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of those officers that such charges should be fully stated . It was quite unusual for Grand Lodge to do so . Bro . Matthew Cooke , in reply , said : I

make no libellous charges against any one . ( Numerous cries , of " - Oh ! " and laughter . ) \ I should like to know where we are to bring our complaints , if we cannot bring them , here ?

Bro . Bristowe : Before the Board of General Purposes . Bro . Matthew Cooke : The Board of General Purposes will not hear complaints . You are aware of that quite as well as I

am . I am perfectly aware of this , that , to a certain extent , it is an unpopular sort of business to make a complaint . Still , I

make a complaint on the score of duty , and I do not complain without coming thoroughly fortified by every word I utter . I state nothing

recklessly" Nothing extenuate , Nor set down aught in malice . " ( Cries of " Oh ! " ) As you seem , sir , to think that every word I say is libellous , I will confine myself to the motion at once .

First , I will say this , that , so far as touting for a seconder , or looking out for one , is concerned , I have not done so , as I thought that if I could have shown—but you do not allow me to show , because you say that

is libellous—but if I could have shown that there is a primh facie case of injustice being perpetrated , the whole of Grand

Lodge would have seconded it ; but without having searched for a seconder , I now beg to move the motion ( which he accordingly did ) .

A Brother at the further end of the Temple having seconded the motion , A Brother on the left of the Grand Junior

Warden , rose , he said , at the very earliest moment to oppose this motion . It was nothing less than a grave imputation on those officers on whom ail Masons who

came in contact with them so much relied ; and he hoped that justice would be done to them by the motion being rejected . The officials under the Grand Secretary , against

whom the motion was levelled , did everything they could for the good of Freemasonry , and it was but just to them that the motion be instantly rejected .

Bro . Francis Bennoch asserted that this motion was the most painful one that had ever been placed on the paper of business of Grand Lodge . The brethren were placed in a great difficulty . Only yesterday there

came before him as Vice-President of the Colonial Board , a spurious warrant which had been circulating in the colonies , and that was only one of a considerable number that had come before the same board during

the last two years . He was sorry that the motion was introduced in its present form . If it was rejected by Grand Lodge , a sort of sanction was given to these spurious objects ( cries of " hear , hear , " and " no , no " ) . If it

was adopted , it was a notice to all Masters of lodges that certain warrants issued by some presumed Masonic bodies were spurious and not to be recognized . If it was rejected contumaciously , it gave a sort of quasi

sanction to the conduct of those brethren who were carrying on this spurious masonry . There was a charge made by this motion against the officers of Grand Lodge , than

whom he believed no number of gentlemen could be associated together who had a more earnest desire to faithfully perform their difficult duties . While on the one

hand by carrying this motion Grand Lodge would seem to pass a vote of censure on those officers , on the other hand by reject-

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ing it they would give a sort of sanction to those spurious lodges which were a disgrace to the Masonic fraternity ( hear , hear ) . He was only speaking of what he had heard in connection with tlie conduct of the officers

and the manner in which they superintended the business of the ancient order in this Grand Lodge . If it were true that within Grand Secretary ' s office they had certain gentlemen ( he did not know that they had )

who were using a considerable amount of time in touting for business in connection with spurious bodies it was a grave matter , and required to be gravely inquired into ; but then , not in . Grand

Lodge . To go into details was not only a waste of time , but a degradation to Grand Lodge . On such details , perhaps only one or . two Efentlemen were informed or misinformed . The questions comprised in the

motion were so vague that he dared not vote for it , but he could not vote against it . He presumed that the mover was in earnest in his desire to benefit Masonry , by bringing forward his motion , but he thought it would

be becoming both to Bro . Cooke and to the dignity of Grand Lodge if Bro . Cooke withdrew his motion , and if that brother had but one per cent , of the evidence he had hinted at , he should bring the matter before

the Board of General Purposes , who would be but too glad for their own sake as well as for the sake of Masonry to get the whole matter fully investigated . He trusted that the subject would not be treated with

slight . It was far too serious . There was something astir in regard to Masonry which was sapping the foundations of our institution , and washing away our present landmarks . If we had officers who departed

from their duties they were censurable , provided those things were proved . He trusted they would not be proved , for to have a person in one ' s employ who was sworn to fidelity , and who overlooked the obligation

and the conditions under which he received the payment of his annual salary , and fostered spurious societies , was a dangerous state of things . He was sure the gentlemen in Grand Secretary ' s office were anxious for

a full and impartial enquiry , and he hoped that the gentleman who brought the motion forward , would take it before the Board of General Purposes , to be properly sifted ,

