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12 3

•?

'■'Si.

tfc.

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

Brother Thomas Douglas Harington, P. G. M., &c.

DISTRIBUTED FOR THE INFORMATION OF THE CRAFT.

TORONTO:
PRINTED AT THE CANADA GAZETTE OFFICE.

* 1858.

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.

[Copy.]

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 '

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

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

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.

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

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,

*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

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

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

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 —

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-

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.

<< 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

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 <tnd the. ^^ Anfient G. L, of C.^^ for
surrender in f:^ the in.

Paragraph 5, of your Lordship's coniranuication, boars
refennico to Quel;)ec, and the appoinlnicMt of my successor,
and I have of course nothiiiii: fiu'ther to say, than ai2:ain to
express my sense of the kind courtesy evinced by you, when
acceptinii- my resi;[^nation of my higli and honorable oflices.
I will only remind your Lordship that, altho' you feel bound
to appoint another P. G. M. without loss of tim(3 for that
District, the nomination of a P. G. Superintendent for Canada
West has been uri2,-ed upon you time after time without success.
The English Lodg-es are certainly the same in number as
when I was appointed ; but Brethren are tvavering, and have
been so for some time — passing- events have greatly unsettled
them. There is a Scotch, and also an Irish Lodge at Quebec
now, and the latter was organized by English Masons for the
open and express purpose of being free from English rule,
and at this time many Brethren are subscribing Members of
all three portions of the Empire, and are therefore tolerably
independent when they choose. Quebec and Montreal are
jealous of eatdi other, and both are so of Upper Canada. Your
Lordship will not probably, under such circumstances, be
disposed to place implicit trust in any deep.-rooted affection for
English Masonic Rule. I think, as I once before stated to
you, that it is now a question of time only.

I will now turn to paragraph 6, of your letter. Your Lord-
ship abstains from ofTerhig any opinion, whether any, or what

circumstances can absolve Masons from their moral obligation,
and justify them in separatin<^ from their Mother G. L. I assure
you that the leni,^th ot time suliered to (diipse here before the
present decided step was adopted, and the patience shown
under neglect and apparent indillerence, as detailed in the
Memorials from Upper Canada, have been the result of ex-
treme sensitiveness on that very point, — coupled with ancient
affection. While care has been taken to point oMt the many
causes of dissatisfaction, recognition of future independent
government has been studiously asked for, and has formed
the steady prayer, and it was not idl the Brethren found that
neither G. M. nor G. L. appeared disposed to take up this
prayer openly and definitively, — that their respectful Memo-
rials were not read in G. L., — that month after month glided
by, and the important question at issue continued to be de-
layed, or, if brought forward in G. L., only resuUed in debates
and proceedings quite disgracel'nl to such a Body as the G. L.
of England, — that they began to and at last did make up their
minds, that there was a limit to even their moral obligation
as Masons, — that further petitioning would be servility, and
that they were better able, and had a clear right to govern
themselves, mid fair warning was sent home of the course
they would in self-respect undoubtedly pursue. That Brethren
in England, however much they, like us, might regret sepa-
ration, did not deem independent government a violation of
Masonic moral obligation, may be glt^aiied from the proceed-
ings of G. L. itself, and the fact that one plain notice of motion
for recognition was given by Brother Tiie Earl of Carnarvon,
in whom your Lordship has confidence, anil who, when visit-
ing a Lodge at Stonehouse, in a speech which, the reporter
says, was greeted with rounds of applause and listened to
with earnest attention, expressed himself thus emphatically
in relation to Canada. Alluding to the concessions announced,
he added :

" ITo could not (.lisguiso tlml llioso concivsHions cjimo tanllly,
" lliiit llii5 fjuiliiij^- ill Ciiiuulii in (avor of iiKlcpciulciico luul
*' ;,'i()vvn very fstroiiiL,', uiul lluit il wjih irioio than iloiibtliil it
** lliuir Colonial supn.'Uiacy foulil now bi5 prose ivod. Ilo was
<< alVaiil that in tliis maltor they iiad i^ono too ncsar that lata!
" rock ^toolatc,^ which hail shii)wicckod so many cnipiios,
*' ilynastios and yovoinnionts."

