Grand Lodge.

some brethren talk about party arrangements , and denounce the meeting of Brethren to prepare a list of candidates for the Board of General Purposes , and more especially the Rev . Brother who had just spoken ; and no one could have less right to complain upon the subject than that Brother , unless , indeed , he had forgotten that himself and a noble earl had , a year or two since , met a Grand Officer and arranged a list for the Board , in which his ( Bro . Warren ' s ) name was carefully excluded , because he was not sufficiently a party maneither for the one side or the other .

, Bro . SAWBRIDGE , as a young Mason , deprecated these intestine divisions , which if allowed to go on , would uproot the principles of the Order . He would support the amendment because he did not see a tittle of evidence brought forward in support of the charge . Bro . BINCKES having briefly replied , The M . W . GRAND MASTER put the amendment , and declared it carried by an immense majority . SCRUTINEERS .

The following Brethren were then appointed Scrutineers of the ballot for the election of the Board of General Purposes , namely , Bros . Gole , Gower , Collard , Payne , Maney , Nicholson , Cramer , Punchaud , Coulcher , Wright , and Tompkins . GRAND SENIOR WARDEN . Bro . GRAY CLARKE , G . Secretary , then stated that he had received a letter from Bro . Lord tie TableyG . S . W . regretting he would

, , not be able to attend Grand Lodge that evening , as he was out on duty with his yeomanry in Cheshire . The minutes of the last regular Grand Lodge , and of the special Grand Lodge held prior to the Grand Festival , were then read and confirmed .

GRAND LODGE OF CANADA . The M . W . GRAND MASTER then said : It now becomes my duty to communicate to you the result of the undertaking which you placed in my hands , when you unanimously requested me to communicate with the Grand Lodge of Canada , for the recognition of the rights of English Masons residing within its jurisdiction , and to take such other steps as I thought necessary for maintaining the . honour and dignity of this Grand Lodge . 1 have now much pleasure to inform you of the result of the communications which have passed

between us ; but in order to prevent any misconception , I thought it better to put down in writing the main points of the case : and I would premise , that as some of the letters are marked private , I do not think it right or proper to lay the whole of the correspondence before you , but to communicate to you the result , and assure you that nothing of importance is concealed from you . The noble earl then read as follows : — "At the last meeting of Grand Lodge it was determined that the final arrangements respecting the recognition of the Grand Lod

ge of Canada should be left in my hands . I do not think it necessary to take up the time of Grand Lodge by reading the whole of the correspondence which has taken place , but in communicating its result , I anticipate with pleasure the satisfaction with which I feel sure Grand Lodge will hear that all the differences heretofore existing between our brethren in Canada and ourselves are now

happily terminated . The questions to he considered were—1 . The extent of jurisdiction of the Grand Lodge of Canada . 2 . The position of private Lodges and individual brethren still holding firm in their allegiance to the Grand Lodge of England . 3 . The position of the Provincial Grand Lodges of Montreal and Quebec . As regards the extent of jurisdiction to be accorded to the Grand Lodge of Canada , I have already expressed an opinion that the Grand Lodge of England , actuated by the true spirit of Masonry , would never seek to limit its spread to those only who would be

subject to its control . Believing , under existing circumstances , that union will be restored , that Masonry will spread , and its true principles be disseminated far and wide through the land , and unwilling on the part of Grand Lodge of England to claim a nominal sovereignty over a territory where we have so few , and the Grand Lodge of Canada so many Lodges , I readily consented to the jurisdiction of the Grand Lodge of Canada being acknowledged over the whole province , a course which I had already expressed my approval ofand which I should have been equally readto

