United Grand Lodge.

UNITED GRAND LODGE .

THE Quarterly Communication of Grand Lodge will be held on Wednesday next , lst March , at Freemasons' Hall , London . Grand Lodge will be opened at two o'clock iu the afternoon punctually , and will not be closed until the " conclusion oi the ordinary business of Grand Lodge , which will be taken at 7 o ' clock . The following is the Agenda of business :

At 2 o ' clock p . m . 1 . The minutes of the Quarterly Communication of the 7 th December 1898 , so far as they relate to the election of Grand Treasurer , will be read and put for confirmation , after which the Candidates for the office of Grand Treasurer will be formally proposed , and the ballot proceeded with . Brother Alfred Bevan P . M . No . 2458 , and Bro . Harry Manfield P . M . No . 1764 , the only nominations .

At 7 o'clock p . m . 2 . The Minutes of tbe Quarterly Communication of the 7 th December 1898 will be read for confirmation . 3 . Election of a M . W . Grand Master . 4 . Report of the Board of Benevolence for the last quarter , in which there are recommendations for the following Grants , viz .:

—The Widow of a Brother of the St . John Lodge , No . 90 , London £ 50 0 0 The Widow of a Brother of the Lodge of Sincerity , No . 943 , Norwich 50 0 0 A Brother of the Mornington Lodge , No . 1672 , London ... 100 0 0 A Brother of the Carnarvon Lodge , No . 1572 , London 75 0 0 A Brother of the Merchants Lodge , No . 241 , Liverpool 50 0 0 A Brother of , the Perfect Ashlar Lodge , No . 1178 , London ... 50 0 0

5 . REPORT OP THE BOARD OP GENERAL PURPOSES . To the United Grand Lodge of Ancient Free and Accepted Masons of England . The Board begs to report that the tenancies , of the two houses , the property of Grand Lodge , numbered 57 and 58 Great Queen Street , on the west side of Freemasons' Hall , having expired at Christmas last , instructions were given to the Grand Superintendent of Works to prepare plans and

specifications for a building connected with Freemasons' Hall , to be erected on the site ; such building to comprise , on the ground floor , a Library and Museum , a Committee Room , and a room for the Assistant Grand Secretary , whose present office it is proposed should form a portion of the approach to the new building ; on the first floor , additional accommodation for the Grand Officers ; on the second floor , additional rooms available for Lodge or other

purposes ; and in the basement , lavatories , dressing rooms , and rooms for the storage of papers . The plans prepared by the Grand Superintendent of Works having , after full consideration , been approved , and the necessary bills of quantities prepared by an independent : Surveyor , the Board authorised tenders for the execution of the work being obtained from

six eminent firms of builders , selected for the purpose . Tenders having been received from all these firms , it appeared that that of Messrs . Cubitt and Co ., of Grays Inn Road , was the lowest , and the Board has authorised a provisional contract , to be entered into witb Messrs . Cubitt and Co ., for the execution of the work , including the demolition of the existing buildings , and the shoreing up of the adjacent ones , for the sum of £ 12 , 077 .

The Board is perfectly satisfied as to the necessity of the proposed work , and are of opinion that the plans which have been prepared in every way provide for the necessary requirements ; and it asks Grand Lodge to confirm the contract which has been provisionally entered into with Messrs . Cubitt .

The Board has further to report that is has entered into a provisional contract , subject to the approval of Grand Lodge , for the purchase , for the sum of £ 8 , 150 and further payment of £ 134 5 s Od on account of the Vendor ' s Solicitor's and Surveyor ' s fees , of the freehold premises numbered 55 and 66 Great Queen Street , and No . 3 New Yard . These premises nre at present let as under : —

No . 55 Great Queen Street , on a lease to Mr . Woolfi , expiring 1906 , at a rental of £ 130 per annum . No . 56 Great Queen Street , on a lease to Mr . Hocking , expiring 1914 , at a rental of £ 130 per annum . A Stable in the rear , to Mr . Dicksen , on a les . se expiring 1907 , at a

ground rent of £ 10 per annum . The Board ventures to think that Grand Lodge will recognise the expediency of acquiring this additional property , some part of which adjoins on two sides the Structure of Freemasons' Hall , the acquisition of which would enable provision to be made for the better accommodation of the Charities .

The stables Nos . 9 , 10 and 11 New Yard are now in the possession of Grand Lodge , the tenant thereof having given up possession . The Board has agreed to put . these premises in a tenantable state of repair , and has arranged that tbey be let from quarter to quarter , so that if they be required for future extensions of our buildings , Grand Lodge may be able without loss of time to deal with such portions of its premises .

The Board has to report tbat the following Presentations have been made to the Library and Museum since the last Meeting of Grand Lodge , all . of which have been accepted with thanks : —

TITLE OR OBJECT . BY WHOM PRESENTED . Laws and Constitutions of Grand Lodge of Ireland , 1898 . —The Grand Lodge of Ireland . Constitution , Bye-Laws , & c , Grand Lodge New Jersey , 1897 . —The Grand Lodge of New Jersey .

Masonic Code , & c , Grand Lodge of Utah , 1898 . —The Grand Lodge of Utah . Laws of Masonry , Grand Lodge of Kansas , 1898 . —The Grand Lodge of Kansas . Old Past Grand Stewards' Jewel and Rosette . —Henry Kemp P . M . No . 862 .

