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lodges . He had in his pocket a host of letters all clamouring for the change he had proposed , and when he should press upon the Board the matter , the President would perhaps see how desirable it was to deal with the matter .

In answer to Bro . John Symonds , Bro . Horace Lloyd said he thought the Book of Constitutions might advantageously contain some clause showing what the powers of lodges were , and he would be g lad to take the duty of bringing the subject before the Board . After a few words from Bro . Brackstone

Baker , the Acting Grand Master put the motion , and it was carried new con . Bro . Horace Lloyd then moved the adoption of that part of the Board ' s report which recommended a reduction of the Tavern Company ' s rent .

Bro . Brackstone Baker moved an amendment " that the report of the Board be referred back to the Board to consider whether the rent should not be continued at _ £ iaoo a year until the shareholders of the Tavern Company receive < J per

cent , interest on their shares . ( The amendment was received with roars of laughter . ) Bro . Baker thought the laughter proved the reasonableness of his proposition , because it evinced the general belief of how long it would be before there was a dividend .

Bro . Bridges seconded the amendment , and was followed by a few words from Bro . James Mason ; but the amendment was lost , and the original motion carried . Bro . Horace Lloyd moved the " Additional Clerk " clause of the report , and said that the

extra work entailed on Grand Secretary ' s office , by the great increase in the number of lodges , all of which seemed very fond of consuming paper and stationery , was enormous . The office was overworked now even with extra clerks ,

which it was not desirable to have , and an additional permanent clerk at £ 100 a year was wanted . As the Craft was thriving and prosperous , and the work of Grand Secretary ' s office was very well done , he hoped the recommendation would be carried .

Bro . J . B . Monckton , P . G . D ., seconded the motion , and took occasion to remark that having seen a great deal of the working of the office he could say with confidence that the zeal , industry ,

and ability therein displayed were not to be surpassed . The staff of officers were not sufficient to carry it out properly , and he had much pleasure in seconding the recommendation of the Board .

The motion -was carried unanimously . The report of Bro . R . P . Harding , auditor of Grand Lodge accounts , of receipts and disbursements , during the year 1 S 72 , was then read by Grand Secretary , and on Bro . Mclntyre ' s motion it was ordered to be received and entered on the minutes .

In compliance with the report of a special meeting of the governors and subscribers of the Royal Alasonic Institution for Aged Freemasons and Widows of Freemasons , held at Freemasons ' Hall on Tuesday , the 7 th day of January , 1 S 73 , the rules of that Institution were unanimousl y

altered by providing that male pensioners should have their annuities increased to £ 36 instead of £ 26 , and female pensioners should have an increase to £ 28 instead of £ 2 $ . Bro . Matthew Cooke had the following motion on the agenda paper , but he not being present , it was not brought on : —

"To add to Srction 6 of the Board of General Purposes , " Book of Constitutions , page 109 , small edition , after the words " by the authority of the President , " " every meeting of the Board is open to the Craft , and any brother may , on the production of his Grand Lodge certificate ,

attend , but shall take no part whatever in the matters under dis-cussion or adjudication . " Bro . Benjamin Head , P . G . D ., moved" That the sum of £ 40 be given from the Fund of General Purposes-, that the money be placed in the hands of the Secretary of the Royal

Masonic Benevolent Institution for Aged Freemasons and Widows of Freemasons , to supply the inmates at Croydon with coals during the remainder of the winter season , the sum previously granted having been expended , owing to the increased price of coals . " He * said that the price of coals had so much

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increased this season that the usual sum which was granted by Grand Lodge for the purpose of purchasing them for the Benevolent Institution was exhausted . Last year they were paying sums of £ 6 AS ., £ 6 8 s ., and £ 6 13 s ., where

they were now paying £ g i ^ s . ^ d ., £ g 16 s ., £ g 12 s . 3 d ., £ g 4 s . rod ., £ 13 4 s ., which swallowed up the whole £ 50 granted . He therefore came to ask for another £ 40 , and he did not think he would have to ask in vain .

Ihe motion was seconded and immediately chrried . Bro . William Smith , P . G . Steward and P . M . No . 26 . moved , that it be an instruction from the Grand Lodge to the Board of General Purposes to consider the following alteration

with respect to the [ subscription payable by members of private lodges , and as to the registry of their names as continuing subscribing Members in the books of Grand Lodge ; to make the necessary alterations in the Book of " Constitutions , " to give effect to such alterations ,

and that the President of the Board of General Purposes do report to the next regular Quarterl y meeting of Grand Lodge what the Board has done here anent : —viz ., That any Member of a Private Lodge on his removal from the neighbourhood in which the lodge is held , or

when , in the opinion of the lodge , for any other good and sufficient cause he is unable to attend its meetings , but being desirous to continue a Member thereof , ' such Member may , upon a Vote duly carried in open lodge , compound for his being continued as a Member upon the

Books of the lodge for life , and be returned to Grand Lodge as a Life Member on his paying the sum of £ to the funds of the said lodge , the interest whereof shall , at the rate of five per centum per annum , be more than sufficient to pay the Quarterage to the Fund of Benevolence of Grand Lodge ( as also to the Provincial Grand

Lodge Fund when in a Province ) , and leave a marginal sum beyond to represent a beneficial interest therein for the Private Lodge . The sum to be paid under this clause for such Life Membership to be not less than £ 10 , but such larger sum as the Board of General Purposes may agree upon and fix .

