United Grand Lodge Of England.

was put , and ruled that it was improper nobody objected but Bro . Baskett ; he objected to it strongly , and he ( Bro . James Brett ) of course as a member of that Committee , and for some years ( and he saw many present now who had been many years members of that Committee ) , he never heard , and he did not think anyone in Grand Lodge ever heard , of a notice of motion being put on the agenda paper for the purpose of asking a question . Anyone could

put a question in Grand Lodge ; it was for the Grand Master in l he chair to say whether it should be answered or not . Mind , it vvas not his ( Bro . J . Brett ' s ) ruling , it was the ruling of the Board . Had they agreed that it should go on the agenda paper , that would not have altered the position . Bro . Eve would have had no more power then than he had now . This he should inform the brethren . He told Bro . Baskett that the first and second

parts of the motion were not in accordance with the third part , and that the third part , not being out of order , would be placed on the agenda paper ; and then Bro . Eve would have the opportunity of asking that question or any question he liked . Well , it was placed on the agenda paper , and the brethren would remember , at the last Grand Leidge , when Bro . Kve was called upon to bring forward his notice of motion he declined to do so . Bro .

Eve had just now given them the reason . Grand Lodge was taken by surprise , except those who were in the secret . However , that was the result of it . This , he quite understood , was not a blow at himself ( Bro . J . Brett ) as the Acting Chairman on that occasion of the meeting of the Committee . He was sure Bro . Eve and any other brother would not do it against him , but it was as a member of the Colonial Board , of which he was a member ;

This was against the Colonial Board , and he would tell them why . This matter of the Cambrian Lodge had been before them now some years —certainly two—he believed two at least . ( A Voice : "Six . " ) At any rate it was brought before the Colonial Board by Bros . Lamonby and Baskett . Bro . Eve was not imported into the case at that time ; he had since come in . A certain Bro . Robinson made a communication to the

Colonial Board , signing himself " Honorary Secretary and W . M . elect of the Cambrian Lodge . " Now , of course , reference was made to the books to see if he was a Past Warden ; but , instead of finding a Past Warden , we could not find him as a member of English Masonry ; but we have since found out that he has since been registered , and probably at the time he wrote he was a member of English Freemasonry . In that communication

he told us that the _ warrant of the Cambrian Lodge had been stolen , a felony had been committed , and that they had taken the legal opinion of the highest authority in the land , and that unless they got the warrant restored to them they should bring it before the Courts of Law and Justice . Well , this matter was committed to you by the Colonial Board , and it was seen at once that the Cobnial B jard

had no power—that it was not in their province—that it was the prerogative of the Grand Master ; that we told Bro . Baskett , who , he ( Bro . James Brett ) told the brethren , represented the Cambrian Lodge by power of attorney . That was not sufficient . Bro . Baskett desired to explain himself , and advocate the case before the Colonial Board . The Board thought it was right he should do so—that it was nothing but fair . Bro . RICHARD EVE rose to order . The President of the Board would

see at once Bro . Brett was going into matters six or seven years ago ; he did not go into that question whether his ( Bro . Eve ' s ) notice was right or not to go on the agenda . The question was whether this notice should be placed on the agenda . He must ask Bro . Brett to confine himself to that . Bro . J AMES BRETT said he could understand Bro . Eve rising to a point of order . There was much in this Cambrian Lodge , and the brethren

ought to know it . Bro . Eve was aware he ( Bro . James Brett ) was going to tell the brethren something they ought to know . The ACTING GRAND MASTER thought Bro . Brett was out of order . The question before Grand Lodge was simply the motion of Bro . Eve . Bro . J AMES BRETT said he had only to say that Grand Lodge would have to hear a great deal more about the Cambrian Lodge . If the acting

Grand Master ruled that he was now out of order , he had nothing to say . Bro . S . R . BASKETT wished to explain his position . He was sure Bro . Brett would agree there was no personal matter so far as he ( Bro . James Brett ) was concerned , but he ( Bro . Baskett ) wished to make a strong appeal to Grand Lodge to stand up for its privileges . He rested his views upon the views expressed by Lord Carnarvon some years ago , when his lordship said

he considered it of importance that brethren's privileges should be respected , and that he for one would always exert himself to support that privilege . Now this matter of the Cambrian Lodge which Bro . Brett was anxious to bring before Grand Lodge was four orfive years ago —( Cries of " Question " ) —and that whenever he tried to bring it forward he was met time after time with this—that he was out of order .

