The Parliaments Of Freemasonry.

THE PARLIAMENTS OF FREEMASONRY .

THE usual Quarterly Communication of United Grand Lodge will be held on Wednesday next , and will attract a certain amount of special attention , from the fact that , the first business , after the formal confirmation of the

minutes , will be to consider two communications from the Most Worshipful Grand Master , the purport of which the Craft are fully informed of , while the next item is something of a mystery , being set down on the Agenda as " a

communication from the Most Worshipful Pro Grand Master , " without any details as to its object or intention . It is not too much to say that this uncertainty , especially

in view of recent events relating to the discovery of the genuine secrets of a M . M ., will arouse sufficient curiosity to induce a large attendance .

Three such items as these are in themselves enough to attract many Brethren who as a rule do not think their attendance at Grand Lodge is specially necessary , and we

accordingly look for a fuller assembly than usual , further attractions being found in the fourth and fifth items of business—the election of Grand Master and Treasurer .

The first communication from the Grand Master will afford considerable satisfaction to a large number of Brethren , as it implies a further recognition by Grand Lodge of the work of the three Charitable Institutions associated with the Craft . It has often been a matter for

comment that these three Funds are not " officially " connected with Freemasonry , although the regulations of the Order in regard to the Charity Jewel may be regarded as a near approach to an admission of official cognizance ,

without actual recognition ; and consequently any proposal to yet further extend the regulations of the Craft in this direction must be received with satisfaction by all who are interested in the welfare of the Institutions . The proposal

is to create a special decoration for Patrons of the Institutions , and we feel sure the suggestion of our Grand Master will be cordially adopted by those who have to settle the regulations of the Craft . The second communication from the Grand Master

refers to a subject of a particularly unpleasant character , one that is happily very rare in connection with Freemasonry , but at the same time one which requires-firm and decisive treatment . It is an official notification of the fact

that Brother G . Edwin Fairchild has been convicted of felony , and embodies a suggestion to Grand Lodge that he should be deprived of his rank as a Grand Officer , to which he was appointed in 18 95 . Those who knew

Bro . Fairchild as a member of our Order will unite with us in expressing regret that such an unusual course as that suggested should have to be adopted in his case ,

but under all the circumstances we see no help for decisive action on the part of the Craft , and we think it a matter for congratulation that those in authority

The Parliaments Of Freemasonry.

have taken the initiative in the matter , rather than leaving the question to take its course , or be wholly neglected because no one was public spirited enough to cast the first stone .

While on this subject we take the opportunity of directing the attention of the three Institutions to their position in this unhappy case . Bro . Fairchild was a very liberal contributor to the Charities , but his contributions ,

we now know , were made out of ill-gotten gains , money which he took from hard working people who can ill afford to suffer the consequences of his malpractices . We would suggest that a Committee of the three Institutions

should be appointed , to enquire whether there is not a very good reason for the return of all amounts paid into the three Funds by Bro . Fairchild , in the interests of . those who are suffering as a consequence of his dishonesty . The

Institutions of the Craft , it is true , are all in want of funds with which to continue their work , but their most ardent supporters can hardly desire it from the source to which may be- traced Brother Fairchild's contributions . The

Committee , when appointed , would be able to present such a / report as would at least set at rest any doubts which may now exist as to the propriety , even the necessity , of at once returning the illegally acquired contributions paid in by this Brother .

The election of Grand Master and Grand Treasurer will become matters of formality , for in the one case the Craft would view with alarm any attempt at opposition

to the re-appointment of the Prince of Wales , while in the other there is but one nomination—that of Bro . Lieut .-Col . Clifford Probyn P . M . 18 .

Other items for consideration are the Reports of the Boards of Benevolence and of General Purposes . The list of new Warrants records nineteen additions to the English roll during the past quarter , the numbers

of the new Lodges ranging from 2686 to 2704 inclusive . No less than nine of these are additions to the Lodges of London , eight are for Provincial Lodges , and the other two are for Cape Town and Bengal respectively .

npHE Quarterly meeting of Mark Grand Lodge will - * - be held the previous day . A copy of the Agenda of the business to be then ' transacted was given in our

last week ' s issue , and the work will probably be found to be much the same as will engage the attention of the Craft rulers on Wednesday .

The Consecration of the St . Michael Le Querne Lodge , No . 26 97 , will take place at the Salutation Tavern , Newgate Street , E . C ., on Monday next , 28 th inst ., at 4 . 30 in the afternoon . Following the ceremony of the day the Founders of the Lodge will entertain their Masonic friends at banquet , which is timed to start at 7 o'clock . We wish this addition to our roll every success , and a long reign of prosperity .