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IT seems from the " Deutschcr Murkur" that the Jesuits have formed a new "Confraternity" in Spain , under hig h official sanction , called the " Confraternity of the Holy Trinity , " for the express purpose of opposing Freemasonry , which , they assert , is , as " everybody knows" the " very

worst of all the enemies of the Church in the present evil age . lhat the Jesuits , though a secret Order themselves , should dislike and antagonize Freemasonry , is , from our experience of human nature , not to be wondered at ; that they can do Freemasonry any harm is alike , we feci sure , very improbable and quite impossible .

BRO . DRUMMOND ' American Masonic statistics show a falling off in the number of members in American Masonry of 9239 , though , we confess , this fact is not very easy to account for . There were in 1879 , 582 , 55 6 members ; in 1 SS 0 , 173 , 317 . There were , in 18 79 , , 7 8 s Fellow Crafts " raised" to

Master Masons , and , in 1880 , 19 , 685 , again a falling off of 2103 . But then the admissions were 17 , 523 in 18 S 0 , as against i 6 , SSo in 1879 , a gain of 64-3 . The main causes of this retrogression appear to arise from three

causes : ( 1 . ) " Demissions ; " ( 2 . ) suspensions for non-payment of dues ; ( 3 . ) the commendable action of American discipline , which is more active and energetic than our own . Anyhow , the fact as a fact deserves to be noticed by all Masonic students and statists .

United Grand Lodge.

UNITED GRAND LODGE .

The Quarter !) - Communication of United Grand Lodge of Ancient , Free , and Accepted Masons of England was held on Wednesday at Freemasons ' Hall . Bro . W . W . 13 . Beach , M . P ., Provincial Grand Master for Hants and the Isle of Wight , presided . There were upwards of . 400 brethren present , including Bros . Francis Burdett , Bart ., P . G . M . Mieldlesexj Sir Michael Hicks Beach , M . P ., P . G . M . Gloucestershire ; R . \ V . II . Giddy , D . G . M . Griqualand ; Hugh D . Sandcman , P . D . G . M . Bengal ; H .

Murray , P . D . G . M . China ; S . Rawson , P . D . G . M . China ; Justice Cave , G . J . W . j Rev . Ambrose W . Hall , G . Chaplain ; Lieut .-Col . Creaton , G . Treasurer ; / li . J . Mclntyre , O . C ., M . P ., G . Registrar ; Sir John B . Monckton , F . S . A ., Pres . Board of Gen . Purposes ; Col . Shadwell 11 . Gierke ; , G . Secretary ; Ii . Ii . YVendt , G . Sec . Gcr . Cor . ; Sir James Ramsden , G . S . D . ; Major-General H . Clerk , R . A ., F . R . S ., G . S . D . ; J . Sampson Peirce , G . | . IJ . ; II . C . Levander , M . A ., F . R . S ., G . J . D . ; Sir Albert W . Woods ( Garter ) , P . G . W ., G . Dir . of Ccr . ; Capt . A . B . Cooke , G . A . Dir . of Ccr . ;

George Lambert , G . Swd . Bearer ; C . S . Jekyll , G . Organist ; II . G . Buss , G . A . Secretary ; W . Clarke , G . Pursuivant ; W . R- Wood , G . A . Pursuivant ; H . Sadler , G . Tyler ; Capt . William Piatt , P . G . W . ; Rev . J . W . Hayes , P . G . C . ; Rev . II . A . Pickard , P . G . C ; Rev . C . R . Davy , P . G . C ; Rev . C . W . Arnold , 'P . G . C ; Kev . C . J . Martyn , P . G . C ; Rev . Dr . Alfred Hill , P . G . C ; Lieut .-Col . H . S . Somerville Burney , P . G . D . ; John 11 . Scott , P . G . D . ; J . M . Case , P . G . D . ; Capt . N . G . Philips , P . G . D . ; Frank Richardson , P . G . D .: I . M . P . Montagu , P . G . D . ; W . A . F . Powell , P . G . D . ;

F . P . Marrell , P . G . D . ; Ii . J . Barrow , P . G . D . ; H . J . P . Dumas , P . G . D . ; Raphael Costa , P . G . D . ; James Glaisher , F . R . S ., P . G . D . ; Jabez Hogg , P . G . D . ; Henry Maudsley , P . G . D . ; \ V . Ii . Gumblcton , P . G . D . ; T . Fcnn , P . G . D . ; Robert Grey , P . G . D . ; C . C . Dumas , P . A . G . D . of C ; George Burt , P . A . G . D . of C . ; Joshua Nunn , P . G . S . B . ; A . J . Duff-Filer , P . G . S . B . ; S . Mullins , P . G . S . B . ; G . Toller , jun ., P . G . S . B . ; lames Mason , P . G . S . B . ; Charles Greenwood , P . G . S . B . ; J . T . Collins , P . G . S . B . ; Wilhelm Ganz , P . G . O . ; W . Augh , P . G . P . ; W . V . Howe , P . G . P . ;

