Canada.

him , and that the debate should be adjourned until his reply was received . E . W . Bro . Rev . V . Clementi moved the following : — "That the Constitution be so amended as to vest the appointment of District Deputy Grand Masters in the M . W . the Grand Master . " The motion was declared lost . It was moved by V . AA . Bro . D . Spry , seconded by V . AA . Bro . T . AVhite , and resolved . " That tho Board of General Purposes

be instructed to lay before the Grand Lodge , during the present communication , a detailed statement of all amounts paid to officers and members of Grand Lodge , from funds of Grand Lodge , for travelling or incidental expenses since last annual communication , such statement to contain the name of the officers or members to whom such payments were made , the reason for making such payments , and the authorit y for such expenditure . "

R . W . Bro . Seymour , President of the Board , had anticipated the foregoing resolution , and had prepared a return , which he proceeded to read . It was moved by V . W . Bro . Allan McLean , seconded by M . W . Bro . W . B . Simpson , " That Section 7 , * of proposing members ' of the Constitution , be so amended that no candidate for initiation be accepted unless he receive the unanimous vote of the members present . "

The motion was declared lost . It was moved b y V . AV . Bro . E . C . Barber , seconded by AA . Bro . Chamberlain , and resolved , "That the next Annual Communication of the Graud Lodgo of Canada be iu the city of Ottawa . " R . W . Bro . J . K . Kerr , gave notice that at the next Annual Communication he will move , That the Constitution be amended by striking out Clause 3 under the head " of proposing

, members , " and inserting in lieu thereof the following : — " 3 . No lodge shall initiate a candidate whose residence is nearer tho jurisdiction of another lodge , unless at the request of that lodge by resolution , which shall be signified in writing under the hand of the Master and Secretary , and the seal of the lodge , or by dispensation of the Grand Master , and in case of any initiation by a lodge at the request of another lodge as aforesaid , the ballot must be taken in the lodge making such request , and the

tees be paid over to that lodge immediately after the initiation . The jurisdiction extends in every direction half way to the nearest lodge—provided always tliat in a city or town where there is more than one lodge , each lodge shall have coucurrerit jurisdiction . " On motion it was ordered that the sum of forty dollars be paid to V . W . Bro . E . Mitchell , chairman ofthe Committee of Foreign Correspondence in 1869 , as a slight acknowledgment

of the valuable services rendered b y him in the preparation of the report . The first resolution was then put and adopted , with hut fewdissentients . V . AV . Bro . T . White moved the second resolution , when it was moved in amendment by W . M . Bro . M . XV . Wilson , seconded by M . W . Bro . T . D . Harington , "That the Grand Lodge of Canada , although still adhering to the conclusions contained in the first and second clauses of the rejiort adopted at

the special Emergent Meeting held tit the City of Montreal , on the 1 st December last , but having no desire to assert sovereignty over a province in which the majority of the lodges , and so largo a majority of the brethren , have already declared their desire for separation , , and actuated by the true spirit of Masonry , hereby recognises the Grand Lodge of Quebec as a sister Grand Lodge , and cordially extends to her the right hand of fellowship ; reserving , however , full control and authority over those

lodges in the Province of Quebec which will still desire to continue their connection with the Grand Lod ge , and requiring also on their behalf a full recognition of all their rights and Masonic privileges . " ^ Iu moving the amendment , M . W . Bro . Wilson stated that he entirely concurred iu the first resolution , be bad always maintained , and did so still , that Quebec was occupied territory at the time of the formation of the so-called Graud Lodge of Quebec ,

and that that formation was illegal . He , however , was in favour of allowing the Grand Lodges of the world to bo arbitrators in this matte :-, and as several of them had declared in favour of Quebec , he was ready to extend recognition . M . AV . Bro . Harington briefly supported the views of M . AA . Bro . Wi ' son . M . AV . Bros . Simpson and Bernard spoke effectively against the amendment , one of their strongest arguments being that , by extending recognition to the so-called Grand Lodgo of Quebec ,

