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Contents.
CONTENTS .
« . »«« B «»» w "'" - ; . - 36 s United Grand Lodge J jj CraftMasonrv 3 ° Mark Masonry 3 ™ U '"^ X " of aieEVcanor Lodge No . I , OJ 366 S ^ ITc-MV i » Western Australia 36 ? r 7 ^ Masonic Institution for Boys 367 && uk of the Post Office .. „ ;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;; | g »
Renews . 36 s g ^ 'S ' v ' oVFoVeirrn Bonds ' ::.::.::::: ; ::.: * 36 s ? ° ™ -I « . nry hithe United States „ 368 m-1 , ! -hM of Masonic Character—Bro . Jones at Cowes 36 9 bK' - i ' - " - ^ . 0 .,- S 6 Q g *^**;^^^ :::: ; ::::::::::..: $ 4 Thflast Quarterly Communication 37 o The Consecration ofthe Evening Star Lodge 370 Sir Late Grand Chaplain 37 ° Seaside Manners 37 ' CoRR"Pn * rDEN " - " *""*
I ^ -..: _ .. Third Class by all Trains 1 —* A" - J 3 " The Boys' and Girls" Schools— Entrance by Purchase 371 A Query 37 1 Seaside Manners 371 Seasonable Advice 3 ? r An Urgent Appeal 31 ' of Sonth Wales 372
Provincial Grand Lodge Provincial Grand Lodge of Lanarkshire 372 Presentation to a Liverpool Brother * . 373 Aft-ran Adverse Ballot—What ? 373 The British Innkeeper 373 I odce Meetings for Next Week 374 Advertisements 374 u " . "'• n-. v . vi .
United Grand Lodge.
UNITED GRAND LODGE .
The Quarterly Communication of Grand Lodgeof Ancient Free and Accepted Masons of England was held on Wednesday evening , at Freemasons' Hall . Bro . Dr . Robert Hamilton , District Grand Master of Jamaica , occupied the throne . Bro . Capt . Piatt , P . J . G . W ., held the S . G . W . chair , and Bro . the Rev . G . J . Martyn , P . G . C , that of
J . G . W . ; General Brownrigg ; P . G . M . for Surrey , acted as Deputy Grand Master , and among the other brethren present were Bros . R . W . Montague J . Guest , Prov . Grand Master for Dorset ; Samuel Rawson , Past District Grand Master for China ; V . W . Rev . Sir John Warren Hayes , Bart ., P . G . C ; Rev . Robert James Simpson , P . G . C . ; Rev . I . Studholme Brdwniigg , P . G . C ; John Hervey , G . Sec . ;
Ernest Emii Wendt , G . Sec . for German Correspondence ; W . Bros . N . G . Philips , P . de Lande Long , S . G . Deacons ; H . C . Tombs and E . J . Morris , J . G . Deacons ; B . Head , P . G . D . ; J . M . Clabon , P . G . D . ; E . S . Snell , P . G . D . ; H . Browse , P . G . D . ; B . Baker , P . G . D . ; J . M . Wike , P . G . D . ; R . W . Stewart , P . G . D . ; C . A . Murton , P . G . D . ; F . A . Philbrick , Q . C , P . G . D . ; J . A . Rucker , P . G . D . ; J . C .
Parkinson . P . G . D . ; C . W . C . Hutton , P . G . D . ; R . Grey , l ' . G . D . ; F . P . Morrell , P . G . D . ; T . Fenn , P . G . D . ; Lieut .-Col . T . Birchall , P . G . D . ; E . J . Barron , P . G . D . ; J . M . Case , P . G . D . ; F . P . Cockerel ! , G . S . of Works ; F . Robinson , Assistant G . Director of Ceremonies ; J . Whichcord , P . A . GD . C . ; G . Toller , jun ., G . Sword Bearer ; H . Pullen , P . G . S . B . ; J .
