Imperial Masonic Federation.

Seventeen of this number owe political allegiance to King Edward VII . Twenty-nine others work in various European languages , ten of them Spanish . With these our present article lias nothing to do . Consider first of all the relationships existing between the

seventeen Grand Lodges to be found in our dominions at home and abroad . Nearly every one of these is the outcome of a successful rebellion . In nearly every case the history of its birth is one of discoid and suspicion and defiance on the one hand and

arbitrariness on the other . The recognition , tardily granted , has in many cases been too much like a bowing to the inevitable , rather than an act of grace . The new Grand Lodges have arrived at Masonic maturity , and exercised jurisdiction , in the full knowledge that every one of their

members was , ipso Jtielo , guilty of treason , and suspended from fraternal intercourse with English Masons , and therefore the final reception into court circles , as one might describe the act of recognition , has been somewhat like a victory after a hard tight . One result of all this has been that the sex era ! daughter Grand Lodges have at times failed to maintain an

attitude entirely filial , and the mother Grand Lodge has at times not succeeded in exacting the deference which under other circumstances would have been natural .

Thanks to the statesmanlike propositions of Bro . Philbrick , when Grand Registrar , Masonic history will not furnish such unprofitable reading again . Those propositions , to be found at the end of the last edition of the Book of Constitutions , will be too well within the recollection of readers of this journal to need recapitulation . Suffice it to sav they are

epoch-making . They have removed an evil . But to render the circle of our Masonic duties complete , it is not sufficient to remove what is bad . We must substitute what is good .

ihe legislation referred to hardl y goes far enough . It elevates the agitation for independence to the rank of a constitutional process , but that is all . Of course it is a great deal to have got rid of the expression "disloyal , " which used to be applied to the malcontents . But we now need to formulate the principles which , as a general rule , should guide the process of recognition .

L-nder the new rules , when certain conditions have been complied with , recognition cannot be denied . But it is allied with certain restrictions , as for instance the conservation of the rights and privileges of such lodges as do not wish to sever their connection with the mother Grand Lodge . The concurrent jurisdiction , in one territory ,

of English , Scottish , and Irish Grand Lodges , practically competing with that of the newly-formed local Grand Lodge is another objectionable feature which requires careful thinking about . Then ll ere are questions of Masonic extradition and other International and Imperial

questionsspeaking Masonically—which ought not to be left to chance solution dependent on the caprice of an official , or even of a board .

There is also the case , by no means rare , of Scottish , Irish , and English lodges , which have surrendered their original warrants , and have combined to form a new Grand Lodge , and which have then found some difficult } " in agreeing upon an uniform procedure . The manner in which Bro . Philbrick ' s proposalsmodest

, as they were , were received b y Grand Lodge was an indication that that august body had managed to get rid of the parochial mind with which it had previousl y approached such questions . Grand Lodge also , by inference , expressed its opinion that the more autonomy there was , the

better for the interests of the Craft . The Freemason and the lodge , in a district abroad , are subject to two conflicting ideas . The one is the feeling that local interests could be best looked after by a local government . The other is the sentiment of attachment to the

mother country , which causes any possible severance to be regarded as painful . Wh y should these two feelings be antagonistic ?

Let an Imperial Grand Lodge be created , which should provide a bond of union for all the seventeen English Grand Lodges and as many more as might be formed . Such a body would exercise jurisdiction confined to these , ll would deal with International and Imperial questions only , and would not receive nor consider appeals involving the rights or privileges of cither private lodges or private brethren .

We venture to think that one of the first results would be the disappearance from the English register of tlie various solitary lodges in different parts of tlie Ifiilish Empire , whose repudiation of the local Grand Lodge creates so much friction . When adhesion to the governing body on the spot ceased to nccersitatc C ( irplete severance from other members ot the Masonic family of Greater Britain , one of the last reasons for standing out would disappear .

Another result would be the multiplication of new Grand Lodges . There would probably be a Grand Lodge of India , for instance . The Colonial Grand Lodges would be restrained from acts—such as invasion—likely to bring about unfriendly relations with one another .

There would be an absence of conflicting decisions . The broad lines of Masonic right and wrong would be clearly defined . It will , however , be interesting to go somewhat into detail . Members of the Imperial Grand Lodge would naturally be

elected delegates from all the Grand Lodges concerned . It has often been said , when objection has been raised to the exclusion of foreign brethren from Grand rank , that even if appointed , they could not come to ¦ meetings . But this is an excuse rather than a reason . There are always , at any given time , colonial brethren of distinction in London , and when the will exists , the way will be found .

The appointment of Imperial Grand Master of all Freemasons in the British Empire need not be discussed . Masonic loyalty and civil and political loyalty would go band in hand . Meetings need not be held more frequently than once a year . Questions to be decided would be applications for

recognition and sanction of constitutions in the same manner in which by-laws receive sanction . Complaints made by one Grand Lodge against another would be determined . The apportionment of territory to confiding Grand Lodges would be another duty . Isolated lodges would

be placed under the jurisdiction nearest and most convenient for them , and in course of time the Grand Lodge of England would be able to confine her attention to the well being and ordering of her own house .

Let us conclude this article by quoting one of many anomalies at present existing . In the East Indies there are 149 English lodges , 3 6 Scottish , and 6 Irish , or 191 altogether . Including the Eastern Archipelago , there arc 6 English districts . The Most Worshi pful Grand Master of all Scottish Freemasonry in India , however , can warrant lodges in any one of these districts , as well as the Irish Grand Master .

ihese three Grand Lodges have had their tips and downs at each other ' s expense . Gould , vol . iii ., p . 335 , writes about the rise of Scottish Freemasonry in Bengal . For some cause or another English Freemasonry was dormant in 18 4 6 . Gould writes thus : — " Scottish Masonry presented such attractions that

the strange sight was witnessed of English Masons deserting their mother lodges to such an extent that these fell into abeyance , in order that thev might give their support to lodges newly-constituted bv the ( hand Lodge of Scotland . In one case , indeed , a lodge ( Perseverance ) under England itrii / over hoiiilv lo Hie enemy . "

The italics are ours , but the fact that he ( Gould ) should use such a phrase , even though in a playful sense , indicates a condition of things that could not exist under such a scheme as we have ventured to sketch .