United Grand Lodge.

stitution conveying the same intelligence that he had had that day . _ He could not go beyond the report that was now laid before them , but knowing as he did the feelings of a large number of the members of their English Constitution in the five District Grand Lodges now existing in New Zealand , he could not refrain from saying that they did not hail the result with the same amount of delight that Grand Lodge wasshowing in the resolution . They

were notthere—they were thousands of miles away . He did not interfere in any way with the resolution now , but he knew that the whole facts were not laid before Grand Lodge in 189 6 . He did not wish to revert to that , but let him join in the hope that as regards the loyal members of the English Constitution in New Zealand , members of thefive District Grand Lodgesnow existing , none of whom had expressed any view with reference to this matter , that it might

be as agreeable to them as it was to Grand Lodge , to express the pleasure they had in recognising the fact that the Grand Master had en ' ered into this arrangement . Far be it for him to question what had been done by the Grand Master of England . They bowed to his decision ; he had been authorised by Grand Lodge in 1896 to do something , but as the facts were not then , at all events , as now before them , he was not going to utter any

words of remonstrance . ( Laughter . ) Brethren might laugh , but he said it was done for conciliation , and conciliation alone , and he trusted the expression of thanks which they gave that night might be equally pleasant to all the loyal members of the English Constitution in New Zealand . Bro . STRACHAN , Q . C , Grand Registrar : It becomes my duty for one moment to make a few remarks . I have simply reported the steps which

have been taken by the Grand Master and I am exceedingly sorry that our brother should have interposed between Grand Lodge and the resolution that I proposed of thanks , that his Royal Highness the Grand Master had done that which this Grand Lodge asked him to do , viz ., to take such steps for the recognition of the Grand Lodge of New Zealand and for the establishment of fraternal good feeling with our New Zealand brethren as

he might consider consistent with the dignity of Grand Lodge . I am sorry to find that any brother should have interposed , especially when he says he is not going to move any amendment . All the resolution amounts to is that the Grand Master having done what we requested him to do he has done it . There is no word of remonstrance from any of the District Grand

Lodges of New Zealand . Abundance of time has been given for anything of the kind and we are entitled to consider that brotherly harmony prevails there because all the rights of the English Constitution are safeguarded by our M . W . G . M . The resolution was then put and carried unanimously .

The report of the Board of Benevolence for the last quarter was then adopted , and the grants as recommended confirmed . The report of the Board of General Purposes , as printed in the Freemason last week , was , on the motion of Bro . W . J . Mason , Vice-President , seconded by Bro . J . W . Burgess , taken as read , and the several recommendations therein , with reference to the increase of salaries of Bros .

Leonard Cook , Charles Lawrence , and Ralph Grist , and also the gift of £ 100 to the widow of the late Bro . A . A . Pendlebury , Asst . G . Sec , were carried . Also on the motion of Bro . Mason , seconded by Bro . Burgess , the Hervey Lodge , No . 1788 , Trinidad , was ordered to be erased from the roll of Grand Lodge . Bro . THOMAS FENN , P . G . W ., Acting G . D . C , said there was no other resolution arising out of the report .

Bro . W . F . LAMONBY , P . M ., 962 , P . P . G . W . Cumberland and Westmorland , then rose to move the following resolution with respect to the recognition of new Grand Lodges in British territories :

"That in order to better insure the preservation of the rights and privileges of minorities , and to prevent subsequent disputes , Grand Lodge respectfully suggests and prays that the Most Worshipful the Grand Master may be pleased to command that Lodge Warrants shall not be cancelled until the expiration of three calendar months from the date of receipt of such Warrants by the Grand Secretary . "

