Canada.

W . Bro . Chamberlain gave notice that at the next annua communication of Grand Lodge lie will move that the expenses , or a certain amount of the expense , of D . D . G . M ' s . be paid by this Grand Lodge . Credentials were presented by the following brethren : —R . W . Bro . J , K . Kerr , from the Grand Lodge of Texas ; R . AV . BroThosBHarrisfrom tbe Grand Locl of Missouri and

. . . , ges Oregon ; and M . AA . Bro . A . A . Stuvenson from the Grand Lodges of Connecticut and Minnesota , which having been found satisfactory , were accepted by Grand Lodge , and the Brethren were saluted with the usual Masonic honours , and invited to take their seats upon tbe dais . Resolutions were unanimously passed thanking the Toronto Brethren for their magnificent entertainment to the Members of

Graud Lodge ; to the Railway and Steamboat Companies ; to the scrutineers of the ballot ; to the committee on Credentials ; aud to the Directors of the Toronto Mechanics' Institute for the free use of their reading room and library . Grand Loelge was closed in ample form .

Royal Arch.

ROYAL ARCH .

LANCASHIRE ( AVEST ) . LAHCASSER . —Rowley Chapter ( No . 1 , 051 ) . —The regularmeeting of this chapter was held at the Chapter Rooms , Athenaeum , on Monday , the 15 th inst . The chapter was opened by Comps . W . II . Bagnall , M . E . Z . ; J . D . Moore , P . Z . as H . ; W . Hall , J ., there were also present : Comps . N . G . Mercer , E . ; R . lor as NJPent onPSE . Simpson and J . Burrow as

Tay . ; . , .. ; Assist . S « js . ; AV . Hall , J . AA atson , & c . The minutes of the last meeting were read and confirmed , and other business transacted . The ballot was taken for Bro . AV . J . Sly , of the Eowdey Lodge No . 1 , 051 , Lancaster , and for Bro . R . S . Bateson , of the Charity Lodge No . 503 , Umballa , Bengal , who were unanimously elected . Bro . Bateson being iu attendance was exalted to the degree of the Royal Arch , by Comp . Dr . Moore ,

P . Z ., the mystical , symbolical and historical lectures being delivered by the Principals , and the duties of P . S . ably undertaken by Comp . Simpson . The M . E . Z ., on the nomination of Comp . Fenton , P . S ., appointed Comps . Janta , M . Moore , and Edmund Simpson , Assist . Sojs ., and invested them with tho collars and jewels of office . There being no other business before the chapter , it was closed in due form .

Knights Templar.

KNIGHTS TEMPLAR .

SUFFOLK . IPSWICII . —Royal Plantagenet Encampment . —The Sir Knts . ranging uudorthis banner met at their field of encampment at the Masonic Hall , Ipswich , on Monday , the 15 th inst ., when the muster-roll was called , and the following answered to their names-. —Sir Knts . AV . T . AA estgate , E . C ., P . G . D . C . ; Rev . E . N . Sanderson , V . E . D . P . G . C . Suffolk and Cambridge , Prelate ; Emra

Holmes , 1 st Capt ., P . G . Reg . ; C . T . Townsend , P . P . G . Capt ., Acting Reg . ; W . Cuckow , 2 nel Capt . ; G . Cresswell , Assist . Oapt . of Lines ; R . M . Taylor , Treas . ; G . S . Golding , Expert . Visitors : Sir Knts . J . Pitcher , P . E . C . Prudence Encampment . P . G ., 1 st Capt . ; and G . S . Findlay , P . E . C . Prudence Encampment . The encampment having been opened , the minutes of the last two meetings were reael and confirmed , and the ballot was taken for Sir Knt . the Rev . Charles MartynG . Chaplain

, G- Lodge of England , who was unanimously elected a joining member of this encampment . The D . P . G . C . explained that the roason the by-laws of this encampment had not yet been printed was that many great and sweeping changes were about to take place in Knight Templary , and it was thought unadvisablo to print by-laws to-day which might be altered or become inoperative to-morrow . With reference to the recent increase of the fees tobo paid to Grand Conclave , both Sir Knt . Sanderson

