who were so shackled as to be unable to exercise freedom and independence."

The reports of the District Deputy Grand Masters (219 pp.) are of interest and must be of great value, comprehending, as they do, matters relative to every Lodge in this jurisdiction. Grants to the amount of $10,115 had been made by the Board of Benevolence, and an “appreciation expressed of the great benefit to the Craft of the work of the General Masonic Board of Relief of the United States and Canada."

A committee was appointed to consider the advisability of devoting a part of the Asylum Fund to the establishment of a cottage at the Gravenhurst Home for Consumptives.

The fact of the Grand Secretary-R.'. W.'. J. J. MASON-having completed twenty-five years of service had fraternal recognition.

Receipts, $21,040.92; disbursements, $18,793.32, and balance on hand, $11,302.92. Asylum Fund, $15,646.75. General Fund (investments), $69,353.25. Next Annual Communication, London, July 18, 1900.

CORRESPONDENCE.

M.. W.'. HENRY ROBERTSON presents the report on Correspondence (110 pp.), covering the proceedings of sixty-three Grand Lodges, including New York for 1898.

Referring to the action of the Grand Lodge of Washington (1898) "in their quasi-recognition of the negro Lodges and Grand Lodges," he says:

"It is true that the author of these resolutions says that they do not recognize any negro Grand Lodge, but the distinction is too fine for ordinary mortals to grasp. The Grand Lodge allows its Lodges and members to recognize as Masons negroes initiated in Lodges tracing their origin to certain named negro Grand Lodges; and if this is not a recognition of those bodies, then we must confess that we do not know what recognition means. At all events, it seems to be everywhere an accepted fact that recognition of the negro Lodges and Grand Lodges is the meaning and effect of these resolutions."

Our brother is in error in including New York among the list of Grand Lodges which had declared non-intercourse with the Grand Lodge of Washington.

M.'. W.. E. T. MALONE (Toronto), Grand Master, re-elected, and R.'. W.'. J. J. MASON (Hamilton), Grand Secretary, re-elected.

24th Communication.

MANITOBA.
REGINA.

June 14, 1899.

M.. W.. GEORGE B. MURPHY, Grand Master, and the representatives of thirty-four Lodges.

An address of welcome was extended by a committee from the Town Council, and suitably acknowledged by the Grand Master.

The Grand Master, esteeming it to be the duty of the Grand Repre

sentatives of sister Grand Lodges near this Grand Lodge to be present at its Annual Communications, had directed the Grand Secretary "to notify the Grand Master of the Grand Lodge whose representatives had been derelict in their duties to submit the names of other brethren for appointment.” Quite a proper thing to do, especially in cases of failure to attend for several consecutive years. Four new Lodges had been created by dispensation. Only one complaint had demanded consideration, and the Lodges are reported as prosperous. The death of R.. W.. JOHN CHAMBERS, Past Grand Registrar, received appropriate mention.

Upon the question of physical qualifications the following decisions had been rendered:

"1. That an applicant for the degrees of Masonry is not debarred from admission to the Craft through having lost his left hand.

2. That an applicant for the degrees of Masonry is debarred admission to the Craft through having lost a foot."

66

The Committee on Foreign Correspondence, in their consideration of the action of the Grand Lodge of Washington in re negro Masonry, held that while in this matter the Grand Lodge of Washington had done a serious wrong," yet it was inadvisable to take any action, pending further consideration by the Grand Lodge of Washington.

The same committee also submitted a list of such as should be designated as recognized and recognizable Grand Lodges, being such as had been enumerated by M.'. W.. BRO. Robbins (Illinois): "That should applications for affiliation be received from brethren hailing from other jurisdictions other than those enumerated" (in the report)-including the Grand Lodge of Peru by special reference-" or should visitors from these jurisdictions present themselves to our Lodges, no action shall be taken until each case had been submitted to the Grand Master for his action."

It was also recommended "that the request of the Grand Orient of Belgium for an exchange of representatives be denied." The Grand Lodge concurred in the judgment of the committee upon these matters.

A fraternal greeting was wired the Grand Lodge of South Dakota. Favorable consideration was given to a proposition to celebrate the twentyfifth anniversary of the organization of this Grand Lodge. The Grand Lodge accepted an invitation from the Hon. A. E. FORGET, Lieutenant-Governor, and his wife, to attend an "at home" at the Government House, and also a ball, given in honor of the Grand Lodge, by the two local Lodges.

