Canada.

ing political sentiments , that lead to civil war anel carnage ; but as Masons we hope the clay will never come when our lodge rooms will be closed against a worthy brother on account alone of political opinions . " South Carolina , by the mouth of her Grand Master , is singularly impressive in warning that all Masons are to be met with all due and regular intercommunications , " whether met in lodges dedicate , or only known by divers means , in darkness or light , in health or sickness , in wealth or

want , in peril or safety , in prison , escape , or freedom , in charity or evil mindedness , armed or unarmed , friend or seeming foe . " Brethren , this is as it should be—true Freemasonry ! I now return home again , anel , first , it is my melancholy duty to report the departure from amongst ; us of several brethren . It has pleased God that their labour should cease and they be at rest , since we met last year . I cannot give you their names in detailbut one of the members of the Grand LodgeI am

, , told , left his family in very destitute circumstances . I felt it to be incumbent on me to afford some temporary relief to his suffering widow , leaving ifc to you to adopt additional measures , if , upon inquiry , fchey were found necessary . The Grancl Registrar brought to my notice the condition of the wife of the late Reverend Bro . Falloon , chaplain of his lodge . He has left a large , yovmg family , and their straitened circumstances demand consideration . The above case was specially made

known to me , and I should be wanting in my duty if I failed to take this early occasion of mentioning it to Grancl Lodge . I have , . during the past year , to the best of my ability , examined into and arranged the matters referred to me for final adjudication . I have acted conscientiously I know , anel I believe justly . M . W . Bro . Stephens , I am glad to say , is in possession of his well-earned testimonialand the jewel ordered

, by your resolution last year is ready for presentation to your Grand Pursuivant , a most deserving officer . After clue consideration , I am determined fco be in no hurry in the appointment of a special committee fco report upon the Masonic Districts , with a view to reconstruction , & c , thinking that lodges or brethren , if they really desired a change , woulel open some kind of communication with me on the subject ; hut I have not received a single word , and , therefore , remembering the former

pains in dividing the districts , and tho already large number of Grand and Past Grand Officers , I concluded to let well alone , and the matter remains intact . Many dispensations have been asked of and granted by memany Constitutional queries have been propounded anel replied to —and various minor complaints I have endeavoured to dispose ¦ of satisfactorily ; my object being at all times to save Grancl Lodge , whose time is of too much consequence to be diverted

from matters of real importance . The revision of our Constitution has to be resumed from where we left off , and in connexion with this I may mention that I have been repeatedly asked by lodges for authority to elect a Master for a third year , and also to initiate candidates in one lodge , his place of residence being nearer to another . I really hope that the clauses of the Constitution , rendering these applications necessary , will be repealed . My opinion ( of

course an individual one only ) is , that when a lodge has secured . a good Master it should have the privilege of keeping him in ¦ office . I think the English Constitution alone restricts the period . And I do think also , that the candidate who resolves to run the gauntlet of the ballot and inquiry , of his own free will • and accord , should of right be allowed to choose fche lodge in which to incur the risk , anel be welcomed into our Order by friendswho take a personal interest in himand areas ifc were

, , , , more immediately concerned in his proving a credit to the Craft , instead of light dawning upon him probably amidst comparative strangers . Wherever an objection has come to my knowledge it ha ? been one of £ s . d ., and I believe the law to belong to this continent alone . Dissatisfaction exisits with respect to the present law of " Honorary Members . " It is nofc clear . The privilege is generally conferred on old members , and their lodges wish naturally to make ifc as ample a privilege as possible , not

only as a mark of esteem , bufc as orre method of appreciating past services . That this is a right inherent in the lodge itself , there is no doubt , and 1 would recommend adding to the end of the clause which enacts that honorary membership does not give the " right" of voting , the words—" except it'be so especially declared by open vote of the loelge at the time of election , " or to that effect . There are two subjects I think ifc necessary to submit likewise for the consideration ofthe Grand Lodge , with a view to some

