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Zoological Society . Poor old J UMBO , the favourite of countless visitors to the Zoo , is to be sold for a very large sum 0 : 1 grounds and reasons which , we apprehend , will fail lo convince any of our readers . There is a touching p icture in the Graphic of the poor beast , unwilling to gj , caressing thc attendant . We confess we think the sale unworthy of the Society , and defended on grounds too flimsy for argument or support . To use an American simile , the Secretary ' s statement " won ' t wash . '

United Grand Lodge.

UNITED GRAND LODGE .

Ol'ARTKRI . V COMMI'XICATIOX . Thc Ouarterly Communication of Grand Lodge was held on Wednesday evening Tit Freem isons' Hall . 'Die Rig ht Hon . thc Karl of Carnarvon , M . W . " Pro Grand Master , presided . The Far ! of March , M . P ., G . S . W .. and Pro . Justice Cave . G . J . W . occupied their respective places . Pro . W . W . P . Peach , ALP ., Prov . G . AI . Hants and Isle of Wight , acted as Deputy G . AI ., and Sir Francis Burdett . Hut ., Prov . G . M . Middlesex , as Past G . AI . Thc oilier Grand Oflicers present were :

13 ms . Sir Michael \\ . Hicks I . e . irli , I ' rov . G . M . Gloucestershire ; Montague Guest Prov . G . M . Dor-ict ; Viscount Kliriiiirton , I ' . G . M . Devonshire ; General lirown iirir , ' P . G . M . Surrey ; Rev . Ambrose W . I lull , G . Chap . ; / F . n . as J . Mclntyre , O . C . M . P ., G . Ufsj . ; Sir ") . 1 ! . Mor . ckton , IVc-klcut nf the Hoard of General Purposes ; Colonel Shadwell II . Clerke , G . Sec . ; l- ' rnest K . VYemlt , G . Sec . for German Correspondence ; Major-General 11 . Clerk , K . A ., F . U . S ., S . G . I ) . ; II . C . Levamler , J . G . D . ; J . Sampson Pcirco . P . G . D . ; Sir Alhcit VV . Woods ( Garter ) , G . D . of C . ; Cant A . I ! . Cook ,

A . G . D . of C . ; Georere Lambert . Grand Sword Hearer ; C . S . Jekyll , Grand Or ) , ' . ; Rev . C . J . Martvn , 11 . G . Ho-s . Assistant (' ,. Sec ; VV . Clarke , G . Pursuivant ; P . G . Chap . ; Rev . J . Sed-wi , k , P . G . Chap . ; Rev . ( . W . Hayes , P . G . Chap . ; Rev . U . | . Siiiip-on , I ' . G . C ; R . v . C . W . Arnold , P . G . C . ; Major-Gen . the Hon . Somerset Calthorp ' c , P . G . VV . ; II . D . S . indoiiinn , I ' . D . G . M . < hina ; Sir Prv < e Prvse , Hart ., H . P . G . M . ( W . D . South Wales ); Frank Richardson , P . G . D . ; | . K . Saunders , P . G . I ) . ; V .. j . Harron , P . G . I ) . ; | ahcv llo-, P . G . D . ; 1 " . A . Phitb ' rirk , P . G . D . ; II . ] . P . i

Dumas P . G . D . ; | . M . Case , P C . I ) . ; V . A . )• . Powell , P . G . D . ; Reginald Hird , P . G . D . ; James Glaishcr . I ' . K . S ., P . G . D . ; llraekstone llaker , P . G . D . ; I . II . Scott , P . G . I ) . ; Ravnhim VV . Stewart , P . G . D . ; Capt . N . G . Philips , P . G . D . ; V . P . Morrell , P . G . D . ; ' (' . W . C . Button , P . G . D .: | . A . Rucker , P . G . D . ; l . C . Parkinson , P . G . D . ; Peter de Land . ' I /» v :, P . G . D . ; ' Robert Grev , P . G . D . ; T . Penn , P . G . D . ; II . MamMey , P . G . D . ; Col . II . Soinerville-lluriiey , P . G . D . ; 1 . Lewis Thomas , K . R . S ., P . A . G . D . C . ; Ma-mis Ohreti , P . A . G . D . C . ; Joshua N'uiin , P . G . S . B . ; A . | . Dnll-Kiler . P . G . S . U . ; J . A . Collins , P . G . S . IL ; C . Greenwood , I ' . G . S . Il . ; G . K . Willin " , P . G . O . ; I iios . Cubitt , P . G . P . ; C . A . ColUbntne , P . G . P . ; and James P . iett , P . G . P . There were some 500 brethren present .