^ and Sir Knt . Emra Holmes game notice of motion to increase tho fees , both in the encampment and Priory of Malta . After the Almoner had collected the alms , the encampment was closed and the brethren retired to banquet . The usual loyal toasts were duly given , Sir Knight the Prince of Wales" being especially honoured . " The Health of the V . E . Provincial Grand Commander , Capt . Philips , " was very warmly received , that gallant officer being extremely popular ' in the province of Suffolk

Knights Templar.

and Cambridge . It was announced that Sir Knt . Emra Holmes would deliver an address on " Knight Templary and its connection with Masonry , " at the next meeting of the encampment . The fraters separated at a late hour .

Freemasonry: Its History, Principles, And Objects.

FREEMASONRY : ITS HISTORY , PRINCIPLES , AND OBJECTS .

( From tbe Rectangular Review . ) ( Continued from page 140 . ) 10 . Michelet on Masonic Architecture . —Michelet , in his "History of Prance , " touching on the episode of Gothic architecture , remarks on the wonderful self-denial of those artists , tho extent of which can only bo fully

appreciated by following them into the most retired and inaccessible part of their labours . All that we know of them , says he , is that they belonged to that obscure and vast association spread all over the world . They had their lodges at Strasbourg and Cologne . Then' sign , as old as Germany , was the Hammer of Thor . Armed with the pagan hammer , sanctified in his Masonic hands ,

the Mason ' continued throughout the world the woi-k of the New Temple , renewed from the Temple of Solomon . With what care he worked , though obscure and lost in the association ! With what- self-denial , ivhich can onlyknown by exploring the most retired , the most : inaccessible cathedrals ancl churches ! Mount up to those airy solitudes , to the highest points of those spireswhich the

, tiler ascends but with fear and trembling ; and often you shall find , solitary under the eye of God , exposed to eternal storms , some delicate workmanship , some masterpiece of art , of sculpture , to which the pious workman has devoted his life . No name , no mark , no letter : he would have been afraid of robbing God of His Glory ! 11 . Freemasonry in England . —The authentic history

of Freemasonry in England dates from Athelstan , from Avhom his brother Edwin obtained a royal charter for the Masons , by which they were empowered to meet annually in a general assembly , and to have power to regulate their own order . And , according to this charter , the first Grand Lodge of England met at York ,

in 926 , when all the writings and records extant , in Greek , Latin , French , and other languages , were collected , and constitutions and charges in conformity with ancient usages , so far as they could be gathered from such recovered records , were drawn up and adopted . The old York Masons were , on that account , held in especial respect , so that when a Grand Lodge was

afterwards formed in London , it was called the Grand Lodge of England , while the old York one was known , distinctively , as the Grand Lodge of all England . 12 . Freemasonry in England ( continued ) . —On the death of Prince Edwin , Athelstan himself presided over the lodges . After his decease , the Masons in England were governed by DunstanArchbishop of Canterburyin

, , 960 , and Edward tho Confessor in 1011 . Iu fact , down to the beginning of the eighteenth century , their Grand Masters have either been persons of royal blood , —sometimes the king himself , —or their deputies appointed by them . And truly tho highest titles suffer no diminution of lustre by belonging to professors of Masonry , and the highest nobility acquires an additional distinction by

countenancing and associating with it . 13 . "Free and Accepted Masons . " —When persons , not operative Masons , in modern times first sought admission into the Order is not known . Tho records of a lodge at Warrington , as old as 164-8 , note the admission of Colonel Mainwaring and tho great antiquary , Ashmole . Charles I ., Charles IL , and James II . were

initiated , or accepted—hence the term " accepted Mason " —and , as a mark of respect aud confidence , were admitted to all the privileges of the craft , and hence " free . " From this wc have the designation " free and accepted Masons , " though tho expression " free" may ha \ e been prefixed , because none but the free-born could