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lessons , that to gain the real ear of his brethren it does not do to be too ao-oressive , or in any sense incriminative of others , but that a calm , collected , well argued out address can always obtain a respectful hearing from Grand Lodge . * * *

... - . . 1 L _ Ct 1 . - . THE " Agenda Paper " —in respect of the many amendments " not recommended " by the Board of General Purposes—was open , we felt and feel still , to much fair criticism . It did not strike us we confess , havinghad a great deal to do with similar matters , cither a very " ship-shape " or practical way of doing business . It was sometimes and somewhat difficult to realize the

question involved , or the point in debate . But then though an objection so fairly lay in the mouth and mind of any brother present , it ought to have been made at the beginning of business , when it could have been reasonably made and fully answered . But it was notat all fair , after hours of exhaustive

confinement and patient hard work , for any brethren to come in after a comfortable and " square meal" elsewhere , and raise such a point before a hungry and perspiring audience . Bro . Sir J MONCKTON ' S very forcible words , under the circumstances of the case , were duly appreciated and

warmly endorsed by all present . s # FROM the Antipodes comes a touching but interesting story , Professor WALKER , of Auckland , New Zealand , a young and rising man , a Second Wrangler , and a brother Mason , has recently been drowned while bathing . Being friendless in the country , and but newly-arrived , our Bro . the Rev .

W . TEBB , P . G . C . for Somersetshire , rector of St . Matthew ' s , Auckland , and District Grand Registrar , with Bro . N ELSON , claimed the body . The Masonic hall was fitted up to receive the coffin , and the remains of our poor brother were duly honoured by our always reverent and religious Order . The GOVERNOR , the S PEAKER of the House of Assembly ,

Sir MAURICE O'RORKE , and many more sent wreaths of flowers . Many hundred Freemasons attended the funeral , and thousands of the people lined the streets . Thus our young and distinguished brother , a stranger in a strange

country , with a brig ht career prematurely brought to a close , was lovingl y and loyally attended to his grave by a band of brothers , and the mystic charm of Masonic fellowship which g irdles the world is thus beautifully illustrated and evidenced , as binding us in bonds of brotherly love and

sympathy alike in life and in death . # * « WE call attention to the remarks elsewhere respecting the land about the

Girls' School now for sale . We feel confident that such a statement will receive the immediate attention it deserves . We highly approve of the proper and thoughtful action of the House Committee , and are sure that it will commend itself to Subscribers and the Craft .

United Grand Lodge.

UNITED GRAND LODGE .

A Special Grand Lodge was held last Friday at Freemasons Hall for the purpose of considering the alterations and amendments proposed for the new Book of Constitutions . The Earl of Carnarvon , M . W . Pro Grand Master , presided , and was supported by the following brethren : Bros . Lord Holmesdale , P . G . M . Kent , as D . G . M . ; Rev . H . Moore , P G . C ., as r . q w •Victor A . Williamson , as G . LW . ; Rev . \ V . Oswald Thompson , G . Chap . ;

John Derby Allcroft , Grand Treas . ; / Eneas J . Mclntyre , Grand Reg ; bir I . B . Monckton , F . S . A ., President Board of General Purposes ; Col . Shadwell H . Clerke , Grand Secretary ; Ernst EmilWendt , Grand Sec . G . C ; Ral p h Gooding , M . D ., G . S . D . ; T . H . Devonshire , G . J . D . ; Sir Albert Woods , G . D . of C ; I . Boiling Bolton , Asst . G . D . of C . ; Raymond H . Thrupp , Asst . G . D . of C . ; Col . James Peters , G . S . B . ; Frlwnr Hrmver . G . Std . Br .: H . C . Buss , Asst . G . Sec . ; VV . Stephens , Asst . G . Purst . ;

