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And why do they dread these ? Because they are false , or because they are true ? We are told that those who dread the light are not usually persons whose conduct is unexceptionable , and the lovers of darkness may depend upon it that then' management of our affairs has not lately been of such a kind as to induce the Craft at large to forego that publicity which has now existed for nearly

a quarter of a century , in spite of frequent attempts on the part of the authorities—and always when they had reason to be ashamed of themselves—to prevent free discussion . It is owing to publicity alone that late abuses are in process of being reformed , and we recommend the executive rather to court , than to attempt to suppressthat

, full discussion of their conduct which none desire to escape but those whose proceedings will not bear investigation . Supposing they could succeed in suppressing the reports of G . L ., which we assure them once for all they will not do , what will be the result ? Why that in order to fill up our space , we should double the

number of our leading articles , and multiply our lampoons by three . So that in any event their " fly " will escape them , and the blow will recoil upon themselves . We trust , however , that the M . W . the G . M . will consult his own good sense in this matter , and not follow the advice of those who have already involved him in considerable difficulties , of which he has to bear the brunt , while they from their insignificance escape .

A contest with the press is hopeless . It has been given up by parliament , and has failed whenever it has been attempted by the authorities of G . L . What has occurred of late will not make such a contest more hopeful now than it was ten years ago . Let the M . W . the G . M . trust to the good feelings of the Masonic press , and not count those his enemies who have every desire to be his friends .

Grand Lodge.

GRAND LODGE .

The Quarterly communication of Grand Lodge was held on Wednesday , tiie 4 th inst ., at Freemasons Hall . Present—The Right Hon . the Earl of Zetland , M . W . G . M . on the Throne : B . W Admiral Sir L . Curtis , P . G . M , Hants , as I ) . G . M . ; E . W . B . B . Cabbdl , M . P ., P . G . M ., Norfolk , as S . G . XV . ; It . XV . Thos . Tooke , J . G . XV ., B . W . B . J . Bngshaw , P . G . 41 , Essex ; K . W . Alex . DoTrie , P . G . 11 , Surrey and G . Reg . ; K . W . Col . W . Burlton , Past P . G . M ., Bengal ; B . W . the Eight Hon . Lord Panmure , P . S . G . XV . ; B . W . W . F . Beadon , P J . G . W . ; V . W . Rev . John E .

Cox , and V . W . Rev Edward Moore , G . Chaplains ; V . W . S . Tomkius , Grand Treasurer ; V . \ V . \ V . H . White , G . Sec . ; W . — Jones , G . S . D . ; IV . F . B . H'liite , as G . J . D . ¦ XV . John Hervey , P . G . S . D . ; S . IV . Danker , G . Sup . Works ; \ V . John Havers , P . G . J . D . ; W . J . N . Tomkins , P . G . J . D . ; XV . G W . K . Potter , 1 ' . G . J . D . ; XV . E , XV . Jennings , G . Dir . Cei ' . ; XV . Henry Chapman , Asst . G . Dir . Cer . ; W . C . W . Elkington , P . G . S . B ., as G . S . B . ; XV . K , J . Spiers , P . G . S . 1 ) . ; W . John L . Evans . P . G . S . B . ; W . A Le Vean , P . G . S . B . ; W . John JInssoii , P . G . S . B . ; W . George Biggs , P . G . S . B . ; W . William

Earn field , Asst . G . Sec ; W . Edwin Hansford , G . Organist ; VV . Joseph Smith , G . Pursuivant , & c , & , a . ; the Grand Stewards of the year ; the Master , Past Masters , and Wardens of the Grand Steward ' s Lodge ; the Masters , Pasi Masters , and Wardens of many other Lodges . The regulations for the government of G . L . were read by the Grand Secretary . The minutes of the Quarterly communication of the 3 rd December , and of the Special Grand Lodge of the 11 th February were confirmed . ELECTION OF M . W . GRAND MASTER . XV . Bro . BRADFORD said , in proposing the re-election of the EARL of ZETLAND , the present most wofthinful Grand Master , he would