His Lordship, unhappily, had divinml tho truth !

You, M. W. Cm. M., iluclaro that rccoii;uilion of either oT tlio
Hodies, whitdi have recently assunu.'d the power of erectinrr
theuiselves into a G. L., is irnpossihle, and that even were it
accorded, it would leatl only to increased contusion. No
lirelhren kunent more sincerely the slate ol' Masomy in this
Provmce than those resulin;^ there, wlio have been all alonj^
the real sutlerers, and they have shown this by their actions
and their urgent appeals to Kuirland to njmedy it. 1 believe
1 echo their sentiments by repudiating the justice of any at-
tempt to fasten the blame upon thcnn. Tlie documents they
iiave drawn up sliow, in truthlul language?, who were the
originators ol" the confusion, and I would ask your Lordship
certahi plain ([uestions : Wliy has not the course adopted by
the G. L. of Ireland bb'en solemnly protested against, and
why, when that Sovereign Boily upiiekl and eiicoiu-aged, ht/
rtcognUion, those Englisk Lodges which lirst withdrew iVom
allegiance to you, did you continue on the same terms of inti-
macy as before, when you could not be blind to the serious
importance of the proceedings of Ireland, and must liave been
'•ouscious that half a victory was tliereby gained liy those
whom your Lordship shnply styled << rebdlious^^ ? It is as-
serted that tlie G. L. of Ireland did seek information from
England ; but, like other correspondents, it met with no notice,
and therefore acted as it thought best. Whether this be true
or not, the recognition by a part of the empire, and the mutual

f24

appointment of Representatives by that portion and the seced-
ing Body, must have had a damaging efToct on the permanent
continuation of your Masonic supremacy here. Yet, I believe
the G. L. of England has not ventured any objection or remon-
strance. Again, pennit me to ask, vv^hy was the first Body of
the Seceders here so indulgently let off, — while the late
P. G. L. of Canada West., after using every exertion to pre-
serve its connexion with England intact — only succumbing
to an imperious necessity — and to the last moment evincing
an untiring anxiety to carry out its separate and independent
organization in such a irxanner as to show, in all future times,
that it was a Child of the Old Country, — is severely re-
proached, and taxed with all manner of wickedness ? There
must be some hidden reason for such manifest injustice. My
conscientious impression is, that under all the circumstances,
and taking into consideration all the difficulties, and the causes
for complaint, which your Lonlship confesses were not un-
founded, recognition m:,^ht and ought to have been conceded.
The only true course for the two separate Independent G. L.
now to adopt, is to unite closely, and trust that no harrassing
impediments may be thrown in their path, so as to prevent
their working harmoniously and resolutely for the good of Our
Order. My Lord, the chief Masonic connexion that this Pro-
vince 7nust cultivate is with our neighbours in the United
States, because with them our intercourse is constant, and it
is an ominous fact, that the G. L. of nearly every State has
already acknowledged the independent organization, or is
prepared to do so. In affairs of State, Canada is virtually in-
dependent, for no British Statesman would attempt to interfere
with her local legislation. In Church affairs she is the same,
for the right to elect Bishops of the Established Church of
England and Ireland is accorded. Why not, then, the same
thing as regards Masonry ? I think the propriety of it is
more obvious in the latter case, because in the two first

named, the Sovereign is the undoubted and sole Head ; but
the G. L. of England only holds a divided authority in the
Colonies, in conjunction with Scotland and Ireland, and she
could not complain, if every Lodge working under her War-
rant, chose to return it, and determine to hold under one of the
others. At least she has not objected, when such instances
have taken place.

