British America.

preserve what is established ; but I wish you to receive it in its larger and more Masonic sense , which implies that there is no blind and superstitious respect for things established , simply because they are so . "Precedents , " says a learned and thoughtful brother , " have no authority unless they are founded upon principle ; " and , on the other hand , changes have no support unless they are prompted by necessity and guided by reason ; it is to such conservatism as this that our gratitude is

due , for that steady and healthy progress which Masonry is now making , which gives it a standing and character among the institutions of the age , which is rendering it daily more and more worthy of cultivation by men of intellect , and wliich must bestow upon it , as a science and a system of philosophy , a perpetuity and prosperity which its merely social and charitable character could never have secured , This kind of conservatism is the sheet-anchor on which the safety of Masoury mainly depends .

FINANCES . From the accounts submitted by that most efficient and trustworthy officer , your Grand Treasurer , it is gratifying to find that our funds are in a most prosperous and satisfactory condition . The whole amount of funds , as appears hy his ¦ hooks , is 28 , 064 , 90 dols .

CONCLUSION . And now , ray brethren , in conclusion , I have to apologize for ihe very crude and unpolished manner , in which these hastily written remarks are laid before you . The pressure of new duties , and a very recent attack of sickness , left me but a few hours iu wliich to carry out the practice , initiated by myself , ( at the commencement of our career as a Grand Lodge ) , of preparing something in the form of an address with which to

open our Annual Communication . In once more resigning into your hands the office and position with which you so often have honored me , and in requesting you now to relieve me from its cares and responsibilities . I would I had the power aud ability to express even a tithe of the fraternal love and affection I entertain for you and for Masonry ; no language at my command can convey it , I shall therefore not make the attempt .

"The temple of our purest thoughts is—silence . " May Masonry continue to flourish in all parts of the world , and jnay we , her workmen , prove equal to our profession , and worthy of our exalted privileges ; for , after all , brethren , we arc but just what our name conveys—merely builders—patiently but hopefully toiling on , and humbly following in the steps of our predecessors , trying to carry out the designs left by them on

their Masonic tressel-board , and leaving the work to be continued and perfected by those who are to come after us , rejoicing , however , in the hope that our feeble contributions of . service and of labour may lead to that glorious consummation which will secure the approving smile and ultimate reward of the Great Architect of the Universe , who is Himself the beginning and the end of all creation . Finally , my brethren , let us work while it is yet day , for " the hour cometh when no man can work . "

The Deputy Grand Masters having presented their reports , all . of which were interesting , and showed the order to be in a prosperous condition , Grand Lodge was duly closed . On the following day Grand Lodge was resumed at ten o ' clock . The attendance was again very numerous . Reports were received from the various committees , and an exemplification of the work as approved by the Grand Lodge was given .

The evening meeting was devoted to the election of officebearers for the ensuing year as follows : — R . W . Bros . A . A . Stephenson , Grand Master , Montreal ; James Seymour , D . G . M ., St . Catharines ; John W . Murton , G . S . W ., Hamilton : S . Baker , J . G . W ., Montreal .

Turkey.

TURKEY .

CONSTANTINOPLE . ORIENTAL LODGE ( NO . 687 ) . —The pioneer lodge of Turkey celebrated the Festival of St . John at the Masonic Hall , Pera on the 24 th June , W . Bro . H . Newbolt , the W . M ., ably dis charging the duties of the chair on the occasion . After th dispatch of the regular business , Bro . J . Smorfit , in compli mentary terms , proposed , and the W . M . seconded , "that a gold

Turkey.

watch of the value of thirty guineas be presented to Bro . R . A . Carleton , the Secretary of the lodge , as a recognition of his zealous services in that office during the past four years . " Bro . Carleton returned thanks in suitable terms , assuring the brethren that he felt he had not done his duty , and that their kindness placed too high a value on whatever services he might have rendered . He should always strive to the utmost of his ability to promote the best interests of the Oriental Lodge , of which

he esteemed it a peculiar privilege to be one of its earliest members , ranking as it did as the pioneer of Masonry in Turkey . The lodge was closed at au early hour in order to accommodate the Bulwer lodge meeting .

