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hhn in the appointment of the principal officers of GRAND LODGE . We humbly accept that denial ; and deeply suspicious as are the circumstances attending those appointments , we can no longer doubt but that both we , and public opinion , have been mistaken upon the point , and that this is but another instance of the weakness of circumstantial evidence .

But called upon as we now are , as loyal Masons , to proclaim to the Craft at large , that no political bias has ever swayed the G . M . in the distribution of his enormous Masonic patronage , we feel at the same time , that as public journalists , our obligation extends somewhat further . It is clue to our readers and to ourselves

, that we should ask , " what are the principles which govern the G . M . in the exercise of his almost absolute prerogative ? And what , with him , are the recognized claims to offices of honour and distinction in G . L . ? " Judging his motives by his acts—and by no other standard can we measure them—were we to sayin

an-, swer to the first query , " Impartial justice and a desire to uphold the best interests of the Craft ; and to the second , " Masonic merit and Masonic services ; " should we be doing him more than justice ? Let us endeavour to ascertain . It is at this moment notorious that in the Provinces little or no interest is felt in the affairs of

Grand Lodge—and it is chiefly because those Brethren " are impressed with the conviction that they are practically excluded from its councils and honours , while the Grand Master has . handed over to an unscrupulous clique the entire Executive of Masonry . Rumour with

her thousand tongues asserts—and if only one tongue s | ieaks truth , doubt and suspicion are justified—that one ambitious Brother sways the counsels of the Grand Master , dictates to the responsible officer of the Craft his most trifling duty , and in almost every official document of Grand Lodge , especially those relating to the affairs of Canadagives unmistakeable evidence of his

, mischievous handy-work . With reference to the appointments which have been the subject of our criticism , we ask what were the Masonic merits and services of one particular noble earl that they should have procured for him the distinguished honour of being appointed S . G . W . of the Grand

Lodge , when he was not even a P . M ., as required by the antient charges ? and what the demerits or shortcomings of another noble earl , —than whom we fearlessly aver , no living Mason has shewn more zeal or ability in promoting the best interests of the Order—that he should have been thought unworthy of honour or

distinction of any kind ? It is not our duty to answer these interrogatories ; we leave that task to those whom they most concern . With regard to the GRAND MASTER ' S indignant denunciation of this publication , we have but one remark to offer . It will be time enough for us to defend it

from such attacks , when we find that its reputation suffers , or that its means of usefulness are imperilled ; and in acting thus , we venture to think that we evince a moderation which the G . M . would have done wisely to have exercised at the last G . L ,

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A GREEK Philosopher , many centuries ago , said that there was one thing which was impossible for men and God , viz ., to undo that which has been once done . But Aristotle , had he lived in our days , would have added to his list of impossibilities , the endeavour of a small minority to put aside the pronounced

and unequivocal ' opinions of the . majority in a body where a certain amount of public opinion is supposed to exist , and which professes at all events to be governed in all its decisions , by the majority . The DAIS find fault with us , not so much for what we have written , as

for having written at all . But , in the first case , we must reply , with our Greek Philosopher , or with our English Shakspeare , " what is , is ; " and it is past our power to recall , as it is past theirs to modify , the winged words which have gone forth for good or evil : And in the latter instance , let us assure our good friends and

brethren on the DAIS , that the time has gone , when it was competent for them by a nod to put an end to our typographical existence . And they are engaged in as a vain a contest as was dame PARTINGTON , when she devoted herself to the impossible task of mopping up the Atlantic . But historically viewed , the ni ght of the

1 st of September witnessed a somewhat curious spectacle . G . L . was convened within the Temple . The 1 st of September had many charms in the country ; Great Queen Street , in London , had but few attractions . It was then but an ordinary attendance on the part of those brethren who boast no other decoration than the

blue apron , and whose interest in masonry is limited to the simple wish to see the affairs of the craft well regulated . But when the hour of eight struck , and amid the pomp and ceremonial which so well befits the G . L . of England , the A . G . D . C . announced the approach of the G . M ., an indescribable feeling that something unusual was at hand passed through the assembled

body" For rank beyond rank , file after file , " the G . officers streamed into the Temple . They filled the centre of G . L . —they thronged the door-way—they almost seemed to out-number the brethren , as they clustered like bees on and around the Dais . It was evident that great events were on the pale .

The nestling of the purple ; the glittering of the jewels ; the look of triumph , scarce veiled by the necessary decorum of G . L ., foretold the coming storm . And now , amid a breathless silence , up rose the G . M ., to whose private character and aimable qualities we have ever paid a cheerful tribute—whose misfortune it is to be placed in his high responsible office at a time when vigour and self-reliance are needed to still the discontent at home , and to save the entire alienation of our