Grand Lodge Of Canada.

B . Greer , J . G . W . ; and the following members of the Board of Gener . il Purposes , elected and appointed : Bros . \ V . Roaf , p . C . Martin , L II . Burritt , J . li . Harding , Q . C , W . T . Toner , J . C . Hegler , Dr . L . Se ; ord , D . F . MacWatt , G . Ingles , B . Allen , G . C . Davis , R . B . Hungerfoid , A . McLean , J . VV . Murton , R . L . Gunn , | . S . Dewar , T . Sargant , W . Rea , E . S . Wigle , and D . II . Martyn .

Previously , at n a . m ., Grand LoJge had convened in the Masonic Hall , and in procession marched to the site of the proposed ward school , to be called Victoria , on Richmond-street , where , with the impressive ceremonies of the Craft , Bro . W . Gibson , G . M ., laid the cornerstone of the new building .

At 2 p . m ., the annual Communication was opened in ample form in the Opera House by the Grand Master , supported by the Past Grand Masters , Grand Officers , and many Past Grand Officers , the auditorium , floor , and galleries being completely filled by members of the Fraternity . Bro . LIDDELL , D . D . G . M ., headed a deputation of the Brantford lodges , and read a fraternal address of welcome , which was followed by an equally cordial one from the civic authorities , the MAYOR speaking ( or them , in which the freedom of the city was accorded to thc visitors .

These formalities being concluded , the business of the session commenced with the reading of the Grand Master ' s address as follows : " Brethren of Grand Lodge , — Let me extend to you a most hearty welcome upon our meeting here to-day in this good City of Brantford , where founder Captain Joseph Brant was so intimately associated with the earliest history of Freemasonry in this section of the county , as well as with the rise and progress of the material welfare of our beloved province .

" Before entering upon the duties devolving upon us as a Grand Lodge , let us once again give thanks to the Great Architect of the Universe lor permitting so many of us to meet here to-day ; may He watch over and protect us ; may our labours begin in order , be conducted in peace , and closed in harmony .

"I have great pleasure in referring to the condition of the Craft within the jurisdiction , to be able to say from personal visits in every portion of the province , as well as from authentic information derived from the Deputy District Grand Masters , that our noble Craft was never in a healthier condition than at the present time . On the register of Grand Lodge there are 357 lodges—the perfect number . It would indeed be marvellous if every in state

one was a flourishing , and still more marvellous if in a membership of 24 , 000 every member was a model of what a Mason should be . It is , however , most gratifying to know that , generally , the lodges are in a flourishing condition , and that very rarely a member , by his life and conduct , brings discredit upon the Fraternity . As a rule , the lodges are prosperous and successfully doing the work for which they were established and the members are living up to their professions .

" I am happy to call the attention of the members of Grand Lodge to our increasing prosperity . Notwithstanding the commercial depression of late years , our capital account has reached the handsome sum ol 94 202 . 17 dollars . During the past year the receipts of Grand Lodge have reached the largest amount in its history , viz ., 20 , 828 . 82 dollars , being an increase of G 13 . 65 dollars last year .

" Of the total expenditure of Ihe past year , amounting to 17 , 61 ^ . 0 . 3 dollars , no less a sum than 9 887 . 50 dollars , or over 50 percent ., was spent for benevolence , leaving 7 725 . 53 dollars for all other purposes , and a handsome surplus of 3 , 215 79 dollars to be carried to capital account . "I am sure that every member in Grand Lodge will join with me in wishing that this good work will go on and on and continue with better results as years roll bv .

" We have the proud satisfaction ol knowing that few , if any , Grand Lodges on this continent contribute so much of their income to benevolent purposes . It may not be out of place to say that many of the Grand Lodges of the United States are surprised at the large amount given annually by the Grand Lodge of Canada , and are not stinted in their praise of the good work we are doing through our Benevolent Board .

"Owing to the careful supervision of the grants made for benevolence by the Board , only worthy applicants are now in receipt of relief . In my judgment the sub-Committee on Benevolence should be authorised to make larger grants than are now permitted in deserving cases , the maximum grants at present being 50 dollars for a brother and 10 dollars for a widow . I would recommend that 100 dollars and So dollars respectively bj the

maximum in special cases . I would further recommend that in cases of pressing need arising between meetings of the Grand Lodge , the Chairman of the sub-Committee , with the approval of the Most Worshipful Grand Master and the President of the Board of General Purposes , should be authorised to make a grant for purposes of temporary relief , such grant not to exceed 10 dollars to any one applicant .