Finally — as regards Paragraph 7, of your Lordship's
letter. Should the time shortly arrive, when one United
Sovereign G. L. of Canada is established, and to accomplish
that end, the Brethren will, I hope strenuouly exert them-
selves, I shall ever be at your Lordship's disposal, as your
Representative to look after English interests if honored by
the Office, and consider myself, as a Past P. G. M. of your
appointing, always at your service, and I shall never forget
the kindness you have extended to me. I am sure your
Lordiihip gives utterance to your own true and honorable feel-
ings, when you say that you feel the deepest concern. But
in justice to the Brethren (myself included) I must protest
against that concern being aggravated by " attempts'^ on our
part to shift the blame to the G. L. of England. Most assuredly
the proofs adduced from hence must carry conviction, that
our charges are just ones, and it is ungenerous, at this the
eleventh hour, to endeavour to make us the aggressors, when
there has not been the slightest hint of this before, and
we are censured for not being satisfied with ample " conces-
sions.^^ There would be no need of concessions if we had
only attempted to show, and had failed to prove that the con-
duct of the G. L. of England 'had driven us to the present
extreme course. My Lord, altho' separation has, as you write,
taken place subsequently to what you call the remedy of all
reasonable complaints, you had previous plain warning that
the time was gone by when moderate concessions would have
been satisfactory— valuable time had been frittered away and

could not be recalled, — patience and hope had become ex-
hausted, — and you could not have been surprised at your
proposals not bemg deemed a remedy for restoring to its nor-
mal state the Craft in Canada. Your Lordf/nip says, that you
know that many of the delays complained of by Lodges,
oriirinated from the neolect of Provincial Officers. I know
nothino- of this myself, — but it is indignantly and positively
contracUcled. This is another new charge, made at a late
hour, and the Provincial Officers justly complain at its having
been held back. The G. Secretary's Office, they say, is the
Augean Stable that required cleaneing, and that its waste
paper Basket could for years have told tales. My Lord, I
was conversing lately with a Brother not long from London,
and who says he is or was a member of a Red Apron Lodge,
— an old friend of his, and an attendant at G. L. designated
its proceedings for some time past as a solemn farce, and
London Free Masonary — as a peculiar system of eating and
drinking, veiled with a Table Cloth, and illustrated by knives
and forks !— I dare say that I am not the only one to whom
this has been stated, and w^hether correct or not, the impres-
sion left must be injurious.

The deductions your Lordship draws from the Election of
Sir Allan MacNab are hardly generous or correct. Altho' he
seldom attended to the duties of his Office, and was not pos-
sessed of much Masonic knowledge, as he will readily ac-
knowledge, yet he was not the less personally popular, and
had excuses to offer, which many P. G. M. in England had
not, viz : very many and urgent public affairs to keep him
continually busy, and for some time past very indifferent
health, and he had appointed a Deputy who never neglected
his dwty. It was the principle, not the man the Brethren
objected to. If your Lordship will refer to the accompanying
memorial, you will at once see, that the main object of the

insertion of Sir Allan's name was not to speak prejudici-
ally of him, but to defend the Depucy, Brother Ridout, from
your own remarks of his having exercised undue authority in
carrying on the affairs of his District. When it was finally
resolved that nothing but entire independence would allay
the excitement here, the P. G, L. determined to make choice
of Sir Allan NacNab for the following reasons. First — They
knew that he was on the point of leaving this Province for
England, never probably to return, and as he was much re-
spected and personally regarded, the ]3rethren neither could
nor would take taeir farewell of him, by making their last
formal act a personal slight. Secondly — His ternn-e of Office
was only to last for a broken period, when another election
would take place. And thirdly — The Antient G. L. was
anxious to show all the respect it could to your Lordship and
the G. L. of England, and by adopting your nominee for firht
G. M., as well as your constitution for its Law, to make the
chauije not so much a rendinir asunder of a close connection,
as a transition from one description of Government to another,
and had your Lordship been present, when all this was done,
you would have heard warm expressions of regard and
anxious prayers that the G. L. of England would meet us in
the same Spirit, and understand the fraternal feelings by
which we were guided. The Brethren did not certaiuly
anticipate that their couvse of conduct would be tortured, and
they themselves taunted vith inconsistency, and other worse
motives. It was intended taat Sir Allan should himself, on
his arrival in London, impari to you full information, and
make known the wishes of the Craft here, and the Warrants
and other documents were to have been forwarded by him ;
but much to his own and our regret, .his departure was delayed
by unforeseen events, and it was *not deemed advisable to
defer their despatch ; but I hope that your Lordship and he
have met, or will do so, and it would v^e satisfactory if Sir

