United Grand Lodge Of England.

lodge . Individually , the letter was to the Secretary , and it was nothing ; it had not been communicated to the lodge of wh ' ch the Secretary was the channel of communication , and until thit letter was communicated to the ledge it was a mere expression of intention , whicS the member making use of it had a right to withdraw ; and it would be very unfortunate , ind . ed , in this case , when he fad he wrote his first letter in a passion , if advantage were taken of it to compel him to withdraw

Until the letter was communicated to the lodge there was what was called a locuspirnitenticr , and he had a light to withdraw . A man who made an offer by letter could always withdraw it before it was accepted , and it seemed to him to be quite right , and this brother or any other brother in alike position until the communication was made to the lodge shiuld have the right to withdraw it . He moved that the decision of the Deputy District Grand Master and the District Board be affirmed .

Bro . f . L . WILKINSON seconded the motion . Bro . Dr . ERNEST POCOCK mentioned a similar case , hut there it was resolved that the resignation should not be withdrawn . If this motion was cairiid and the appeal dismissed there would be a little unpleasantness in one of the ledges to which he belonged . The matter had been pretty well understood for tome years that if a letter of resignation hid been placed in the Secretary ' s hand it was a resignation , and Grar . d Registrar had so laid it down himself .

Bro . S . R . BASKETT supported the Grand Registrar ' s view , but said there had long been a feeling in the Ctaft , from words used by the Grand Registrar in a contrary direction . He was glad to hear such a change of view . He had looked over the proceedings of Grand Lodge for rome years past on this point , and he found what the Grar . d Registrar had said was

only an obiter dictum . That took place in 18 S 9 . There was nothing to show that the ruling was that the resignation was irretrievable . Bto . LENNOX BROWNE , D . G . D . C , thought the let er of resignation should never have been read to the lodge after the withdrawal hacl been received by the Secretary .

Bro . RALPH GLUTTON , M . A ., P . G . D ., said there was not only the intention to resign in this case , but an absolute icsignation which was in the hands of the Secretary , and if it was in the hands of thc St cretary it was in the hands of the ledge . There could not be a withdrawal . Bro . HENRY GARROD , P . G . P ., observed that a similar ca ' . e occurred in a lodge of which he was Secretary , and he saw the late Colonel Shadwell Clerke about it , and his reply was very decidedly that the icsignation could net be withdrawn .

Bro . GOBLE said the same sort of case had arisen several times in the colonies , and he had Colonel Shadwell Claike ' s opinion on them . After a brother had sent in his resignation he could not be called upon for fees . Bro . PHILBRICK was not sorry this subject had arisen . Of coutse a brother was not liable for his dues after he had resigned—Colonel Shadwell Clarke's view was right—as soon as letter of resignation was read to a lodge there was a resignation , but until read to the lodge it was revec-b . 'e . ( Cries

of yes , yeF , and no , no . ) Bro . T . W . WHITMARSH reminded the Grand Ri gistrar lhat he stated in Grand Ledge some iew years ago that as scon as the letter was posted the resignation was confirmed . The appeal was dismissed . Bro . W . W . B . BEACH said he would now communicate the repprt of the scrutineers of the ballot . He would take the names in alphabetical order as they appeared on the ballot papers :

Charles Willian Hudson 440 Walter Vaughan Morgan 787 William Mason Stiles 932 ( Loud cheers ) . Bro . PHILBRICK then stated two appeals from Lodge 407 ,

Malta—( 1 ) Against the decision of the District Board of General Purposes ( Malta ) inflicting a fine of 20 s . on the lodge for direct disobedience of the express orders of the Deputy District Grand Master to erase and not read in open lodge a pait of their minutes improperly recorded . ( 2 . ) Against the decision of the same Deputy District Grand Master in not further entertaining and investigating certain charges brought by the lodge against

the acting Deputy District Grand Master for having irregularly and unconstitutionally attempted to interfere with the working of the lodge . After stating all ( he circumstances of the case , which he said were broi'ght out in a very voluminous set of documents , he considered that the fine was jrcperly inflicted , lhat it was a very light one , and he recommer did tl at the appeal be dismissed . The lodge had better not consider these ir . alters lot eer , but had better go on w . lh their Masonic business .

Bro . T . L . WILKINSON seconded the motion , and the appeal was dismissed .

