United Grand Lodge.

UNITED GRAND LODGE .

The Quarterly Communication of United Grand Lodge of Ancient Free and " Accepted Masons of England was held on Wednesday evening , at Freemasons' Hall . Thc Earl ot Lathom , Deputy Grand Master , presided ; General Brownrigg-, C . B ., Provincial Grand Master of Surrey , acted as Deputy Grand Master ; Bro . Montague Guest , M . P ., Provincial Grand Master of Dorset , as Past Grand Master , and there were also

present the following Grand Oflicers : Bros , thc Rev . Thos . Cochrane , G . Chap . ; Lieut .-Col . J . Creaton , G . Treas . ; Col . Shadwell II . Clerke , G . Sec ; Capt . Clement R . N . Beswicke-Royds , G . J . D . ; bir Albert XV . Woods , G . D . of C ; R . Turtle Pigott , D . C . L ., A . G . D . of C ; John Mes-< -ent G . S . B . ; H . S . Alpass , G . Std . R . ; William Cusins , G . Org . ; H . G . Buss , Asst .

G Sec ; W . R . Wood , G . Purst . ; L . F . Littell , A . G . Purst . ; Gen . Brownrigg . P . G . M . Surrey ; Montairue Guest , P . G . M . Dorset ; Gen . J . W . Laurie , G . M . Nova Scotia ; Hugh D . Sandeman , P . D . G . M . Bengal ; Rev . C . J . Martyn , P . G . C . ; Rev . Ambrose XV . Hall , P . G . C . ; Rev . J . Studholme Brownrigg , P . G . C . ; Rev . R . J . Simpson , P . G . C ; Rev . H . A . Pickard , P . G . C ; Rev . J . E . Cox , P . G . C . ; Rev . L . W . ArnoldP . G . C ; J . Sampson Peirce , P . G . D . ; J . H . Scott , P . G . D . ; Capt . N . G .

, Philips , P . G . D . ; J . M . Case , P . G . D . ; W . A . F . Powell , P . G . D . ; Brackstone Baker , P . G . D . ; H . ] . P . Dumas , P . G . D . ; Frank Richardson , P . G . D . ; J . Perry Leith P . G . D . ; H . Maudsley , P . G . D . ; Raynham W . Stewart , P . G . D . ; Peter de Lande Long , P . G . D . ; C . W . C . Hutton , P . G . D . ; Robert Grey , P . G . D . ; T . Fenn , PG . D . Reginald BirdP . G . D . ; J . A . Rucker , P . G . D . ; Lieut .-Col . H . S .

Somer-; , ville-Burney , P . G . D . ; J . Glaisher , P . G . D . ; J . L . Thomas , F . S . A ., P . G . A . D . C . ; G . Burt , P . G . A . D . C ; Magnus Ohren , P . G . A . D . C . ; C . Greenwood , P . G . S . B . ; G . Lambert P G . S . B . ; A . J . ' Duff Filer , P . G . S . B . ; VV . P . Nettleship , P . G . S . B . ; Joshua Nunn , P . G . S . B . ; C E . Willing , P . G . Org . ; VV . Clarke , P . G . P . ; C . A . Cottebrune , PG . P . •1 . Wright , P . G . P . ; James Klcnch , P . G . P . ; E . P . Albert , P . G . P . ; and

James Brett , P . G . P . A large number of Lodges were represented , amongst others the following : — Aldersgate Lodge , No . 1 C 57 , represented by Bros . Dr Samuel Benton , VV . M . ; Alfred Brookman , I . P . M . ; Samuel White , S . W . ; E . Y . Jolliffe , J . W . ; Rev . Dr . P . H . Ernest Brette , P . M . ; and George Kenning , P . M .

Alliance Lodge , No . 1 S 27—Bros . Major T . Davies Sewell and Wildey Wright . Belgrave Lodge , No . 749—Bro . Garrod , P . M . Creaton Lodge , No . 1791—Bro . J . I . Cantle . Canterbury Lodge , No . 1635—liro . thc Rev . E . K . Kendall , VV . M . Cosmopolitan Lodge , No . 917—Bro . G . M . Taylor , P . M . - Fortitude Lodge , No . 131—Bro . VV . Lake , P . M .

