constructed report of a committee, apparently reconsidering former action."

The committee in their report upon this matter undoubtedly voices the general impression formed by a close reading of the said "declaration.” While claiming to repeal, at the same time reaffirming certain principles which were operative factors in the action had in 1898. Notwithstanding this, would it not be politic to make allowances, accept the declaration as repealing the former action of the Grand Lodge and ignore the riders attached to and forming a part of said report? The general good of the Craft demands a conciliatory course, and for ourselves we deem it to be wise to wait the effect of the general protest which will be made against these enunciations of principles, erroneous in Masonic practice, before taking the position of non-intercourse.

We append a portion of the report, together with the resolution appended, which had the approval of this Grand Lodge:

"Your committee, while recognizing, indorsing, and upholding the doctrine that every Grand Lodge is sovereign and supreme in the control of matters Masonic within its territorial jurisdiction, are of the opinion that there is a distinction, or, rather, a limit, beyond which no Grand Lodge can place itself without jeopardizing its status among the Grand Lodges of our country, and any Grand Lodge that recognizes, or permits, or directs the membership of its constituents to recognize or affiliate with any man or body of men, declared by any other Grand Lodge to be clandestine, places itself beyond the limit, and thereby becomes subject to review by all other Grand Lodges. In other words, no Grand Lodge can set aside or permit its subordinates, much less license the latter, to set aside a fundamental law without subjecting itself to review by all other Grand Bodies, as in the recent case of Peru and the Grand Lodge of Washington itself.

"In view of the unsatisfactory contents of said report, your committee feels constrained to offer the following resolution:

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Resolved, That the Grand Lodge of Washington be, and is hereby fraternally requested, to declare explicitly whether any man or body of men, whether white or black, claiming to be Masons, held and declared to be clandestine everywhere in this country or by any Grand Lodge, are or will be permitted to visit or affiliate with any of its constituent Lodges, or be recognized by the membership thereof as regular Masons."

No appeals or grievances before the Grand Body.

Telegraphic greetings were exchanged with the Grand Lodge of Idaho, and the Grand Lodge accepted an invitation to attend a banquet, given by the local Lodges" and lady members of the Eastern Star of Cheyenne, in honor of the Grand Lodge, and the Grand Chapter, Order of the Eastern Star." The following amendment was adopted:

"SECTION 89. It shall be and is hereby made the imperative duty of Lodges in this jurisdiction to restrain as far as possible the intemperate use of intoxicating liquors or beverages of every kind and character, and for the faithful performance of this duty each Lodge shall be held accountable to the Grand Lodge."

Receipts, $1,284; disbursements, $1,180.55, and balance on hand, $2,779.90. Next Annual Communication, Green River, September 4, 1900.

CORRESPONDENCE.

The fourteenth annual report on Correspondence (77 pp.), by R.'. W.. W. L. KUYKENDALL, comprises the proceedings of forty-eight Grand Lodges. We are sorry to note the absence of New York from the number.

We are pained to learn of the great grief which has come to our esteemed brother, and while we extend our sympathy, we realize fully how inadequate are human words in such times.

Briefly touching upon the action of the Grand Lodge of Washington, at its communication of June, 1899, he says:

"We believe our Northwestern brethren made another mistake in the wording of the report as a whole at recent session, in which appears what is termed a reconsideration of said action. We are sorry the reconsideration was not stripped of all doubtful language and meaning. In all kindness we must say the wording of that report, when construed all together, is, to say the least, unfortunate. It seems to be a I will and we won't' production."

M.. W.. E. P. BOWMAN (Newcastle), Grand Master, and R.. W.'. WILLIAM L. KUYKENDALL (Saratoga), Grand Secretary, re-elected.

DOMINION OF CANADA.

28th Communication.

BRITISH COLUMBIA.

KAMLOOPS.

June 22, 1899.

M.. W.. DAVID WILSON, Grand Master, the representatives of twentytwo Lodges, and New York by R.'. W.. W. A. DE WOLF SMITH.