Mason , P . G . S . B . ; J . Nunn , P . G . S . B . ; W . W . F . Nett ' . eship , P . G . S . B . ; W . Kuhe , G . Organist ; H . G . Buss , Assistant G . Secretary ; S . G . Foxall , G . Pursuivant ; W . T . Howe , Assistant G . Pursuivant ; J . Smith , P . G . P . ; C . A . Cottebrune , P . G . P . ;
T . Cubitt , P . G . P . ; E . P . Albert , P . G . P . ; the Grand Stewards of the year , and the Masters , Past Masters , and Wardens of the Grand Steward ' s Lodge , H . Massey ( Freemason ) , and the Masters , Past Masters , and Wardens of other lodges . The Grand Lodge was opened in form and with solemn
prayer . Grand Secretary reported that he held in his hand several apologies from Grand Officers for their inability to be present at this Grand Lodge . The Grand Chaplain was absent in Scotland , and he was sorry to say that the Junior Grand Chaplain , Bro . the Rev . W . Lake Onslow , as was known to many of the brethren , had departed this
life since the last meeting . Lord De Tabley , was unable to be present . Bto . the Rev . C . R . Davy , P . G . C , Bro . Willing , G . Organist , and several other brethren also sent letters ot regret that they were unable to be present . Grand Secretary then read the minutes of the last Quarterly Communication , which were put to thc brethren and confirmed .
The next business on the paper was the motion by the M . W . Grand Master . " That in consideration of the dreadful fire which has occurred at St . John , New Brunswick , and which has devastated that city , this Grand Lodge do grant the sum of 200 guineas to be paid out of the Fund of General Purposes , in aid of the fund now in
course of formation , for the relief of the inhabitants . " ( 2 ) " That this Grand Lodge do grant the sum of one hundred guineas , to be paid out of the Fund of Geceral Purposes , in alleviation of the distress caused by the Cataclysm ' which' has recently occiurred on the coast of Peru . " '
Dr . Hamilton said -. Brethren , there is no doubt that you all regret as much as I do myself that these two motions are not to be faoved by oiir M . W . G . M ., who finds it impossible to be present this evening , and also that we should not have the advantage of the eloquence of our Pro G . M . or of our Deputy G . M . It has fallen upon me by accident as being the senior officer presentto represent them
, 'his evening . 1 cannot bring before you the amount of statistics and the other points connected with the subject which no doubt would be submitted to you had they been brought forward b y the M . W . G . M . You all know the effect ° | fire , and you have read , and are no doubt well aware
, I th ° destitution that has been caused in New Brunswick ° Y the dreadful calamity that has there occurred . I tnerefore will move for the Grand Master , " That in consideration of a dreadful fire which has occurred at St . eit th * ' - ? " nswifck > and wn'i . <" h lias devastated that tn * ) ' ¦ G ^ Lodge do griiht the -sum of 200 guineas , 0 oe paid out of the Fund of General p urposeS i - aid o [
United Grand Lodge.
the fund now in course of formation f or the relief of the inhabitants . " General Brownrigg seconded the motion . The Grand Master in the chair ( Dr . Hamilton ) then put the motion , which was carried unanimously . Dr . Hamilton then said : I have further to propose "That this Grand Lodge do grant the sura of 100 guineas to be
pawl out of the Fund of General Purposes , in alleviation of the distress caused by the ' cataclyism' which has recently occured on the coast of Peru . " Here we know very little of this calamity ; but I have no doubt that there are many brethren who have travelled , and can testify to you to the fearful calamities that are produced by those earthquakes and derangements which occur to the parts
of the world , among which is the place named in this notice of motion . I therefore move as I have mentioned . General Brownrigg seconded the motion , which was put and carried unanimously . Dr . Hamilton then said : Before we proceed further I will ask the Grand Secretary to read a letter he has received from the Province of Dorset .
