Antithesis.

with their own . For nearly as long the subject of the fostering of invasion of our great country within the precincts of the other have caused heart burnings and jealousies which appeared irreparable . Kindred race has been set against

kindred race , the children of common parents against their own . Months back , when the Joint Hig h Commission met , what was the general prophecy concerning their deliberations ? Why , that there would be much talk and little work

done , a good deal of debate and no result attained . The American people and politicians , on the one hand , were believed to be too much bent upon demanding concessions which the pride of England would never allow her to grant : while on the

other side , it was held that the United States would never be willing to allow that they had proceeded upon false premises with regard to the disputed points in the Ashburton treaty , or in any matter having to do with the Canadian fishing

privileges , and would support their course in reference to the Fenian Raids through thick and thin . The bitterness upon all these subjects has been extreme , and the most sanguine amongst us have often despaired of any settlement being

arrived at , Avithout a war which should cut tlie Gordian knot , tied fast by diplomacy . But now we hear , and can well believe , that an arrangement has been come to on all the points in serious dispute . We are given to understand that

each side has consented to view the matter m contest fairly , and in the fraternal spirit in which nations owning the same orig in should justly view their mutual grievances . Great Britain acknowledges plainly that she was to blame for allowin g

the " Alabama" to escape from Liverpool , and that she is , consequently , rig htly indebted in a certain sum for the compensation of those who suffered by her depredations . And this very readiness to own wrong-doing has set the

American Commissioners , who mig ht otherwise have been sufficiently obdurate , to consider whether the United States can fairly asseverate that they have been in no fault . Can they conscientiously declare that they did all that a friendly power should have

done to avert the afflictions of the Fenian raids ? Laying the headland question on one side , can they heartly believe that their petty peevish conduct when the Reciprocity Treaty was abrogated , and refused to be reviewed , was justifiable ? They cannot ; and they are fairly and squarely inclined

to meet the British and Canadian Commissioners half-way . " You yield so much , " they say , practically , " we will give up so much , and will call it square , " what could be more satisfactory ? Longstanding rancour is removed , and harmony

restored . Need we look for a cause for all this t Let us find the manifestation of it in the reception given , in all brotherly love and kindness , to Earl de Grey and Eipon , Most "Worshi pful Grand Master of Free and

Accepted Masons of England , by the Grand Lodge of Masons of the District of Columbia , ou the 10 th inst ., and the sentiments of accord there , almost officially , expressed . We may have had some slight occasion to difier with the Grand Lodge of Columbia on certain poinis , but we cannot too sincerely greet

their successful endeavours in the cause of concord , nor too heartily congratulate the Masonic order upon the reconciliation which their organisation has been the means of effecting between the two greatest peoples ofthe world , whose estrangement at one time appeared to be irreconcileable . ( In conclusion , we can hardly do better than reproduce the abstract of the speech of

R . W . Bro . Sir John A . Macdonald , ) who not unjustly styles himself our representative , upon the happy occasion . E . W . Bro . Sir John A . Macdonald said he found his welcome as warm as the weather . He had the pleasure of attending the centenary of the Masonic

lodge of one of the oldest and most renowned regiments of the British army , where it was stated that during the revolutionary war the Masonic chest containing evidences of their existence as a lodge , was captured by a vessel of the American navy , and , although they had given it up as lost , Bro . George

"Washington , commanding the armies of the United Slates , did not forget lie was a Mason , and returned it in the most cordial and friendly way . I will bear back to Canada the grateful remembrance of this evening . In the backwoods of Canada the Masons of my country will read with pleasure and gratitude of

the honour conferred upon him who may be said to be their representative here to-nigh fc . No war , no disagreement , no political collision , can ever alienate the brothers who are bound together in Masonic Union . —Craftsman , ( Canada ) .

The corner stone under the old Masonic Hall , of Indiana , has been dug up , and the contents disclosed . The stone was originally laid in 1821 , and consequently has been buried for nearly fifty years . It is the intention of the Building Committee to place the same stone under the new hall , together with its contents . Two persons stood upon the ground to see it excavated that were present at the original laying of this corner stone .