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need not go into that argument . Again , I feel equally certain that Grand Lodge would not be prepared to devote this sum of money , whatever it may be , exclusively to one single Charity . ( Hear , hear . ) That I see equally . _ Then there remains only the last course , which is to divide

it amongst all three equally . Now , brethren , observe what would be the consequence of that . It could be but a small—I will even say a paltry —sum that you could distribute to each . You would fritter away that which may be a grand and lasting memorial —( hear , hear)—among the

Charities . ( Great cheering . ) There could be nothing permanent , there could be nothing special in that . And , brethren , I would go further , and entreat you , in the name of and for the sake of those Charities , not to adopt what I should think so fatal a course as that . ( Loud applause ) .

Brethren , the charities of this great Order are among the highest honours that we can show in our Masonic Crown . ( Hear , hear ) . When any one of those charities needs money , what is done ? We appeal to the Craft , and we get what we want . ( Cheers ) . Brethren , I would venture to state my own personal case . Two

years ago , I filled the chair at the festival of the Boys' School . I believe on that occasion over £ 13 , 000 ] was realised . ( Hear , hear ) . Do you mean to tell me , or to tell anyone else , that the Boys' School needs the paltry addition of £ 1500 or £ 2000 ? ( Hear , hear ) scraped together out of another citcumslance and another

occasion , with which it has no definite connection , in order to give it funds ? Why , I know perfectly well , if the Boys' School needs funds we have nothing to do , but , as I did on that occasion , to appeal to the Craft at large for what we want . ( Great applause ) . Brethren , I therefore say ,

in the name of these great charities , do not do them the wrong and the injustice of applying this money to them or in any way stopping the fountain , the free-flowing fountain , which runs in their behalf . ( Cheers ) . Brethren , I cannot sufficiently remind you on this particular point ,

that our object to-night is not to find money for any one of our great Masonic Charities , but it is to record a particular event in the history of this country and in the history of Masonry , in which our Grand Master went out to India , discharged a great public duty , and returned here to the hearty

and full satisfaction and amongst the unanimous welcome of the whole Craft . ( Loud and long continued cheering ) . Well , then , brethren , if that be so ( and I think you have gone along with me so far ) , let me ask you what are the objects to which we should look in this particular

case ? They are , to put them very briefly , first of all , that any memorial which we create , so to speak , on this occasion , should be special and definite j secondly , that it should be lasting , and more than lasting , that it should be permanent ; thirdly , that it should be somehow inseparably

connected and bound up with some great object of charity ; fourthly , that it should range even beyond the limits of the Craft , and it should for once in a way embrace in its great compass the whole nation ( cheers ) ; and , lastly , I would ask , as quite supplementary , but which still I

think comes from us gracefully , that it should be such an object as that in which His Royal Highness has been known to take a lively interest , and in which he has himself taken an active part . Brethren , if you can find any one object which comprises all these different

conditions , I think you will not have done amiss , you will not have gone far astray , you may be satisfied that you have , so far as it is given to human knowledge and human wisdom to do so , solved a problem which was not before solved . Well , now , the proposal I have to make to you

on behalf of the committee is simply this : it is that we should establish—not for a few years , not at the mere sport of the wind and waves , to be worn and torn away , and to disappear after a time , even after a brief career , but to last in perpetuity , and to record so long as the waters wash the shores of Great Britain , the intention

and the purpose of this Grand Lodge—that we should establish two lifeboats in honour of the return of the Prince of Wales . Brethren , I have gone carefully into the matter , and I find that b y an arrangement with that most admirable and patriotic Institution , the Life Boat Association , it is in thc power of this Grand Lodge to found

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no less than two life-boats in absolute perpetuity . ( Hsar , hear , and loud applause . ) The cost of a lifeboat will interest Grand Lodge , and therefore I will give them the figures . The cost of a lifeboat is assumed to be £$$ o . The transport of it , with certain other incidents , to the

place where it is to be maintained , is set down at £ if , o . There are contingencies . It is then necessary to erect for it buildings so that it may be permanently housed from decay . That represents the sum of £ 3 $ o wore . In all , £ 1000 . But there then comes the question of

maintenance ; and the maintenance cannot be put at much less than £ 70 a year ; in other words about £ 2000 additional , assuming money at 3 \ per cent . You perceive therefore that at that rate two lifeboats would cost no less than £ 6000 . But if you adopt those figures it is clear that the

cost of two lifeboats would amount to no less than _ £ 6 oco . But , by private communications which I have had with the Lifeboat Institution , they , whose operations of course extend over a very much larger area , can afford it at a cheaper rate than we could if we undertook to supply

two lifeboats for ourselves . They are therefore willing to pledge themselves on the strength of their whole funds for £ icaa to maintain each lifeboat . Therefore the cost of one lifeboat being assumed to be £ 1000 , and the maintenance in perpetuity being another s ^ rooo , it will be

possible if Grand Lodge agrees to this vote of S £ A . OO- > , for the two lifeboats to be maintained for ever and a day , in honour of the Prince of Wales' return from India . ( Great cheering ) . Brethren , I am not at all surprised at the liberality of the Life Boat Institution in this matter .

