Bro. The Earl Of Carnarvon At Bath.

There are considerations which are not less important than those connected with affairs at home . ( Hear . ) Masonry is not confined to the shores of Great Britain . Following closely in the wake of Colonisation , wherever the hut of the settler has been built , or the flag of conquest waved , there Masonry iias soon an equal dominion . ( Hear , hear . ) In Canada ( hear , hear ) , the noblest possession of the British Crown , it has reflected—and I will not

stop here to enquire how much it has consolidated—the English Empire . ( Hear , hear . ) Alas , that I should say that this " has been " the ease , and is so no more ! And yet it must be said , that Canada , the brightest jewel in our tiara , the fairest flower in our wreath , is in danger of falling to the ground . ( Hear . ) I will not now revert to those topics which have become , unhappily , questions of controversy and difference ; for where I cannot conscientiously

praise , I prefer to be silent . ( Hear . ) But four years of unredressed complaint , —four years of letters of remonstrance disregarded , slighted , and unanswered—have produced their necessary and most miserable results . ( Hear . ) Some of the Lodges in that noble Colony have broken off their connexion with us ; others still cling to us , but in the last stage of exhausted patience ; and , I must say , of just dissatisfaction . ( Hear , bear . ) As yet , however , they

have not taken the final and irrevocable step . They are still content to forward fresh petitions and complaints . To them I would say , Well have you done , in bearing with neglect , and disfavor ; continue a little longer to display the patience and forbearance that you have so honorably shewn under the provocations of many years ; there are many here in England who are pleading your cause ; and if you will only be true to yourselves , the day is not far distant when all that is just and reasonable in your claims shall be conceded . ( Applause . ) And to the country Lodges of England I would say , now is the critical moment ; now great

interests hang on your energy ; and I venture to predict even now , at this eleventh hour , that if wc come forward with a full and explicit measure of justice and reconciliation , the allegiance of Canada may yet be preserved . But perhaps it will be asked , what claims ought to be conceded ? what demand should be granted ? To this I answer , that , if in our concessions it should be proposed to admit one syllable that reflected discredit on the functions of the Grand Master , or G .

L ., I would say , greatly as I value the connexion with Canada , perish that connexion I ( Cheers . ) But I believe the claims advanced to be just and reasonable . The Lodges in Canada ask for a share in the management of their own affairs , —that we , the Grand Lodge of England , should give to those with whose requirements , from the intervening distance , we cannot be familiar , a concurrent voice in the election of their own Grand Master . ( Hear . ) They

do not ask an exclusive right of election ; nothing which touches our supremacy or their allegiance ; they demand far less than we possess ourselves or should be content with , and no more than we in justice and equity should be prepared to grant . For no community can continue to cohere except upon the universal principle of human institutions—that of mutual advantage ; and this can only be secured by a system of reciprocal concession . ( Applause . )

I see , indeed , the difficulties which suvrmmd us ; but if we resolutely face them , —if we do not fold our arms and close our eyes , and allow the vessel to drift upon the rocks—I believe it is yet possible to preserve Canada . ( Hoar . ) She has applied to the Grand Lodge of England , and to us as the source of its power ; and we as constituents of Grand Lodge , are bound to give an opinion upon the subject . ( Hear . ) If we do so , we may yet put back the hand upon

the dial all those degrees that it has yet gone down . But this can be effected only by united action , by determined perseverance , energy , and zeal ; by plain speaking and the absence of all reserve . ( Hear . ) If we act otherwise , our mantle will be rent in twain , and our

kingdom taken away and given to another , and even worse than that we shall inevitably experience that feeling of remorse which results from the conviction that we have sacrificed great objects and principles , to an unworthy , and what we ourselves shall acknowledge to be , a selfish policy . " ( Great applause . ) Before resuming his seat , Lord CARNARVON said , although he felt he had already unintentionally trespassed upon the company , a toast had been put into his hand

by the XV . M ., and he should be ashamed of himself if he hesitated to give a practical exemplification of obedience to orders . With an allusion to the responsibilities , power , and influence of the office to which Bro . Bagshaw had been that day elected , his Lordship then proposed the health of the W . M . ; feeling satisfied from what he had seen and heard of him , that he would do all in his power to twine closer the strands of the golden cord of Masonry , and to

accomplish all the duties appertaining to his important office . ( Cheers . ) The XV . M ., ( who was greeted most cordially by the brethren , ) returned thanks , promising untiring efforts in promotion of peace and unity during his . period of office , and acknowledging gratefully the expressions of esteem by which his elevation had been accompanied .

A Valentine Somewhat Overdue.

A VALENTINE SOMEWHAT OVERDUE .

O bold young Freemason ! because you deal with stone , Is that a reason why your heart should be like one ? Or is it so filled up with hosts of " Brothers , " That you have no room left in it for others ? " Tiling a Lodge " is famous sport , no doubt ; Though much we wonder what 'tis all about .

We " outsiders " are prone to think him daft , Who prates about the myst ' ries of the Craft . But bonnets are much prettier than " tiles : " He ' s not a " hricli" who scorns a woman ' s smiles . If Scripture example you must follow , man , Let Hiram alone , and look at Solomon . That wisest of men had a thousand wives I

Is he a wise man who without one lives ? He bwiit" his own house , " and was not a mere " Lodger . " Besides , " to use craft , " is to be a sly dodger : In proof of which fact , ( if you think I talk fiction ) I beg to refer you to Johnson's large diction-Ary , wherein , too , you'll find that an apron Is " part of the dress " befitting a matron !

As you have not , in fact , any secret to keep , There's no fear of your letting it out in your sleep . Then away with the trowel , the mortar , the rule , And no longer waste time in thus playing the fool ; Give ear to my rhymes , and " pair off " while you may -, While youth ' s sun still shines , 0 be sure you make hay . In return for this tohen , give me but the sign , And take me , young Mason , for your Valentine !

"The Masonic Observer" To His Shameless Little Muse.

"THE MASONIC OBSERVER" TO HIS SHAMELESS LITTLE MUSE .

You naughty little muse , you 1 Yes , they're quite right to abuse you , [ hearty ; Your tongue is far too flippant , and your ways too coarse and