Masonic Libraries.

a piece of furniture , a substitute for wall-paper ? Forbid the thought ! Undoubtedly a library of books is most grateful to the physical eye , but it was made for the eye of the mind . And here we wonld remark , that a library that

is under look and key , with the librarian habitually absent , might almost as well not exist . A Masonio Library is intended for reference , nofc as a lending library , ancl the

facilities for consulting it should be restricted only by snch regulations as are necessary to preserve its integrity . Brethren should be encouraged to consult ifc , not deterred therefrom . Wherever these noble Masonic foundations

exist , such rales should be enacted as may induce indifferent Freemasons to seek literary light , and may satisfy those who have a desire for knowledge by placing it easily within their reach . Let our Masonie Libraries evei'ywhere

continue to increase in their wealth of literature , and let the bars be let down so that every lover of learning in the Craft may browse at pleasure on their literary meads . —Keystone

Grand Lodge Of M.M.M. Of England And Wales, &C.

GRAND LODGE OF M . M . M . OF ENGLAND AND WALES , & c .

THE half-yearly Communication of this Grand Lodge was held on Tuesday , 30 th ult ., at the Holborn Restaurant , under the presidency of Lord Egerton of Tatton , Deputy Grand Master , who was supported by Eev . Canon Portal , M . A ., Past Grand Master , Rev . W . Mortimer Heaih

as D . G . M ., Col . Lord John H . Taylour as S . W ., Captain N . G . Philips as J . W ., A . F . Godson , M . P ., P . G . M . Worcestershire , Major J . W . Woodall P . G . M . North and East

Yorks , R . C . Else P . G . M . Somersetshire , Col . H . S . Somerville Burney M . O ., J . S . Eastes S . O ., Geo . Kenning J . O . Rev . Dr . Cartwrig ht ; Smyth G . Chap ., Jas . Moon Treas ., Fredk . Binckes Secretary , H . Ward and F . Crouch J . D . ' s

R . W . Edis I . of W ., G . P . Fesfca ancl A . McDowell A . D . C , "W . J . Thomson and Thomas Taylor Std . Bearers , Henry

Rose Organist , W . Vincent I . G ., J . Pinder Assist . I . G . The Grand Lodge having been opened and fche Grand Master in the chair saluted , the minutes of the Inst

halfyearly Communication , of the Special Grand Lodge of the 1 st July , and of the moveable Grand Lodge of 14 th July , were read and confirmed , after which the report of the General Board was received ancl adopted .

The Report of the General Board showed that during the six months ending 30 th September last 570 Mark certificates were issued , making the total number of registrations 22 , 227 ; while three warrants for new Lodges had been granted , increasing the roll to 369 .

These Lodges will meet at Barnet , He ** ts ; Jamaica , and Rangoon respectively . The number of registered Royal Ark Mariners had been increased to 2 , 076 , by the issue of 118 certificates during the six months , while warrants for two new Lodges had been issued , one to be attached to

Lodge No . 230 , London , ancl the other to No . 203 , Meerut . Reference was made to irregularities committed b y the Brunswick Lodge , No . 48 ; the Worshipful Master of which had been installed at a Lodge of Emergency ; it was recommended thafc the W . M . be confirmed in the rank of

Past Master on payment of a fine of one guinea ; the Lodge having alread y been fined two guineas . Particulars were given of the relief granted by the Board to distressed Masons , as also the Eighteenth Annual Festival in aid of the Mark Benevolent Fund , held on the 28 fch July ,

under the presidency of Bro . A . F . Godson , M . P ., when subscriptions to the amount of £ 1 , 535 were announced . With a view of rendering these Annual Festivals on behalf of the Benevolent Fund even more successful in the future , a sub-committee was appointed , to consider and

report as to improved management . This sub-committee advised the appointment of a permanent Secretary of the Mark Benevolent Fund , with authority to attend the various Mark Lodges , with a view to securing Stewards , soliciting subscriptions , ancl generally advocating the

cause of the Charity . Acting on tins suggestion the Board have appointed Bro . C . F . Matier as Secretary , with an annual remuneration of £ 20 . The Board recommended that a sum of £ 5 be annually paid on behalf of each

recipient of the benefits of the Educational Fund for clothing , ancl then gave details of the distribution of the various prizes awarded to the pupils on the Educational Fund . Canon Portal moved the resolution arising out of the

