United Grand Lodge.

We may here go out of our way to remark that we have no intention of entering upon any argument as to the merits of Bro . Stevens ' s proposition , to be respectfully submitted to His Royal Highness the Grand Master , for tho subdivision of the Metropolitan area into four districts ,

with a body presiding over each , which , whatever name might be bestowed upon it , would possess powers and privileges similar to those of an ordinary Provincial Grand Lodge . What concerns us now is , tho discussion we have jnst recorded , in which , though the apparent victory lay with the

Grand Registrar , the real honours of war fell to Bro . Stevens . True , tie made one unfortunate step when he went needlessly out of his way to refer personally to the Editor of our London contemporary ; but it seems to us , that after reading carefully between the lines of Lord

Carnarvon ' s speech , and from the fact that in the decision he arrived at he justified the action of the Board of Masters , not on the ground that the motion was one that ought not to be discussed in Grand Lodge , but because it was unintelligibly worded , —we say , under these circumstances ,

it appears to us that Bro . Stevens was the actnal victor , while Bro . Grand Registrar , though ostensibly victorious , has in fact been put to the rout . Remembering , however , what comparisons have been described as being , we content ourselves with remarking that it is Bro . Stevens's intention to send in a notice of motion for next Communication

which shall not labour under the disadvantage of being senseless or unintelligible . Let us now return to the proceedings of Grand Lodge . The Reports of the Lodge of Benevolence and Board of General Purposes were accepted , the nsual compliment

being paid to Sir John B . Monckton for his services as President of the latter , and acknowledged by that brother . The Report of the Committee appointed in March to consider and report upon the finances and present income of Grand Lodge was adopted on the motion of Bro . General

Brownriprg , and the annual report of the Royal Masonic Benevolent Institution was submitted . The proposition of Bro . Baron de Ferrieres , M . P ., as to the manner in which the votes , on a division , should be taken , was carried on a show of hands . Then followed the discussion of Brother

J . M . Clabon ' s motion that in order to meet the increased demands on the Fund of Benevolence , every member of a London Lodge should pay eighteen pence quarterly instead of one shillirfg as heretofore , and the members of Provincial Lodges ninepence per quarter instead of sixpence

Bro . Clabon showed indubitably , by figures , that the Fund had spent more than it received in the years 1880 and 1881 , though for several years previous the picture was exactly the reverse , and it bad received more than it spent . He spoke in favour of large grants ,

which he argued gave the recipients a chance of setting themselves right again , whereas small grants were probably absorbed in the payment of a few debts . Bros . Tombs , Montague Guest , M . P . Prov . G . Master Dorsetshire , Rev . J . S . Brownrigg D . P . G . M . Berks and Bucks

opposed the motion . Bro . Major Penrice G . S . D . moved , as an amendment , that the question should be postponed until the opinion of the Provincial brethren had been tested , and though Bro . James Stevens suggested that he would support the motion if it were amended so as to levy

a payment of one shilling quarterly on all brethren , whether Provincial or London , Bro . Penrice ' s amendment was put from the chair and carried . Bro . Clabon , however , will bring the question forward again at the December meeting of Grand Lodge .

Bro . Raynham Stewart's motion for a grant from the Pnnd of General Purposes of £ 300 to the Male Fund , and £ 500 to the Female Fund of the Royal Masonic Benevolent Institution was then submitted , General Brownrigg P . G . M . Surrey moving as an amendment that the grant should be

£ 400 , a moiety to be given to each Fund . A division was taken , when there appeared for the amendment 72 , against it 82—majority 10 . Bro . Stewart ' s motion was then put —85 voting in its favour , and 72 against it—majority 13 . It was therefore declared carried .

The following brethren were declared elected on the Board of General Purposes : — Votes Bro . Charles Atkins P . M . 27 ... . 325 Edgar Bowyer W . M . 1964 - - - - 322

Frank Green W . M . 1827 - - - - 248 Edwd . Letchworth W . M . 197 - - - 235 William Stephens P . M . 1489 - - - 223 A . Meadows , M . D ., P . M . 4 - - - 195 Henry Bishop P . M . 66 j . - - . 181

Wm , Smallpeice P . M . 1395 - . 175 C . C . Cheston W . M . 99 - •- - 172 Edwd . Beanmonfc W . M . 26 •- - - 165 W . Bristow , W . M . G . S . Lodge . - - 157 Ralph Cluttou W . M . 143 154 H . K . Cooper-Smith P . M . 478 149 A . H . Tatterehall P . M . 140 - - - - 145

The Pro Grand Master announced that the Grand Master had nominated Bros . Sir J . B . Monckton as President of the Board , Sir Albert W . Woods ( Garter ) , iEneas

J . Mclntyre , Q . C ., M . P ., W . J . Harrison , Q . C ., James E . Saunders , F . Philbrick , Q . C . ; J . A . Rucker , Thomas Fenn , Peter de Lande Long , Rule , and Piggott , D . C . L ., members of the Board .