- C . A . Cottebrune , P . G . P . ; Thomas Cubitt , P . G . P . ; Ii . P . Albert , P . G . P . ; T . 13 . Whytehead ( York ) , Dr . 11 . Hopkins ( Bath ) , Ii . 13 . Grabham , Dick Radclyffc , C . F . Hogartl , A . M . Broadley , J . While ( Times ) , A . Tisley , H . A . Dubois , C . Atkins , A . J . Altman , Rev . Dr . P . II . Finest Brette , George Kenning , James Terry , Wm . Stephens , \ V . J . Murlis , C W . Thompson , Ji . II . Tattershall , John Stevens , Rooke , R . H . Crowden , James Willing , jun ., Wm . Lake , Ii . J . Goodern , T . -Massa , J . G . Chillingworth , and H . Massey ( Freemason ) .

Grand Lodge having been formally opened , the minutes of the Quarterly Communication of the 2 nd of March , and of the Grand Festival of the 271 I 1 of April , were read and confirmed . ThcAcTixi ; GRAND MASTER then said the brethren would remember

that at the last Grand Festival Bro . Justice Lave was appointed Junior Grand Warden , but he was then unavoidably not present . He was , however , now in attendance , and he ( the Acting Grand Master ) , with the concurrence of the brethren , would immediately proceed lo invest him as Junior Grand Warden . ( Cheers . ) IJro . Justice Cave was then presented to the Acting Grand Master , and invested with the badge , collar , and jewels of his office . Having been conducted lo the Junior Grand Warden ' s chair , and taken his scat , he was . saluted in the usual form at the direction of Sir Albert \ V . Woods ( Garter ) , G . D . C .

The ACTING GRAND MASTER next said that Sir James Ramsden was appointed Senior Grand Deacon at Grand Festival , but he , also , being prevented from attending for investiture , the ceremony would now be performed . Sir James Ramsden was then introduced in a similar manner and invested , anil conducted to his place on the dais , where he received the salute accorded to the Grand Officers below the rank of Wardens .

. Scrutineers were appointed for the election of the Board of General Purposes , and the balloting cards were distributed and collected . After the collection , the . Scrutineers retired lo cast up the votes . ( For the result see end of report . ) The ACTING G . M . announced that His Royal Highness the Grand Master had appointed Bro . Sir John 13 . Monckton President of the Board of General Purposes ( cheers ) , and IJro . John A . Rucker , President of the Colonial Board . ( Cheers . )

I he GRAND SECRETARY having read the report of the Lodge of Benevolence for March , April , and May , the following recommendations of grants were confirmed , alter motions made and seconded by Bros . J OSHUA NUNN , Senior Vice-President , and Ions' M . CLARON , President : —

1 he widow eif a brother of the Berkhampstead Lodge , No . 504 , £ s . el . HcrkhainpMcatl ... ... ... ... ... ... 50 o o A brother of the Lodge of Virtue and Silence , No . 332 , lladlcigh ( P . G . Steward ) ... ... ... ... ... ... 100 o o 'I he widow of a brother of the Lodge of Peace and I larmony , No .

J 91 ) , Dover ... ... ... ... ... ... 50 o o A brother of the Ilornse-y Lodge , No . . S . jn , London ... ... 150 o o A brother of the Jordan Lodge-, No . 201 , London ... ... luo o o A brother of the ' l . odge of Harmony , No . _\ jS , Rochdale ... 250 o o A brother of the Old Concord Lodge , No . I ; J , London ... ... 150 0 o The widow of a i not her of the Lodge of Social Friendship , No . . 197 ,

II . M . i- ' ylh Kirghnent ... ... ... ' ... ... 50 0 11 A brother ot the Lnoch Lodge , No . 11 , London ... ... ... 75 o o A brother of llie- Royal Standard Lodge , No . IJi ^ , London ... 50 o o A brother of ( he : Abbey Lodge , No . 1 . 5 , Abingdon ... ... 200 o o 'Ihe widow of a brother of the l . ilyl . odge of Richmond , No . SJO , Richmond ... ... ... ... ... ... ^ 0 o o

United Grand Lodge.

The report of the Board of General Purposes was taken as read , and ordered to be entered on the minutes , on the motion made b y Bro . Sir J 13 . MONCKTON , President , and seconded b y Bro . / E . J . MCINTYRE , Cj . C , Grand Registrar . Bro . Sir John B . MONCKTON moved the adoption of the first recommendation in the report , which was to the following' effect : —

Twenty years having elapsed since a permanent addition was made to the number of Grand Ollicers , during which period a very large increase has taken place , both in number of the lodges and members of the Order under the Grand Lodge of England , the Board are of opinion that the time has arrived when some addition may be properly anel advantageously made to the list of Grand Officers annually appointed by the M . W . the Grand Master .

The Board therefore recommend that an addition be made accordingly , that such addition take the form of the appointment annually of two Stanclard Bearers and a Deputy Director of Ceremonies , and that the same take effect on and after the Grand Festival of 1 SS 2 .

