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ourselves do not believe in . im . ileui * architects , unpaid professional advice , just as we hold a legal opinion without a retainer lo be generally and practically valueless . * * * No Chairman has yet been definitely appointed for the Festival of the Royal Masonic Benevolent Institution . Bro . TERRY is still in

correspondence on the subject . No doubt thc number of Stewards is somewhat affected by that fact , but the inherent claims of that remarkable Masonic Charity are so many and great as we think to induce brethren at once to send in their names for the office . The claim is a claim of Masonic Charity , not only of merely personal good feeling for this Chairman or that .

* * YY ' understand that Bro . J . D . ALLCROFT , the present Grand Treasurer , will be renominated as Grand Treasurer , on the ground of unwillingness to sanction constant changes , and a yearl y agitation . Our readers will note a circular elsewhere .

4 . * * WE have also heard the name of a younger brother likely to be nominated for this office , but as we h : \ ve no public announcement of the fact wc think it better for the present jiot to say wc do . ¦ * * _ .

MANY of our readers will regret to hear that Bro . EVANS , connected with the press , is said to have perished amid the terrific slaughter in the Soudan . * * # IT IS only a few weeks since that H . R . H . the Prince of YVALES , in accordance with an announcement made on his behalf by Lord HENNIKER ,

M . W . G . M . M . M ., at the summer half-yearly Communication of the Mark Grand Lodge in June last , was advanced to that degree at a meeting specially convened for the purpose at thc Masonic Hall , 33 , Golden-square , the ceremony of advancement being performed by the Duke of ALBANY , HIS ROYAL H IGHNESS being afterwards regularly installed by Lord

HENNIKER , as Worship ful Master of a Mark Master Masons Lodge . On Saturday , the Sth inst ., a special meeting of Mark Grand Lodge will be held in the Great llall of Freemasons' Tavern , when the PRINCE will be installed with all due ceremony as a Past Grand Mark Master Mason ' and will be assigned the place of honour at the head of the Past Grand Masters

of this highly popular degree . So auspicious an event as the enrolment of the GRAND M ASTER of the United Grand Lodge of England among thc chiefs of the Mark Grand Lodge has necessarily excited a considerable imount of interest in the Masonic world , and doubtless the muster on Saturday will be in all respects worthy of the occasion . It is

true the P RINCE is not the first member of the Royal Family who has expressed a wish to become acquainted wilh the mysteries of Mark Masonry , his brother , the Dukeof ALBANY having for some time past been a member of this Degree . But his position as chief of constitutional Freemasonry ' gives greater eclat to the enrolment of His ROYAL

HIGHNESS under the banner of the Mark Grand Lodge , and this , notwithstanding the desire expressed by His ROYAL HIGHNESS that his taking the Degree must not be construed into a wish on his part to see the Mark and Craft Masonry amalgamated , and that his joining the former order must not be used as an argument in favour of such amalgamation . However , while we

cordially recognise the justice of—we will go further , and say the necessity for—this proviso in the case of our GRAND MASTER of Craft Masonry , we must not deny ourselves the pleasure of congratulating the Mark Grand

Lodge on this additional evidence of the high appreciation in which the Mark Degree is held , as well among our most distinguished constitutional Masons , as among the supporters of Degrees lying outside the pale of Antient Free and Accepted Masonry .

United Grand Lodge.

UNITED GRAND LODGE .

The following business is on the agenda for transaction at thc Quarterl y Communication ' lo be held on YVcdnesday next , the 5 th inst .: — ~ 1—The minutes of the Quarterly Communication of the 5 th September , 1 SS 3 , for confirmation . 2—The minutes of the two Special Grand Lodges of 29 th June and Sth August , deferred from tho last Grand Lodge , for confirmation . % —Nomination of a Grand Master for the ensuing year .

