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Mapa, plates, charta, etc., may be filmed at different reduction ratioa. Thoae too large to be entirely included in one expoaura are filmed beginning in the upper left hand corner, left to right and top to bottom, as many framea as required. The following diagrams illuatrate the method: Lea cartes, planches, tableaux, etc., peuvent Atre filmte A dee taux de rMuction diff Arents. Lorsque le document est trop grand pour Atre raproduit en un seul clichi, il est filmA A partir de I'angle aupAriaur gauche, de gauche A droite, et de haut en baa, en prenant la nombre d'imagea nAcassaire. Las diagrammas suivants iiluatrant la mAthoda. 12 3 1 2 3 4 S 6 •? * '■'Si. tfc. m LETTER moM The Right Hokorable The EARL OF ZETLAND, M. W., Grand Master of The United Grand Lodge op Antient Free and Accepted Masons op England, on the question of Masonic Independence in Canada ; AND REPLY BY Brother Thomas Douglas Harington, P. G. M., &c. DISTRIBUTED FOR THE INFORMATION OF THE CRAFT. TORONTO: PRINTED AT THE CANADA GAZETTE OFFICE. * 1858. I To THE AnTIENT and HONORABLE FRATERNITY OF FrEE AND Accepted Masons of Canada : My Brethren, I luive roceivetl a Communication from the M. W. Grand Master of the Grand Lodge of England, which he recommends for my and your consideration, and to which I have deemed it a duty to reply. With a view of disseminating th^ughout the Province Lord Zetland's ideas upon the important question of Masonic Independence therein, — of pointing out where and in what way, in my opinion, we are neither fairly nor justly treated, — and also of endeavouring to bring about, what we must all wish for, a firmly cemented Union of the Fraternity under one Grand Lodge of Canada, I have taken upon myself thus to circulate amongst you His Lordship's letter and my reply. I trust that you will not look upon this as presumption on my part ; but believe that I am actuated by a most earnest desire to have all existing differences of opinion and causes of antagonism removed and consigned to their proper oblivion. To many of you I am personally known. We must, if our Order is to thrive here, form one United Body. It is an undeniable truth, that there is a certain amount cf any thing but Brotherly feeling now agitating us ; and un less we are very careful, and do not, with all our hearts, study and strive to " bear and forbear," the spark will burst into a flame. I do hope that we may all labour together, — remembering the rich and varied lessons inculcated by our Institution, and especially the principal step of our Masonic ladder — Charity ! I remain, Your faithful Brother, T. DOUGLAS HARINGTON. Toronto, 21st February, 1858. \ i i [Copy.] I m FREEMASONS' HALL, LONDON, 9th December, 1857. Sir and Brother, The Grand Secretary has laid before me your letter, received November 27th, in which — 1. You tender the resignation of your office as Provincial Grand Master, and Grand Superintendent of the District of Quebec. 2. You state that you firmly believe that prompt action on the part of the Grand Lodge in September, 1856, would have preserved Canada, although some Brethren would not have returned to their allegiance. 3. That you have been driven to throw off your allegiance. 4. You transmit a Copy of the Proceedings of the Pro- vincial Grand Lodge of Canada West, now calling itself the Antient Grand Lodge of Canada ; and refer to letters received from England, and to my words about the return of Warrants. 5. You forward a memorial from the Lodges of the District of Quebec, recommending a Brother to be appointed Pro- vincial Grand Master. 6. You express an earnest hope that recognition will be accorded at once, and that a fourth Grand Lodge will be acknowledged. • , 1 ' 6 7. You offer yourself as Representative of the Grand Lodge of England, in the so-called " Antient Cirand Lodge of Canada." For the purpose of convenience, I propose lo notice these seriatim. 1. Whilst I accept with regret the resignation of your office of Provincial Grand Master and Grand Superintendent for the District of Quebec, I acknowledge with pleasure and satis- faction the courteous and masonic feeling which is expressed in your letter. 