Lodge both adopted resolutions in approval of the proposed organization, for various reasons, and after consulting with several members of Grand Council I did not feel that I would have been justified in complying with the terms of the resolution, and I therefore assumed the very great responsibility of disobeying your direct instructions, but trust my course will meet with your approval when I inform you that there was some danger of the Grand Councils of the United States, not understanding our action, refusing to recognize the proposed change, and the probability of some of them withdrawing their recognition. I therefore decided to take no further action until the present session, and if you are still of opinion that it is desirable to form the Grand Council of Rites, a circular letter mirht be prepared and addressed to the Grand Councils with whom we are in fraternal correspondence, explaining the proposed change, and inviting their consideration and approval, and the continuance to the new body of the recognition that had been accorded to Grand Council. Personally, I am clearly of the same opinion as I was last year when I said that Grand Lodges, Grand Chapters, Grand Council of Rites, Great Priory, and the Supreme Council of the 33rd Degree would be quite sufficient governing power to control and direct the whole of Masonry, and meet all the requirement of the Craft' in Canada."

About this time an illegal Masonic Body in Craft Masonry had been formed in Canada. The organization was known as the Grand Lodge of Ontario. The Grand Master of the Grand Council, in concluding his fifth address, drew the attention of the Companions to the formation of this clandestine body. He said that

"Grand Council is aware that an organization has been formed in London ander the name of Grand Lodge of Ontario. Soon after the formation of this illegal and clandestine body in usurpation of the territory already Masonically occupied by the Grand Lodge of Canada, I was ask to decide if Th. Ill. Masters of Councils were to continue to admit such of their members as had assisted in the formation of the socalled Grand Lodge. My decision was that as these Companions had violated their obligations without any justification Th. Ill. Masters were not to admit them under any circumstance whatever. And as those who took part in the formation of this Body have not the shadow of an excuse to offer in extenuation of their unwarranted and unjustifiable rebellion, I have no hesitation in recommending Grand Council to expel from all rights and privileges of Cryptic Masonry all those against whom proofs may be brought forward to show that they took part in the movement."

The Committee who reported on the address said:

"The Committee have carefully considered the remarks of the M. Ill. G. M, respecting the desirability of making the degrees of the Cryptic Rite a pre-requisite of the orders of Knighthood, and while we believe that this desirable object would in a great degree tend to unite and strengthen the Masonic system by having a regular order of progression in this Dominion, we think the time has not yet arrived when we should take any decisive action upon this point; but entirely agree with the M. Ill. G. M. in recommending the matter to the care

ful consideration of the Companions in the Subordinate Councils during the coming year."

And they coincided with the M. Ill. the Grand Master in his remarks regarding the Red Cross.

"Your Committee fully coincide with the M. Ill. G. M, in his observations relating to the degree of Red Cross of Babylon, and we believe that in carrying out his recommendation we will only be asking the Great Priory of Canada to refrain from encroaching on our own prerogatives."

Alluding to the paragraph in the address concerning the Grand Council of Rites the Committee also said:

"Your Committee, while believing if the Grand Council of Rites could have been properly organized and worked it would have been to the advantage of Masonry in Canada, cannot but admit with the M. Ill. G. M. that the obstac es in the way were so great that the course which had been adopted by the various bodies is the only one that could have been adopted under the circumstances, and believe that by the three bodies meeting together at the same time and place, the same object will be effected as by an amalgamation of the three bodies interested."

And concerning the Grand Lodge of Ontario the Committee agreed with the Grand Master and said:

"The Committee entirely coincide with the M. Ill. G. M. in his decision with respect to any of the members of our Subordinate Councils who have so far forgotten what is due to their obligations as Masons as to join in the clandestine and rebellious movement known by the name of the Grand Lodge of Ontario. It is not at all probable that members who violate obligations in the most unscrupulous manner in one body of Masonry would have any more regard for them in another; we therefore quite agree with the M. I. G. M. in recommending Grand Council to embrace the first possible opportunity of purging our ranks of such unworthy members.'

The election of Grand Officers this year resulted in a change in the Grand Mastership. Ill. Comp. Spry declined the honour of re-election, and said it was with some regret that he had resolved, after five years of office, to ask the Companions to select a successor to preside over their deliberations. The Companions chosen were as follows:

The election of Grand Officers for the ensuing year was then proceeded with, and the following officers were duly elected, and subsequently installed with the appointed officers:

M. I. Companion Fred. J. Menet, Most Illustrious Grand Master.

R. I. Companion S. B. Harman, Deputy Grand Master.

R. I. Companion J. O'Connor, Grand Principal Conductor of the Work.

R. I. Companion H. S. Broughton, Grand Treasurer.

M. I. Companion James B. Nixon, Grand Recorder.
R. I. Companion Gibson Cook, Grand Captain of Guard.
R. I. Companion George Watson, Grand Lecturer.
I. Companion F. J. Hood, Grand Sentinel.

INSPECTORS-GENERAL OF DIVISIONS.

R. I. Companion Robert McKay, London Division.
R. I. Companion Wm. Gibson, Hamilton Division.
R. I. Companion Joshua G. Burns, Toronto Division.
R. I. Companion G. C. Longley, Ottawa Division.
R. I. Companion Edson Kemp, Quebec Division.

