Royal Arch.

ever , that they should be careful in granting the warrant for the Chapter , so to iiirme their resolution as to show their motives for doing so , and to avoid giving offence to the Grand Chapter of Canada . He might here take the opportunity of mentioning that he had that day heard that Bro . Harrington , who was formerly Prov . G . Master for Quebec , was now Grand Master of Canada . Comp . Savage having concurred in the suggestion of Comp . Havers , the resolution was drawn as follows : —

" That the Charter for the Chapter prayed for to be attached fco the Dalhousie Loclge ( No . 835 ) , at Ottawa , be granted the Supreme Grand Chapter being of opinion that the granting of such Charter is necessary to complete the degrees of Freemasonry , and is therefore part of the privileges of a Craft Lodge , which privileges it has been stipulated ancl agreed to be secured to all Lodges holding under the Grand Lodge of England in Canada . " After a few observations from Comp . Symonds approving the

resolution , it was put and carried unanimously . The report of the General Committee of Grand Chapter was then read . It merely recommended the funding of £ 200 , making the funded property £ 2 , 000—that certain charters prayed for should be granted—ancl that the members of seventy-four Chapters who have made no returns to Grancl Chapters for some years , and who have been twice summoned by the General Committee to make such returns , should be called upon to show cause why the

Chapters should not he erased . Charters were then granted to be attached to the Loclge of Hope and Persevarance ( 1084 ) , Lahore , East Indies , to be called the Punjab Chapter , with Comps . Sandiman of Z , O'Brien H , and Ball J . Lodge of Fraternity ancl Perseverance ( No . 760 ) , Benares , East Indies , to be called the Mount Zion Chapter , with Comps . Devereux as Z , Hunter . H , Cant J . Loclge of Australasia ( No . 773 ) , Melbourne , to be called the Victorian Chapter with Comps . Jerrold as Z , James H , and Brotherton J .

The Lily Lodge ( 1122 ) , Richmond , Surrey , to be called the Lily Chapter with Comps . Cottrell as Z , Dr . Nolan II , ancl Fairbairn J . The Charter of the Maitland Chapter ( No . 804 ) , granted on the 3 rd August , 1859 , having been destroyed by the Comp . to whom it was entrusted , having placed it in an iron safe buried in tbe earth to which water obtained access , it was resolved that a new Charter he issued , the one so spoiled having been returned . The Grancl Scribe E . then read the list of Chapters , which have

nofc made the requisite returns , as follows : —No . 47 Hastings ; 51 Birmingham ; 52 Manchester ; 60 Norwich ; G 4 Arundel ; 89 Falmouth ; 92 Middleton ; 98 London ; 99 Guernsey ; 104 Barbadoes ; 130 Preston ; 133 Colne ; 157 Bridgewater ; 161 Wooler ; 173 AVarrington ; 179 Wakefield ; 181 Preston ; 186 Rochford ; 189 Manchester ; 232 Barbadoes ; 235 Dover ; 298 Doncaster ; 310 Liverpool ; 312 Barnstaple ; 316 Coventry ; 325 Madras ; 334 Macclesfield ; 336 Blackburn ; 337 Berkeley ; 339 Boston ; 350

Lancaster ; 352 Hasliiigden ; 366 Cambridge ; 370 Nantwich ; 373 Sheffield ; 374 Lincoln ; 378 Alcester ; 383 Beccles ; 384 Leeds ; 385 Hebden Bridge ; 387 Gosport ; 402 Mottram ; 405 Stockport ; 421 Marple ; 429 Preston ; 434 Mellor ; 447 Jamaica ; 448 Jamaica ; 449 Jamaica ; 450 Jamaica ; 458 St . Thomas ; 459 Sherborne ; 473 Cape of Good Hope ; 478 Pacliham ; 481 Clitheroe ; 496 Canada AA est ; 541 Demerara ; 546 Bombay ; 550 Allahabad ; 570 New Brunswick ; 595 Longtown ; 597 Reading ; 628 Madras ; 660

Burslem ; 668 Parramatta , N . S . AVales ; 683 Haverfordwest ; : 727 AVakefield ; 731 Montreal ; 735 Canton ; 761 Agra , E . I . ; 798 Toronto ; 817 Rocking ; 831 Madras . On the motion , that the principals of the Chapters above-named he called upon , to show cause why the Chapters should not be erased , a conversation took place in whicli it was stated , that many of the Chapters were in working order , though there had been no exaltations for some years , and in reply to a question , the Grancl Scribe E . stated , that some of the Chapters had made no returns since 1824 , ancl the latest return made by any of those in the list was 1856 .

Comp . Savage was astonished to see some of the Chapters in the list . He had installed in Chapter 51 ; Birmingham , only two or three years since , and signed the return . AVhen were the last returns made ? The G . Scribe E . —In 1851 . ( Laughter ) . Comp . Nelson made similar inquiries relative to two or three Chapters in AVest Yorkshire , which he stated he knew to be working though there had been no exaltations for some ten or twelve years .