Grand Secretary then read a letter from the Grand Treasurer of the Province of Dorset , in which he announced that the Provincial Grand Lodge of Dorset had subscribed £ 120 towards the Indian Famine Relief Fund . The next business was the Report of the Lodge of Benevolence for the last quarter , in which are recommendations for the following
grants , viz : — A brother of ihe Tyrian Lodge , No . 253 , Derby £ 50 o d A brother of the Lodge of Concord , No . 323 , Stockport ... ... ... ... ... 50 o o The widow of a brother of the Saint James ' Lodge , No . 7 65 , Southwark ... ... ... 100 o a A brother of the Duke of Athol Lodge , No . 210 ,
Denton 75 o o The daughter of a brother of the Stoneleigh Lodge , No . 725 , Kenilworth .. ... ... 50 o o The widow of a brother of the Lodge of Faith and Unanimity , No . 417 , Dorchester ... 200 o o Bro . J . M . Clabon having moved , and Bro . Joshua Nunn having 1- seconded , the grants proposed by these
recommendations , they were put and carried . The next business was the consideration of the report of the Board of General Purposes , which was as follows : — Report of the Board of General Purposes . The Board of General Purposes have to report as follows : — I . Arising out of the opinions for some considerable
time expressed in Grand Lodge , and more especially the recent debates of that assembly , the Board have had under their careful and special consideration the constitution of ihe Lodge of Benevolence , and having refeired the question to a committee of Ihe whole Board for consideration and report , have received from such committee the following report thereon : —
To the Worshipful Board of General Purposes . The Committee of the whole Board , to whom it was on the 1 nth day of June last referred to consider the advisability of recommeiding Grand Lodge to alter the title and constitution of the Lodge of Benevolence , beg to report unanimously as follows : —Having fully considered the subject we are oi opinion that it , is advisable to
recommend Grand Lodge to alter both the title and the constitution of the Lodge of Benevolence in manner hereinafter mentioned . 1 . The "Lodge of Benevolence" to be in future designated the " Board of Benevolence . " 2 . 'I he Board of Benevolence to consist of the Grand Master , Pro Grand Master , Deputy Grand Master , the
Grand Wardens , a President , and forty-five other members . The President and fifteen of such members to be annually nominated by the Grand Master at the Quarterly Communication in December , and the remaining thirty members to be elected by Grand Lodge from amongst the actual Masters and Past Masters of lodges , such election to be conducted in the same manner as that of the Board of General Purposes , but it should not in our opinion be a
regulation that one-third or any other proportion of the members should retire annually . 3 . —The Board to elect one of its members to be Vice-President . 4 . —Five members to form a quorum . All which is submitted to the consideration of the Board . ( Signed ) J B . MONCKTON , Chairman .
And the Board of General Purposes unanimously agree , ing with such report do recommend the same to Grand Lodge for adoption . 2 . —The Board have had under their consideration and that of the Premises Committee the question of improving the accommodation in the Grand Secretary ' s office , and have arrived at tbe conclusion that the best and most
satisfactory mode of effecting the desired end would be to utilise the lavatory on the ground floor at the back of the grand staircase and the front room known as the library , which , by means of communicating openings , would , * iii the opinion of the Board , afford , for some time to come at least , sufficient aid proper accommodation for carrying out the work in the Grand Secretary ' s office , and more
especially would provide a private office for the use of the recently appointed Assistant Grand Secretary , an arrangement greatly needed ; and that the lavatory , & c , in the rear of the present waiting room and Grand Secretary ' s office be reconstructed , with enlarged accommodation . 3 . —It having been represented to the Board that a brother had been passed to the Second Degree in
twentysix days only after his initiation , the circumstances were fully enquired into , and it was ordered that the brother be re-obligated , in the Second and Third Degrees , at a due interval , and that the Lodge of Benevolence ( No . 489 , Bideford ) be fined one guinea , and admonished to be more careful in future . „ , ( Signed ) J B . MONCKTON , President .
United Grand Lodge.
To the report is subjoined a statement of the Grand Lodge accounts at the last meeting of the Finance Committee , held on Friday , the 17 th day of August instant , shewing a balance in the hands of the Grand Treasurer of £ - 7280 8 s . 3 d . ; and in the hands of the Grand Secretary , for petty cash , £ 75 ; and for servants ' wages X 96 ics .