R. I. Companion Archibald McKee, Manitoba Division.

The Grand Master then appointed and invested the following:

V. I. Companion H. L. Kifner, Grand Master of Ceremo

nies.

V. I. Companion B. Barnard, Grand Conductor.

V. I. Companion William Brydon, Grand Organist.

V. I. Companions J. Corlis, W. R. Browne, Thomas Dewson, James Jardine, John Ross Robertson, and E. G. Conklin, Grand Stewards.

EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE.

R. I. Companion C. D. Macdonnell, Peterboro'; M. I. Companion Daniel Spry, Toronto; R. I. Companion David McLellan, Hamilton; R. I. Companion Wm. Kerr, Otta

wa.

CHAPTER XXVII.

THE NOTED MISSISSIPPI PLAN-THE REPORT ON THE SUBJECT BY THE COMMITTEE OF THAT STATE-THE ACTION OF THE GRAND COUNCIL OF ONTARIO THEREON.

HE Grand Council held its Seventh Annual Assembly in the Masonic Hall at London, on the 8th day of August, 1877. Most Illustrious Companion F. J. Menet in the East. From Adoniram Council there were present, Illustrious Companions Daniel Spry, David McLellan, James B. Nixon, George Watson and J. Ross Robertson. Zabud Council was represented by Ill. Comp. Geo. Watson, as proxy. Salem Council sent Ill. Comp. H. A. Mackay and William Gibson. Enoch Council, at London, sent Ill. Comp. James O'Connor, W. R. Browne, Isaac Waterman and H. A. Baxter. Nineveh Council, of St. Thomas, had Ill. Comp. Fobert Mackay, J. Corlis and E. W. Porter. Morris Council, at Perth, was represented by W. M. Somerville. Quite a number of visitors were also present. The Grand Master in his address said that

"The occasion of these annual reunions of those for whom Masonry in all its varied, useful and time-honoured branches has a peculiar and unfeigned pleasure, conduces not only to the opportunity thus afforded of actively engaging in the performance of such duties as will tend to the proper consolidation and organization of our Order, but also to the cultivation of those social feelings, and an increased knowledge of each other which cannot but draw us nearer in the bonds of that common brotherhood, Mankind, fashioned in the image of Him who, having created all things, commands their mutual love and duty, as well as their love and obedience to Himself.

"The unceasing march of time, which in its rapid flight frequently recalls to our remembrance the uncertainty of our feeble existence by the removal of some of those with whom we have been pleased to assemble, has during the past year, left no such saddening memories in our minds, for, thanks to the merciful dispensation of a kind and loving Father, we are not on this occasion called upon to mourn the death of any of our numbers. "

An Act which had particular interest for all Royal and Select Masters, during 1877, was that of the Grand Council of Mississippi, which in the month of February had handed. over to the care and control of the Grand Royal Arch

Chapter of that State the degrees formerly conferred under the Grand Council. The proposal to merge the Councils into chapters was brought to the notice of the Cryptic Masons of America by a circular containing resolutions adopted by a Joint Committee of the Grand Council of Royal and Select Masters and the Grand Chapter of Royal Arch Masonry of the State of Mississippi, and submitted and adopted at the Annual Convocation and Assembly of these bodies, held at Vicksburg, on the 5th of February, 1877. The proposition is known as "The Mississippi Plan," and was as follows:

To all Royal Arch Masons and Royal and Select Masters in the State of Mississippi:

The following report of a Joint Committee of the Most Excellent Grand Chapter of Royal Arch Masons and the Most Puissant Grand Council of Royal and Select Master Masons, adopted by these Grand Bodies at their recent Convocation and Assembly in the City of Vicksburg, February 5th and 6th, 1877, is communicated for the information and government of the several subordinate Chapters and Councils in the State of Mississippi :

To the M. E. Grand Royal Arch Chapter, and the M. P. Grand Council of Royal and Select Masters, of the State of Mississippi :

The undersigned, a Committee of the Most Excellent Grand Chapter of Royal Arch Masons in the State of Mississippi, and a Committee of the Most Puissant Grand Council of Royal and Select Masters in the State of Mississippi, appointed by these Grand Bodies respectively, to present an arrangement by which the degrees of the Grand Council are to be transferred to the Grand Chapter, beg leave to report that the degrees of Royal Master and Select Master be and the same are hereby transferred to the Grand Chapter, and shall hereafter be conferred as follows:

1. Each Royal Arch Chapter shall hereafter open within its bosom, under its charter as a Chapter of Royal Arch Masons, a Council of Royal and Select Masters, and confer the degrees of Royal Master and Select Master; the officers of the Chapter, corresponding in rank to those of the Council, to be the officers of the Council.

2. All Royal Arch Masons who have received the degrees of Royal Master and Select Master shall be entitled to have the same conferred, or communicated, on their request and without charge, but candidates who shall hereafter receive the Royal Arch Degree shall immediately thereafter, and in connection with the Royal Arch Degree, receive the degrees of the Royal Master and Select Master, without additional charge.

3. All present and past Grand Officers of the Grand Council, and all present and Thrice Illustrious Masters of Subordinate Councils, shall be entitled to participate in all the proceedings of the Grand Chapter, but without vote therein, until the Constitution can be so amended as to permit them to vote as other Past Grand Officers and members of the Grand Chapter.

4. The General Grand Chapter of the United States is most earnestly but respectfully petitioned to permit the degrees of Royal Master and