Freemasonry In Canada.

cases of abuse of the ballot . The cases to which his attention had bcen called were , happily , not very numerous , but to judge from his remarks , some of them must have been very flagrant . "My attention , " said Grand Master MALONE , " was drawn to four or five lodges in our jurisdiction which at one time ranked

among our more prosperous Lodges ; now it would be in the best interest of Masonry to call , in the charters . For years not a candidate has been accepted , although many propositions were presented , nickering and contention take the p lace of peace and harmony and respectable members withdraw from the lodge

or cease to attend . What is the cause of this deplorable state of affairs ? 1 am given to understand that the principal causes are—unrecognised ambition for office , rejection of a friend who desires admittance , or a desire to get even with the new Master . Unfortunately brethren imbued with such base motives work in

the dark and keep their own counsel . " However , chance appears to have given the Grand Master an opportunity for adopting very decided steps against sundry of these offenders , " 1 became aware of unguarded speeches made b y a couple of brethren who

had determined to adopt the ' rule or ruin ' policy and caused such charges lo lie preferred against them as the Craft can well afford lo part company with such characters ; " while in another ease the offendinsr brother had not lone been a member of lhe

( raft , and the Grand Master contented himself with pointing out " the dangerous position which he occupied" and warned him against continuing in it . Another matter which obtained a considerable amount of proniinenccin the address was lhat of lhe coloured Lodges arising out

of the recognition b y the Grand Lodge of Washington of a coloured Grand Lodge , in the same State , and the suspension of intercourse by other Grand Lodges in the United States with the Grand Lodge ( white ) of Washington . In his reply lo the notification from thc last-named body that it had accorded recognition

to the coloured Masons in the State , the Grand Master appears to have contented himself with quoting from the records of the Grand Lodge of Canada , a resolution of the 3 rd July , 18 71 , " declining io recognise Lodges at Chatham and Toronto claiming In hold warrants from the Grand Lodge of the State of New York

( coloured ) , " and poinling oui the difficulties and complications which were certain to follow if the policy of recognition was upheld . However , subsequent communications appear to favour the idea that the Grand Loilge of Washington has thought beltei of its policy .

Brief references are also lo be found in the Craftsman to thc recent annual Communications of the Grand Lodgeof Prince Edward Island on the i (\ . \\ June ; the Grand Lodge of Manitoba

on ( lie 14 II 1 and 15 th ; and of the Grand Lodge of British Columbia on the 22 nd of the same month ; and in each case the indications favour the belief that Freemasonry has been prospering during the past year .

Provincial Grand Lodge Of Devonshire.

PROVINCIAL GRAND LODGE OF DEVONSHIRE .

The annual meeting of the above Prov . G . Lodge was held at Tiverton on the ioth instant . The proceedings commenced with a meeting of the Committee of Appeals at the Town Hall , which was followed by luncheon at the National Schools , Bro . the Hon . Sir H . S . Northcote , M . P ., presiding over a large company .

The Prov . G . Lodge was held in the large drill hall , when the Prov . G . Master ( Bro . the Hon . Sir H . Stafford Northcote ) again presided . The following Prov . G . Officers , Present and Past , attended : Bros G C Davie , Dep . Prov . G . Master ; P . Maury Deas , P . J . G . W . ; R . Peake , PGChap Eng . ; 1 . Lane . P . A . G . D . of C . Eng . ; F . B . Westlake , P . P . G . W ., P . G . D . of C . Eng . ; J . M . McLeod , P . P . G . S . B ., See . R . M . I . B . ; J . Stocker , Prov .

G Sec •C . H . Knowlys , P . P . G . Chap . W . Lancashire ; H . Shooter , P . G . Tyler ; Chas . Piper , P . D . G . D . of C . ; W . Willoughby , P . P . G . O . ; S . Panter , P . P . G . Purst •Moorifield , P . P . G . Supt . of Works ; T . H . Wills , P . G . S . ; A . T . Blarney , PPIGD- R . E . Tucker , P . G . Reg . ; C . G . Withell , P . P . G . D . ; J . Dunsterville P S G D . ; W . J . Stanbury , P . P . A . G . D . of C . ; VV . V . Harris , P . G . Supt . of VVorks : W . Blockman , D . G . P . Malta ; IL I . Shapcott , P . G . O . ; C . A .