Bro . Peter de Lande Long , Vice President of the Board of General Purposes , moved that the report be received ; and this having been seconded and carried , Bro . Long said he had been requested by the President of the Board , who , unfortunately , was not able to be present , and for which he expressed his sincere regret , to say that , looking at the very important alterations rendered necessary by the
adoption of the report of the Board , and , also , at thefact that the President and the Grand Registrar were compelled to be absent , he thought it better that so much of the report as related to the Lodge of Benevolence be postponed ( hear , hear , and applause , ) until the next Quarterly Communication in December . ( Cries of " Withdraw . ") He , therefore , would move that it be postponed till December .
The Grand Master on the throne having put the motion , Bro . James Mason , P . G . S . B ., hereupon rose , and said he begged leave to propose an amendment to the resolution suggested . The amendment he had to move was that this , which was a most important matter , should be deferred until the Quarterly Communication in March next .
filings of moment should be done with due deliberation . ( Hear , hear . ) That was a fundamental axiom of our Order , and although he was prepared to say that on consideration he might give his vote in favour of the resolution which had been proposed , yet he was not prepared to do it until he had well considered the matter ( hear , hear . ) and he was sure that in making this great
alteration in our constitutions—Bro . S . Rawson rose to order . There was no question before the Grand Lodge . The Grand Master in the chair overruled thc objection Bro . James Mason continued . He was about to say that this was a matter deserving of their most mature consideration , because it was , in fact , the fundamental
position in the constitutions of Masonry . 11 tl . ese resolution were carried they would disfranchise every lodge in the Order ( hear , hear , and applause ); and he was not prepared , nor would any Mason—because all Masons he believed—and he was ready to give them credit for thisdesired the good of the Order . The Masons as a body , and Masons as individuals if an alteration was for the
good of the body , would be prepared to make that alteration ; but not without consideration . He said again , that this alteration disfranchised every lodge in the Order as far as the Board uf Benevolence was concerned , and it would disfranchise every Grand Officer , who had at present a right to be a member of that Board of Benevolence .
Bro . Brackstone Baker rose to order . The worthy brother had no right to gointo the question . ( Hear , hear , and applause . ) The Grand Master in the chair ruled that Bro . Mason was in order . Bro . James Mason said this was the point . He wished to speak to the purpose . He wished to say only so few
words as would suffice to convey his opinion to the brethren freely and frankly that there should be more deliberation about it . They would be disfranchising every lodge in the Order , and every Grand Officer , who was a member of the Lodge of Benevolence . He had been a member of that lodge for about twenty years , and he had the pleasure to attend its meetings .
Bro . Joseph Smith rose to order . They were not now discussing the question contained in the report of the Board of General Purposes , but only the question whether the consideration of the subject should be postponed . ( Confusion ) . The Grand Master in the chair said he wished to state that Bro . Mason was about to give the reason why he
wished the subject adjourned to March at the same time he ( the W . G . M . ) , deprecated his going in to any discussion of the question beyond explaining why he wished the subject postponed till March . Bro . James Mason was much obliged to the G . M . in thc chair , and he would make his remarks very brief indeed . He desired that there should be food for reflection between then and March next , and that the brethren should
know what it was they had then to consider . For about twenty years he had been a member of the Lodge of Benevolence ( " Time , time , " and great confusion . ) He knew there were grievances to be dealt with ; he knew there were a great number of brethren also attended ; and they were now so large in number that perhaps it was not desirable to have so many present ; but the question was
whether the mode proposed was the proper method of dealing with the evil . Without further comment , he begged leave to propose that the consideration of this resolution be postponed until the Quarterly Communication in March next . ( Hear , hear , cheers , and no , no . ) Bro . Raynham Stewart rose to second the amendment . He quite agreed > vith Bro . Mason ' s remarks that the
matter required consideration ; but he also agreed with what lhat brother said as to the proposition , if carried , disfranchising the lodges . It would be giving away a great privilege which now belonged to lodges , and would be another step towards that centralised action which was now being brought forward in other branches of Masonry . If the brethren allowed the proposition to be carried they
would be stripping themselves of freedom . He had great pleasure in seconding the proposition . Let them come forward in March prepared with a scheme , but not the scheme now proposed . ( Confusion . ) Bro . Binckes was quite prepared to discuss thc question if it had been gone into that evening ; but he thought after the very graceful concession iD-i-te by the President o
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Contents.
