United Grand Lodge.

They might make an important alteration in the terms of the motion , and he would venture to move " That the sum of iooo guineas be voted from the funds of Grand Lodge to the Transvaal War Fund , and that it be referred to the Board of Benevolence for distribution to such Transvaal War Fun d , and in such proportions as they in their discretion might think fit . " That would enable the Board to see how the funds stood . At present the

fund for Natal only reached the miserable amount of . £ 5000 , and he thought they ought to earmark the funds . A good many suggestions had been made , but he felt very strongly indeed that when they had so many funds —he did not make invidious comparisons—he considered that when the Deople were doing so much good in Natal they should show how they

appreciated what they were doing . When their farms were lost , and their homes gone , they should do their share in assisting them . He begged to propose the amendment . Bro . Rev . C . J . MARTYN , P . G . C ., had great pleasure in seconding the amendment , because he considered that no distinction should be made whether the widows of the soldiers were married on the strength or not .

Bro . LENNOX BROWNE , P . D . G . D . C ., felt that they should recognise the services of all those people , and not create any dissension among them . He would ask that the resolution be passed , and he should leave entirely its distribution for the consideration of the Board of Benevolence . Bro . J . E . LE FEUVRE supported the amendment , and said there were very many wives and widows who were not recognised ' as such bv the

authorities , and he was sure that Grand Lodge would not be satisfied unless that fund was distributed for the relief of the distress of those who were not formally on the establishment . He would ask if words could not be added in order to designate carefully what they meant by wives and widowswhat they understood by the phrase that night ? What they intended was all those relatives of soldiers who were married who were not on the

establishment . There was no necessity to propose a rider with the sp ecific words but if that was the understanding of Grand Lodge , he was perfectly satisfied . Bro . Sir FORREST FULTON , Q . C , Dep . G . Reg ., brought forward the appeal of Bro . J . Lockwood Wingate , I . P . M . of Friendly Lodge , No . 239 , Kingston , Jamaica , against a ruling of the Deputy District Grand Master

in charge ( Bro . Dr . C J . Morse , C . B ., M . L . C , & c ) , at a meeting of the District Grand Lodge of Jamaica on July 27 th , 1899 . He said Bro . Strachan , Q . C , Grand Registrar , was away on circuit , but he had according to practice reduced his opinion to writing , which he ( Sir F . Fulton ) would read to Grand Lodge . This he did , and according to the recommendation of the Grand Registrar the appeal was allowed , but only on one ( the last )

out of four points raised by the appellant . The motion was made by Bro . Sir F . FULTON and seconded by Bro , LOVELAND LOVELAND . Bro . Sir Forrest Fulton read the opinions of Bro . Strachan , Q . C , G . Reg ., on the appeal of Bro . William Henderson , P . M . of Franklin Lodge , No . 2486 , Windsorton , Barkly West , South Africa , against a decision of the Deputy District Grand Master and the District Board of General

Purposes of the District Grand Lodge of South Africa , Central Division , Bro . Strachan did not think the appeal ought to have been brought at all , but he did not propose to go further into the matter at present . The motion was not given until September , 1899 , when Kimbeiley was cut off from the outer world , which would account for the answer not having reached our Grand Secretary , and he recommended the matter should be postponed until next quarterly communication .

The postponement was proposed by Bro . Sir FORREST FULTON , seconded by Bro . LOVELAND LOVELAND , and carried . Grand Lodge was then closed in due form .

Mark Grand Lodge.

MARK GRAND LODGE .

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 on Tuesday evening last at Mark Masons' Hall , London The Earl of Euston , M . W . Pro G . Master , presided . Bro . C Letch Mason acted as Dep . G . Master , and Bro . W , W . B . Beach , M . P ., as

P . G . M . Baron de Ferrieres acted as S . G . W ., and Bro . Major J . W . Woodall , P . G . Treas ., as J . G . W ., and among the other brethren present were Bros . R . Loveland Loveland , Q . C . ; Charles Belton , as G . M . O . ; W . M . Stiles , P . G . Treas . ; Dr . Clement Godson , Richard Eve , P . G . T . ; W . E . M . Tomlinson , M . P . ; Harry Nicholls ; W . Vincent , acting as G . D . C . ; and John Smith ( Bedford ) G . I . G .

