The Approaching School Elections.

( SOUTH WALES , E . D . ) , also a last case , with 68 7 votes ; and No . 22 ( NORTHUMBERLAND ) , with 91 votes . Nos . 29 ( CORNWALL ) , 33 ( WARWICKSHIRE ) , 3 6 ( HERTFORDSHIRE ) , 3 8 ( MIDDLESEX ) , 42 ( LINCOLNSHIRE ) , 45 ( WEST YORKSHIRE ) , 47 (

NORTHUMBERLAND AND SOUTH WALES , E . D . ) , and 49 ( DORSETSHIRE AND KENT ) , are all of them new cases , without any previous experience of the ballot . Of the whole 49 children there are three that have both parents living and two that have

lost them both , while all the others are fatherless . In some 16 cases thc fathers are returned as having contributed to our Institutions , while in more than half of them they held office in lodge , and in a few instances in Provincial Grand Lodge also .

It remains for us to impress upon those of our readers who are not committed to tlie support of any particular child or children the desirability of placing their votes and interest at the service of those candidates who , if they fail at this election ,

will disappear from the lists altogether . Of these there arc four on the Girls' list , namely , Nos . 1 , 3 , 10 , and 13 ; and on the Boys' list six , namely , Nos . i , 13 , 14 , 16 , 31 , and 39 . With

these nine children it is a case of being elected now or never , and we do most sincerel y hope that the whole of them will be relumed among the successful .

Freemasonry In Canada.

FREEMASONRY IN CANADA .

Alread y during the present year there have been held three principal meetings , the Grand Chapters of Canada ( Province of Ontario ) and Quebec having met in annual convocation ancl the Grand Lodge of Quebec in annual communication during the latter part of January . The 40 th annual gathering of the Royal

Arch Masons of Canada took place atthe Masonic Hall , Toronto , on the 26 th of that month , under the presidency of Comp . WALSH , M . E . Grand Z ., who was supported b y Comps . W . G . REID , Grand II . ; G . V . SllEI'LEY , Grand J . ; J . Ross ROBERTSON , R . B . HUNGERFORD , J : J . MASON , KIVAS TULLY , and J . E .

HARDING , Q . C , Past Grand Zs . ; TllOMAS SARGANI , Grand Scribe E . ; E . W . CASE , Grand Prin . Soj . ; lluc . ll MURRAY , Grand Treas . ; and a number of Grand and Past

Grand Officers , Grand Superintendents , and the representatives of private chapters . Thc feature of the proceedings was the address of the Grand Z ., in which he reviewed the position of Royal Arch Masonry during the past year and recounted what he had done in his official capacilv . He congratulated the

meeiing on having obtained such handsome premises , expressed regret that the Scottish Royal Arch chapters in British Columbia had declined lo unite their fortunes with the ( irand Chapter , referred in terms of satisfaction to the centenary celebration of Royal Arch Masonry in Kingston in June of last year , and

suggested the formation of a Grand Chapter that should embrace all the Grand Chapters now existing in the Dominion . Thc Grand Principals , with the ( irand Scribe IC . and Grand Treasurer , were re-elected to office and a sum of 1000 dollars

was voted to the Hospital for Sick Children . Comps . J . Ross ROBERTSON and J . J . MASON were appointed a Committee lo determine the conditions on which the so-called ( irand Chapter of Ontario should surrender and become amalgamated with the Grand Chapter of Canada .

Comp . J . B . TRESIDDER , Grand Z ., presided at the 25 th annual meeting of the Grand Chapter of Quebec , whicii was held in the Masonic Hall , Montreal , on the 25 th January . Afler referring lo the part played b y the Montreal chapters in the Masonic celebration of the QUEEN ' S Diamond Jubilee , lhe Grand Z . expressed

his belief that Royal Arch Masonry in Quebec was in a prosperous condition . Hehad not been called upon to constitute any new chapters , but the membershi p of many of those alread y established had been greatl y strengthened , and tin ' s he regarded as a favourable sign , a few strong chapters composed of enthusiastic

workers being , in his opinion , of greater value than a number of weak ones . He complained of tlie dilatoriness in makin- 1-their returns of many of the Scribes E . and Treasurers , who appeared to think they had done their dul y if they sent in their

particulars the day before , or even on the day itself , appointed for the meeting of Grand Chapter , regardless of the trouble they put the Grand Scribe E , and Grand Treasurer lo b y their

Freemasonry In Canada.