2. Upon a review of all the circumstances, I cannot bring myself to believe that that which you describe as the present ** unfoitunate and conflicting condition of Freemasonry in Canada," would have been prevented, had the propositions which I thought it right to maka to (irand Lodge in March last, been made in the September preceding. When I con- sider that the announcement cf the steps which I, as Grand Master, and the Grand Lodge were willing to take for the relief of the inconveniences existing in Canada, was made known to you in March last ; that those steps included, in spirit, and in fact, the granting to the Canadian Masons, every thing which they prayed for, except independence of their mother Grand Lodge ; and when I learn, as I now do, that with this knowledge in full view, 34 Lodges agreed in Sep- tember following to throw off their allegiance, I cannot do otherwise than come to the conclusion that there are, and have been from the commencement, other and internal causes of dissension amongst our Canadian Brethren which have, more than the inconveniences and delay arising on this side of the water, led to the separation of the Provincial Grand Lodge of Canada West, and the complication of difficulties in which the Brethren of that Province are now « involved. It appears to me that concossiojis, wfiich were acknowledged to be ample, could not bo " too late " when made many months be lore the separation took place. .*}. The movement towards [ndepend(3nce wdiich commenced so early as 1852, beibre those circumstances had occurreil, which it has been alleged brought it into existence, did not, 1 have reason to believe, originale with the English LcKlges ; and I have good grounds for belic^ving, that, even up to the present time, but very few Lodg(^^, hohling under the Grand Lodge of England, Imvc given their adhesion to the so-called liidepeiidejit Grand Lodg(\ He that however as it may, it is clear now from the Documents laid before me, that besides those whc have not wavered from, or who have returned to their allegiance, no less a number than 34 Lodges, constituting together a very large majority of all the Lodges existing in the Province, could hardly be said to be driven by a small minority into a secession from the Parent body. 4. I have read with regret and pain the details of the pro- ceedinsfs of the Provincial Grand Lodiije of Canada West in September last, t know of no letters emanating from authority in this country, nor of any words of mine which by possibility could be construed into justifying, far less recom- mending, the proceedings which it is stated then took place. I regret that any one should have been so ill-advised as to write" such letters ; or that any Brother in Canada should have been deceived by them. I regret also that the expres- sions used by me should have been so much misunderstood. The term " rebellious " seeming to have given offence, I stated " that I applied that term to Brethren who had thrown " off their allegiance to the Grand Lodge of England ; and " that without returning the Warrants they held under it ; " and I thought that Grand Lodge would agree with me that " I did not unjustly apply that term " — I recommended no 8 course of action then — I g;ive no opinion now — but thus much I may say, that I see a wide diHtinction hct wtHMi tiu; hn^aking up of a Lodj^e and the surrender of its Warrant by lh(,' free will of t!ie BrethnMi eoniposiny it ; an«i the suhscquoiit iovnia- tion of new Lodges under another autiiority — and llie formation of an Independent and antagonistie Jurisdiction — by those wlio are still the holders of tlie Warrants of that (irand liOdge whose authority they are determined to subvert, whilst they are yet under a solemn vow to support, uphold, and maintain it. I have read with astonishment, not unmingled with indignation, the following words said to have been uttered by the Provincial Grand Master : " The Provincial Grand Lodge of Canada West having ** now declared its independence, I, as the Representative of " the M. W. Grand Master of England, now direct and " require, that every Master or Delegate, holding any War- " rant of a Lodge from the Grand Lodge of England, do now " return the same to me, in accordance with the suggestion " of the Grand Master of England, contained in his Address " to the Grand Lodge on the 4th of March last. I am bound to say that in thus (and in my name) directing and requiring Brethren to surrender their Warrants, the Provincial Grand Master not only assumed a pow6r which I, as Grand Master had no authority either to exercise myself, or delegate to him, but which is directly opposed to the very essence and spirit of the Constitutions. 