Colonial Board : —Bros . Henry Francis Auldjo W . M . 92 , J . Brett P . M . 177 , Augustus T . Day W . M . 166 , Ralph Gooding P . M . 1 , William George Lemon W . M . 1601 , James Henry Matthews P . M . 143 , and Griffiths Smith P . M . 21 .

Committee of Management for the Royal Masomc Bene , volent Institution for Aged Freemasons and Widows of Freemasons -. —Bros . J . J . Berry P . M . 554 , Thomas W . C . Bush P . M . 1728 , Charles A . Cottebrnne P . M . 733 , William

H . Goodall W . M . 1567 , Henry McPherson P . M . 890 , George L . Moore P . M . 169 , William J . Murlis P . M . 1642 , Robert Perry Tate P . M . 862 , Alf . H . Tattershall P . M . 140 , and James Willing jun . 1507 .

It was announced that the Grand Master had appointed Bro . Rucker President of the Colonial Board , and Bros . Sandeman and Brackstone Baker members ; Bro . Griffiths Smith Vice President . The Grand Master also nominated

on the Committee of Management of the Benevolent Institution Bros . A . F . A . Woodford , Sbadwell H . Clerke , R . H . Giraud , Jabez Hogg , Captain N . G . Philips , Colonel Burney , J . S . Peirce , W . F . Nettleship , James Brett , and James Kench .

Colonel Creaton ' s motion , that £ 70 be voted for coals for the Aged People at Croydon was carried ; and Bro . Budden , owing to the lateness of the hour , having asked that his resolution might stand over till December , Grand Lodge was closed .

Amongst those present were Bros . General Brownrigg , C . B ., Prov . Grand Master Surrey , as Deputy Grand Master , Montague Guest , M . P ., Prov . G . M . Dorsetshire , as Past Grand Master , Sir W . W . Burrell , Bart ., M . P ., Prov . G . M . Sussex , Hon . R . W . H . Giddy , D . G . M . Griqualand , Sir

Pryse-Pryse , Bart ., P . Prov . G . M . South Wales West , Rev . T . Robinson G . C ., Rev . T . Cochrane G . C ., Lt .-Col . Creaton G . Treasurer , iEneas J . Mclntyre , Q . C , M . P ., Grand Registrar , Sir J . B . Monckton President of the Board of General Purposes , E . E . Wendt Secretary for German

Correspondence , Col . Sbadwell H . Clerke Grand Secretary , Major Penrice G . S . D ., W . G . Harrison , Q . C , G . S . D ., Capt . Beswicke-Royds G . J . D ., R . C Else G . J . D ., Horace Jones Grand Superintendent of Works , Sir Albert "Woods ( Garter ) G . D . of C , R . T . Pigotfc Assistant G . D . of Cer .,

John Messent Grand Sword Bearer , H . S . Alpass Grand Standard Bearer , Wilhelm Ganz as Grand Organist , H . G . Buss Assistant Grand Secretary , W . R . Wood Grand Pursuivant , L . F . Littell G . A . P . ; P . G . Chaplains Revs . J . E Cox , Pickard , T . W . Hayes , A . Hall , C Arnold ,

Brownrigg , 0 . R . Davy ; Past Grand Deacons—Major General H . Clerk , Captain N . G . Philips , J . Sampson Peirce , Lient .-Colonel H . S . Somerville-Burney , J . H . Scott , R . F . Gould , J . M . Case , James Glaisher , 0 . W . C . HuttonRaynham W . Stewart , Brackstone Baker ,

, H . C . Levander , Frank Richardson , T . Fenn , Peter de Lande Long , H . C . Tombs , Robert Grey , J . A . Rucker ; P . A . G . D . C's Magnus Ohren , George Burt , J . Lewis

Thomas ; P . G . S . B . ' s Charles Greenwood , A . J . Duff-Filer , Joshua Nunn , George Lambert ; P . G . O . C . E . "Willing ; P . G . P . 's James Brett , W . T . Howe , C A . Cottebrnne , W . Clark . & c .

Mark Grand Lodge.

MARK GRAND LODGE .

WE give elsewhere a report of the proceedings of Tuesday last , when the Summer Half-yearly Communication of the Grand Lodge of Mark Master Masons for England and "Wales , & c , was held at Freemasons' Tavern . tnen

The report contains a record of the chief business transacted , but a few remarks in addition may not be out of place . Thus the General Report contains the gratifying