The Grand Lodge Of England.

ample—Lodges in the county of Northumberland have an undoubted right to initiate persons residing in Scotland , and lodges in Scotland have a similar right to initiate persons residing in England . Nor can the Grand Lodge of either country complain of , or object to such a proceeding . It is for the person who seeks admittance into the order to select the lodge in which he wishes to be initiated .

AVith regard to tho second part of the question , as to the course a lodge ought to pursue that has by ifcs own act divested itself of such right , and has bound itself not to initiate any individual residing in the territory under another Masonic jurisdiction , such arrangement—not being at variance with the spirit of the constitutions under which they act—ought to be carried out faithfully ; oven though

attended at times with souio slight inconvenience . But independently of any existing arrangements , tho M . AV . Grand Master is of opinion that it is nofc desirable nor convenient that a lodge should bind itself to confine its initiations to residents in its own immediate locality ; or that ifc should only initiate persons residing over a certain territorial boundary line with the consent of a lodge working on

the other side of such line , even with the proviso—as proposed by Union Lodge—that sufficient reasons should be given for withholding such consent . And it must bo self evident , that when one lodge gives the reasons , and tlie other is to be the judge whether those reasons are sufficient , frequent difficulties and disputes arc sure to rise . In conclusionI have only to remarkthat the opinion of

, , the M . AV . GrandMaster has been communicated to the Union Lodge , and that ifc has been impressed on them , that private arrangements onco entered upon should be strictly and honourably fulfilled . Trusting therefore thafc the misunderstanding between the two lodges will soon be removed , and that each will hold

out the right hand of good fellowship to the other , ancl practice in their fullest extent brotherly love and forbearance , I have the honour to be , M . AV . Sir and Brother , fraternally yours , AVM . GRAY CLARK , G . S . EGBERT P . DUNLAP , Esq ., M . W . Grand Master of tlie Grand Loclge of Maine , Brunswick , Mc . This last letter was referred to the Committee of Foreign

Correspondence at the Annual Communication in 1858 , who thereupon submitted tho following report : IN GRAND LODGE or MAINE , ") MASONIC HALL , Portland , May 5 , 1858 . j The Committee on Foreign Correspondence , to which was referred the letter of the M . AV . Grand Master of the Grand Lodge of England , the Earl of Zetland , to M . AV . E . P .

Dunlap , Grand Master of the Grand Lodge of Maine , —having carefully considered that document , ask leave to report : —• That while they approve its courteous and conciliatory tone , they cannot view it as altogether satisfactory . Some of its positions seem to us unwarranted aud inconclusive , and adapted to perpetuate and aggravate the evils which gave rise to the complaint and correspondence . In order to a clear understanding of tho case , we must

recur to its history . Prior to 1855 , a difficulty had arisen between St . Croix Lodge at Calais , under the jurisdiction of the GrandLodge of Maine , and Union Loclge afc St . Stephen ' s , New Brunswick , under charter from the Grand . Lodgo of England , by the act of Union Lodge invading the jurisdiction of the Grand Lodge of Maine , by initiating persons under the jurisdiction of St . Croix Lodge without the consent of

that body . Complaints of this invasion of jurisdiction having been made to Union Lodge , an agreement was entered into by which the Union Lodge gave a pledge to abstain from such invasion . After repeated and aggravated violations of this pledge , complaints were made to the Grand Lodgo of Maine , and by direction of that body the Grand Master represented fche

grievance to the Deputy Grand Master for New Brunswick . In his annual address for 1857 , Grand Master True stated that , in June , 1850 , the Grand Secretary had sent him the papers , all bearing more than one year ' s date . He also stated that he had written to the Master of St . Croix Lodge , inquiring whether the difficulties still existed , and , if so , suggesting to him the propriety of having the District Deputy Grand Master , or some other brother , visit them , and , if possible , restore harmony .

His reply was , " that it was useless to attempt a reconciliation . " I , therefore , on the 5 fch day of July , 1856 , addressed a letter to AV . Bro . A . Ballock , Deputy Grand Master of New Brunswick , stating to him the difficulties existing between the two lodges in question , also copies of the papers sent me by tho Grand Secretary , and respectfully asked his aid in restoring harmony on our borders .

I have ascertained that he has received my communication , and regret to say no answer has been received . It was under this state of things that the question camo before the Grand Lodge in May , 1857 , and the report and resolutions wore adopted , directing this correspondence with the Grand Master of England . That report sets forth the facts and grievances in the case

, and closes with the following statement : — " In the meantime , as we learn from the representative of tho St . Croix Lodge , the grievances of that lodge are aggravated by the offensive action of Union Lodge in admitting persons from this jurisdiction who could not gain admission to our lodges , bufc who go over to Sfc . Stephen's and receive tbe degrees , and then return to insult Sfc . Croix Lodby their demands

ge for admission as visitors . In view of these grievances , which the Sfc . Croix Lodge have too long been compelled to bear , your Committee believe thafc our brethren of that lodgo are entitled to prompt and ample protection afc tho hands of this Grand Lodge , ivhich they propose to afford by tlie adoption of tho following resolutions : —

1 . Resolved , —That the several documents referred to in this report , lettered from A . to E ., bo placed in the hands of our M . AV . Grand Master , and that he be requested to correspond with the M . AV . the Grand Master of England , to lay before him the grievances complained of , and ask at his hands -the protection and redress of grievances so long sought for , 'and so long refused by Union Lodge , and thus

far withheld by the Deputy Grand Master of New Brunswick . 2 . R . esolved , —During the pending of this correspondence tho M . AV . Grand Master be requested to adopt such measures as he may deem necessary to afford protection and relief from the grievances complained of , and report his action on this whole subject at tho next annual communication . The report ancl resolutions were adopted , and in May , 1858 ,

M . AV . Grand Master Dunlap stated that he had " addressed a communication to tho Eight Hon . the Earl of Zetland , Grand Master of the United Grand Lodge of England , calling his . attention to a matter of difference between two lodges within our respective limits of jurisdiction . " No formal reply has yet been received from him , but I am advised bbis Grand Secretary that lie has instituted

y an investigation into tbe circumstances , and thafc his opinion will be communicated as soon as the investigation shall be completed . " That opinion we now have in the letter submitted to this Committee , ivhich is as follows : — In view of all the facts , your Committee regard this letter as a most vemnvk . ihle document .

1 . lhenrst thing wo notice is the length of time taken for investigation , and preparing tho opinion . It seems to us marvellous that in this ago of steam it should require from the llth December , 1857 , to tho 9 th July , 1858 , a period of somo seven months , to investigate the facts in this ease , and report upon them , knowing , as the Eight Hon . the Earl of Zetland must have known , thafc the evils of delay

were very serious ; and the facts in the case were very fully detailed in the correspondence . 2 . It is still more marvellous that , after this long delay , such an answer should havo been given from so exalted a source as that of tho head of the Grand Lodge of England . The facts in this case and the whole correspondence between the two lodges was before him , as ive learn from P . Grand

Master Dunlap , yet this reply has no allusion to the facts in the case , and . no censure upon a course of conduct by subordinates , which conduct this Grand Lodge deems of an aggravated character . Passing by all those facts , the Grand Master of England coolly tells us , " Tho case divides itself into too parts—first , as to the right of a lodge to initiate persons in a country under another Masonic jurisdiction ; and , secondly , what course of action a lodge ought to pursue which has by its own act divested itself of such right . " That ifc should require seven months to state