Table Of Contents.

TABLE OF CONTENTS .

„ „ ...., OK M ASONIC M EETIXGS : — R 6 , ? M ' . ! G ^ Lod " ° S ' i % r : ¦• :::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::: £ ? . SgcWrT . K CM ^ -:::.::.:::::::::::::::::::::::::::-::::::= & W- win ! Grand Lodce of Northamptonshire anil Hunting-Provirc * - " 25 ,

! ° "; ni Grand ixdce of Leicestershire anil Rutland 2 * >* Uncial Grand Lodge of Essex 26-rinsonican . 1 General Tidings 263 Th ^ Mmits of Masonic Publication a 6-T c Expenses of Lodge Banquets 3 * 4 Whit Monday Holiday sfij Th » Ouarterlv Communication ol Grand Lodge 265 1 * *? v 26 ? The haft

r ( , RRF . Si'ON'DKNCE : — French Lodges in England ^ 20 J Masonic luri-sprudence ( S . C . ) 263 Repot ts ofthe High Degrees 363 Rcealia If A Caution a °° 266

Masonic Notes and Queries Provincial Grand Lodge of East Lancashire 300 Grand Mark Lodge 267 Scotland 26 9 ' r > oval Masonic Institntion for Boys 270 Masonic Meetings for the Week 270 Advertisements i . ii . iii . iv . v . vi .

United Grand Lodge.

UNITED GRAND LODGE .

The Quarterly Communication of Grand Lodge- of English Freemasons was held on Wednesday evening , at Freemasons' Hall . The brethren began to assemble at a very early hour , even before the doors were opened , although that event always occurs an hour before the Grand

Master takes the chair . It was evident that some excitement prevailed among the Craft , for the brethren mustered in large numbers , and completely filled the body of the hall . When the procession of Grand Officers , accompanying Lord Leigh , who was to preside , entered , the

dais was the only portion ol the hall unoccupied . An impression had prevailed that the Prince of Wales would be present , and this would account for the presence of many of the brethren . But the principal cause of the large gathering was the notices of motion ovi the agenda paper for to

the devoting ^ 3000 various objects as a thjnkoflfering for the s ; ife return of the Grand Master to England . A fortnight ago information was given iu the daily press , as well as in the " Freemason , " of an intention on the part of Bros . Havers and Simpson to move that three

sums of sgiooo each should be given to the restoration of Sr . Alban ' s Abbey , St . Paul ' s Cathedral , and in charity in India . Hence the large attendance . Among the brethren present were Lord Leigh , Major Ramsay , District G . M . Punjaub , D . G . M . ;

Earl of Dononghmore , G . S . W . ; the Hon . W . Warren Vernon , G . J . W . ; Sir H . Edwards , Earl of Shrewsbury , Lord Tenterden , Richard Giddy , the new District G . M . of Griq'ialand , South Africa j John Havers , JE- J . M'Intyre , Q . C , J . B . Monckton , J ohn Hervey , Rev . Sir

J . Warren Hayes , Rev . S . R . Wigram , Rev . C . J . Martyn , Rev . R . J . Simpson , Sir Michael Costa , H . D . Sandeman , Rev . C . W . Arnold , G . C . ; Sir F . M . Williams , S . Rawson , F . Pattison , Rev . T . F . Ravenshatv , Rev . C . R . Davy , Brackstone Baker , C . Hutton Gregory , W .

White , Captain Piatt , Colonel Creaton , Dr . Jabez Hogg , R . W . Stewart , E . S . Snell , Benjamin Head , H . Browse , Edmund Phillips , W . E . Gumbleton , C . A . Murton , Percy Leith , S . L . Tomkins , F , P . Morrell , R . Havers , R . J . Spiers , F . P . Cockerell , Dr . R . Williams ,

Alderman Hadley , J oshua Nunn , Hyde Pullen , J . Mason , James T . Collins , Wilhelm Kuhe , Sir Albert Woods , Garter , P . G . W ., and G . D . C ; Col . Birchall , G . D . ; T . \ V . Boord , M . P ., G . D . ; E . J . Barrow , G . D . ; J . M . Case , G . D . ; J . E . Saunders , H . J . P . Dumas , J . C .

