United Grand Lodge Of England.

Thomson Lyon ) , and they sought to append thereto certain words emphasising this last portion ; but the Grand Registrar pointed out , on that occasion , that the interests of the brethren were safe-guarded by the Constitutions , and that it was unnecessary to add those words . Upon the strength of that the Communication was unanimously voted , and they had no doubt that the Grand Master would act upon it . But as soon as

that was done the resolution was brought forward altering the very clauses of the Constitution which affected the brethren in question . He held no brief on behalf of those brethren ; he was not acquainted with the name of a single brother on the Constitution of New Zealand , but he felt it was a matter so interesting to the Craft at large that he ought to raise his voice on

behalf of them on this question . Many years ago when he was initiated in his mother lodge , he was handed the Book of Constitutions and exhorted to make it his careful study . He did so , and there was no clause that affected him more than that Rule No . 219 , which enacted that in all circumstances the right of meeting rested with the majority c f the lodge .

Bro . PHILBRICK ( interrupting ) said , as that clause 219 affected Bro . Thomson Lyon so powerfully he might observe that the rule did not say anything of the kind . It said " should the majority of any Iodge desire to retire from it the power of assembling remains with the rest of the members , but should the number of members remaining at any time be less than three the warrant becomes extinct . " The minority might hold a lodge , but if the minority was less than three they could not hold the warrant .

Bro . H . THOMSON LYON , continuing , said it alwajs seemed to him that this was the safeguard , that no matter whst might be urged against the majority , the majority always had the right of retaining the warrant , and it seemed to him disastrous for a temporary purpose to sweep away such a safeguard affecting the interests of the Craft at large . The Grand Registrar had pointed out that they only alTorded

additional facilities for the different brethren to act on their own behalf . The phrase "additional facilities" seemed to him to be a most ironical one on this occasion . At any of the meetings which mi ght be held under this enactment , it might be possible for a majority of the brethren to give up and find themselves without a Masonic home . What did this effect ? The warrant might be returned , the names might be retained , and the only thing would be for the brethren to possess themselves

of the property of the lodge . It had been urged that the existence of the warranted lodges in New Zealand was a Masonic scandal , but he could not understand that that would bc so . He , theicfore , begged lo propose—and he trusted the Grand Lodge would support him in the proposal by a large majority—that with the alteration he proposed the minutes be confirmed , and he hoped the vote would be so strong as to prevent such a resolution being brought before Grand Lodge again .

Bro . BEACH asked Bro . Thomson Lyon lo give the terms of his amendment . Bro . THOMSON LYON said that it was that so much of the minutes as referred to the alteration of the Constitutions be not confirmed . Bro . BEACH asked for a seconder .

Bro . LYON said he had asked no brother to second thc resolution . Bro . BEACH again asked who seconded the resolution . After a considerable interval Bro . F . M . BILHY , NO . 1237 , said he would second the motion for the sake of discussion , considering the tremendous distance Bro . Thomson Lyon had come for the purpose of putting forward the amendment he proposed . Bro . BEACH said the question was that the portion of the minutes with regard to the alteration of rules be not confirmed .

Bro . Pmi . iiRicK , Q . C , Grand Registrar , rose and said he believed the tremendous distance that Bro . Thomson Lyon had come was all the way from Margate . ( Laughter . ) Bro . Thomson Lyon no doubt had come a long way to attend this meeting . What the distance was he could not say . Bro . Thomson Lyon had moved the rejection of the poition he hid named of the minutes evidently under the impression that the new law referred to

New Zealand . It did not . That matter of New Zealand had been entrusted to the Grand Master to deal with as he might think proper , and he ( Bro . Philbrick ) had no doubt that the Grand Master would be very much guided in what he might negotiate with Grand Lodge in New Zealand by the voice ol this Grand Lodge . But he was sure since Freemasons had had thc honour to have II R . H . on the throne of the Order , he had ever been in accord with a

strong desire to carry out the wishes of his Masonic brethren . With regard to New Zealand , Bro . Lyon ' s mind mi ght be set at rest ; but with regard to other matters and cases which had not arisen , these laws touched all men , and they would prevent the arising of such questions . They were essentially just in these Grand Lodge discussions last time . It was not a mere snatch majority of one , and he could not conceive that the interests of thc majority could be more adequately safe-guarded than they were by what seemed right at last Grand Lodge .

