The Quarterly Communication Of Grand Lodge.

THE QUARTERLY COMMUNICATION OF GRAND LODGE .

THE agenda of business to be transacted at tbe December meeting of the Grand Lodge , to be held on Wednesday next , presents no new features of importance to the general body of English Freemasons ; indeed , the greater part of the programme of proceedings has reference

to the nomination and election of next year ' s officers of Grand Lodge , other matters of detail usual at this period of the year , and the settlement of various points in connection with the restoration of the Masonic Temple and the Revision of the Book of Constitutions .

Items 1 and 2 relate to the confirmation of minutes ; first come those of the last Quarterly Communication ( held on the 5 th September ) , and then those of the two Special Grand Lod ges of 29 th June and 8 th August , deferred from the last Grand Lodge . This latter really

means much more than mere confirmation ; it is not unlikely that many of the points referred to in the minutes will actually be rediscussed , and it is not wholly improbable that the confirmation may be again delayed . Item No . 3 is the nomination of a Grand Master for the ensuing

year , and although it is a foregone conclusion who will be nominated , this yet forms one of the most important features in the Masonic year ' s work . We trust that our present M . W . Grand Master will again honour the brethren of England by allowing himself to be nominated , and that

being the case , we have little doubt but that his election will again be of that unanimous character which has marked it in previous years . There is not much doubt on the point , and yet this annual nomination and election is necessary ; if only to periodically show the respect

entertained by the Craft for the Prince of Wales , who we hope may long continue to occupy tbe position of Grand Master . The appointment of a President of the Lodge of Benevolence comes next , and theD the election of Senior and Junior Vice-Presidents . Bro . James Brett P . G . P . being

the only brother nominated for the position of Senior Vice-President , he will , in due course , be again appointed to the post he has already filled with credit to himself and satisfaction to the Craft . The post of Junior Vice-Presiis sought by three brethren—Henry Garrod P . M . 749 ,

James H . Matthews P . M . 143 , and Charles A . Cottebrnne P . G . P . When the choice of Grand Lodge between these three has been settled , the formal election of the twelve Past Masters ( Bros . Britten , Cull , Dairy , Garrod , Gillard , Hogard , Mann , McPherson , Noble , Perryman ,

Spaull and Storr ) , nominated to serve on the Lodge of Benevolence will take place , and then item No . 7 will call for attention : this is the report of the Lodge of Benevolence for the last quarter , in •which are recommendations for ten different grants , amounting in the aggregate to

£ 645 , and comprising one of £ 150 , one of £ 100 , one of £ 75 , six of £ 50 , and one of £ 20 , this latter being an amount already paid to a brother , since deceased , on

necount of a recommended grant of £ 150 , and which in consequence of his death has now lapsed . The report of the Board of General Purposes , next on the list , contains a record of two minor cases of irregularity

The Quarterly Communication Of Grand Lodge.

which have been dealt with by the Board , and the usual statement of Grand Lodge accounts . Item No . 9 is another matter deferred from the last Communication—the Report

of the Special Building Committee in reference to tho restoration of the Temple . We may fairly expect a lengthy discussion on this subject , which , as is well known , has occupied the attention of the Craft for some time past , and in nearl v every portion of the country . A body ,

styling itself the " Grand Lodge of Victoria , Australia , " requests recognition by the United Grand Lodge of England , and their right to have it , or otherwise , will next be decided . An appeal from the Reunion Lodge , No . 1956 , New Zealand , against certain comments made by the

Colonial Board , relative to the conduct of a member of tho Lodge , will need attention , and then the various motions of which notice has been given will be brought forward . The first four of these notices have reference to tho recon . struction of the Temple , the fifth is the usual proposal by

Lieut .-Colonel Creaton , that the sum of £ 70 be given from the Fund of General Purposes to supply the inmates of the Institution at Croydon with coals during the winter season ,

while the ten remainder have reference to the Revision of the Book of Constitutions . We give these in detail in another part of our present issue , and do not , therefore , consider it necessary to repeat them here .

We can but urge on every brother who is eligible to do his best to attend , and give his attention to the day ' s programme , as many of the points , although they have been before the Craft for some time past , are most essential , as affecting its fntnre welfare .

Richard Plantagenet—Was He A Mason ?

RICHARD PLANTAGENET—WAS HE A MASON ?

BROTHER G . W . SPETH has a keen scent for all matters Masonic , and he appears never to lose a chance of laying hold of any fact that is likely to lead to the confirmation of what all true students of Freemasonry desire to believe , namely , the remote origin of the Craft .

The faith in the antiquity of tho Fraternity is remarkably strong and general , but the grounds upon which this faith is founded are not so capable of demonstration as a mathematical problem , nor are they altogether satisfactory to

those who are in the habit of weighing facts and testing conclusions . Tradition has always some modicum of truth in it ; it can be relied upon when it relates to some general principle or custom . Words and phrases , songs and folk

lore may be handed down by oral communication from generation to generation , but specific facts are exposed to great clanger of being misunderstood and misinterpreted . Tradition , for instance , could be trusted if it related the

existence of an ancient bard , although little or nothing remained of anything he did to indicate his style or genius . His labours would be widely known and popular , but the

same could nob be said of an individual , who lived a retired life , who was known only to a comparatively few . It is necessary , therefore , to be careful about facts in forming conclusions . Two cases in point have recentl y

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