United Grand Lodge.

Bro . L OVELAND LOVELAND , Q . C , President , moved , and Bro . W . J , Mason , Vice-President , seconded the adoption of the following addition to Rule 165 , and that Rule 130 , Book of Constitutions , be amended by expung ing that portion of it commencing with the word "if" in the fifth line on page 65 , and ending with the word " meeting'' in the 15 th line : " And if in any Lodge it should become impossible to hold the regular

meeting upon the day named in the By-Laws for that purpose , the Grand Master , and in Provinces and Districts the Provincial and District Grand Master , may grant a Dispensation for the holding ot such meeting upon a day not more than seven days before or after that day fixed by the By-Laws , which day shall for all purposes be deemed the regular day of meeting . "

In reply to Bro . R . EVE , P . G . T ., who thought the word " impossible " was not the word that should be used , and that a word like " impracticable " 0 r " undesirable" or " inexpedient" would be better , Bro . LOVELAND LOVELAND said the Board had simply followed the language of Rule 130 , and they thought it far better to do sc . The District or Provincial Grand Master could put his interpretation on the word " impossible ; " he might decide what in his opinion was " impossible . "

Bro . H AMON LE STRANGE , Prov . G . M . Norfolk , thought it injudicious to change the word . The Provincial or District Grand Masters had hitherto well exercised their discretion . The motion was carried . The next subject was Sir Albert Woods's letter with respect to the wearing of clothing belonging to Grand Lodge Rank granted in foreign lodges to brethren under the English jurisdiction . he in

Bro . Gen . L AURIE wished to say a few words , and ^ aid was an awkward position , representing as he did in Grand Lodge a number of foreign lodges . He desired to ask whether a visiting brother coming from Colonial or Foreign lodges would be excluded wearing the clothing of his rank which he had earned by honest work .

Bro . J STRACHAN said the letter of Sir Albert Woods was strictly according to the Constitutions . A brother who had rank conferrred upon him ( he did not care whether it was by work or not ) in some other jurisdiction , coming to Grand Lodge as a visitor would be received as a visitor if he were accepted by Grand Lodge , and as no one could be invited unless he was admissible , he would be received with the honours due to his rank as a

visitor . If he was a brother of the Grand Lodge of England he was under the jurisdiction of the Grand Lodge of England , and while he was under that jurisdiction , he was bound by the laws of that jurisdiction . The English Constitutions declared ( he order of precedence given by the Grand Master , and that was the Grand Master's prerogative , and when brethren belonging to the English jurisdiction got honours in other

jurisdictions ( which they were entitled to in other jurisdictions ) , when they came within the jurisdiction of the English Grand Master they must work according to the Constitutions of the English jurisdiction , and they must not be admitted into Grand Lodge or subordinate lodges unless in the clothing which was prescribed by the Book of Constitutions . He ( Bro . Strachan ) was a Past Grand Warden of Kansas , but he should not come

to Grand Lodge in the clothing of that rank , though he should in the Grand Lodge of Kansas . If he came as a visitor from Kansas , he would come as a Past Grand Warden of Kansas . It was quite a different thing when brethren came , and as Past Grand Wardens , Chaplains , or Deacons took place above brethren who the Grand Master had decided

should have precedence , for they would be taking rank granted by an outside Sovereign . The letter of Sir Albert Woods had gone forth to the whole of the English lodges . Bro . S . R . BASKETT having asked what clothing General Laurie now wore , General Laurie said he was wearing the clothing of Provincial Grand Master of South Wales .

Bro . Gen . LAURIE , in moving "That this Grand Lodge recognises and acknowledges the Grand Lodge of Western Australia , recently formed by lodges under the District Grand Lodge , " said there had been 34 lodges in Western Australia under the English jurisdiction which formed a District Grand Lodge . For some time there had been a feeling that they were large enough and strong enough to have a Grand Lodge of their own , and it had

been the policy of the Grand Lodge of England of late years to give facilities to any brethren in the Colonies and Districts where they felt they were strong enoughand hadsufficientunanimityarnongthem for the purpose toform Grand Lodges . In former days they had to come to such a resolution in a holeand-corner way , but now Dist .. G . Ms , could give dispensations for them to meet for that purpose . Thc brethren of Western Australia had for some

years past been agitating for the formation of a new Grand Lodge ; but some outsiders ( he used the word advisedly for they could not trace them as Masons , and did not know . they were Masons at all ) called themselves a Grand Lodge supreme over the whole of Western Australia , and called upon Grand Lodge of England to recognise them . This the Grand Lodge declined .

