The Canadian Movement.

contempt in the quarter to which they were addressed , had forced t he forty-one Lodges to their independent action of October 10 , 1855 . " Had the . forty-one Lodges of Canada postponed their action and continued to bear oppression longer , subsequent events have shown that ' scorpions' were doomed to succeed the ' whips , ' and that while they remained within the portal of foreign jurisdiction , they must leave all hope upon the outside . At the Quarterly Communication of the Grand Lodge of England , on the 4 th of June , 1856 ,

when a petition from Canada West was alluded to by a member upon the floor , which petition had been presented to the Grand Master , and notice had been given of a motion by Bro . Portal , 'for granting privileges to the Prov . Grand Lodge of Canada West , ' the Grand Master announced , even before the motion was brought forward , that he should' refuse putting it from the chair . He went on to remark that' the Grand Lodge had nothing to do with the petition , ' and added , 'that he was perfectly justified in ignoring it . He refused also to read a part of the petition .

" Upon this practice the Grand Lodge of England is a myth , having no substantial entity whatever ; or , if it has any appreciable existence , it is but as the shadow of the Most Worshipful Earl of Zetland . I know not how these occurrences may strike the minds of the Brethren of this Grand Lodge ; but I am compelled to admit that no intellectual chemistry can find anything in my own conceptions which has the least affinity for them . A Grand Master quite as many years as any other living Brother on this side of the Atlanticand—so far as I know—on the otherI have a right to believe

, , that the Masonic world will give me credit for having no disposition to restrict the legitimate prerogatives of that exalted station ; but when the Brother thus situated , and thus responsible to the Masonic world at large , assumes an entire personal control over petitions , gratuitously refuses to put motions growing naturally out of them , even before they are offered , and withholds from his Grand Lodge the contents of papers in which that body is interested , I can see only in those acts simple , unmitigated , unalloyed despotism . It is receding to the age of darkness and of iron . Masonry is too

intelligent and enlightened to sanction it . If the Grand Lodge of England yields to it , she has arrived at the hour when the rising sun of her East should be transferred to represent the setting sun of her West , and in that changed position it will most appropriately emblematize her declining Masonic glory . "

Report From The P. G. M. Of Quebec To The M. W. The G. M.

REPORT FROM THE P . G . M . OF QUEBEC TO THE M . W . THE G . M .

In September last the P . G . M . of Quebec and Three Rivers transmitted to England a long despatch upon the state of Masonry in Canada and the feelings of the Brethren . We extract the following striking passages : — "In Gpper Canada , where the independent movement originated , the P . G . II ., Sir Allan Mac Nab , has never taken an active part in any way . In this section of Canada the disaffection lias been gaining

ground , principally because of alleged neglect in London , and ( as the Brethren complain ) tho kind of apparently contemptuous indifference extended to their communications , many of which have never been noticed or acknowledged at all . Had their remonstrances and representations relating to misgovernment , or rather neglect of government—which has been felt to be a growing evil for some time pastbeen courteously attended to in some way , and a desire at least have been evinced to meet the wishes of the Brethren , and place them upon some more satisfactory footing in regard to the management of

their own local ajfairs , it is exceedingly doubtful if such an event as throwing off allegiance would ever have been thought of . I feel sure it would not , for old country feeling is very strong ; but the analogy appears perfect between State and Masonic affairs in Canada . The people were neglected by Downing Street , and there was first rebellion , and now responsible government , as nearly independent as is consistent with a dependency . The Masons complain of Freemasons ' Hall in the same way , and hence the desire for a change of some nature . There are many most worthy men who have been watching

events , who have lost their ancient faith in the Parent body , and who reluctantly begin to declare that some change of government appears necessary , in which they must have a voice in the choice of their rulers . This last is beginning to be regarded as a sine qua non by all with whom I have conversed . But the declaration of independence is still very far from being approved of , and there is a reluctance to sever entirely the Masonic connexion with England , the Parent body there being much reverenced , in spite of the neglect complained of . It is suggested that it could be a Court of final appeal , and although under certain rules , the immediate authorities might he nominated here by those the most interested , the final choice of appointment might be left to the M . W . G . M . Money matters probably would be

even more easy of arrangement ; but if some steps are not speedily taken , it will be too late . Delay must be fatal . " The M . W . the 0 . M . is reported to have said in relation to a petition from Upper Canada ' that not liking to tell the Petitioners that their desires were preposterous , he had decided to take no notice whatever of it . ' If this is correct , it is to be regretted , as we are left in the dark as to his full reasons , and therefore it has not only created dissatisfaction , but many express indignation , and declare that taking no notice will not answer on this continent . A positive refusal would

