United Grand Lodge.

UNITED GRAND LODGE .

If we may judge by the number of the brethren who recorded their voles for the three candidates for the office of Grand Treasurer during the ensuing 12 months , the attendance at the Quarterly Communication of Grand Lodge on Wednesday was far less considerable than it was at the corresponding Communication in 1894 . This may have been due to the influenza or more probably to a number of causes , but though the attendance was far smaller ,

the excitement was almost as great as it was at the contest in which the present Grand Treasurer , Bro . Sir J . DIMSDALE , secured the prize ; and when it became known that Bro . STILUS had defeated his more formidable opponent—Bro . Alderman VAUGHAN * MORGAN—by a substantial majority of votes , it is needless to say , the rejoicing among his supporters was most enthusiastic . But as will have been seen from the paper of agenda which

we published last week , there was a very considerable programme of important business to be transacted after the voting for the Grand Treasurership was over , not the least important matter being the recommendation contained in the Report of the Board of General Purposes , to the effect that the Colonial Board should be abolished , and an entirely new General Board constituted , which shall be invested with all the powers heretofore delegated

to the Board of General Purposes and Colonial Board separately . The recommendation was adopted , and referred for further consideration to the former , which will prepare and submit to Grand Lodge at its next Quarterly Communication in June such re-arrangements as may be necessary for the transaction of business , and such a le-organisation of the General Board as may be thought desirable . As regards the several Appeals which were

addressed to Grand Lodge against certain decisions of the local or general authorities , it must suffice for the present if we stale , as regards Appeal No . 2 —that Bro . W . MAKEPIECE , W . M . Zeiland-in-the-East Lodge , No . 508 , Singapore—thedecisionof the D . D . G . M . and Dist . Board of General Purposes of the District Grand Lodge of the Eastern Archipelago , in which the decision of Bro . Makepiece , as W . M ., was reversed , was upheld , and that

under the law as now expounded , a brother ' s resignation of his membership of a lodge is not to be regarded as final until it has been communicated to ihe lodge . Consequently , if a brother forwards a letter in which he resigns his membership to the Secretary of his lodge , and follows it up with a second letter in which he withdraws such resignation , then , in the event of the earlier letter not havirg been communicated to

the lodge , his tender of resignation is void and of none effect and hc remains a member of the lodge . The only misf > rtune about this decision is that , if our memory serve us , it is in direct conflict with one which Grand Lodge adopted , on the advice of the Grand Registrar , only a few years sgo . Then it was ruled that once a brother sent in his resignation lie ceased to be a member of a lodge , and that , no matter what he might

propose to do subsequently in the way of withdrawing such resignation , or whether the letter had been communicated to the lodge or not , his resignation stood , and his re-instatement as a member was possible only after the usual proposal in one open lodge and ballot at the next . Under the new exposition of the law , a brother may withdraw his resignation if there has not been time to submit to his lodge ,

the letter in which he notified it . As regards the appeal of Bro . W . F . LAMONBY against the action of the President of the Colonial Board in ordering him to withdraw from a certain meeting of the said Board , it will be seen from our [ report that it was withdrawn by permission of Grand Lodge , It js just possible we may have occasion to refer to portions of the business transacted in Grand Lodge on Wednesday in some future article .

United Grand Lodge Of England.

UNITED GRAND LODGE OF ENGLAND .

the Quarterly Communication of United Grand Lodge of Free and Accepted Masons of England was held on Wednesday , at Freemasons ' Hall , London . Grand Lodge was summoned for two o ' clock , p . m ., for the greater convenience of the large number of brethren , who it was known would attend for the purpose of voting in the election of brand Treasurer for the coming year . At the afternoon portion of the meeting Bro . Rear Admiral Albert Hastings Markham , District Grand Master for Malta

presided , but after seven o ' clock in the evening the chair was taken by Bro . \ V . W . B . Beach , Prov . G . M . for Hants and the Isle of Wight . Bro . Dr . Balfour Cockburn , Prov . G . M . for Guernsey , acted as Deputy Grand Master , and Bro . Thomas F . Halsey , M . P ., as Past Grand Master . Bro . Hugh D . Sandeman , P . Dist . G . M . for Bombay , was also present . Bro . tne Ri ght Hon . A . Akers-Douglas , M . P ., P . G . W ., acted as S . G . W ., and Bro . the Rev . R . J . Simpson , P . G . C , as J . G . W .

Grand Lodge having been opened in form , Bro . Rear-Admiral MARKHAM said : Brethren , —Before calling upon the wand Secretary to read the minutes of the last general meeting of Grand '' ° dge , I think it is only right for me to refer to the great loss that Masonry ¦ j 1 "* sustained within the last few days by the death of one who I think on the last occasion of the meeting of Grand Lodge occupied the chair I have the

now honour of filling . I allude , I need scarcely tell you , to ' our dear Bro . t-ol . Money , Provincial Grand Master for Surrey . As > ou all know , he was a very active , good , ' and enthusiastic Mason , and his loss will be very greatly ' « t not only in his province but among the Craft generally . ( Hear * hear ) . Bro . LETCHWORTH , 'G . S ., then read the minutes of the Quarterly Communication of December 5 th , 1894 , which were put and confirmed .

United Grand Lodge Of England.