( cries of " Move , move " ) . He would move "That this question be referred to the Board of General Purposes for enquiry and to report . " Bro . F . Adlard seconded the

amendment . Bro . Binckes would simply say that the denunciations that had gone forth of spurious bodies , though ostensibly directed against the officials in Grand Secretary ' s

offices , were solely directed against bodies which had asserted an authority of their own to confer the Craft degrees . He referred to the offensive terms in which the motion was couched , and asked what proof

there was that any member of the executive staff had violated the trust reposed in him , by propagating degrees antagonistic to the United Grand Lodge of Freemasons . Do let them have a distinct issue . They

were charged with having , while engaged as salaried officials of this Grand Lodge , propagated a knowledge of antagonistic degrees . He challenged Bro . Cooke for a scintilla of proof of such a charge . It

would be carrying us back to the middle ages , or to the period before the abolition of slavery , if after office hours in the Grand

Secretary ' s office the clerks were not allowed to belong to other societies , to cricket clubs , boating clubs , or even to visiting friends ( cries of " Question " ) . It

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was a most monstrous proposition , and such a rule would deprive the brethren of the services of high-minded , honourable gentlemen , who conscientiously discharged their duty at the present moment . Had

any brother complained that the business of the office had been neglected , correspondence been unanswered , returns unnoticed ; or that he had not met with that courtesy which was his due ? No ; and he

said no with some pride and glory , as a lover of Freemasonry , who had first drawn breath under the English jurisdiction . Do

not let them shirk the question in any shape or way , but meet the matter openl y , and not let attacks be made on their officers in a covert , uncourteous , and unfraternal

way . Bro . Havers had not intended to speak on the subject , but after the highly inflammatory address just delivered ( which wasSunnecessary , for they were all of one

mind ) he could not help making one or two observations . He would throw aside the injudiciously framed motion of Bro . Cooke , and merely notice a remark which had fallen from Bro . Binckes , as to the

duties of the clerks during office hours . He was quite sure there was not one of those gentlemen who would not say that whether in office hours , or after office hours , he held an honourable engagement ? and

could not foster anything subversive of our institutions . If Grand Lodge in its wisdom had pronouueed against certain degrees , it would be most unwise , and in bad taste for any of the clerks to conjoin

himself with an opposing order . One word more . Bro . Binckes could not understand that a man could not divest himself of his official position after the office doors were closed . But it was so .

A clergyman would not be allowed to say that his position as a clergyman vanished as soon as his morning and evening prayers were read . In his ( Bro . Havers' ) own profession a man would be scouted , who ,

after visiting his patients , cast aside the healing art . A stock-broker was similarly situated , and , in short , so was every business man . He ( Bro . Havers ) trusted that Bro . Bennoch would withdraw his amendment ,

and if Bro . Cooke had any evidence of the truth of his charges , as he firmly believed and hoped he had not , that he would bring the matter before the proper court , and he might rely on the-help of every one in

Grand Lodge . Before the character of gentlemen was again openly assailed , it was to be hoped sufficient evidence would be adduced . It was unfair , unjust , and improper to attack them as they had been

attacked . If from thoughtlessness or other cause they had been led to allow their names to be brought prominently before the world in antagonistic degrees , he

thought they would now see that that was a case of impropriety . In conclusion , he would express no further opinion on the case , but begged that the brethren would be fair and just to all .

Bro . the Rev . R . J . Simpson , P . G . C , coincided with every word which had been uttered by Bro . Havers , except one , which was his recommendation to Bro . Bennoch to withdraw his amendment . He thought

that this , the most painful motion that had been brought before Grand Lodge since he had the honour of a seat in it , should have been brought before the Board of General Purposes , and if that Board refused to

entertain it , then it could have been taken to the higher court . But now , that it was brought to the higher court , the charges which had been made against the officers under Grand Secretary should not for a moment be