Masonic Journal , Vol . 1 , bound . —J . Armstrong P . P . G . W ., & c . Duke of Sussex Medal . —W . H . Toye P . M . No . 1278 . Apron and Collar of the late Earl of Zetland . —Victor A . Williamson P . G . W . Engraved Portraits of the Duke of Kent , Martin Polkes Past D . G . M ., John Aubrey , F . R . S . —Wm . Jas . Hughan P . G . D .

United Grand Lodge.

Warrant of Lodge Moral Reformation , No . 609 . —Harold Burke P . M . No . 2190 . Northumbrian Masonry , 1898 . —John Strachan , Q . O ., Grand Registrar ( The Author ) . Masonio Halfpenny Token , 1794 . —James J . Pope P . M . No . 1305 . Origin and Antiquity of Freemasonry . —Dr . Albert Churchward , P . M . & c . Photograph of the late Earl of L & chom ( framed ) . —George Kenning P . P . G . D ., & o .

Oration at the dedication of the Masonic Temple , Torquay . —Wm . Jamea Hughan P . G . D . ( Signed ) RICHARD LOVELAND LOVELAND President . Freemasons' Hall , London , W . C , 18 th February 1899 .

The Grand Lodge Accounts at the last meeting of the Finance Committee , held on Friday , the 17 th instant , showed a balance in the Bank of England ( Law Courts Branch ) of £ 9 , 296 2 s lid , and . in the hands of the Grand Secretary for petty Cash £ 100 , and for Servants' Wages £ 100 . 6 . Report of Brother John Smith , Auditor of the Grand Lodge Accounts , of receipts and disbursements during the year 1898 .

7 . Appeal by Bro . J . R . Gibbons , of Lodge Star of > the South , No . 1025 , Buenos Ayres , Argentine Republic , against the decision of the District Grand Master upholding . his exclusion from the Lodge for alleged un-Masonic conduct .

List of Lodges for whioh Warrants have been granted by the M . W . Grand Master since the last Quarterly Communication of Grand Lodge . No .. 2736 . —The Nil Sine Lahore Lodge , London . 2737 . —The Captain Coram Lodge , London . 2738 . —The Army and Navy Lodge , London . 2739 . —The Lodge , of Verity , London . 2740 . —The Comrades Lodge , London .

2741 . —The Cathedral Lodge , London . 2742 . —The Eyre Lodge , London . 2743 . —The Maida Vale Lodge , London . 274 . 4 . —The Sydenham Lodge , London . 2745 . —The Ambleside Lodge , Ambleside , Westmorland . 2746 . —The Tombo Lodge , Torabo , Queensland , Australia 2747 . —The St . Michael Lodge , Newquay , Cornwall .

Mark Grand Lodge.

MARK GRAND LODGE .

THE Quarterly Communication will be held on Tuesday next , 28 th inst ., at Mark Masons' Hall , Great Queen Street , at 5 . for 6 p . m . The following is the Agenda of Business : 1 . Read and , if approved , confirm Minutes of Quarterly Communication of 6 th December 1898 . 2 . Election of the M . W . Grand Master for the ensuing year . 3 . Election of the Grand Treasurer for the ensuing year .

4 . REPORT OP THE GENERAL BOARD , 31 ST MABCH 1899 . During the three months ending 31 st December 1898 , there have been issued : —Mark Certificates , 161 ; total registered , 39 , 192 . Since the last report three Warrants have been granted for new Lodges ,

: — 521 Charters Towers , Queensland . 522 Phoenix , Gympie , Queensland . 523 Wilbraham , Widnes .

Royal Ark Mariner Certificates , 55 ; number registered , 5 , 798 . Warrants for four Royal Ark Mariner Lodges , viz .: — Menatschim , to be attached to the Menatschim Lodge , No . 224 . Noel , to be attached to the Noel Lodge , No . 505 . Charters Towers , to be attached to the Charters Towers Lodge ,

No . 521 . Phcenix , to be attached to tbe Phoenix Lodge , No . 522 . His Royal Highness the Most Worshipful Grand Master has been graciously pleased to appoint : — R . W . Bro . Col . Sir Edward S . Hill , K . C . B ., M . P ., to be Provincial Grand Master for South Wales .

R . W . Bro . The Bt . Hon . The Earl of Lathom to be Provincial Grand Master for Lancashire . ' , ' ¦ "'** ¦' B . W . Bro . Charles Hammerton to be District Grand Master for Gibraltar . His Royal Highness the Most Worshipful Grand Master has been graciously pleased to re-appoint for a further term of three years ;—R . W . Bro . Thomas Fredk . Halsey , M . P ., as „' ' Provincial Grand Master for Hertfordshire . '""'

R . W . Bro . W . A . P . Powell , as Provincial Grand Master for Bristol . Th « Grand Secretary has received the following letter from the R . W . Bro . the Earl of Lathom : — 43 Seymour Street , W .,

26 th January 1899 . DEAR BEOTHEB MATIBH , —On behalf of my family and myself , may I ask you to convey to all the Members of Grand Lodge of Mark Master Masons our most sincere and grateful thanks for their kind and sympathetic resolution of condolence with us in the great sorrow that has come upon us . I am , dear Brother Matier ,

Yours fraternally , LATHOM . The V . W . Bro . John Strachan , Q . C , Grand Master Overseer , having