Bro . J AMES BRETT rose to order . Bro . Baskett was bringing forward matters which he ( Bro . Brett ) was stopped for doing . ( " Hear , hear " ) . Bro . S . R . BASKETT wished to speak entirely to a point of order in this matter . The notice was given , and at the General Committee , he moved for Bro . Eve the notice of motion lhey had heard . The Acting Chairman had submitted now that it never was put to the vote ,

and that was the matter he wanted to bring forward . ( Cries of " Vote , vole . " ) He appealed to the Acting Grand Master . ( Renewed cries of " Vote , vote , " and " Time . " ) When the question was put , the Chairman , on the advice of Grand Registrar was about to rule it out of order , and he did rule it ; and he ( Bro . Baskett ) appealed to any member of the General Committee ; he challenged his right to rule anything out of order , and said it

should be put before the Committee . It was nol put before the Committee as had now been admitted . He would call in aid this new law in the present Book of Constitutions ; it only appeared there . The Board of Revisers wishedio give their power to the Chairman to rule it out of order . The law as originally drawn was that the Chairman of the General Committee should have the power to rule it out of order . That matter had been threshed oui

in Grand Lodge , and on the very night when that was submitted to Grand Lodge , when the question of privilege was raised , ihe very brethren who was shut out , succeeded , when the Book was finally revised in carrying the resolution striking out " the Chairman . " What they appealed against was the attempt at striking out their privileges . He said distinctly it was nol taking the voice of the Commit ice

• or the Chairman to say " This is out of order , " to look round , and without more ado proceed to the next business . It was not taking the voice of the Committee , and he asked Grand Lodge to support this appeal unless tlicy wanted to be prevented from bringing matters before Grand Lodge . He had no doubt Grand Lodge would support him . If they did not he could not help it .

Bro . G . R . LANGLEV , as one who was present at the Committee in queson ' said thc opinion of the Committee was unanimous —( " No , no . " " Yes , yes . )—except Bro . Baskett , that the ruling of the Chairman was a correct

United Grand Lodge Of England.

opinion —( Bro . T . W . WuiTMAKSii and others : "No , no . " )—that it was not right to bs brought before Grand Lodge . ( Renewed cries of " No , no , " mingled with cries ot "Yes . " ) He simply rose for tlie purpose of stating as one who was present the unanimity of the opinion . Bro . J GLASS moved that the question lu now pul .

Bro . Dr . GARSOX would advise the brethren to proceed to the next business . Bro . Richard Eve was continually bringing complaints against the Grand Officers , regarding their action . ( " Oh , oh . " ) Bro . RICHARD EVE objected most ifoiigly to a remark of thit kind . He challenged any of the Grand Officers to say that he made any complaint without proceeding to make good the ground of his complaint . ( " Hear , hear . " )

I HE ACTING GRAND MASTER said , brethren , the question before Grand Loelge is that Bro . Eve ' s appeal be received . I rannot but feel that it is a very dillicult matter to deal with in the absence of the legal advisers of the General Committee . It seems to me that it would be to the advantage of Grand Lodge if it were postponed till those Grand Officers can be present . ( Cries of " No , no " ) . 1 have no option but to put to Grand Lodge " That Bro . Eve ' s appeal be received . "

Grand Lodge divided , when it was immediately seen that the great majority were in favour of Bro . Eve ' s appeal , and the ACTING GRAND MASTER declared that the appeal was allowed . ( Loud cheers ) . Grand Lodge was then closed in form .

Grand Lodge Of Mark Master Masons.

GRAND LODGE OF MARK MASTER MASONS .

The Quarterly Communication of Grand Lodge of Mark Master Masons of England and Wales and the Colonies and Dependencies of the British Crown was held last Tuesday evening at Mark Masons' Hall , Great Oueenstreet , W . C . The M . W . Pro Grand Master , the Earl of Euston , presided , Bro . C . Letch Mason acted as Deputy Grand Master ; Bro . Frank Richardson , Grand Reg ., as S . G . W . ; Bro . Admiral Markham as J . G . W . ; and there were also present among others Bros . R . Loveland Loveland

President of the General Board ; C . F . Matier , G . Sec ; Sir G . D . Harris , as G . M . O . ; Chas . Belton , as G . S . O . ; C . H . Driver , as G . J . O . j Brigade-Surgeon J . Balfour Cockburn , G . D . C . ; A . B . Cook , P . G . M . Middx . ; Col . G . Noel Money , C . B ., P . G . M . Surrey ; Baron De Ferrieres , Richard Eve , W . Vincent , Col . Somerville Burney , Eugene Monteuuis , C . F . Hogard , Gordon Miller , P . G . T . ; and A . Stewart Brown . Bro , Shephsrd acted as G . I . G .

