A Remarkable Tribute.

" When by the Grace of God , Her Majesty , Victoria , Queen of Great Britain and Ireland and Empress of India , laid down her earthly sceptre to wear a crown of Heavenly glory , the people sorrowed , and the Governments of the earth paused in solemn silence .

" It is therefore fitting at this moment , while standing in the shadow of the presence of the Angel of Life and in the hallowed memories of the past , that the MASONIC •VETERAN ASSOCIATION OF ILLINOIS , OF UNITED STATES OF AMERICA , should place on record its loving

respect for the memory of one who had become endeared to all who leve the virtues exemplified in the long life of Her Majesty , the loving wife , mother , and Most Gracious Queen ; the friend of peace and of the oppressed , whose whole life will serve as an example to

future Rulers for ages yet to come . " The beloved and revered Head of a great nation to which we have been attached by the sacred ties of blood and a common language for more years than many of us can recall , is gone . Her Sweet Spirit has winged its

flight across the broad River of Light and joined the loved Consort in the land of eternal life . " The years of her Majesty ' s reign were the golden era of the nineteenth century in which the Arts , Sciences , Literature and Civilization flourished . An era in which

liberty and freedom were extended to more people than in any previous century , the closing of which forms an epoch ever to be remembered . "In presenting this testimonial of your sainted mother ' s

devotion to the cause of humanity , the good of her people and country , the brethren of this association which is honoured with your Majesty ' s membership , respectfully desire to express their confidence that your Majesty

Edward VII , will be as devoted to your people and our common humanity as the illustrious example you now inherit . " John Corson Smith , " Venerable Chief . "

General Smith forwarded the valuable document by a friend , to be handed personally to the Grand Secretary for presentation to His Majesty ( who was then the Grand Master ) , and enclosed a communication to the King , explanatory of the gift . The following reply has been received , and is of a most gratifying character ;

" United Grand Lodge of England " Freemasons' Hall , " Great Queen-street , London , W . C , " 10 th May , 1901 . " Dear Brother and Venerable Chief ,

" I have received the commands of the King to ask you to accept , and to be so good as to convey to the other members of the Masonic Veteran Association of Illinois , his Majesty ' s most grateful and fraternal thanks for the touching tribute to the memory of her late Majesty Queen Victoria , so

eloquently expressed in the address signed by you on behalf of the Association of which his Majesty is himself a member . " I have the honour to be , " Dear Brother and Venerable Chief , " Yours fraternally , "E . LETCH WORTH .

" General John Corson Smith , "Venerable Chief Masonic Veteran Association of Illinois , U . S . A ., & c . " I have reason to know , and authority to state , that the

gracious reply—so appreciative and fraternal—is much valued by General Smith , and will be warmly esteemed by the Veterans for its felicitous expression and hearty recognition . W . J . H .

United Grand Lodge.

UNITED GRAND LODGE .

The Qi-arerl y Communication of United Grand Lodge of Free and Accepted Masons of England was held on Wednesday evening at Freemasons' Hall , London . Earl Amherst , M . W . Pro G . Master presided . The Fail of Warwitk was in his seat as R . W . Dep . G . Master , and Bro . W . W . B . Beach , M . P ., Prov . G . Master of Ilanls and the Isle of Wight , acted as Past G . Master . Bro . Robert Grey , P . G . W ., acted as S . G . W ., Bro . Cornwallis was J . G . W ., and among some 800 brethren who were

present were Bros . R . Loveland Loveland , K . C , G . Reg . ; G . Pitt-Lewis , K . C ; Horace Brooks Marshall , G . Treas . ; D . P . Cama , P . G . Treas . ; George Everett , P . G . Treas . ; S . Cochrane , P . G . Tress . ; E . Letchworth , G . Sec . ; John Strachan , K . C , G . Reg . ; Sir J . I ) . Monckton , P . G . W . ; George Richards , Dist . G . M . Transvaal ; j . E . Le Feuvre ; H . Smith , P . G . D ., P . Dep . Prov . G . Master West Yoikshire ; W . F . Smithson , P . G . D . ; the Right Hon . the Lprd Mayor ; Colonel Clifford Probyn , P . G , Treas , ; J . J . Thomas ;

United Grand Lodge.

James Lewis Thomas , Daniel Mayer , P . G . D . ; T . A . Bullock , Dr . Mickley , W S . Whitaker , P . G . P . ; Fitzroy Tower , Dr . Lawrence , Lennox Browne , P . D . G . DC •' A . C . Spaull , J . D . Langton , Frank Richardson , acting G . D . C ; G . F . Smith P . G . Org . ; W . G . Kentish , Major T . C . Walls , J . A . Farnfield , James Terrv W . Lake , A . G . Sec . ; the Bishop of Barkintr , P . G . Chap . ; the Rev . Sir Borradaile Savory , G . Chap . ; W . F . Lamonby , H . Lovegrove , H . A . Tobias , Rev H A Hebb , P . A . Nairne , J . H . Whadcoat , W . Russell , C Kupferschmidt , I V Burgess , A . G . D . C . ; and W . Goodacre , Prov . G . Sec . W . Lanes .

After Grand Lodge had been opened in ample form the Scrutineers for the ballot for the election of membars of the Board of General Purpases were called up to the Pro Grand Master and obligated by him to make a tiu ? return .

The voting cards were then collected , and the Scrutineers retired . GRAND SECRETARY then read the minutes of the Quarterly Communication of March 6 and of Grand Festival of April 24 , which were respectively put and confirmed .

GRAND SECRETARY next read a report of the presentation of the address voted by Grand Lodge at the special meeting of February 15 to his Majesty the King . The address was read , as well as his Majesty ' sgraciotis reply . The report was received with loud applause .

