The Prince Of Wales And The Freemasons Of Canada.

THE PRINCE OF WALES AND THE FREEMASONS OF CANADA .

EOjS DOJS , SATUBDAT , SEPTEMBER 29 , 1 SC 0 .

Pertile as the last two months have been in topics of interest to newspaper readers , ive question if any have engrossed suck universal attention as the progress of tiie Prince oi Wales through the American provinces of the British empire . Whatever class an English journal

may circulate among— -whether it appeal to the aristocratic " circles" or the humble supporters of a penny -weekly—ivhether it he devoted to political quidnuncs ov commercial travellers—he either snarlingly cynical , or gushingly sentimental—administer to the literary wants

of men about town or evangelical old ladies—whatever ingredient iu the hotchpotch of modern societv it represents—from the Thunderer down to the Little Reddlinyton Gazette—all have found it necessary to satisfy the cravings of their readers , with an abstract ,

though by no means brief chronicle , of the doings of the heir of England . The popularity which his royal mother has achieved during a long reign , by her affectionate sympathy with the welfare and progress of her people—his father ' s practical good sense—and his own youth , high

prospects , and good looks , are sufficient reasons for his becoming the hero of the hour ; and on this side the Atlantic we feel that our American fellow subjects are only reciprocating our own feelings by jthe enthusiastic warmth with which his royal highness lias been greeted .

Unmixed success however rarely attends upon any human tuidertaking ; and from the common lot even princes cannot hope to be exempt . Envious fate has contrived sundry ruts in the path of the triumphal car of the fortunate youth and some jolts have heen perceptible .

It is true these have been of the most burlesque description ; and however they might have affected the illustrious person who last held the title of Prince of Wales , we doubt whether the present holder of that dignity has had other than his risible faculties excited by

their occurrence . The most disagreeable part ofthe story is that the distinguished individual who fills the part of Mentor to our young Telcmachus has felt it necessary to adminster rebuke where it was certainly justly incurred . These matters will no doubt soon blow over ; and if remembered at all in connexion with the Prince ' s visit .

will onl y serve hereafter as subjects of merriment , tit the expense of the offending parties . In noticing this subject we regret -to have to reprobate the course pursued by a high dignitary of our antient order iu Canada , on a recent public occasion ,

which we must take leave to characterise as neither judicious nor dignified . In the columns of the Toronto Glole ~ y ? e find the following observations under the head of "The Masons and the Government : "—

"A very unpleasant contretemps occurred , afc Ottawa , iu connection with the laying of tho cornerstone of tho Parliament buildings . The members of tho Masonic Order wore regularly summoned by their Grand Master , Deputy Receiver General Harington , to moot at tho new scat of government to take part in tho ceremonies , aud thoy assembled to the number , it is said , of o'OQ . Thoy were

then informed that , though thoy wore welcome to appear in their regalia , thoy would not lie permitted to take part in the ceremonies . Thc restriction roused the indignation of the Grand Master , and he intimated that , if tho . Masons were not allowed to perform their usual duties , they ivould not appear at all . So said , so clone ; Dr . Ailamson led the devotional exercises , the clerk of tho works applied tho

plumb , the engineer of the public works tested the level , and thc Prince did the rest . Afterwards , it is said , that lunch tickets for the Masons ivere sent lo Mr . Harington and were returned . The Commissioner of Public AVorks is reported to havo threatened Mr . I-Iaringionivith the loss of his situation ; and that exceedingly spirited individual is said to havo told his superior that bis com miss ion was ready iv ben tho Government asked for ifc ; he would stand by thc Craft .

"The reason for the refusal of the Masons' services maybe made a matter of dispute , but ive apprehend that there can lie no real difficulty in ascertaining it . The Prince ' s father is a Mason , his grandfather and gra-iidimclc were Grand Masters , ancl ifc is not supposed that there could have been any objection on the part of thc Prince , or Ins suite , to tho Masonic ceremonies . It is alleged that the Masonic Order ,

being a secret one , was placed iu the same category as the Orange Society , but the Governor could hardly bo so sweeping in his opposition to secret societies , or he ivould never have scut the . Prince to the Ursulincs , which is about as secret a society as was ever got together . The real reason ive apprehend to be that the Eoman . Cat-hobo Church permits none of her sons to bo Masonsandas a matter of

, , course , must have objected to tlic connection of the Order with a ceremony in which Catholics were to take part . Whatever disputes there may be about the cause of refusal , all agree that the Masons should not have boon brought to Ottawa unless they were to be allowed to take part in tho ceremonies . JNothing could be more ill-judged than such a proceedingand ive would like to know ivho is the

, responsible party . Did tlic English members of the Cabinet invite the Masons , and did Mr . Cartier interfere and knock the whole arrangement on . the head . Let us have tho facts . Six hundred gentlemen should not be taken from their homes for nothing , ivithout . some explanation being given . "

Whatever we may think ofthe tone assumed hy the Canadian journalist , ive take it for granted that his facts are correct ; and such being the- case , we must repeat , that what appears to him " exceedingly spirited " conduct on the part of Pro . Harington , seems to us

injudicious and undignified , and ns evincing much more a splenetic sense of his own slighted personal importance than the respect due to his sovereign ' s eldest son and representative . Let us consider what this great public occasion was , and who were most Hided to take thc

prominent position there . Surely tho foundation of the building which is to be devoted to the representatives of the country could not be more appropriately inaugurated than by the future ruler of the nation . And since it has been during the reign of Victoria that the Canadas have

achieved their present proud position hi the scale of nations—since under her benignant sway a policy of conciliation and of fostering care has marked the conduct of the imperial government—and the Canadians in liberty ,