It had been advised by Bro . Sir Gerard Smith , Dist . G . M ., that if the lodges who . sought to constitute themselves into a Grand Lodge of Western Australia , did not have their request granted , it would have a very , very bad effect upon English Masonry out there , and they might go over to the rregular body . Bro . T . I .. WILKINSON , P . D . G . Reg ., seconded the motion .

Bro . W . FAR « UIIARSON LAMONBY desired that the question should be postponed for six months to obtain further information . Bro . RICHARD EVE , though not opposing the Grand Registrar ' s motion , wished to know whether the principle which had been laid down of the rights of minorities had been considered , and that lodges who wanted to retain their warrants and their allegiance to the Grand Lodge of England would be allowed to do so .

Bro . J STRACHAN assured Bro . EVE that this was so . Everything requisite had been done . The motion was carried . Bro . STRACHAN then moved : "That the application from an irregular bedy styling itself the Grand Lodge of Western Australia , requesting recognition as sole and supreme Masonic Authority in the Colony , be refused . "

Bro . W . F . LAMONHY seconded the motion . ( Laughter . ) Gen . LAURIE : I am glad to see that Masonic harmony again prevails arcorg thc brethren . ( Hear , hear . ) The motion was carried . Bro . STRACHAN , Q . C , G . Reg ., next brought up the following two appeals :

United Grand Lodge.

APPEALS . 1 . —By Bro . WILLIAM HENDERSON , P . M . of Franklin Lodge , No . 2486 , Windsorton , South Africa—Against a decision of the Deputy District Grand Master and Board of General Purposes of Central Division , South Africa . ( Postponed from last Quarterly Communication . )

2 . —By W . Bro . Lt .-Col . E . P . FRENCHMAN ( I . M . S . ) , P . M ., D . S . G . W . and by Lodge Palm , No . 2645 , Bassein—Against rulings of the District Grand Master of Burma , as to an instal lation in the said lodge . The first he moved be not further entertained ( which was seconded by Bro , T . L . WILKINSON and carried ) , and in the second that the first part of the appeal be dismissed , and that the second part be not entertained . This was also carried , and Grand Lodge was closed in form .

Ladies' Night Of The Crichton Lodge, No. 1641.

LADIES' NIGHT OF THE CRICHTON LODGE , No . 1641 .

This highly successful and happy event took place at the Restaurant Frascati , Oxford-street , W ., on the 23 rd ult ., under the presidency of the W . M ., Bro . Chas . Hy . Stone , who was most ably supported by Bro . Vincent T . Murche , I . P . M ., and the officers of the lodge . The company began to assemble at 6 p . m ., and from that time till 6 . 20 p . m . mutual congratulations took place which were sustained throughout the whole of the proceedings . The banqueting hall was very tastefully decorated with flowers , and an excellent banquet partaken of , which was thoroughly appreciated . The whole arrangements were personally supervised by Bro . Kalla , the manager , who was most indefatigable in his attention ;

There were present Bro . Chas . Hy . Stone , W . M ., and Mrs . Stone ; Bro . C . W . Stone , P . M . ; Bro . R . J . Pugh , P . M ., and Mrs . Pugh ; Bro . Hy . Eyre , P . M ., Mrs . Eyre , Mr . Hitchings and Miss Eyre , Mr . Ed . Eyre ; Bro . H . C . Turner , P . M ., and Mrs . Turner , Mrs . F . Turner , Mrs . Coles and Miss E . Turner ; ' Bro , Oxley , P . M ., and Mrs . Oxley ; Bro . Stanger , P . M ., and Miss Starrger ; Mr . E . Rushbrook and friend , and the Misses Marian and Laura Rushbrook ; Bro . Vincent T . Murche , I . P . M ., and Mrs . Murche , Mr . Hichison and Mrs . Hichison

