United Grand Lodge.

ending with the word " meeting " in the 15 th line . The provision contained in such portion of the rule being no longer necessary . The Board has further to report that it has received the following communication from R . W . Bro . Sir Albert Woods , K . C . B ., K . C . M . G . ' , Garter , P . G . Warden , Grand Director of Ceremonies :

"To THE PRESIDENT OK THE BOARD OF GENERAL PURPOSES . " V . W . Sir and Brother , " Will yc u kindly bring before the Board with the view of the matter being authoritatively dealt with , a growing practice of some English brethren who have been accorded honorary rank in Foreign or other Grand Lodges wearing the clothing of such foreign or other Grand Lodges while attending the meetings of English Lodges . The irregular practice leads to confusion and irritation by

reason of precedence being given to the offending brethren which they are not entitled to , and this constitutes a distinct invasion of the prerogative of the Most Worshipful Grand Master of England . By Rule 2 S 2 of the Book of Contitutions , ' no Brother shall be admitted into the Grand Lodge or any subordintae Lodge without his proper clothing , ' and the subsequent rules prescribe what that proper clothing is . If His Royal Highness the Grand Master desires to give Masonic precedence to any Brother , the rank in Grand Lodge of England is

accorded , and no foreign or other Grand Lodge can , by appointments made by it , disturb the order of our Grand Master's appointments within this jurisdiction . In other words , Foreign or Colonial appointments conferred on English Masons give no rank in England , and while the clothing may be appropriate for those who are members of the conferring Body even while visiting here , it is not the ' proper clothing' prescribed by the Constitutions for English Masons .

" 1 have already given instructions to prevent the admission into Grand Lodge of English members who infringe Rule 282 , and if the Masters of Private Lodges were reminded of the Law upon the subject , they would doubtless take care that its provisions are respected . If the Board were to authorise the issue of a notice to the Lodges , no doubt the duties of Directors of Ceremonies would be lightened , and the appointments of our Most Worshipful Grand Master preserved in their integrity . .

" I remain , " Faithfully and fraternally yours , "ALBERT W . WOODS , G . D . C . " 69 , St . George ' s Road , S . W ., " 23 rd December , 1859 . " The Board being of opinion that the complaint of the Grand Director of Ceremonies was a very proper one , has givon directions for copies of his communication to be sent to the W . Masters of all Lodges under the English Constitution , with a request that the strictest regard be paid to the contents of it .

The Board further desires to direct the attention of Lodges throughout the Craft , to the provisions of Rule 283 , Book of Constitutions , and to request that due attention may be paid thereto . It is with a feeling of very deep and sincere regret that the Board has to report the removal by death , during the year 1 S 99 , ° f the following Brethren who had filled high ollice in the Craft as Officers of Grand Lodge .

LIST OF GRAND OFFICERS WHO HAVE DIED DURING THE YEAR 1 S 99 . R . W . Bros . Col . Le G . N . Starkie , Prov . Grand Master Lancashire , E . ; His Excellency Sir Charles Mitchell , G . C . M . G ., District Grand Master Eastern Archipelago ; Lieut .-Col . Macglashan , C . M . G ., P . G . W ., Past District Grand Master Jamaica ; the Lord Herschell , G . C . B ., P . G . W . ; and the Earl of Strafford , K . C . V . O ., C . B ., P . G . W . ; V . W . Bro . Asher Barfield , P . G . Treas . ; W . Bros . E . J . Turner , P . G . D . ; E . K . Bailey , P . G . D . ; Lt .-Col . A . B . Cook , P . G . D . ;

Lt .-Col . Newton , P . G . D . ; L . Gordon Robbins , P . G . D . ; Jabez Hogg , M . D ., P . G . D . ; Henry Maudesley , P . G . D . ; George E . Lake , P . G . D . ; Major-Gen . Hay . C . B ., P . G . D . ; S . Leith Tomkins , P . G . D . ; John Clayton , P . Asst . G . D . C . ; Dr . Hayball Paul , P . Asst . G . D . C ; Raymond Thrupp , P . Asst . G . D . C ; E . Monteuuis , P . G . S . B . ; Col . James Peters , P . G . S . B . ; Maior-Gen . Gadsden , P . G . S . B . ; Arthur Stubbs , P . G . Std . Br . ; E . L . P . Valerian ! , P . P . Std . Br . ; and H . L . D . Montmorency , G . Stwd .

The Board also submit a statement of the Grand Lodge accounts at the last meeting of the Finance Committee , held on Friday , the 16 th day of February instant , showing a balance in the Bank of England , ( Law Courts Branch ) of ; £ i ° . 379 5 s . 4 d ., and in the hands of the Grand Secretary for petty cash £ 100 , and for servants' wages ^ 100 .

In acknowledging the following presentations , the Board takes the opportunity to report that the capacious and handsome room in course of erection for the reception of the Library and curiosities belonging to Grand Lodge will very shortly be completed , when the Board will be most happy to receive any additions thereto , which the generosity of members of the Craft may place at its disposal .