Alter Grand Lodge had been opened in ample form , Bro . MATIER read the replies which had been sent on behalf of the Oueen and the Prince of Wales to the addresses of congratulation passed by Special Grand Lodge on July 12 th on the birth of the son of the Duke and Duchess of York .

On the motion of Bro . LOVELAND LOVELAND , seconded by Bro . GORDONMILLER , it was resolved that these acknowledgements should be entered on the minutes of Grand Lodge . The minutes of the last Ouarterly Communication and of the Special Grand Lodge were then read By Bro . MATIER , and confirmed .

On the motion of Bro . LOVELAND LOVELAND , seconded by Bro . A . STEWART BROWN , the report of the General Board , as published in the Freemason last week , was taken as read and received , and ordered to be entered on the minutes . Bro . LOVELAND LOVELAND then moved that Bro . Anastasio Ceffalo be confirmed in his rank as Past Master . This was necessary , because owing

to circumstances over which the lodge had no control , Bro . Ceffalo could not have served his twelve months , and therefore could not rank as Past Master . He had to move , under the special circumstances of the case , as neither Bro . Ceffalo nor the lodge could control them , Bro . Ceffalo , so soon as his successor was installed , be confirmed in his rank of Past Master . The motion , having been seconded by Bro . GORDON MILLER , was put and carried .

Bro . LOVELAND LOVELAND next moved that the General Board shall have power to prepare a revision of the Book of Constitutions . The last issue of the Book of Constitutions was published in 1886—18 years ago , and they had run out of all the copies . In the Book of Constitutions it would be remembered that no provision was made for the provinces abroad , and

therefore a great number of the Statutes would have to be altered so as to include the districts abroad . There were several other alterations following which would have to be made , and the Board asked power to revise sq that these alterations might be printed and sent to each lodge on the roll in time for due notice of alterations to be given for the Grand Lodge in December .

The motion was put and carried after having been seconded by Bro . F . RICHARDSON . The other recommendations in the report were carried , and the report was adopted , on the motion of Bro . LOVELAND LOVELAND , seconded by Bru . A . STEWART BROWN . Bro . F . RICHARDSON , G . Reg ., brought up the appeal by Bro . ihs Rev . C . H . Maiden against a sentence of suspension by the R . W . District Grand

Master for Madras . The rev . brother was the editor of a periodical called the Indian Masouic Review , and in the March number he published that the District Grand Master of Burmah granted a number of dispensations , of which Bro . Maiden gave a list , and then said that they were irregular , and explained why . When that appeared the District Grand Secretary wrote to Bro . Maiden , by direction of the District Grand Master .

and asked him to be good enough to specify the cases in order that it might be seen whether dispensation had been irregularly granted in that district . Bro . Maiden failed to answer that letter ; but in the April number of the Indian Masonic Review he published the District Grand Secretary's letter and then a long dissertation upun the irregul irity in granting diipt . ns .-ttiuns . Upon that appearing in the paper the District Grand Master caused

a letter to be written to Bro . Maiden by the District Grand Secretary , complaining of his want of courtesy in not answering the previous letter , and he proceeded at once to suspend him from all his Masonic functions . Now , by the Book of Constitutions , it was provided in Article S . , lhat " Thc Provincial Grand Master shall hear and determine all subjects of Masonic complaint or irregularity respecting lodges or individual Masons within his Province , and may admonish , fine , or

suspend . The Masonic law hid been founded on the common lawof E'gbind , which provided th-et a man must first of all be tried before he ! could be lnunii guilty or punished . Whether it was an act of incivility in nut answering a letter , whether it was a Masonic offence not answe-rimj a le ter , it was not their province now to determine : the \ H \ V hid been broki-n by the Piovircial Grand Master convicting tlieir brother without hearing him ; and , therefore , without considering the other question al all , he was bound to advise Grand Lodge that that appeal must be allowed ,