BULWER LODGE ( NO . 891 ) . —The installation of tho W . M . on St . John's day , June 24 th , at the Masonic Hall , Pera , was attended by a large number of brethren . The lodge having been duly opened , a board of installed W . M . ' s was formed consisting of the following worshipful brethren : —W . W . Evans , H . Harvey , G . Laurie , J . Smorfitt , A . Thompson , H . Newbolt , C . Green , and R . A . Carleton , when Bro . F . W . Smyth was duly installed into the chair of IC . S . After the customary salutation

the W . M . proceeded to invest the following brethren as his officers for the ensuing year : —Bros . C . La Fontaine , S . W . ; W B . Hopper , J . W . ; — G . Laurie , Treas - ; Wood , M . ] y . Sec ; — Heywood , I . G . ; Chipirote , Tyler . Bro . W . W . Evans , in a very effective speech proposed that a piece of plate of the value of £ 20 be presented to Bro . G . Laurie their worthy Treasurer for his untiring exertions to promote the prosperity of the lodge , the motion was seconded by tbe W . M . and carried by

acclamation . Bro . Laurie acknowledged the great kindness of the brethren , and expressed his determination to continue to do everything in his power to advance the interests of this most prosperous lodge . Bro . Admiral the Hon . A . Hobart , Pasha in the Ottoman service , and Bro . the Hon . Captain A . Court , Commander of H . M . S . Caradoc , having been duly ballotted for , were admitted joining members . In consequence of unavoidable circumstancesBro . His Highness Mustapha

, Fazyl Pasha was unable to attend and take his third degree as intended . It is exceedingly gratifying to be able to report the remarkably favourable position which the lodge has now attained having ^ remained in a stationary position for a lengthened period . It is but fair to give honour where honour is due , and to the exertions of Bros . Laurie , Evans , H . Harvey , A . Thompson , and the present W . M . the advance of this lodge is mainly owing . It wouldhoweverbe a great omission not to allude in

, , something more than a passing way to the valuable aid of Bro . John P . Brown , P . M ., certainly the mose accomplished member of the Craft in Turkey , the ability of the worshipful brother is only equalled by his unflagging zeal for the advancement of Masonry in the East .

LEINSTER LODGE ( NO . 166 , 1 . C . ) . —The usual celebration of St . John's Festival by this lodge came off on the 27 th June , at Buyerkdeie . After the lodge had been opened in the three degrees , a board of installed . W . M . ' s was hold when Bro . W . George was installed into the chair of W . M . for the ensuing term . The following brethren were then invested as officers : — Bros . S . Meart ; S . W . ; Beaven , J . W . ; M . Caluprorich , Treas . ; H . Neven , See . ; D . Dernarchi , S . D . ; H . Cross , J . D . ; J . Smorfitt ,

Dir . of Cirs . ; G . Aznevour , I . G .: M . Atella , Tyler , After the usual business had been dispatched , the brethren adjourned to Lapiene ' s Hotel , when a sumptuous banquet was served replete with every oriental delicacy . Bro . George , W . M ., presided , Bro . W . Costello filling the vice-chair . The W . M . Bro . His Imperial Highness Prince Napoleon , P . G . M ., of the Grand Orient of France , who had arrived in the Bosphorus on the preceding day , and who was expected to be present , was

unavoidably absent in consequence of another engagement . After the usual loyal toasts of " The Queen , " and " The Sultan " had been duly honoured , the chairman proposed the health of the M . W . ; His Grace the Duke of Leinster , G . M . of Ireland , " which was drunk with full Masonic honours , this was followed by "The D . G . M . and Grand Officers of Ireland . " "The other Grand Lodges of the World . " Bro . Haines , in very appropriate termsproposed ' Tbe Health of the W . M . " Bro Georgein

, , returning thanks , said lie occupied a position he had aspired to since he had joined the Order , and which every brother ought to look forward to as tbe object of a laudable ambition . After alluding to the exertions of his predecessors in the chair , and the flourishing state of the lodge , he concluded by proposing " The Health of Bro . Hains , the I . P . M . " Bro . Haines returned thanks . The W . M . in giving the next toast— " The Health of