United Grand Lodge.

UNITED GRAND LODGE .

THE following is the Agenda of Business to be transacted in Grand Lodge at the Quarterly Communication on Wednesday next , 3 rd March , at six for seven p . m .:

BUSINESS . 1 . The minutes of the Quarterly Communication of the 2 nd December for confirmation . 2 . To consider the following Notice of Motion from the M . W . Grand ¦ Master : — " That the sum of One Thousand Guineas be voted to the Indian Famine Relief Fund . "

3 . Election of M . W . Grand Master . 4 . Election of Grand Treasurer . 5 . JBeport of the Board of Benevolence for the last quarter , in which are recommendations for the following Grants , viz .: — A Brother of the Love and Honour Lodge , No . 285 , Shepton

Mallet £ 50 0 0 The Widow of a Brother of the Zetland Lodge , No . 537 , Birkenhead 75 0 0 A Brother ( lunatic ) of the Gallery Lodge , No . 1928 , London ( by his wife ) 50 0 0 A Brother of the Duke of Connaught Lodge , No . 1558 ,

London 60 0 0 A Brother of the Lodge of Eectitude , No . 502 , Rugby ... 50 0 0 EEPOET OF THB BOAED OF GENEEAL PUEPOSES .

To the United Grand Lodge of Ancient Free and Accepted Masons of England . The Board have to report that their attention has been directed to the fact that the Book of Constitutions contains no provision requiring a Brother joining an English Lodge from one under another Constitution , to enter into any obligation or make any declaration of allegiance to the Grand Lodge of England , and tho Board therefore recommend the following addition be made to Eule 189 , Book of Constitutions : —

To insert under " Private Lodges , " after Law 189 : Every Brother who has been initiated into Masonry in a Eegular Lodge not under the Constitution of the Grand Lodge of England shall previously to his becoming a member of any Lodge , declare in ope Lodge his adhesion to the Book of Constitutions , and promise due obedience to the Grand Master , and tbe Bules and Regulations ol Grand Lodge , and the fact shall be recorded on the Lodge Minutes .

The Board have to report that 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 OE OBJECT . BY WHOM PEESENTED . An old Masonio Apron ( printed on silk ) . —John M . Canova P . M . 1983 . A curious old Tracing Board . —Lord Bolton P . G . Warden . Masonic Token of 1794 ( copper ) . —Charles J . Sowton S . W . 1679 . Historic Notes of All Souls' Lodge , No . 170 . —Zillwood Milledge P . P . G . W . Dorset .

A curiously marked fossil . —James Terry P . G . Swd . Br . Complete set of Proceedings of Grand Lodge and Grand Chapter of New Hampshire . —George P . Cleaves G . Secretary . Large Oil Portrait of Dr . E . T . Crucefix P . G . D . —The Burlington Lodge , No . 96 . Three Foreign Masonic Aprons . —Lieut .-Colonel George Lambert P . G . Swd . Br . Vol . II . of Heraldry of York Minster . —Mrs . Tew ( widow of the late Thomas

W . Tew P . P . G . Master West Yorkshire ) . Semi-centennial Medal of Kilbourn Royal Arch Chapter , Milwaukie , Wisconsin . —James W . Squires , Wisconsin . Eeception of Arctic Explorers by Kane Lodge , No . 454 , New York . —Kane Lodge , No . 454 , New York . Five Masonic MSS . ( French ) and three other Masonic books . —Eobert Grey P . G . Warden . Enamelled Masonic Snuff Box ( 1764 ) . —John Mason P . P . S . G . D . Middlesex .

The Board also submit a Statement of the Grand Lodge Accounts presented to the last meeting of the Finance Committee , held on Friday , the 12 th day of February instant , showing a balance in the Bank of England ( Law Courts Branch ) of £ 7 , 2 : 6 12 s 8 d , and in the hands of the Grand ¦ Secretary for Potty Cash £ 100 , and for Servants' Wages £ 100 . ( Signed ) - EICHAED LOVELAND LOVELAND , President .

Freemasons' Hall , London , W . C , 16 th February 1897 . 7 . NOTICE OF MOTION . By His Honour Judge Philbrick , Q . C , Grand Eegistrar . That the following additions and alterations be made to the Book of Constitutions : —

To follow Eule 218—218 A . In a Colony or Foreign part in which a District Grand Lod ge exists , if the District Grand Master shall think proper to grant a disppnsation for that purpose , it shall be lawful for any Lodge to hold a special meeting , or meetings , to discuss and resolve on the question of the formation of a Sovereign Grand Lodge for or

including the District or part thereof , or any neighbouring District or part thereof , or any Lodges not in a District . Such dispensation may be granted subject to any conditions that the District Grand Master may deem proper , and also to provisions enabling two or moro Lodges to unite in the special meeting ; and if the District Grand Master or Masters should refuse to grant a dispensation an

appeal may be made to the Grand Master . 218 B . Whenever Grand Lodge shall , with the assent of the Grand Blaster , recognise a Grand Lodge as a regular and independent Sovereign Body , having juriFcliction in any Colony or Foreign part where a District Grand Lodge or Lodges not in a District exist , and the Grand Master shall signify it is not his intention to grant

United Grand Lodge.

for the future any Warrant for a new . Lodge in that jurisdiction the following rules shall apply : — 1 . Within six months after recognition the Master of every Lodge in such jurisdiction shall convene a special meeting of the Lodge on not less than twenty-one days' notice to every member ; failing the Master , the District Grand Master or the acting Deputy shall convene such meeting and preside thereat .