4—Appointment of a President of the Lodge of Benevolence . 5—F . lection of a Senior and Junior Vice-President of the Lodge of Benevolence . 6—Election of twelve Past Masters to serve on the Lodgeof Benevolence for the year ensuing . 7—Report of the Lodge of Benevolence for the last quarter , in which are recommendations for the following grants , viz .:

A brother of the Derwent Lodge , No . 40 , Hastings £ 50 o o A brother of the Castle Lodgeof Harmony , No . 2 G , London , a Past District Grand Master for China , £ 150 20 o o NOTE—This brother died on the 10 th October , consequently this recommendation has lapsed with the exception of £ 20 paid to him on account of such recommended grant . A brother of the Acacia Lodge , No . 1314 , Bromley , Kent ... 50 o o

A brother of the Belgrave Lodge , No . 749 , London 50 o o A brother of the Lodge of Harmony , No . 30 a , Fareham ... 50 o o The widow of a brother of the Temple Lodge , No . 101 , London 100 o o The widow of a brother of the Mizpah Lodge , No . 1 C 71 , London 50 o o A brother of the Lodge of Confidence , No . 193 , London 50 o o A brother of the Doric Lodge , No . 933 , London ... 150 o o A brother of the Lodge Star in the Kast , No . C 50 , Harwich ... 75 o o

8—REPORT OI- THE BOARD OF GENERAL PURPOSES : To the United Grand Lodge of Ancient Free and Accepted Masons of England . The Board of General Purposes beg to report as follows : The Isca Lodge , No . 6 S 3 , Newport , Monmouthshire , having balloted for , and admitted a Joining Member at a Lodge of Emergency , contrary to Art . I ., page S 3 , of the Book of Constitutions , the Board have censured the Lodge for the irregularity , and have fined it the sum of One Guinea . The Members of the Crusaders Lodge , No . 1 G 77 , London , having reported that

United Grand Lodge.

their YV . Master , Brother Arthur Millward , had , on the 17 th October last , wilfully burned the Warrant of the Lodge ; the Board investigated the matter , and Brother Millward having admitted the offence , but having pleaded extenuating circumstances , the Board severely reprimanded him , and ordered that lie pay the cost of a Warrant of Confirmstion—viz ., Two Guineas—and further , that he be suspended from all his Masonic functions for a period of six months . "

( Signed ) J B . MONCKTON , President . Freemasons' Hall , London , YV . C , 20 th November , 1 SS 3 . To thc Report is subjoined a Statement of the Grand Lodge Accounts , at the last meeting of the Finance Committee , held on Friday , the 16 th day of November ultimo , showing a balance in the Bank of England of £ 3 , 643 2 s . 1 id . ; and in the hands of the Grand Secretary for Petty Cash , ^ 75 ; and for Servants' YVagcs £ 100 ; and Balance of Annual Allowance for Library , £ 18 12 s .

g—Report of the Special Building Committee , the consideration of which was deferred from the last Quarterly Communication of Grand Lodge . 10—Application from a body styling itself " The Grand Lodge of Victoria , " Australia , requesting their recognition by the United Grand Lodge of England as a regular Grand Lodge .

11—Appeal from the Reunion Lodge , No . 1956 , Blenheim , New Zealand , against certain comments made by the Colonial Board when cancelling the exclusion of Bro . William Benjamin Earll from that Lodge , relative to the conduct of Bro . Christopher J . XX . Griffiths , of the same Lodge , in the matter .

N . B . —The papers relating to this appeal will be in the Grand Secretary ' s Office till the meeting of Grand Lodge , and open for the inspection of the Brethren during oflice hours .

12—NOTICES OV MOTION : ( 1 ) By Bro . J AMES STEVENS , P . M . No , 1216 : ( a ) That , when the general scheme for the reconstruction of the present damaged Temple , or for the erection of a new Temple , shall have been decided upon by the Grand Lodge , Architects , who are Freemasons , shall be invited , under the direction and authority of the Grand Superintendent of YY ' orks , to submit plans and designs for the reconstruction or new erection , as the case may be , to the

Committee already constituted , or to be constituted , for the purpose of carrying out the intended work . ( b ) That the foregoing be agreed , prizes of money value , to be subsequently determined , be offered for the three most approved designs . ( 2 ) By Y ' . YY'' . Sir J B . MONCKTON , President of Board of General Purposes : That so much of the Report of the Building Committee as refers to the enlargement of the Temple , and the arrangements consequent thereon , be adopted , and that on

such adoption and the confirmation thereof at the next succeeding Quarterly Communication , it be referred to a Committee of twelve to carry the same into execution , and that such Committee consist of the eight members of the recently appointed Building Committee , and four additional members , to be appointed by Grand Lodge . ( 3 ) By Bro . GEORGE EDWARD WEBSTER , P . M . No . 139 : To move as an amendment to the report of the Special Building Committee :