CONTENTS .
« . »«« B «»» w "'" - ; . - 36 s United Grand Lodge J jj CraftMasonrv 3 ° Mark Masonry 3 ™ U '"^ X " of aieEVcanor Lodge No . I , OJ 366 S ^ ITc-MV i » Western Australia 36 ? r 7 ^ Masonic Institution for Boys 367 && uk of the Post Office .. „ ;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;; | g »
Renews . 36 s g ^ 'S ' v ' oVFoVeirrn Bonds ' ::.::.::::: ; ::.: * 36 s ? ° ™ -I « . nry hithe United States „ 368 m-1 , ! -hM of Masonic Character—Bro . Jones at Cowes 36 9 bK' - i ' - " - ^ . 0 .,- S 6 Q g *^**;^^^ :::: ; ::::::::::..: $ 4 Thflast Quarterly Communication 37 o The Consecration ofthe Evening Star Lodge 370 Sir Late Grand Chaplain 37 ° Seaside Manners 37 ' CoRR"Pn * rDEN " - " *""*
I ^ -..: _ .. Third Class by all Trains 1 —* A" - J 3 " The Boys' and Girls" Schools— Entrance by Purchase 371 A Query 37 1 Seaside Manners 371 Seasonable Advice 3 ? r An Urgent Appeal 31 ' of Sonth Wales 372
Provincial Grand Lodge Provincial Grand Lodge of Lanarkshire 372 Presentation to a Liverpool Brother * . 373 Aft-ran Adverse Ballot—What ? 373 The British Innkeeper 373 I odce Meetings for Next Week 374 Advertisements 374 u " . "'• n-. v . vi .
United Grand Lodge.
UNITED GRAND LODGE .
The Quarterly Communication of Grand Lodgeof Ancient Free and Accepted Masons of England was held on Wednesday evening , at Freemasons' Hall . Bro . Dr . Robert Hamilton , District Grand Master of Jamaica , occupied the throne . Bro . Capt . Piatt , P . J . G . W ., held the S . G . W . chair , and Bro . the Rev . G . J . Martyn , P . G . C , that of
J . G . W . ; General Brownrigg ; P . G . M . for Surrey , acted as Deputy Grand Master , and among the other brethren present were Bros . R . W . Montague J . Guest , Prov . Grand Master for Dorset ; Samuel Rawson , Past District Grand Master for China ; V . W . Rev . Sir John Warren Hayes , Bart ., P . G . C ; Rev . Robert James Simpson , P . G . C . ; Rev . I . Studholme Brdwniigg , P . G . C ; John Hervey , G . Sec . ;
Ernest Emii Wendt , G . Sec . for German Correspondence ; W . Bros . N . G . Philips , P . de Lande Long , S . G . Deacons ; H . C . Tombs and E . J . Morris , J . G . Deacons ; B . Head , P . G . D . ; J . M . Clabon , P . G . D . ; E . S . Snell , P . G . D . ; H . Browse , P . G . D . ; B . Baker , P . G . D . ; J . M . Wike , P . G . D . ; R . W . Stewart , P . G . D . ; C . A . Murton , P . G . D . ; F . A . Philbrick , Q . C , P . G . D . ; J . A . Rucker , P . G . D . ; J . C .
Parkinson . P . G . D . ; C . W . C . Hutton , P . G . D . ; R . Grey , l ' . G . D . ; F . P . Morrell , P . G . D . ; T . Fenn , P . G . D . ; Lieut .-Col . T . Birchall , P . G . D . ; E . J . Barron , P . G . D . ; J . M . Case , P . G . D . ; F . P . Cockerel ! , G . S . of Works ; F . Robinson , Assistant G . Director of Ceremonies ; J . Whichcord , P . A . GD . C . ; G . Toller , jun ., G . Sword Bearer ; H . Pullen , P . G . S . B . ; J .