Allan had an opportunity of perusing tliis lefter, as he may
incur your censure without really deserving it, or thoroughly
comprehending the nature of your Lordship's expressed dis-
pleasure. For my own part, my Lord, I can only repeat what
I said in my former communication, dated the 9th November
last, viz : That I had no hesitation, when called upon to do
so, about installing Sir Allan, and that under all the circum-
stances, I really deemed myself (as I stated to the Brethren)
acting more as the Deputy of the G. M. of England than
otherwise.

I think I have now noticed the prominent points of your
communication, and I have taken upon myself to do this,
because your Lordship commended them to my earnest con-
sideration, and that of my Brethren, to whom I shall submit
your letter and this reply, and I imagine that you intended to
invite the fullest correspondence.

I told you in a former Paragraph, that I hoped to prove that
dissatisfaction here had been occasioned by parties in Lon-
don, and connected with G. L. itself. I propose now to do
this by way of conclusion, and trust that your Lordship will
not feel annoyed at me, if I place, as I conceive it to be my
bounden duty, offensive expressions before your eyes. Your
Lordship probably may not see the " London F. M. Monthly
Magaziney'^ published by Brother Warren, a prominent
attendant upon G. L. meetings, altho' it has been lately
formally authorized by you to publish G. L. proceedings ; but
it has a large chculation here, and is greedily perused, as the
scanty official reports emanate from the G. Secretary at very
uncertain times. We would have known very little of what
was occurring at Head Q'larters, had it not been for the
Magazine. I will not refer back beyond the December Num-
ber for 1855, and I commence there, because it heralds the
formation of the Independent G. L. under Brother Wilson.

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There is an Editorial, entitled, '^Severance of the Canadian
" Lodges from the G. L. of England.^' The Article is too
long to insert at length ; but your Lordship can doubtless pro-
cure it. It commences by saying, " So important do we
*' consider the step which has been taken, and we consider
^* justly by our Brethren in Canada, &c."

And concludes as follows :

'* Not get an answer from the G. Secretary's Office, quotha !
« Bah ! as well get the G. M. to attend upon any public
** Masonic occasion, except, indeed, the nomination lo office
** of some Whig protege is mooted — then indeed he is punc-
" tual. The presence of our excellent Brother Dobie, with
" his fsound practical head and talents for business, has been
" the shield of Ajax over and over again, behind which the
*' incapables Lord Zetland, Brother White & Co. have been
" glad to cower. Their dullness it is which has lost us
*< Canada, and for which the West Indies is already threaten-
** ing Severance — let the system go on, and the developement
'' of Masonry will shortly be reduced to two Individuals, the
'* placeman and the toady ; whilst the G. L. will in all pro-
" bability be removed to Newmarket, the only place whence
" no plea operates to withhold our G. M."

I pass to the April Number for 1856, and refer you to the
Leading Editorial, headed " Our Duty,^' — a very lengthy one
and devoted to encouragement of Independence, and condemn-
ation of your Lordship and the G. L. I quote one sentence. —

" Are we so stultified in our toadyism that nothing but
" rank in our Grand Masters w411 serve our turn. Do we love
** the Head of Gold so much that we ignore altogether the
" tottering incapacity of the feet of Clay ? — If personal in-
" fluence in Society is needed for the benefit of the Craft, is

'* it now so scant of Noblemen, that we are obliged, for the
" say of the thin;^, to put up year after year, with the present
<^ Grand Master, who, these very evils greatly prove as it is
" notoiious also, never exertii himself for the Craft at all.^^