The Grand Master had created three new Lodges by dispensation, and also reported "marked prosperity and sound growth throughout the jurisdiction." With reference to the power of a Grand Master to grant dispensations, we understand it to be a permission to do an act which the law says shall not be done without permission," not authority for "dispensing with the law."

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The Grand Master, while doubting the propriety of the course pursued by the Grand Lodge of Washington in re negro Masonry, was unable to see that any Landmark of the Order had been broken." It would appear to us that the question of propriety (at least) had been fully settled by the action of the Grand Lodge of Washington in repealing its former action. The Grand Lodge, in their consideration of this subject, counseled measures of great prudence and caution in all dealing with the question known as negro Masonry."

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The statement of the Grand Master "that there are in the list of Grand Representatives the names of many brethren who have not, for some years at least, been present at a single meeting of this Grand Lodge," is not by any means an isolated instance. Energetic measures had been adopted for the relief of the sufferers by the calamitous fire which occurred in New Westminster, September 12, and while the immediate necessities had been relieved from other sources, a portion of the amount contributed by the Lodges had been wisely used for the relief of special cases.

During the session the Grand Lodge attended divine service held in St. Paul's Church, and listened to a sermon pronounced by V.'. W.'. and Rev. J. IRVINE, Grand Chaplain.

Receipts, $2,394; disbursements, $1,972.72, and balance on hand, $2,141.58. Charity Fund, $5,500.28. Invested assets, $5,847.85. Next Annual Communication, Vancouver, June 21, 1900.

CORRESPONDENCE.

R.'. W..W. A. DE WOLF SMITH, in the report on Correspondence (226 pp.), very thoroughly covers the proceedings of sixty-one Grand Lodges, including New York for 1898.

Our brother devotes considerable space to the subject of negro Masonry, viz., the report of the committee, Grand Lodge of Washington, the comments of M.. W.'. BRO. ROBBINS thereon, and the reports emanating from the Grand Lodge of Massachusetts-"one of the most moderate ”—and Mississippi" which goes to the other extreme." Our brother, while regard

ing the action to have been extremely ill advised, yet regards it as a matter for the decision of the Grand Lodge of Washington alone. We should not agree with our brother's conclusions, and leave the matter for his future consideration. We were not aware that any Grand Lodge had denied that the Grand Lodge of Washington "had an inalienable right to determine the status and legality of every Mason and Masonic Body existing in its jurisdiction," but its action had a further scope than that.

M.. W.. R. EDEN WALKER (New Westminster), Grand Master, and R.. W.. J. QUINLAN (Nelson), Grand Secretary, re-elected.

44th Communication.

CANADA (Ontario).

OTTAWA.

July 19, 1899.

M.. W.. E. T. MALONE, Grand Master, the representatives of two hundred and eighty-eight Lodges, and New York by M.. W.. HUGH MURRAY.

The session was honored by the presence of a large number of visiting brethren, among whom we note M.'. W.. BENJAMIN TOOKE, Grand Master, and R.. W.. W. H. WHYTE, P.'. D.'. D.'. Grand Master, of the Grand Lodge of Quebec; M.'. W.. T. B. FLINT, Grand Master, and M.. W.'. D. C. FRASER, Past Grand Master of the Grand Lodge of Nova Scotia; M.. W.. J. V. ELLIS, Past Grand Master of the Grand Lodge of New Brunswick, and M.. W.. JOHN YEO, Past Grand Master of the Grand Lodge of Prince Edward Island. Letters of regret are also of record from M.. W.. WRIGHT D. POWNALL, Grand Master; M.. W.. WILLIAM A. SUTHERLAND, Past Grand Master, and R.'. W.'. E. M. L. EHLERS, Grand Secretary of the Grand Lodge of New York.

The Grand Master voiced tidings of peace and prosperity throughout the jurisdiction, and his reference to the distinguished dead of the year included R.. W.. FRANCIS RICHARDSON. This brother had been Senior Grand Warden and Provincial Grand Secretary of the Provincial Grand Lodge in this Province under the Grand Lodge of England, and also Grand Secretary of the Ancient Grand Lodge of Canada. The interest evinced by the clergy in Freemasonry, not only in membership, but also "in every Lodge filling important offices," had appreciative notice by the Grand Master. The abuse of the ballot had due consideration, and we do not think we can do better than agree in the conclusion of the M.. W.. Brother: "Whatsoever ye would that men should do unto you, do ye even so to them."