2 . The Brethren present at such meeting shall decile whether they desire that the Lodge shall continue under the existing Warrant or not . If the decision be in the negative , the Brethren shall at the same

meeting decide in whom the property and effects of the Lodge shall be vested , and the Warrant shall be forthwith returned to the Grand Secretary to be delivered up to the Grand Master . A majority of two-thirds of those present shall be required to carry any resolution .

3 . No question shall be discussed or put at such meeting other than those above prescribed . 4 . Immediately after such meeting , a full copy of tho Minutes and a list from the signature book of all members attending , together with the numbers voting for and against , shall be sent to the Grand Secretary , verified under the hand of the presiding Master , and countersigned by the Secretary of the Lodge .

5 . No second meeting shall be called to discuss the above questions without the special leave of the Grand Master . Article 219 Book of Constitutions to be repealed , and to enact in lieu thereof , the following : — Whenever the number of Subscribing Members of any Lodge , as shown

on the last return to Grand Lodge , shall be fewer than five , the Lodge shall cease to meet and the Warrant shall be delivered up to the Grand Master , who may nevertheless , if he thinks proper , grant a dispensation to enable the members to meet , subject to such conditions as he may deem expedient , until he finally decides whether or not the Lodge shall be continued .

8 . APPEAL . By W . Bro . Eobert W . Bourne P . M . of St . George's Lodge of Harmony , No . 32 , Liverpool , against a sentence of suspension from all Masonio privileges , passed on him by the Provincial Grand Master , for un-Masonic conduct and contumacy in not complying with a peremptory summons .

9 . A Eeport of a Special General Meeting of Governors and Subscribers of the Royal Masonic Benevolent Institution for Aged Freemasons and Widows of Freemasons , dated 10 th February 1897 , will be laid before Grand Lodge , in which the following alteration of Eule I ., then agreed to , will be submitted for approval : — " No widow shall be eligible under the age of sixty years , nor unless her last husband had been a subscribing member for fifteen years to a Lodge , " by substituting the word " ten " for "fifteen . "

List of Lodges for whioh Warrants have been granted by the M . W . Grand Master since the last Quarterly Communication of Grand Lodge . No . 2635 . The Beaconsfield Lodge , Fremantle , Western Australia . 2636 . The Military Lodge , Perth , Western Australia . 2637 . The Norseman Lodge , Norseman , Western Australia . 2638 . The Esperance Lodge , Esperance , Western Australia .

2639 . The Menzies Lodge , Menzies , Western Australia . 2640 . The Star of the North Lodge , Pietersburg , Transvaal . 2641 . The Dart Lodge , Dartmouth . 2642 . The Ituni Lodge , New Amsterdam , British Guiana . 2643 . The Eoyal George Lodge , Krugersdorp , Transvaal . 2644 . The Chaloner Lodge , Melksham , Wiltshire .

2645 . The Palm Lodge , Bassein , Burma . 2646 . The Stellenbosch Lodge , Stellenbosch , Cape Colony . 2647 . The Alleyn Lodge , London . 2648 . The Marcians Lodge , London . 2649 . The Sir Francis Drake Lodge , Plymouth .

2650 . The Christ ' s Hospital Lodge , London . 2651 . The Charity Lodge , Warrington . 2652 . The Albany Lodge , Kingston-on-Thames . 2653 . The Coalfields Lodge , Springs , Transvaal . 2654 . The Arter Lodge , Moseley , Worcestershire . 2655 . The Queen Victoria Lodge , St . Budeaux , Devon .

NOMINATIONS FOR THB OFFICE OF GEAND TEEASURER . Brother Alderman WALTER VAUGHAN * ) ^ „ . , T 0 i . MORGAN P . M . Burlington Lodge , * . ? 5 ™ ** T *^ Ja * ° i ? S S £$ 7 eas No . 96 , London . ) P * * Lod 8 ° * ^ OSBrother Major CLIFFORD PROBYN ~) -R , -R ,, -...,,. . _ . , P . M . Old Dundee Lodge . No . 18 , i B ? ^ ^ l ™^™*™* - London . S W * * Lodge No * 192 ° - ( Since Withdrawn ) .

A Smoking Concert took place on Friday , 12 th inst ., at the house of Bro . S . Eichards , the Spread Eagle , 349 Oxford Street , in the cause of Charity . The well-known billiard room of Bro . Richards was cleared out for the occasion , was tastefully decorated , and—most important of all—was filled to its utmost capacity , the concert proving to be a great success . Among the artistes were Miss Grace Tayler , Miss Maggie Ffloyd , Miss Jennie Steele ,

Miss Amy Tilley , Messrs . Stewart , Eyland , Miller , Dick Wood , Dudley , Haining , and the celebrated Stavore Banjo Quartette . We had the pleasure of seeing among the visitors several members of the Craft , among others Bros . Newton , Brown , Mills , & c . At the conclusion of the concert the chairman , Mr . A . Marels , complimented Bro . Eichards on the success that had been secured , mainly through his kindness and personal exertions .

AT the Parkhurst Theatre , next week , will be produced , by special arrangement with Mr . George Alexander , the great success from the St . James ' s Theatre , " The Idler , " an original comedy in four acts by 0 . Haddon Chambers , Esq . Mr . Herbert Flemming , who has just returned from South Africa , where he has scored very heavily in all the principal London successes , will sustain the character of Mark Cross ,