, y recommend in December last , had it been understood that application to such effect had been made . The Provinces of New Brunswick and Nova Scotia still remain subject to the Grand Lodge of England . I felt it my duty to stipulate for the full recognition of all the rights and privileges of private Lodges and of individual brethren , and this has been willingly accorded . I have informed the Grand Lodge of Canada that it is not my intention to grant

warrants for new Lodges in any part of Canada . The Provincial Grand Lodge of Montreal having virtually ceased to exist for several years past , I do not think it desirable , nor shall I take any steps to resusciate it . I have directed it to be intimated to the Lodges still remaining in the Montreal district , that they may according to their wish , be either placed under the Provincial Grand Master of Quebec or may communicate direct with the Grand Lodge of England . I have felt it to be my duty to stipulate that the rights and privileges of the Provincial Grand Lodge of Quebec shall be fully recognized

and respected , inasmuch as that Provincial Grand Lodge has existed and held authority from a period long anterior to the formation of any Grand Lodge' in Canada , and none of its Lodges have at any period joined , or expressed a desire to join , the Grand Lodge of Canada . I have claimed , therefore , that the privileges which they have possessed for years , should still be secured to them . In reply to the claim thus put forth , it is urged that Provincial Grand Lodges are of recent origin , and that their rights and privileges are iildefined . I am glad to perceive that though there is an evident

dislike , on the part of the Grand Lodge of Canada , to the existence of a Provincial Grand Lodge within its jurisdiction , that the claim I have made is acceded to , and I really with full confidence on the assurance given me by the Grand Master of Canada , 'That no one connected with his Grand Lodge will attempt , to interfere with either their rights or privileges , whatever they may prove to be . ' I congratulate Grand Lodge on the happy result at length arrived at . I must express my gratification at the courteous and fraternal spirit exhibited by the Grand Master of Canadaand say how entirely I

, reciprocate the feeling expressed in the last sentence of his letter dated 23 rd April . I feel that I cannot take leave of this subject better than by quoting that sentence to Grand Lodge . The following are the words of his letter addressed to me : — ' Again I thank you , . Most Worshipful Sir , for the kind and fraternal feeling evinced by your last communication , and indulge in the hope that nothing will hereafter occur to disturb the harmony and good feeling which I now regard as firmly established between our respective jurisdictions , " His Lordship concluded by saving , I need scarcclv assure Grand

Lodge of the satisfaction which I feel in seeing the matters thus settled , and I hope Grand Lodge will join with me in expressing its satisfaction at the result which had taken place in the arrangement of this complicated and embarrassing affair . ( Cheers . ) Bro . Rd . HAVERS , Prov . G . W ., Oxfordshire , then said : M . W . Grand Master and brethren , the communication which has been just made to us , must , I think , be a source of the greatest satisfaction to Grand Lodge . That communication will , as a matter of course , come upon the minutes of our proceedings ; but I am sure I only

speak the feelings of every brother present when I say , that we should regret to see it placed on those minutes unaccompanied by a declaration of our satisfaction at the able and judicious manner the negotiation has been carried out . Believing that there is no question of Masonic law which has been overlooked , and that there is no fact connected with the negotiation which has not been already given to Grand Lodge , 1 trust I shall not be , out of order in founding on what we have just heard a motion , as follows : — " That this Grand Lodge expresses its gratification at the happy result which

has attended the labours of the Grand Master in the settlement of the recognition of the Grand Lodge of Canada , and offers its best thanks to the M . W . Grand Master , for the able and judicious manner in which he has brought this important matter to a successful termination . " ( Cheers . ) Bro . the Rev . G . R . PORTAL said : M . W . Grand Master and brethren , I have great pleasure in seconding the motion of Brother Havers . There cannot , my lord , be two opinions upon the subject of the negotiations which have taken place . First of all , they have

been conducted with all the dignity and courtesy which we might justly expect from you ; and in the second place , there is no right or privilege which we could wish which has not been conceded to our brethren in Canada . Having on the one hand regard to the privileges of those who still maintain their connection with us , and on the other to the concessions made to the Canadian Grand Lodge , we may congratulate ourselves on the issue to which your lordship has brought this peculiar ) ' delicate negotiation . ( Cheers . ) Bro . Sir Lucius CUHTIS in putting the resolution , expressed the satisfaction he felt in doing so . The motion was carried by acclamation .

THE BOARD OF GENERAL PURPOSES , The Grand Secretary having read the report of the Board of General Purposes a remanet from the last quarterly communication , on the motion of Bro . Havers , seconded by Bro . Webb , received and entered on the minutes . BRO HAVERS then moved an alteration in the Book of Constitu-