The Grand Lodge Of Quebec.

mentral to the welfare of the Craft here , as well as imperilling the international peace and amity of the Fraternity . Would the Grand Lodge of England itself tolerate , or long consider as regular , private lodges of exterior or other constitution , and situated within the geographical limits of England , committing such and such like acts ? I trow not , JVLVV . Sir , but , on the contrary , I am of the opinion that in such a case the Grand Lodge of England would consider

it her duty fraternally to require that any Grand Lodge which had constituted said private lodges , should cither recall their warrants , or , failing which , the Grand Lodge of England would doubtless-take such steps as _ would put such lodges beyond the pale of her own recognition , and , if possible , that of all other regular Grand Lodges . And would it be wise , prudent , or desirable , M . W . Sir , that the Grand lodges of Quebec should , in self defence , be driven to the disagreeable necessity of exercising , in like manner , her

sovereign prerogatives . " A long period of sufferance from the evils of multiple and divided local Grand jurisdiction , under the Grand Lodge of Canada , and for upwardsof a decade of years under the Grand Lodge of Quebec , has led o ., r brethren here to the conclusion that this unhappy and unmasonicstate of affairs cannot much longer be endured and ought not longer to

be permitted to remain . " There appear to us , M . W . Sir , to be but three possible ways by either of which to terminate it : first , that the Grand Lodge of England recall and cancel . the warrants of the said lodges ; or , second , that the Grand Lodge of Quebec take such action anent them as the constitution of at least one of the mother Grand Lodges of Great Britain

and Ireland prescribes , and the customs and laws of the Fraternity , in such case , justify ; or , third , and most desirable , that these three lodges of English constitution here do become of obedience to the Grand Lodge of Quebec . " M . W . Sir , your Royal Highness may fraternally permit me to state that , since the beginning of our existence as a Grand Body , we have frequently appealed to the mother

Grand Lodge of England for the redress of these grievances , but seemingly in vain . The years of silence thcreanent on the part of the Grand Lodge of England , or the replies to our humble remonstrances , apparently translatable only by an ominous non-possitmus , are , we trust , happily passed for ever . " Knowing the great interest which your Royal Highness , as Grand Master , takes in whatever pertains to the highest

welfare of the Craft , not only in England but in every part of the empire , and having had the strongest possible proof of the deep interest of your Royal Highness in our new dominion Masonicaliy and otherwise , the officers and members of the Grand Lodge of Quebec fondly hope and confidently expect that now , under your benign reign as Grand Master of England , all these difficulties will be happily

removed , and a new era of unity , harmony , and interjurisdictional amity will be inaugurated . To strengthen our hope in the early realisation of these things , we are of the opinion that your Royal Highness , together with your eminent advisers in Grand Lodge , will hesitate to affirm that the policy of the past , anent the continuance of private lodges at their will , in distant dependencies of the empires wherein ,

like our own , a Grand Lodge has been opportunely and constitutionally established , is at all times and at all hazards to be perpetuated , especially when it is shown that the maintenance of such an impcrium in imperio is detrimental to the peace , unity , and good governance of the Craft , producing Masonic anarchy and chaos , and even imperilling , if not threatening to break off altogether , the

happy international relations which we , as true and loyal Freemasons , desire for ever to subsist between our young Grand Body and the mother Grand Lodge of England . We are of the opinion also that your Royal Highness , as Grand Master , will not deem it well that the dissent of a few score of brethren here , presuming on the support of the Grand Lodge of England , while acting as if a law unto themselves ,

shall be further allowed to run counter to the wishes and aspirations of twenty thousand loyal brethren throughout the dominion , who are in practical sympathy with the Grand Lodge of Quebec in this matter , the more especially as such ' dissent is to the great detriment of the Craft , both at home and abroad , and prevents us establishing those strong and intimate international Masonic relations with the

venerated mother Grand Lodge of England , which it is our earnest desire to have and perpetually to maintain . " I need not assure your Royal Highness that it deeply grieves us , as loyai Craftsmen , that the Grand Lodge of Quebec , having received full and unconditional recognition as a sovereign Grand Body from all the other Grand Lodges of the dominion , from nearly all the Grand Lodges

of the United States of America , from the venerable Grand Lodge of Ireland , and from every other regular Grand Lodge whose recognition wc have sought , and with the present prospects of an early , happy , and final adjustment of our relations to the mother Grand Lodge of Scotlandthat there should remain the mother Grand Lodge of England , with whom alone our Grand Lodge of Quebec has not established fraternal correspondence , relationship , and

