The following were elected to hold office for the current year: M. I. Companion David McLellan, Hamilton, Most Illustrious Grand Master. R. I. Companion, Joshua George Burns, Toronto, Deputy Grand Master. R. I. Companion Hugh A, Mackay, Hamilton, Grand Principal Conductor of the work. M. I. Companion Fred J. Menet, Toronto, Grand Treasurer. R. I. Companion James B. Nixon, Toronto, Grand Recorder. R. I. Companion John McKee, Toronto, Grand Captain of the Guard. R. I. Companion Wm. Gibson, Hamilton, Grand Lecturer. INSPECTORS-GENERAL. R. I. Companion E. W. Porter, St. Thomas, London District. R. I. Companion R. Brierly, Hamilton, Hamilton District. R. I. Companion J. Ross Robertson, Toronto, Toronto Dis trict. R. I. Companion D. D. Macdonnell, Peterboro', Ontario R. I. Companion T. P. Stiff, Ottawa, Ottawa District. V. I. Companion G. C. Patterson, Toronto, Grand Master of V. I. Companion James Johnson, Hamilton, Grand Conductor. nipeg; T. H. Tracy, London; A. F. Huffman, Peter- I. Companion W. W. Summers, Hamilton, Grand Sentinel. EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE. R. I. Companions James O'Connor, Geo. Watson, James K. Kerr, and H. A. Baxter. CHAPTER XXIX. THE NINTH ANNUAL MEETING OF THE GRAND COUNCIL OF CANADA— NOTHING WORTHY OF NOTE IN THIS YEAR'S PROCEEDINGS. HE Royal City of Guelph was honoured with the meeting of Grand Council in 1879, being the ninth Annual Assembly, M. Ill. Comp. McLellan being in the Chair. There were present Illustrious Companions Daniel Spry, John Dennis, F. J. Menet, J. G. Burns, J. B. Nixon, J. Ross Robertson, of Adoniram Council; Thomas Sargant, of Zabud Council; John Moore, of Khurum, Maitland, Ontario; W. M. Mitchell, Wm. Gibson, of Salem Council; W. Hawthorne, H. A. Baxter and James O'Connor, of Enoch Council, London; Robert McKay, of Nineveh Council. St. Thomas, and H. K. Maitland, of Wellington Council, Guelph. In November, 1878, the desire for Cryptic knowledge beset the Companions in Guelph, and on the 21st of that month a dispensation was issued in answer to a petition, organizing Wellington Council, now one of the most successful in the jurisdiction. There was nothing of note in this year's proceedings. The Rite, said the Report on the condition of Cryptic Masonry, was "in the main progressing," although in order to aid the work vigorous measures were recorded in two cases where a certain amount of lassitude had been displayed. The meeting closed with the election of the following officers : M. I. Companion Joshua G. Burns, Toronto, Most Illustrious Grand Master. R. I. Companion H. A. Baxter, London, Deputy Grand Master. R. I. Companion Wm Gibson, Hamilton, Grand Principal Conductor of the Work. R. I. Companion J. Ross Robertson, Toronto, Grand Trea surer. M. I. Companion Daniel Spry, Barrie, Grand Recorder. R. I. Companion G. C. Patterson, Toronto, Grand Captain of the Guard. R. I. Companion H. K. Maitland, Guelph, Grand Lecturer. I. Companion John Dixon, Toronto, Grand Sentinel. INSPECTORS-GENERAL OF DIVISIONS. R. I. Companion Wm. Hawthorne, London, London Division. sion. R. I. Companion I. H. Stearns, Montreal, Quebec Division. R. I. Companion James O'Connor, Winnipeg, Manitoba Divi sion. R. I. Companion Thos. P. Stiff, Ottawa, Grand Master of Ceremonies. V. I. Companion W. M. Mitchell, Hamilton, Grand Conductor. V. I. Companion W. R. Brown, London, Grand Organist. GRAND STEWARDS. V. I. Companion E. G. O'Donnell, St. Thomas; J. Saulsby Dennis, Toronto; A. F. Huffman, Peterboro'; John Breden, Winnipeg; John Scoon, Guelph; and John Patton, Toronto. EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE. R. I. Companion J. B. Nixon, Toronto; H. A. Mackay, Hamilton; Fred J. Menet, Toronto; E. W. Porter, St. Thomas. CHAPTER XXX. THE TENTH ANNUAL MEETING OF THE GRAND COUNCIL OF ONTARIO— A CHANGE OF NAME-THE GRAND COUNCIL OF CANADA. N the 15th of July, 1880, Grand Council in its Tenth annual meeting assembled in Guelph, Grand Council having resolved to follow the Grand Lodge, Grand Chapter and Great Priory in their places of meeting. M. I. Companion Joshua G. Burns, the Grand Master, presided, and nearly all the Councils were represented. There were in attendance Illustrious Companions J. K. Kerr, John Patton, G. C. Patterson, D. Spry, J. B. Nixon, D. McLellan, of Adoniram Council, Toronto; Thos. Sargant, of Zabud Council, Bradford; J. Moore and H. Martel Davies, of Khurum Council, Maitland; I. H. Stearns, of Izabud Council, Montreal; W. M. Mitchell, of Salem Council, Hamilton; W. Hawthorne, of Enoch Council, London; C. D. Macdonald, of Cryptic Council, Peterboro'; Robert McKay, of Nineveh Council, St. Thomas; H. K. Maitland, John