Contents.

CONTENTS .

. } Grand Lodge ...... 3 ^ , or M ASONIC M . . - jaft Masonry •••¦¦•¦ ^ , * I ) HRS ' rtlSl'OSDE . VCE .- — __ „ , lon Masonic Charity Association . 09

Ke Discoveries at Cleopatra s Needle 109 Lfdenboig ian Rite to 9 Lval Masonic Benevolent Institution ro 9 f Maneiininm " and the Emulation Lodge of Improvement 109 Lj Swcdcnborg a Mason ? 109 L „ ., log Mew 5 * Umc Notes and Queries 109

5 T mirv i . ro Gfoiv Masonic Charity Association no irvon and M . zpah Ball no Sonic Ball in Liverpool 111 ranic Dramatic fcntcrtainments in oval Society of Ancient Britons 1 n [ it M asonry m

, val Arch ; IIr JlMasonry—Continued in miction in ^ crucian Society of England 112 . sonic and General Tidings , 112 Ere Meetings for Next Week 112 Soiisements i .. " ¦ , i" ., »' ., v ., vi .

United Grand Lodge.

UNITED GRAND LODGE .

The Quarterly Communication of United Grand Lodge is held on Wednesday evening , at Freemasons' Hall . ic Right Hon . the Earl of Carnarvon , Most Worshipful g Gram ! Master , presided . Lord Tentenlen , Past Grand nior Warden , occupied the Grand Senior Warden's lit . Major-General the Hon . Somerset G . Calthorpe ,

lior Grand Warden of the year , was Junior Grand anion . Bro . W . W . Beach , M . I ' ., Provincial Grand istcr for Surrey , acted as Deputy Grand Master , and 0 , Montague Guest , Provincial Grand Master for xsit , as Past Grand Master . Among the other Grand i Past Grand Officers present were Bros . Lord ¦ rcington , Senior G . W . ; Rev . C . W . Spencer

mhope , M . A ., G . Chap . ; Col . Creaton , G . cas . ; / Eneas J . Mclntyre , Q . C ., G . Reg . ; J . B . Moncki ( Town Clerk ) , Pres . B . G . P . ; Col . Shadwell H . Clerke , , Scc ; H . G . Buss , Asst . G . Sec ; E . E . Wendt , G . Sec . trmau Correspondence ; Reginald Bird , S . G . D . ; atthew Clark , J . G . D . ; Sir Albeit Woods ( Garter ) , and Dir . of Cer . ; George Burt , Asst . Grand Dir . of Cer . ;

Mullens , G . S . B . ; C . E . Willing , G . Org . ; W . Willi , G . Purs . ; James Kench , Asst . G . Purs . ; H . idler , Grand Tyler ; the Hon . Richard Giddy , SM Griqualand ; Edward Tyrrell Leitb , D . G . M . tinibay ; T . G . Linstcad , D . G . M . Hong Kong id South China ; Hon . J . Gibbs , P . D . G . M . Bombay ; . Murray , P . D . G . M . China ; John Whitwell , M . P .,

3 . W . ; Sir Michael Costa , P . G . W . ; Capt . W . Piatt , J . W . ; Rev . A . F . A . Woodford , P . G . C . ; Rev . R . P . 11 , l' . G . C . ; Rev . C . J . Martvn , P . G . C . ; Rev . Sir John , Hayes , P . G . C . ; Rev . C . W . Arnold , l ' . G . C . ; Rev . T . Kavmshaw , P . G . C ; H . J . 1 > . Dumas , P . G . D . ; J . Percy itn , l ' . G . D . ; E . J . Barron , P . G . D . ; Jabez Hogg , P . G . D . ; linn , P . G . D . ; Capt . N . G . Philips , P . G . D .: Raphael

Sta , P . G . D . ; Charles A . Murton , P . G . D . ; J . C . Parkin-1 , l' . G . D . ; J . Glaisher , P . G . D . ; Raynham W . Stewart , ID . j John A . Rucker , P . G . D . ; Brackstone Baker , G . D . ; William A . F . Powell , P . G . D . ; Charles W . Hutton , l ' . G . D . ; / . M . Case , P . G . D . ; John ' . Wike , P . G . D . ; Peter de Lande Long , P . G . D . ; bcit Grey , l ' . G . D . ; C . C . Dumas , P . Asst . G . D . of C . ;