5. Enclosing a Memorial from the Lodges of the District of Quebec, you suggest that I should consider the propriety, or otherwise, of appointing a Provincial Grand Master tt) preside over onV three Lodges. The Lodges in the District of Quebec are the same in number as they were during the time when you presided over them. Remaining laithful in IVc'o niiii- their allegiance, and having signified their winh to have a Provincial Grand Master appointed as your Huccossor, in accordance with the proposition made by me in March last, I can have no henitation in approving of ihe Brother whom they have recommended to me, and 1 have acc^ordingly appointed Brother James Dean to succtjcd you as Provincial Grand Master for Quebec and Three-Rivers. 6. Whilst I abstain from giving an opinion whether any, or what circumstances can absolve Masons from their moral obligation, and justify them in separation from their mother Grand Lodge, I conceive it to be my duty to point out that " in the present unfortunate and conflicting condition of " Freemasonry in Canada," it is impossible that I could, consistently with my duty as Grand Master, and the obliga- tions of my office, recommend to the Graad Lodge the recog- nition of either of the Bodies which have recently assumt^d the power of erecting themcelves into a Grand Lodge. To do so would be inconsistent with the first principles of Masonic Unity. Of the Lodges existing in the Province of Canada, and holding under the Grand Lodge of England, the Warrants of 7 have been returned by those who have joined the Independent Grand Lodge — whilst 34 have been returnetl by those who have joined the Antient Grand Lodge — leaving a large number of Lodges, of which some are known to remain firm in their allegiance, and of the secession of others there is no official record. It is plain that the Grand Lodge'of England has no right or title to absolve from their allegiance the Brethren who are anxious to preserve it — it is equally clear that it is the duty, the sacred duty of Grand Master and Grand Lodge to support them in maintaining their allegiance, and in preserving inviolate their obligation, to their parent Grand Lodge. Bearing in mind that there are already two self-erected Grand 10 ' Lodges in Canada — that there are many Lodges which have not joined either — that there are others Avho liaving never wavered in their fidelity pray to have a Provincial Grand Master appointed in tlie place of those who have seceded from them, and desire to remain u.ider the jurisdiction of the Grand Lodge of England, I cannot think that any reasonable Mason will, upon a calm and deliberate review of the facts, come to any other conclusion than that recognition is impos- sible ; and that even were it accorded, it would lead only to increased confusion. 7. You offer to accept the Office of Representative of the Grand Lodge of England in the *' Antient Grand Lodge of *' Canada." — For the reasons stated in the preceding para- graph, you will at once perceive that that is impossible. I cannot contemplate without the deepest concern the separation of so many Lodges from the Parent Body ; and •the more so when it ie attempted to be shewn that the conduct of the Grand Lodge of England has driven them to that cou; iC. When I reflect that separation has taken place at a period many months subsequent to the time when all reason- able complaints have been remedied, and when effectual means had been taken to prevent their recurrence — when I know that many of the delays complained of by Lodges originated, not from the neglect of the Grand Lodge in Eng- land, but from the neglect of the Provincinl Officers to forward Rfjturns to London entrusted to them for that purpose — when I remember that the neglect of the duties of his office by the Provincial Grand Master, whom I appointed, has been one of the main causes of dissatisfaction most prominently urged in official correspondence, and insisted on even in minute detail in memorials from Canada — when I remember that in consequence of such alleged neglect the Brethren desired to be permitted to elect their own Provincial Grand 11 Master, and that such permission has been virtually conceded to them — and when I learn that the very first act of the new Body has been to elect to supreme office, the very Brother whose conduct has been so severely arraijT^ned as leading to the difficulties complained of, I nm irresistibly led to the con- clusion, that there are other causes than those which have been already declared, which caused the Provincial Grand Lodge of Canada West to throw off the authority of the Grand Master and Grand Lodge of England, who have always felt, and still continue to feel a deep and affectionate interest in the welfare of their Brethren in Canada. Commending these matters to your earnest consideration, and that of your Brethren, I am, Sir and Brother, Yours fraternally, ZETLAND, G. M. To Thomas Douglas Harington, Esq. [Copy.] Toronto, Canada, 