United Grand Lodge Of England.

Bro . TOM GREEN , in answer to the call , said he did not want to inflict a speech on Grand Lodge in making a statement which was verj' similar in terms to that which had just been read , but if he might be permitted , in a few short sentences , he would desire to lay before Grand Lodge the motives which actuated him in the step he took ; and , first of all , in this supreme crisis of his Masonic career , which he had no doubt every member of this Grand

Lodge fully appreciated , he desired , unreservedly and most loyally , to accept the interpretation of the Board of General Purposes , of Rule 140 . Thc joint ground of his appeal . was against the severity of the sentence . ( Hear , hear . ) He would ask permission to mention that his motives were without animus—they were impartial , and they were according to his conscience and understanding a true , proper interpretation of the Constitutions . That he

was no party to the subject matier of dispute between the brethren , and that he was then and now a friend to all parties they might believe , and the brother who felt aggrieved was personally assisted b } - him to appeal to a higher Masonic authority if he disputed the partiality and correctness of his ruling ; that that brother had given and certified in writing his belief that his ( Bro . Green ' s ) action was impartial , without animus , and in the belief

that it was correct . lie confessed , if he had abused his position to inflict annoyance or to do a wrong to a brother in any wa )' , that he should have been richly deserving of the most severe punishment which this Grand Lodge could inflict upon him ; but he did submit as the great point of difference that his case was not of that character , and if he might be permitted to use a simile , he was in the position , in the first place , of a judge whose

ruling had been over-ruled , and who was not over-ruled , but sentenced also ; and , in the second place , that he was somewhat in thc position of a man who had committed a civil offence being punished by the infliction of a criminal penalty . He had had practically a sentence of six months' imprisonment without the option of a fine . He had nothing left to do but to throw himself — which he

didabsolutely upon the mercy and upon the justice of this Grand Lodge , and he avowed in the presence of the Great Architect of the Universe and before this august assembly that he was not conscious of any fault , act , word , or deed that would tarnish the honour of any English Mason ( loud applause ) ; and he asked respectfully that Grand Lodge would see that the judgment of the Board , which he had said he admitted was a solemn and a righteous

judgment , should be followed b y a justice which should be equally righteous . And , strong in the consciousness that his case was right , he threw himself upon the mercy of this Grand Lodge , and , as he said , upon their justice , and he awaited their decision , he would make bold to say , not with the gloomy forebodings of a criminal awaiting punishment , but with the gladsome expectancy of a captive panting for release . ( Loud and long-continued applause . )

Bro . THOMAS FENN said he felt a little worn with his day ' s work , and did not feel able to address Grand Lodge at any great length , even if he was so disposed , but he had a very few words to say . He did not wish to say , and he was sure the brethren did not wish him to say , one word against the appellants , but the Board wished the Grand Lodge to understand ' that they had acted within their powers and strictlv according to thc law . He wished

them to understand the princi ple upon which the Board had acted during the TO years now coming to a close that he had had the honour of presiding over it . That principle was that in cases where breaches of the law were committed and a Mason was not injured , or if he was injured the penalty inflicted was always very lenient , very light ; but in cases where a brother was disgraced before his lodge it was different and the punishment was heavy ,

and if they thought a fine or a reprimand scarcely met thc case a severe penalty was imposed . It was known that a Master hatl very great powers entrusted to him , and in thc case of the removal of officers there was a rule to limit that power in order that a Mastcr of a lodge should not be allowed to act in an arbitrary manner to an individual , and it was enacted that he could only remove an officer when a majority of the brethren of a lodge gave him

the power to do so . As to the motives which actuated these brethren on the cause of quarrel between them , that was not a subject which the Board of General Purposes could possibly entertain , because the law said that if it should appear to the majority of the brethren present that the complaint be well founded the Master should have power to displace such ofliccr and to appoint another . With the subject of the quarrel the Board had no power

to interfere at all . In the appeal they left this matter entirely in the hands of Grand Lodge . There were certainly some things hatl " come out lhat night , which these brethren never laid before the Board of General Purposes . Whether they were truly stated or not he could not sav ; but they must assume they were . Grand Lotlge must recollect they had not had an opportunity to enquire into these statements that night , but thc Board only wished