have been better received . Again , the July number of the Magazine reports that Br . Portal ' s proposed motion had been rejected as unconstitutional and improper , the M . W . the G . M . refusing to put it to G . L . Now , upon the fate of this motion , the attention of the Brethren here was fixed , as they conceived it to be well calculated to elucidate the merits of the matters at issue , and at least let them see that their grievances and desires were of sufficient importance to give rise to debate in England , where they are not , and cannot be ,

immediately represented , owing to distance , otherwise than by sympathy , and from whence laws , alterations , and all matters emanate , in which they are expected to concur , without the possibility of a voice or vote on the question . The course pursued in Br . Portal ' s case is regarded by many as intended to smother the matter , and the Independents congratulate themselves on the course they have pursued , and they gain converts . The Brethren say that the proceedings of tbe legitimate P . G . L . and the Independent G . L . are so mixed togetherthat

, either ignorance or carelessness must prevail in England on the subject of Canadian affairs to a very great extent . Those who preserved their loyalty , who were the majority , whatever they may be now , are annoyed and chagrined , because nothing at all has yot been done by the G . L . of England , although nearly twelve months have elapsed

since the self-styled G . L . of Canada declared itself . While the P . G . L . of Upper Canada has received neither advice , instructions , or encouragement , the Independents have been busy labouring , appealing to that particular fact , gaining converts , printing , publishing , and leaving no stone unturned to secure their object . Worthy men waver , feeling themselves unsupported ; and finally , although retaining all their English affection , but losing hope and confidence , they reluctantly look to self-government . They will of course be received with open arms by the self-constituted G . L . of Canada , to which

they will give in their adherence , unless tho legal P . G . L . is driven to declare its own independence . - " It will be well for the G . L . of England to remember that Canadian Masons do not at this distance feel that they positively depend upon it for the continuance of then- Masonic privileges , but that they are sure of a welcome from other bodies , even although their original tie is severed . " Alluding to certain proceedings of the Independent G . L ., a report of which was enclosed , he says— " I have marked several passages ,

the last of which is the most serious , and must have the effect of immediately bringing the fraternity into still greater antagonism here , unless some action is taken in Great Britain , inasmuch as that selfstyled body has resolvedio repudiate all new warrants not emanating from itself . You will see that the importance of the MARK degree has not escaped their notice . The recent action of the G . L . of England in regard to it , has created very considerable dissatisfaction , as it well might . The Degree is imperative on this side of the Atlantic ; and the effect of the vacillation at home will be , that it will be worked without permission being asked or cared for . I wrote very fully on the subject , but my cormminieation has never been formally acknowledged , although I presume that it has been made use of before the Board of General Purposes . "

KOYAL FREEMASONS' GIRLS' SCHOOL . —The sixty-ninth anniversary of this school was celebrated by a very handsome dinner at the Freemasons' Tavern , on Wednesday , the 13 th of May , under the presidency of the B . W . D . G . M ., the Bight Hon . Lord Panmure . The noble lord was supported by Admiral Sir Lucius Curtis , Prov . 6 . M ., Hampshire ; A . Dobie , Prov . G . M ., Surrey , Captain Bowyer , Prov . G . M ., Oxford ; Kent , Prov . G . M ., Australia ; H . C . Vernon , Prov . G . Ivi ., Worcestershire ; Bisgood , D . Prov . G . M . Kent ; B . B . Cabbell , Prov . G . M ., Norfolk ; Dundas , P . G . W . ; B . J . Spiers , D .

Prov . G . M ., Oxfordshire , and P . G . S . B . ; Holland , P . G . W . ; Patteson , P . G . \ V . ; Beadon , P . G . W . ; King , P . G . W . ; Roxburgh , G . S . D . ; Hervey , P . G . D . ; Havers , P . G . D . ; Potter , P . G . D . ; Faudel , P . G . D . ; Giraud , P . G . D . ; W . Grey Clarke , G . Sec ; W . H . White , P . G . Sec . ; W . Farnfield , Asst . G . Sec . ; . Jennings , G . Dir ., of Cers . ; Hutchins , G . S . B . ; Le Veau , P . G . S . B . ; Geo . Biggs , P . G . S . B . ; Rev . J . E . Cox , G . Chap . ; the Bight Hon . Earl Carnarvon , No . 10 , President of the Board of Stewards ; Bros . G . B . Portal , P . G . W ., Oxfordshire ; Beach , P . G . W ., Oxfordshire ; and about 250 other Brethren , friends of the institution . There were also between eighty and ninety ladies in the gallery . Tho collection amounted to the unprecedented sum of £ 1900 .