I pass on to the May No. for I'»56, and find in a Leader,
headed " Toadyism,'^'' antl calculated to bring into contempt
the English Craft at large, the following words :

" Let ' palmam qui meruit ferat' be the practice, as it is
" the principle of the Craft. We should then hear no more of
" large Lodges of scientilic men, who meet to eat and drink,
<* yet never devote an extra day to give in public the lucubra-
" tions of their studious hours, as if hospitality were the only
*^ Masonic virtue, — of Provincial Grand Mastery never visiting
" their Lodges,~of cliques in the latter, — of Colonies alienating
" themselves from our banner on account of G. Secretary's
" discourtesy or G, Master's inattention, — of the latter's fond-
" ness for quadrupeds absorbing his interest in Masonic
" bipeds ; — in a word, of all those anomalous disorders, which
" render the Craft at present a by-word to the world for
" convivial antiquarianism, instead of the synonyme lor intel-
" lect and honour."

I pass to the June No. for 1§50, and there appears an
Editorial, entitled, " Masonic Reform,'' as follows :

We had hoped, indeed, that the sullen endurance, which
lil-c.)nc(>aied the ever and anon out-spoken dissatisfaction at
*< hi,.; tonicity oi office, would have induced Lord Zetland to
" have relinquished a charge which he is evidently mcompe-
« tent to fill, &c."'

Examine the October, November and December Nos, for
1&S6 — read the reports of the proceedings of G. L., and the
accounts in detail of the disturbances and uproar that occurred,

and your Lordship will a^^reo with what is there said : —
*^ Here followed a scene such as has rarely, if ever, been
^' witnessed within the solemn and ceremonial precincts of
'"' the Supreme G. L. of England." 1 will only mention, as
a corollary, that W. Brother Warren, the Publisher, appears
to have taken a leadini:^ part therein, and was consequently
an eye-witness. Your Lordship iii;uored the G. L. proceed-
ings of the 1st October, IS50) allho^ of vast importance to
Canada^ and no ojficial record exists. Therefore I would
make special reference to jiage 7^9 of the November No. for
1S56, for there your Lordship will lind a memorable speech
made by the Earl of Carnarvon on that occasion, in wiiich he
demonstrated to G. L. that your proposals to Canada could
not be satisfactory. In fact, my Lord, I could refer you to
every No. of the Magazine, for some article calculated to give
rise to disgust, and I assure you that the sayings and doings
at home, there recorded, have had their influence in convinc-
ing the Craft here, that it should govern itself, and is better
able to do so. I could comment on the vascillating conduct
of the G. L. as respects the " Mark Degree," and how little
it cared for the proper standing of English INIasons, who are
debarred from entering Foreign Chapters, unless first obligated
and ^^ Healed," as it is termed — a degradation surely. But I
should wear out your Lordship's patience, as I am tired my-
self. I will only add, that the F. M. Magazine, in May,
1857, was authorized by you to publish proceedings, and ever
since there seems to have been a kind of Masonic millenium !
Banquets and speeches have been unceasing, and after all the
contumely poured upon your Lordship's devoted head, we
read — that at a Festival held in Oxfordshire, under the
auspices of the Apollo Lodge, at which you met nearly all of
the G. L. malcontents, the Chairman declared :

" That the Craft ow^ed you a deep debt of gratitude for
" having, during your long and benignant sway, promoted the

" interests of Free Masonry far beyond any Grand Master
" that ever sat upon the Throne ! "

My Lord, the Brethren here did not feel any less respect for
you, in consequence of the offensive articles I have quoted,
but such a sudden change as the last sentiment betrays, (in
the United States it would be quaintly termed — " Jumping
Jim Crow") and the general revolutionary tone of the Organ
of English Free Masonry, might well set them at work to
consider, whether they were wise to remain under the control
of a Sovereign Body, which in one month lavishes contempt
upon, and in the next lauds above all his Predecessors, their
Chief Ruler.