Earl AMHERST announced to Grand Lodge that the M . W . Grand Master had been pleased to appoint V . W . Richard Loveland Loveland K . C , as President of the Board of General Purposes . ' Bro . R . Loveland Loveland , K . C . advanced to the throne and was re-invested by the M . W . Pro Grand Master .

The GRAND SECRETARY announced that the M . W . Grand Master had been pleased to appoint Bros . Robert Grey , P . G . W . ; Richard Horton Smith , K . C , P . G . Reg . ; Thomas Lean Wilkinson , P . Dep . G . Reg . ; Frank Richardson , P . G . D . ; Sir George D . Harris ,. P . G . D . ; and Vice Admiral H . C St . Clair , P . G . D ., as members of the Board of General Purposes .

On the motion of Dr . A . SANDBERG , Vice-President of the Board of General Purposes , seconded by Bro . W . CLEGIIORN , Bro . John Smith was elected Grand Lodge Auditor . GRAND SECRETARY informed Grand Lodge that the following brethren had been appointed members of the Committee of Management of the Royal Masonic Benevolent Institution :

Bros . Thomas Jones , P . G . D . ; J . T . C Winkfield , P . A . G . D . C ; - Thomas H . Nesbitt , P . A . G . D . C . , * Henry A . Tobias , P . G . Std . Br . ; Major Henry Wright , P . G . S . B . ; William Barnes Fendick , P . G . S . d . Br . ; Samuel V . Abraham , P . G . P . ; Charles J . R . Tijou , P . A . G . P . ; George F . Lancaster , G . Purst . ; and William Kipps , A . G . Purst .

The following" brethren were nominated for the same Committee : Bros . John Briggs , W . M . 45 ; C A . Cottebrune , P . M . 753 ; W . D . Child , W . M . 1437 ; J . Campbell , W . M . 1366 ; W . H . Hubbert , P . M . 1625 ; Leonard Potts , P . M . 1716 ; J . S . Pointon , P . M . 1901 ; J . R . Reep , P . M . 1268 ; Jas . A . Shelton , P . M . 2579 ; and F . O . Tubby , W . M . 907 . There would be no election as the required number only were nominated .

On the motion of Bro . J . H . MATTHEWS , President , seconded by Bro . D . D . MERCER , Senior Vice-President , the report of the Board of Benevolence for March , April , and May was adopted , and the following grants were confirmed : A brother of the Blackheath Lodge , No . 1320 , London ... £ 50 o o A brother of the Lodge of Probitv . No . 61 , Halifax ... 100 o o The widow of a brother of the Wear Valley Lodge , No .

1121 , Bishop Auckland ... ... ... 50 0 o The widow of a brother of the Afan Lodge , No . 833 , Aberavon ... ... ... ... 50 o o A brother of the Peckham Lodge , No . 1475 , London ... 75 o o A brother of the Castle Lodge , No . 1621 , Bridgnorth ... 50 0 o The widow of a brother of the Abbey Lodge , No . 1592 ,

Bury St . Edmunds ... ... ... 5 ° o o The widow of a brother of the Percy Lodge , No . 1427 , Newcastle-on-Tyne ... ... ... 50 o o The widow of a brother of the Avon Lodge , No . 1 G 33 , Manchester ... ... ... ... 50 o o A brother of the Lewis Lodge , No . 11 S 5 , London ... 50 00 A brother of the Ancholme Lodge , No . 12 S 2 , Brigg ... 75 0 o

The widow of a brother of the Earl of Zetland Lodge , No . 1364 , London ... ... ... ... 50 o o The widow of a brother of the Wellington Lodge , No . 54 S , London ... ... ... ... 75 o o A brother of the Burdett Coutts Lodge , No . 1278 , London 50 o 0 The widow of a brother of the Stour Valley Lodge , No . 1224 , Sudbury ... ... ... :.. 50 o o

On the motion of Bro . R . LOVELAND LOVELAND , K . C , President , seconded by Bro . A . SANDHERG , Vice-President , the report of the Board of General Purposes—as published in the Freemason last week—was taken as read , and ordered to be received and entered on the minutes . It was then

adopted without any observation . The Annual Report of the Royal Masonic Benevolent Institution for Aged Freemasons and Widows of Freemasons was laid before Grand Lodge . Earl AMHERST then

moved" That a sum of 500 guineas be voted from Grand Lodge towards the fund being raised for a memorial to her late Majesty . " He said he ventured to hope that not many words from him would be necessary to induce Grand Lodge to accept the motion . He had had on very many occasions lately to address Grand Lodge on the many virtues of her late Majesty both during the lifetime of her Majesty and since her

lamented death ; and , therefore , there was the less necessity for repeating those remarks now . But they all knew that the late Queen had always shown in many ways her interest in the Craft . She was a Patroness ol , and a liberal contributor to , all the Masonic Charitable Institutions . She was the daughter of a Mason , she was the mother of the late Grand Master , the King , and of the present Grand Masterthe Duke of Connaug ht ;

, and he ventured to think that Grand Lodge would not hesitate to show respect to her memory by contributing to the fund which was being rais £ for a memorial to the late lamented Queen . He did not think it well that Masonic money should be voted here , there and every where for all purposes , but he thought this was an exception which proved the rule , * and as her

late Majesty had been so great a benefactress to the Craft , and as s * l . ? g the mother of the King , who had been their Grand Master , he did not think n should be far wrong m proposing the sum he had mentioned towards t " memorial to her . As regarded the amount , he had looked to the sums wnjc other bodies had voted : he had considered , the matter and he hoped tn