Scoon and Wm. Watson, of Wellington Council, Guelph. Burns gave an instructive and viewed the work of the year. graphs in opening, he said :— Most Illustrious Companion interesting address. He reAfter a few pleasant para "In giving an account of my official action during the year (though it has been stated by some that this Grand Council is not working vigorously) I have to report that Cryptic Masonry has received a fresh impetus. I predict that the coming year will be one of marked success. I have made such arrangements as will in future secure prompt attention to all communications addressed to the Grand Recorder's office. The books of the Grand Council are written up, and the accounts of the several Councils so arranged as will prevent any future misunderstanding. Warrants are now in preparation, and will be immediately issued to the Councils entitled to receive them. The affairs of Grand Council have been placed in a business shape by the Grand Recorder, who has devoted much time and travelled many miles at my request, to further the interests of the Grand Council. Under my supervision he has recognized Cryptic Masonry in this jurisdiction, and Compan ions can feel assured that all matters pertaining to the Grand Council will be promptly attended to by him." And on the action of the American bodies who were pursuing the Mississippi plan, he said :— "After matured deliberation and extensive reading in the proceedings of other Grand Councils and opinions of many Illustrious Companions, I see no necessity for handing these degrees to Grand Chapter or any other Grand body. I believe the fusion cf these degrees with that of Grand Chapter would mean complete absorption and render Cryptic Masonry insignificant and unimportant. Why should this be, as Cryptic Masonry is as pregnant with meaning and instruction as any of the other degrees? And with all respect to R. A. Masonry I believe that in Cryptic Masonry, and in Cryptic Masonry alone, can Comps. find the completion of Masonry, and until they penetrate the S. V. they must remain ignorant of what is partially revealed to the Babylonish sojourners, for we possess the key to the essence and epitome of all the revelations of Masonry." These ideas and opinions have been repeatedly enforced by M. Ill. Companion Spry. In his address to the Grand Council of 1877, he said: "At the last Annual Assembly, I was authorized and instructed to take all necessary steps in connection with the other bodies interested to form a Grand Council of Rites for the Dominion of Canada. The Imperial Council of Knights of the Red Cross of Constantine and the Grand Royal Ark Lodge both adopted resolutions in approval of the proposed organization, but for various reasons, after consulting with several members of the Grand Council, I did not feel that I would be justified in complying with the terms of the resolution, and decided to take no action until a future session. I am of the opinion that the time has now arrived to take action in this matter. The reasons for not then carrying out your instructions were duly explained to me by M. Ill. Comp. Spry, which reasons I conceive no longer exist, I therefore think I am justified in bringing this important matter before you, as we have too many Grand bodies and too much governing power in Masonry. One Supreme body having entire control over all Councils of Royal and Select Masters, Conclaves of the Order of Constantine, Lodges of Royal Ark Masons, and any others that may join us, is quite sufficient for this Province, if not for the Dominion of Canada. This body might be termed the Supreme Grand Council of Rites for the Dominion of Canada, having jurisdiction over all the Masonic bodies that might declare their adhesion thereto. Such an organization could be managed much more economically and efficiently with one set of officers and one Grand Recorder than continuing the present system of having numerous Grand bodies of little or no influence, with numerous officers possessing high-sounding titles of almost unpronounceable length. Some such action becomes absolutely necessary if we desire to lift the Cryptic Order into a position of much usefulness." The Grand Master concluded by saying that " Without our instructions Masonry is incomplete. For as the holders and revealers of great truths we are entitled to a high position. Companions neglecting to participate in our knowledge, commit an error in not fully completing the beautiful system developed in ancient Craft Masonry. Let us labour with a will, let our trowels work with a pure silvery sound, let our arches rise in stately grandeur, let none be found |