The Grand Officers were installed at a called communication, held in Winnipeg, July 13, and it was also made the occasion of the presentation of a handsome chain collar to M.. W.. THOMAS ROBINSON, Past Grand Master.

Receipts, $2,887.72; disbursements, $2,277.68, and balance on hand, $1,257.80.

Next Annual Communication, Winnipeg, June 13, 1900.

M.. W.. JOHN LESLIE (Winnipeg), Grand Master, and R.'. W.. WILLIAM G. SCOTT (Winnipeg), Grand Secretary, re-elected.

32d Communication.

NEW BRUNSWICK.

SAINT JOHN.

August 22, 1899.

M.. W.. THOMAS WALKER, Grand Master, and the representatives of twenty Lodges. Also present as visitors M.'. W.. T. PAGE BUTLER, Past Grand Master of the Grand Lodge of Quebec, and M.. W.. W. F. MACCOY, Past Grand Master, and R.'. W.'. J. M. OWEN, D.'. D.'. Grand Master of the Grand Lodge of Nova Scotia.

Special communication held June 25, 1899, for the purpose of attending divine service at St. Paul's Church, the sermon being delivered by V.. W.. and Rev. P. G. SNOW, Grand Chaplain.

A brief but good business address by the Grand Master, the fraternity pursuing its way quietly, and a warm welcome extended to him upon all official visits. He was not prepared to support the plan for a union of the three Grand Lodges of the Maritime Provinces, favoring the appointment of a general committee from each Grand Lodge for the consideration of questions which might affect the interests of the Craft generally. We hardly see any necessity therefor.

By the courtesy of several brethren of New York City, this Grand Lodge had been presented with a portrait of the late R.. W.'. AUGUSTUS W. PETERS-formerly of this Grand Jurisdiction-who held, at the time of his decease, the position of Grand Representative of the Grand Royal Arch Chapter of New Brunswick, near the Grand Chapter of New York.

A committee was appointed to meet with the committees from the Grand Lodges of Nova Scotia and Prince Edward Island and discuss the proposed union of the three Grand Lodges, but not in any way to commit the Grand Lodge to any arrangements therefor.

Upon the question of negro Masonry it was decided that inasmuch as the Grand Lodge of Washington had recently receded from its position, it was not deemed to be a necessity for any action."

Receipts, $2,812.15; disbursements, $2,589.24, and balance on hand, $1,342.18.

Next Annual Communication, Saint John, August 28, 1900.

M.'. W.. JUDGE FORBES (Saint John), Grand Master, and R.'. W.. J. TWINING HARTT (Saint John), Grand Secretary, re-elected.

34th Communication.

NOVA SCOTIA.

ANNAPOLIS.

June 14, 1899.

M.. W.. THOMAS B. FLINT, Grand Master, the representatives of forty-one Lodges, New York by W.. W. F. MACCOY, and as visitors M..

W.. THOMAS WALKER, Grand Master, and R.. W.. W. B. WALLACE, Deputy Grand Master of the Grand Lodge of New Brunswick.

•Emergent Communication was held February 3, 1899, for the purpose of paying the last tribute of respect to the memory of M.. W.. LEWIS JOHNSTON, Past Grand Master.

Immediately following the opening of the Grand Lodge the brethren proceeded to St. Luke's Church, where an interesting discourse was delivered by Rev. BRO. HENRY How, Rector of the Parish.

The Grand Master, after a happy allusion to the pleasure of meeting in the "ancient, but ever-youthful town of Annapolis," made reference to the fact that "this locality was not only connected with the first history of organized government in North America, but with the first glimmerings of Freemasonry on this continent as well."

"Nearly three hundred years ago some ancient brother deposited upon the shore of Goat Island, at a spot probably visible from this building, a stone, bearing deeply indented on its face the Masonic Emblems-the Square and Compass-with the date in figures, 1606.

This unique souvenir from that long-buried past was discovered after it had lain for over two centuries buried in the sand. In 1827 it was brought to Annapolis and became the property of the late Judge HALIBURTON. Its eventful history since then I can not now pause to recount, but that it links the Masonic history of this community with that distant era in the world's history is a matter of profound interest to us."