not expatiate at any length on the excellence displayed by that distinguished Brother , in the office he had so worthily filled , because he was present . Under the noble Brother ' s presidency the interests of Masonry had advanced greatly , and he felt that it was quite unnecessary to say one word more , feeling assured that the Grand Lodge would unanimously agree to his proposition . W . Bro . seconded the motion . XV . Bro . ELKINGTON said , he had received a letter from W . Bro . Loan SOUTHAMPTON , expressing his regret that his name should

have been proposed in opposition to that of the XV . Bro . the EAUL of ZETLAND . This circumstance had been the cause of great annoyance lo him , and he much regretted that his name had been used without his authority . W . Bro WAIUIEN , as the proposer of Loan SOUTHAMPTON , now rose for the purpose of withdrawing that worshipful Brother ' s name . In doing so , he thought he was entitled to refer to a letter ho had received from W . Bro . LORD SOUTHAMPTON , which breathed a somewhat different tone to that just referred to . The letter

certainly expressed regret that he ( Loan SOUTHAMPTON ) should have been put in nomination , and requested that no further steps should be taken in the matter . The fact was , that , Loan SOUTH - AMPTON had only been proposed as a protest against the principle of perpetual re-election of the same worshipful Brother . ( Hear . ) He did not intend the slightest disrespect to the present XV . Grand Master , the EAUL of ZETLAND , in putting forward another name ; but the principle he held was this , that the same Brother ought not

to be perpetually elected , but that new blood should be infused into the office . R . "W . Bro . LORD PANMURE considered that great discredit would be brought on Grand Lodge if they allowed a worshipful Brother to name any Brother as a candidate for the office of Grand Master , without having first received the sanction of that Brother . He quite admitted that it was in [ heir power to have fresh blood infused if necessary , every year . In that respectthe Grand Lod here

, ge had an advantage over the Grand Lodge of Scotland ; for there , the same Brother was constantly re-elected as Grand Master , and was in fact , looked upon as a kind of fixture . In England , the right of re-election was reserved by Grand Lodge . But when a Grand Master has distinguished himself by the satisfactory performance of his duties towards the Craft , he was quite sure it was for the general

advantage that Grand Lodge should continue to have the benefit of his experience . Whenever a change was proposed , let them be first assured that the permission of the Brother , whose name "was used , had been obtained , while Grand Lodge reserved the right to every Brother of proposing a name . He thought that they should also insist on the right of asking every Brother , who proposed a new name , whether if the new Brother were elected , ho had signified his consent to fill the chair ? RV . Bro . the DEPUTY GRAND MASTEKSir L . CURTIS said it

, , , now became his pleasing duty to state to Grand Lodge that the present M XV . Grand Master , the Earl of ZETLAND , having been proposed for re-election , he should formally put the question . The Grand Lodge , with one dissentient , re-elected the M . W . Bro ., the Earl of ZETLAND . The M . \ Y . GRAND MASTER sincerely assured Grand Lodge that he found it very difficult to express the feelings which inspired him on this occasion , or to thank them , as he desired , for the highly

flattering manner in which he had been re-elected to the hi gh and honourable office he had filled during the past year . He did not disguise from himself the many disqualifications he possessed . He felt that some years ago he was able to display more activity in the performance of his duties than he could now , and he also felt that he had a much more difficult task to perform in G . L . than formerl y was the case . But he had been so often re-elected in a similarly flattering manner , that while he continued to be so seconded by

Grand Lodge , he would say , however difficult he found the post , he would endeavour , to the best of his ability , to discharge its duties . He would continue to serve the office so long as it was considered conducive towards advancing the interests of Masonry , and satisfactory to the general welfare of the Craft . ( Cheers . ) In looking back upon the past year , he could say that not only was Masonry prospering in England , it was flourishing also in India and Australia , in those Colonies , he was happy to say , there were no complaints . But there was one part of our colonial possessions on which he

could not look with the same degree of satisfaction , and that was Canada . ( Hear , hear . ) That was a subject which had had his long and attentive consideration . He thought he should consult the convenience of Grand Lodge , and he hoped , at the some time , to remove the asperity which existed , by stating the result of his long and anxious deliberations . He regretted as much as any one that the Canadian Brethren did not complain without some degree