Nicholson , P . P . A . G . D . of C . ; VV . R . Lisle , P . P . S . G . D . ; VV . Walters , P . G . S . H Rost , P . P . G . Supt . of VVorks ; S . Jones , P . P . J . G . W . ; T . J . Oldridge , P . A . G . D of C •VV . H . Dillon , P . P . A . G . Sec . ; G . L . Stile , P . G . Std . Br . ; ] . Olver P P G . S B . ; D . A . Powell , P . A . G . D . of C . ; C . Emtnett , P . A . G . D . of C . j P . J Dunn PP G . S . B . ; W . King , P . P . G . Purst . ; Major J . Matthews , P . P . G . Supt of Works •W . H . Tworall , P . G . Std . Br . ; W . Pearce , P . D . S . G . VV . Malta ; J

Mvann P . P . J . G . W . ; J . B . Cover ; Major M . Tracey , P . P . S . G . W . ; the Rev 1 . ' Smart , P . P . G . Chap . ; J . Bassett , P . P . S . G . D . ; E . Shorto , P . P . G . W . ; G H . Smith ; J . Bovey , P . P . G . P . ; T . P . Webby , P . G . S .-, VV . Warren , P . P . G . Org- 1 Gidley , P . P . G . S . B . ; J . Dickinson , P . P . G . C ; Major J . Shanks , P . P . ' l ' . G . W . ; W . Mo . mtjoy , P . P . A . G . D . of C . ; A . H . Dymund , P . P . G . R . ; P .

RousU-in P . P . G . S . B . ; H . Acott , P . P . G . D . of C . ; J . Templeton , P . P . G . T . ; I I- Elle ' rlr . n , I ' . P . G . I ) . ; F . Luget , P . P . G . Org . ; I * * . W . Kendle , P . P . G . D . of C ; C . S . Stebbing , P . C . Treas . ; K . 0 . Knight , P . P . G . D . •and VV . Stanlake , I ' . G . Std . lir .

Provincial Grand Lodge Of Devonshire.

The Secretary presented his report and returns from the 59 lodges in the province , from which it appeared that on December 31 st last there were 3 S 72 subscribing members , an increase of 202 over the previous year , and the amount received in dues and fees £ 439 , an excess of £ i _ over the previous year . The names of 252 brethren have been removed from the register by death , resignation , or exclusion . There had been 340

initiations and 11 . v joinings . The number of Past Masters returned was 870 , an increase of 25 over the previous year . Two new lodges had been constituted , namely , the Maristow , No . 2725 , to meet at Yelverton , and the Rolle , No . 2759 , to meet at Exmouth . Ten applications had been received from lodges for the supplemental grants to acquire Life Governorships in the great Masonic Charities . The PROV . G . TREASURER ' report showed a balance of / 208 .

Bro . F . Hearn having been elected Prov . G . Treasurer on the motion of Bro . SAMUEL J ONES , seconded by Bro . GOVER , The P . G . M . appointed and invested his Prov . G . Officers as follows :