1st Fehruaryj 1858. My Lord and M. W. Brother, I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your communication, dated the 9th ultimo, accepting my resigna- tion of the offices of P. G. M. and P. G. Superintendent of Quebec, &c., and entering largely into the present condition of Canadian Masonry. Before 1 proceed to reply in detail to 1^ I *^ the various important passages of your Lordship's letter, allow me to thank you for the persojial kindness and courtesy you have extended to me, and to assure you tliat the pemsal of your letter affected me deeply, and that whatever may he the result of the present antai^'onism hetween (t. L. and the Craft here, I shall ever feel grateful to your Lordship as well on my own account, as for tlie interest manifested and the earnestness evinced by you, in every line of that letter, for the arrangement of the existing Masonic diflerences. But I am constrained nevertheless to repeat that my convictions remain unchanged, as to the necessity for self-government here, and that altho' there may for a time be stray Lodges in Canada, hailing as heretofore, the majority of the Craft neither can nor will consent ai?ain to acknowledji'e allei^riance to the G. L. of England. Of this I feel assured, and my 'issertions are endorsed by many excellent and influential Brethren, who, like myself, entertain a warm affectionate regard for the Old Country ; but w^ho cannot shut their eyes to the plain fact, that it is ' only very recently that the Colonies have been looked upon as of so much consequence in the preservation of the " Unity of " English Freemasonry.'^^ Your Lordship must acknow- ledge that for many years past they have only been regarded in a pecuniary light — that is — the annual revenue derived from them has kept them from nearly entire oblivion. As for a voice at the fountain head, that has never been thought of, and *' money " and ^' obedience " have been the principal results derived from their connexion with the G L. of Great Britain and Ireland. Your Lordship will also, I am sure, acknowledge that they have been parcelled out between three sovereign authorities in a way that must, sooner or later, lead to confusion, and a necessity for the establishment of one local Head. I know that Canada has called the attention of England to the equal Sovereignty of Scotland and Ireland, and that the adoption of some plan has been asked for, 13 f. *4, 4 by which no separate Lodges should be constituted by one part of the Empire, without the concurrence of the other two ; but the subject has never yet been deemed of sufficient im- portance to attract attention, or elicit a reply, and the result has been, that when individual Brethren have become dis- satisfied, or fancied themselves aggrieved, they have been accustomed to retire from their Lodges, and either become Joining Members of another hailing from a different source, or have applied for Warrants, which have never been refused. For instance, — English Masons have procured Charters from the G. L. of Scotland and Ireland, without either of the latter Bodies deeming it at all requisite to appeal to England for proofs of good standing or any other essential, and in this loose manner a standard of Independence (for it may surely be classed as such) has been set up for many years. This irregularity could only be rectified by a Sovereign G. L. on the spot. Another important particular, I wish to draw your Lordship's attention to, is, that a large proportion of the Brethren here are native Canadians ; who, as such, have none of the old recollections and sympathies to bind them ; but, on the contraiy, and it is natural, are imbued with a love of their native soil and Institutions, and deem it derogatory to be ruled by extraneous power — from connexion with which they derive no apparent advantage — in whose proceedings they have no real voice — with which it is ten chances to one if they ever have any personal communication — and for which, as I shall endeavour to show your Lordship before I conclude this letter, they have been gradually compelled to feel less and less respect. There are likewise many Brethren, who are citizens of the U. S. of America, who have settled in Canada for their own private interests, — but who have no particular liking for England in any way. I have alluded to the foregoing points, because they are uppermost in my mind, and I think them of paramount importance as a 14. prelude to my replying to your Lordship's communication in detail. I have to beg your indulgence for the length of this letter, — ^but I find it impossible to do