I beg your Lordship will receive this long communication
with a kind spirit. You will understand us better, by getting
plain Tmth, and you have our most fraternal and respectful
regards. Once more, I thank you warmly for your kindness
and courtesy to me, and hoping that you and yours may long
be spared to eacli other, for much happiness with restored
health, —

I have the honor to be.

My Lord and M. W. G. Master,
Very respectfully and fraternall}^ yours,

T. DOUGLAS HARINGTON,
Past P. G. M., &c.

The Right Honorable «
The Earl of Zetland,
M. W. G. Master,
&c., &c.,

&c.

PosTCRiPT — 3rd February.

My Lord, I have just receivod a Supplementary No. of the
London F. M. Magazine for December, 1§57, in whioli is
graphically described anotlier of those extruordinery debat(^s,
wliich appear to be the rule, not the exception, in conducting
the business oi the G. L. of England. His R. H. The Prince
of Prussia narrowly escaped being an eye-witness of wliat
seems to have occurred, and hearing the Acting J. (J. W.
(Brother Beadon) express his hope that the G. L. would not
be made a Bear Garden ! The Memorial or Address from
the " Antient G. L. ofCanada^^ is reported to have been read,
and entered on the Minutes as read, which is a change from
the fate of other documents sent from tliis Country, altho' no
action was taken by the G. L. It is not for the purpose of
asking your Lordship's attention to the foregoing ; but to
request you will refer to Page 1066 of that Supplementary
No., and peruse a letter signed " M. Furnell, P. G. M. of
" North Munster,^^ that I have made this addition to my
already lengthy letter. I will take the liberty of placing an
extract on this sheet, premising that the entire letter is devoted
to the explanation of the course pursued by the G. L. of Ire-
land, and her reasons for recognizing the " Independent G. L.
" of Canada.'"^ Brother Furnell writes as follows :

" Laying aside all feelings of disappointment or pique, the
*' G. L. of Ireland approached the discussion of the question
" with a very calm, dignified and unprejudiced spirit. Its
^^ first step wa? to communicate with the G. L. of England and
" Scotland, asking what decisions had been upon the subject.
"After waiting for a reply until it could not, in common
" courtesy, longer delay its answer to the Canadian Declara-
" tion, the G. L. of Ireland was obliged to set about making up
" its mind on the matter, without knowing how the G. L. of

34.

" England and Scotland had acted, or would act. Wo had
<* soui^ht the aid of their opinions, but had nev^er deemed our-
" selves incompetent to draw our own conclusions, — a difUcult
" task, perhaps ; but we did not shrink from it."

After pointing to the formation in 1717 of the G. L. of England
as one precedent — and hersell", and other (i. L. as all having
been established by the sulfrages of the very bodies they were
to rule. Brother Furnell proceeds to say :

" We also could not but feel that the Canadian Lodges
" ought best to know their own wants and their own resources ;
" and that if the moment had arrived when they had attained
" strength and maturity to support themselves, it was an idle
" and childish attempt to keep them in a state of pupilage
" and depend(.»nce."

Again : —

*^ We therefore resolved to accede to the proposition of our
" Brethren, — because it was both reasonable, and, as we
" deemed, consistent with usagCy so far as usage existed to
" guide us."

And lastly : —

" The measure was not taken by the G. L. of Ireland witli-
" out the cordial assent of its G. M., the Duke of Leinst(3r,
" who had carefully considered the question before it was
" submitted to the G. L. by his Deputy G. M., and fully con-
" curred in the decision."

My Lord, I have added this Postcript because, at Page 1 0,
I have called your attention to Ireland. The prompt action of
he G. L. there, as shown above, contrasts forcibly with the
Bupineness of England; and the circumlocution evinced by the
latter throughout.

T. D. HARINGTON.

We had
led our-
diliicull

En.'i:laiid
i liaving
ey were

Lodges
iiources ;
attained
5 an idle
)upilage

m of our
, as we
xisted to

lid witli-
Leinster,
) it was
illy cou-

*age 10,
action of
with the
3d by the

JTON.