Grand Lodge Of M.M.M. Of England And Wales, &C.

u-nurfc , ifc being agreed thafc the Worship ful Master of No . 48 , who had been irregularly installed , should be confirmed ns a Past Master on payment of the suggested fine of one guinea The proposal to grant a sum of £ 5

every year to each pupil on tho Educational Fund was also carried . Bro . A . M . Broadley P . D . G . M . M . of tho Mediterranean nominated H . R . H . the Prince of Wales as Grand Master for tho ensuing * year . Bro . J . Moon G . Treasurer

nominated Bro . J . L . Mather to succeed hira in his office , and Bro . J . E . Dawson Deputy P . G . M . Herts nominated Bro Edgar Bowyar for the same appointment . Jewels and

bans were then presented to tho brethren who had supported the Benevolent Fund of the Degree , and Grand Lodge was closed .

A banquet followed , at the earlier part of which the Deputy Grand Master presided , Major Woodall taking his place towards the close of the proceedings .

The monthly meeting of the General Committee of the Royal Masonic Institution for Boys took place at Freemasons' Hall , on Saturday last . Bro . J . Moon , V .-Pat ., presided , ancl among those present ; were Brog . Alfred

Willams , J . L . Mather , G . Motion , S . Richardson , W Ballard , R . " W . Stewart P . G . D ., S . H . Parkhouse , C . F Hogard , G . Bolton , J . S . Cumberland , F . Adlard , C Belfcon , F . W . Ramsay , A . E . Glad well , G . P . Gilford , W

H . Saunders , N . B . Headon , E . Baxter , G . Read , G . W . B . Fletcher , J . H . Gwyn , W . Maple , W . A . Scurrah , W . Harding , F . T . C . Keeble , G . Cooper , H . W . Hunt , R . Eve , H . Young , ancl Frederick Binckes ( Secretary ) .

The minutes of the previous mechng having been read ancl confirmed , and those of the House Committee read for information , nine petitions were considered and accepted , and the names of the children ordered to be entered on

the list of candidates for the April election . Two applications b y ex-pupils for grants towards outfit were favourably entertained . The day for holding the Quarterly

Court in April 1887 , which will fall on Easter Monday , was postponed till the Monday following ( 18 th April 1887 ) . Other business having been disposed of , a vote of thanks was passed to the Chairman .

The Committee of Management of the Royal Masonic Benevolent Institution held its usual monthly meeting at Freemasons' Hall , on Wednesday . The chair was occupied by Bro . Raynham W . Stewart P . G . D ,, and amongst the

members present were Bros . Edgar Bowyer , P . G , Std . B ., Samuel Brooks , Hugh Cotter , A . Forsyth , Charles J . Perceval , Joseph Freeman , Thos . Griffith , W . J . Murlis , W . Belchamber , John Bulman , J . A . Farnfield , Thomas

Cubitt P . G . P ., A . H . Tattershall , C . H . Driver , Albert Fish , C . F . Matier , Fred . Davison P . G . D ., C . H . Webb , W . H . Ferryman A . G . P ., Chas . Belton , and James Terry Secretary . The minutes of the previous meeting having

been read and verified , tbe Secretary reported the death of one male annuitant , who had received £ 230 . The Warden ' s report for the past month was read . The

receipt of a legacy to the Male Fund , amounting to £ 25 , free of duty , from the executors of the late Rev . Samuel Gauntlett , of Midwoy Manor , Wilts , was announced . The Committee voted the sum of £ 20 towards the

entertainment of the inmates of the Institution at Croydon , on 5 th January proximo . An application made by the widow of a late annuitant , for half her husband ' s annuity , was granted . Nine petitions ( 6 male and 3 female ) were

taken into consideration , with the result that seven were accepted , and the names ordered to be placed on the list of candidates for the election in May next ; two were deferred for further information . A vote of thanks to the Chairman terminated the meeting .

W 7 < arc in receipt of a copy of Bro . Lane ' s work , " Masonic Records , 1717-1886 , " which is undoubtedl y a valuable addition to Mp . sonic literature . Wo shall refer to ifc in an early issue .

The installation meeting of the St . Ambrose Lodge , No . 1891 , was held on Tnesday , when Bro . Ludwig Lichtwitz was installed as Worshipful Master . A report of the proceedings will appear in our next ,