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Gf-!tn O 9 ^ f-J kJ 63 O -<::; The Grand Lodge of Scotland tins only two or three Lodges under her jurisdiction in the Upper Province. She has however a number in the Lower Province, and it appears from the Reports of her Provin- cial Grand Master there, that all these stand firm in their allegiance. The amount of fees, or dues, paid to this Grand Lodge, we have no means of ascertaining. The Grand Lodge of Ireland has about fifteen Lodges, whose foes are S2.50 annually for each Lodge chartered previous to 1846, and $5.00 annually for each Lodge chartered since ; $1.50 for each candi- date; registering fee sixty cents, and Diploma fifty cents. We allude to these matters of organization and expense merely from their hav- ing been brought forward as among the principal causes of dissatisfac- tion : and their amount become^ therefore a matter of consequence to the argument. How the Provincial Grand Lodges are supported, or whence the funds are drawn for their support, or what the aggregate expense for this purpose may be, your Committee cannot say. There has long been a growing dissatisfaction at this state of things, and much discussion has grown out of the constantly deepening con- viction that some effort must be made to introduce a better; until at length, almost the entire Craft being convinced that an independent organization was essential to the effective and proper working of the Order, efforts were made from time to time to call the attention of the Grand Lodge of England to these causes of dissatisfaction, in the hope that in some way a remedy might be applied. It is not necessary to detail the history of the various attempts, which were attended with no success until the appointment of Bro. R. 11. Townend, as Special Agent to the G. Lodge of England, made at a meeting of the Provin- cial Grand Lodge of Canada West, held at the Clifton House, Niagara, July 19, 1855. And it is perhaps well to remark, as an evidence of the spirit then prevailing, that a motion was offered which would, if carried, have led to immediate and open rebellion on the part of the Canadian Craft towards the Mother Grand liOdge ; this motion, how- ever, the presiding officer very properly refused to put. Bro, Townend's mission was so far successful that he had got the matter regularly before the Grand Lodge of England; and there seems every reason to believe that all would have been satisfactorily adjusted but for the precipitate action of a portion of our Canadian Brethren, who were unwilling to " wait patiently," as recommended by Bro. Townend. They accordingly called a Convention at Hamil- ton, Upper Canada, on the 10th of October last, which resulted in the formation of a new body, tledariiig itself indopenclen' of all former au- thonty The mission of Brother Tovvnond continued, with still more favorable prospects; but the secession of iho 10th of October rendered that which had been done, useless. And, moreover, it appears from a passage in the communication (to be hereafter alluded to) from the new body, that no concession from the Mother Grand Lod-e short of absolut^) and complete independence would have been satisfactory to the seceding Brethren; that principle having been predetermined Under these circumstances the Provincial Grand Lodge of Canada \\ est held a meeting on the 23d of October, at which the new body was declared illegal, and all Masonic intercourse with it, was by a unani mous vote strictly forbidden. At a meeting of the Provincial Grand Lodge held on the 26lhof May, 1856, a resolution was passed instruct- iiig (heir Board of General Purposes 'o communicate to the various Grand Lodges with who.n they were in communication, the true posi- tion cf that Grand Lodge, "as regards the movement of the self-styled Grand Lodge of Canada." A report on the subject was accordingly made, of which this Grand Lodge has received a copy, and from which the foregoing account of the difficulties in question has been mainly urawn. ' They also at the same meeting, approved of a proposition made, or to be made, to the Grand Lodge of England, by Bro. the Rev. Gee. K. Porter, P. S. G. W., for settling the Canadian difficulties, by a conces! sion of almost complete independence. Whether there have been, or are likely to be, any results from this last proposition, your Committee cannot say. From the body of Brethren above mentioned, who met at Hamilton on the loth of October last, this Grand Lodge in common with the other Grand Lodges of the Union has received an able communica- tion, going at length into the history of the transactions which your committee have briefly sketched, detailing their reasons for the step they have taken, and asking our recognition and fraternal sympathy. Their communication states that after the various unsuccessful commu- nications to the Grand Lodge of England, "finding that the interests of the Craft were suffering with increased severity from the causes of which they had complained— feeling deeply the uncourteous neglect the Petitions and Correspondence of the Provincial Grand Lodge\ad experienced from the ofllcers of the Grand Lodge of England— and believing the Provinciul Grand Lodge to be incapable of obtaining the concessions which the position of the Craft rendered indispensable— it was doteimiiied to call a rneoliiiy of iloluyatea from all Canadian Lodges, to be held at the city of Hamilton on the lOlli of October, to consider the e.vpediency of forming a (Jrand Lodge of Canada." Accordingly, the representatives, as they say, of forlyone Loilges, holding under the Grand Lodges of England, Ireland and Scotland, mot aa requested, and after fully debating all matters in question, agreed with one exception, upon the formation, and proceeded to elect the of- ficers of the Grand Lodge of Canada. This Communication is signed by Wm. M, Wilson, as Grand Mas- ter, and counteisigned by Thomas Bird Harris, as Grand Secretary. It will at once be seen, IJrclhren, that here is a case almost new in ourMusonio experience, involving principles of 'ho highest import- ance— appealing strongly to our sympathies as freemen-and requir- mg that prudence and caution whereby we may avoid being led through those sympathies into a course in(!cnsislent with those" well tried principles, which have so long secured r«eace and tranquility within the borders of this Grand Lodge. The naked question to be met is briefly as follows, viz. whether it Js consistent with the recognized Jaws or customs of Freemasonry for any portion of the Lodges under a particular jurisdiction to secede from the Parent Body, without its consent,-and to form of their own authority a new Body, having an independent existence and independ- ent powers. In discussing this question we must define, if we can, the principles which have always by common consent, governed the relations of the various Grand Lodges of this country with each other, and with Forei-n Countries. ° And the leading principle is this : That each Grand Lodge in the United States rules and governs without interference from any other all Lodges within the Civil Jurisdiction of the State in which she is situated,— holding the territories as common ground wherein each Grand Lodge is free to charter Lodges at pleasure; until each Terri- tory by being regularly admitted into the Union as a Slate, acquires the right to form a Grand Lodge for itself. Your Committee are aware thai this has sometimes been done before admission as a State • but, although it may be alleged in excuse that Territories are States m process of formation, we still think the practice illegal, and not to be justified in any case; the only safe rule in our opinion bein- that above laid down. ° The same rule holds good as regards foreign countries ; we do not ♦hink of chartering Lodges within their limits, if there is a Grand Lodgo .here nor do we permit tl.om to do so within ours. And this is mil r " "" r^:' ^"'"'P'^ ^"''^ ^-" -«'-''h -ch vehe. mamly ot foreigners and worke.l in a foreij^n language. Wi.h regard to ti.e Lodges of Great Britain and Ireland, the caseia exacty analogous to ours. Neither of these Grand Lodges charters Lodges w„h.n the bounds of the others, though all do so in the Colo- lues-just as we do ui the Territories. As to the Continental Grand Lodges, they are governed in many umie.stand. There are for instance, in France, the Grand Lodge o France, and the Supreme Council ; both insisting upon equal au.hor.ty, and not at all, certainly, to the furtheranc: of harmony. anomlT' '^'^^^ ^'-"'^ ^-'g^« i" Berlin; and perhaps, other, to us, anomalous arrangements, ol.ewhere. Now we do not say that these Ihmgs may not be very proper for them, but, that with our principles ofMasonrc junsprudonce, they would not be proper for us : and that no precedent ar.smg from their peculiar organizations would be safe lor us to loilow, forl'r' v7 ''"''' "^'°" '' ^''""Sm-ze, as a Grand Lodge, a bo,?y formed on different principles from our own, which has for certain rea- sons, good or bad, set up a pretension which amounts to this, viz. that whenever any portion of the C.aft under any jurisdiction finds it in- converuent to remain there ;-or wh -never it imagiaes itself alieved or slighted by the Parent Body, i, is right and proper to resort" rev oution-to close the doors upon all explanation or concession, and B ricly by IS own authority to constitute and maintain a new aid in- dependent Jurisdiction, totally disconnected from all former duties or assoeiationp. Such has been the course of the Brethren seeking to be acknow- edged as the Grand Lodge of Canada : and in justification of thTs course they allege substantially the following reasons, viz :- 1st. The want of harmony in action and in working resulting from Lodges hailing from different countries, perpetuating local and national leelings, prejudices, and conflicting interests, &c. 2d. That Lodges in the Provinces are required to contribute to the funds of the Grand Lodge of Great Britain In addition to supp tit hree Provincial Grand Lodges. The far greater number of appHcan": for chanty being Brethren emigrating from Great Britain, while few or none requiring aid, go from the Provinces to the Mother Country 8 3il. The Grand nity in Canada by Masonic Lodges of Great Biitain thus iloubly tax the Fraler- traiisfe tu their Hhort iber for aro receiving 3m a pottion lerriii_ i, at the name time of the means of affording it. 4th. The inconvenience arising from the lengthened periods that must ensue in consequence of the distance between tliem and i real Britain, before they can receive replies to their communications, sane- tion to their proceedings, warrants, certificates of membership, &c., sometimes to the great detriment of the Craft, and of individual Breth- ren ; and lastly, 5th. The appointment of their Prov. Grand Masters by the Grand Master of England, who at a distance of near 4000 miles may reasona- bly be expected to be practically ignorant of