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g * . — — Contents . PAGE . FUEESIASOKS' MAGAZINE : — The Canadian Seceders 121 English Gilds 122 Old Lodge Records 121 The Ordnance Survey of Sinai 125

Freemasonry in Portugal 128 Masonic Jottings—No . 32 120 Masonic Notes and Queries 120 Correspondence 131 Masonic Sayings and Doings Abroad 132 MASONIC MIEROK : — Masonic Mcms 133 CKAI-T LODGE MEETINGS : — 133

Metropolitan , , Provincial 131 Canada 135 Panama 137 India 137 Royal Arch 137 Mark Masonry 137 Ancient and Accepted Rite 138 Freemasonry : its History , Principles , and Objects 138 List of Lodge , i-c ., Meetings for ensuing week 140 To Correspondents 140

The Canadian Seceders.

THE CANADIAN SECEDERS .

LOUDON , SATURDAY , AUGUST 13 , 1870 .

We have received The Graffs-man , containing a full report of the Annual Communication of the Grand Lodge of Canada , Avhich we hasten to place before our readers , as it is fraught with interest on the subject of the secession from the jurisdiction of that Grand Lodge .

To show the deep and solemn interest which the Canadian Masons take in the matter , it will be only necessary to state that no less than six hundred members and delegates were present , all of whom came to the meeting with a firm resolve to do , at whatever cost , what appeared most likely to promote the interests of our beloved Order .

We learn that efforts of a somewhat questionable character had been made to prejudice the minds of the brethren upon the question of the so-called Grand Lodge of Quebec ; but , to the credit of the Craft , with but little effect . The members of the Grand

Lodge considered the principal subject which had brought so numerous an attendance together was one of such vast importance as not to be decided upon the evidence of ex parte statements . The matter was freely discussed , the evidence accurately weighed ; and a decision based on such solid foundation , can scarcely

fail to be one that must prove to the Sister Grand Lodges the completely untenable position of iho schismatics .

Erom the first we pronounced the illegality of the action of the brethren of the province of Quebec in forming a Grand Lod ge within the territory over which the Grand Lod ge of Canada held jurisdiction . The legality of the matter is unquestionably on the side of the Grand Lodge of Canada ; and it cannot be

denied that , according to the unwritten law of Masonry , the decision of that body is final and conclusive , the recognition of other bodies notwitbstandino-

and that while the Grand Lodge of Canada withholds its sanction from the Grand Lodge of Quebec , it is an undoubted fact that the lodges under the rule of the latter are irregular , and all its members are without the pale of lawfully constituted Masonry .

Although this is our unqualified opinion of the Masonic law , it has been with us a grave question whether , in the present case , the letter of the law may not give way to expediency . It seems hardly probable , after the hard things that have been said on both sides , and the feeling that has been exhibited , that , should the brethren ever meet again in ] od n ; e ,

complete harmony , which is a necessarily constituent part of a Masonic lodge , could be established . But the action of the Grand Lodge is so firm r . ncl decisive , that we feel convinced the small amount of recognition thev have received will not be materially

increased . The seceders have endeavoured to convince tho Craft that the feeling in the province was generally with them ; but with the fact before us that eighteen lodges within Quebec still remain loyal to their headwith one of the seceding lodges , by an unnnimoua

vote , returning to its allegiance — with brethren , although in a minority in each case , but of sufficient number , to apply for authority to continue the work of some of the seceding lodges , we have no doubt that the Grand Lodge of Canada will assert its authority . "When the real position becomes known , we may

expect to hear that some of the recognitions , granted with unseeml y haste , will be withdrawn . The chief argument used by the schismatics is that "It is a well-established law of Masonry that Masonic and political boundaries should be coterminous . "

This princi ple , it is true , has been adopted in the United States adjoining , and has been found convenient , but it certainly has not come into such universal practice as would constitute it a " Masonic Law . "

They also assert that the Grand Lodge of Canada has never exercised supreme , but only concurrent authority in Lower Canada , on tho ground thai ; lodges holding under the English Constitution continued to work by the authority of their original warranto . It is also alleged that tho Grand Lodge of Canada begged

ancl prayed for recognition on any terms . On referring to the documents of the time ( ISiiO ) , Lord Zetland claims that those lodges which preferred working under their ori g inal warrants should be permitted to clo so—which point was willingly conceded ; but in making the concession , the Grand Master ( li-. W . Bro .

Wilson ) held that from tho date of the establishment of the Grand Lodgo of Canada , the supreme authority in matters Masonic became vested in that body ; and ho denied tlio power of Grand Masters of other jurisdictions to appoint or continue Provincial Grand Officers , or to grant warrants lor new lodges and if