In moving the resolution , he said : Right Worshipful Acting Grand Master , —The notice of motion I bring forwasd this evening is a consequence of the recognition of the Grand Lodge of New Zealand , but the primary intention is that it shall not only apply to the Grand Lodge of New Zealand , but to the possible new Grand Lodges in Biitish Territories that may be established in the future . But in the first instance , I wish the Grand Master to make a

rule that the warrants that go over to the new body should be sent to England for cancellation instead of being left in countries in which they may bs . I maj ; be permitted , perhaps , to say that from practical experience I had during ihe formation of one or two Grand Lodges , a great mistake was made in leaving the warrants there to be fought and struggled for . This

motion I now make is a very small one , but it will in the future prevent any of [ those angry recriminations and passionate feeling which have often occurred in the Continent of Australia . I do not wish to delay Grand Lod ge any longer in a comfortable meeting like this , and I shall , therefore , formall y move the motion which appears on the paper .

Bro . R . EVE , P . G . T .: I second theproposition . Itmaybeintheremembrance cl members of the Grand Lodge that difficulties have arisen with regard lo the Grand Lodges of Victcria , New South Wales , and other places "Mien lodges have not returned as they should have done their various

warrants to the Secretary of Grand Lodge . And now this motion provides t ^ at they should be returned and tha they should be handed over to the new lod ges to be formed in New Zealand and other places where sovereign hodres are reccgnised by this Grand Lodge . And the motion that is moved b y Bro . Lamonby to-night , is to the effect that , instead of those warrants being cancelled when not required by those several bodies , the

cancel-¦ won of the warrant shall not take place until three months after they have wen received in England , in order lhat those abroad may have an opportunity to state any reasons why they should not be cancelled . There is no Jia-m done , and I am sure our V . W . brother the Grand Registrar will seethe | * ce of this proposition , and will accede to it , because it is for the interest of a " - 1 second it wilh those objects .

a « BROTIIER at the end of the hall said the motion was not altogether uv ' ii , 0 nary 0 ne " When warrants were returned in order to be cancelled limp IJ 6 months Provided by the motion was in order that if in the meanie lodges wiihed them to be restored they might have an opportunity of King application , and was a mere form which would do harm to no one . It •« "ft "" -a . iuss , anu was a mere iorm wnicn would ao narm to no one . rcl that the for

, lhauh * ^ y y shouI < 'ie here three months , and he thought foval h r" " "" Lodge ought to do everything in its power to safeguard the slio * , u i i ? abroad > so * * no idea might arise among those brethren that " 0 l » d lead them to shake off their allegiance . to asT * STRACHAN , Q * *> Grand Registrar , said as he had been appealed < jrand Registrar he might say he saw no good reason why he should

United Grand Lodge.

oppose this resolution . It seemed fair and reasonable . However , it was the Grand Master ' s prerogative to give out warrants and recall them , and if the Grand Master called in warrants to be cancelled in Grand Lodge it was but fair that time should be given in case any mistake should have occurred . Therefore he fully supported the resolution . Bro . I . C . MOOR , P . P . G . W . of Durham , said this was a very difficult

thing . How would the question be affected in the event of these warrants not being received or if there were delay in their receipt . Bro . STRACHAN , Q . C , said that must of course be left to be dealt with when the occasion arose . He did not think there would be any difficulty . He thought the Executive would be able to deal with it . He requested that the motion might be read to Grand Lodge . Bro . LAMONBY read the motion as given above .

The acting GRAND MASTER put it to Grand Lodge and it was unani mously carried . Grand Lodge was then 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 Colonies and Dependencies of the British Crown was held on Tuesday evening at Mark Masons' Hall . The Earl of Euston , Pro Grand Master , presided ; Bro . Col . A . B . Cook acted as Deputy Grand Master ; Bro . Thomas Fenn , as S . G . W . ; Bro . Richard

Eve , as J . G . W ., * Bro . J . Strachan , Q . C , as G . M . O . ; and there were also present Bros . Baron de Ferrieres , P . P . G . M . Gloucester and Hereford ; C . F . Matier , P . G . W ., G . Sec . ; Gordon Miller , P . G . T . , * Dr . Balfour Cockburn , P . G . D . C . ; Major C . W . Carrell , G . D . C ; Charles Belton , P . G . O . ; and several others . Grand Lodge was opened in ample form .