That the Ancient Temple be reinstated out of the funds received from the Insurance Companies , and that no extensive building operations be undertaken until the expiration of the lease of Bacon ' s Hotel . And that no part of thc premises of Grand Lodge be leased for a longer period than seven years . ( 4 ) By Bro . HENRY SMITH , P . M . No . 38 7 : That this Grand Lodge is o f opinion that the leasing of any property of GrantI Lodge , except for a very limited period , is , under any circumstances , highly ob '

jectiona ' ole , and may prove , as m the cases of the three leases now existing , extremely inconvenient , and that the question of rent is quite a secondary consideration compared with the retention of full control of the premises and the tenants of Grand Lodge . And this Grand Lodge decides on the preservation of the Antient Temple in Great Queen-street , and that it be immediately restored , the

cost to be paid out of funds received from the Fire Insurance Olhces : and further , that no extensive building operations be undertaken until the expiration of the lease on Bacon ' s Hotel—which will afford a favourable opportunity for the consideration of a comprehensive scheme for an additional Hall , and the rearrangement of Ui . premises of Grand Lodge . ( 5 ) By \ f . YV . -Bro . LIEUT .-COL . J CREATON , Past G . Treasurer :

That the sum of £ 70 be given from the Fund of General Purposes ; that the money be placed in the hands of the Secretary of the Royal Masonic Benevolent Institution of Aged Freemasons and YVidows of Freemasons , to supply the inmates of the Institution at Croydon with coals during the winter season . ( 6 ) By Bro . EDWIN T . BUDDEN , P . M . No . 622 : In the eventof Article 80 of Revise of Book of Constitutions not being confirmed , to move that the Article shall stand as follows : — " 80—A Provincial or District Grand

Master , the Present-and Past Provincial or District Grand Oilicers ; the Provincial or District Grand Stewards for the year ; the Master , Past Masters and YVardens of all Lodges in the Province or District ; and Past Masters of any Lod ^ e under the English Constitution , if Members of Grand Lodge . But no Brother can be a Member of a Provincial or District Grand Lodge unless he is a subscribing Member of a Lodge within such Province or District . " ( 7 ) By Bro . J E . LE FEUVRE , P . M . No . 130 :

To move—Th & t in Article 1 ig of the Revision of Book of Constitutions , the following words be added in brackets after the words "Regular Lodge , " viz .: — "This qualification is only essential in the case of a petition for a new Lodge in England . " ( 8 ) By V . W . Bro . Rev . C HARLES WILLIAM ARNOLD , P . G . Chap .: In the event of Article 186 of the Revision of the Book of Constitutions not b . in _ . confirmed , to move—That the following words , "Every such Member , if an installed Master , may , by a vote of the Lodge , have a position assigned to him amongst the

Past Masters of the Lodge , provided that he has not ceased subscribing to a Lodge for twelve months , " be substituted for the words , " Every such joining Member , if a Past Master , shall have the rank of a Past Master of the Lodge , ranking next after the then Junior Past Master and the YVorshipful Master of such Lodge , provided that he has not ceased subscribing to a Lodge for twelve months , " and that the paragraph do now stand as so amended . ( 9 ) By W . Bro . HENRY C . T OMBS , P . G . D . : In the event of Article 130 of the Revision of Book of Constitutions not being

confirmed , to move—To omit clause added by Special Grand Lodge in June , to follow the words " antient usage , " and instead thereof , to insert the following : — " If in any Lodge it should become impossible to hold either or both of such meetings upon the day named in the Bye-laws for that purpose , the Grand Master , and in Provinces and Districts the Provincial and District Grand Master , may grant a dispensation ior the holding ofsuch meetings , or either of them , upon a day not more than seven days before or after that fixed by the Bye-laws , which day shall , for all purposes , bdeemed the regular day of meeting , " and that the paragraph do now stand as so amended .

( 10 ) By R . W . Bro . The Hon . Mr . J USTICE PIUNSEP , D . G . M . Bengal : To move—That in Article 190 , the following words be added after the word " Fees , viz .: — "in England , nor for less than three guineas , exclusive of Registration and Certificate fees , abroad . " ( 11 ) By V . W . Bro . Sir JOHN B . MONCKTON , President Board General Purposes : , 10

To move—That in'any case where an amendment to any rule provided for in .. Revise of the Book of Constitutions shall have been carried at the special meeting " of Grand Lodge in June and August last , but shall not be confirmed at a subscquen meeting of Grand Lodge , the law shall stand as proposed in the Revised Book 0 Constitutions , and without such amendment .