Mason , P . G . S . B . ; J . Nunn , P . G . S . B . ; W . W . F . Nett ' . eship , P . G . S . B . ; W . Kuhe , G . Organist ; H . G . Buss , Assistant G . Secretary ; S . G . Foxall , G . Pursuivant ; W . T . Howe , Assistant G . Pursuivant ; J . Smith , P . G . P . ; C . A . Cottebrune , P . G . P . ;
T . Cubitt , P . G . P . ; E . P . Albert , P . G . P . ; the Grand Stewards of the year , and the Masters , Past Masters , and Wardens of the Grand Steward ' s Lodge , H . Massey ( Freemason ) , and the Masters , Past Masters , and Wardens of other lodges . The Grand Lodge was opened in form and with solemn
prayer . Grand Secretary reported that he held in his hand several apologies from Grand Officers for their inability to be present at this Grand Lodge . The Grand Chaplain was absent in Scotland , and he was sorry to say that the Junior Grand Chaplain , Bro . the Rev . W . Lake Onslow , as was known to many of the brethren , had departed this
life since the last meeting . Lord De Tabley , was unable to be present . Bto . the Rev . C . R . Davy , P . G . C , Bro . Willing , G . Organist , and several other brethren also sent letters ot regret that they were unable to be present . Grand Secretary then read the minutes of the last Quarterly Communication , which were put to thc brethren and confirmed .
The next business on the paper was the motion by the M . W . Grand Master . " That in consideration of the dreadful fire which has occurred at St . John , New Brunswick , and which has devastated that city , this Grand Lodge do grant the sum of 200 guineas to be paid out of the Fund of General Purposes , in aid of the fund now in
course of formation , for the relief of the inhabitants . " ( 2 ) " That this Grand Lodge do grant the sum of one hundred guineas , to be paid out of the Fund of Geceral Purposes , in alleviation of the distress caused by the Cataclysm ' which' has recently occiurred on the coast of Peru . " '
Dr . Hamilton said -. Brethren , there is no doubt that you all regret as much as I do myself that these two motions are not to be faoved by oiir M . W . G . M ., who finds it impossible to be present this evening , and also that we should not have the advantage of the eloquence of our Pro G . M . or of our Deputy G . M . It has fallen upon me by accident as being the senior officer presentto represent them
, 'his evening . 1 cannot bring before you the amount of statistics and the other points connected with the subject which no doubt would be submitted to you had they been brought forward b y the M . W . G . M . You all know the effect ° | fire , and you have read , and are no doubt well aware
, I th ° destitution that has been caused in New Brunswick ° Y the dreadful calamity that has there occurred . I tnerefore will move for the Grand Master , " That in consideration of a dreadful fire which has occurred at St . eit th * ' - ? " nswifck > and wn'i . <" h lias devastated that tn * ) ' ¦ G ^ Lodge do griiht the -sum of 200 guineas , 0 oe paid out of the Fund of General p urposeS i - aid o [
United Grand Lodge.
the fund now in course of formation f or the relief of the inhabitants . " General Brownrigg seconded the motion . The Grand Master in the chair ( Dr . Hamilton ) then put the motion , which was carried unanimously . Dr . Hamilton then said : I have further to propose "That this Grand Lodge do grant the sura of 100 guineas to be
pawl out of the Fund of General Purposes , in alleviation of the distress caused by the ' cataclyism' which has recently occured on the coast of Peru . " Here we know very little of this calamity ; but I have no doubt that there are many brethren who have travelled , and can testify to you to the fearful calamities that are produced by those earthquakes and derangements which occur to the parts
of the world , among which is the place named in this notice of motion . I therefore move as I have mentioned . General Brownrigg seconded the motion , which was put and carried unanimously . Dr . Hamilton then said : Before we proceed further I will ask the Grand Secretary to read a letter he has received from the Province of Dorset .
