The Masonic Mirror.

certain members of the craft to accept these warrants , Lod ges were again opened undoi-thcm . Ifc appears , therefore , that in the whole eastern part of Canada there are now only seven English Lodges , and these seven Lodges are controlled by -ind aro represented m two Prov . Grand Lodges ; while in that section of the province which formerl y constituted the district of Montreal and AVilliam Henry there are now twelve Lodges , working under warrants from the Grand Lodgo of Canada ' in the published report of the proceedings of tho December meeting of your Grind Lod lordshiis said to have remarkedin the

ge , your p , course of the debate upon Canadian matters , that recognition must precede negotiation . " The correctness ol this apothegm is indisputable ; and ivhile the JIasons of Canada received with the liveliest satisfaction this acknowledgment of the correctness of their portion ii-om a Grand Lodge from which . so many of them originally hailed-aud while T as then- Grand Master , gladly receive and warmly reciprocate the fraternal feolim which you , Most AVorshipful Sir , so kindly expiied through yomGnd Secretary-Ifeel , and the JIasons of Canada feel , that the act was deprived of much of its grace by the attempt to limit the territorial jurisdiction of the Graud . u ( K _ £ fe .

1 have over held and frequently expressed the opinion , that any . subordinate Lodges preferring to continue under their English warrants had a perfect and undoubted nght to c . o so , and were entitled not only to a recognition from us , but to all then- JIasonie privileges . These would have been cheerfull y coneededlbut beyond this wo cannot ; go ; and I can scarcel y imagine that you , Jlost AVorshinful . Sir , or the membersi of the Grand Lodge in England , knowing the importance of Masonic unity , would , upon mature consideration , ask us to do more AA'ould ifc notI venture to ask ? be in accordance with true

, more JIasonie principle , and have a tendency to raise still higher the character of the Craft in the eyes of the world were the Grand Lodge of England , with that magnanimit y which has heretofore d . s mguished its acts , to take the earliest opportunity of announcing to those seven Lodges in Lower Canada , that in consequence of the recent events ivhieh had trin « - pired in Canada no new warrants would be issued in that province ; aud that although the continuance of their connection ivould give pleasure and satisfaction it was lor them seriously to consider whether the best interests of the Order ivould not bo advanced by uniting with their brethren and fellow subjects in the Grand Lodge ot Canada , a body now established and recognized b y the JIasonie

In July next , I shall retire from the proud position which for the last few years I have occupied among the JIasons of Canada ; the many difficulties which ' lav in our path have been overcome , and Jlasonry has at length attained a position which must soon load to the most desirable results . It ivould be most gratifyinn- to me on leaving the Oriental chair to feel that the cloud ivhieh has so long lowered oveithe Masons of England and Canada bad been afc length dispersed , and that the link which for so many years had connected us in the bonds of brotherly love and friendship although strained had not been brokenbut

, , in a now and nobler form had united us more closely and indissolubly together . ' . " There are now a hundred and thirteen Lodges in working under warrants from us , GmndLodge , themajorityof which I have visited , for the ' purpose of in . pe h " theirv , ork . Composed as these Lodges are of Masons coming from nearly every part of he world , I found , as a natural consequence , a great diversity in their mode of working , and I have laboured earnestlin order to introduce uniform

y , a system ' of work among them This great object , I am happy to say , is now in a far way of beingaccomp . shed ; the English mode has been adopted as a basis , and tho coinmittee to whom the matter has been entrusted ivill soon be in a position to exemplify the result of their labours and research potion to

• ' I have instructed the Grand Secretary to forward to you cooies of our minted proceedings since our organization , with specimens also of our warrants , cert ficates etc ,, of which I beg of your acceptance . "The subject of the appointment of representatives will , in all probability soon bo brought up for consideration , and I need only say how gladly and cratefullvT would receive any suggetsion which you , Most AVorshipful Sir , might be pleased to