TlTLR OR OllJECT . BY WHOM PRESENTED . Full-length Oil Portrait of George , Prince of Wales , afterwards King George IV . ... Edward Letchworth , G . Sec . The Degrees of Freemasonry and the Royal Arch ... C . Letch Mason , P . P . G . H . Two Masonic Aprons and Collars Hendon Lodgeof Instruction , No . 220 G . Centennial Celebration of the North Star Lodge , No . S , Lancaster , New

Hampshire , U . S . A . ... ... ... M . D . Richardson , Secretary . A Valuable Old Picture of Freemasons ' Hall . London ... ... ... Seymour Bell , P . P . S . G . W . Printed Proceedings of the Grand Lodge of

Arizona , 1 SS 2—lSyS ... ... Geo . J . Roskruge , Grand Secretary . Printed Proceedings of the Grand Lodge of ) Printed ' proceedingro'fthe Grand Chapter [ j efrerson S . Conner , Grand Secretary , of Michigan , 1 SC 0—iSyj ... ... Printed Proceedings of the Grand Chapter _ of New York , 170 S—18 S 3 ... ... A . A . Clark , G . Librarian of New York . Printed Proceedings of the Grand Chapter

of Delaware ... ... ... James II . Price , Grand Secretary . Printed Proceedings of the Grand Chapter of Massachusetts from 1798 .. Gen . S . C . Lawrence , Past G . Master . Pointed Proceedings of the Graid Chapter of Quebec , 1876—1899 ... W . H . Whyte , G . S . E . Quebec . Printed Pioceedings of the Grand Lodge of ""

Delaware ( Various ) ... ... B . F . Bartram , G . Secretary Delaware . Printed Proceedings of thr *" i rand Lodge of Massachusetts ( Vatiou . ) ... ... Sereno D . Nickerson , Grand Secretary . Printed Proceedings of thc Grand Lodge of New Jersey , 1 S 5 S—1 S 77 ... ... T . II . R . Redway , Grand Secretary . Printed Address of the Grand Master of

New York ... ... ... The Grand Secretary of New York . The Masonic Journal , Vol . 2 ... ... John Armstrong , P . P . G . W . The Wrights of Glasgow ( a Reprint ) ... ) , „ 1 1 , 1 . n 1- n Engraved Portrait of John Laneii P . A . G . D . C . j * J * Ilughan * P ' * Deacon . Photo Souvenir of aCth Triennial Conclave Gen . Samuel C . Lawrence , Past Grand of Knights Templar of the United States Master Centennial Celebration of St . Andrew ' s

Chapter , Boston , Massachusetts ... Abbott L . Aldrich , G . II . P . Morgan ' s Fieemasonry Exposed and Explained ... ... ... Alfred Bannister , P . M . No . 13 G 3 Masonic Clothing Box ( inlaid ) ... ... Rev . C . J . Martyn , P . G . Chap .

United Grand Lodge.

Freemasonry and the Tabernacle and Temple ... ... ... Robert W . Bowers , P . M . No 15 . Two Photographs of Old Masonic Hall at St . John ' s , Antigua , W . I . ... ... R . H . Ko Dyett , P . M . 492 . Proceedings of the Grand Chapter of North Dakota ... ... ... Frank J . Thompson , Grand Secretary Souvenir of Centennial of the death of Worshipful George Whashington , 1790-1800 The Grand Lodge of Virginia .

( Signed ) RICHARD LOVELAND LOVELAND , President . Freemasons' Hall , London , W . C , 20 th February , 1900 . Report of Bro . John Smith , Auditor of the Grand Lodge Accounts , of receipts and disbursements during the year 1899 . 10 . Motion from the Chair : — " That this Grand Lodge recognises and acknowledges the Grand Lodge of Western Australia , recently formed by lodges under the District Grand Lodge . "

11 . The Grand Registrar will move : — " That the application from an irregular body styling itself the Grand Lodge of Western Australia , requesting recognition as sole and supreme Masonic Authority in the Colony , be refused . "

APPEALS . 1 . —By Bro . WILLIAM HENDERSON , P . M . of Franklin Lodge , No . 2486 , Windsorton , South Africa—Against a decision of the Deputy District Grand Master and-Board of General Purposes of Central Division , South Africa . ( Postponed from last Quarterly Communication . )

and by Lodge Palm , No . 2645 , Bassein—Against rulings of the District Grand Master of Burma , as to an instal . lation in the said lodge . List of lodges for which warrants have been granted by the M . W . G . M since the last Quarterly Communication of Grand Lodge : No . 2794 , The Alston Lodge , Alston , Cumberland . 2795 , The Commercial Travellers Lodge , London .

2 . —By W . Bro . Lt .-Col . E . P . FRENCHMAN ( I . M . S . ) , P . M ., D . S . G . W .,

2796 , L'Entente Cordiale Lodge , London . 2797 , The Lathom Lodge , Perth , Western Australia . 2798 , The Rokill Lodge , Freetown , Sierra Leone . 2799 , The John Brunner Lodge , Over Wensford , Cheshire . 2800 , The Rajputana Lodge , Rajputana , Bombay . 2801 , Lodge Australia , Perth , Western Australia . 2802 , The John Hutt Lodge , Guildford , Western Australia . 2803 , The Toodyay Lodge , Newcastle , Western Australia .