Disapproval was expressed of the action of the Grand Lodge of Washington in re negro Masonry, and his reply to the circular letter of M.. W.. BRO. UPTON is given in full. We hardly think there will be found a general agreement in the view expressed by him in reference to the declaration adopted by the Grand Lodge of Washington, 1899.

"The report is temperate in language and reflects great credit on the illustrious brethren who formed the committee. Suffice it to say that the

clauses or resolutions embodied in the original report which have been so strongly objected to by the various sister Grand Lodges are now repealed and fraternal greetings are sent to all the brethren throughout the world."

The public functions of the Grand Officers had been exercised upon several occasions. Among the accounts of official visits made we note two for the pleasant reference made therein:

"I attended a gathering in Zetland Lodge, Toronto, February 29, which proved of great interest to Toronto Masons. For Masonic enthusiasm, perfect ritualism, well-regulated and ordered proceedings, Zetland Lodge holds an eminent and uniquely prominent position in Craft circles. All this was plainly in evidence on the evening in question, when all the Past Grand Masters of this Grand Lodge, with the exception of M.. W.. BRO. HENRY ROBERTSON, who was prevented by illness from attending, took charge of the ceremony of initiating a candidate with_M.`. W.. BRO. HUGH MURRAY as W.. M.. The work was correctly and impressively rendered, and drew forth praise and applause from all present.

Another feature of the evening was the presence and reception of M.. W.. BRO. W. A. SUTHERLAND, of Rochester, the Grand Master of the Grand Lodge of New York, and V.. W.. BRO. J. HUNGERFORD SMITH, his Grand Senior Deacon. I had the honor of welcoming both of these distinguished brethren. Grand Master SUTHERLAND charmed his hearers with his eloquence, and easily won his way to our hearts. He concluded an eloquent address by trusting that the two flags that were entwined on the wall behind him-the Union Jack and the Stars and Stripes-would always be in front for the prosperity and civilization of the world and against the enemies of liberty and civilization. He can always rely on a rousing reception from the Craft in Canada.

"On the tenth day of June last, in response to a courteous and fraternal invitation from M.. W.. BRO. SUTHERLAND, and accompanied by M.. W.. BROS. A. A. STEVENSON, WILLIAM GIBSON, and V.. W.. BRO. JOHN A. COWAN, I visited the Grand Lodge of the State of New York, where we were received by the representatives of seven hundred and thirtynine Lodges, with a membership of over ninety-eight thousand Masons. 1 can not describe our grand and enthusiastic reception, nor can I forget the eloquent terms in which the Grand Master welcomed and introduced us to his Grand Lodge. I appreciate the thoughtfulness of the Grand Lodge Choir in welcoming us with the songs of our country. The strains of The Land of the Maple,'' The Death of Nelson,' and Annie Laurie' were sweet to me and the brethren who accompanied me when we stood among people of another nation. Anglo-Saxon feeling and sentiment were strongly in evidence, and it made our hearts leap and the warm blood course through our veins when the names of our Beloved Sovereign and His Royal Highness, the Grand Master of the Grand Lodge of England, were received with a hurricane of applause. It is unnecessary to inform you, my brethren, that your Grand Lodge was ably and eloquently represented by M.. W.. BROS. STEVENSON and GIBSON, whom I was very fortunate in having with me. Their responses on your behalf were able efforts, and proved them worthy and loyal sons of a nation on whose dominion the sun never sets. I trust that we may have an interchange of fraternal visits with the Grand Lodge of New York, and may our friendship last as long as love doth last, and be stronger than death is strong.'

The occasion referred to was one of rare interest to the officers and members of the Grand Lodge of New York, and the inspiration of the hour still lingers in memory.

It was decided:

"4. That the word 'freeborn' in our ceremonies does not exclude 'illegitimate persons'; that the expression should be confined to slaves,' as the benefits of Freemasonry were not intended to be extended to those