The Earl of EUSTON said : Brethren , before we proceed to have the minutes of the last Quarterly Communication read , I have a motion which I wish to bring before you in which , I am quite sure , every member of Grand Lodge will agree , and that is a vote of condolence with the Most Worshipful Grand Master , his Royal Highness the Prince of Wales , in the suffering he has gone through by the accident he has recently met with . I propose to put it as follows :

" Grand Lodge of Mark Master Masons . We , the Pro Grand Master , Grand Officers and Brethren in open Lodge assembled , beg most respectfully to offer to our Most Worshipful Grand Master , his Royal Highness the Prince of Wales , the assurance of our earnest and heartfelt sympathy in the late unfortunate and painful accident , from the effects of which his Royal Highness is suffering . We would offer the humble hope that it may please the Great Overseer of the Universe to speedily restore his Royal Highness to the full enjoyment of his wonted health and vigour . ( Signed ) "EUSTON , Pro G . M . "

Brethren , I am sure I am only speaking the words of you all when I say you will unanimously support that motion , and will wish his Royal Highness may quickly be restored to health and be able to come among us again to fulfil the duties of his position as he has done hitherto with so much benefit to the Order to which we belong . Bro . Col . A . B . COOK : Most W . Pro Grand Master and Brethren , —I

have very great pleasure in seconding the motion , and I am sure I need not add any words to those which have been so adequately used by the M . W . Pro Grand Master . I am sure with him , that we all feel most deep sympathy with the M . W , Grand Master in the suffering he has undergone by his unfortunate accident . The motion was carried unanimously .

The Earl of EUSTON ( to the Grand Secretary ) : You will see that that motion is conveyed in due course . The minutes of the Quarterly Communication of May 31 st , 1898 , were then read and confirmed .

Bro . C l < . MATIER : Most Worshipful Pro Grand Master , —I have received from you a letter in reply to the vote of sympathy with you in your serious illness , which vote we forwarded to you , and with your permission I will read it to the Grand Lodge . " Euston Hall ,

" Dear Sir and Bother , " Thetford . "I beg to acknowledge receipt of vote of sympathy of Grand Mark Lodge with me in the illness which I have just recovered from , and I beg to tender my heartfelt and fraternal thanks for the sympathy expressed , and hope ere long to be able again to take my place and do all I can for the welfare and prosperity of Mark Masonry . —Yours truly and fraternally , " EUSTON . "

On the motion of Bro . CHARLES BELTON , seconded by Bro . GORDON MILLER , the report of the General Board was taken as read , ordered to be received , and entered on the minutes , and afterwards adopted . The Earl of EUSTON having asked whether Bro . Matier had any communications to lay before Grand Lodge ? Bro . MATIER said he had only to announce that the Charity jewels and

bars which , according to the Constitutions , were to be presented to the Stewards of the last Festival , were now ready , and they would be given to the Stewards if they would make application at the clerks' office . Bro . J STRACHAN , Q . C , G . M . O .: Brethren , before we separate I would say that I think I should be only echoing the feeling of this Mark Grand Lodge in expressing our thankfulness to the Great Overseer of the Universe for having listened to our prayers , and been pleased to restore our

Most Worshipful Pro Grand Master to his wonted health . Most Worshipful Pro Grand Master , I think there ought to be a resolution of congratulation to the M . W . Pro Grand Master on his recovery from his recent long and serious illness , and I propose a motion to that effect . Bro . Baron DE FERRIERBS : I have very great pleasure in seconding it ; and Most Worshipful Pro Grand Master , we all hope you may long be spared to continue to make that mark in Mark Masonry which you have so long done . The motion was carried . Grand Lodge was then closed in ample form .