Islington Lodge , No . 1471—Bros . J . L . Mather , P . M . ; and Edgar Bowyer , P . M . Lion and Lamb Lodge , No . 192-Bros . VV . T . Rickwood , P . M . ; Chas . Arkell , P . M . ; Barclay Perkins , J . VV . ; and Stevenson , S . VV . Mizpah Lodge , No . 1 C 71—Bro . R . A . Morgan , W . M . Montague Guest Lodge , No . 1900—Bros . G . P . Festa , VV . M . ; and W . H . Dean , P . M . Neptune Lodge , No . 22—Bros . Britton , P . M . ; E . F . Storr , P . M . and Treasurer .

Phcenix Lodge , No . 173— Bro . E . VV . Allen , P . M . Strand Lodge , No . 19 S 7—Bro . James Willing , jun ., VV . M . ; VV . M . Stiles , Sec . St . Mary Abbotts Lodge , No . 1974—Bro . Capt . Nicols , VV . M . Tranquillity Lodge , No . 1 S 5—Bro . Alfred Staley . Temple Lodge , No . 101—liro . J . J . Caney . The Great City Lodge , No . 1436—W . F . Kibble , VV . M . ; F . T . C . Keeble , S . VV , ; VVm .

Baber , J . W . ; Nathan Bryant Headon , P . M ., Treas . ; G . VV . Blackie , P . M ., Sec ; James Stevens , P . M . ; James Freeman , P . M . ; Thomas Hamer , P . M . ; John Seex , P . M . After the opening of Grand Lodge the regulations for the government of Grand Lodge during the timeol public business were first read ; after which the minutes of the Quarterly Communication of 6 th December , 1882 , were

read and confirmed . The next business being the election of Grand Master , Bro . RAYMOND THRUPP rose and said : Right Worshipful Grand Master in thc chair and brethren , I have the honour this evening of proposing to Grand Lodge the re-election of His Royal Highness the Prince of Wales as Grand Master of our Order . ( Cheers . ) His Royal Highness has now

reigned over the Craft for a period of eight years , and during that time Freemasonry has indeed increased " by leaps and bounds , " no fewer than 478 new lodges having been constituted . I do not propose occupying the time of Grand Lodge lo-night by expatiating on the merits of our Grand Master or his many personal qualifications for that high oflice . It would , indeed , be presumption on my part to do so . The brethren are all well aware of the deep interest our Grand Master has always taken , and still

takes , in the advancement and prosperity of the Craft , and the time and personal attention he devotes to the promotion of its best interests ; and , sir , wc also know that whenever the presence of our Grand Master is actually required in Grand Lodge His Royal Highness is always here to aid our deliberations with his counsel and advice . ( Cheers . ) I , therefore , confidently propose to Grand Lodge that his Royal Highness the Prince of Wales be elected Grand Master of the Order for the ensuing year . ( Cheers . )

Bro . W . COPPARD BEAUMONT : Right VVorshipful Grand Master , I rise with great pleasure for the purpose of seconding the proposition that his Royal Highness the Prince of Wales be re-elected as our Grand Master for the ensuing year . I think after our brother ' s speech that I can say little in support of the proposition of Bro . Thrupp , and I shall , therefore , content myself by simply seconding it . ( Cheers . )

The Earl of LATHOM in putting the motion said it was needless for him to say anything in support of it . The motion was carried unanimously amidst loud applause , and Sir Albert Woods ( Carter ) , G . D . C , proclaimed his Royal Highness as duly elected M . W . G . M . ol Freemasons for the year ensuing .

Bro . G . J . MCKAY in proposing 'he re-election of Col . Creaton as Grand Treasurer said he thought it would be highl y indiscreet for Grand Lodge to change the office of Grand Treasurer year after year . The duties of the office had been most faithfully performed by Col . Creaton , but it would be superfluous for him to recount the way in which they had been discharged .

United Grand Lodge.

Bro . G . P . BRITTEN in seconding the motion said Col . Creaton had done the work for years , and had done it thoroughly well , and in a way that was a credit to Masonry , and he was very sorry to hear that there was a talk of some opposition to his re-election . The brother whom it was proposed to submit in opposition to Col . Creaton , Bro . John Derby Allcroft , he had the

honour to know very well—a large-hearted , generous , honourable , thoroughly high-minded , right-thinking man , in whose . favour he could not speak too strongly . But he was very confident that if Bro . Allcroft had been consulted he would have said that to displace another after five years' service , who had warmed to the harness and settled down to the work , would be not only grievous folly , but a grievous injustice and scandalous ingratitude .

Bro . ALFRED STALEY , W . M . 1 S 5 , P . M . 172 S , proposed Bro . J . Derby Ailcroft , 259 , P . M . and Treasurer 1657 . The qualifications of Bro . Allcroft for this position were well known to those who were present . It was out of

no disrespect to Col . Creaton that Bro . Allcroft was brought forward , but as the collar of Grand Treasurer was the only collar the Craft had the power to vote it was the wish of the members of the Craft that this proposition should be put before them . ( Loud cheers ) .