Grand Lodge having been opened , the ( iRixn Sri RI . TARY read l [ ic minutes of last Grand Lodge . Hro . PiULHUKK said : Most Wor-hiptul Master , before the minutes are confirmed may I ask , with regard to the grant to thc Benevolent Institution , what are the binds at the command of this Grand Lodge ' . ' The tiinxn Si : 1 I . CTXKY replied thai the sum referred lo amounted to about £ 15 , 0011 . Pro . Pitu . lllN . iCK : Then 1 rise lo move that so much of the minutes as

relate to ( he Fund of Benevolence be not confirmed . I cannot but ihink that before this Grand Lodge makes an additional grant of / . 'Son a year to the Benevolent Institution , breilnvn ought lo be in a position to know what is the income of Grand Lodge , what are its funds , how those funds are invested , what is the permanent source ol revenue , whether or not in the position of thcCrifl it is a matter of prudence and propriety to maks such a large grant at the present time . Lately the funds of Grand Lodge have

been directed to be p laced in Government Slock , and 11 the amount is £ 15 , 01 in or £ lO . niii 1 that would make . 111 income of something like ^ .. S 11 " a year . Grand Lodge has already sub-eribed / . ' , 5 oo to one of the Schools - ( No , no ) ¦•/ . ' i 5 < Ui > the Hoys' School , and a like sum to thc Girl .-. ' School , and a sum ol £ Siio to the Henevoleiil Institution . The purport of the original motion was that the funds of Grand Lodge and the Fund of Benevolence should pay an additional / . ' - ¦«> a year , and 1 venture lo say that no one was

more surprised than the propo-. cr 1 l 1 . it this motion was carried . I feel quite persuaded 1 b . 1 t many of ihe brethren who voted ior that motion believed that the funds were very different from the statement of the Grand Secretary to-night . It is cpiiie true that no one would desire more than this Grand Lodge that the Institution -. 11011111 be well supported , and that it should not be deprived of a single penny that we could with propriety and prudence grant but ; how can we , a body of

Masons , who charge every initiate entering our body to let prudence direct bis steps ' . ' how can we not only give away more than the aclual income of the properly 1 I llie fund , but al-o pledge and mortgage future income , which is , as it were , to draw a bill upon the future ' . ' Is it not right and fair before we do so , before we commit ihi ; Grand Lodge ! o an annual expenditure—tn such an expenditure as / . ' Son , besides the £ ^ nn already granted — that we should have a 'talement tail before us ' . ' I should not be one to

oppose il if it (• •¦ 111 be done prudently , not merely to gratify the benevolent ideas of a brother who has moved or seconded it , but acting as business people with prudence in managing our concerns . I have alread y detained you too long . ( No , 1 ) 0 ; . Before I had opened D ^ y mouth I was convinced that my words would be unpopular . Charily is one of our great and

essential principles , and brotherly love is one ol our principles too , so is is relief . \ Vc must remember lli . it . Masonry does nul consist in charity only ; and , therefore , 1 ask you not to conlinn so much of the minutes as relates to this grant , and not to commit 11 ; lo il until we know exactly what we have , what thc claims upon il are , so that we may be in ; a position lo judge before wo commit ourselves to the 'Tan ,.

Bro . J . Ai . CI . MION seconded the motion . When thc ori ginal motion was voted he had confined his . uteiuion lo the Fund of Benevolence , lie doubled whether the General Purposes Fund could afford it . He thought that the Grand Lodge was taken b y surprise ; he did not think that they had sufiicieni materials before Iliem , and it was desirable thai , these should be furnished .

Hro . KVYNIIVM W . STLWAKT , P . G . D ., defended the vote , and said there was plenty of money lo meet il . Hro . Sir J OHN' AIONVKTOX ^ aid : Most Worshi pful Grand . Master , I shall say but a very few word .. I do not think Grand Lodge should be led away with the idea I hat the coles themselves arc of .-my special value . Pro .

Stewart says thai wc get so many votes from the Institution , and be would have us inler that candidates came in in response lo those votes , but whether they give you two votes for a lodge or ten voles for a lodge it makes no difference . There are twenty-five old men and twenty-five old ladies to be elected , and it makes no difference what is thc number ol votes by which

the ) - are elected . There can be no possible harm in the brethren knowing precisely what they have got . If Hro . Philbrick is wrong , the proposed Committee will put the matter right . I believe I know pretty well , being the Chairman of the Board of Genera ! Purposes , what we have got , but I could not say exactly—I should have lo look and search . It seems tome most fairly suggested that there should be a Committee . 1 . ct that be done ; there will be ho harm done between this and June , but a fair and honest and

businesslike result will be come lo . Bro . the EARL or CARNARVON - : Brethren , it has been moved and seconded that so much of the minutes of the last Ouarterly Communication as refer to this question be omitted for the purpose , as 1 understand , of appointing a Committee lo take ( he whole matter into consideration , and report lo the next Ouarterly Communication . Before proceeding' lo the nomination of the Committee 1 shall now put the icst of the minutes for confirmation .

This having been done Bro . PHILIIRKK said ; ' 1 he matter being referred to a Committee , I propose Bros . Raynham VV . Stewart , General Brownrigg , the President of the Board of General Purposes , and thc Grand Secretary to report to next Ouarterly Communication what is the whole income of this Grand Lodge , what arc thc demands we have at present to meet with it , so that we may see bow far the money will go . Bro . H . iYXii ni \ V . ST 1 ; WART seconded ihe motion .

Pro . the FAKL or C \ RX \ KVOX : The brethren will perceive that the motion that is now submitted to Grand Lodge is upon the material that is to be submitted to Grand Ledge at next Ouarterly Meeting . The motion is that the Committee , whose names you have heard , be appointed . The motion was put and carried by a large majority .