Grand Secretary then read a letter from the Grand Treasurer of the Province of Dorset , in which he announced that the Provincial Grand Lodge of Dorset had subscribed £ 120 towards the Indian Famine Relief Fund . The next business was the Report of the Lodge of Benevolence for the last quarter , in which are recommendations for the following
grants , viz : — A brother of ihe Tyrian Lodge , No . 253 , Derby £ 50 o d A brother of the Lodge of Concord , No . 323 , Stockport ... ... ... ... ... 50 o o The widow of a brother of the Saint James ' Lodge , No . 7 65 , Southwark ... ... ... 100 o a A brother of the Duke of Athol Lodge , No . 210 ,
Denton 75 o o The daughter of a brother of the Stoneleigh Lodge , No . 725 , Kenilworth .. ... ... 50 o o The widow of a brother of the Lodge of Faith and Unanimity , No . 417 , Dorchester ... 200 o o Bro . J . M . Clabon having moved , and Bro . Joshua Nunn having 1- seconded , the grants proposed by these
recommendations , they were put and carried . The next business was the consideration of the report of the Board of General Purposes , which was as follows : — Report of the Board of General Purposes . The Board of General Purposes have to report as follows : — I . Arising out of the opinions for some considerable
time expressed in Grand Lodge , and more especially the recent debates of that assembly , the Board have had under their careful and special consideration the constitution of ihe Lodge of Benevolence , and having refeired the question to a committee of Ihe whole Board for consideration and report , have received from such committee the following report thereon : —
To the Worshipful Board of General Purposes . The Committee of the whole Board , to whom it was on the 1 nth day of June last referred to consider the advisability of recommeiding Grand Lodge to alter the title and constitution of the Lodge of Benevolence , beg to report unanimously as follows : —Having fully considered the subject we are oi opinion that it , is advisable to
recommend Grand Lodge to alter both the title and the constitution of the Lodge of Benevolence in manner hereinafter mentioned . 1 . The "Lodge of Benevolence" to be in future designated the " Board of Benevolence . " 2 . 'I he Board of Benevolence to consist of the Grand Master , Pro Grand Master , Deputy Grand Master , the
Grand Wardens , a President , and forty-five other members . The President and fifteen of such members to be annually nominated by the Grand Master at the Quarterly Communication in December , and the remaining thirty members to be elected by Grand Lodge from amongst the actual Masters and Past Masters of lodges , such election to be conducted in the same manner as that of the Board of General Purposes , but it should not in our opinion be a
regulation that one-third or any other proportion of the members should retire annually . 3 . —The Board to elect one of its members to be Vice-President . 4 . —Five members to form a quorum . All which is submitted to the consideration of the Board . ( Signed ) J B . MONCKTON , Chairman .
And the Board of General Purposes unanimously agree , ing with such report do recommend the same to Grand Lodge for adoption . 2 . —The Board have had under their consideration and that of the Premises Committee the question of improving the accommodation in the Grand Secretary ' s office , and have arrived at tbe conclusion that the best and most
satisfactory mode of effecting the desired end would be to utilise the lavatory on the ground floor at the back of the grand staircase and the front room known as the library , which , by means of communicating openings , would , * iii the opinion of the Board , afford , for some time to come at least , sufficient aid proper accommodation for carrying out the work in the Grand Secretary ' s office , and more
especially would provide a private office for the use of the recently appointed Assistant Grand Secretary , an arrangement greatly needed ; and that the lavatory , & c , in the rear of the present waiting room and Grand Secretary ' s office be reconstructed , with enlarged accommodation . 3 . —It having been represented to the Board that a brother had been passed to the Second Degree in
twentysix days only after his initiation , the circumstances were fully enquired into , and it was ordered that the brother be re-obligated , in the Second and Third Degrees , at a due interval , and that the Lodge of Benevolence ( No . 489 , Bideford ) be fined one guinea , and admonished to be more careful in future . „ , ( Signed ) J B . MONCKTON , President .
United Grand Lodge.
To the report is subjoined a statement of the Grand Lodge accounts at the last meeting of the Finance Committee , held on Friday , the 17 th day of August instant , shewing a balance in the hands of the Grand Treasurer of £ - 7280 8 s . 3 d . ; and in the hands of the Grand Secretary , for petty cash , £ 75 ; and for servants ' wages X 96 ics .