Bro . G . C . Davie , 251 ... ... ... D . P . G . M . „ F . B . Westlake , 70 ... ... ... Prov . S . G . W . „ John Lane , 1402 ... ... ... Prov . J . G . W . ,, Rev . C . Gordon Browne , 39 ... ... *) r > /~ / -i _ „ Rev . G . Rogerson , 1125 ... j Prov . G . Chaps . „ F . R . Hearn , 1254 ( elected ) ... ... Prov . G . Treas . „ R . R . Rodd , 10 5 ... ... ... Prov . G . Reg . „ John Stocker , 39 ... ... ... Prov . G . Sec . „ W . S . Cocks , 106 ... ... ... In cor-. „ W . Walters , i , 35 j Prov . S . G . Ds . „ Jos . Munday , 112 5 ... ... ... )„ T ,-. r \ „ T . Payne , 954 j Prov . J . G . Ds . „ G . L . Stile , 12 S 4 ... ... ... Prov . G . S . of Wks „ j . R . Lord , 1247 ... , .. ... Prov . G . D . C . „ T . H . Wills , 1402 ... ... ... Prov . Dep . G . D . C . „ J . Pearse , 1255 •••••••••" ) „ VV . H . Turrall , 1 SS 5 ... ... ... [ Prov . A . G . D . Cs . „ J . C . Oldrieve ... ... .., ) „ VV . H . Michell , 15 6 ... ... ... Prov . G . S . B . „ T . B . Webby , 847 ... ... ... )„ n c . „ C . R . H . Sellick ,. 091 j Prov . G . Std . Brs . „ G . H . Hearder , 113 S ... ... ... Prov . G . Org . „ A . Parkhouse , 1247 ... ... ... Prov . A . G . Sec . „ W . H . Johns , 666 ... ... ... Prov . G . Purst . „ W . J . Pearce , 2635 ... ... ... Prov . A . G . Purst . „ T . A . Blackler , 328 „ F . VV . Kendle , 421 ,, J . H . Blackell , 1099 ... ... ... „ „ _ , „ VV . Ferguson , , 212 L Prov . G . Stwds .

,, C . Mullen , 1550 „ H . S . Best , 2258 „ H . Shooter , 112 ... ... , „ Prov . G . Tyler . Bro . E . H . Shorto presented the annual report of the Fortescue Annuity Fund .

The Secretary of the Committee of Petitions ( Bro . J . B . Gover ) , in his report , stated that the success of their efforts during the past year was a record unprecedented in their annals . There was no further business . A banquet was served at St . Peter ' s Lodge in the evening , at which there was a large attendance .

Provincial Grand Lodge Of Hampshire And The Isle Of Wight.

PROVINCIAL GRAND LODGE OF HAMPSHIRE AND THE ISLE OF WIGHT .

PRESENTATIONS TO THE DEP . PROV . G . MASTER . The annual meeting of the above Prov . G . Lodge , which was very largely attended , was held at the Royal Victoria Rooms , Southampton , on the S . h instant , under the presidency of the R . W . Bro . W . W . B . Beach , M . P ., Prov . G . Master , who was supported by the Dep . Prov . G . Master ( Bro . E . Goble ) , and many other Prov . G . Officers , Present and Past , All the lodges of the province but one answered the roll call .

Prov . G . Lodge having been opened , and the minutes of the Ryde meeting having been confirmed , the Prov . G . Treasurer ' s accounts were submitted , showing assets £ 1443 4 s - 5 ^ - > an <* I liabilities nil . The DEP . PROV . G . MASTER moved that the accounts be received and

adopted , and said that although there had been some slight changes in the officials during the past year , which usually involved expense , he was glad to say the province was in a very satisfactory financial position . They voted not long ago 500 guineas to the Boys' School , and yet had a considerable balance in hand .

Bro . D . O . Hon us seconded the motion , which was carried . The PROV . G . MASTER announced that the Treasurer , Bro . Gieve , was present that morning , but had been suddenly called away to London . Bro . A . E . FRANCIS , Prov . S . G . W ., proposed , and Bro . D . PRING seconded , the re-election of Bro . Gieve as Prov . G . Treasurer , which was carried unanimously .

On the motion of Bro . LANCASTER , seconded by Bro . G . J . TII . LINC , the W . Ms , of the ioth four lodges on the list were appointed as an Audit Committee , in addition to the ex-officio members . The report of proceedings of the Prov . G . Lodge Committee was read by Bro . GILES , Prov . G . Sec . This stated that the Committee had held

five meetings during the year . Two candidates from the provinces had been elected to the Benevolent Fund , two to the Boys' School , and one candidate to the Girls' School , which had necessitated a large borrowing of votes , and an appeal was made to the brethren ol the province to assist the Committee in repaying the debts incurred by sending their votes to the

Prov . G . Secretary . Sums amounting in the aggregate to £ 70 had been voted in relief during the year . There had been 268 initiations , an increase of 16 on the preceding year , and there were now 38 7 8 subscribing members in the province . Sixty-one members had died during the year . Of boys in the School , two belonging to this province has been kept in the Institution