that Grand Lodge should believe they acted within their powers and according to the law . He left thc matter in thc hands of Grand Lodge . If Grand Lodge came to the conclusion that the sentence should bc modified , the Board had not the slightest objection . Bro . C . J . R . Tuoc , Asst . G . Purst .. said he was sure Grand Lodge would sympathise with the two brethren who hatl conscientious ! v done their

duty as Master antl acting Master respectivel y of the lodge . ( Hear , hear ) . Bro . Mead , in the communication which be ' addressed to the Grand Secretary , had , he was sure , put the ere most fairly . He hatl stated there that he thought he was acting strictl y in accordance with his Masonic duties ; Bro , Green , in his statement , had saitl the same thing . They both of them now admitted lhc juMice of the finding of the Board of General Purposes ,

and he felt satisfied that the Grand Lodge would think the punishment unnecessarily severe . He would not go into the facts at any length ; there was no occasion for that ; but he would now move as an amendment t . ' iat this Grand Lodge is of opinion that the punishment of six months' suspension infheted by the Board of Genera ] Purposes upon Bros . Mead and Green be set aside as from this date . The brethren would understand that 'these

breihren had from the date of the meeting of the Board until the present time suffered the indignity of being suspended from all Masonic functions and had been prevented from attending the present Grand Lodge . They felt the justice of the judgment which hatl been given , but he hoped Grand Lodge would feel that the six months' suspension was excessive and that his resolution would be carried b y Grantl Lod / e .

Bro . BKMII suggested that the resolution be altered . He did not think " set aside" was [ a proper term to . appl y I J ( he decision o ! the Board of General Purposes . The Board had In act on the case as set before them . Wh ' ther the penalty was too excessive or not was not for Grand Lodge lo decide . After the explanation they had had Grand Lodge would say whether the sentence be altered .

Bro . R . I ) . M . LITTLER , Q . C , Dep . G . Reg ., said he had been thinking of the can ; during the evening , and it seemed to him that all Grand Lodge would be of opinion that they mighl make a little alteration , because , in the

United Grand Lodge Of England.

first place the brethren would recognise that the Board wasjwithmjts jurisdiction . In the next place , he thought the } ' would recognise that , priiniifacie , the offence wasof such gravity as , unless for the different circumstances , was deserving of a severe penalty , but having said that , it was for Grand Lodge to consider , after hearing the President of the Board of General Purposes , what the

penalty should be , and he would suggest as an amendment to be accepted "That this Grand Lodge , while fully recognising that the Board of General Purposes is fully within its jurisdiction-is of opinion that the remainder of the order of suspension on Brothers Mead and Green be remitted . " Bro . RICHARD EVE , P . G . T ., seconded .

The amendment was carried amidst great applause , and ] Bros . Mead and Green were conducted fully clothed into Grand Lodge . They were received with a burst of cheers , and having been placed in front of the pedestal were thus addressed by Bro . BEUTI : Brethren , Grand Lodge , having fully considered your case ,

and having heard the explanation you have offered , have unanimousl y decided that the Board of General Purposes , while right in taking notice of a violation of the Book of Constitutions , which had evidently been committed , have , notwithstanding , decided that the remainder of your sentence be remitted . ( Renewed applause . ) The remainder of your sentence is remitted .

Bros . Mead and Green then bowed , and retired amidst further manifestations of rejoicing . Bro . BEACH then announced the following result of the election for Grand Treasurer :

Bro . Dimsdale ... ... 1317 Bro . Stiles ... ... 1200 Bro . Hudson ... ... 568 Consequently he declared Bro . Dimsdale elected Grand Treasurei ( Applause . ) Grand Lodge was closed in form .

Grand Lodge Of Mark Master Masons.

GRAND LODGE OF MARK MASTER MASONS .

The Quarterly Communication of Grand Lodge of Mark Master Masons of England and Wales and the Dependencies of the British Crown was held on Tuesday evening at Mark Masons' Hall , Great Queen-street . The M . W . Pro Grand Master , the Earl of Euston , presided , and among the other brethren who attended were Bros . Viscount Dungarvan , Deputy G . M . ;

Frank Richardson , as S . G . W . ; Sir Reginald Hanson , M . P ., J . G . W . ; R . Loveland-Loveland , Dr . R . Turtle Pigott , C . F . Matier , G . Sec . ; Col . A . B . Cook , Gordon Miller , P . G . T . ; F . Mead , G . Treas . ; C . H . Driver , Baron de Ferrieres , J . S . Eastes , C . F . Hogard , C . Martin , W . M . Stiles , Capt . Weston , G . I . G . ; Major C . W . Carrell , Joseph S . Tamburini , Eugene Monteuuis , and a large number of Present and Past Grand Officers . .

