United Grand Lodge.

one of some brethren who were applying for a warrant for a new Lodge out there . According to the minutes of the LooVo it was decided that tho demand ought to be made by Bro . WaUrr Durell himself , and ' they sent this to Bro . John Durell in a letter in which they said if Bro .

Walter Durell did apply it should be at once granted . The letter , which was signed by the Master , said he would be p kased to be of service to bim . It was explained that to get a further authority from Bro . Walter Durell would cause a delay of six mouths , and Bro . John Darell again

wrote to tho Lodge drawing their attontion to Rule 213 of the Book of Constitutions , which says , " Whenever a member of any Lodgo shall resign , or shall be excluded , or whenever , at a subsequent time , he may require it , he shall be furnished with a certificate stating the

circumstances under which he left the Lodgo ; and such certificate is to be required by , and to be produced to , any other Lodge of which he is proposed to be admitted a member , previously to the ballot being taken . " He proceeded to say he would not ask as a favour what was a

matter of right . At tho meeting of the Lodge when the first letter came no brother was present who had recognised Walter Durell as a member of the Lodge , although he had been a membor for ten years , and although his name was in the printed list of members . After

the certificate had been refused at the second meeting , Bro . John Dnroll appealed to tho Provincial Grand Master . The Master and Wardens wero summoned , along with Bro . Durell , before hira , and the Prov . Grand Master heard the complaint . The Prov . Grand Master

thought the matter might be arranged by Bro . Darell attending the Lodge and producing tho letter from his son , and that then the Lodge would grant the certificate . In that case the Prov . Grand Master would not have to pronounce any decision . But . before the next Lodge , at which

tho father promised to produce the letter , he had been told by some brother that if he attended ho would be refused admission . Bro . Philbrick said he hoped , in justice to the Lodge , this was an unauthorised communication , but tho consequence was the father did not attend . The

matter went again before tho Prov . G . Master , and in the result he suspended the Lodge . Bro . Philbrick thought the interpretation of Rule 213 came now for tho first time before Grand Lodge , but the interpretation was very plain .

It wasusual no doubt to prefer the request for a certificate in Lodge , or for the brother who wanted it to write to tho Lodgo ; but whether a brother was popular or unpopular in a Lodge it was his rig ht to have a certificate of clearance and of the circumstances under which he left the

Lodge . What harm on earth could it do r It was of no money value ; it could not be used like a bill of exchange . However , the Lodge decided that the brother requiring tho certificate must apply in his own handwriting , and that unless he did they could not grant it . Considering

Bro . John Durell's position , and his long membership of tho Lodge , he thought the Lodge was bound to take his word that he was authorised by his son to make the application . Under the circumstances , he would move" That the appeal be dismissed , and this Grand Lodge doth

suspend Lodge La Crosaree until it makes due submission to the Provincial Grand Master , and apologises to him for its past disobedience . " The Earl of Euston in seconding the motion thought that Lodge Crosaree had acted against all Masonic rule and in absolute antagonism to . its Provincial Grand Master .

The Junior Warden of Lodge La Caasareo said he had been asked by the W . M . to address Grand Lodge for him in support of the appeal . Bro . Walter Durell became a member of Lodge La Ca > garee in 1877 , and left it in July 1880 . As Bro . Philbrick had stated , when the

demand for a certificate was made in November 1890 , no one was present in the Lodge who knew Brother Walter Durell had belonged to it . No mention of his name was to be found in any of the Lodge records . It was only in

the rule 3 , to which unfortunately it never occurred to any of them to refer . Therefore , as no brother knew him they thought it would be better for Bro . Walter Dnrell to write to the Lodge himself . To this effect the Worshipful Master wrote to Bro . John Durell . At that ; time it did not

occur to them that any difficulty would arise as to tho construction of Rule 213 , and that Bro . Walter Durell had not himself asked for it . As delay would occur , the W . M . himself wrote to Bro . Johu Durell asking bim to send the authorit y by which he claimed the certificate for his son . « was then that Bro . Durell wrote that he would not ask

United Grand Lodge.