even on tho ground of expediency , they would bo doing an incalculable injustice to those lodges in the disaffected province who bad remained true in their allegiance . After a few remarks from RW . Bro . Tulley , the voto on the amendment was taken , which was lost by a very large majority . The report of tho Board of General Purposes , as a whole , was then submitted and adopted . The Grand Loelge was called off to attend a banquet to be given by the brethren of Toronto to

the officers and members of Grand Lodge . In the evening the brethren were entertained at a magnificent banquet at the St . Lawrence Hall . The room was splendidly and tastefully decorated with flags antl banners , and with the bannerets of the dill ' erent Masonic orders . The band of the 10 th Royals occupied the orchestra , and two tables , extending the entire length of the room , with a cross table at the head , were liberally filled with the good things provided by the

hospitality of the Toronto brethren . Upwards of six hundred Masons sat ( town , the cross table being occupied by E . W . Bro . Kerr , D D . G . M ., Toronto District , in the chair , the M . W . the Grand Master , Bro . Bernard , P . G . M ., and a number of other influential members of Grantl Lodge . The good things having been dis ^ posed ot , the usual loyal and Masonic toasts were given aud enthusiastically responded to , aud an exceedingly pleasant evening was spentthe company separating about midnight .

, On the commencement of the third day's proceedings , the Graud Lodge having been called to order , A . AV . Bro . T . White , in the absence of the President of the Board of General Purjioses , submitted a further report upon tbe address of the M . XV . the Grand Master .

E . AV . Bro . Otto Klotz , on behalf of the Board of General Purposes , read a report upon benevolence , in which it was stated that they had carefully considered the claims for relief from 77 applicants , and had appropriated iu the -aggregate the large sum of 2 , 450 dollars . E . W . Bro . W . H . AA elIer , on behalf of the Board of General Purposes , submitted the report upon the re-tlivision of districts . Tho Board of General Purposes begs to recommend the

redivision of the Masonic districts recommended . The Masonic Asylum Fund Committee presented their report , which , on motion , was received and adopted . In the afternoon session , Grand Lodge having been called to order , the M . W . tho Grand Master appointed Scrutineers of the ballot for Grand Officers , and for members of the Board of General Purposes . The ballots having been distributed , the election was proceeded with , and the Scrutineers reported the

result as follows : —Bros . A . A . Stevenson , Montreal , re-elected Grand Master ; J . Seymour , St . Catharine ' s , re-elected Deputy Grand . Alaster : T . AVhite . jnn ., Montreal , S . G . W . ; H . Robertson , Collingwood , J . G . W . ; Rev . V . Clementi , Collingwood , Gt . Chaplain ( unanimously ); H . Groif , Simcoe , ro-elected G . Treas . ; D . MeLellan , Toronto , G . Reg .: T . B . Harris , Hamilton , G . See . ( unanimously ); John Sweetmau , G . Tyler . The brethren nominated by the representatives of lodges of

the various Masonic districts as District Deputy Grantl Masters , were approved by the M . AV . the Grand Master . The President ., on behalf of the Board of General Purposes , submitted a report upon the condition of Masonry , showing the Ortler to bo in a flourishing condition throughout the

jurisdiction . It was moved by V . W . Bro . T . White , seconded by R . W . Bro . I . P . Willson , and resolved—That the M . XV . Grand Master be requested to take such steps as he may ileem necessary , either by tbe appointment of a committee , to draft a statement setting forth the position of Grand Lodge , or in anv other way , to place the position of Grand Lodge in relation to that portion of its tenitory known as the Province of Quebec , before the Grand

Lodges of the world ' The following notices of motion were given : — V . AV . Bro . Charles Sharpe gave notice that at the next annual communication of Grand Loelge , he will move that Clause 1 , "OfD . D . Grand Masters , " ofthe Constitution be so amended as to allow Immediate Past Masters of lodges to vote iu the nomination of D . D . G . Ms , for their respective elistricts . AA . Bro . J . F . Chamberlain gave notice that at the next

annual communication of Grand Lodge , he will propose certain alterations in the Constitution , having reference to the Board of General Purposes . AA . Bro . Nancollas gave notice that at the next annual cominunieatiou ho will move that all business in private lodges , in connection with this Graud Lodge , be conducted in the third degree .