Bro . RICHARD EVE , P . G . T ., said he had not intended to join in this discussion , but when he heard from his Very Worshipful brother that these rules which had been at the last Grand Lodge altered would not apply to New Zealand , he must call Bro . Philbrick ' s attention to the fact that at the last Grand Lodge it was distinctly stated that the altered portion of the rules did extend to New Zealand . Now , he did not understand how that could be unless it was that his learned

brother had mistaken or had forgotten what was said . It was very clear that two or three of the preceding rules would not apply to New Zealand , but it was very clear—equally clear—that the subsequent rules would apply to New Zealand . The brethren knew it was referred to . He was told and corrected by his learned brother by saying those rules so far as the former ones were concerned did not apply to New Zealand , but the second portion did apply . Now , if that was so Bro . Philbrick was not accurate in saying that the rules as altered did not apply to New Zealand . B : o . PHU . URICK said New Zealand and the case of New Zealand he had

said were in the hands of the Grand Master , but that the Grand Master would no doubt be guided by the feelings of Grand Lodge . Bro . RICHARD EVE observed lhat he was quite aware that this matter had been placed in the hands of the Most Worshipful Grand Master , and the brethren had the greatest amount of reliance on his doing justice , but his ( Bro . Richard Eve ' s ) reasons on previous occasions why these rules

should not be passed were that this should not be done until thc Grand Master and brethren of the Grand Lodge had had the opportunity of hearing the brethren of New Zealand and brethren of far-off climes . He had his own reasons , and he did not like to add to the old Constitutions . He believed , taken as a body , they were working well to the benefit of the Craft . He l ) io : 'giit these alterations—he

United Grand Lodge Of England.

spoke for himself—were calculated to interfere wilh that loyal feeling which had existed in the Colonies , which did exist in the Colonies , and did exist in New Zealand—he thought thoie alterations should not be made without thc approval in some sense or other of those breihren who were in those farolT climes . So far he was with the mover of that resolution that those minutes should not be confirmed . He told them at once he should not like

to come in to move that the resolutions of one meeting of Grand Lodge should not be confirmed at another unless a great principle was at stake , and he felt that a great principle was at stake . The biethren had not heard the other side of the world on the point ; and when they heard from the District Grand Master , from lodges in the Districts of those Grand Masters ; when they had communications signed by those brethren and lodges and by

the Grand Masters themselves , saying that they had repeatedly objected to a Sovereign Grand Lodge dealing with them ; when they were in a majority , not in a minority , hc felt it was against his own predilections against setting aside the rules of Grand Lodge , and he should not stand aside when a motion was made of such importance in this—that the Constitutions of the Grand Lodge should not be confirmed until ihey had given brethren in far-off climes an opportunity of being heard . They were loyal brethren , and

brethren to be considered , and he asked Grand Lodge to hesitate . There was no harm done by delaying the confirmation . The confirmation should be delayed until the brethren in the Colonies had had an opportunity of voicing themselves in Grand Lodge . They had not had that opportunity , he felt ; and when he was told in last Grand Lodge in June , that the communication had not been handed to the Grand Master from New Zealand

Bro . PniLiiRicK : No , no ; please don ' t mistake . It was the communication handed to our Bro . Eve ; that was it ; it was a private communication that they kept back until the last moment to prevent Grand Lodge acting without deliberation , and unconscious until they called the Colonies before them , and Grand Lodge has a right to legislate for itself , and no other body has a right to dictate to Grand Lodge .