dela )' . Thc Grand Principals for the current year are Comps . B . TOOKE , Grand Z . ; H . LE ROY FULLER , M . D ., Grand IT . ; and GEORGE 0 . STANTON , Grand J . Tlie Grand Lodge of Ouebec met in thc same building the

day following G . Chapter , the presiding officer being Bro . E . T . D . CHAMBERS , M . W . G . M ., who , in the course of his address , referred to the leading events which had occurred during the past year . He spoke in warm terms of the loyal manner in which

the QUEEN ' S Diamond Jubilee had been celebrated , not onl y in Quebec , but throughout the length and breadth of the British Empire . He expressed his belief that the Craft in his jurisdiction had acquired great strength , and referred at length

to the action of the Grand Lodge of Peru in removing thc Volume of thc Sacred Law from its proper p lace in the Grand and private lodges of lhat jurisdiction , citing more especially the course pursued bv the Grand Lodge of Nevv York in

consequence towards Peruvian Alasonry , and recommending lhat the intercourse ! previously existing between the Grand Lodges of Quebec and Peru should cease and determine . Bro . CHAMBERS also explained the circumstances connected with thc

establishment of a clandestine lodge in Montreal under a warrant from the Grand Orient of France , and the reasons which had led him to issue an edict of non-intercourse with that

irregular body . Before the session terminated , Bros . CHAMBERS and J . II . ISAACSON were re-elected Grand Master and Grand Secretary respectively .

Freemasonry In Ireland

FREEMASONRY IN IRELAND

The publication of the ' •Irish Freemasons Calendar and Directory for the year 1 K 9 S" otters an opportunity for a few words to be said on thc condition of this ably managed Grand I . odge . It is not often that a change occurs in the chief Officers of this Grand Lodge , but lately , owing to the resignation of the R . W . Bro . R . W . Shekleton , Q . C , as D . G . M ., and other causes , several alterations have taken place in the List . The R . W . Bro . J . C . Meredith , LL . D ., has become the D . G . M .

The numerical roll of Lodges has not been re-arranged for nearly a century , the lapsed numbers being filled in by new lodges , so that although there are but 4110 lodges on the Register , the latest number remains at a few over a thousand , viz ., 1009 , as it was in iSij , and all the Warrants issued since then have been placed in vacant numbers . This is an awkward plan for chronological purposes or as respects seniority , for over

one-half of the existing lodges have been chartered since 1 S 13 , many being of the last 20 years or so . The Grand Master's I . odge , at the head of the Roll , dates from 1 749 ( that in England following , 10 years later ) , No . I , Cork is credited to A . D . 1731 , and No . 2 , Dublin , to 1727 , two of the oldest lodges in the world , but No . 3 , Cork , is of A . D . 1 S 0 S , and No . 4 , Dublin , was started in 1 S 25 . Of the first 50 lodges , 43 date from this century , some being so recent as the present decade .

Dublin has 38 lodges , the Provinces in Ireland , 13 in all , have 316 , and there are 42 scattered Abroad ( seven being in New Zealand , and 22 in Queensland , under Prov . G . Lodges ); two each are located in South Africa , West Indies , and Western Australia ; three in Ceylon j and one each in

West Africa , South Australia , Gibraltar , and Malta . Some of the Home Provinces are very large , Antrim heading thc list with 95 lodges , and Down making a good second , with ( it . There are also six lodges in Military Corps , but in this respect the difference is great compared with the many scores early this centuiy .

The Royal Arch chapters number 160 , his Grace the Duke of Abercorn being the M . E . K . There is a Deputy K ., the 2 nd Principal being the H . P ., and the 3 rd of the trio is named Chief Scribe , partaking in part of the Capitular System of the U . S . A ., and differing considerably from England and Scotland in the titles of the principal officers . The numbers of the

chapters are those of their corresponding lodges , as in England , apparently , but whether absolutely so required I cannot find stated in the Regulations . The Great Priory of Ireland , having as its Grand Master H . R . H . the Duke of Connaught , G . C . T ., has 43 preceptories on its Roll , 12 being in the City of Dublin , the remainder being held in Ireland .

The "Ancient and Accepted Rite" of Ireland is peculiarly circumstanced , and quite different to elsewhere , the 13 Rose Croix chapters being under a separate and distinct Grand Chapter ; the Supreme Council , 33 1 having charge of the Degrees from the 19 " to the 33 , of which the 2 S' is prominently supported , as well as the 30 to the 33 " inclusive . Freemasonry in Ireland is , undoubtedly , both popular . and rigidly select , especially in the " Higher Degrees . " VV . J . HUGHAN

Consecration Of The Loggia Italia, No. 2687.

CONSECRATION OF THE LOGGIA ITALIA , No . 2687 .

Oiie of the most interesting , and certainly one of the most successful , Masonic functions recently held was the cansecration of thc above lodge , at the Hotel Cecil , Strand , on the 17 th instant . The lodge has been started 10 enable Italian brethren to perform the various ceremonies in their native tongue , and also to prove that it is possible for a man to be a good Italian , a