In the course of some further conversation it was suggested that it was from a want of exaltations the returns were not made , and that thoso Chapters who had made returns within the last three or four years should not be included in the list , upon which Comp . AVarren read extracts from the regulations of the Royal Arch , showing that Chapters were liable to erasure if they ceased to meet for two years ; or if they did not make annual returns of the principals installed and of members ceasing to subscribe . It was suggested

Royal Arch.

that as some of the Chapters were in the East Indies ancl other distant colonics , the time for showing cause should be extended to six months , and ifc was ultimately resolved that the various Chapters should show cause why they should not be erased by the Grand Chapter meeting in February next . Comp . Nelson , AVest Yorkshire , then said , it was with feelings of great diffidence that he rose to a reduction of the fee for

propose exaltation from £ 3 3 s . fco £ 2 2 s . He had been somewhat taken to task by the principals of Chapters in his district for not having supported the motion of Comp . Havers for the reduction to £ 1 Is ., on the last occasion . He felt that the fee of £ 3 3 s . was too high , and in the provinces that was the general opinion . He now moved that it be reduced to £ 2 2 s ., having reason to believe that in some instances the lawas it at present existedwas evadedand

, , , that in many places exaltations did not take place owing to the expenses . Comp . Adlard seconded the resolution , believing that ifc ivould tend to the advantage of Royal Arch Masonry . Comp . Savage deprecated the practice of bringing forward almost identically the same resolution as had been negatived on the last occasionand expressed an opinion that some law ought to exist to

-, pre vent the same question being raised within a given period . He did not believe that the reduction of the fee would be beneficial to the degree , or that a Brother was ever kept out of the Arch by its amount , as that was only a small portion of the expenditure—tho regalia being more costly than tlie fee . Upon the motion being put , i t was negatived . Comp . Nelson then brought forward a resolution relative to tho

clothing of Prov . Grand Officers , but owing to the manner in which it was worded , appearing to involve the principle of making tho Grand clothing and Prov . Grancl clothing identical , it was nofc seconded . The Grancl Chapter was then closed in form , and the Comps . separated .

Canada.

CANADA .

GRAND LODGE . THE fifth Annual Communication of this Grancl Lodge commenced afc Ottawa on the 9 th July , ancl was attended by over 200 Brethren , representing 92 Lodges . At high twelve the Grand Master , Col . AVm . Mercer Wilson took the seat on the throne , surrounded by the D . G . M ., P . D . Dist . G . M's ., and the D . Dist . G . M ' s ., and ail the active officers of the Grand Loclge . After the usual ceremonies of opening the Grand Lodge , the Grand Chaplain the Rev . Bro .

J . Scott , of Dunham , C . E ., supplicated the aid of T . G . A . 0 . T . U . The reading of the rules and regulations of Grand Loclge , ancl a portion of the minutes of the last Annual Communication , ancl the subsequent special ones , and their adorition , occupied some time , after which lengthy , ancl in some cases , voluminous reports were read from the D . Dist . G . M ' s . ancl referred to the usual Committee . The Grand Loclge adjourned at half-past 3 , to meet again afc 7 o'clockP . M .

, On assembling in the evening , the Grand Master delivered his annual address , and it was listened to with marked attention and interest . The following is the address , omitting only those portion referring to mere local regulations . It gives me much pleasure again to meet the Representatives of the Canadian Craft , assembled in their annual Convocation ; ancl

while I reflect with mrmmglecl satisfaction aud delight upon the fact that during the year that has now passed away , nothing has occurred , either to mar our harmony , or to interrupt our peaceful progress , I am sure I but express the feeling common to every member of this grancl body , when I say , that to God , and to him alone , are we indebted for the peace , happiness ancl prosperity , which has thus far attended our efforts , ancl blessed our labours with greatful hearts , and clue solemnity , we would , therefore ,

earnestly entreat our common Father , to continue to us his protection , blessing and guidance . AVe should never forget , that " wherever we are , and whatever we do , His all-seeing eye is upon us , " and this thought should not only be ever present to our minds , but should influence us in our thoughts , words , and actions . The great aim of Masonry , as I understand it , is to cultivate and improve the mind , and to impress upon its votaries , the solemn truth that there is an omnipotent , omniscient and ever-living God ,

who rules ancl governs all . In the interesting ancl beautiful ceremonial of our Order , we are constantly reminded of this great and important truth , ancl also that the same Mighty Power , that fashioned ancl sustains the Universe , created also the mind of man , bestowed upon him a thinking , a reasoning , ancl a feeling nature , placed him in a universe of wonders , endowed him with faculties to comprehend them , and enable him to rise by his meditations to a knowledge of their divine origin , " to look through nature up to