this "sneak", as the before mentioned paper calls him, did exactly the contrary, for he not only endeavoured secretly to prevent the union, but made use of his official position to frustrate a conference upon the subject, by forcibly breaking up the meeting when a movement was brought forward for the discussion of the question. He and a few others, his colleagues in office in the schismatic Grand Lodge, were fully aware that their official dignity would cease should the union take place; they therefore were not satisfied with the steps which had been taken, but ascribed to the Ancient Grand Lodge and the regularly constituted Brethren views and principles which were as unfeeling as they were false. Even in the name of the Grand Master Athol, steps were taken to keep up the hostility and widen the breach.

Feb. 9, 1803, it was announced to the Grand Lodge that the irregular Masons persevered in their contumacy, and that, far from seeking to be again accepted in the community, they had not even made a single movement towards effecting a union. Whereupon their conduct was declared to be reprehensible in the highest degree, it was enacted that the laws of the Grand Lodge should be exercised against them in full force, and it was unanimously declared that the said Thomas Harper should be expelled from the Society, and further, "that wherever there was the slightest rumour, in the future, that a regular Mason visited or patronised a Lodge or meeting of persons calling themselves Ancient Masons, &c., that not alone would the laws be enforced against them, but their names would be erased from the list, and all the Lodges under the constitution of England would be made acquainted. with the circumstance."

Feb. 12, 1806, Lord Moira from the chair1 announced that during his last sojourn in Edinburgh he had visited

1 Stephen Jones, whom we here copy word for word.

the Grand Lodge of Scotland, and had employed the occasion to give them a detailed statement of the extent and extraordinary influence of this present Grand Lodge, as well as the origin and position occupied by the socalled Ancient Masons in England, who held their meetings under the protection of the Duke of Athol; that the Brethren of the Grand Lodge of Scotland had declared that they were but indifferently informed concerning these matters, as they had ever been of opinion that this Society, the Grand Lodge of England, had not existed so very long (!!) nor were its numbers very considerable; but that now, having been convinced of their mistake, they had the greatest desire to be more intimately acquainted, and to enter into a correspondence with the Grand Lodge of England. Thus the first step to secure the desirable end was taken, and as a proof of the sincerity of their intentions, his Royal Highness the Prince of Wales was unanimously chosen Grand Master of Scotland.

The Grand Master further communicated that the Grand Lodge of Scotland had expressed their deep regret that dissensions existed among the English Masons, and that those Lodges assembling under the patronage of the Duke of Athol had withdrawn themselves voluntarily from the protection of the old Grand Lodge; but they hoped that measures would be taken to bring about a reconciliation, and that those Lodges which now assembled in an irregular manner would return to their allegiance and be again received into the Fraternity. To this he had replied, that he was almost convinced that the Grand Lodge was prepared to acquiesce in any proposal which might be suggested to secure a union. It was true, that as the proposals which they had made three years previously had been rejected, it was not compatible with the honour and dignity of their illustrious Grand Master to make any further advances, but that they were nevertheless ever anxious to promote the welfare of the whole community, and at all times accepted with pleasure the

mediation of the Grand Lodge of Scotland. It was then determined to signify in an adress to the Grand Lodge of Scotland how desirous they were that the closest relationship should exist between the two Grand Lodges, and that to further this, the presiding Masters and Wardens of the Lodges in Scotland working under the Grand Lodge, should, whenever they came to London, upon producing the necessary testimonials, take their seats in this Grand Lodge and enjoy the privilege of voting with the others whenever occasion offered.

Nov. 23, 1808, the Acting Grand Master informed the Brethren that he had received a communication from the Grand Lodge of Ireland, in which they testified their approval of the declarations of the principles of this Grand Lodge, as avowed to the Grand Lodge of Scotland, and likewise expressed a wish to be connected with this Grand Lodge on any special occasion, should it serve to afford that support to the dignity which a representative body of the whole Brotherhood ought to maintain over each individual Lodge. The Grand Lodge of Ireland passed their word of honour neither to favour nor accept as a Brother any person who should be expelled from the Grand Lodge of England for violating its masonic laws. It was thereupon determined that the officiating Grand Master should be solicited to intimate to the Grand Lodge of Ireland the warm brotherly feeling which had been excited in this Grand Lodge upon the receipt of their friendly communication.