Bro . SWINFEX EADY , Q . C , P . G . Stwd .: Most Worshipful Grand Master in the chair and Brethren , —It is now my pleasing duty and also my very great privilege to have the honour of proposing for election as Most Worshipful Grand Master for the ensuing year , His Royal Highness the Princeof Wales . ( Applause ) . As you all know , I think , this is the 21 st time Ma : onry in England has approachtd his Royal Highness and asked him to accept the highest honour they are able to confer upon any member

of the Cralt , and in accepting which he confers upon them the highest honour and distinction he is able to bestow 011 them as members of the Craft . May that connection between his Royal Highness and the Craft , formed most auspiciously many years since , continue for a long time , and remain with us as Jong as his Royal Highness is alive . ( Hear , hear , and cheers . ) His Royal Highness has conferred great and numerous benefits on the Craft ; he

has ever taken the greatest interest in the Masonic Charities : the Boys' and Girls' Schools owe many benefits to his constant attention , and the Benevolent Institution is also indebted to his endeavours . ( Hear , hear . ) Many of us remember that great ceremony a few years ago , when over ^ 50 , 000 was subscribed for the benefit of the Girls' School . We know the new Hall and Wing for the Institution which have since been built , and that much of the

assistance—the pecuniary benevolence poured forth on that occasion by the Masons of England in support of the Girls' School , was owing to the interest his Royal Highness has taken in the Girls' Institution , and the earnest way in which he has exerted himself on its behalf . And when the Hall and Wing were opened , we know her Royal Highness the Princess of Wales and her daughters honoured the ceremony in company with his Royal Hi

ghness . ( Hear , hear , and renewed applause . ) In the cause of the Boys ' School and the Aged Institution , we know his Royal Highness has also shown the liveliest interest . ( Hear , hear . ) I think if the Masons of England were asked for what purpose Masonry exists , and to give some reason forthe existence of Masons , it would be enough : for them to refer and point to the great Charitable Institutions which Masons support .

This , it seems to me , and this alone , would form sufficient ground of justification . ( Hear , hear . ) In the cause of the Charities of the Order and in all other matters concerning the Craft , his Royal Highness has always exhibited the keenest interest . And not only is this the case with respect to the Freemasons of England ; it is also the case with regard to foreign countries that he has visited , for he has left there evidence of the extensive

interest he has in the Craft . ( Renewed applause . ) I believe that during thc years ' that he has presided over us , the number of lodges on the English roll has been about doubled . Inlh-se 21 years about 1200 lodges have been added to the list of those which existed when ha first occupied . the chair . This , I believe , is largely due to his Royal Highness being our Grand Master . His Royal Highness has not only evinced an interest in the Craft ,

but he has aho shown an interest in others of his own Royal Family , and everyone brought into contact with his Royal Highness is interested in honouring the (" raft . Two brothers of his Royal Highness joined the Craft , and one has now become one of its greatest supporters — his R'lyal Highness the Duke of Connaught , Provincial Grand Master for Suss > x . Other members of his family have done the same , and I am sure it is

without presumption I may express the hope that when the fulness of time has come , and when his Royal Highness will be no longer with us , we may have the estimable honour , pleasure , and privilege of having his son , that we may have the pnde of handing down the traditions , a link in which was unfortunately broken by the death of his Royal Hi ghness the Duke of Clarence , and that many of us who are present to-night may see on some future

occasion the son prepared to follow in his father ' s footsteps . ( Loud and long continued cheering . ) When saying this , I know I am only expressing a wish dearest to every Mason ' s heart . 1 must add one word more . His Royal Highness has not only found a place in the heart of every member of the Craft but in the heart of every subject of the realm . I am confident I express the wish of every one when I say that I ask that his Royal Highness may be elected by acclamation our Grand Master . ( Applause ) .

Bro . E . ST . CLAIR , P . G . Stwd . —Most Worshipful Grand Master in the chair , in rising with pleasure to second the proposition th < t his Royal Highness the Prince of Wales be our Grand Ma-ter lor the ensuing year , I may say it is a most pleasing coincidence that at the very time when his Royal Highness is enjoying a well-earned rest in France it should be the privilege of a Frenchman to have the honour to-night of seconding the motion for his

election . In doing so , I will not add many words to what has been so well said on this occasion and on many previous occasions ; but I venture to express a hope that for many years to come his Royal Highness the Prince of Wales may be spared to preside over us , and by so doing , if possible , to add to our success . Most Worshipful Grand Master in the chair , I have much pleasure in seconding the proposition that his Royal Highness the Prince

of Wales be our Grand Master for the ensuing year . ( Applause . ) Bro . Rear Admiral MARKHAM : Brethren , I think af * er the manner in which the speeches of the proposer and seconder of the resolution have been received , it is not at all necessary for me to put it to Grand Lodge . 1 shall therefore now declare his Royal Highness thc Princeof Wales duly elected our Grand Master , and I congratulate the Craft on having secured his Royal Higbness's services for another year . ( Apulause . )

Bro . Sir ALBERT WOOD , . C . M . G , ( Gart-r ) , & cc , G . D . C , then proclaimed his Royal Highness duly elected M . W . G . M . Bro ; WILLIAM , H , ARBER , P . M . 206 : Most Worshipful Grand Master in the chair , in the absence of the Right Hon . Sir William Marriott , Deputy Provincial Grand Master for Sussex , I have the honour to propose for the office " of Grand Treasurer Bro . Charles William Hudson , Past Grand