Mr . Hy . Murche and lady , Mr . Davis and Miss Murche , Bro . R . Elgar , P . M ., and Mrs . Elgar , and Messrs . Percy , Stanley , Arthur , and Frederick Murche ; Bro ! G . M . E . Hamilton , P . M ., and Mrs . Hamilton ; Bro . Geo . King , P . M ., and Mrs . King ; Bro . Geo . Gill , Mrs . Gill , and friend ; Bro . Rd . Greenwood , P . M ., and Mrs . Greenwood ; Bro . Tom Evans , S . W ., and Mrs . Evans ; Bro . S . J . Derham , P . M ., and Mrs . Derham ; Bro . J . J . Elliott , J . W ., and Mrs . Elliott ; Bro . Petley , P . M . ; Bro . H . A . Stunt , P . M . ; Bro . Auborn and Mrs . Auborn ; Bro . Stevens and Mrs . Stevens ; Bro . Melton and Messrs . W . and F . Melton ; Bro . T . Ball

and Mrs . Ball ; Bro . W . H . Bali and Mrs . Ball ; Bro . Kingston and Mrs . Kingston ; Bro . Foskett and Mrs . Foskett ; Bro . G . Rankin , M . C . ; Bro . Flux and Mrs . Flux ; Bro . Ayres and Mrs . Ayres ; Bro . Greville and Mrs . Greville ; Bro . Cresswell , Miss Cresswell and friend ; Bro . Bailey and Mrs . Bailey and faiend ; Bro . Slater and Mrs . Slater ; Bro . Shoveller and Mrs . Shoveller ; Bro . Carroll and Mrs . Carroll and friend ; Bro . Davies and Mrs . Davies ; and others . During the banquet a selection of music was performed by the Frascati Salon Orchestra , under the musical director , Bro . Archibald Evans , which was ably

carried out . The PRKSIDKNT , in proposing the toast of " Her Majesty the Queen , " said it always appealed to the hearts and affections of het subjects and he might say to the whole civilised world , for a better monarch had never reigned , and he ventured to state that it was never received more loyally than at the present time when many distinguished brethren and fellow-countrymen were fighting on her behalf in the cause of justice .

The National Anthem was sung by the whole company . Bro . R . B . Hopkins gave the " Queen of the earth " on the silver bells , which was loudly applauded . He also gave two other solos during the evening . The toast of "The Ladies "' was next proposed by the PRESIDENT in most appreciative terms , although in their presence he felt most diffident . The

precedent was set last year , and that had proved so successful , and he hoped that the present occasion would be equally as happy and would be continued by his worthy successors in the chair . He thanked the ladies for their attendance and gracing the festive board . Bro . C . W . Stone , P . M ., sang " Connemara . "

Bro . G . RANKIN , in reply , said on behalf of the ladies he was most grateful to the President for such kind words , and they were only too willing to give their support to such happy gatherings . He would remind the brethren that when the company adjourned from the banqueting hall they should not be left too long but allowed to enjoy their company to the fullest in the ball room . On behalf of the ladies he heartily thanked them .

Bro . V . T . MUKCHE , I . P . M ., next presented the toast of "The President , " who was also the W . M . of the Crichton Lodge , and one always happy to do whatever he could for the brethren . He had thoroughly worked up through all the ollices to his present proud position . He and the W . M . had been friends from very small boyhood , and he trusted that that friendship wjuld ever remiin . He

would couple with the toast that of Mrs . Stone , who also took a very lively interest in Freemasonry , and he said , on behalf of the Committee , he had a very pleasing duty to perform—to present a silver cake tray , as a slight token of the esteem her husband was held in by the brethren of the lodge , which was highly reflected in herself .

Patriotic song by Mr . P . Murche . Bro . C . H . STONE , W . M . ( who was most cordially received ) , replied . He was very grateful for the very kind words that had fallen from the I . P . M . and thoroughly endorsed every word respecting their life-long friendship . ' It was indeed a proud moment to preside over such a pleasant gathering , and , being the W . M . of the lodge , he would endeavour to emulate his worthy predecessors in the chair . He most heartily thanked the brethren on behalf of Mrs . Stone who was one of the best , and made many sacrifices on behalf of Freenaionry .

Mrs . STONE , who also was loudly greeted , made a few very appropriate remarks .

Mr . P . Melton sang a patriotic song . The speeches ended , the company adjourned to the ball room , and mot thoroughly enjoyed themselves on the light fantastic . Bros . H . A . Stunt P M and G . Rankin acted as very capable M . Cs . ' *' As a souvenir each lady was presented with a very nice bottle of scc . it . Mr Willie Melton very ably presided at the piano .

ACCORDING TO the directions of the Archbishops the sums of £ 70 , 377 , which was raked in the chuiches on Queen ' s Sunday , has been equally divided among the British Red Cross Society , Lloyd ' s Patriotic Fund , and the Soldiers' ani Sailors' Families Association , each institution receiving L 23 , 459 .