After Bro . MATIER , the Grand Secretary , had read the minutes , which were confirmed , the following report of the General Board , on the motion of the President , Bro . R . LOVELAND-LOVELAND , seconded by the Past Grand Treasurer , Bro . GORDON MILLER , was taken as read , received , and ordered to be entered on the minutes :

During the three months ending 31 st December , 18 93 , there have been issued Mark certificates , 322 ; total number registered , 32 , 099 . Warrants for new lodges five , viz .: — No . 468 , Quarries , Jhansi , Bengal . , 469 Savage Club , London .

, ,, 470 , Ballarat , Ballarat , Victoria , Australia . „ 471 , Lilford , Thrapston , Northamptonshire . ,, 472 , New Capestone , Mozufferpore , Bengal . Royal Ark Mariner certificates , 101 ; total number registered , 4119 .

Warrant for a new Ark Mariner Lodge , Portsmouth , to be attached to the Portsmouth Lodge , No . 17 . Complaint having been made that Bro . John Whowell had been twice installed in the chair of the Callender Lodge , No . 123 , Bury , Lancashire , contrary to Art . 99 , he not being an Installed Master of a Craft lodge , and not having obtained the dispensation of the M . W . Grand Master ,

On consideration of the complaint , and after W . Bro . W . O . Walker , P . G . D ., the senior P . M . of the lodge , had appeared , and been heard in extenuation , the Board resolved—That the Secretary , Bro . James Shaw , be , and is hereby , severely admonished for twice in iking an inaccurate return , in certifying that Bro . John Whowell was an Installed Master of the Craft Lodge Relief , No . 42 .

That W . Bro . G . W . Yapp , the Master in the chair on the occasion of the first installation cf Bro . John Whowell , be , and is hereby , severely admonished for not making proper inquiries as to the necessary qualifications , and for not properly obligating the W . M . elect . That the Callender Lodge , No . 123 , be , and is hereby , severely censured and admonished , and fined the sum of five guineas , and that the brethren be , and are hereby , directed to apply for a dispensation ( nunc pro tunc ) to enable Bro . John Whowell to assume the chair of Master , notwithstanding his want of qualification as an Installed Master of a Craft lodge .

That on receipt of such dispensation a Board of Installed Masters be opened at the next regular meeting of the lodge , and that Bro . John Whowell be reobligated . That the warrant of the Iodge be detained by the Grand Secretary until the fine be paid . That the ruling of the Board be read at the next meeting of the lodge , and entered on the minutes .

The line having been paid , the warrant has been restored to the lodge . The Studholme Lodge , No . 197 , London , reported to the Boird that they hid inadvertently installed a Master in the chair who was not properly qualified , an'i expressed their great sorrow and regret . lt was resolved that the lodge be fined one guinea , and at once apply for a dispensation , on receipt of which the Master tie re-obligated in presence of a Board of Installed Masters at the next regular meeting when this resolution and the dispensation be read .

V . W . Bro . Alfred J . Burbidge , G . Sec . of G . L . M . M . M . of NewSouth Wales , having complained , through the Representative , that a brother , regularly advanced in a lodge under the jurisdiction of the G . L . M . M . M . of New South Wales , Iw'l offered himself as a joining member of the Skelmersdde Lodge , No . 141 , Asntonunder-Lyne , and had been made to go through the ceremony of advancement , inquiry was made . The Master of the lodge admitted the fact , expressed his great 1 — J — - — — —r > - 1 7 t

' " regret , and assured the Board tnat the error was entirely caused by ignorance an " inadvertence , and that the lodge had apologised to the brother aggrieved . I ' Grand . Secretary was directed to convey to the Representative of thc Grand Lodg '' of New South VVales the sincere regret of the Board , and also the assurance ol the fraternal esteem and regard in which that Grand Lodge is held by ll" - ' G . L . M . M . M . of England . The Board have accepted the design for the case of the " Portal Organ , " whi c '' is in course of erection .