is understood that for years past there have been very m . 'iny irregularities which had only recently been brought to his noti e . It should be said that there has been a strong feeling in Canada for some time that the warrant should be withdrawn . It has been thought by many Past Grand Masters that the lodge was so many miles distant from the mother jurisdiction that proper supervision of its work was impossible , and that , therefore , such a lodge should be warranted by some jurisdiction nearer home .

The Grand Secretary ' s report showed the year ' s receipts to have been 2 3 ,- ) 99 dollars , the largest items being : Certificates , 3662 dollars ; dues , ' . i . i 32-5 o dollars ; fees , 2014 dollars ; general fund interest , 3089 dollars . The expenditure amounted to 21 , 638 dollars , leaving a balance of 1861 dollars . Of thc expenditure 11 , 840 dollars was for benevolence . The receipts were 10 SO dollars in excess of those of last year . During the year

Masonic halls were dedicated at Sturgeon Falls , Arnprior , and Amherstburg The Grand Treasurer , Bro . Hugh Murray , reported , showing the balance in the bank on June 3 rd , 1 9 , to be 13 , 348 dollars . The statement of the general fund showed the balance on hand June ist , iyoi , to be 81 , 85 ( 1 dollars . The balance of the asylum fjnd is 16 , 491 dollars . The balance sheet shows investments amounting to 85 , 000 dollars , which , with the balance of 1 3 34 S dollars , makes the total of 08 348 dollars .

The honorary rank of Past G . Registrar was given to R . W . Bro . Alex . Patterson , who for 30 years has been closely identified with the work of relief , h ving acted as Secretary of the Toronto Board of Relief for that period .

The Craft Abroad.

During the absence in Europe in July , 1 9 , of M . W . Bro . J . Ross Robertson , P . G . M ., he was unanimously elected to the office of Historian of the Grand Lodge . Bro . Robertson has written the history of the Craft in two volumes of 1000 pages each , and the highest encomiums have been passed upon his work not only by the Grand Masters of Canada , but by distinguished Masons in different parts of the world . As this communication afforded his first opportunity of returning thanks for the honour , just before the installation of ofiicers ,

Bro . ROBERTSON stepped to the front of the dais and said : Most Worshipful Sir , —I want , with your permission , Most Worshipful Sir , to take this , the first opportunity I have had since my return from Europe , to thank Grand Lodge for the honour done meat the last annual communication , and during my absence in Europe , in appointing me to the position of Historian of the Grand Lodgeof Canada . It is an honour which I greatly appreciate .

Your kindness in creating this positional a recognition of my efforts to perpetuate the history of the Craft Masonry in British North America is an evidence of goodwill which I appreciate more than tongue can tell .. In my poor effort as Masonic Historian I have been rewarded by many tokens of esteem , but the honour you have done me comes as a crown to my labour of love , and you have in my thanks all that my heart can give you . " The speech of the M . W . brother was greeted with loud applause .

The GRAND MASTER referred to the pleasure it afforded all present to see M . W . Bro . Mason , the Grand Secretary , at his post after a serious illness , and the members heartily testified to their approval of his words . The election of Grand Officers resulted in the re-election of M . W . Bro . Hungerford as Grand Master , and R . W . Bro . Harding as Deputy Grand

Master ; R . W . Bros . McAllister as S . G . W ., and A . Dyment , M . D ., as J . G . W . M . W . Bros . J . J . Mason was re-elected Grand Secretary , Hugh Murray as Grand Treasurer , and V . W . Bro . James O'Hara as Grand Registrar . The Rev . Bro . Von Pirch , a prominent Lutheran clergyman , was elected Grand Chaplain .

Grand Lodge will meet at Windsor , Ontario , opposite Detroit , Mich ., next July . The District Deputy Grand Masters of Grand Lodge were installed by M . W . Bro . J . Ross Robertson , and the other ofiicers by M . W . Bro . Hugh Murray . The Grand Lodge then closed .

Presentation To Bro. Cornelius Thorne, Past Dist. G. Master Of Northern China.

PRESENTATION TO BRO . CORNELIUS THORNE , PAST DIST . G . MASTER OF NORTHERN CHINA .

It has been known for some time that it was the intention of Bro . C . Thorne to sever his long connection with the Far East and go home as soon as he could conveniently settle his affairs . Naturally such a leading light in Freemasonry could not be allowed to depart without due recognition of his services on the part of the brethren in general j and the enthusiastic meeting held on July 2 nd , at the Masonic Hall , was the spontaneous outcome of the warm regard in which Bro . Thorne is held by the members of the Craft at large .

The present occupant of the Dist . G . Master ' s chair , Bro . Lewis Moore , had issued notices for a special communication to be held at seven p . m . At that hour there were present from 150 to 200 representatives ot every branch of Freemasonry in the Far East . Members of the English , Scotch , and American Constitutions had assembled in force , and were arranged under their respective lodge banners according to ancient custom .

The business of the meeting was no less pleasing than simple . It was the presentation to Bro . Thorne of a token of esteem and regard from his brother Masons . The testimonal took the form of a set of silver table ornaments of very chaste and elegant design , consisting of a handsome centre piece , four corner pieces , and a set of silver flower stands .

The presentation was made in the large hall by the D . G . MASTER , who in his inimitable style sketched the course of Bro . Thome ' s Masonic career in Shanghai , named some of the leading lights in Masonry who were contemporary with him in the early days , men some of whom have now a world-wide reputation amongst members of the Craft—R . Freke Gould for example . He dilated upon the benefits which had been conferred upon their bodnot in constitution onlbut in all the

y , one y , , by P . D . G . M . now about to say " good-bye" to them , and concluded with eloquent wishes for long life , renewed health , and added happiness to the R . W . brother and his family , to whom and whose descendants he hoped the token of regard now presented might pass as an heirloom . He then read the inscription which it was proposed to engrave upon the gift .

On behalf of American Masonry , R . W . Bro . DANFORTH expressed the pleasure felt by himself and his compatriots in assisting at such an interesting function . He endorsed to the full the remarks that had fallen from the head of the English Craft in Northern China , and referred especially to the very kind assistance which the Ancient Landmark Lodge had received from R . W . Bro . Thorne .

Bro . THORNE , in reply , deprecated the laudation which the previous speakers had used respecting him . He had tried to do his best for M isons and Masonry . Hehad been connected with the Craft since 1852 , and hid watched the rise and growth of its influence in Shanghai . He "had ever tried to impress upon the brethren the duties as well as the privileges of

Ad00903

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