Bro . RICHARD A . MORGAN , W . M . 1671 , in seconding the motion said he did so on this ground that with the exception of the collar of Grand Master this was the only collar it was in the hands of Grand Lodge to bestow . They also felt that it was ri ght that this collar should be given in perpetuity to any brother . They had the honour—he thought they ought

to consider it an honour—to confer the collar on worthy brethren , and this collar shou Id not be given year after year to the same brothter , but given on the same principles as other ofiices were given in Grand Lodge , where brethren afterwards enjoyed past grand office . He was certain that in proposing Bro . Allcroft they did not do it in any spirit against the present

Grand Treasurer , but only on the principle that they ought to exercise their right and not look on this collar as a perpetual collar . ( Hear , hear , and cheers . ) One other observation Bro . Britten had made . He had said that Col . Creaton was well experienced and well in harness . From what

he ( Bro . Morgan ) could learn the office was solely an honorary position .- the money was not handed over to their Grand Treasurer . That , he thought , did away wilh the remarks of Bro . Britten . He asked them to-night to do their duty and confer this honour on a brother who had been a member of the Craft over 40 years .

Bro . CANTLE , in supporting the original motion said that Col . Creaton by his persevering industry in the affairs of the Craft had endeared himself to every member of the Craft . He need not tell the brethren how hard Col . Creaton had worked or how much he had done for it both as a Grand Officer and as a member of the different Institutions connected with the

Craft . The brother placed in opposition to him was a most worthy man , and he must congratulate those brethren who had put him forward , for they certainly could not have chosen a more worthy man than he . ( Hear , hear . ) They told Grand Lod ge that he had been a Mason nearl y 40 years , that he was a P . M . and Treasurer of a lodge , that he was a vice-patron of all

the Charities . The brother who was now the Grand Treasurer could claim all those honours , and if the books of the Masonic Institutions were referred to it would be found he was a vice-patron twice over of each of them . He ( the speaker ) knew very well , and all the brethren knew Col . Creaton ' s zeal for the cause , and what he had done in the past and would do in the future , and

although to a certain extent he ( the speaker ) agreed with the proposition that this gift should be in the hands of the Craft , he would go willingly with them if they had not such a man as they had now in the position . There was no man who had done as much for Freemasonry as Col . Creaton , and while he occupied the position he now held he thought the least they could

do was to mark their esteem and respect for him by placing him again in Grand Lodge as their Grand Treasurer . Bro . BRACKSTONE BAKER begged the brethren not to be led away by those who made the matter a question of principle , and not of individuality . They were told that there could be no sympathy on the part of the Grand

Lodge in proposing a substitute for the excellent Grand Treasurer , who for four years had faithfully fulfilled all the functions that belonged to the office to the satisfaction of the Craft and the credit of himself . He could not conceive anything more mischievous in effect than as soon as a Grand Treasurer began to know his business that they should substitute another man for him .

Another BROTHER begged to call attention to this fact , that there was no disrespect intended to be conveyed to Col . Creaton . ( Hear , hear , and cheers . ) Every one well knew his worth . But it was well known that every Master of a Freemasons' lodge was anxious to wear the purple , and the

collar of Grand Treasurer was the onl y collar the Craft had it in its power to bestow . There were men equally worthy with Col . Creaton to wear that collar in Grand Lodge that night , and he , therefore , said it should be handed down from one to the other .

Bro . F . A . Philbrick , Q . C , P . G . D . ( who was met with cries of " vote" ) , asked what would be thought in a private lodge if a brother proposed a new Treasurer and said he did not propose it as a reflection on the Treasurer ? The brethren might talk and repeat that assertion for ever , like a parrot , but they would never make an intelli gent brother understand that they did

not cast a reflection . ( Cries of " Oh , oh . " ) Their acts would be one way and their words another . Which would they justify ?—their acts or their words ? Here the motive was let out . A brother might say there was but one collar except that of Grand Master open to—what should he say ?—an election . By the way , they had cried " vote ; " he thought they meant to

say general scramble . ( Cries of " Oh , oh , " " vote , " and general laughter . ) He could quite understand that if there were to be the doctrine of the dignified office of Grand Treasurer the word conveyed something like perpetuation , stability , and permanence . If that was to be applied to their Grand Treasurer , all he could say was that the office would be quite understood to