Bro . RICHARD EVE . I am glad our brother has had an opportunity of explanation now ; but I say I have the records of Grand Lodge in my hand , and I will let him have them in a very few lines . He said distinctly : " I have heard nothing to the contrary ; but since I have been in Grand Lod ge , two memorials , or resolutions , have been put before me , one coming from

New Zealand , and one from South Africa , dissenting from any alterations . It is a very curious thing—it is very odd—that these two memorials are almost to a syllable alike . Evidently , if I may use a colloquialism , the organ has been voiced by an experienced tuner . Although I do not v / ant to discuss the subject , the signers are not the framers of the memorials I submit , as the memorials are so similar . " He cannot say he did not use those words .

Bro . PiiiLnRicic : Yes I did . They came from your communications and were handed to me just before 1 came into Grand Lodge . Bro . RICHARD EVE : Then I can say that what the Grand Registrar said is not true . I had nothing to do with the communication . I can say this that 1 have had communications from the District Grand Master of New Zealand , from the Grand Lodges in those Districts , and I tell you that they are the

majority of the loyal brethren in New Zealand and they say their letters are not attended to . And it was insinuated on that occasion that I was the " experienced tuner . " I am not , and I say again I was not , and I say again they deal extremely well in the Antipodes ; they feel that they should be loyal to you , to the Grand Master of England , and are desirous to remain in Grand Lodge of England ; they have no objection to their

Grand Lodge being recognised by the Grand Lodge of England , but they do object to recognition to a Supreme Grand Lodge in New Zealand , which will put them in the shade , and the brethren there being under the control of that Supreme Grand Lodge if no recognition is given those brethren so long as you give them collateral rights they will be only too glad to shake hands

with them ; but to give them sovereign rights over those brethren is to put to a discount the hearts of all true men in the Colonies . I ask you not to confirm these alterations in the Book of Constitutions ; it is not required for any special purpose ; they will serve no good purpose ; for the present it can stand over , and can wait for the voice of the Colonies .

Bro . Chief Justice WAY , M . W . G . M . of South Australia , supported the amendment , it was the wish of the brethren of South Australia to remain under the English Constitution . The Colony had had no opportunity of discussing this question in Grand Lodge , which met only once a year . He knew the question have given very great dissatisfaction .

Bro . PniLiiRicK wished to point out that however distinguished the rank of Bro . Way , he did not know what Grand Lodge resolved last time . When Grand Lodge had resolved , ^ with the consent of the Grand Master , to recognise a new Grand Lodge , Grand Lodge kept the whole thing in its own hands , and the Grand Master had to be satisfied too . It was idle to

talk as if any body was to be handed over to another jurisdiction , and whoever said that it was did not know or appreciate it . And that was the great trouble that arose in Freemasons' Hall with the Grand Oflicers , with their Grand Secretary , and with people from the Colonies , and so on , who wrote about what they did not understand and did not take the trouble to read the Constitutions .

After a short reply from Bro . Thomson Lyon ( by permission of Grand Lodge , as no reply is allowed to the mover of an amendment ) , a division was taken as the acting Grand Master could not confidently say , on a show of hands taking twice , whether the amendment was carried or lost . For the amendment ... ,,, 78 Against ... ... .,. n . 6

Majority against ,.. 58 The minutes were then confirmed . Bro . THOMAS FENN then announced that Grand Lodge was honoured that evening with the presence of the Most Worshi pful Grand Master of South Australia , Chief Justice Way , and he called upon the brethren to salute the Most Worshipful brother according to his rank . The salute was accordingly given .

Bro . LETCHWORTH read the minutes of the grand meeting at the Royal Albert Hall on June 14 th . Bro . BEACH , in proposing the thanks of the Grand Master to Bros . Sir Albert Woods and Thomas Fenn for their ellbient arrangements for the

Masonic meeting at the Royal Albeit Hall , said : Brethren , you have heard the account of the great and important meeting at the Royal Albert Hall . If an ample proof were needed of the loyalty Freemasons hold towards our beloved ( Jueen , it was furnished on that great occasion . I am sure a lasting impression was made on every FYeemason who was present within thjse