After the minutes had been read and confirmed , the Report of the General Board was taken as read , and ordered to be received and entered on the minutes . ¦

On the motion of Bro . R . LOVELAND LOVELAND , Q . C , President , seconded by Bro . W . M . STILES , P . G . Treas ., the Garnet Lodge , No . 22 S , Dinapore , India , and the Aik Mariner lodge attached thereto , were removed from the roll of Grand Lodge , the lodges not having met since 1882 . Bro . Loveland said there was no prospect of the lodge meeting . Bro . LOVELAND LOVELAND next moved : " That the Grand Inspector of Works be an ex-officio member ol the General Board ; and that Article

' 54 / Book of Constitutions , be altered as follows : after the word ' President' to insert 'Grand Inspector of Works . '" The Board on several occasions had found that it was inconvenient not to have the Grand Inspector of Works present when they were considering the embellishment of the lodge or repairs . Unless he was a member , they found they could not get him . It was under those circumstances they now asked the alteration of the Constitutions .

Bro . W . M . STILES , P . G . T ., seconded the motion , which was then put and carried . After two benevolent grants of £ 25 each had been carried , the report of the General Board was adopted , on the motion of Bro . LOVELAND LOVELAND , seconded by Bro . W . M . STILES .

The Earl of EUSTON then said he had to move " That the sum of 100 guineas be voted from the Benevolent Fundtothe . Drt ; 7 >< Telegraph Widows ' and Orphans' Fund . " He was sure the brethren would be unanimous in adopting this vote , which was for the assistance of wives who were left at home without husbands , and children without fathers . Bro ; R , LOVELAND LOVELAND seconded the motion .

Mark Grand Lodge.

Bro . W . E . M . TOMLINSON , M . P ., inquired why the money should not be sent to the Lord Mayor ' s Fund . The Earl of EUSTON replied that this question had been very carefully considered by the General Board . The Lord Mayor ' s Fund was rather on the lines of the Patriotic Fund , and that Fund only acknowledged the

widows and orphans of husbands who were married " on the strength , " or those who were married by leave of the colonel . Now , when they found men coming from the reserves , and going out to the war , men who had been married without leave , he did not think it was a time to quibble over regulations . Every one of them should be relieved so long as they could prove their claim .

BRO . W . E . M . TOMLINSON said he agreed with the Pro G . M . in that respect . Bro . RICHARD EVE , P . G . T ., would speak as one who knew something of the matter . He could assure the brethren that the sufferings of the wives and children of the men who had married without leave were very grievous . It was a most dreadful case for them when the husband and father was removed to a distance . It was necessary to look after them

because they had arrived at a stage when they could not help themselves . The Patriotic Fund and the Lord Mayor ' s Funds were devoted to those who were married with leave , whereas the Daily Telegraph Fund was devoted to all those women and children who were dependent on those who had gone away and could not obtain legally any relief from the Government . The Government was doing a great deal , but it was essential that care should be taken of those who were very much in need . ( Hear , hear . ) The motion was carried .

Bro . FITZROY TOWER , in nominating H . R . H . the Prince of Wales for re-election as M . W . G . M . for the ensuing year , said his Royal Highness was so beloved by all Masons , and more particularly by Mark Masons , that it became quite unnecessary for him ( Bro . Tower ) to say much respecting him , more especially at a time when the love and loyalty of the the British people was greater than it had ever been before . ( Cheers . )

Bro . H . S . CLUTTON nominated Bro . John Dimsdale for election as G . Treasurer . Bro . John Dimsdale was so well known , that it was an easy task to have to nominate him . He was a P . M . of the Menatschim Lodge , and also of the lodge at Canterbury , No . 262 . In the Craft he was a G . Steward this year . Coming from a family so well known for the interest they took in Masonry in general , he was a very fit brother to be Grand

Treasurer of Grand Mark Lodge . ( Hear , hear . ) THE Earl of EUSTON then said by the vote the brethren had just now passed making the Grand Inspector of Works ex-officio a member of the General Board , there was a vacancy to be filled up . He would , therefore , appoint Bro . John Strachan , Q . C , to fill it . He was quite sure that Bro . John Strachan , who was Grand Registrarin the Craft , was a brother whc would be a valuable addition to th : Board , and wjnlrl h ° ln thpm In pvcru

way he possibly could . Bro . C . F . MATIER , G . Sec , announced that the Charity jewels of brethren who had served as Stewards of the last festival of the Benevolent Fund , with such great success , would be presented to those brethren on application at the offices of Grand Lodge . Grand Lodge was then closed in ample form .

THE CHARITY JEWEL Presented to the Stewards of the last Benevolent Fund Festival ,

MANUFACTURED FOR THE GRAND MARK LODGE OF ENGLAND BY

GEORGE KENNING AND SON , LONDON , E . C .

THE TRUSTEES OF LLOYD ' PATRIOTIC FUND announce that they will consider the cases of officers who may be disabled in the present war in South Africa as well as those of disabled men . The cases of officers of the Colonial forces will receive equal consideration with those of officers of the Home forces . Subscriptions for thi 3 object will be thankfully received by the Secretary , Brook House , Walbrook , E . C , but subscribers should state the purpose to which they wish their subscriptions applied ,