union . " Wc sincerely trust that the Grand Lodge of England will , either by direct act or by lawful and constitutional influence , now seek to remove the anomalous and unfortunate state of Masonic affairs at present existing between our respective Grand jurisdictions , "It may , however , seem to your Royal Highness that

prudent , local efforts here ought alone to suffice to secure unity of Grand Lodge obedience within our jurisdiction ; and , if so , I may be pardoned in saying that such ere now ¦ ni ght have been secured , and might still be brought about at an early day , were favouring co-operation thereanent had from the mother Grand Lodge of Ehgland . Such maternal counsel and advice , if given , would doubtless be

cheerfull y acted upon by these lodges here of English constitution , and the day would not then be far distant when there would exist within our jurisdiction perfect unity of Grand Lodge obedience , with all its attendant blessings . " Your Royal Highness will , I trust , be pleased to observe 'hat in this our humblcstatemcntand appeal , 1 have waived the present discussion of what the Grand Lodge of Quebec

deems to be her inherent and constitutional right of exclusive sovereign Craft jurisdiction within the territorial limits ° ' this province of our dominion , as we fervently hope that the desire for peace , harmony , and international amity between the renowned mother Grand Lodge of England and 'he young , but not unworthy , Grand Lodge of Ouebec will ° f itself now prevail to secure the grand consummation so devoutl y to be desired . Pardon me , M . W . Sir , in adding that it is earnestly to

The Grand Lodge Of Quebec.

be hoped that it may not be deemed by your Royal Highness , or by the executive officers of your Grand Lodge , that what is sometimes deemed a prudent inactivity , or sometimes too confident reliance on the healing effects of time , is likely to bring about the desired end , as such , I bep- to assure you , has already had scope , and even now is , I fear , hurrying events to that point when , with Masonic

communities as well as others , patience and forbearance seem as having , in their case , measurably ceased to be virtues . Nor will , I trust , M . W . Sir , the intensity of my personal interest in this important matter , nor the seeming warmth and freedom of my expressions thereanent , be construed as other than intended to be the fraternal utterance of the ' words of truth and soberness , ' humbly and most respectfully

addressed to your Royal Highness , in devoutly seeking to avert great evil and secure great good to our peaceful and loyal Fraternity . " It may possibly appear to your Royal Highness , should you be graciously pleased to receive and peruse this my imperfect address , that I have exceeded the ordinary privilege by communicating directly with your Royal Highness on so

important a subject even ; but , if so , it is my humble request that , having given our respectful and loyal appeal your gracious attention , you may be pleased to cause this and my former humble address of March the thirtieth to be remitted , with your Royal Highness' sanction , to the proper executive officers of your M . W . Grand Lodge , for early consideration and action . " Trusting that this our fraternal petition and appeal to

your Koyal Highness , as Grand Master , may not be in vain , 1 have the distinguished honour to be , with profound esteem , loyally and fraternally , your Royal Highness' humble and obedient servant , "J OHN H . GRAHAM , " Grand Master , Grand Lodge of Ouebec . " [ LODGE - SEAL . ] Attest , " J . H . ISAACSON , " G . S . Grand Lodge of Ouebec . "

"Freemasons Hall , London , W . C , " 3 rd February , 1 SS 1 . " M . W . Bro . Dr . J . H . Graham , LL . D ., Grand Master Grand Lodge of Quebec . " M . W . Sir and Brother — " I am commanded by the Prince of Wales , M . W . Grand Master of England , to acknowledge the receipt of

the letter addressed by you to His Royal Highness , under date iCth December last ( in reply to mine of the 10 th August , 1 SS 0 ) , again urging , in strong terms , that the warrants of the three lodges still working in Montreal under this jurisdiction should be withdrawn , which letter has received the Grand Master's most serious consideration , and I am now directed to reply to the principal points contained therein .

" With reference to the objection to the remark in my letter of the 10 th August that the exemption of the three lodges was expressly stipulated for at the ' formation' of the Grand Lodge of Quebec , I am to say that it might have perhaps been verbally more correct to have used the words ' proposed recognition , ' but I am to noint that at its

formation the mother Grand Lodge of Canada could not confer upon her child an exclusive jurisdiction which she herself did not enjoy , and I may add that at the present moment there is an English lodge . No . 532 , working in the territory of the Grand Lodge of Canada , and another , No . 39 S , within that of Nova Scotia , in both cases without protest .