The motion met with a great deal of support and several brethren spoke on it , the Rev . | . S . Brownrigg , R T . Spiers , Reginald Bird , ( W . M . Appolo University Lodge , Oxford ) ; and Colonel Whitwell , being ; anion ? the number . In conclusion it was referred to the Board of

General Purposes to report upon ltnevt Quartern , Communication . Grand Lodg « was then closed .

District Grand Lodge Of Bengal.

DISTRICT GRAND LODGE OF BENGAL .

A quarterly communication of the District Grand Lodge of Bengal was held at the Freemasons' Hall , Calcutta , on Friday , December 27 th , 1 S 72 . The District Grand Master , R . W . Bro . Hugh David Sandeman , occupied the throne , and was represented by Bro . David Locke as Dist . Deputy

Grand Master , and a goodly attendance of his District Grand Officers and representatives from nearly every lodge in the district . The District Grand Lodge having been opened , and apologies read from several District Grand Officers and other absent members of District Grand Lodge , the minutes of the previous

communication were reau and connrmed . The District Grand Master then delivered a lengthened address , in which he referred to numerous important topics , amongst others tlie backwardness of certain lodges paying their dues ; the lukewarm support accorded by the brethren to the efforts of literary brethren in

their efforts at the diffusion of Masonic knowledge , hoping , howevei , that want of financial success would not lead to a separation of the ' Bengal Masonic Diary . " He was prompted to say a word in advocacy of the local Masonic

publication , "The Bombay Masonic Magazine . " This is at present edited every month by a brother who labours nearly single-handed at his task . It is a matter of great importance that they should have a periodical in this large district as a means of communication on Masonic matters , to the

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general improvement of those who are interested in their advancement ; and he would be glad to hear that lodges and brethren came forward more readily with subscri ptions in money and contributions in writing to support the editor , whose great anxiety is to establish on a permanent

footing and a larger scale what he has so energetically taken in hand . He would , therefore , commend the periodical to the favourable notice of the brethren . The important legacy was the Bengal Masonic Association , which had prospered beyond his first expectations . After an

existence of only three and a half years , it was supporting and educating four children , and had an invested capital of s ^ iooo . He would take this opportunity , which might probably be his last , of offering an acknowledgment of h s heartfelt thanks to those Masonic

officers who have shared his labours in the District Grand Lodge . In the second place , he wished to address a word to those brethern who may feel that has in any way injured them by word or by deed during my long tenure of office . He put aside any hypocritical pretension

of supposing that there can be none such , for it would be impossible to hold so hi gh an office for any length of time without aggrieving somebody . To such , however , he would like to say with conscientious assurance that he had never wilfully or intentionally grieved any one , his sole

and earnest desire having been to work fairly , fearlessly , and impartially for the good of the brotherhood , and that in every action he has endeavoured to put aside everything approaching to personal feeling . He could conscientiousl y say that there was not a brother in the Craft in

India towards whom he was not kindly and affectionately disposed , and he should be grieved to think that this feeling is not , as he felt convinced it would be reciprocated . Although leaving India , he freely might still be

permitted tokeep up an active interest in Masonry , and so long as it may please the Great Architect of the Universe to continue to him the blessings of health and strength they might depend upon him as an earnest advocate in everv matter connected with the advancement of our Great Order

in the East . He would not yet bid farewell , because he hoped to be frequently among them before he left India ; but he thought it proper to address them in the terms of a farewell , as in all probability he might have left India before the District Grand

Lodge next meets in March , and in so doing he would ask them ever to be firm and true in their allegiance to Freemasonry ; she has conferred upon us all great privileges , and it is our bounden duty , in conformity with our obligations , to endeavour to the best of our ability to make a

return for those privileges by supporting the Institution , obeying her laws , and observing her precepts . The Report of the Committee of General Purposes was read and approved .

It was proposed , seconded , and carried unanimously , that the thanks of the District Grand Lodge be given to those brethren and lodges who had subscribed to replace the money recently lost to the Fund of Benevolence b y the death of the Treasurer .

The Report of the Fund of Benevolence was presented . The Committee recommended an increased payment by lodges to the fund . The Report of the Bengal Masonic Association was presented , which showed a falling off in the income .

An address and jewel were presented to Bro . Capt . Murray , District Grand Secretary , from the W . M . and brethren of Lodge Chute Nagpore , No . 1352 ,, as a token of esteem and gratitude for the assistance he had rendered in the

establishment of the lodge . Bro . Compton , Dist . G . Organist , gave notice that at the next meeting of District Grand Lodge he should move that a Select Committee

be appointed to meet and confer on the best scheme to be adopted for obtaining premises , either by building , on a joint-stock principle , or otherwise , a temple or lodge for Masonic purposes in Calcutta .

Bro . J . H . lurner addressed the District Grand Master , and begged to be informed whether in the case of a Hindoo becoming a Mason , he should be obligated on the Volume of the Sacred