» - ** Lewis Thomas , P . Assr . G . D . of C . ; F . Robinson , Asst . G . D . of C . ; W . R . Williams , P . Asst . G . D . of C ; ' tie Pollen , P . G . S . B . ; J . Mason , P . G . S . B . ; A . J . Duff « r , P . G . S . B . ; W . A . Nettleship , P . G . S . B . ; [ oshua ¦ a , P . G . S . B . ; C . A . Cottebrune , P . G . P . ; E . P . Albert , 5 . P . ; S . G . Foxall , P . G . P ., and others . '! ' --r the formal opening ot Grand Lodge , Grand

Srcrc-I rtad the regulations for the government of Grand fee ( luring the lime of public business , after which he D read the minutes of the Quarterly Communication ^' -. 'rtl December , 1879 . ° ''> re these minutes were put for confirmation Bro . Crge J . McKay , P . M . 129 , Kendal , rose to move the " ¦ confirmation of that part of them which related to Bro .

« s Stevens' motion for a committee on uniformity of a ' - In doing so he said he assumed a position which Hint very enviable , but he trusted Grand Lodge would ¦ think the manner in which he proposed the motion "hrough any disrespect , as it was only from a sense of )' ' which , as a brother , he owed to the Craft . He felt "" ' tnt that the brethren in England and the Colonies

"w 'lrprecate any attempt to enforce uniformity of ritual '' j'Shout the lodges . In the Colonies he believed it '"' be utterly impracticable , and he trusted Grand 'S ' would never assent to such a change . This ! hut a matter which concerned Grand Lodge "' luV . n alone , but it affected the Colonies also , whose £ ' 5 were one-fourth on the roll , and were

"sing j „ i | lc ratio of one-third . Grand Lodge , in ¦'¦ ' T toleration , had been content with the present ivork' ¦ ''thc last sixty-seven years , and he thought it did ' ^ tur what the working was—whether the Emulation '' ¦ Stability , as long as the essentials were preserved . ••! ruice with the ritual caused the great schism in ¦; ' -ml he believed the present was a motion which 1

he surrounded with difficulties , the magnitude and lla 'e consequences of which no one could foresee . One step might be the means of incalculable injury to Vaft , and inflict upon the Order an irreparable evil r no one could repair . With the thousands of the r j-n , they had been early taught a different ritual , com'Jtoe toa cut and dried ritual There might be a differ" > the verbiage , but Grand . Lodge would agree that

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the essentials were practically the same . He believed no Committee could be got together to which the whole Craft would listen . He trusted some brother would second his motion , and treat the question from the archaeological point of view , and he hoped most earnestly and sincerely that Grand Lodge would retrace its steps as regarded what he considered the unwise motion of Bio . Stevens . He

asked Grand Lodge , in its wise and tolerant spirit , to let well alone . The Rev . C . W . Arnold seconded the motion . He thought it right to explain his position . He had been put on the proposed Committee , but it was right he should say his name was put there by his province , which he should be most happy to represent if appointed ; but he

had written to Bro . btevens to say he objected 111 Into to the Committee , as he believed it would be detrimental to Freemasonry . At last Grand Lodge he was obliged to leave before he had an opportunity of speaking , but on that occasion it was said that the working of the provinces was not what it ought to be . Now , he had attended London lodges and lodges in the provinces , and in his own

Province of Surrey , and he was bound to say that the working in the provinees would bear comparison with that of any of the London lodges . In his own province he had been received most kindly , and if he pointed out anything in the working which he considered not right , his suggestion of an improvement was most gladly entertained . In one lodge they were doing their work in a vety old

fashioned way , and he wrote about how a difference might be made , and the consequence was a lodge of instruction was formed , and a better form of ritual was adopted , and he believed that henceforth the working would be on the same lines as the other lodges in the province . If this could be done by other Deputy Provincial Grand

