United Grand Lodge.

claims , bnt to leave a margin ; why then should not a part of the surplus be devoted to some other good cause ? The general feeling , however , was against him , there was a majority who thought the fund of Benevolence had enough claims on it , and accordingly Bro . Clabon ' s

proposal was rejected . Tho future , it was said , would show that the income was only sufficient to meet tho expenditure . The future has shown , that not only is the expenditure eqml to the income , but that it can be made to exceed the amounts received , for tho disproportionate rise

in the expenditure , as compared with the income , prevents our considering the advance as legitimate , and such we think must be accepted as the opinion of Grand Lodge , which has now decided that the sums dispensed by the

Lodge of Benevolence muni be kept within the limits of its income . The arguments used on Wednesday last , both for and against the proposed increase , were numerous , and may receive further consideration at our hands on a future

. As regards the other business before Grand Lodge , the first items , after tho confirmation of the minutes , had reference to the chiefs of the Order for next year—the nomination of a Grand Master , the appointment of

President , the election of Senior and Junior Vice Presidents of the Lodge of Benevolence , and of twelve Past Masters to serve on the same ; each requiring attention . As regards the former , H . R . H . the Prince of Wales was again nominated for the office of Grand Master ; the nomination being

received with the same hearty approval as has marked the similar proposition in past years , Bro . James Brett and Bro . Charles Atkins were elected respectively Senior and Junior Vice Presidents of the Lodge of Benevolence ; and tho following wero chosen as the Past Masters to represent Grand Lodge on the same board : —

Brother GEOEGE POLE BRITTEN 183 JOSEPH D . COLLIER 1366 THOMAS CULL 1446 CHARLES DAIRY 141 HENRY GARKOD 749 CHARLES P . HOGARD 205 JOHN M . KLENCK 1339 WILLIAM MANN 186 JAMES H . MATTHEWS 143 WILLIAM H . PERRYMAN 3 WILLIAM STEPHENS 1489 EDWARD FRANCIS STORE 22

The grants recommended by theLodge of Benevolence were agreed to ; they were eighteen in number , and amounted to £ 1100 , there being four recommendations for £ 1 Q 0 each , and fourteen of £ 50 . This reduction in amount , as compared with the proposals of the past , is a much better

plan for bringing the outlay of the Lodge to something like its income , than increasing the income to correspond with an outlay which , in some minds at least , was fast approaching extravagance . The report of the Board of General Purposes contained one peculiar item—a report of

irregularity m a Provincial Lodge , where a Fellow Craft was recently raised to the degree of Master Mason within a period of thirteen days from his having taken tbe former degree . The Jaw on this subject is so distinct that we can hardly imagine how it could have been

transgressed , notwithstanding the fact that it is said the Lodge By-laws in a measure sanction it . However , once having been brought under notice , the necessary alteration has been ordered , and we imagine no further such mistakes will occur in the Lodge in question . The Colonial

Board has apparently been led away from its ordinary quiet lines by the excitement of the public ns regards Egypt , for we find a recommendation from it that four Lodges warranted for that country , viz ., Nos . 1068 at Cairo , 1154 at Alexandria , 1156 at Cairo ,

1419 at Ramlah , be erased from the list of Lodges on the Registry of the United Grand Lodge of England . Doubtless this step is very desirable , but we can hardly imagine that these four are the only Lodges which should come under the direction of the Colonial Board , and which are

defunct . Still , as we have said , the proposal is a good one ; we only hope it will be followed up as regards other countries , and that a general erasing of defunct Lodges , both in the Colonies and at home , will take place . Each of these reports were adopted . There were three appeals to be submitted to Grand Lodge , the first of which , from

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the Victoria Lodge , No . 1186 , Brisbane , Victoria , against the ruling of tho District Grand Master—that a Lod ge of Instruction can only be held under the Warrant of the Lodge under which it is sanctioned , and consequentl y not in any other building , appears very strange to us . It was

dismissed against tho District Grand Master . The second appeal rested on the legal definition of what is a " material alteration " in a law ; but the third was again a public matter —a Provincial Officer opposed the election of a brother to the office of Prov . Grand Treasurer . The latter thereupon

sought for a public explanation of the why and wherefore of the opposition , finally calling upon the Provincial Grand Master , ancl then Grand Lodge , to force the objecting brother to explain . Of course , the appeal was dismissed . Four notices of motion followed ; to the first—that by Bro .

Clabon , as to the increase of Grand Lodge dues—we have already referred ; the second , by tho same brother , a proposal to prevent any part of the capital of the Fund of Benevolence being sold without the express order of a Grand Lodge , confirmed by a subsequent Grand

Lodge , was withdrawn ; while , as regards the others , the first , which was a proposal that Grand Lodge should endow two scholarships in the projected " Royal College of

Music , " was negatived ; and the second , a proposal by Bro . James Stevens to subdivide the London Lodges outside a four-mile radius from Freemasons' Hall , was ruled , out of order .

Obituary.

Obituary .

BRO . ELIAS SOMERS . WE regret to have to announce the decease of Bro . Elias Somers , P . M . 1602 and 1897 , who expired on Monday last , after a long and painful illness . Bro . Somers was initiated in the Clapton Lodge , No . 1365 ; was a founder of the Marquis of Ripon Lodge , 1489 , wherein he was the first Senior Warden . He was likewise a founder of the Sir

Hugh Myddelton and Citadel Lodges , in both of which he was the first Worshipful Master . Bro . Somers was exalted in Sincerity Chapter , No . 174 , and was one of the founders of the Duke of Connaught Chapter , No . 1524 . The funeral will take place this day ( Saturday ) , at Abney Park Cemetery , at One o ' clock .

MRS . C . J . SCALES .

ON the 6 th instant , the funeral took place , at Nunhead Cemetery , of the beloved wife of Bro . C . J . Scales , P . M . 1507 , who departed this life on the 30 th ultimo . A circle of sympathising friends attended to show their respect .

Brother G . W . Knight , of the Metropolitan Lodge , No . 1507 , attended , and presented , as a mark of respect , on behalf of the Lodge of Instruction , a handsome' floral wreath .

The monthly meeting of the General Committee of the Royal Masonic Institution for Boys was held at Freemasons ' Hall , Great Queen Street , on Saturday last . There were present Bros . Mann ( in the chair ) , Leopold Ruf , J . L .

Mather , C . F . Matier , G . P . Gillard , A . Williams , Edgar Bowyer , A . E . Gladwell , Donald M . Dewar , F . Adlard , E . Baxter , Thos . Cubitt , A . H . Godson , and E . C . Massey . The minutes of the General Committee of the 4 th

November were read and verified , and those of the House Committee of the 17 th idem , for information . There was one petition , from the widow of a professor of music , who died a short time since , of typhoid fever . Petitioner has eight children , including a posthumous child . The case was

recommended by the Rev . 0 . J . Martyn , Past Grand Chaplain , ancl all documents being in order , the petition was accepted , and the name added to the list of candidates for election . A grant of £ 10 was made to a former pupil , in the employ of Mr . Dickinson , Marine Engineer ,

Monkwearmouth . There were special ciremmstauces in this case , which induced the Committee to exceed the usual grant of £ 5 . A vote was made of £ 5 to another ex-pupil , subject to enquiries . This being the whole of the business , fche meeting broke up , after a vote of thanks to the chairman .