Bio . W . F . LAMONBY , P . M . of Ledge , 9 62 , & c „ and Member of tl e Colonial Board , appealed against the action of the President of the said Board in requesting him to withdraw from the rr . eelirg of the iSth Januaiy , 1895 . Bro . LAMONBY said , let him at the outset assure the brethren against whe m the appeal was directed , and Grand Lodge lhat it was not a personal

matter between themselves . He was contending fcr a principle—the true reading of the Book of Constitutions . To commence wilh , he was a membi r of the Colonial Boaid , and on the 16 th of January he received a summons endorsed " Impoitant , " lo attend a special meetirg of the Colonial Board . At the time he knew nothing whatever what the business was to be . Hc atler . eled the meetirg at considerable inconvenience , as that day was his

busiest day of the week . After tie minutes had been read the Grand Secretary read a communication in the form of an appeal from the brethren of the Cambrian Lodge cf Austialia , in Sydney . This was another phase tf tl e interminable Cambrian Lodge controversy . The letter asked Grand Lod ge to furnish the Cambiian Lodge wilh funds to prosecute their 1 ( gal act ' on agaist the Grand Lodge of New South Wales . He would say at

once he did not approve cf it . Grand Registrar read a draft reply , of which he did not remember the exact words , but in the eoutseof the letter the Cambrian Lodge ' s right to claim to be a constituent member of the Grand Lodge of Er gland was very distinctly question ! d . Another draft letter addressed to tVe Giand Secretary of New South Wales was read , in which the status of the Cambrian Lodge was questioned . He thereupon put a query to the Grand

R'gistrar as to expressions in those letters coinciding with the resolut on of Grand Ledge , in July , 18 93 , cciifiimirg ihe Cambrian Lodge in all their l-rivik-ges . Grand Registrar then questioned his right to be there , because he happened to be at the time a member of the Cambrian Lodge . He had since resi gned . He distinctly objected , and asked the grounds for excluding him . Grand Registrar quoted Article 277— "In ease of any charge or

United Grand Lodge Of England.

complaint affecting a member of the Board or a Lodge to which he belongs , such member shall withdraw whilst the Board consider its decision . " He would admit for all purposes that , although this Article was under the " head of " Board of General Purposes , " it also applied to the Colonial B lard . But the words used were " charge or complaint . " and most emphatically there was neither charge nor complaint at that time before the Colonial Board

against Cambrian Lodge . Such being the fact , he considered he had a perfect right to be present . He was sorry at this stage of the appeal to mention what to himself was a personal matter . One member of the Board had the audacity lo insinuate that if he ( Bro . Lamonby ) were lo be permitted to be present , he might convey to the brethren of the Cambrian Lodge what had been done at that meeting . Well , those who were members of the

Board of General Purposes and of the Colonial Board knew very well members were put under an obligation immediately their year of office began . He meant to say that was a most scandalous insinuation cr imputation to make against a member of the Board that he would violate his obligation , and what accentuated that was the fact that there was not one word of disapproval of the Colonial Board or any one of its members . He felt very

strongly upon that . He did not know whether the brother wis then present , but he had been present that evening ; it was Hro . Cumberland . He ( Bro . Lamonby ) considered his obligation was as valuable to him as was Bro . Cumberland ' s to Bro . Cumberland . Well , he declined to withdraw , but ultimately the Grand Registrar moved—perhaps it was earlier than that—that the Board resolve itself into a Committee

to consider the subject then before the Board except himself ( Bro . Lamonby ) . Then , of course , he withdrew under protest , and hence the appeal . He had been refused copies of the three documents he referred to , and consequently could not place them before Grand Lodge ; but , on the other hand , permission was given him to see the papers in the Grand Secretary ' s office . He complained of a distinct attempt in this conduct to interfere with the liberty

of the subject . It was said he was biased in favour of the Cambrian Lodge ; he admitted it , because he could claim to know more of the original lacis of the subject than any of the Board , from the fact that he was resident in Australia at the time lhis occurred , and when similar transactions occurred in antther colony . That was disposed of in a week ; this had teen going on for six years . He should hope that Grand Lodge would with no

uncertain voice express its opinion that the articles of the Constitutions must not be diverted from their ori ginal purpose to exclude and to stifle discussion ; but whether the appeal was allowed or rejected was a secondary matier to him . He was enly glad ( o have the opportunity to bring before Grand Lodge another of the phases of this Cambrian Lodge case . Bro . W . W . B . BEACH : What are the words of the appeal ?