Masters he thought the differences in working would soon disappear . He believed it would be a great waste of time if Bro . Stevens' Committee was appointed . No good would be done . It would be a long time before the Committee could arrive at any conclusion , and when the result was obtained it would be a most difficult thing for Grand L'idge to interfere with the working of the different

provinces and the districts throughout the world . They would have to send peripatetic Preceptors to Tasmania , Bombay , or Gtiqualand , to show uniformity of working . But to pass to another point—there were in places many cherished customs which had been handed down from time immemorial , and the brethren of those particular lodges would not allow those old customs to be stamped out . It

would be a great interference with the lmerty of Freemasonry to insist on a change . Masons had common sense , and a sufficient amount of education to know what was good when they saw it , and he believed in time better systems of working would be introduced through the interchange of visits which took place between the lodges , and which Masons so r - . elighted to exercise . In this way

they would get rid of eccentricities which he believed was the reason why Bro . Stevens introduced this motion . Uniformity in working had greatly increased in the last , few years , as Masons were brought neartr to one another by the facilities of communication , and he believed that uniformity would be ultimately brought about . If there was not there would only be a few old traditions left which were perfectly harmless in themselves , and would not affect

the working . The Rev . R . J . Simpson , in reference to the order of these proceedings , said he was perfectly aware that the appointment of an officer and the grants of money re quired confirmation , but he wished to ask whether or not on the confirmation of minutes they were open to have a discussion of every matter that had been settled at a previous meeting .

The Earl of Carnarvon had no hesitation in saying that the mover of the no . i-confirmation of the minutes was quite in order . The Rev . R . J . Simpson ventured to think , without any reference to the merits or demerits of Bro . Stevens' proposal ,

that Grand Lodge having decided on having a Committee to settle this matter once and for ever , it was a stultification of Grand Lodge proceedings- to negative what it had done . If Bro . Stevens' proposal was so absurd and impracticable as it was represented to be , the Committee would give tffect to that opinion , and it would be decided once and for ever .

Bro . Cumberland supported Bro . Stevens . He also had been in various lodges , and he had seen working that was not in accordance with his view . He had a great many startling revelations to make with regard to what he had seen . ( Bro . Cumberland then stated a number of instances in which he had seen working different to ths ordinary working , and oi which he did not approve . ) He thought

something might be devised to do away with these eccentricities , many of which he thought to be very wrong . He believed something ought to be done to take off all these superfluous knobs and excrescences from the Order , and it would be all the better for the Craft . On these grounds he supported the confirmation of the minutes , and he did not think it a great honour for Grand Lodge at

one meeting to settle the matter , and at the next to go over the whole ground again . Bro . James Stevens thought the . whole affair might be put in a nutshell . Grand Sicretary had read the regulations for the Government of Gran : ! Lodge , one of which was that after a motion had been carried and confirmed it became law . Consequently his resolution became part

and parcel of the absolute laws to which the brethren had committed themselves . His motion was carried in 1869-1870 , and a Committee > vas to he formed . Though ten years had elapsed it had not been formed , and with all due deference he asserted that there was , therefore , a law on their books which had not been fulfilled . He had been charged with taking Grand Lodge by surprise , but due notice had been given , and the brethren were aware of what

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was intended . After his motion in 186 9 was carried , the formation of a Committee was adjourned sine die . EJeven years had elapsed , and a great many days had intervened , arid no Committee was formed . He hoped they would now form a Committee . He assured the brethren he was quite single-minded in the matter , and it the brethren decided against him he should let the matter drop , and go

away with the conviction that he had at least done his duty as a Mason . He thought it would have been better if Bro . Arnold , instead of refusing now to be on the Committee , had written him first to say that he would not . The Rev . C , W . Arnold said he objected to the Committee , but as he had been appointed by the Province he should consider it his duty to serve .