Consecration And Re-Constitution Of The Ashton District (Mark) Lodge (T.I.).

CONSECRATION AND RE-CONSTITUTION OF THE ASHTON DISTRICT ( MARK ) LODGE ( T . I . ) .

One of those rare occurrences in the Provinces—a Moveable Grand Lodge of England—was held on Saturday , the 17 th ult ., at the Crescentroad Board Schools , Dukinfield , to formally receive into the ranks of lodges the old , and until now , independent lodge of Mark Masons , which lor at least 100 years has been popularly known as the Travelling Mark Lodge of Cheshire , and amongst its members , for at least 30 years , as the

Grand Lodge of Mark Master Masons of the Ashton-under-Lyne District . The occasion was a great one , and well worthy of the importance attached to it b y Grand Lodge , as at last Mark Masonry , as far as England and Wales and the Colonies and Dependencies of the British Crown are concerned , is now one united whole under the Grand Mastershi p of H . R . H . Albert Edward , Prince of Wales .

The proceedings were commenced by Bro . the Hon . Alan de Tatton Egerton , M . P ., Prov . G . M . Cheshire , opening , with the assistance of his officers , a Mark lodge , and afterwards re-obligating 53 old members of the Ashton Lodge . Grand Lodge was then announced and entered in procession . The Pro G . M ., the Right Hon . the Earl of Euston , G . C . T ., & c , was supported

by—Bros , the Hon . Alan de Tatton Egerton , P . G . W ., P . G . M ., acting Deputy G . M . ; C . Letch Mason , P . G . M . Yorkshire ; Chas . Belton , P . G . M . O ., as S . G . W . ; A . H . Jefferis , D . P . G . M . Lanes ., as J . G . W . ; Rev . C . C . Atkinson , D . D ., G . Chap .-, C . F . Matier , G . Sec ; Col . Dean , D . P . G . M . Cheshire ; Col . Angus , D . P . G . M . N . and D . ; Wm . Goodacre , P . G . D ., P . G . Sec . Lanes . ; R . Newhouse , P . G . D ., P . G . Sec . Cheshire ; Dr . C . S . Brewer , G . D . C . j J . H . Barrow , A . G . D . C ; A .

Middleton , P . G . Std . Br . ; J . Brookes , G . S . B . ; lohn Armstrong , P . P . S . G . W ; and Lilley Ellis , P . P . J . G . W ., as G . Std . Brs . ; E . J . Mills , G . I . G . ; Westlake Morgan , G . Org . ; and many other P . O . Officers . Prominent amongst Prov . Grand Officers were—¦ Bros . F . Broadsmith , P . P . S . G . W . ; J . Cookson , P . S . G . W . ; F . Mo *» re , P . J . G . W J . Kershaw , P . P . J . G . W . ; T . D . Foreman , P . P . J . G . W . ; W . Ramsden , P . P . G . W . H . G . Small , P . P . S . G . W . ; G . Hammond-Danby , P . P . G . W . ; John Fletcher

, P . P . G . M . O . ; J . Clarke , P . P . S . G . O . ; G . Poole-Poole , P . P . J . G . O . ; J . C Robinson , P . P . G . D . C ; Stuart-Edwards , M . A ., P . G . I , of W . ; Rev . [ . Nunn , Prov . G . Chaplain ; Sam Jones , P . P . G . Treasurer ; J . H . Benyon , Prov . G . S . B . ; J . Smith , P . P . G . S . B . ; A . J . Thompson , P . P . G . D . ; A . Rutherford , P . S . G . D . ; Powell Jones , P . P . G . S . B . ; W . Booth , P . P . G . O . ; A . W . Siddall , P . P . S . G . O . ; J . W . Hulley , P . P . G . S . B . ; J . Wagstaffe , P . P . S . G . O . ; J . Ferguson , P . A . G . Sec . ; J . S . Derbyshire , P . G . D . C ; W . Dykes , P . P . G . S . B . ; and John Yarker .

T he Pro G . Master , on assuming the chair , at once opened G . Lodge in ample form , and after the usual salutes and preliminary business had been despatched , the Pro G . Master requested the G . D . of C to bring forth Bro . Dr . Foreman , on whom he conierred the past rank of a Grand Overseer of England fo : the services rendered b y him in bringing about the happy events of that day .

The G . SECRETARV Having stated the special objects on account of which G . Lodge was being held in Dukinfield , and there being no further business , G . Lodge was closed . The Pro G . Master then proceeded to consecrate and dedicate the Ashton District Lodge , proving that he was a perfect master of the ritual

in every detail . The oration on the nature and principles of the Institution by the G . Chaplain , Bro . the Rev . C . Chetwynd Atkinson , D . D ., was of the highest order , and the musical arrangements under the G . Organist , Bro . Westlake Morgan , were simply perfect .