Royal Arch.

Grand Chapter may of right follow , I had no hesitation about acknowledging the Grand Chapter of Nova Seotia , and wishing that body all success and prosperity . " The Graud Mark Lodge of England also claimed recognition , and an interchange of brotherly courtesies , and as the Mark degree is one of those sanctioned by this Grand Chapter , I saw nothing opposed to the allowance of that claim , and the Grand

Scribe E . wrote to the authorities in England accordingly by my desire , conveying the recognition and good wishos of Grand Chapter . " Our own subordinate chapters I have reason to believe are prospering , and our members are increasing in number , and preserving the good name and honour of our Order , coucerning which the several reports of the Grand Superintendents of Districts will ive you more information than I can . Soalsowill

g , , the statements and accounts of the Grand Treasurer and Grand Scribe E . put you in complete possession of the financial conditions of Grand Chapter . I have caused all the accounts to bo paid , as sanctioned by you , and the vouchors will come regularly before your notice . " The report on Foreign Correspondence will , as usual , be submitted by the able chairman of that committee , and you will

there see how zealously and faithfully the interests of Capitular Masonry are guarded and looked after by other sovereign bodies , with all of whom we are , I have pleasure in stating , in close fellowship and neighbourly relationship , who are all nourishing , and who all manifest a very kindly interest in the welfare of the Grand Chapter of Canada . "You will observe on the Proceedings of last 3 ear a notice of motion for an amendment to clause No . 4 , ' of proposing members , ' in our Book of Constitutions , which , if it becomes law , will specifically add to the dispensing power of your Grand First

Principal . I deem it my duty to invite your attention to this , as it will be an alteration affecting an important clause . " Another , and a most serious matter I submit also for the due consideration of Grand Chapter , is our proposed authorised ritual . The committee have attended to this very carefully and anxiously , a report is prepared , the work is in readiness for exemplification , and the result will be submitted to your wisdom

and for your determination . And while ou this topic , I have to suggest to Grand Chapter to consider the necessity and propriety of working the degrees of Royal and Select Masters , as practised in the United States of America , and known as 'Cryptic' Masonry . Those degrees would seem to be proper appendages to Grand Chapter and Royal Arch Masonry , and are interesting-, if not absolutely necessary . The province of New Brunswick has a recognised Grand Council controlling these degreesand I

, have been appointed Inspector in and for Quebec and Ontario . But it would obviously be preferable for Grand Chapter at once to assume the government and grant warrants—which action , when three or more subordinate councils spring into life will result in the regular organisation of a Grand Council for Quebec and Ontario , and thus place the degrees on a correct and prosperous footing . "The only remaining subject to which I invite your notice

is the retirement of the M . E . Comp . the Earl of Zetland , from the high office of Grand Z . of the Grand Chapter of Englandwhich , all of you know , he has worthily held for more than a quarter of a century , aud now vacates owing to ill-health—to the great regret and sorrow of all over whom lie has ruled for so long and arduous a period . I think the Graud Chanter would honour herself by sending home to England a complimentary address to that courteous and kind-hearted nobleman and companion , expressive of our high esteem and good wishes for his restoration to health and future comfort .

" Before concluding , I cannot help making reference to an existing unfortunate condition of affairs in the Province of Quebec . I do not know officially as your presiding officer , what has occurred there in relation to Craft Masonry , and therefore I have nothing officially to submit to Grand Chapter . But we are none of us blind to the plain fact , that there is iu that Province , division in our ranks , and an unhappy state of things , attended witli much personal bitternesswhich actually

pre-, cludes brotherly recognition of many most estimable members of our Institution , and which ought not to exist amongst Freemasons ! I am sure Grand Chapter will , with me , truly regret all these untoward circumstances , and pray for a harmonious and brotherly arrangement of matters that have caused so damaging a shock to our otherwise perfect structure . You all know to what my present allusions point . Let us not , however , permit

discord if possible to arise out of those events , in our high Branch of the Order . Let us hope and trust that all difficulties will shortly disappear , or be removed . Let us work for that end ! and let us bear in mind , that as we have hitherto steered clear of personal differences , so there need be no future ill-will or angry feeling , —and Grand Chapter can remain , as now , in a condition to look on calml—and quietly t

resulty , accepany , always desiring prosperity and God speed to all ; ever looking to the good of our Institution ; and aiding to establish and perpetuate general harmony , Masonic Union , and Brotherly charity and good-will ! Such should be the true sentiments of every member of our order ! Added to which , should be devoted loyalty to our sovereign and country ! This should be one of our beacons and watchwords . '

" Since we last met , the dominion has been threatened , I will not call it invaded , by another Fenian horde . They went back faster than they came , and let it be a fair subject of pride to us , that their earliest opponent is a Freemason ! I allude to Bro Lieutenant-Colonel Chamberlin , who hurried to the defence of the frontier , and was so fortunate as to command the first of our brave fellows , who made the worthless scoundrels regularly

bolt out of Canada ! So also was our Most Worshipful Grand Master , Bro . Stevenson , one of the foremost in proceeding with his battery to meet the Fenian vagabonds , who bad once more insulted the territory of our glorious and beloved Queen ! And , companions , you will find Freemasons are ever ready to be in the van ou such occasions , —and so they ought , —and they should remember their peculiar tic , and bear and forbear , and drive away discord , ever as the Fenians were sent to the right about 1 I am sure that we all think alike .

"And now iu conclusion , lot me thank you for your many kindnesses to , and the honours you have conferred upon ms . I find 1 have been elected to preside over Grand Chapter for the past seven years continuously , —and also during 1859 and 1860 . I now ask you to relieve me from the duties of my high office . I have endeavoured , to the best of my ability , to promote your interests , and I hope I have not failed . You have many able companionswho are willing— anxious to succeed me to

, , nay , the highest gift you can bestow , and their ambition is laudable and not to be despised . I ( eel I should give way !—and so I finish by wishing Grand Chapter unceasing prosperity , and praying heartily that the Great Architect of the Universe , — whose Omniscience , Omnipotence , and Omnipresence are so hugely dwelt upon , in this the " Capestone " Degree of Freemasonry , —will bless and protect us all . So mote it be !

" T . DOUGLAS HAEINGTON , 33 ° , " Grand Z , Grand Chapter of Canada . " Tho election of officers for the ensuing Masonic y ear , resulted as follows : —• Comp . T . Douglas , Harrington , Ottawa , Grand Z . H . J . PrattonQuebec 11 .

, , „ „ L . II . Henderson , Belleville , ,, J . „ Thomas Bird Harris , Hamilton , ,, Scribe E . „ Daniel Spry , Toronto , „ Scriho N . „ D . McLellan , Toronto , „ Prin Soj . „ John V . Noel , Kingston , „ Treas . ,, S . C . Channel ! , Stanstead , „ Reg .

,, W . W . Summers , Hamilton , „ Janitor . The following companions were nominated by the Chapters of the respective districts , and approved by the M . E . G . Z . as GEAND S UPERINTENDENTS . CompTF . MoMulleuLondon District .

. . , „ Clias . L . Beard , Wilson „ „ G . IT . Patterson , Huron „ „ E . Goodman , Hamilton District . „ Thos . Sargaut , Toronto „ ., Rev . C . Forrest , Central „ ' „ H . W . Day , Prince Edward District . F . M . SowdonMontreal District .

„ , ,, Edson Kemp , Eastern Townships District . „ T . Dunbar , Quebec District . „ D , R . Muuro , New Brunswick District . It was decided to hold the next annual convocation of Grand-Chapter at Hamilton , Ont .