The first charter for a Lodge of Masons at Halifax was granted by the Grand Lodge of Massachusetts in 1750.

The Grand Master had made many official visits, expressed his commendation of the praiseworthy action of Virgin Lodge, No. 3, Halifax, in an endowment of a Masonic ward in the Victoria General Hospital, and announced that fraternal relations had been resumed with the Grand Lodge of Peru.

Recognition was extended the Grand Orient of Belgium, and the Grand Master appointed to represent this Grand Lodge at the Washington Centennial observance.

The subject of the union of the Grand Lodges of the Maritime Provinces received favorable consideration and a committee of conference appointed.

Receipts, $5,444.93; disbursements, $4,867.12, and balance on hand, $1,645.80. Benevolent Fund, $4,054.47.

Next Annual Communication, Halifax, June 13, 1900.

CORRESPONDENCE.

The report on Correspondence (200 pp.) is the result of the labors of R.. W.. T. V. B. BINGAY, R.'. W.'. W. ERNEST THOMPSON, R.'. W.'. T. MOWBRAY, and the Grand Secretary, and is a very full presentation of the proceedings of sixty-three Grand Lodges.

Upon the action of the Grand Lodge of Washington (1898) we note the following comments under NEVADA:

"The position of Washington in the matter is difficult to understand.

In one breath it denies any idea or intention of undermining Grand Lodge sovereignty, and in another declares itself determined to recognize as regular and legitimate many men whom all the Grand Lodges in America deem clandestine, and in fact consider as worse than profanes, because assuming and pretending to be what they are not. Whether the clandestine Masons are negroes or white men is entirely outside the real issue.

The Grand Lodge of Washington is pretending now to be persecuted and expresses its intention of suffering Masonic martyrdom at the hands of those Grand Bodies whose sovereignty it has outraged by its unmasonic and unwarranted action in recognizing clandestine Masons. There is no Masonic objection to a man's color. In Nova Scotia we have a regularly chartered and actively working Lodge (Union, No. 18) whose members are all colored men. These brethren have every Masonic right and privilege as used in the jurisdictions of all Grand Lodges with which the Grand Lodge of Nova Scotia is in fraternal relations, such as Massachusetts, New York, etc.

Any regularly constituted Lodge may elect a colored man as member and he would be recognized as a Mason everywhere. But the case is different with the Grand Lodge of Washington, which had decided to recognize a so-called Grand Lodge, which Grand Lodge is denounced as spurious, irregular, and clandestine and its Lodges and all their members to be equally spurious, irregular, and clandestine by all the Grand Lodges of this continent, Washington alone excepted.

"The fact that these spurious Masons happen to be negroes can not affect the constitutional question at all. The constitutional rule would be the same if they were white men, or yellow men, or red men."

New York for 1898 has just consideration, and Grand Master SUTHERLAND'S position in re Grand Lodge of Washington strongly commended.

M.. W.. THOMAS B. FLINT (Yarmouth), Grand Master, re-elected, and R.. W.. WILLIAM ROSS (Halifax), Grand Secretary, re-elected.

PRINCE EDWARD ISLAND.

24th Communication.

CHARLOTTETOWN.

June 26, 1899.

M.. W.. LEONARD MORRIS, Grand Master, the representatives of twelve Lodges, and New York by R.. W.. JOHN J. G. WELDON.

The annual address of the Grand Master was very brief; he had visited a number of the Lodges and the Grand Lodge had participated in two public ceremonial occasions.

The Charity and Benevolent Fund now amounts to $301.54, and it was announced that Hon. BRO. BENJ. ROGERS, of Charlottetown, had offered to donate the sum of one hundred dollars toward this fund.

The Grand Lodge was honored by the presence of M.. W.. ROBERT MARSHALL, Past Grand Master of the Grand Lodge of New Brunswick, and in the course of his remarks alluding to his recent visit to the Grand Lodge of Nova Scotia he "kindly suggested that a committee be appointed from this Grand Lodge to confer with similar committees appointed by the Grand Lodges of Nova Scotia and New Brunswick relative to a federation of the Maritime Provinces, under one Grand Lodge, to meet alternately in the three Provinces." This project, receiving favorable consideration, a committee of conference was appointed.

A committee was also appointed to take into consideration the desira