" Our Grand Master has received with surprise and regret the vague general charges preferred in your letter against the English lodges in Montreal , but which , not being defined , cannot of course be met or refuted . His Royal Highness can only say that should definite charges be made they will at once be investigated . " Our Grand Master desires to call your attention to the

two letters of my predecessor , dated 31 st March , 1 S 75 , and 6 th December , 1 S 77 ( copies enclosed ) , by which it will be seen that the Grand Lodge of England , on the 3 rd March , 1 S 75 , passed a formal resolution according recognition to the Grand Lodge of Quebec on certain conditions , namely , that the three lodges working under this Grand Lodge should continue to do so as long as they desired , which conditions , however , do not appear to have been

accepted , and it is therefore clearly impossible for His Royal Highness now to take any further action in the matter , or to ask Grand Lodge to rescind its own resolution . At the same time I am commanded to say that should at any time the three English lodges desire to retire from the English jurisdiction , and to place themselves under that of the Grand Lodge of Quebec , no difficulties whatever will be offered by the Grand Lodge of England to their so doing-, and they will be free to depart , shouid they be inclined .

" I have the honour to remain , M . W . Sir and Brother , yours fraternally , "SHADWELL II . CLERKE , Col ., "Grand Secretary of England . "

"The Grand Lodge of Ouebec , A . F . & A . M . " Office of the Grand Master . " " Richmond , P . O ., Canada , " March 10 , 1 SS 1 . " 'To His Royal Highness , Albert Edward , Prince of Wales , & c , & c , Most Worshipful Grand Master of the United Grand Lodge of Ancient , F ' ree and Accepted

Masons of England : " Fraternal Salutations : " M . W . Sir and Illustrious Brother , " It affords me great pleasure , respectfully and fraternally , to acknowledge the receipt , through your R . W . Grand Secretary , of a communication by command of your Royal Highness , of date February the 3 rd ultimo , in reply

to mine of date the iGth of December last , and to thank your Royal Highness for your gracious consideration of the important locai and interjurisdictional matters submitted by me . " I now beg , M . W . Sir , further to be permitted to call the attention of your Royal Highness to the following seriatim replies thereto , and also to the subsequent statements herein contained .

" In accepting the correction of the error in your former communication anent the alleged ' stipulations made by the Grand Lodge of England at the formation of the Grand Lodge of Quebec , ' Inowbeg , M . W . Sir , topointoutthatthe statement in the same paragraph , namely , that' atits formation , the Grand Lodge of Canada could not confer upon her child an exclusive jurisdiction which she herself did not enjoy , ' is , in our opinion , wholly inapplicable to the

The Grand Lodge Of Quebec.

Grand Lodge of Quebec , because the Grand Lodge of Canada conferred no right or jurisdiction whatever on the Grand Lodge of Quebec at its formation ; but , on the contrary , opposed its constitution , and sought to prevent its recognition ; although , as heretofore stated by me , she afterwards gracefully and fraternally recognised the Grand Lodge of Quebec , and interchanged representatives therewith : and it hardlv seems neccssarv . M . W . Sir . to

repeat that the Grand Lodge of Quebec was constitutionally formed without exterior consent or authority , in like manner , and by the due exercise of the same inherent rights , as were nearly all the other Grand Lodges of the worid ; and she claims the right to exercise exclusive sovereign Masonic jurisdiction within and over the whole of the territory of the Province of Quebec , which , by her regular formation , and the due lecognition and acknowledgment of so many

Grand Lodges , she lawfully and Masonicaliy occupies . " Permit me further , M . W . Sir , respectfully to assure you that the additional statement in the same paragraph , namely : ' That at the present moment there is an linglish Lodge , No . 532 , working in the territory of the Grand Lodge of Canada , ' is wholly incorrect . The said lodge , about a quarter of a century ago , became of obedience to the Grand Lodge of Canada ; and nearly ten years since its

transferred allegiance to the Grand Lodge of Ouebec , within whose territory it is situated , and is now No . 4 on our Registry . " I beg further to say , M . W . Sir , that the statement in the succeeding paragraph of the same communication , received through your R . W . Grand Secretary , ' That our Grand Master has received with surprise and regret the vague general charges preferred in vour letter acainst the