Bro . W . F . LAMONBY : That the Acting President of the Colonial Board acted contrary to the Constitutions in calling on him to withdraw from the meeting . Bro . W . W . BEACH : Who seconded if ?

Bro . S . R . BASKETT : It does not require a seconder . Bro . Major RICHARDSON : I will second it , but let it be understood lhat it is only for the purpose that it may be properly brought before Grand Lodge . Bro . Sir GEORGE DAVID HARRIS said he should be sorry to insinuate that there had been any wilful misstatement on the part of Bro . Lamonby ,

but he was singularly inaccurate and wrong as to his facts . He never had said Bro . Lamonby must withdraw . TheGrand Registrar neverruled that Bro . Lamrnby had not a light to be present , nor did he move lhat the Board should resolve itself into a committee , the Grand Secretary would read the minutes of what took place . Bro . LETCHWORTH read the minutes .

Bio . Sir G . D . HARRIS said those minutes distinctly showed that he put it to Bro . Lamonby whether he should net withdraw . He put it to Bro . Lamonby in the most kind and courleous language . It was rather out of censideration for Bro . Lamonby than for the Board , n % Bro . Lamonby if he stayed would be silting as judge on his own case ; and it was only that he should not be in a false position that he appealed to Bro . Lamonby . For a

ccitain time he thought he had ronvinced him . Bro . Lamonby was a little excited at the time , as no doubt he felt keenly cn the subject . No remark fell from him ( Sir Geoige Harris ) that he could recollect except this—when Bro . Lamrnby was about to leave the board-room , Bro . Lamonby stated it was his intention lo withdraw frcm the Cambrian Ledge forthwith lhat \ try day . Wheieupon iheBrard said , " Ccnsult ycur friends before you

take lhat step . Other brethren besides Ihe Grand Secretary could bear 1 im out in lhis slalement . There was not tie least intention of excluding Bio . Lamrnby . He ( Sir Gecrge Harris ) suggested that he should withdraw . He should never have thought of calling on any member of that Board to withdraw unless tie Board itself had come to a resolution to that effect , and thete was not such a resolution come to .

Bro . the Rev . R . J . SIMPSON suggested that after these statemen ' s and explanations the appeal should be withdrawn . Bro . J . S . CUMBERLAND , who had been referred to , said that he made the remaik that Bro . Lamonby went to the Board to protect the interests of the Cambrian Lodge . Bro . Lamor . by himself distinctly siid he did . He ( Bro . Cumberland ) said it was hardly right that B'o . Lamonby should bc there and listen to things that might go outside . He ( Bro . Cumberland ) had done only what he should do again in similar circumstances .

Bro . LAMONBY subsequently withdrew his appeal , saying that he adhered to what he said in the outset , that it was not a personal matter but his an . I the President , because he hoped they would always remain friends ; he w n only contending for a principle . Grand Lodge then having allowed the appeal to be withdrawn , was closed in form .

Grand Lodge Of Mark Master Masons.

GRAND LODGE OF MARK MASTER MASONS .

The Ouaiterly Communication of G * and Lodge of M ^ ik Master Masons of England and Wales and the Colonies and Dependencies of the British Ciown was h * Id on Tuesday evening , at Maik Masons' Hall , London , the Right Hon . the Earl of Euston , Most Worshipful Pro G-and Master , presiding . There were also pres-ent : Bros . Viscount Dungarvan , Deputy Grand

Master , the Hon . A . de Tatton Egerton , Lord Skelmersdale , Sir Reginald Hai son , Justice Gainsford Bruce , Col . A . B . Cook , Charles Belton , Robert Berridge , Dr . Bilfour Cockburn , C . F . Matier , Gordon Miller , C . H . Driver , Fnderick Mead , Major Piobyn , W . M . Still s , Capt . N . G . Pnilips , Richard Eve , E'nest St . CUir . Dr . Clement Godson , Percy Wallis , Biron de Ftnieres . R . Loveland Lov « . Und , E . Muueuuis , Henry Lnegrov ., W . F .