H . Sadler , Grand Tyler ; Sir Francis Burdett , P . G . M . Middx . ; Montague J . Guest , PGM Dorset •W . VV . B . Beach , P . G . M . Hants and Isle of Wight ; General J . S . Brownrigg . " P-G-M- Surrey ; H . D . Sandeman P . D . G . M . Bengal ; John Havers , P . G . W . ; Rev . A . W . Hall , P . G . C . ; Rev . C . W . Arnold , P . G . C . ; Rev . T . Robinson , P . G . C ; Rev . C . J . Martyn , P . G . C ; Rev . A . K A . Woodford , P . G . C ; Rev . A . J . Pickard , P . G . C ; Rev . J . Studholme Brownrigg P . G . C ; Rev . R . J . Simpson , P . G . C . ' Capt . N . G . Philips , P . G . D . ; R . I ' . Gould , P . G . D . ; Col . H . Somerville i

Burney , P . G . D . ; Peter de I . ande Long , l-. U . u . ; Keginaiu pira , - ^ o . u . j u . A . Murton , P . G . D . ; H . C . Tombs , P . G . D . ; John Sampson Peirce P . G . D ; K P . Morrell P . G . D . ; J . H . Scott , P . G . D . ; J . A . Rucker , P . G . D . ; Frank Richardson , P . G . D . ; I . M . P . Montague , P . G . D . ; J . M . Case , P . G . D . ; Brackstone Baker , P G D •R C Else , P . G . D . ; R . Turtle Pigott , P . A . G . D . of C . ; C . Greenwood , RG ' . S . B . ; John Messent , P . G . S . B . ; H . S . Alpass , P . G . Std . Br . ; C . A . Cottebrune , PGP- James Brett , P . G . P . ; Albert , P . G . P . ; Thos . Cubitt , P . G . P . ; and others .

Grand Lodge having been opened in ample form , Col . Shadwell H . Clerke , Grand Secretary , read the summons convening the lodge . The M . W . P RO GRAND M ASTER then said : Brethren , before proceeding to the business of the day , I have one or two remarks to make to you on a matter which I understand to be of considerable importance and public interest—I mean the Table of Precedence . Upon representations made to

the Grand Master , his Royal Highness thought it right to make certain changes in that table , and such changes took p lace at and after Grand Festival last April . I have during the last few days conferred repeatedly with the Grand Master , that I now desire to say on behalf of his Royal Highness that he would not have mooted this question of any change had he not been given to understand that it would be acceptable to the Craft . His Royal Hig hness has , however , since learned that the changes then made have not met with that general assent which he

had been led to expect ; and he is also aware that a question has been raised whether the Grand Master has even the power to alter the precedence not of existng , but of future Grand Officers . I do not propose to discuss that question now ; it is not a matter , in my opinion , of any grave moment , and it is one on which I feel pretty certain that so long as Grand Lodge continues to be influenced by the same temper and feelings which I have always known , our present Grand Master and Grand Lodge will not greatly differ . His Royal Hi g hness thinks it right to

United Grand Lodge.

observe to me that the power which he , acting under advice , has exercised , has been precisely that power which all successive Grand Masters from his Royal uncle , the Duke of Sussex , to whom the Craft are very much indebted , have exercised , and that without question on the part of Grand Lodge . By direction of his Royal Highness , enquiry has been made on this subject , the result of which is to make it clear that the practice

has been somewhat irregular and conflicting ; at one time the Grand Master and at another time the Grand Lod ge conferring rank in Grand Lodge on brethren and fixing their status . I need here explain that in the Book of Constitutions framed in the year 1815 , shortly after the Union , and which was ordered to be in force for three years , Grand Lodge took power to propose to the Grand Master three

names for each of the offices of Grand Chaplain , Grand Treasurer , and Grand Sword Bearer for selection therefrom b y him , the Grand Master having the absolute right to select the other nine Grand Officers then assisting . But this being found not to work satisfactorily , Grand Lodge by resolution of thc 29 th July , 1 S 1 S , when approving various alterations in the Book of Constitutions which were submitted b y ihe Board of General