English Lodges in Montreal , & c ., ' and which , in this instance , were purposely made general , was , for several reasons , received with satisfaction by me ; first , because in my letter to your Royal Highness of ' date March 31 st , 1 SS 0 , I made , with great sorrow , a specific charge of the gravest possible nature , but which was not even alluded to , in the reply thereto received by me ; and secondly , because of our past unhappy experience , which is correctly stated in the

following , from the address of the Grand Master of Canada , in the year 1 S 64 : — ' While misunderstandings , & c , can be and are remedied on our part by a present supreme power , redress from these foreign lodges ( foreign , I mean as to jurisdiction ) , is a tedious , complicated process , if successful at last , and irregularities are not to be controlled at all . Each of these lodges acts as its own judge and jury . About three of them we have already been in difficulty ,

and are never out of danger of tivuble with each and all . 1 believe no dishonour could attach to the Grand Lodge of Canada , if , considering the practical trouble we have to encounter , were we even now to issue a notification to these lodges , such as we should have done when we took our place among the other Grand Lodges of Freemasonry . ' Such , M . W . Sir , with alternating variations , has also been the experience of the Grand Lodge of Quebec . Nor alone

is the peace and prosperity of the Craft Grand Body of this province imperilled by the existence here of these lodges of English Constitution , and nominally under the jurisdiction of the Grand Lodge of England , but the harmony and highest welfare of the bodies of every other Masonic rite here are perpetually endangered , and , judging by the past , they will be seriously injured thereby . " I pray also to be permitted to say , M . W . Sir , that I

duly note the gracious assurance , ' that should definite charges be made , they will at once be investigated . ' I trust I may be pardoned in replying thereto , by asking what substantial good would result from any ' investigation ' which did not seek for the removal of the root of the evil . ' Investigations' in England of difficulties here , would , I fear , be almost continuous , and of little practical hpnr-fir .

"Moreover , I beg to add , M . W . Sir , that the Grand Lodge of Quebec claims that she has the right , if necessity compels , of exercising exclusive jurisdiction overall Craft Masons and lodges of Freemasons within her territory . " Permit me also , M . W . Sir , to express my sincere thanks that your R . W . Grand Secretary kindly forwarded certified copies of the prior documents formally proffering recognition to the Grand Lodge of Ouebec by the Grand

Lodge of England , 'on certain conditions' therein specified . Such like conditional recognition was proffered this lodge by only one other Grand Lodge throughout the world , and both were declined . The Grand Lodge of Quebec has not accepted , nor does she purpose to accept , conditional recognition from any sister Grand Body . She holds that the acceptance of such recognition from England , by the Grand Lodge of Canada , was a virtual abandonment

of the fundamental principles maintained by Canada in its organisation , and upon which she received support and recognition from other Grand Lodges , and that the grave error in accepting thereafter such provisional recognition from England was the primal cause of nearly all their subsequent difficulties , as was asserted by the Grand Master of Canada above quoted . ' It was a great mistake we made in not determining a fixed date when there must be

exclusive jurisdiction throughout Canada , and serving a formal notice to that effect on the Grand Lodges having subordinate lodges here , that these last might be numbered and registered , and receive warrants from our Grand Lodge , or choose the alternative of dissolving . It was the natural sequence to the events occurring in and since 1 S 55 , and no compromise should have been entered intoexceptas to time . '

" M . VV . Sir , the Grand Lodge of Quebec cannot consistently , with her views of the fundamental doctrines of the Fraternity , governing the formation and prerogatives of Grand Lodges , cf her duty to the Craft within her jurisdiction , or to those numerous Grand Lodges which have recognised her as a duly constituted Grand Body , lawfully entitled to exercise cxclusiveSovereign Masonic Craft jurisdiction over the Province of Quebec , repeat the grave error

committed by Canada in accepting conditional recognition such as was proferred to Quebec by England , and thereby sanction and perpetuate divided Grand Lodge jurisdiction here , with all its attendant evils . " May it please your Royal Highness , it appears to the Grand Lodge of Quebec that the Grand Lodge of England herself inSpracticc maintains the doctrine of exclusive

sovereign jurisdiction , by absolutely ignoring and treating as if non-masonic any lodge of exterior constitution , situated within her geographical limits ; and the Grand Lodge of Scotland , by constitutional enactment , absolutely forbids , under the heaviest penalties , the recognition of , or the holding of Masonic intercourse with any lodge not of her obedience , situated within her territory , even though said