Pro . COL . SIIAIUVKLL II . CLLRKI :, Grand Secretary : Ala ) 'I beg your permission lo refer to the action that I have taken with respect lo the motion of the last meeting of Grand Lodge in reference to the death ol General Garfield . Bro . the F \ RL nf CARNARVON ' : Brethren , you have heard the melancholy correspondence which has just been read by the Grand Secretary . It

is the record—so far as . Masonry is concerned—the record ol a most unhappy , miserable , event , and I therefore think il my duty to preserve , as far as possible , the recollect ion of the part we have taken in that matter by moving that that correspondence be now entered upon the minutes of our proceedings . Bio . VV . Bi : \< 11 , M . P . : Without further remark I beg lo second that .

The motion was then put and carried unanimously . Bro . Ihe Fuu . or CUINARVON : Thc next business is lbs (•lection of the . M . W . Grand . Master . Hro . Dr . ALIRI : I > AILAIIOWS . P . AI . . ) , P . G . S ., then rose and said : Alost Worsbip ! u ) Grand Master in lhc chair . In rising to propose there-election of His Royal Highness the Prince of Wales as our Grand . Master for the

ensuing year , it limy seem presumptuous , if not impertinent , in me to say anything in support of a proposition which has the unanimcus approval , not only of this Grand Lodge , but of every member of the Craft wherever dispersed over the face ol land or water ; lor I am confident that there is not a man among us who does not feel that while His Royal Highness occupies thc Alasonie Tluoue he confers upon us the highest honour which it is in his

power lo bestow ; while we , in electing him , are doing our very best 10 sustain the honour , reputation , and usefulness of our Order . For il is not merely on account of the exalted rank of our Grand . Master ihr . t we estimate his worth , because we recognise in him the embodiment of those' princi p les which are the glory of our profession and the source of all our strength ; lor it is by his steady adherence

to the principles of the Craft , by bis consistent practice of the precepts of our Order , in a wold , by the devotion of his life lo I hat practical benevolence and good deeds , that he proves bis Royal title to be our King , and justilies the choice which ibis Grand Lodge is so pleased and proud to make . I believe there never was a lime in the history of Freemasonry in this country when such gigantic strides were made in the progress of our Order as have

been made since t ne accession of Ills Royal Highness to the throne of King Solomon ; fori find that during the live years immediately preceding His Royal 1 Iighni ' ss ' s acceptance ol the ullice of Grand Master ihe number of lodges placed upon llie register of the Grand Lodge of Fngland was _ vS ; while in the first five years ol His Royal llighues >' s reign ; p ( i were added to dial roll . Tin ' s however is by no means the most important

feature ol the success which lias attended I lis Royal Highness ' s administration of our Order ; for surely Freemasonry is something more than a mere conglomeration of ledges doing simply lodge work , If thai was su it could never live and thrive as it has done ; but ils existence is justified by its good deeds , and by them alone ; and its pa . st history . shows , at least in this country , thai while wc

try to be ( ailhlul to our God , our country , and our laws , freemasonry teaches us to do even more than that , for by thc collective work of ihe brethren it is made a great engine of charity ; a right Royal dispenser of brotherly love and relief , and a bond of union between man and man . It is in ibis respecl , even more than in the one I have just referred to , that such wonderlul success has been achieved under our present Royal Grand .

Master ; for 1 Imd . that while 111 lhc live years preceding I lis Royal Highness s acceptance of thai ol ' lice the total revenue of our three great ( 'liarilies wasabout £ i , V > . t > mt it swelled up in ihe five following years lo the magnificent sum of nearly , / . " < yioo ; in other words , the collective income of these three charities rose immedialely after the accession ol ' I lis Royal Highness to the Grand . Mastership , fro / 11 an average of about J ' . Jiyioo Io nearly . JO , UDO a year . And

all ibis , be il remembered , happened at a time when there was great linanci . il depression in ibis country . Surely such a fact as this speaks lor itself ; and 1 think I am fully justified in saying lhal this unprecedented success was the direct result of lhc mornl weight and influence which was thrown into our Order b y lhc government of our own Grand AI aster . And truly , if kings are like other men . gratified by a successful life , llis Royal

Highness may well be proud of bis . Masonic career . That you , brethren , are unanimous in the wish lhal his Royal Highness [ should occupy that throne another year I am well assured ; and 1 am confident ( hat I express llie feelings not only of this Grand Lodge , but of every member of the ( -rail , when I say thai we earnestly hop ' . ' llis Royal

Highness may long be spared lo reign over us ; for while we feel lhal his association with us confers llie greatest lustre upon our Order , wc for our part will gladly pay him thai willing obedience which is due to him as our Grand . Master , and we will delight ( o honour him as the representative and embodiment of those principles for which al inc we are banded together by the sacred tie of brotherhood . ( Hear , hear , . and cheers . )

' 1 he proposition was briefly seconded by Pro . F . BAYLISS , and , when put to the vote by the Pro Grand . Master , every hand was raised amid a hurricane of applause ,