Bro . Peter de Lande Long , Vice President of the Board of General Purposes , moved that the report be received ; and this having been seconded and carried , Bro . Long said he had been requested by the President of the Board , who , unfortunately , was not able to be present , and for which he expressed his sincere regret , to say that , looking at the very important alterations rendered necessary by the
adoption of the report of the Board , and , also , at thefact that the President and the Grand Registrar were compelled to be absent , he thought it better that so much of the report as related to the Lodge of Benevolence be postponed ( hear , hear , and applause , ) until the next Quarterly Communication in December . ( Cries of " Withdraw . ") He , therefore , would move that it be postponed till December .
The Grand Master on the throne having put the motion , Bro . James Mason , P . G . S . B ., hereupon rose , and said he begged leave to propose an amendment to the resolution suggested . The amendment he had to move was that this , which was a most important matter , should be deferred until the Quarterly Communication in March next .
filings of moment should be done with due deliberation . ( Hear , hear . ) That was a fundamental axiom of our Order , and although he was prepared to say that on consideration he might give his vote in favour of the resolution which had been proposed , yet he was not prepared to do it until he had well considered the matter ( hear , hear . ) and he was sure that in making this great
alteration in our constitutions—Bro . S . Rawson rose to order . There was no question before the Grand Lodge . The Grand Master in the chair overruled thc objection Bro . James Mason continued . He was about to say that this was a matter deserving of their most mature consideration , because it was , in fact , the fundamental
position in the constitutions of Masonry . 11 tl . ese resolution were carried they would disfranchise every lodge in the Order ( hear , hear , and applause ); and he was not prepared , nor would any Mason—because all Masons he believed—and he was ready to give them credit for thisdesired the good of the Order . The Masons as a body , and Masons as individuals if an alteration was for the
good of the body , would be prepared to make that alteration ; but not without consideration . He said again , that this alteration disfranchised every lodge in the Order as far as the Board uf Benevolence was concerned , and it would disfranchise every Grand Officer , who had at present a right to be a member of that Board of Benevolence .
Bro . Brackstone Baker rose to order . The worthy brother had no right to gointo the question . ( Hear , hear , and applause . ) The Grand Master in the chair ruled that Bro . Mason was in order . Bro . James Mason said this was the point . He wished to speak to the purpose . He wished to say only so few
words as would suffice to convey his opinion to the brethren freely and frankly that there should be more deliberation about it . They would be disfranchising every lodge in the Order , and every Grand Officer , who was a member of the Lodge of Benevolence . He had been a member of that lodge for about twenty years , and he had the pleasure to attend its meetings .
Bro . Joseph Smith rose to order . They were not now discussing the question contained in the report of the Board of General Purposes , but only the question whether the consideration of the subject should be postponed . ( Confusion ) . The Grand Master in the chair said he wished to state that Bro . Mason was about to give the reason why he
wished the subject adjourned to March at the same time he ( the W . G . M . ) , deprecated his going in to any discussion of the question beyond explaining why he wished the subject postponed till March . Bro . James Mason was much obliged to the G . M . in thc chair , and he would make his remarks very brief indeed . He desired that there should be food for reflection between then and March next , and that the brethren should
know what it was they had then to consider . For about twenty years he had been a member of the Lodge of Benevolence ( " Time , time , " and great confusion . ) He knew there were grievances to be dealt with ; he knew there were a great number of brethren also attended ; and they were now so large in number that perhaps it was not desirable to have so many present ; but the question was
whether the mode proposed was the proper method of dealing with the evil . Without further comment , he begged leave to propose that the consideration of this resolution be postponed until the Quarterly Communication in March next . ( Hear , hear , cheers , and no , no . ) Bro . Raynham Stewart rose to second the amendment . He quite agreed > vith Bro . Mason ' s remarks that the
matter required consideration ; but he also agreed with what lhat brother said as to the proposition , if carried , disfranchising the lodges . It would be giving away a great privilege which now belonged to lodges , and would be another step towards that centralised action which was now being brought forward in other branches of Masonry . If the brethren allowed the proposition to be carried they
would be stripping themselves of freedom . He had great pleasure in seconding the proposition . Let them come forward in March prepared with a scheme , but not the scheme now proposed . ( Confusion . ) Bro . Binckes was quite prepared to discuss thc question if it had been gone into that evening ; but he thought after the very graceful concession iD-i-te by the President o