United Grand Lodge.

UNITED GRAND LODGE .

IT is fair to predict that next Wednesday's meeting of Grand Lodge will witness another outburst of enthusiastic loyalty towards the Grand Master , whose beneficent reign having extended beyond the twenty-first year justly calls for some public recognition at the hands of members of the Craffc .

The Prince of Wales won the approval of his Masonic subjects when , at the recent Grand Festival , he appointed twenty-one Brethren to pasfc rank in commemoration of his

Masonic majority , and it is reasonable to suppose that those in high positions beneath him—whether they be Provincial or District Grand Masters—should desire to mark in their own

sphere the event that has given so much satisfaction among the members of English Freemasonry . We are quite sure Grand Lodge will approve of the suggestion submitted for their consideration by the Grand Master , that Provincial and

District Grand Masters should appoint a number of their Brethren to past rank , the only point on which any disagreement seems possible being as to the number of special honours to be allowed to each .

We know there are objections to the multiplication of Grand , Provincial or District Grand Officers , but on such an occasion as it is now sought to honour no complaint would be made if a more liberal bestowal of the purple were permitted

than is suggested by our chief . One appointment to every ten Lodges will doubtless be hailed wifch satisfaction , but one to every five , or even one to every three , would be none too many

in view of the great enthusiasm at all times manifested towards fche Grand Master of England , and the special event * now intended fco be commemorated . :

The report of the Board of General Purposes affords ample food for reflection . Firsfc we have an emphatic ruling as to Life membership , confirmatory of the decision arrived at in 1873 , and the rule on this point is so explicit that we

imagine that the Sfc . George ' s Lodge—and others who are perhaps equally guilty—will now have no excuse for a continuance of the irregularity referred to . Then the attention

of Masters is directed to the necessity of providing every initiate with a copy of the Book of Constitutions , which duty is faithfully observed in many of our Lodges , and as regularly disregarded in others .

The notification by the Board of the failure in health of two of fche Clerks in the Grand Secretary ' s office will ensure a feeling of sympathy and regret from all who have had occasion fco visit the official quarters of Grand Lodge , and more

particularly from those who have a personal acquaintance with Brothers Lee and Green , the Brethren referred to . Of course officials in the positions occupied by the clerks of Grand Lodge are expected to be courteous in their bearing

towards those who may have occasion bo require their services , but we venture the assertion that all who have had business at Grand Lodge have received more than this from fche officials of the Craft , and thus it is with greater regret one bears of fche removal of one or ofcher of the clerks ; but the

United Grand Lodge.

regret is lessened when we consider that in this case the Brethren leave us because , having grown old in the service , they are considered worthy of such a retiring pension as shall enable them to spend their remaining days in peace and

comfort . The proposed pensions will be willingly granted , and the universal wish will be that Brothers Lee . and Green may live for many years yet to enjoy the ease their long and faithful service has entitled them to .

There is one item , however , in which the Board of General Purposes appears to have erred in this matter . Surely there was no need to explain to the Craffc fchat the work hitherto performed by Brothers Lee and Green at salaries

amounting to £ 615 , can be performed for the nexfc few years at least , by Junior clerks at less than one-third the remuneration . The slur thus cast may be unintentional , but it is none the less manifest , and , moreover , the course proposed would

not be possible bufc for the loyalty of others in the office already acquainted with the work . We cannot believe the Craft wants to be told ifc will lose nothing by being' generous ,

if the proposed pensions are to be regarded as particularly generous , by sanctioning the retirement of officials who have done fcheir duty for a period of twenty-three years .

The Notice of Motion standing in the name of Bro . J . A . Farnfield , to give £ 70 for the purpose of providing the inmates of the Boyal Masonic Benevolent Institution at Croydon wifch coal for the winter is a usual annual grant , but that submitted

by Bro . C . E , Keyser , asking Grand Lodge to give five hundred guineas in support of the Grand Master ' s chairmanship on behalf of Guy ' s Hospital is a special item—none the less deserving on that account . The object is a worthy one , and we hope the Craffc will be unanimous in making fche grant .

St. Sampson Lodge.

ST . SAMPSON LODGE .

A CEBEMONY of a most imposing character took place on Friday , 22 nd inst ., at the Masonic Temple , Le Marchanfc Street , Guernsey , when the new Lodge , the St . Sampson , No . 2598 , was solemnly consecrated , in the presence of about 120 Brethren , by Dr . J . B . Cockburn , M . D ., Provincial Grand

Master of Guernsey and Alderney . Amongst those who were present were Bros . B . Berridge P . G . D ., Dr . J . Le Cronier D . P . G . M . Jersey , J . C . Barrette P . G . D . Jersey , Dr . Maxwell Le Cronier P . J . G . D . Jersey , Arthur

W . Godfray Sec . 877 , C . G . Vatier S . D . 877 , A . Woodiwiss P . P . S . G . W . Derbyshire , J . P . Dorman P . M . 1764 P . S . G . W . Norths and Hunts , Clifford Probyn P . M . 18 , G . Powell P . M . 142 , besides a great number of Worshipful Masters and Past Masters of Lodges of the island .

The work was admirably conducted by the Provincial Grand Master and his Officers . The music during the consecration was splendidly led by a small choir under the direction of Bro . T . Barnes P . G . O ., who had set the anthem commencing " Behold

how good and joyful a thing it is for Brethren fco dwell together in unity , " to very pretty music , the solo part being artistically sung by Bro . L . Doras . The other portions of the music were also sung to arrangements by Bro . Barnes .

The patriarchal benediction by the Provincial Grand Master closed the interesting ceremony . It should be mentioned that for the instruction of the Brethren the Provincial Grand Master explained that the Most Worshipful Grand Master the Prince of Wales reserved for himself the right of dedicating new Lodges