as a favour for that which ho had a right to , and ho referred to Rule 213 . It waa after that tho Lodgo found that Bro . Walter Durell had not asked for it himself either verbally or in . writing , and that Bro . John Duri : ll had in writing absolutely lefnsed , notwithstanding the demands

of the W . M ., to give any proof that he held tho authorisation from Bro . Walter Durell directing him to ask for tho certificate of the latter . That was tho clear position of the

Lodgo on 8 th January 1891 . They stated clearly at that date before any complaints had been mado to tho Prov . Grand Master that they wero prepared to give a clearanco certificate to Bro . Walter Durell as soon as ho asked for it

himself or by his representative . He askod tho Grand Lodge to remember the dates . Nearly a month after—in February 1891—Bro . John Durell sent a complaint in writing to the Provincial Grand Master , and a copy was sent to the Lodgo with a request that they should attend .

Tho W . M . on attending the Prov . Grand Master presented a statement of facts . The Lodgo thought Brother John Durell's conduct vexatious , and it was pointed out that ho had persistently refused to produce the letter of his son , and this created the impression that be was not authorised

to act . He produced it to the Prov . Grand Master and promised him to produce it to the Lodge , but did not do so . He ( the J . W . ) contended that if the Lodge was suspended , it could not during its suspension grant a certificate ; it could exercise no Masonio rights or privileges .

Bro . Justice Prinsep , as belonging to a distant Province , said he had never seen such a cloud as that raised by the brethren of Lodge La Coosaroe . One would think that tho matter was one between Bro . John Dnrell , the father , and the Lodge . But whore was the poor son all tho time ?

Could he obtain any Masonic rights ; could he assist tho cause of Freemasomy by joining in starting a new Lodgo ? No ; he was prevented by the refusal of his Mother Lodge . What was more natural than that he should write to his father to get him a cartificate . If they had had any

doubts about the authenticity of the application they might have sent a registered letter to the son . He had always understood that it was one of the first motives of Freemasonry to endeavour to act harmoniously with ono

another , and to work smoothly and easily , and facilitato the cause of Masonry as far as in thoir power . It appeared to him that hero there had been every endeavour to take advantage of technical quibbles .

Bro . Philbrick replied , and Bro . James Stevens contended that according to Rule 213 the application must be made by the brother himself , and that a Provincial Grand Master could not override the Book of Constitutions .

A division was then taken , with the result that a largo majority was in favour of the dismissal of the appeal . The W . M . and J . W . of Lodge La Coesaree were then sent for , and the Grand Master in the chair informed them that the question had been very carefully considered . Grand

Lodge had divided upon the subject , but a majority—a decided majority—found in favour of the motion that was made by the Grand Registrar . That motion waa " That the appeal be dismissed , and that this Grand Lodge doth

suspend Lodge La Caosaree until it makes due submission to the Provincial Grand Master , and apologises to him for its past disobedience . " Grand Lodge was then closed .

A REBUKE . —When the oaptain of La Syoille delivered his sword to Captain Russell , on the Hussar's quarter-deck , he commenced a speech , with much pomposity of style and manner , saying , " Accept , sir , of a sword which was never before surrendered . Conceive my feeling ou being reduced to it by a ship of less than half my force ; but suoh a ship ! such a constant and oontinuod tremendous

fire!— Captain Enssell answered : " Sir , I must here humbly bog leave to decline any compliments to this ship , her officers , or company , as I cannot return them . She is , indeed , no more than n British ship of her class should be . She had not fair play ; bat Almighty God has saved her from the most foul snare of the most perfidious enemy . Had you , sir , fought me fairly , I should , if I know

my own heart , receive your sword with a tear of sympathy . From you , sir , I receive it with the most inexpressible contempt . And now , sir , you will please to observe that , lest this sword should ever defile the hand of any honest French or English officer , I here , in the most formal and pnblic manner , break it . " Here , sticking its point into the deck , Captain Russell bont it double , broke it , and throw it

from him as a degraded thing ; then , turning to his officers , said : " This is not meant as an example for you : you will ever be British officers ; heroes in every virtue , as well as in tho valour with which you have supported me on this occasion . Accept my grateful thanks , ray hearty thanks , for your glorious snpport 1 " From Cassell ' a " World of Adventure" for September .