He said that the Board felt that a report involving such important propositions as the present one should not be put before Grand Lodge and passed sub silentio . He would deal with the different recommendations seriatim . Some brethren might have much lo say upon them . The first portion dealt with a proposed increase in the number of Grand Officers ; but he should first of all explain that this question had not originated in the

Board at all , and he doubted whether such a question ever should originate from them . The suggestion , which they mi ght look upon in the light of a command , came lo ihe Board from the Most Worshi pful the Grand Master , who thought it desirable , looking he ( S rJ . B . Monckton ) supposed at the large increase in the numbers of the Craft , at the difficulties the Grand Master must have now annually in finding anything like offices enough for

the worth } ' and distinguished brethren who aspired to Grand Office , that some such addition should be made . That he thought was , as he had said , most likely at the bottom of the suggestion , and he thought it only respectful that the Board should have it explained to Grand Lodge that the suggestion emanated from the highest Masonic authority , and that what the Board had bid him to do in the matter had been to consider what

would be a convenient addition lo the officers of Grand Lodge . Some twenty years ago there were but two Grand Deacons , a Senior and a Junior , and at that time , no doubt from similar reasons as were now supposed to prevail , the number was increased from two to four . It occurred lo the Board that it might be possible to increase the number from four to six , and the matter was discussed in all its

bearings . They were , however , reminded by the highest authority they had on the Board on such matters , Sir Albert Woods , that in other Grand Lodges it was very common , and , in his opinion , very convenient , to have Standard Bearers—lhat they added to the dignity and solemnity of processions , and would be likely to be great acquisitions to a Masonic body such as the Grand Ollicers of Grand Lodge . He also thought , and the Board

entirely agreed with Sir A . Woods , that whereas they knew on all occasions there was a large muster of brethren a second if not a third Assistant Director of Ceremonies was required ; but they also agreed with him in thinking lhat it would not be undesirable thai a further appointment should . be made of a Deputy Director of Ceremonies . Having given the matter

full consideration , and acting on the suggestion of the highest authority , the Board recommended to Grand Lodge that an addition be made to the Grand Officers , that such addition take the form of the appointment annuall y of two Standard Bearers and a Deputy Director of Ceremonies , and that the same take effect on and after the Grand Festival of 1 SS 2 .

Bro . J . M . CASE , P . G . D ., seconded the motion . Bro . THOMAS MASSA proposed as an amendment that there should be one Standard Bearer , a Trumpeter , and an Assistant Superintendent of Works . A Trumpeter would be a very useful dignitary lo the Director of Ceremonies .

The amendment having been seconded , was put and lost almost unanimously , and amidst cheers . Bro . I-I . Ii . FRANCIS moved , as a further amendment , lhat the office of Director of Ceremonies be a permanent office , and that two Assistant Directors of Ceremonies be appointed . Bro . F . ADLARD seconded the amendment .

bro . MCINTYRE , G . R ., said the first part of this amendment could not be put , as it would require an alteration of the Book of Constitutions , which could only be done on regular motion in Grand Lodge . Bro . FRANCIS then withdrew the first part of his amendment , and proposed that there should be two Assistant Directors of Ceremonies .

Bro . Sir AI . ISERT WOODS ( Garter ) , explained after some discussion , that the object of the form the proposition look was lhat there should be no confusion as to precedence . The Deputy would lake precedence of the Assistant in the absence of the Director of Ceremonies ; but if there were two Assistants there would be a question cf precedence between them in his absence .

bro . I'RAXCIS then withdrew his amendment . The ' motion of Bro . Monckton was carried nem . con . Bro . MONCKTON next moved , in accordance with the following recommendation , " That in provinces numbering forty lodges and upwards , ihe

Provincial Grand Master shall be empowered to appoint annuall y four Deacons instead of two , as at present , and also a Deputy Director of Ceremonies . " The matter had been so thoroughly exhausted in the discussion on the former motion thai he thought he need not enter into further explanations on the present motion .

Bro . MCINTYRE seconded the motion . Having had charge of several - provinces he had some experience of Provincial matters . In Staffordshire , which was one of ( hose where there were a great number of lodges , and there were many worthy Masons deserving of the Provincial purple , there were too few offices lo be distributed . It would be a very great advantage to the provinces and the Provincial Grand Master lhat he should have the opDortunity of promoting to provincial office brethren in the way that had been proposed b y ihe Board of General Purposes .

Bro . II . F . FRANCIS proposed the addition of a Standard Bearer ; all Provincial Grand Lodges had a Standard Bearer . Bro . MCINTYRK said the worshipful brother was inaccurate . He ( Bro . McIntyre ) had had eleven provinces in his charge , and he never had lo appoint a Standard Bearer , and no Stanclard Bearer was appointed as of right in any province . Pro hue vice , there might be a Standard Bearer . If there

was a . standard to the province a Master Mason carried it ; and he had not found one except in the Province of Berks and Bucks . There the appointment had been made , and it was his most disagreeable duty , when the province was given to him in charge , to be obliged lo rule that that brother had no provincial rank . In Provincial Grand Lodges generally lhat office was not required ; but if they did increase the number of offices , he thought if