remedial measure being determined upon . The first is fche qualification of Masters of Lodges . I have been told that in some lodges even the proper ceremony of opening and closing is nofc understood , and the appointment of Grand Lecturer has been suggested , to be elected by Grancl Lodge , and classed amongst the officers and paid a salary . It is not to be expected that District Deputy Grand Masters , who have plenty of other Masonic business , beside their own private avocations to attend

to , can spare the necessary time , however much they may have the inclination , thoroughly and systematically to instruct lodges in the proper working . The second subject I mention most in the light of a caution than otherwise . I am afraid , from what I hear , that there is nofc sufficient precaution observed in the admission of foreign visitors , and joining members to our lodges ; that there is too much of what I call taking things for granted . Now , in these troublesome times , more especially , very great

circumspection is absolutely necessary , anel no test can he too severe to establish recognition and good standing . The examination should nofc be allowed to degenerate into one of mere form , and the exhibition of a certificate that all is right and on fche square should be rightly insisted on . Incalculable mischief may result from carelessness , not alone to ourselves , but to others , and Freemasonry be brought into disrepute , not to speak of differences arising with , and complaints preferred by other Masonic

bodies , for the unfortunate admittance into one lodge generally acts as a voucher of character into others and the evil continually multiplies . The Reports of the Board of General Purposes , and of the several District Deputy Grand Masters will furnish you with full information respecting your general finances , Fund of Benevolences , Investments , & c , and also of the general condition of local Masonry throughout your jurisdiction . I think I have forgotten nothing of general interest .

Breaches of Masonic law have occurred on the part of lodges , rendering them liable to much censure , but , believing as I do , that they have been perpetrated in haste , and under a feeling of excitement at the time , and are nofc likely again to occur , I am desirous that they should sink into oblivion , and be as things that never were . My brethren , I would , in conclusion , once again , as I did last year , invite you fco reflect on the signs of fche times . You may

be required , sooner than any of us think , to give up peace and comfort for danger anel distress . The European horizon is by no means a clear one . The final effect upon us of the unfortunate civil war still raging in the neighbouring states cannot yet he foretold , or even guessed afc . Ifc is for us , therefore , to try and keep our houses in order , to perform our allotted tasks while it is yet day , and then we shall . bo quite prepared to do our duty as men and Masons , in any way we may be called upon ,

never forgetting that , in peace or tumult , the aim of ouv ancient and honourable Order is the cultivation of morality and virtue , anel practical benevolence and charity to all mankind . In the carrying on of this design Masonic statistics state that there are , in both hemispheres , some 9 , 000 lodges , and probably three million and a half of members , more or less active . That our motives anel acts are miserably misconstrued is not our faultthe fact that they are so is ever brought home to our very

thresholds . In an article stated to have appeared in what is called the Secret Journal of Freemasons , on the continent of Europe , and republished by a newspaper afc Toronto , very recently , and which I cannot resist quoting , though its absurdity is quite manifest , our Oreler is made to foster political plots and revolutionary proceedings . Italian Freemasonry is said to be especially occupied with politics . Lord Palmerston is made to " recall the British Ambassadorbecause

, the lafcfcer supported tire Italian Lodges in acquiring independent self-government , thereby annihilating the secret English tribunal in Italy . " And it is then seriously stated , that "the English Lodge had hael the grief of seeing the Grand Lodge of Canada separate itself from the Thames and the political differences which have arisen between Great Britain and Northern America aboufc Canada are directly connected with this lodge affair . " I am stated , by name , to have excommunicated two

English Lodges and one Irish , and an alliance between Canada anel the United States , is described to have been sealed by reciprocal visits and meetings . " Whether you will deem ifc expedient to notice such slander , I know not ; I give ifc a place to show that we are not afraid of the poison—fche best antidote is our own conduct . We know that the avoidance of political topics and discussions is one of our landmarks , nofc to be defaced or removed . May peace be with us and our country ; may our Great