Grand Priory Of Canada.

with the addition of further preceptories requiring additional supervision . I have prepared a charge to be delivered to the Provincial Priors , setting forth at some length the duties of their high office . In a Dominion of such vast territorial extent as Canada , it can only be by a distribution of authority that a clue supervision can be maintained . In their several Districts or Divisions the Provincial Priors

represent the authority of the Grand Prior , and the subordinate Preceptories are not so numerous but that at a comparatively small sacrifice of time all may be occasionally visited , and the regularity of the work , the observance of the Statutes , and a greater interest in the Order , prompted

both by example and precept . I am sure these administrative officers will thus give me their hearty co-operation in my endeavour to lay the foundations of our Grand Priory ou such true principles , that it may prove worthy of its approaching

high position of being erected into a National Great Priory , co-equal with those of the beloved mother land—this charge is printed as an appendix to my address . I regret to find that some of our Preceptories have failed to make their returns ,

namely , the " King Baldwin , " Belleville , " Moore , " Peterborough , " Mount Calvary , " Orillia , "Palestine , " Port Hope , and " Richard Cceur de Lion , " London , while the '' Harington , " of Trenton , is under virtual suspension—it is hoped this neglect has been or will be sit once attended

toit will be one of the subjects , as well as many others calculated to ujfliokl the credit as well as the interest of all , which will fall under the supervision of the Provincial Priors .

I lately granted a preliminary warrant to open a Prceptory at the village of Dunville , Ontario , under the name of the " St . Bernard de Clairveaux , " in the district of the Grand Chancellor , who constituted the Preceptory and installed as Eminent Preceptor Sir Kt . W . H . Braund , with every prospect of its being a flourishing addition to the Order .

On the 23 rd of January last I granted a dispensation to remove the Sussex Preceptory and Priory of Stansted to the village of Dunham , Province of Quebec , when I consecrated the Preceptory and installed as F . Preceptor Sir Kt . Edson Kemp .

By-laws for this latter Preceptory have been carefully got up and printed , after having been subjected to the most thorough revision , in which all the recent changes in the Order are embodied , with directions for the duty of the Registrar and the requirements of aspirants ( candidates ) .

I strongly recommend these by-laws to the notice of Preceptors , as I regret there appears to be a want of interest shown in details , many of the preceptories still adhering to old forms and names , although I had hoped the circular issued in April

, 1873 , had fully explained the changes now become law , S ' rom some instances that have come under my notice , the statutes of the Order do not appear to have been fully complied with , and in one Preceptory a most irregular and improper proceeding

took place , viz ., after the ballot had been twice passed and the candidate rejected it was directed by the Preceptor to be passed a third time , thus leaving an impression that it had been previously arranged by every means to insure the election against

the express wish of some of the members . By such proceedings the Order becomes discredited , and from want of a judicious and proper selection of its members sinks in value and opinion , as it frequently happens that it is bestowed without any kind of reasonable motive or clue consideration

, but solely to content idle curiosity or for the sake of good fellowship . The popularview taken , would seem to be , that , as Freemasonry is a public institution we have no right to refuse any one who comes with fair credentials . This is a great fallacy .

The Order of the Temple , necessarily circumscribed in numbers , is a select brotherhood , and we have no right to admit into it those whom we would not willingly introduce into our own families . The ceremony of constituting a

preceptory and the installation of officers and of opening and closing preceptories I have had re-arranged , with the able assistance of the " Sub-Prior , " and the proper steps will be taken for their distribution to the heads of the Order for the information of

all the members . My correspondence during the past year with various portions of the Order in England , Ireland , and the United States has been most satisfactory , and testifies to the interest taken everywhere in the ad van-