Parkinson , J . A . Rucker , I \ Fenn , S . G . Homfray , W . F . Nettleship , Rev . Edvvard Moore , James Glaisher , Robert Gray , A . J . Filer , C . A . Cottebrune , T . Adams , W . Ough , S . G . Foxall , John Coutts , E . P . Albert , Joseph Smith , James Brett , and John Wri ght . Grand Lodge having been formally opened ,

and the minutes read b y Grand Secretary and confirmed , The Acting Grand Master rose and said : Krethren , I have now orders to make an announcement , which I will do in a very few words . Certain charges of complaints having been preferred against the District Grand Master ot Trinidad , the Grand Secretary , b y command

United Grand Lodge.

ofthe M . W . Pro G . M ., requested an explanation from the District Grand Master on several occasions . No explanation whatever having been given , the M . W . Pro Grand Master superseded the District Grand Master , and intima t ed to the lodges in Trinidad that his powers had ceased .

Grand Secretary then , by command of Lord Leigh , read the following announcement with reference to certain alterations and additions , which it is the pleasure of H . R . H . the Grand Master to make in relation to the charity jewel : A brother having served the office of Steward

to any two of the following institutions , viz ., the Royal Masonic Institution for Girls , the Royal Masonic Institution for Boys , the Royal Masonic Benevolent Institution , has the privilege of wearing the charity jewel , provided he shall at the time of so serving have personally

subscribed , as to each of the two Masonic schools , 10 guineas at the least , and as to the Royal Masonic Benevolent Institution , s & io at the least . The jewel shall be suspended to a ribbois of one and a half inches in width , the colours of which shall be , white and blue , white and red , blue aud

red , or white , blue , and red respectively , according to the institutions for which the brother has served the Stewardships as above , namely , white for the Institution for Girls , blue for the Institution for Boys , red for the Royal Masonic Benevolent Institution .

A brother being , according to the foregoing regulation , entitled to wear the charity jewel , and who may have served the office of Steward to any other institution a second time , may wear a clasp attached to the ribbon , and an additional clasp for each occasion of having served the office of Steward to any of the institutions , but

in no case shall he be entitled to wear such clasp or clasps unless he shall on each of those occasions at the time of serving such Stewardship have personally subscribed a like amount as above named . A Vice-President of any one or more of the Masonic Institutions beinp- otherwise entitled to

the charity jewel , may wear attached to the ribbon immediately above the jewel a rosette of the colour or colours before mentioned , or in combination , according to the institution or institutions of which he is a Vice-President .

A Vice-Patron of any one or more of the Masonic Institutions , being , otherwise entitled to the charity jewel , may wear the same suspended from a ribbon around his neck , of the like width and colour or colours respectively , or in combination , according to the institution or institutions of

which he is a Vice-Patron . Every brother who shall serve the office of Steward at any anniversary festival of any one of the Masonic charities as the representative of some provincial or country lodge , who shall personally attend such festivals , and shall bring

up thereto contributions amounting to not less than 100 guineas , shall have the same rights and privileges as to wearing the charity jewel or clasp as if he had himself contributed the sum of 10 guineas whilst serving such stewardship . No charity jewel , clasp , ribbon , or rosette shall

be obtained , except through the office of the Grand Secretary , to whom the Secretaries of the respective institutions shall , after tl * . eir respective annual festivals hand lists of the names of the brothers entitled to the jewel or decorations

hereinbefore authorised . The election of members to serve or * , the Board of General Purposes and the Colonial Board were then taken and at the clo ? e of the evening the following were found to have been chosen : —

BOARD or GENERAL PURI-OSES . —MASTERS . — Bros . E . March , G . S . L . ; John Brockett Sorrell , 176 j Henry Bishop , 66 ; John Gibson , 259 ; Henry A . Dubois , 132 * 5 ; Alfred Richards , 46 ; Robert Freke Gould , 92 ; Rev . Wm .. Taylor Jones , 1601 . PAST MASTERS . —Bros Peter