" No organisation in connection with Craft work has done more good than the General Masonic Relief Association of the United States and Canada . Properly speaking the association is protective , in that it protects the Craft in private lodges and Grand Lodges from imposture . The fact that in this jurisdiction during the past 10 years many thousand of dollars per annum have been saved to thc Craft , stamps the organisation as most useful in connection with benevolent work . "

After referring to certain motions of which notice had been given , and enumerating the principal events of the past year , the Grand Master referred to the Queen ' s Diamond Jubilee in the following terms : " Her Majesty ' s subjects from every part of the British Umpire have either , by representatives or by addresses , presented at the foot of thc throne their devotion to the person of our Gracious Queenandin keeping

, , with all her Majesty ' s loyal and loving subjects , the members of the Grand Lodge of Canada are having prepared a suitable address , which will be presented by our Grand Secretary , R . VV . Bro . Mason , through his Koyal Highness the Grand Masier ol the Grand I . odge ol lingland . assuring her Most Gracious Majesty of thc high esteem , respect , and love the members of the Grand Lodgeof Canada entertain for her person and her throne ,

Masons have more than ordinary right lo hold her Majesty in the highest veneration . Is she not the daughter if a Mason , ancl the mother ol the first Mason in the British Kmpire , thc Grand Master of the Grand Lodge of lingland—a son who became head of the Craft in lingland at a very critical period in its history , and by the prompt acceptance of that exalted position saved the reputation not onl y of the Grand Lodge of lingland , but

Grand Lodge Of Canada.

of every Grand Lodge in the world , thus early showing the tact and ability that has made him not only the first gentleman in the laud , but the most popular in the British Empire . The Sovereign has given great care to all matters affecting the welfare of the empire over which she rules , and upon which the sun never sets . She lias proven to the world that she is not only a ruler in name , but one in reality . She lives in the affections and love

of her people , and not in fear , as was so fully exemplified on the 22 id day of June last , when not even more than ordinary care was taken , o ' . her than preventing her loving subjects from blocking the highway during the passage of the greatest pageant the world has ever seen , while from every part of the British possessions came representatives and their staffs to pay her homage . It is not too much to say that every Canadian feels proud of the

position given to our » representative and the welcome given to our citizen soldiers , and last , but not by any means least , our gallant soldiers belonging to the North-west Mounted Police . Canada has , for tlu first time in the history of the Dominion , been placed in the front of the self-governing Colonies , may she ever continue to retain the love , respect , and es ' . eem of the mother land . "

Bro . Gibson concluded his remarks on the Jubilee by reading the poem " Victoria , the Great , " by the Poet Laureate ( Mr . Alfred Austin ) , and , having referred incidentally to the absence of the G . Secretary ( Bro . J . J . Mason ) with the Bisley team in England , proceeded as follows : " I am happy to say that Grand Lodge is very fortunate in having the duties of Grand Secretary well looked after by M . W . Bro . Murray , who

will be ably assisted during this meeting by R . VV . Bro . R . L , Gunn . It is with feelings of the most profound regret that 1 make known to the members of Grand Lodge the unavoidable absence of M . W , Bro . Daniel Spry , Past Grand Master , through severe sickness , brought on by too ciose attention to public business . Bro . Spry's genial face and kindly grasp will be sadly missed at this communication . His ability to comprehend at a

glance the salient points of all arguments , and ( 0 enforce the same with knowledge gained by long experience , placed him in the front rank of Grand Lodge legislators . Let us individually and collectively pray that the Grand Architect of the Universe may speedily restore him to his wonted health , for no brother was more beloved by his brethren than him , whose absence from to-day ' s meeting all deeply deplored .