At the same time I venture to say to Grand Lodge , it is a very satisfactory bargain for us to have made , and one which I , for my part , cordially recommend to Grand Lodge . Now , brethren , I am quite aware , as every one must be , that as regards this memorial of the safe journey and

return of His Royal Highness , there may bethere are perhaps—many opinions ( hear , hear ) . One person would like one thing ; another person would like another . I would merely put it to them , that each person be content in this matter to forego to a certain degree his own

individual opinion . ( Hear , hear . ) We are met together for a great purpose ; we have no private and no selfish interests or objects in it . Let us endeavour for once to act with absolute and entire unanimity . ( Loud and prolonged applause . ) I think that the foundation in

perpetuity of these two lifeboats does satisfy all the conditions at least which I mentioned to you . It is something special and definite ; it is something lasting and permanent ; it is unquestionably charitable ( hear , hear , and applause ) ; it is national as well as Masonic ; and no one can doubt

that His Royal Highness the Prince of Wales has taken the liveliest interest in it , because , on one occasion at least , he presided at the great anniversary of the Institution . ( Hear , hear . ) Brethren , it is possible that it may be said that in this recommendation we are venturing out of

the beaten track , and that wc should confine ourselves exclusively to something Masonic . Well , let me remind those who think so that even on board of many a ship , labouring in many a gale , there may be many a brother Mason . ( Hear , hear , and cheers , —which lasted for some time . )

Those who have heard the howling of the wind during this last week , while we have been enjoying the festive season ; those who still more have listened to the touching service in many of our churches , '' For those who are in peril at still

sea , "— more , those who under such circumstances have had father or mother , brother or sister , relation or friend , on board those ships , will feel that such a grant as I now ask you to make does not really fall beyond the circle of Masonry . ( Hear , hear . ) Brethren , it is true

that in a certain sense such a vote as this appeals beyond Masonry to the whole outward world ; and I for one rejoice when , once in a way , exceptional as it is in this case , we can put forth a hand to the outer world—that we can show that

we are united to it b y common ties of humanity and sympathy ; that we can give the lie to the calumnies which have been so often urged against our Order , that it is a mere selfish body , actuated by ' selfish motives < md selfish feelings . Brethren , I rejoice to give a practical proof in

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refutation of such a vile calumny as that . ( Hear , hear . ) It is said sometimes that Masonry is a mere benefit society . We who know its principles better ; we who see its workings more intimately , know that there is no truth whatever in such a representation ; and I venture to think

those who to-night record by their vote their assent to this proposal will have done a great and signal service to English Freemasonry throughout the whole of the world . ( Cheers . ) Brethren , I have but one more word to say , and it is this : this proposal may be better , may be

worse ; I believe it to be one of the very few proposals which could be made that on the whole comprises all the conditions that I have mentioned , and which recommends it alike to Freemasonry and to the objects which it has in view . But I venture to put it to this Grand

Lodge that this vote should be absolutely unanimous . ( Hear , hear . ) I trust sincerely that there will be no one single voice raised in opposition at least to this . Under ordinary circumstances I court criticism ; I rejoice in criticism ; but I will 3 sb you , having remitted this in a certain

sense to a committee , that committee having given the fairest , the fullest , the most impartial consideration they can to it , I would ask you to forego as far as you conscientiously can the individual desire , which I admit is perfectly legitimate in ever ) ' one , and if possible give it a

cordial and unanimous approval . Brethren , I ask this not for the sake of the committee , not for the sake of the chair from which I now address you , but specially for the sake of the particular object we have in view , and for the

illustrious person , our Grand Master , with whom that object is indissolubly connected , and for whose sake I would not have , if it was possible , the slightest difference of opinion on the subject . ( The noble lord was greeted with loud and prolonged applause on resuming his seat . )

Lord Leigh , Prov . G . M . for Warwickshire in seconding the motion said he had not the slightest idea when he came to the hall that evening from the country , that he should have had the honour to do so , but owing to the absence of the Dep . G . M ., which they all regretted very much , the

duty was placed in his hands . The resolution had been proposed so ably , so feelingly , and so exhaustively by the Pro Grand Master that he confessed he was pleased to have the honour . His task was an easy one ; the Pro Grand Master having so fully , ably and feelingly gone

into the whole subject . Although he would have to say but very few words the brethren must permit him on his own part , and on behalf of the province over which he had the extreme honour of presiding for some 26 years past . ( Cheers ) . To express the great pleasure it had given him

to hear the resolution that had been proposed , and which emanated from the committee which was formed to take into consideration this very important subject . He entirely and completel y agreed with the remark that the Pro Grand Master had made towards the end of his

admirable address when he said he rejoiced to think the Freemasons stepped beyond Masonry in the proposed memorial in honour of the return of their illustrious Grand Master to this country after his long voyage . He rejoiced with the P . G . M , that the proposition went a little beyond

Masonry . He quite agreed with the Pro Grand Master that this was an unusual subject and that they ought to show the great world beyond Freemasonry that they were capable of stepping out of Masonry , and associating their great body with the outer world . The three great

Masonic Charities were ably supported , and if they wanted more support they did not require a paltry £ 3000 or £ 4000 . He also entirely and completely agreed with the Pro G . M . when he said that there were some Masons on the ships at sea : but he went beyond the Pro Grand Master ,

and said there were thousands and tens of thousands of our brethren on the broad seas , that required their assistance , and therefore he appealed to the brethren to support most cordially the proposition of the Pro G . M ., as he

could not conceive a mere English mode of assisting charity , than for the Masons of a great maritime country like England to assist their brethren on the seas . He mi ght add , on behalf of himself , and he might say on the part of his own province , which comprised a very la . rge