justice to the subject at issue, unless I bring before your notice every thing that bears upon it, — and to compress would be to mislead your Lordship. I deeply regret that our recognition has not been efiected by the Documents already sent home, and the evidence which they afford, that the " Antient G. L. of Canada " certainly has not been actuated by factious or ambitious motives, (as has been hinted,) but by a ^^ stern necessity'^ in adopting the course it has. I hope the G. L. of England will yet see the matter in that light. There is no necessity for me to trouble your Lordship with a repethion of the " grievances " under which the entire Canadian Craft has laboured, for they have been fully and formally specified in the Memorial already sent home by the late P. G. L. of Upper Canada ; but to enable you to refer to them, I have appended a Copy of that Memorial to this communication. I take it for granted that a copy of your Lordship's letter to me is fyled in the G. Secretary's Office, for the information of G. Lodge. With reference therefore to paragraph 2, of that letter, I must again express my conviction, that had the concessions proposed by your Lordship in March last, been propounded in September^ 1856, (that is, six months earlier than they were,) the present condition of Freemasonry in Canada might have been prevented. If you will be so good as to refer to the Memorial (page 5), you will find that the half year, suffered to elapse without notice, was pregnant with events, bearing direct and unmistakeable issue upon " Independence.'' The Craft here had nothing for its guidance but your Lordship's personal communications to G. L., and they were such (see 4th June, 1856,) as to call forth in the following October, resolutions of the very strongest nature, and " disapproval of the unjust 15 and uncmirteous treatment experienced at the hands of the G. M. of Ens^land,^^ and it was firmly stated that the time had been allowed to pass when moderate cmcessions would have more than satisfied the Masons of Canada, and that less than entire independence would not allay the excitement, &c., and recognition was asked for on behalf of the P. G. L. as a G. L. This was adopted in January, 1857, and sent home — and in March following your Lordship officially made known your plan for restoring peace in Canada, and the con- cessions that you considered would bring about that desirable object. But previous silence and apparent carelessness had done their work by that time, and (I write it with all due respect) your proposal was not then looked upon as a boon, but as having been forced by the pressure of current events. The Brethren knew then that their Memorial had not even been read in G. L., but had been referred, or handed over to the new Colonial Board ; and it is certain that no definitive reply has yet been vouchsafed to that respectful document ; although the G. Registrar at the Quarterly Communication of the G. L. of England, on the 2nd September last, somewhat disingenuously declares that such a statement is inaccurate. Your Lordship's letter (in triplicate), is not a reply, for the concluding portion of it only makes mention of the Memorial having been presented at a late period of the evening — that no discussion took place thereon, and it was referred to the Colonial Board, in consequence of the announcement you had been previously pleased to make, — and the Colonial Board had no power to send one. Its duty was simply to report to your Lordship and G. L. In the face of all that is reported to have occurred, it would puzzle any body to remove the impression, that the Craft is really governed by the Dais, and those upon it,— not by the Brethren at large. Your Lordship's concessions would perhaps have been deemed " ampkj^' but for the fatal and unfortunate delay, and before the adoption li 16 of the Memorial ; but they were never so acknowledged subsequently ; — and whether made before or after, you were ever careful not to embarrass any successor you might have, and the proposed plan, although ])inc1irig on you, would not be upon him, — and it might happen therefore that the evil day was only retarded for a season. In this paragraph also, your Lordship has been pleased to state that there must have been internal dissensions in Canada, which have led to the existing difficulties, and that they do not arise from delay and inconvenience on your side of the water. I hope to prove that dissatisfaction (not dissension) has been occa- sioned by parties in London, and who have been and are intimately connected with G. L. itself— and I believe I express the