" In conclusion , I might be permitted , before closing , to thank the Masons of Toronto for the handsome address presented to me last September , and signed by every Ruler of the Craft in that city , upon the occasion of my first official visit . Likewise to the brethren of Belleville , Pembroke , and Kincardine for the same kind and thoughtful attention , addresses I will be proud to hand down to my children as an evidence ot

the goodwill and affection of my Masonic brethren , whilst occupying the Grand East , a position I feel prouder of than any I have ever occupied . I desire to say that whilst I have not been able to visit as many lodges as I could have wished , still , I have paid visits to nearly all the Masonic centres , and a large number of the lodges , during the intervals of my public duties , and whilst it may have interfered in some degree with my private business ,

still I have been fully recompensed by the kindness ol the brethren whereever it was my good fortune to go . To the Deputy Grand Master I am deeply indebted for the loyal support given me . To the many worshipful brethren who accompanied me on my visits I am likewise under a debt of gratitude . To M . W . Bros . Walkem , Murray , and J . Ross Robertson I am extremely thankful for the advice given to me . To the Grand Secretary , as all Grand

Masters have been , I am under many obligations , and to you , my loving brethren of the Grand Lodge of Canada , my heart goes out for all your kindness during the past 12 months . " After the reading of the address , which was received with hearty applause , a number of reports were presented and adopted after consideration . The election of ofiicers resulted as follows :

Bro . W . Gibson , M . P ., Beamsville ... ... G . M . „ li . T . Malone , Toronto ... ... ... D . G . M . „ J . J . Mason , Hamilton ... ... ... G . Sec . ,, Hugh Murray , Hamilton ... ... G . Treas .

„ Kev . u . l \ bogart , Belleville ... ... U . Chap . „ S . F . Passmore , Brantford ... ... G S . VV . „ A . A . S . Ardagh , Toronto ... ... G . J . W . „ . R . Bishop , Owen Sound ... ... G . Reg .

For the Board of General Purposes there were 20 nominations . The five elected were : Bros . W . Roaf . Toronto , 343 ; J . K . HardingJ Q . C , Stratford , 331 ; R . E . VVood , Peterboro ' , 250 ; Ii . S . Wigle , Windsor ~ J 4 o ; and W , T . Toner , Collingwood , 239 . The following were appointed to the Board of General Purposes , by the Grand Master : Bros . J . H . Burritt , O . C , Pembroke ; G . C Davies , London ;

Thos . Sargant , Toronto ; Aubrey VVhite , Toronto ; R . L . Gunn , Hamilton , D . D . GRAND MASTERS . —Bros . J . B . Rankin , Chatham , Erie , District , No , 1 ; Geo . Sutherland , Thedford , St . Clair District , No . 2 ; W . C Harris , Delaware , London District , No . 3 ; J . B . Tiernay , Blythe , South Huron District , No . 4 ; T . Pinkerton , Hdengrove , North Huron District , No . 5 ; T . R . Atkinson , Simcoe , Wilson District , No . rt ; A . G . Campbell ,

Harriston , Wellington District , No . 7 ; C . V . Emory , Hamilton , Hamilton District , No . 8 ; G . VV . Aylesworth , M . I . ) ., Collingwood , Georgian District , No . 9 ; V . H . Connor , St . Catharines , Niagara District , No . 10 ; T . W . Chappie , M . P . P ., Uxbridge , Toronto District . No . 11 ; lid . Fitzgerald , Fenclon Falls , Ontario District , No . 12 ; A . R . Hargraft , Cobourg ,

Prince Edward District , No . 13 ; VV . McNee , Kingston , Frontenac District , No . 14 ; T . A . Stayner , Brockville , St . Lawrance District , No . 15 ; G . li . Josephs , M . D ., Pembroke , Ottawa District , No . 16 ; C F . Farewell , Sault Ste Marie , A ' goma District , No 17 ; and J . Howey , M . D ., Sudbury , Nipissing District , No . iS .

The Grand Masters recommendation that the rank of Past Grand Master be confened on Bro . Kivas Tully , of Toronto , was universally commended . Thc Masonic As } lum Committee , through Bri ) . WALTER BAKU ICK , of Toronto , presented an extended report , and the Gran J Lodge authorised its continuance wilh a view to eliciting fuithcr information for the ntxt annual communication .

The remainder of the Coimnuu'ealion was occupied with the dispatch of the necessary business and the installation aud appointment ot ofiicers . Toronto wassclcctci as the next place of meeting .

UKO . LOKI ) AND LADY WAN IAGIJ have returned from Welbeck Abbey to Lockinge for the autumn .