United Grand Lodge.

UNITED GRAND LODGE .

fpHE agenda paper for the meeting of Grand Lodge on - *¦ Wednesday next , while at first sight it is snggeative of there being little or nothing to do beyond business that

is formal or of a [ general character , is worthy of a few passing remarks . The Grand Master will submit a resolution to the effect that the sum of one hundred guineas be contributed towards the relief of brethren in Jamaica

who have suffered by the terrible conflagration at Kingston in December last . That the motion will be carried with acclamation is certain , and our sole regret is , that G . Lodge will not be asked to give of its surplus funds a far higher amount . There are , in the first place , no less than eight

Lodges under the English Constitution alone which meet at Kingston , and , in the second , the same amount was voted towards the Palestine Exploration Fund in 1868 , and again in 1876 , to the Peruvian Earthquake Fund , to the Fund for the Relief of Famine in Persia , and towards

alleviating the distress caused by the " cataclysm" on the coast of Peru , while £ 100 was voted for the relief of members of the one Lodge in Ouracoa who suffered from a hurricane in 1878 , and two hundred guineas were given in 1877 to the sufferers from the fire at Sfc . John , New Brunswick . In these circumstances it occurs to ns that tho sum of £ 105

is by no means adequate to the requirements of this particular calamity in Jamaica . If , for example , £ 100 was considered a just contribution towards the relief of the members of the single Ouracoa Lodge , then £ 105 manifestly falls short of what is likely to be required by the brethren

of the eight Kingston Lodges . On the other hand , if the proposed grant of £ 105 in the Jamaica case is deemed sufficient , then £ 100 in the Ouracoa case must have been excessive . We do not desire to see Grand Lodge ostentatious in its gifts , but if it can be said to have erred on

former occasions on the side of extra liberality in its grants , it may be considered to err on the present occasion on the side of parsimony , and that , too , at a time when the balance to its credit is largely in excess of £ 5 , 000 . Moreover , where property to the value of half a million of money has

been destroyed—only £ 150 , 000 out of the £ 650 , 000 damage was covered by insurance—and about 7 , 000 people rendered homeless , it appears to us some consideration might be exhibited for the poor unfortunates outside the Craft . Suffering humanity , whether it comes before us in the shape of Masons or non . Masons , has righteous claims

on the sympathy and assistance of Grand Lodge . This dut y has been again and again recognised , as in the case of the Lancashire Cotton districts in 1863 , the Turks' Island

Relief Fund in 1868 , the Chicago Relief Fund in 1872 , the bengal Famine Fund in 1874 and in 1877 , and the Distress w Ireland Fund in 1880 , and others that might be mentioned . In none of these cases was the claim on our

assistance more just than is t that of our poor Jamaica fellowsubjects , and we hope to see some member of Grand Lodge ttse in his place , on Wednesday next , and suggest a larger 8 t im he granted , of which one part shall be set aside for suffering brethren , and the other for the general body of sufferers . The other business calls only for very brief notice . The

United Grand Lodge.

grants by the Lodge of Benevolence which will have to be confirmed are more moderate than we have seen them on former occasions , there being only three of £ 100 each , one of £ 75 , and six of £ 50 each . It is quite time the Lodge of Benevolence kept its expenditure within its income . The Revised Edition of the Book of Constitutions , and the 800

amendments which have been suggested by different Lodges and brethren , are to be taken into consideration and reported on . It will be proposed that the Bulwer Lodge , No . 1068 , of Cairo , which was ordered to be erased at the

December Communication , shall be allowed to resume its functions . For our own part , it strikes us the more businesslike way to proceed in this case will be for a motion to be made that so much of the minutes of the

last meeting as relates to the erasure of the Bulwer Lodge shall be non-confirmed . Only eight new warrants have been granted , and will be submitted for Grand Lodge approval , and it is not a little remarkable that not one of these has been issued for a Colonial Lodge , two being London warrants and the other six Provincial . The

election of Grand Master and Grand Treasurer constitutes the remaining portion of the business to be transacted in Grand Lodge on Monday next .

Festival Of The Royal Masonic Benevolent Institution.

FESTIVAL OF THE ROYAL MASONIC BENEVOLENT INSTITUTION .

THE well-wishers of this admirable Institution , the Chairman of the Festival , R . W . Gen . Bro . Brownrip-o ; . nn E > : : _ i n J -MT . ^ L ... .

C . B ., Surrey , of Surrey , and the indefatigable Secretary , Bro . James Terry , and his staff , are one and all to be congratulated on the result of Wednesday ' s gathering at Freemasons' Tavern .

There was a numerous company assembled to do honour to the occasion , the brethren and ladies mustering to the extent of some 500 . Among the former were Bros . General Laurie Grand Master of Nova Scotia . Colonel

Llovd-Philipps Prov . G . M . of South Wales Western Division , Rev . C . W . Arnold P . G . C . Dep . Prov . Grand Master Surrey , Rev . C . J . Martyn P . G . C , Deputy Prov . G . Master Suffolk , Colonel Shadwell H . Gierke Grand Secretarv .

J . Messent G . S . B ., Charles Greenwood P . G . S . B . Prov . G . S . Warden Surrey , C . Greenwood jun . Prov . Grand Secretary Surrey , F . W . R . Hedges Secretary Royal Masonic Institution for Girls , 0 . P . Matier . Caotain Nichols .

& c . & c . Messrs . Spiers , and Pond catered very successfully , and Bro . Dawkins , in his quality of manager , was courtesy itself , as he is invariably . After dinner , the usual Loyal

and Masonic toasts were proposed by the Chairman , who , in proposing that of the Prince of Wales M . W . G . M . Patron and President of the Institution , the Princess of Wales , and the other members of the Royal Family , referred to

the grand spectacle which was presented in the Royal Albert Hall , on the occasion of His Royal Highness ' s installation as Grand Master , and spoke in terms of eulogy of the interest exhibited in the Craft not only by the Prince , but likewise by his brothers the Dukes of Connaught and Albany . The health of the Grand Officers

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