De L . Long , 1150 ; Daniel Belts , 135 1 3 Henry C . Levander , 632 ; Charles F . Hogard , 205 ; John F . Huggins , 18 ; Samuel Poynter , 902 . COLONIAL BOARD . —Bros . James Brett , 177 ;

Erasmus Wilson , 2 ; Brackstone Baker , 21 ; Francis Bennoch , 1 ; Samuel Poynter , 902 ; Griffiths Smith , 569 ; Robert Freke Gould , 92 . THE under-uient ' h nei brethren were nominated at the General Co nmittee on the 24 th of

United Grand Lodge.

May to be on the Committee of Management for the Royal Masonic Benevolent Institution for Aged Freemasons and Widows of Freemasons , and no others were named : —Bros . James Brett , P . M . 177 ; Charles A . Cottebrune , P . M . 733 ; Thomas Cubitt , P . M . 157 ; John A . Farnfield ,

P . M . 256 ; Charles F . Hogard , P . M . 205 ; M . Levy , P . M . 188 ' ; John G . Stevens , P . M . 554 ; Alfred H . Tattershall , P . M . 140 ; Henry George Warren , P . M ., G . S . L . ; and Thos . Wm . White , P . M . 21 .

The recommendations of the Board of Benevolence were severally put and agreed to . The following Report of the Board of General Purposes was then presented : — Several questions bearing on the interpretation of the Book of Constitutions have been

during the past quarter brought under the notice of the board , which , having been duly considered , have been satisfactorily dealt with , no specific report to Grand Lodge upon or in connection with them becoming necessary . Some important matters connected with the

buildings of the Society have been dealt with by the Premises Committee and approved by the board . The question of a re-arrangement of tho seating of the brethren in Grand Lodge has received considerable attention , resulting in the .

addition of upwards of one hundred seats , which in the opinion of the board is the utmost that can be done in the existing area . The board have been for a long period engaged in correspondence with the Lessees of Freemasons' Tavern with reference to the

question of rent , and in result recommend to Grand Lodge that if a thoroughly responsible tenant or tenants can be found by the Tavern Company ( the present Lessees ) , who would be willing to take over the lease , Grand Lodge should assent to a reduction of the rent of the

tavern from £ 1500 , at which it at present stands , to s £ i 2 oo per annum , and to such re-adjustment of the term as may appear fair and reasonable , and that the Board of General Purposes be empowered to uegociate and act accordingly . ( Signed ) J B . MONCKTON , President .

Freemasons' Hall , London , W . C , 16 th May , 18 7 6 . At the meeting on the 16 th May , after the ordinary business was concluded , it was proposed , seconded , and carried unanimously , that the best thanks of the members of the board are

eminently merited by the President jfor the great attention he has paid to the duties of his office , for the admirable manner in which he has discharged them , and the great courtesy and kindness he has on all occasions evinced to his colleagues , and they are therefore fraternally

tendered to htm . ( Signed ) PETER DE LANDE LONG , Vice-President . To the Report is subjoined a statement of the Grand Lodge Accounts at the last meeting of the Finance Committee , held on Friday , the 12 th

day of May last ., showing a balance in the hands of the Grand Treasurer of £ 6172 12 s . 8 d . j and in the hands of the Grand Secretary , for petty cash , £ 75 ; and for servants' wages , £ g 6 15 s . On the motion of Bro . Monckton , the Report

was taken as read , and it was afterwards agreed to be received and entered on the minutes . Bro . Monckton , President of the Board of General Purposes , said he wished to say a few words as to the recommendation of the board contained in the last paragraph in their

report , and he should move that that paragraph be approved . He did not think that the Grand Lodge would require that all that had taken place between the committee on the one hand and the board on the other should be made public , or give in detail what had taken p lace by the Board of General Purposes in their interviews

with the directors . He mig ht say that tt was notorious that the Tavern Company was not a success , and little need be said on that point , but he thought he might say for his colleagues on the board , that it was their opinion that it would be better for the interests of the Craft if the tavern was in their hands rather than in that of a company . In the present state of the Ta-