their peculiar wants : — and inasmuch as the Provincial Grand Officers are appointoil by the Provincial Grand Masters, their propriety necessarily depends upon the Grand Master, who is selected entirely without reference to the opinions of the Brethren in the Prnvinccs. And "the Provincial Grand Lodges thus constituted aro placed in tlie equivocal posilion of being irresponsible to, and independent of, the Cralt in Canada," &c. Our Brethren, after stating that their Grand Lodge has been regu- larly constituted, &c., go on to ground an argument for its necessity from the number of Lodges engaged in foiming it, which they say was fortyone, hailing from three difTeront jurisdictions, "while from the time when the four Lodges of London renounced their allegiance to the Grand Lodge of York and formed themselves into an independ- ent Grand Lodge, to the present day, the greatest number of Lodges on record as associating to form a new Grand Fjodge, is seventeen." It seems to your Committee after sxamining these several reasons to the best of our ability, that they make out simply cases of incon- venience, and nothing more : want of harmony in working or action is an inconvenience; a multiplicity of Jurisdictions is an inconven- ience. It would be better doubtless for the interests of the Craft in the Provinces were their Masonic contributions expended where they are raised : although it woulil seem from what has been above said, that the amount drawn from the Provinces by the Grand Lodges of Great Biitain and Ireland would not, if left there, add very materially tolheir means of charity. And, since the dues thus paid by them are certainly much below those usually paid in this country, we cannot see any well grounded cause for dissatisfaction upon this point ; much less for revolution. It is an inconvenience also that so many Brethren come from Europe requiiing assistance j but how the Grand Lodges 9 of Great Britain or Ireland can be blamed for this— what control they have over it— or how ihoy can be chargod willi " thut doubly taxing the Craft in Canada," your Conunilleo caiuiot perceive. The inconvenience arising from distance was doubtli'ss in former times very great ; but now, when modern improvements have almost annihilated distance— difiicultiee from this sourco are certaiidy not in- superable. It is an inconvenience certainly— at least we should so ctnsidor it, to bo governed by a body 4000 miles away; or that they should ap- point our principal olHcers. But as these things are just .\s they always were among our Caiuidian Brethren, and, moreover, as v. large portion of them would probably insist that tho p:ngli8h principle of appointment gives on the whole, better officers to the Ftaternity than ours of election— your Committee can see no cause for extreme mea- sures hero. And as the Masters, Past Masters and Wardens of Lodges must form a sutficiently eliective working majority in the Provincial Grand Lodges— embodying as they certainly must the aggregate will of the Fraternity— we cannot see how these Grand I ' 'cres can properly be said to be " irresponsible to, and independent ol the Craft in Can- ada." Our Brethren otate in their communication, that fortyone Lodges concurred in the formation of their Grand Lodge ; but this does not seem exactly borne out by subsequent information. It is now said that the actual number of seceding Lodges is twenty- six, viz. : eight from Canada West— three from the Prov. Grand Lodge of Montreal and William Henry, and fifteen from the Grand Lodge of Ireland ; leaving forty five in the Upper Province, who still remain firm in their allegiance to the Parent Grand Lodge. The last renark in the communication vi'hich it will be necessary for your Committee to notice, is ati allusion to the time when, as it says, " the four Lodges of London renounced their allegiance to the Grand Lodge of York and formed themselves into an independent Grand Lodge." Now it is certain from the old Constitutions that in 1717 the four old Lodges of London with some old Brethren met at the Apple- tree Tavern, in Charles street, Covent Garden, and having put into ihe Chair the oldest Master Mason, being then Master of a Lodge, " they constituted themselves a Grand Lodge fro tempore in due form.^' Bnt here is no allusion to any renunciation of allegiance to tho Grand Lodge of York, or any mention of such a Grand Lodge, — or any indi- cation that the authority of such a Grand Lodge ever extended over the Lodges in question in any way. A Grand Lodge of York there 10 certainly was ; but no precedent it seems to us can be drawn for the forcible establishment of a new body from any imagined rebellion against the Grand Lodge of York, by the Lodges of London. The peculiar jurisdiction or mode of operation of this Grand Lodge your Committee do not profess to discuss ; but we do not know that there ever was, any quarrel between it and the Grand Lodge of England. Your Committee understand that since the receipt by this Grand Lodge of the communication in question, the new Grand Lodge of Canada has been acknowledged by the Grand Lodge of Ireland "and also by two of the Grand Lodges of the United States. With regard to the first named Body, we feel warranted in saying, that whatever may have been her motives— etill, judged by the princi- pies generally recognized by the Masonic World, at least in Great Britain and America,— she has made a mistake ; and therefore her example can be no authority for us. As regards the Grand Lo