Grand Lodge—The Canadian Question.

hitherto received there had been continual references to the Provincial Grand Lodge of Canada AVest ; whilst Quebec , in which Ave still possessed a Provincial Grancl Master—appointed , be it remembered , on the nomination of the Brethren themselves after the resignation of Bro . Harington—was never alluded to .

AVhen , therefore , we saw upon the business paper that the Most Worshi pful Grand Master intended to make a communication to Grand Lodge upon the subject of Canada—and being aware of the nature of tho resolutions which had been arrived at by the Grand Lodge held at Toronto , though not of the truly fraternal communication which

the Most AVorshi pful Grand Master had received from the Grand Master of Canada—wc felt no doubt that it would be of a nature to t settle all differences of opinion , and to enable us to congratulate our Canadian Brethren that they were again at one—though under different government—with those of England .

Our surprise—nay , our regret—was therefore indeed great Avhen we heard Bro . Portal ( who with his friends have shifted positions from the top of Grand Lodge to the left of the Most AVorshipful Grancl Master to the bottom or gangway ) moving for the non-confirmation ofthe minute of recognition , on the ground that the Canadian Brethren

had refused to accept it ; and that , too , whilst he hold tho official resolutions in lu ' s hands , certified , as he informed us , by tho signature of Bro . Harington , the late Deputy Provincial Grand Master of Quebec ; in fact suppressing the first part of the resolutions , to argue upon the latter portion claiming more extended jurisdiction than appeared to be acknowledged in the resolutions of Grand Lodge of December

last . If , howevoi-, we were pained and grieved at the disingenuous arguments of Bro . Portal , AVO Avere more so at seeing Viscount Holmesdale , tho heir to the noble house of Amherst , making his debut in Grand Lodge in the tail of the reverend agitator , as seconder of his resolu * lion . The motion for the non-confirmation of the minutes was well

answered by Bros . Gregory ancl Slight , who pointed out that justice , if not common courtesy , demanded that Grancl Lodge should hear tho communication which the Most Worshi pful Grand Master had to make to them , before committing themselves to the policy advocated by Bro . Portal ; as they might rest assured the Grancl Master would

never ask them to sanction that ivhieh lie ivas not prepared to justif y —or to confirm a recognition which Avas objectionable to those whom it was proposed to conciliate . Bros . AVhitmore and Binckes of course supported the views of Bro . Portal with their accustomed vehemencebut after a short ancl pithy statement of the real facts of the case from the President of the Board of General Purposes , the question of non' 2 F 2