Purposes , cancelled this arrangement , and the Grand Master had powers to appoint to all the Grand Offices except the Grand Treasurer , and these consequently were embodied in the Book of Constitutions which was published in the year 1819 . Since then the Grand Master has so appointed the Grand Officers , and has fixed on and altered their status on more than one occasion without

complaint , let , or hindrance on the part of Grand Lod ge ; and it may therefore be concluded , for the fact proves itself , that the Grand Master has done this , and has continued to do it , with the sanction and approval of Grand Lodge , and the custom has in this , as so often in other cases , made the law , though the law has not been recorded as it ought to have been . On the other hand , it is to be observed that Grand Lodge has

every now and again by specific resolution conferred rank and station on different brethren . Thus , in September , 1 S 62 , it resolved to make the President of the Board of General Purposes a Grand Officer , which he was not before , and fixed his status ; and , again , as late as June , 1 SS 1 , when it created the appointment of Deputy Director of Ceremonies and First and Second Grand Standard Bearers . It is clear , then that the Grand Mastpr

and Grand Lodge have at different times exercised concurrent authority on this matter . I need hardly say that the Grand Master has only the interests of Grand Lodge at heart . His Royal Hi ghness exercises his powers and uses his prerogative in the name and for the sake of Grand Lodge , and I am quite satisfied , as I have already said , that a question such as this is a subject on which there can arise no difference between the Grand

Master and Grand Lodge . Grand Lodge is naturally jealous of its privileges , and if I may take it on myself to say so , no one will be more watchful in guarding those privileges than the Grand Master . I have thought it right at the desire of his Royal Highness to state all these facts with all the frankness in my power , and I come now to that which on his part I wish to say . The great end and aim of our Grand Master in taking the

position conferred on him by and over this ancient , honourable and most useful institution , is to rule it well and promote as far as in him lies its best interests , and the welfare , content and happiness of the brethren generally . His Royal Highness has now received reliable information that the changes which he made in April last are not agreeable to the large body of the Craft , and as his only desire on

such a question as this is to give effect to the well-considered wishes and to promote the welfare of the Craft . I have on his part to say that he now cancels the instructions he then gave ; the result of which will be that the Table of Precedence will continue to be as it now stands in the Book of Constitutions ; and I direct that this act of his Royal Highness the Grand Master shall be duly recorded on the minutes of this Grand Lodge .

Brethren I have now stated to the best of my ability the feelings and wishes of his Royal Highness , and I am satisfied of the spirit in which they will be read by Grand Lodge . I have only to add this , that I most heartil y concur as of myself in that which 1 have just stated to Grand Lodge . Brethren , 1 now pass to . the formal business of the day . We have a great deal to dispose of , large in bulk as well as important in quality ;

and I think it will be convenient to this Grand Lod ge if I state at once the principles which will guide me in my ruling to-night from this chair . The draft Constitutions consist of two parts—those clauses in the existing Book of Constitutions on which no amendments have been proposed , and those on which amendments have been sent in . You will bear in mind that at a recent Grand Lodge it was resolved that all those brethren who desired to

suggest amendments to any part of the Constitutions were to send them in by a certain date . A very large number have been sent in , and all those must in some form or other be considered ; but all those clauses to which no amendments have been suggested remain part of the existing Book of Constitutions , and will not form the subject of discussion to-ni ght . I should be rlnhnrrpd from allowintr discussion on anv noint of that enrr K , » the r » ran )

resolution of the Grand Lodge . But there remains a vast number—a very large number—of clauses on which amendments are suggested , and I shall take each of these clauses one by one as they follow , and permit discussion to be raised in conformity with the amendments which are suggested , and Grand Lodge will decide then whether those clauses shall stand as they now stand , or whether they shall be amended according lo the amendments : in other

words , I shall treat all those clauses on which no amendments have been suggested as outside the field of discussion to-ni ght . I shall take those clauses on which amendments have been suggested , one by one , in their order , and it will be competent for all those who desire to amend them in accordance with the amendments of which notice has been given to make their proposals to Grand Lodge .

The brethren then proceeded to discuss the amendments , and in the course of five and a half hours settled 184 of the rules , but owing to our reporter ' s notes of this portion of the proceedings not coming to hand , we are unable to give our readers particulars as we intended to do of the more important amendments that were agreed to or rejected , but we hope to do so next week .