Bro . Stevens , continuing , said he only asked for a Committee of Inquiry , and , if the Committee was formed , they would say whether uniformity of ritual was practicable or not . If they said it was not he should be satisfied . He had never known any attempt to stifle inquiry when there was not something to be inquired into . It there was anything behind which the brethren did not know the

Committee would find it out , and the Commkte would report to its fullest extent . The Rev . A . F . A . Woodford had not intended to speak , the brethren having listened to him so kindly on the previous occasion . It was utterly incorrect to say that in 186 9 the fullest discussion was given to this question . Bro . Stevens thought it was out of order to refer to

proceedings ten years ago . The Rev . A . F . A . Woodford believed he was perfectly in order . Though the resolution was carried in 1869 it had no : received adequate discussion . It came on at the fag end of a very exciting night , when the present Grand Master was introduced to English Freemasons for the first time . If Bro . Stevens would look over the report of the

proceedings he would sec that the reporter added the significant words that Bros . Stebbing , Browse , and MattheiV Cooke all said a few words , and then the motion was carried . At the next meeting a distinguished member of the Order expressed his regret that the subject had been so hastily carried . The Grand Lodge then referred the appointment of a Committee till the

meeting in June , when Bro . Horace Lloyd moved that the Committee should not be appointed . This was carried , and it would be seen by the minutes that Grand Lodge refused to appoint the Committee . How any one could venture to say it was a stultification of the proceedings of Grand Lodge to do as was proposed hy the present motion he was at a loss to understand . He therefore earnestly

supported Bro . McKay ' s motion , as he felt sure , from long provincial experience , that any interference with the harmless liberty of numberless lodges would be productive of the most serious consequences . He might say , on the part of the Masters of lodges of England , there was no body of men more willing to do their duty according to the ancient landmarks , or less willing to do anything contrary to the

old and cherished traditions , than the country brethren . The effect of Bro . Stevens' proposal would be greater than even he and his friends anticipated , and he trusted that Grand Lodge , by a large majority , would non-confirm a hasty resolution . Bro . W . R . Marsh submitted that the Committee asked for was only to be appointed for tlv purpose of enquiry ,

and if the minutes were confirmed Grand Lo lge would not be pledged to any principle . It would be quite lime enough when the Committee made its report to raise any discussion as to the formation of the ritual . The Earl of Carnarvon having put the motion to the meeting , Bro . McKay ' s amendment was carried , and the minutes , with the exception of that part which related to Bro . Stevens' motion , were confirmed by an immense

majority . Bro . Frank Richardson , W . M . Grand Stewards' Lodge , then rose and said : Most Worshipful Pro Grand Master and brethren , at the last Quarterly Communication of Grand Lodge I had the distinguished honour to nominate the Grand Master for the ensuing year . It is necessary , according to the Book of Constitutions , that the motion

must be put as a substantive motion , and carried at a subsequent Grand Lodge . In rising , therefore , to propose that H . K . H . the Prince of Wales shall he appointed Grand Master for the ensuing year , 1 feel that I have an easy task , and I will not weary you in performing it . We all know how ably H . R . H . discharges the duties of his high and important office , and how ready he is at all times , no

doubt as often as personal convenience will allow him , to devote himself to the general good of our Order . As an instance of this , I may refer to the fact that H . R . H . has consented to journey into Cornwall in the month of May to lay the foundation stone of Truro Cathedral with Masonic honours . This , I believe , is the first time , at least in this portion of Her Majesty ' s dominions , that H . R . H .

has performed such a ceremony . 1 believe you will all unite with me in thinking that H . R . H . should be re-elected to the Throne of Grand Lodge , which he so much adorns , and in which position he will continue to maintain the affection of his Masonic subjects . I beg to propose the election of His Royal Highness as Most Worshipful Grand Master of English Freem .-. sons for the year ensuing . ( Loud

and general applause . ) Bro . Alderman Ellis , P . M . No . 1 : Most Worshipful Pro Grand Master , I h . eg to second the election of His Royal Highness the Prince of Wales as Most Worshipful Grand Master for the ensuing year . After the eloquent words which Bro . Richardson has made use of , and which , I am sure , will permeate the heart of every Mason , it is

happily unnecessary for me to add one word beyond this . The nomination , I am sure , of His Royal Highness will be received with acclamation . ( Cheers . ) The Earl of Carnarvon : Brethren , this is a motion which is made in the formal course of business , and involves no discussion or difference of opinion , and I shall , therefore , when I put the motion , which I now place before