April 12, 1809, things were so far advanced that the Grand Lodge resolved that it was no longer necessary to carry out the measures which had been resorted to in 1739 with respect to the irregular Masons; but that all Lodges should be only impressed with the necessity of returning to the ancient landmarks of the Society. This, then, may be looked upon as the preliminary act in the long wished for union of the so-called Ancient and Modern Masons.

After the death of Bart. P. Parker, December 21, 1811, the Prince of Wales was pleased to bestow the office of Deputy Grand Master on his brother the Duke of Sussex, who was then Master of the Lodge of Antiquity, and when the Prince became Regent of the United kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, and the etiquette of his high position seemed to require of him to resign his office of Grand Master, the Duke of Sussex was unanimously chosen to fill this important post. The Prince Regent, however, accepted the title of Grand Patron of the Brotherhood.

It was soon apparent that the Duke was bent, heart and soul, on accomplishing the work of reconciliation and satisfying the ardent desires of the Brethren. At the head of the so-called Ancient Masons was the Duke of Athol. It is conjectured that this latter Duke was soon, through the powerful representations of the Royal Grand Master, most thoroughly convinced how very desirable it would be to effect a union of the two bodies, the natural goodness of his heart and his benevolent disposition materially aiding in guiding his judgment. To remove all obstacles from the path, in the most amiable manner he resigned his seat of Grand Master, and recommended the Duke of Kent, who had been made a Mason under his jurisdiction, as his successor. This latter was then elected and installed in his post, and assured the Brethren on this occasion that he had undertaken this office principally with the view of promoting more effectually the object which his illustrious brother had so much at heart. Treaty of union. The union did at length actually take place. The two Brethren devoted themselves most zealously to the work; they consulted with three of the most distinguished Brethren on either side, and finally accomplished their purpose, "the union between the two Grand Lodges of England", the articles of which may be found in Preston's Illustrations, as also in the article by Stephen Jones. These were signed in Kensington Palace, November 25,

1813, and ratified by both Grand Lodges, December 1, 1813.

With a view of carrying out the fifth Article, a meeting of the two Grand Lodges was convened Dec. 1., 1813, when the Articles of Union were submitted to inspection, and were met by the Brethren with Masonic applause. The articles were unanimously ratified and confirmed, whereupon the Lodge of Reconciliation was constituted; the two Grand Masters signed the Deed of Union, and both of them attached their great seal to it, the Grand Secretaries on both sides signing their names below the seal. The Master and Wardens of the Lodge of Reconciliation were selected from the Brethren who had belonged to the Modern Masons.

The United Grand On St. John's Day, Dec. 27, this important Lodge of England. transaction was consummated in a General Assembly, and the reunion of the old Freemasons of England after their long separation was celebrated with great solemnity. The Grand Lodges of Scotland and Ireland had not had time to send the deputies who had been invited on the occasion, but despatched friendly letters of congratulation, which were read aloud by two of the Brethren, that from Scotland by Brother Laurie, and from Ireland, by brother Graham. Br. Dr. Hemming, one of the Masters of the Lodge of Reconciliation, delivered with a loud voice the charges which it had been thought expedient to draw up, and these were responded to by the whole Fraternity. The Duke of Kent resigned his office of Grand Master, after having fulfilled the purpose for which he assumed it. On a motion by him, seconded by Br. Wash. Shirley, the Duke of Sussex was chosen Grand Master for the ensuing year, and having appointed his officers, and received the homage of the Brethren, declared the Grand Lodge to be legally opened. When the Grand Lodge was summoned to partake of some refreshment, the cup of brotherly love was placed in the Grand Master's hand, when he drank the health of the