opinion o(the tivo Canadian Independent Bodies, With respect to paragraph 3, of your Lordship's letter, I will simply say, that the Independent movement commenced as early as 1 850 not 1852, and that as regards the fidhesion of English Lodges to the existing " Independent G. L.," I am satisfied that had the P. G. L. of Canada West wavered in its resolution after what had passed, the P. G. M. would not have been left with a suffi(;iency of Lodges wherewith to constitute a P. G. L. Such was the pretty general and openly expressed opinion in all quarters, and by the Brethren at large, and I have no doubt that they would have taken Warrants from that Independent G. L. I now beg permission to refer to paragraph 4, of your Lord- ship's communication, and it is an important one. You regret the proceedings of the P. G. L. of Canada West, and know of no letters emanating from England, which by pos- sibility could be construed favorably to those proceedings. I will quote from one received by me, which could not fail to exercise an influence here. It is from Bioibsr W. W. Beach> who is, I believe, known to your Lordship, — is now a 17 Member of the Colonial Board, — and was in this country. He writes, under date 10^^ June last, as follows : • " I took the first opportunity in my power of seeing the *^ G. M. He had not leisure to enter into the business but " deputed the G. Registrar to meet me next day. I spent " nearly two hours with him and placed the whole state of " the case before him. He wished me to draw up a state- " ment for the G. M. of the Masonic Affairs in Canada. I did " so. I do not think I omitted any argument or position, — It <* was acknowledged, — but tho' I begged that great haste " might be used, nothing was done for several weeks. A " Meeting was at length summoned of a few selected to con- " sider the matter. It was found the day did not suit some " one, — So it was put off. After the consultation, nothing was ** resolved on. — The G. Registrar, who is very reasonable, " declares that it is fmposible to constitute the P. G. L. into a " G. L. by any act of the G. L. of England tho' of course the *' recognition of it would be another question &c." Ypur Lordship cannot fail to see there was lukewarmness in some quarters at a time when Canada was looking with excessive anxiety for some kind of action at home ; so much so that the regular communication of the P. G. L. had been put off for a month to afford time, ai; 1 enable G. L. to take up the business at its own meeting at the beginning of June. You will also, I think, agree that a very high officer did not absolutely discourage " recognition.^^ We were well aware here, that G. L. could not constitute us a G. L. and every Memorial has asked for ^'recognition?^ accordingly, — and we have endeavoured throughout to make our Independent formation as agreeable and affectionate towards the Mother Country as we could do, under the trying circumstances in- volved in the course we were compelled to adopt. To the last we turned to the Mother G. L. with a yearning affection — 18 clung to her Constitutions— elected her Chief Brother to pre- side over us — and begged her to consider that we had fought her battles, and retained our allegiance, in spite of neglect, carelessness, and silence, until self-respect would allow of no further adherence as dependents, and we had been taunti'd and ridiculed for what was called our slavish servility. But G. L. never manfully grappled with the question at issue, — has not up to this moment. She never defined the Law of the matter,— never gave instruction, or encouragement, — never attempted to inflict punishment on the Lodges and Brethren, who had unceremoniously severed their connexion with her, — never denounced them ; — but left us here to fight and disagree, — to break friendships, — to sever Masonic Con- nexions of long-standing; — in short, to do what G. L. up to this moment, has not had the moral courage or pluck to do. And for what end ? — To preserve mtact a tie, founded upon old memories and reminiscences, which a large proportion of Bre- thren, being native Canadians, never had any particular reason to treasure up in their hearts. G. L. would lose through the pocket — the Brethren here were likely to suffer inspirit, heart and affection. I could dilate upon this topic ; but must again refer to the Paragraph of your Lordship's letter, which is now under notice. I must do your Lordship justice. You did de- nounce the Independent G. L. as " Rebellious,^^ altho' G. L. has never yet enunciated a dignified opinion at all. But why did you call that Body " rebellious^' ? —Because — it had thrown off " its allegiance to the G. L. of England, and that without " returning the Warrants it held " Your Lordship tells me that you recommended no course of action then — you give no opinion now. May I ask why you did not do so, or cause G. L. to act, instead of placing the Brethren in a false position here, and compelling them to assume the initiative ? — More than tvx) years have elapsed since the formation of the Inde- pendent G. L. of Canada, and the then loyal Brethren can- 19 not point to ono single letter of decided advice or instruction at this moment, us to the course they were to adopt towards that Body. Not one single Charter has ever been demand- ed, — not one single seceding Brother has been suspended from Masonic privileges, — not one atom of Masonic Law has been brought to bear, and even your Lordship's term of " re- bellious,^^ if we are to believe the only printed Periodical that comes regularly to this Province, viz : The F. M. Maga- zine, published in London, — was not suffered to be uttered by you in G. L. without a sneer ! Your Lordship states that you have felt astonishment, not unmingled with indignation, at the course pursued by the late P. G. M. of Upper Canada, in demanding the Warrants of the Lodges in your name. Will you be pleased to state what he ought to have done 1 — I was by Sir Allan MacNab's side, and can bear witness to his anxiety to act rightly. I am of course open to conviction, and we are all liable to error, but I believe I should have followed the same course, and so I told Sir Allan. — ^Your Lordship says, that you see a wide distinction between the breaking up of a Lodge, and the surrender of its Warrant by the free-will of the Brethren composing it, and the subsequent formation of new Lodges under another authority — and the formation of an Independent and aritagonistic jurisdiction, who are still the holders of the Warrants of that G. L., whose authority they are determined to subvert &c. My Lord and M. W. Brother, the Lodges could not first be broken up, and the Warrants surrendered, or a G. L. could not have been constituted, for it is Lodges, not Brethren, who form the component parts of a G. L. Your Lordship likewise says that the P. G. M. not only as- sumed a power as your representative, which you had no authority to exercise yourself, but acted in direct opposition to the Constitutions — what do the Constitutions say ? — art : Private Lodges— Sect 27. 20 << If a Lod^e be dissolvod, tbo VVarrdiit .'^liall lie delivered '< up to tlie CI. Master, &e." Sect. 30 :-- '* If all the Members of a Lodi^c \vilhdraw, the Warrant " becomes extinct." I would therefore ask your Lordship, who was tlie proper Ollicer to require tlie surrender of the Warrants t)f tlie Lodijes, upon their formally declaring that they withdrew from under the jurisdiction of En inland, or, in other words, dissolved themselves, as far as their Charters were concerned, an^i re- ceived in lieu thereof Dispensations from their own local Head ? Surely, the P. G. M. was boinid to call for them, for the purpose of complying witli the Constitutions, and restoring them to you, the G. M. Sir Allan MacNab, in common with the Brethren at large, could only understand by your Lord- ship's address to the G. L. of England; that after a declaration of Independence, the retention of your Warrants specially constituted an act of Rebellion, — and it was with direct allu- sion to your Lordship's own words, that the P. G. M. addressed the meeting as he did. Upon referring to the P. G. L. pro- ceedings, you will observe, that in the concluding Address praying for recognition, the surrend(3r of those Charters is specially' mentioned, and their return a>ked for, that they might be cherislied as mementos of tlie original source from whence we derived our Masonic existence, and which we regarded with w\arm affijction, alllio' wc felt that self-govern- ment, from various causes, was imperative. The P. G. M. used no compulsion ; but he had to exercise his discretion, and, in the absence of any advice or directions from the fountain head, altlio'^ the contemplated Diocement was known in London, the course he pursued w^as certainly the most straiglit- forward one, and, under the circumstances, more in accordance 21 with tlio Constitutions, as quoted above, than any other method would have been, — and I know that no Brother feh more acutely the painful position in which wo were all placed than Sir Allan MacNab. JNIy Lord, it f^ecms a ^^ pnriidox^'^ — that Ike " Indvpeyuhiii G. L." should he denounced for withholding the English IVarranlSj